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You know, every day is different as each day I am able to speak to a vast array wonderful spirit souls from all walks of like and from all over the world, inc a few well known personalities who are the same as everyone else searching for sound perfection at the highest level and searching for something much higher, each on their own journey. What I have always found is that if we are sincere, and willing to listen, each and every one is eager to meet Krishna. I do not always like to write about who I meet as this could come across as too much; plus who am I? Just a small ant who is waiting to be saved himself.

Yesterday, I had a lovely exchange with a delightful individual called Barnard, who came to purchase a piece of high end audio. Barnard started telling me how, at the young age of 21, he was posted in India as a Vice Consul in Mumbai for the Indian high commission and how he lived in Malabar Hill. This is an area I know, as my family went to settle in Mumbai after leaving Karachi in 1947. He also mentioned he was posted in Pakistan and later Russia on behalf of the foreign office. I mentioned my families founding of Jai Hind college in Mumbai which is one of Mumbai’s top educational establishments, which was originally set up as DJ Sindh college in Sindh. He said he knew the university well. I also mentioned my Grandfather being a Stockbroker in Sindh and Mumbai. I then started conversing how all this while interesting and gives a purpose but there is a much higher purpose.

He noticed a picture of Radha Kunda on my wall and he asked me where it was. I spoke to him about the Radha Kund and Vrindavan. He remarked that I seemed to be excited talking about the area. I said, “Yes I am. I feel so separated as I now have lung disease and have been told I cannot travel by air anymore,” and explained how I would love to visit Vrindavan and Mayapur. He asked me if he could take a photograph of me standing next to the picture, I said, “Yes, of course.”

Then he noticed the Maha Mantra on the wall in the form of a hand-made plaque fashioned by my dear friend and father Mahavidya Prabhu which which he kindly gave to me. I started talking to Barnard about Lord Caitanya and how this Mantra is so important for this age. He said, “Yes, I have seen the monks on the street chanting this; looking so happy and in bliss.” I then showed him my bead bag and explained the process of chanting and chanted a round.

I said “Yes, and I have a little secret to tell you.” He asked “What?” I smiled, I said, “Whilst I run a successful business and am passionate about what I do; I also go out on the street and chant and dance because everything else is temporary.” He responded, “You are certainly special.” I pulled out my phone and showed him videos of the Harinama. He was enchanted and asked how often they went out. I told him, “Every day in London.” He remarked, “The world needs more of this!”

I laughed and said, “I will send you videos every week if you like.” He said, “Please, please, please, do! I love them.” I mentioned that I had stayed in the temple for a while, helped with the shop and been going to the temple for my whole life. He asked about the temple and I told him it was nearby and gave him some of its history. It turned out that he loved listening to George Harrison as George was so spiritual. When I told him that this is the actual temple donated by George Harrison, he went on to ask, “Is this why you really live here.”

I said, “Yes this is why there is nothing else for me here apart from the temple.” I showed him a picture of Radha Gokulananda and then introduced him to lord Jaganath on my altar and spoke to him about Ratha Yatra. He then said he’d heard of the Bagavad Gita and had always wondered if he could get a copy, but was not sure how. I said, “Well this is your lucky day. I can present you with a copy right now!” He was delighted.

I went upstairs and got him a copy and then duly came down with the Bagavad Gita and a copy of ‘Nectar of Devotion’. I said, “This will really open your mind.” He was very grateful and quite emotional, “This is what I need,” he said. I gave him some Maha sweets that I was given the previous day. He thought they tasted ‘transcendental’. I said to him,”Krishna has fooled you, he has let you think you were coming to buy a piece of hi-end audio. But, really he planned for you to get these books and to honor him in the form of these sweets.” I also gave him a bead bag and beads and showed him how to chant.

He laughed and said, “You are right! I have been fooled. It is so amazing to meet someone who not only is passionate about what you do, and have been doing it so long, but also has a deep spiritual perspective.” I said, “Well, I am just trying my best and that’s all I can do.” I helped him to load his equipment into the car and invited him to go to the temple. He asked for directions and I explained that it was really near and how to get there. He later phoned me from the manor and noticed they were preparing for a guest. I mentioned that if he went inside the building he had to take his shoes off. He thanked me for reminding him and also mentioned that he had turned vegan. He then went and saw the cows, he was amazed that they looked happier than any other cows he’d seen. He went on to say, “You are the luckiest man!” I asked, “Why?”

“Because you live next to the most amazing place I have ever visited. How could you consider living anywhere else?” I replied, “Yes, I feel blessed and when I leave my material body here, all will be perfect. I am just so thankful I can live near the UK residence of Srila Prabhupada.”

He has told me he will be bringing a few friends this week to see me and wants me to show them around the Manor. Radha Gokulanda Ki Jai Srila Prabupada ki Jai.

Barnard phoned me again this morning to thank me for the equiptment and the years of knowledge I gave him in my feild, and my families history with partition etc and the univercity as he was very fond of Mumbai. He then went on to say the real highlight was to learn of my thirst for spiritual life. He said he was impressed to learn that Hare Krishna devotees are so balanced and are encouraged to pursue sucessful careers if they wish to do so. He was very impressed visiting the manor and the devotees who greeted him and this was most certainly gods arangment and how he now has interest in chanting.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?post_type=post&p=102900#