For about a month Thailand was very unstable because of the Red Shirt protests. Every night for about a week there was a curfew, and major crowded places that are usually approached for Sankirtan were completely closed.
The roads have been open for about two weeks now. And during this time we have seen a great change in the people here. Devotees have grown more and more inspired as the people have grown more receptive. Last Sunday we went by taxi to Hwai Kwang, which has many market areas. The day of book distribution began very auspiciously when our taxi driver said he was very interested and took a Bhagavad-gita.
Inside a clinic shop I met a lady who asked me what our books were about. When I told her about the Bhagavad-gita, she said she had read about the book when she was in college. Now she was teaching in Thammasat University, and she was very interested to see us preaching in the shops. She also mentioned that she always saw Christians visiting the shops and preaching about the Bible, so why should devotees not do the same with the Bhagavad-gita? She gave a donation and took a Gita.
Many shopkeepers had hung paintings of Lord Ganesh and Mother Laxmi on the walls. A shop owner took a Krsna book, and while devotees were chanting in the street a man ran up to them holding 150 Baht and saying, "I want a Bhagavad-gita!" He said that he had bought a Krsna book from us last time; he also mentioned that he had a maha-mantra card. Since all our books had been distributed, we promised him that next time we'd come to the same place and give him his Bhagavad-gita.
Devotees felt very satisfied and happy to experience this mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They said they were literally feeling thirsty for this nectar while there was political unrest. And now, by the mercy of the Lord, the feeling of happiness is even greater.
All glories to the Sankirtan Movement. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Hare Krsna!
Your servant,
Sumadhuri lila devi dasi
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