FW: shivaram swami - Book distribution- A MUST READ!!

[Rammohan G]

Blessed Granny by Sivarama Swami

Posted in Sankirtan
Stories<http://iskconbookdistribution.com/category/read/stories/>


In this new column we'll present the experiences and realizations of
devotees who give Krsna consciousness to others by giving them Srila
Prabhupada's books and other books on Krsna consciousness. The following is
reprinted from last year's Vyasa Puja book, a collection of letters written
in praise of Srila Prabhupada in observance of his appearance day. Ed.

DEAR SRILA PRABHUPADA

Please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to
you on the celebration of your appearance day.

While planning a composition for your offering, I was also attending to my
regular correspondence. One letter stood out among the others. I enclose it
here, translated into English, for your pleasure.

Dear Sivarama Swami,

Hare Krsna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada. I hope you do not mind my writing to you. I have never written
to a spiritual master before. You do not know me. My name is Bhaktin Dora
and I live in Pecs (Hungary). I am 14 years old, and I live at home with my
mother and older sister.

In 1992 I went to the Hare Krsna Festival with a friend. I was not very
interested, but I enjoyed the chanting and dancing at the end. After it was
over I bought a book, The Science of Self-Realization. I do not know why;
generally I never read. I think it was because of the chanting.

I took the book home and cannot remember what happened to it. One day my
mother found it and was very angry with me. She thought that I was reading
this kind of thing. You see, our family members are all very strict
Catholics. They thought Krsna consciousness was some kind of "brainwashing."
Actually I wasn't reading the book; I had forgotten all about it. Somehow it
just "appeared." Anyway, my mother was going to throw it away.

My grandmother, who is 68, was in the kitchen at the time. She lives in the
apartment upstairs. She came in and took the book. She looked at it and
scolded me in a very heavy way. I thought that would be the end of it. I did
not mind so much, as I was in a lot of maya at the time.

About a week later I overheard a conversation between my mother and
grandmother. Granny was saying that this was not some ordinary book. She
said that what Prabhupada was saying is what Jesus Christ said and that
Krsna is God. I was very surprised. She said we should listen to what
Prabhupada said and chant Hare Krsna because that was the religion for this
age. There was a lot of talk about how Christianity was no more and no one
was following the Bible but what Prabhupada said was pure and perfect.

Things really took a turn from there. One day my grandmother visited the
nama-hatta [local Krsna center] here and began to chant on beads. She also
began to buy Prabhupada's books one by one. She was spending all her pension
buying what she called the "beautiful holy Bhagavatam." Sometimes she could
only afford to eat potatoes, but she kept buying the books. The devotees
even came to her flat and helped her set up an altar. When I went upstairs,
there were Krsna pictures everywhere.

That was really the beginning. One night Granny had a dream about
Prabhupada. Something really happened to her then. I don't know what it was,
but she began to get very enthusiastic. Next she began to get the whole
family involved. I mean, not just me and my mother and sister, but her two
sons, their wives and six children, as well as her brothers, sisters, and
relatives. Before, she used to carry a Bible with her and quote Jesus
Christ. Now she has a Bhagavad-gita and quotes "the good Lord Prabhupada."
She became a veritable transcendental terror. Everyone in the family has to
chant at least one round a day. In addition Granny made everyone become a
vegetarian, including my dog Sikra, and we offer our food to a picture of
Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya.

Now I am also getting out of maya and chanting and reading a little also.
Where I go to school my friends inquire about Krsna, since they know I am a
devotee. The whole family goes to the nama-hatta, all sixteen of us. During
the Christmas marathon [for book distribution], we all tried to distribute
Prabhupada's books. Even Granny would take books with her to the market and
sell them to the vendors. Everyone is afraid of her because she is fearless.
They all think she has gone crazy, but she doesn't care.

Now she is saving to go to Budapest to see the newly installed Deities. She
has heard that Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda "came" to Hungary and are
being worshiped there by the devotees. She says she wants to see God just
once in this life.

At this year's Hare Krsna festival, you were speaking to the guests after
the kirtana. You must remember my grandmother because she came and sat right
beside you and asked so many questions. At the end when you stood to leave,
she even kissed your hand, remember? I also wanted to ask a question, but I
was shy. Could I please ask you now? I hope you do not mind, Maharaja.

I want to know what kind of man Srila Prabhupada was. He must be so dear to
Krsna to have spread this message all over the world. What are these books
that changed my family so much? How is it possible that he can speak so
powerfully through them? You must feel very fortunate to be his disciple.
How great a man he is! Sometimes when my Granny chants in front of a picture
of Krsna she cries. How does Prabhupada do that? I want to cry like that
too. Granny dreams of Prabhupada, and sometimes she talks to his picture.
Although it says on the cover of the book that he passed away, is Prabhupada
really dead, or is he still alive? Do you think I can meet him some day?

I am sorry that I have gone on so. I would like to be a good devotee one day
and help you and Prabhupada spread Krsna consciousness. Please could you
answer my questions?

Your servant,
Bhaktin Dora


Srila Prabhupada, what is this brand of mercy that you gave this old lady I
just barely met, which you never gave me? She never met you, never saw
devotees. She is not even initiated by you. What is this kindness that you
bestow upon her, which you do not give me, your "fortunate disciple"?

What am I referring to? It is just this. After having come in contact with
you for just a few months, what inspiration did you give this Granny in that
dream? What did you move in her heart that made her change her life in its
final days, that made her turn against the current of banality and tradition
and strike out alone to change her world? No sympathy, no association, no
institutional support. Boldness I do not possess, changes I do not have
strength to make.

Srila Prabhupada, I want to know what you say to her from your picture when
she talks to you? I have so many pictures. You do not speak to me through
them.

Although I worship Deities daily, I continue to see them as made of marble
and wood. How is it this old lady has the conviction that God has "come" to
her country? Why have you not given such vision to me? I want to cry like
that too. When will you give me that mercy?

Srila Prabhupada, this is one letter, from one girl who came in contact with
you. How many millions of such souls are there who have yet to write, who
are directly experiencing your mercy daily, who read your books with
implicit faith, whom you talk to in dreams and pictures, whose lives you
change abruptly and reward with tears when chanting the holy names?

How many people cross the boundaries of rules and regulations by the strong
boat of your mercy and practice and taste Krsna consciousness in a realm
beyond logic and good fortune? When will you one day bestow some of this
special mercy upon me that you give them?

If I am not to acquire it directly, even after begging for it, then I will
serve such souls who have reached your mission. I will offer them prasadam,
give them your books, and show them how to practice. I will chant with them.
Thus I can hope to gain a new perspective of your greatness, even though I
may never fully understand it.

Your insignificant servant,
Sivarama Swami


Sivarama Swami is ISKCON's governing body commissioner for the United
Kingdom and Hungary.

*Source: *http://backtogodhead.in/blessed-granny-by-sivarama-swami/
--

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare...  and be Happy.


--
"Chant Hare Krishna and be happy"

**************** CAUTION - Disclaimer ***************** This e-mail contains PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION intended solely for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by e-mail and delete the original message. Further, you are not to copy, disclose, or distribute this e-mail or its contents to any other person and any such actions are unlawful. This e-mail may contain viruses. Infosys has taken every reasonable precaution to minimize this risk, but is not liable for any damage you may sustain as a result of any virus in this e-mail. You should carry out your own virus checks before opening the e-mail or attachment. Infosys reserves the right to monitor and review the content of all messages sent to or from this e-mail address. Messages sent to or from this e-mail address may be stored on the Infosys e-mail system. ***INFOSYS******** End of Disclaimer ********INFOSYS***