Krsna Often Surprises Us

[Vijaya Baladeva das]

With the devotees from the San Diego temple I was distributing books
at
a table at Mesa College recently when a person who was apparently a
rabbi came over and began looking at the pictures I had on display --
the famous picture of the man with a cow's head about to slaughter a
cow
with a man's head, along with a reincarnation picture and a meditation
picture. As he studied the pictures I thought, "What's going to come
of
this? Is he going to tell me how far I am from the truth and make a
scene, or what?" He was decked out in Orthodox garb, with a yarmulke
(little hat), strings hanging down the side of his body, strands of
hair
on the side of his head, and black clothes -- a serious man of faith.
Then he looked at me and said, "Is that the Bhagavad-gita you have on
the table?"

I said, "Well, yes it is. Have you heard of it?"

"I've read some of the Mahabharata, and there is mention of it there.
Are you selling it?"

"We ask a donation for it."

"I've wanted to have the book for many years. Would $20 be OK?"

"Yes, that would be fine."

Krsna surprised me.

An hour later, as I was talking to two students, a middle-aged lady
walked up and began listening. When I distribute, I tell a few jokes
to
put the people at ease. As I made the presentation, the students
laughed
and found the book interesting. The lady, however, was very grave. She
had a hard look -- even scary. I thought, "She definitely won't take a
book." So I handed a book to each student. But they had no money, so I
gave them some free literature and they left.

Then I heard the lady say, "Would fifteen dollars be enough?"

I said, "Sure, that's fine."

She turned out to be a really nice lady and happily walked away with
her
Bhagavad-gita.

Surprised again.

I guess the moral is: You can't judge a book-buyer by his or her
cover.

Your servant,
Vijaya das