FIRST INSTANCE. According to Lord Caitanya’s perfect Sankirtan principle ” TO WHOMEVER YOU MEET,” I first offered “The Reservoir of Pleasure” to Molly. The name is important here, as we shall see. Her reply just astounded me: “Has this got to do with the Upanishads, because I just read about the Upanishads?” I replied: “Congratulations Molly, you couldn’t be closer, you just hit the nail on its head. In fact, I carry with me the Gitopanishad, the best of all Upanishads.” She thought and expressed that I was God-sent and of course, I am so, as is any other ISKCON Book Distribution Sankirtan person. I showed her BGAII V1, pocket edition, which she liked very much because “I like small books.” She decided to purchase on the spot, indeed, even though in her position of check-out-cashier, she is not allowed to carry personal money. She went to get some. Then I joked “Holy Molly!” and asked her what the meaning and background of this expression is, assuming that because of her name, people would joke with her quite a bit on the subject. She did not know and people don’t joke with her quite a bit about her name. But she did warm-up and we had quickly a genuine Sankirtan relationship. What a pleasant exchange it was! A holy Sankirtan soul to soul communication and communion, which may be easier with mothers than men. Naturally, mother’s affection is sweeter for the son and vice versa. The point here is that this young lady Molly is actually holy because of her transcendental inquisitiveness and because of her decision to acquire Bhagavad-gita As It Is on the very first occasion. I also informed her about the ISKCON BGAII controversy and that BGAII V2 is more or less a rogue edition, as are many of the 600 other editions. I still ignore the intended meaning of the expression “Holy Molly” and its origin. Although very excellent in its purposes, Wikipedia does not give any information and my I-dictionary refers me to a certain Ms. Olga Seryabkina, a Russian singer, songwriter, and dancer born in 1985. We must realize the importance of a name. Without a name, we are lost. Just try to find a foreign-land-town without knowing its name. It’s quasi impossible. We should also consider ourselves most fortunate because we receive the Holy Names from the parampara system. That means it is an authorized procedure and we don’t have and should not change things, as Westerners like to do. Therefore let us chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

All glories to Molly’s Krishna service!

SECOND INSTANCE. I passed the same second check out twice because I had forgotten to purchase a very much-needed item. The first time the check-out (young) lady helped me to locate the forgotten item from her company computer and I remarked that she did not wear a mask, which is currently more or less mandatory because of the new upsurge of the virus. She replied that she had a medical exemption because of her condition, which provoked my curiosity. The second time when I approached her, naturally I asked: ” So how is your health?” She revealed to me then that just a few days ago she had fainted at the very same work spot for wearing a mask, losing all consciousness for 20 minutes. “I can not remember anything whatsoever.” I found that very interesting because previously one person remarked that this mask principle is also a medical hazard in itself because it forces us to inhale vitiated air. When you breathe vehicle exhaust air you die. It is a method of suicide. One may also say it’s a bit like eating stool and that’s hog’s business. No human will eat stool, except for some medical men who for scientific purposes may have to taste stool, as Srila Prabhupada explains. Or perhaps this last info is a little out of date. Stool is body waste and one wants to get rid of it as hygienically and quickly as possible. Her loss of consciousness— some kind of epilepsy—also reminded me immediately of Lord Caitanya’s transcendental fits of epilepsy. In our Krishna cultural tradition, some very advanced souls will sometimes display such symptoms of epilepsy and I sincerely hope that this lady will become such an advanced soul soon. In the meantime, I showed her “The Reservoir of Pleasure” and the guy behind me, a small demon, started becoming envious and agitated. He clearly resented the fact that I was presenting Krishna consciousness and infringing on his so-called important time. At this point, I may quote Srila Prabhupada to establish and justify my own bona fide position:

“Dallas, 30 July, 1975

75-07-30

Srimatis Jagaddhatri, Pasupati,

Sailogata, & Pamela Devi Dasis

My Dear Daughters:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 29, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding the problem of how to be aggressive on Sankirtana and submissive in the temple, my request to you is that you should go on being aggressive on Sankirtana. I myself was aggressive in coming to your country. No one invited me. Even you boys and girls did not invite me. But, I came and I preached aggressively, and therefore you are now my disciples. So now you well know you have to approach the men and women of your country, and it may appear that superficially that you have to disturb them. They are doing their business peacefully, and you come and disturb them, “Please take this Krishna book.”

Of course it is good that you are concerned about being chaste, shy, and submissive amongst your god brothers. Canakya Pandit said that every man should see all other women as mother, and similarly a woman should see all men as son. So what is your difficulty? If you are completely aggressive on Sankirtana, there should be no material aggressiveness and pride remaining. You have to distinguish between devotees and non-devotees.

Aggression for the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is pure. If you become completely absorbed in such aggression to spread Sankirtana Movement, there will be no question of wanting to lord it over in the temple. Preaching purifies us of these material tendencies for sense gratification. It is simply a matter of time that you will see this. Do not worry. Krishna will help you.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami”

Subsequently, the demon came forward and interrupted and also insulted the check-out lady. I had to defend her, for which she thanked me. I gave her a complimentary copy of “Reservoir of Pleasure” and left the scene. In such situations, one must know precisely one’s legal rights and one’s no-nos and act accordingly. Expert legal advice may be required, as there are many considerations here.

THIRD INSTANCE. This was at one of these dozen automated check-outs with one single supervisor. The supervisor seemed Indian to me. I was wrong. She was a Bangladeshi Muslim and there was little point in offering her a “Krishna book.” Somehow I was short of five cents cash and I asked her to contribute, to which she agreed immediately by operating the required electronics. So this lady helped the shop to contribute 5 cents toward Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan Movement, which she would have never done otherwise because of her religion. She did it in the course of her occupation instead. It is infinitesimal, but she will be benefited accordingly. So will the shop. There is no doubt about it because BGAII 2.40 assures us: “In this endeavor, there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement in this path can protect one from a very dangerous type of fear.”

As far as Krishna related beauty is concerned, as per Bhagavad-gita As It Is 10.41, it can be found here but is not exclusively to be found here, as it can be found in billions of other places as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcnuZB4Xt4

And the accompanying movie shows just a tiny part of Lord Krishna’s universal form. This applies especially to the historical part. We note the unusual first opening (war?) cry and its echo. Sound vibration affects the deepest levels of our existence and being. There is only therapeutic or harmful sound. Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is the most therapeutic sound vibration of all! Therefore please let us practice the most efficient sound therapy and chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

It is the prerogative of the true brahmin to manipulate sound vibration to direct people’s attention away from the all-pervasive absorption in matter and toward Supreme Spirit i.e. the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, Srila Prabhupada being the perfect example of how to use this phenomenal art in Krishna’s transcendental service. Even for an old man with weakened thighs to get up from a squatting position without extraneous help, to emit some sound vibration will greatly assist. That is a very simple example and there are many others.

All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the channa Supreme Personality of Godhead!

All glories to His Worldwide Sankirtan Movement!

And all glories to its supreme commander, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!