Monday 23rd of December 2024. Brisbane, Australia, extreme eastern ocean suburbs. First of all, I was not even going to stop at this shopping centre at all, but due to its size I could not ignore it. So after parking my relatively large Samkirtan van not far from one shopping centre entry, on my second call I met one Indian gentleman at the Foreign Exchange booth. He used to come to ISKCON Brisbane in the Darra area but now he actively visits AND SUPPORTS Burbank Hare Krishna temple. This is simply a matter of convenience and nothing can be done about it. In that sense, a second temple in Burbank is a benediction for the population and the preaching effort. He agreed to purchase a Krishna Book.

On the fourth or so call I met one Indian lady in a variety shop. She asked for Hindi Bhagavad Gita, which I was able to supply. After examining the book, she was very pleased to receive her Hindi BGAII. That was my second Hindi Bhagavad Gita distributed since I decided to carry them. She even allowed me to take a couple of lanyards, which I needed for Krishna service.

At that time, I could observe that center management was preparing some action against my presence on their so called “private premisses”, as a female Security Officer was hovering around me and simultaneously talking into her communication system. Everything is owned and controlled by the Lord though. In that sense there are no private premises. Private premises are a creation of Maya, the illusory energy. And the reprensentative of Vishnu or the Vaishnava saint has got a priori right of access anywhere and everywhere to perform his preaching work. Of course, unless expressly invited, we have not interests in sensitive government defence premisses and the like. I merged into the crowd and approached another young Indian couple. I gave him my phone number and we agreed to meet later, as he was queuing for Santa Pictures with his family. Some insincere individuals will invent some pretext to avoid the matter. But that was clearly not the case here.

I sensed that Center Management intervention was about to happen and quietly sat on a bench. A male security officer came and warned me that if I did not desist and leave willingly and immediately, center management would use force to remove me. This is generally what happens and at this stage of historical development, we have no alternative but to cease and desist. But I trust there certainly is a legal way to establish the Vaishnava Preacher’s rights to go anywhere and everywhere to preach the glories of the Lord as happens in India. At the present stage instead, we are considered common sales people and treated as such and the wise way is to obey the orders of center management.

But on my way out and by the Lord’s arrangement, I met Akshaya again and his young family. He agreed to come to my Samkirtan van. He is a very pleasant individual, easy to talk to. No artificiality about him ! He is a geologist by trade and works now in the IT departement in a geology company. Most Indians I meet work in IT, where brain is needed. He accepted Krishna Book and commented that he was just looking for some reading material. I retorted that Krishna Book is Lord Krishna’s special arrangement for him to satisfy his reading hunger. He stated that Akshaya means “unlimited.” And I replied that in the ISKCON early days, we had an Akshayananda Swami from New Zealand, temple president in Vrindavan and that I was his temple commander in early 1977. To seal the deal, I suddenly realised and remembered by Krishna’s kind mercy that I had one single Mangal Aratik sweet left in the van. I offered it to him. He accepted as a matter of fact. I left my details with him and he left to join his young family again.

On the whole we see that Lord Krishna had a precise plan to supply 3 of His books to 3 individuals who were already advanced in Krishna consciousness. And I was able to contact these three individuals in the window of opportunity defined by the Center management’s intervention. This happens often under various circumstances. So speed and resolve of action are important components for success in such situations.

Lord Krishna cared for me further as there was ample prasadam left at the temple even though I arrived 50 minutes late due to driving across town..

Please praise the Lord and chant

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA HARE HARE