Volume 4 - Chapter 16

[Guest guest]

Diary of a Traveling Preacher

 

Volume 4, Chapter 16

 

May 20-30, 2002

 

 

As my flight circled over Warsaw Airport waiting for permission to land, my

heart beat strongly in anticipation of the great adventure ahead. This year

marks the 12th anniversary of our Festival of India tour in Poland. Most of

the 200 tour devotees from 15 countries had already assembled at our spring

base in the northwest of the country. For several weeks they have been

cleaning and repairing our 32 tons of festival equipment - including a 15m

stage, sound gear, lights, tents, kitchen paraphernalia and trucks.

 

After the plane had landed and I was waiting in line for immigration

clearance, I called Nandini dasi and Radha Sakhi Vrinda dasi on my cell

phone. They have been busy organizing festival venues for months. We had

been in touch throughout the year, but during the past month we have had

little contact due to my intense travel schedule. When I contacted Nandini,

I asked her to give me an update.

 

She replied: "We've managed to arrange only four of the eight two-day

festivals planned for the spring tour. Town officials are generally

interested, but our opposition has been very active and is causing numerous

problems. The Deputy Mayor of Swiecie, who happens to be the head of a

political party in the region called Catholic Action, is particularly set

against us. When we approached him to do a fesitival in his town, he laughed

and said he would not grant us permission in 100 years. We are almost

certain that due to his influence, Chelmno, the second-largest town in the

region, also refused."

 

As I continued waiting in line, my mind was racing with ideas how to

counteract this man's opposition. I said, "I think you should approach him

again. Show him the many references and appreciations we have from mayors

throughout the country."

 

Nandini said, "We did approach him a second time. When we told him that many

people in the region know us - having been to our summer festivals on the

Baltic coast - and that elections are pending, he fell silent."

 

"Do we have that many sympathizers?" I said.

 

"Yes, of course, Srila Gurudeva," Nandini replied. "We've covered most of

Poland with our festivals during the past 12 years. Just last year we hosted

more than 750,000 people, if we include the Woodstock Festival. Almost all

of them went away with a favorable impression of Krsna consciousness. It

means we have many sympathizers throughout the country. However, we don't

expect Swiecie's deputy mayor to remain silent for long."

 

As I gave my passport to the immigration officer, I thought to myself, "I am

back on the battlefield." For a traveling preacher, Poland offers a unique

blend of friendliness and hostility. People either love us or despise us.

When they love us they do so with all their hearts, and when they despise us

it is with a similar intensity.

 

The immigration officer entered my name into the computer, and then looking

up at me hesitated for a moment. He was obviously not sympathetic to our

movement. Taking his stamp, he stared at me again then, scowling,

reluctantly stamped my passport granting me permission to enter the country.

 

As if to add insult to injury, as I walked into the airport arrivals hall I

was reminded of the Catholic Church's 10-year campaign depicting Krsna

consciousness as a cult in Poland: almost everyone was staring at me with a

distrustful look in their eyes. Was I, in fact, walking back into the belly

of the beast, as an astrologer had recently warned me against?

 

My hopes rose, however, as I walked to meet the devotees at the far end of

the hall. Several people looked and me and smiled as I walked by, and one

man in particular said heartily, "Hare Krsna!" He gave me confidence that

even if I was walking into the belly of Agasura, Krsna would be there to

rescue me.

 

When I arrived at our hotel base the next day, the devotees greeted me with

a rousing kirtan. We had all been waiting for the moment when we would begin

this year's festivals, many of us having worked on preparations since we

completed last year's tour in September.

 

A part of my preparation had been to purify my heart by spending several

months in the holy land of Vrindavan, hearing and chanting. Successful

preaching depends more on purity than on elaborate planning, capital and

facilities. When preparing for preaching, I always consider the formula

given by Srila Prabhupada: preaching is the essence, books are the basis,

utility is the principle, and purity is the force. While in Vrindavan I

became very attached to that transcendental abode. I thought the only reason

to leave was to preach in western countries, and by so doing receive the

full mercy of Vraja's queen, Srimate Radharani:

 

yatha yatha gaura padaravinde

vindeta bhaktim krta punya rasa

tatha tathosarpati hrdy akasmad

radha padambhoja sudhambu rasih

 

"To the degree that we surrender to Lord Caitanya's service, we gain

qualification for the service of Radharani's lotus feet in Vraja."

 

[srila Prabodhananda Saraswati, "Vrindavan Mahimamrta" Chapter 8 - Verse 88]

 

In my arrival lecture to the festival devotees, I emphasized the point that

we had all inherited a great responsibility from Srila Prabhupada to

continue with his preaching mission. Generally this responsibility is

entrusted to only the most confidential servants of the Lord. When Lord

Caitanya wanted to liberate Bengal, He sent His dearmost Lord Nityananda. In

time, the deliverance of Orissa was entrusted to Syamananda Pandit, and more

recently that of the whole world to our own beloved Srila Prabhupada. That

mission has now been entrusted to his followers, his disciples and

grand-disciples. But what qualifications do we have, compared with those who

have borne this torch of transcendental knowledge for thousands of years?

Srila Prabhupada himself once said that just as Lord Rama had conquered

Ravana with monkeys and bears, he was conquering the world with his own

version of monkeys and bears - his disciples! But monkeys and bears can be

made into pure devotees by the mercy of the Lord, as Mahaprabhu demonstrated

in the Jarikanda forest. So there is hope for the world if we, as followers

of Srila Prabhupada, adhere closely to his lotus footsteps.

 

After my lecture, Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda, along with Vara-nayaka

das, the festival internal affairs manager, came to see me. They asked if I

wanted to hear more of the recent victories and setbacks while organizing

this year's festivals. "Ayurveda recommends bitter before sweet," I

responded.

 

Radha Sakhi Vrinda's face became grave as she said, "Someone is calling the

towns where we have already organized festivals saying he is the Mayor of

Szczecinek, which is more than 200km away. This person is informing the town

councils that he allowed our festival in his town last year, and that it was

not well received by the citizens. 'They are a dangerous cult, and we have

evidence that they put drugs in the food they distribute. I strongly

recommend you cancel the event in your town,' the so-called mayor says."

 

I began trembling with anger and said, "This is the same nonsense someone

else tried last year. But they didn't get away with it!"

 

"Yes," Radha Sakhi Vrinda replied, "but this time it's working. The council

in Czluchow has informed us it has cancelled our festival there. It's such a

shame, as it is a very beautiful town."

 

I immediately remembered a quotation from my days as an anti-war

demonstrator in high school:

 

"In time of war, the first casualty is truth."

 

[boake Carter]

 

"You have to go back to Czluchow and tell the council the truth," I said.

 

Within minutes Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda were on their way to Czluchow.

By Krsna's arrangement the town council was in session, and after pleading

with the secretary the ladies were allowed to enter. Coming before the

assembly of 12 councilors, they presented their case that the telephone call

from Szczecinek was false and that we are representatives of a bona fide

spiritual tradition who simply want to share Vedic culture with the people

of their town. It didn't take long to convince the councilors that the call

was phony - a call to the actual Mayor of Szczecinek was sufficient - but

just when Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda thought they had registered a

victory, the plot thickened.

 

When Radha Sakhi Vrinda asked, "Will you give us back the permission for the

festival?" confident that the councilors would comply, she was met with

silence.

 

"What's the problem?" she asked. "The Mayor of Szczecinek said he loved our

festival in his town last year. Why are you hesitating to grant us

permission?"

 

Still there was no response. Nandini said, "You must tell us why you are

hesitating. We can answer any doubt you have. We have nothing to hide."

 

Finally, the Mayor of Czluchow said, "There's another, more important reason

we will not allow this festival to take place in our town."

 

"What could it possibly be?" Nandini demanded.

 

"It's Indradyumna Swami," the mayor replied.

 

Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda were momentarily stunned that the mayor knew

me by name - and even pronounced it properly.

 

"We can't allow your leader to come to our town," he said.

 

Gathering herself, Nandini said, "Why not? He's simply a priest representing

the spiritual culture of India."

 

"That may be so," the mayor said, "but he's also a charismatic American

preacher. Many of us have heard his lectures and we don't want him speaking

in our town. We are Christians."

 

Surprised, Nandini said, "You've heard his lectures?"

 

"Of course," the mayor said, "he's been lecturing at your festivals in

Poland for well over a decade, and you know as well as I do that your

festivals are famous throughout this country. I personally heard him speak

in Kolobrzeg two summers ago."

 

Thinking quickly, Nandini inquired if the mayor had liked the festival.

 

"Yes, I did," he replied, "it was very professional."

 

Sticking to this tack, Nandini said, "What if we bring Indradyumna Swami to

a council meeting? He can tell you personally what he will say in his

lecture at the festival. Surely he can speak on cultural matters if not

those of a spiritual nature. If you don't find anything offensive, you can

grant permission for the event."

 

The mayor thought for a moment then asked the councilors if they agreed with

the proposal, and eventually everyone raised their hand in confirmation.

They agreed that I could come to the council offices on the morning of the

festival to address them. Nandini's quick thinking had saved the day.

 

I was waiting for the ladies when they returned to the base, and was amazed

at Krsna's mercy - and their diplomacy. When they asked if I wanted to hear

more good news, I agreed and quoted a part of Lord Caitanya's Siksatakam:

param vijayate Sri Krsna sankirtan - "Let there be all victory for the

chanting of Lord Krsna's holy names!"

 

Nandini continued, "You remember how we told you that the Deputy Mayor of

Swiecie refused to grant us permission for a festival in his town, even in

100 years?"

 

"Yes," I replied, "how can I forget?"

 

"Well, yesterday we met a lady who came to one of our festivals on the coast

last summer. She told us how much she and her husband had enjoyed the event.

It turns out she's a well-known psychologist in Poland and is highly

respected in Swiecie. When she discovered that the deputy mayor had denied

us permission for our festival, she personally visited the Mayor of Swiecie

in his office and complained. The mayor then sent us a message that he wants

to speak to us early next week. It appears there is still hope for the

festival in Swiecie."

 

"This is excellent news," I replied.

 

"But we should never underestimate our opposition," Radha Sakhi Vrinda

cautioned. "Who knows what they are planning next? The more we're

successful, the more determined they become."

 

"Yes," I said, "we'll see what happens tomorrow when we hold the first

festival of the tour in Tuchola."

 

The next morning our caravan of trucks, buses and cars drove the 40km from

the base to Tuchola. As a crew of 30 devotees set up the festival site, our

harinam party chanted and danced through town handing out colorful

invitations. It was the third day of harinam in the town, and the people's

attitude was warm and friendly. I envisioned a successful festival.

 

My dream came true when that afternoon a crowd of more than 6000 attended.

It was a bright, sunny spring day, and people were happy to browse through

our 20 tents packed with displays, shops and restaurants. As always, the

stage show kept people captivated for more than five hours. The director of

the Culture House in Tuchola, who helped organize the festival, told us

afterwards it was the biggest event anyone could recall in the town. It

wasn't the first time I had heard such a comment.

 

As we drove home we savored the victory. I said to Sri Prahlad, "So much

mercy went out, so many books were sold, so many people heard the holy

names, and so many people took prasadam. It seems it will never end. We just

keep going year after year."

 

"Yes," Sri Prahlad replied, "anandam bhuddi vardanam - Krsna consciousness

is blissful when it's expanding."

 

When we reached our base, none of us could stop talking about the sweetness

of the festival. Our opposition seemed temporarily far away, unable to do us

harm.

 

Suddenly Vara-nayaka ran into my room. He said, "Srila Gurudeva, a

microphone has been found in the wall in Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda's

room. Someone has been eavesdropping!"

 

Handing me a professional minature microphone and radio transmitter,

Vara-nayaka said a devotee had been listening to the BBC on her radio and

was shocked to hear Nandini and Radha Sakhi Vrinda discussing the success of

the festival. Curious, she rushed up to the ladies' room. When Radha Sakhi

Vrinda was told their voices had been transmitted on the radio, she and

Nandini searched the room for almost an hour. They eventually found the

microphone and transmitter hidden behind a raised piece of wallpaper and

disconnected the device.

 

Our elation with the success of the Tuchola festival came to a close as we

pondered who had bugged the room and for what purpose they were using the

information. When we approached the hotel owner about the incident, he said,

"It seems someone is intent on learning your plans. During the past few days

I have received a number of mysterious telephone calls from someone asking

details about your group. When I demanded to know who was speaking, they

hung up. You'd better be careful."

 

We stayed up until the early hours of the next morning discussing our

strategy. Our opposition has stepped up its efforts and is using

sophisticated technology in its attempts to derail our program. We will

have to use extreme caution as we proceed. The thought crossed my mind that

for the next few months the bliss of spreading Krsna consciousness will be

mixed with the anxiety of pondering the opposition's next move, and

responding accordingly.

 

Nevertheless, we have one advantage: the mercy of the Lord, who grants

protection to His surrendered servants. If we remain pure in habit and

focused on our mission of spreading the glories of the holy name, we will be

successful. Of that there is no doubt.

 

durgesv atavy aji mukhadisu prabhu

payan nrsimho sura yuthaparaih

vimuncato yasya mahatta hasam

diso vinedur nyapatams ca garbhah

 

"May Lord Nrsimhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiranyakasipu, protect

us in all directions. His loud laughing vibrated in all directions and

caused the pregnant wives of the asuras to have miscarriages. May that Lord

be kind enough to protect us in difficult places like the forest and the

battlefront."

 

[srimad-Bhagavatam 6.8.14]