Volume 7, Chapter 10

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Diary of a Traveling Preacher

 

Volume 7, Chapter 10

 

July 23 - 26, 2006

 

By Indradyumna Swami

 

 

"The New Site"

 

 

Our festivals continued, unaffected by the deceitful anti-cult campaign of

the government. At least for the time being, we had the upper hand: our

programs were entertaining tens of thousands of people every week, giving us

good publicity. Still, I had learned long ago never to underestimate the

enemy.

 

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in

doubt."

 

[The Art of War, Sun Tzu, Chapter 10, Text 31]

 

So it came as no surprise when we received what appeared to be a blow to our

plans for the upcoming Woodstock festival. One morning Nandini dasi had a

call from the organizer of the event, our good friend Jurek Owsiak.

 

"I'm getting pressure from higher up," Jurek said, "so I'm going to have to

ask you to decrease the size of your village at Woodstock this year. You'll

also have to move from the hill overlooking the festival where you were last

year to a corner of the site."

 

Nandini was struck. "What happened?" she said. "Why such a big change?"

 

"You know the present political climate, as well as I do," he said. "A big

site like you had in previous years attracts too much attention and puts the

whole Woodstock festival in jeopardy. Don't forget, we have a common enemy."

 

Nandini came to me and told me about the call.

 

"Do what he says," I told her. "When selling an elephant one shouldn't

haggle over the price of the trident for controlling it."

 

The next day Nandini, Jayatam das, and Bhakta Dominique drove 300 kilometers

to Kostrzyn, the town where Woodstock would be held. Jurek's secretary

showed them a small spot near the entrance to the festival.

 

"You have 50 meters by 50 meters," he said.

 

The devotees stood dumbfounded, looking at the tiny area.

 

Nandini, with her usual sharp intelligence, came up with an idea. "It's not

practical from the point of security," she said. "You know how much the kids

love our village, especially the food distribution. Last year we distributed

more than 110,000 plates. There's not enough room here. There will be a riot

for the food."

 

"Hmm," said the secretary, "that's true. All right, 100 meters by 100

meters, but not a centimeter more."

 

Nandini called me as they drove back to our summer base.

 

"Guru Maharaja," she said, "I know we like to do our festivals in a big way,

but we'll have to resign ourselves to something smaller this year.

Nevertheless, Jayatam, Dominique, and I think the location and size of the

new site are not so bad. All the kids will see us as they come into

Woodstock. What's more, our site will be packed. It will be an intimate

mood."

 

Two weeks later, we finished the first half of our program along the Baltic

Coast. We packed up everything, and with all 250 devotees, drove to

Kostrzyn. I went straight to the new site. Dominique had already set up the

main tent, one-third the size of last year's.

 

I was impressed, and I could not help smiling. "Actually," I said to

Dominique, "I think this spot is better. We're right in the thick of things

with the kids."

 

As I walked around inspecting the site and the preparations, Jayatam came up

to me.

 

"Guru Maharaja," he said, "the elderly man over there is asking if he can

buy the large painting of Radha and Krsna, the centerpiece in the backdrop

behind the stage."

 

"It's huge," I replied.

 

"He doesn't mind," Jayatam said. "He wants to put it in his home. He said we

come once a year and then go away. He misses us all year, but if he has the

painting, he'll always feel close to God."

 

"Tell him he can pick it up it the day after Woodstock," I said.

 

"What's the price?" Jayatam asked.

 

"Give it to him," I said. "Who can put a price on love of God?"

 

As we drove away from the site, I saw a young man in his 20s with long hair

walking in with a backpack.

 

"He's arriving early," I said to Amritananda das.

 

Then I noticed he had a japa bag in his hand and was chanting.

 

"Look," I said to Amritananda, "he's chanting. Is he one of our men?"

 

Amritananda looked closer. "I don't think so," he said. "I've never seen him

before."

 

"Call him over," I said.

 

The young man came up to the car. "Are you a Hare Krsna devotee?" I asked

him.

 

He looked puzzled. "I ...uh ... like to read Bhagavad-gita," he said.

 

"Do you live in a temple?" I asked.

 

"A temple?" he said.

 

"Well," I said, "where did you learn to chant on beads?"

 

"From Bhaktivedanta," he said.

 

Amritananda and I looked at each other.

 

"Some time ago," he said, "I went on the internet looking for spiritual

knowledge and came across the Bhagavad-gita As It is. I ordered it and began

reading. Several times Bhaktivedanta mentioned the importance of chanting

Hare Krsna. I eventually discovered that chanting means chanting on beads.

So that's what I do."

 

"And you've never met devotees?" I said.

 

"Devotees?" he said.

 

"Yes," I said. "You see over there? There's a whole village being erected

called Krsna's Village of Peace. For the next week you can meet devotees of

Krsna and learn more about chanting Hare Krsna."

 

"Well ... Okay," he said.

 

"We'll speak more over the next week," I said as we drove off.

 

For the next few days we worked feverishly to construct the village. I was

tired from a month of festivals along the coast, but the fatigue soon

vanished as I thought about the prospects ahead.

 

"Three hundred thousand people will get a strong dose of Krsna

consciousness," I said excitedly to Amritananda as we helped unload 22 tons

of foodstuffs from a truck into a kitchen. "One may have to wait many

lifetimes for such an opportunity."

 

Nandini saw a hint of the success ahead when she went to a public school

where we wanted to board our devotees and to cook for the festival. Nandini

was apprehensive. Last year she had received a cold reception from the

headmistress of the school.

 

But this time the headmistress greeted her warmly. "I am so happy you have

come back to Kostrzyn," she said to Nandini. "You are welcome to use the

school facilities during the Woodstock festival."

 

"Thank you," Nandini said. "But you are very different from last year. What

made you change?"

 

The headmistress smiled. "I visited your village at Woodstock last year,"

she said. "When I came, one of your leaders was speaking on the stage. After

listening to his talk, I understood that the values you uphold are

everything we try to impress on the children we teach. But the real change

came when I walked through the whole Woodstock festival. I quickly went back

to your village, grateful for the atmosphere of peace, tranquility, and

cleanliness.

 

"The next day I returned to your village, but for a different reason. My

father had recently died, and I was deeply affected. I was looking for

answers to many questions about life. I ended up in the yoga tent, and the

instructor taught us about asanas as well as philosophy. I found much relief

from my difficulties. Since then I practice yoga three times a week and have

introduced yoga classes in the school."

 

"That's wonderful," Nandini said. "I'm glad to hear we made such a

difference in your life."

 

"Can I ask one more favor?" the headmistress said. "I am looking for an

English teacher for the school, but I want someone high-class, with

spiritual values. Out of love for the children, I can't imagine employing

anyone with lower standards. I'll provide a good salary, a nice house,

insurance - everything. Just get me a Hare Krsna to teach the children."

 

Nandini laughed with pleasure. "I'll try my best," she said.

 

The headmistress walked Nandini to the door. "I'm looking forward to this

year's festival," she said, "and I'd like to compliment you on your new

site. It's perfect, right at the entrance of the festival, a good place for

spreading your message. From what I've heard, the whole town of Kostrzyn

will be visiting Woodstock, or better yet, Krsna's Village of Peace."

 

Nandini could not help smiling and laughing the whole way as she drove back

to the festival.

 

"People are praising our activities," Srila Prabhupada once said. "If we

keep our standard, then they will appreciate. They'll say, 'Oh, it is very

nice, these people are good.' Sometimes in [news]papers they say, 'These

Hare Krsna people are nice. We want more of them.'"

 

[srimad-Bhagavatam class, Los Angeles, December 7, 1975]

 

Indradyumna.swami (AT) pamho (DOT) net

 

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