Jagabandhu Dasa: A few weeks ago, my good friend Raghavendu Prabhu joked about someone he knew being ‘kicked out of the temple’ for chanting “Nitai,” because he had apparently begun to chant “tiny” instead. I was immediately struck by the Brilliance of such an idea in the ongoing war against offensively chanting the Holy Name.

I have often considered Sri Narada’s Absolute Brilliance in encouraging a repentant murderer to chant Mara (Death) ceaselessly, thereby influencing Valmiki Muni to inadvertently, offenselessly chant the Holy Name of Lord Ram. And now this astounding revelation, that if a soul chants the word “tiny” over and over again while thinking it only means “very small,” the opportunity and possibility of offenselessly chanting the Holy Name of Sri Nitai becomes profound.

I have begun to suggest to my average American blue collar co-workers to say “tiny” repeatedly while thinking “very small,” and “It” will bring them much good fortune beyond their imagining. The great extent of such awesome potential good fortune for all souls is also beyond my imagination.

I have also frequently considered how the real devotees of Mahaprabhu, compelled by Compassion and Mercy are known to go to great lengths to reach out to the fallen forgetful souls of this world. We have heard that out of His Causeless Mercy, Sri Nitai would reach out to the souls in the “wine shops” of the day. In our contemporary world we have endless examples of the beloved disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Sri Jayananda Prabhu always reaching out to the fallen souls of this world in a similar Merciful capacity. And we must always remember Srila Prabhupada’s own expansive Mercy in reaching out to the lowest of the low in the Bowery of New York City.

Recently, a co-worker was killed in a motorcycle accident. When we had worked together last fall, I often used to sing to him the words “…Sing out Hare, Hare and dance the hoochie-coo..” from the Led Zeppelin song, The Song Remains The Same. He of course, thought I was just another Led Zeppelin fan.

Just the other day, my current work partner (an alcoholic construction worker) said to me, “I don’t know what it is, I just feel really lucky somehow.” I told him he was lucky. He had just witnessed me rescue a beetle while softly chanting “Hari! Hari!” repeatedly to it as I gently carried it outside where it could fly away And then I said, “prabhu kohe jiva doye, vaishnav seva nam ruchi.” Puzzled, he asked me to repeat myself as if I had mumbled something that he would hear better the second time. I said it again, prabhu kohe jiva doya, vaishnava seva nam ruchi.” “But what’s it mean?” he asked. I said it means that you are really fortunate beyond your imagining. In the midst of construction din at work he doesn’t know that I am always chanting Hari! Hari! He admitted that he would like to give up drinking and I told him if he said the word “tiny” over and over again, it would help him. Today, I will tell him what I learned from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada from the Teachings Of Queen Kunti about how even drunkards can become God Conscious by thinking that God is there in the flavor of their drink. What an Awesomely Merciful and liberal interpretation of Sri Gita (”I am the Taste of water.”- Sri Krishna)

As I was leaving the construction site yesterday afternoon, three of the Mexican workers who I sometimes sing “Jiv, Jago” to, shouted out to me, “Hey! Wake Up!” If only I could, if only I would, the possibilities are endless. And if everyone “woke up” together and all once such awakenment could benefit the world’s good fortune unimaginably. And Everything might then be harmonized on the Absolute Plane.

When a famous actor had an equestrian accident that left him quadriplegic, I quipped, “That’s not so bad really when you think about it. Most people are paralyzed from the neck up.” No. Really. Know Really.

Humbly,

the fallen soul known as

Jagabandhu Dasa

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