“Is He Always Smiling Too?”
This afternoon I was sitting on the grass in a park chanting japa when a young man came by jogging. He glanced over at me as he ran by. Minutes later he came back jogging in the opposite direction and looked at me again. Twenty meters down the path he stopped, turned around, and came back to where I was sitting.
“Every morning I see you sitting here with a smile on your face,” he said. “You seem so content. What is your secret?”
“It’s no secret” I said, “I’m chanting God’s names on these beads. God is the reservoir of all pleasure.”
“I see,” he said, looking intently at my beads. “Who taught you this anyway?”
“My spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.” I said.
“Is he always smiling too?” he asked.
“Oh yes he is,” I said. “It works for everyone”.
“Interesting,” he said. “Thank you very much!”
“You are most welcome.” I said.
The young man then turned around and continued with his jog throughout the park.
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“You are happy because you are chanting, dancing, reading Srimad-Bhagavatam and all the books. If you do these things regularly, then your life is a success. Anyone who chants and follows the rules and regulations, where is there room for anxiety for him?”
[Srila Prabhupada letter to Satsvarupa, Johannesburg, 21 October, 1975]
