Diary of a Traveling Monk, Vol. X (November 2008-October 2009)

These book series (Diary of a traveling monk) should be regarded as extremely important, valuable bhakti literatures–from which generation after generation of devotees can derive deep inspiration and wisdom. These are the real-life stories of Krishna consciousness in practice.

Here is a small excerpt from the volume X of the series - Diary of a traveling monk.

“It’s Krsna!” “He’s so beautiful!”

Just before leaving the United States I thought of getting the deities an ATA carnet, an international customs document that allows merchandise or equipment to be temporarily imported into most countries without payment of duties and taxes. Nandini dasi applied for the document, and when I arrived in Poland I was relieved to find the papers that would allow me to take the deities anywhere without hindrance.

The day I left for South Africa I packed the deities in a special box and dressed myself in pants and a shirt just to be sure there would be no problems. On the way to the Warsaw airport I remembered how rude the officials had been when taking the deities from me. “You won’t be seeing Them again soon,” said one of them.

“If they try to take the deities again,” I thought, “I’ll enjoy seeing the shock on their faces when I hand them the ATA carnet.”

When I arrived at the airport I carefully put the documents in my carry-on bag. After checking in I went smoothly through immigration and then approached the security checkpoint. I felt a return of smoldering anger. “This is where they took away Radha and Krsna,” I thought.

I placed my carry-on bag, along with the deity box, on the belt of the screening machine. I walked through an x-ray machine and waited on the other side.

As the deities passed through the screening machine, the officer watching the screen stood up and picked up the box.

“Whose box is this?” he said in Polish.

“Mine,” I said.

“We’re going to have to check it,” he said, this time in English. “Can you open it?”

“With pleasure,” I said, pulling the customs papers from my side-bag with one hand and opening the latch on the box with the other.

“Please step back,” he said as he pulled the box towards him.

“Sure,” I said confidently.

In my mind, I smiled. “Just try to take Them away,” I thought, “and I’ll show you a thing or two.”

As the officer pulled the deities out of the box I placed the customs papers on the table in front of me. Suddenly he stopped. “Oh look!” he exclaimed. “It’s Krsna!” “He’s so beautiful!”

My mouth opened wide.

He picked up Radharani with care and attention. “And who is this?” he asked. “Uhh … It’s Krsna’s consort.” I said.

“She’s also very beautiful,” he said.

He looked up. “But isn’t Krsna supposed to be blue?” he said.

I was so surprised I could hardly speak. “Well … yes,” I said, “He is, but … these forms are made of brass.”

“And very old too,” he said, looking at Them even more closely.

“Actually, They’re not old,” I said. “Here are the papers …” But before I could finish my sentence and hand him the

documents, he carefully placed the deities back in the box.

“I believe Krsna plays a flute, doesn’t He?” he said as he closed the lock himself.

“Yes,” I replied.

Smiling, he handed me back the box.

“May I ask how you know Krsna?” I said.

“From the Festival of India,” he replied. “It’s a big event that happens along our Baltic Sea coast every summer.”

I looked at him intently.

“If you ever come in the summer you might want to go,” he said. “My family and I visit the festival every July in Rewal.”

With that he returned to the screening machine.

You can also read the series of the 'Diary of a traveling monk' online here.