Story – 1
One day a very freakish artist came to Iskcon Sochi temple with Sri Isopanisad in his hand and told devotees his story:
“I was looking for you, people, for three days and I am unbelievably glad I have finally found you.
One day I bought this book (he couldn’t even name its name and author, Srila Prabhupada, but only stammered something) and tried to read it.
But it was very difficult to understand, so many strange words.
Therefore I put it on the shelf and cared no more about it.
I was drinking lot of alcohol.
One day while lying drunk in my bed I heard strange voices nearby.
It was something absolutely new.
I was looking for the source and saw two persons indistinctly.
They were speaking about me – about my life and how sinful it was.
They were recounting all my sins in great detail which I even didn’t remember and also a few good things.
Finally they came to conclusion: “He must go to hell!”
I was screaming in protest: “I don’t want to hell and don’t know what is going on at all.”
But anyway, at once one of them put a stringent rope on my neck.
I tried to get rid of it and run away but to no avail – the rope was very tight.
I was almost finished but suddenly a cover picture of this book (Sri Isopanisad with Lord Kesava and Sesa Naga) appeared before my eyes.
It was actually not picture but reality.
The snake was moving and out of sudden a flame emanated from his many mouths.
Totally bewildered about it I asked those persons – what does it all mean?
They answered: “This is just the hell where you are going to go.”
But all of sudden everything disappeared and I awoke in my bed, completely shocked.
Immediately I stopped drinking and smoking and tried to find you, devotees, to find explanation about all of this. I beg on my knees, let me stay here somewhere!”
( Story by Vaidyanatha Das )
Moral of the story:
1. This story refutes the scientists’ theory that one’s NDE is influenced by his/her cultural background – Easterners are supposed to have different experiences than Westerners.
2. We are all responsible for our actions and will enjoy or suffer results from them.
Story – 2 ( Encounter in a Dream )
“Before I joined temple I have been reading Prabhupada’s books like anything – sometimes for hours a day – and I developed a deep appreciation for them.
At that time I still lived in my rented flat whose owner was one woman living together with her daughter.
This girl was a heavy drug addict and often when she had nightmares her screams would wake me up.
One night I was awaken by her particularly horrible screaming.
I looked at my watch – it was 0:30 AM.
Knowing that this time is notorious for its inauspiciousness I was a bit afraid and confused.
But then I fell asleep again and in my dream I saw coming to me a strange figure looking like a devil – dark, with big ears and carrying a stick or something similar in its hand.
It was looking at me and laughing, “Oh, you read these books! Ho, ho, ho!” and pointed at my Bhagavatam lying beside my bed on a table.
At once I realized that I cannot do anything but if Krsna is in the hearts of all the living beings He can protect me.
Thus I got a feeling of security.
At that moment the dream stopped and I slept peacefully for the rest of the night. This incident even deepened my faith in Srila Prabhupada’s books.”
( Dear readers please comment on this stories )
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.