By Gaurangi Dasi
It’s been a long time since we did not give you news of Yasodadulal Dasa, our super enthusiastic and blissful sadhu – a married man living as a genuine traveling and preaching sannyasa, though dressed in white. On July 4, 2015, after two years of preparations, he started his one year tour of the South and North Islands with a horse cart carrying the deities of Nitai Gauracandra, books, a tent and his few possessions. Even though some devotees accompanied him for a while at different times, he was basically on his own, with no support party to find accomodations and contact the press for him, or bring him tasty prasadam. While walking Yasodadulal is continuously chanting Hare Krishna while beating on his red mrdanga for the benefit of humans and non-humans alike. Needless to say he is a big attraction when he gets in a town, as nothing much happens there, and he’s regularly featured in local papers or on TV channels. Kiwis (New Zealanders) are very friendly and favorable to Hare Krishnas : people invite him in their homes- he even occasionally cooks for them – and of course shares Krishna consciousness with them. His huge and warm smile is enough to convince anyone of the value of a devotional lifestyle.
A couple of months ago the owner of the horse took her animal back, so Yasodadulal decided to contitnue without cart, sleeping bag, tent and cooking equipment. All he carries now is his red mrdanga, a water pot anda medium size bag thrown over his shoulder containing a change of clothes, a light gamsha, his suci kit and a few pamphlets. He is totally depending on Krishna, who reciprocates with His servant in wonderful ways. Everybody is giving something : food, hospilatity, shelter, money and friendship. Last February he arrived in a small town, with only 30$ in his pocket. Eager to distribute prasadam, he went to the local supermarket and spent this money on ingredients to make bliss balls, which he offered and distributed. People were very happy and they reciprocated by givin a total of 100 $ in donations. Another time the owner of a vegetable store paid half his bill and the owner of a big supermarket told him, « Just take whatever you want » , while opening wide his arms. Once someone gave him a pumpkin, but how could he carry such a heavy load ? So he just knocked on someone’s door and said,« Do you mind if I can cook this pumpkin here ? » The older couple who lived there agreed on the spot, and it turned out that they were trying to become vegetarians.
Yasodadulal will continue living like that for the next 3 months. At the end of July he will have walked around 2500 kms, enlivened and enlightened so many souls along the way.
Follow his adventures on his Facebook site (diary, poems and photos) :
Facebook Site : Up to December 2015 : it’s called « Spirit South »
After December 2015, it’s called « Spirit South-Going North »
https://www.facebook.com/spiritsouthnz
