Srila Prabhupada Tells Short Stories


There was a professional dancer who used to hold
performances in many different places, including
outdoor sites. After one scheduled performance a
friend asked the dancer, "So did you perform last
night?"

"No," the dancer replied. "I could not."

His friend was surprised and asked why not, and the
dancer replied, "There was a hill." In other words,
due to the non-ideal situation, the dancer did not
perform. Prabhupada said that this is not a real
dancer. A real dancer would have danced even if the
hill was offered as the site for dancing. Even if the
dancing performance was not up to standard, a real
dancer would have danced under any circumstances.
Similarly, a dedicated disciple will perform his or
her duty even if facilities are lacking.

Srila Prabhupada related the story of a rat who became
liberated by offering service to Visnu. The rat was
running on the altar of the Deity, just at a time when
one of the ghee lamps was about to go out. The rat
thought that the flame might be some foodstuffs, so he
stuck his whiskers in it. The dying flame caught on to
the rat's whiskers and the fire flared up, catching on
to the unused portion of the wick. In this way, by the
rat's foolish sacrifice, the flame on Visnu's altar
continued to burn nicely. And for his service to
Krsna, the rat went to Vaikuntha. This is the potency
of devotional service to Krsna, even performed
unknowingly.

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa
Goswami




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