An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavad-gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way that he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavad-gita just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavad-gita do?”
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.
The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bhagavad-gita. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives.”
Appreciations from students on the Bhagavad-gita Course
I am very greatful to receive the Bhagavad-gita verses from you and wish to thank you. I also appreciate your compilation of chapter questions and the trouble you take to correct the answers, and I wish to thank you very much for this. Your study course has encouraged me to undertake the study of Bhagavad-gita more seriously.
Ingus, Latvia
Thank you for your enlightening reply. You have always been teaching me by example and for that I am very grateful, I can only offer my greatest respects to you with veneration. I have been learning verses 4.8 and 4.9, I try to keep the verses in my head during the day and this really helps to keep me focused, so again thank you for your encouragement, without which I would become complacent.
Krsnananda das, Guernsey
I am studying very hard to finish my PhD beside my full-time job. My “to do” list is so long, I have the feeling I will never reach the end. It causes me great anxiety, and I often think I just want to escape. But whenever I study Bhagavad-gita I feel I am one step closer to the real goal of life. I have a heavy and full schedule, but spending time on spiritual science every day does not steal time away from my material duties, but gives me the strength to be able to stand and fight. I have feelings of gratitude towards Dhirasanta das Goswami Maharaj. It is a really good feeling that somebody cares about us, and gives us encouragement in our spiritual life.
Braja Gopali dasi, Hungary
The last few days I had chance and motivation to immerse myself in studies of Bhagavad-gita. And I must say, it was really amazing experience! Topics contained in chapter 3 seems to be spot on about my current situation in life.
Viktors, England
Dhirasanta dasa Goswami