Many years ago I was walking in a crowded London street when a smiling girl put on my heart a smiling little face. She spoke of yoga and meditation and the conversation with her led me to the ‘Govinda’ restaurant, in these years still called ‘Healthy Wealthy and Wise’.
The smiling little face was Lord Jagannath smiling to me. That was my very first encounter with Krishna consciousness, an encouraging, positive start.
The very first thing a sankirtan devotees does when meeting people, even before talking to them or presenting a book, is giving them a warm, sincere smile, just after that then they present the book.
When people smile, that smile opens the heart. People loves smiling, solar persons, they like loyal, generous friendly persons. Loving persons can move mountains.
Then, how much more important is the smile of a devotee? How much more important is the kindness and the loving attitude of a devotee!
Everything begins with a smile,
…At that time Krishna, smiling, in their midst of both the armies, spoke the following words….
(Bhagavad-gita 2.10)
Everything begins with a smile, from smile to prema. Then we can talk, and our words will enter into the heart.
Gopinath Prema das
