
Bhagavad Gita Talk Show in Gramedia Book Store, Bali (Album with photos)
Nila Kamal das: Gramedia is the most famous bookstore network in Indonesia. The company was founded in 1970 in West Jakarta and now Gramedia has more than 50 stores scattered around various islands in Indonesia. In Bali itself, it has 5 branches.
On the 12th of May 2017, HG Shyamasundarananda das Brahmacari (Mayapur) was invited by Gramedia management to present a discourse on the Bhagavad Gita. His grace spoke for around one hour touching various subject matters. He emphasized how the Bhagavad Gita is a law book for humanity at large and how it is not sectarian but is applicable for everyone regardless of caste, creed, and gender. To provide evidence for this statement he quoted a verse from the Gita; ‘One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.’ This verse, he explained is applicable to every single living being, not just Indians or Balinese.
Another point which touched the hearts’ of the audience was where he explained how that in all the schools, colleges, and universities, the highest education that can be learnt is; ‘We are this body and we have to enjoy this body.’ The Bhagavad Gita however starts at the point where Krishna explains to Arjuna in the second chapter, ‘As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.’
After the class had ended there was a long session of question and answers that took place from the inquisitive audience. Along with Shyamasundarananda das, HG Gopal das (Spain) answered the questions given. Finally, Bhagavad Gitas were distributed to those in the audience and Shyamasundarananda das signed them. Cake prasad was also distributed to the audience.
We thank the organizers of Gramedia Book Store for giving us the opportunity to speak about the glories of the Bhagavad Gita. We hope that our endeavors to spread the Lord’s message will please Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, and the previous acharyas.
‘Krishna takes a special appreciation for His devotees who are engaged in risking for His preaching work and He will give you special care and guidance at all times because you are sincerely trying to serve Him in this way.’
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9PIk4d