Sometimes the simplest hesitation — a single “but” — carries the weight of lifetimes. A young man offered exactly that word when the Bhagavad Gita was placed before him. What followed was a loving, urgent reminder that this human body is not a permanent residence, and the time to act is always now.
I offered him a copy of Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
“Bhagavad Gita?” he asked.
“Yes Prabhu”, I humbly replied.
“But I am already having it at my home town.”
“Why not here Prabhu?”, I asked.
“My parents are reading it…”
“So let that copy be for your parents forever and let this copy be for you — with you forever”, I suggested.
“Since this is the only time that you know your soul is there in this human form of home, please make the best possible use of this time. The landlord of this human home can come at any time and tell you to quit this rare form of home, Human Life. So before that time comes, just please Lord Hari by reading Bhagavad Gita and singing Lord’s glories. Your talking power must be best utilised for singing the glories of the Lord — Vachamsi Vaikuntha-Gunanuvarnane (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.18).”
Here is the beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam that encourages using our speech exclusively for glorifying Lord Krishna:
“But…”, he hesitated.
I smiled gently and said “This ‘but’ is becoming a cause for many births”
“What?”, he surprisingly asked.
“This ‘but’ is becoming a cause for many births and you know what is the meaning of birth in the material world?”, I replied.
“New life…”, he replied
“For? Disease… Old age… Death… Isn’t it?”, I asked.
“But that is there, we cannot do anything upon it…”, he replied.
“No… this is due to our ignorance. The knowledge through which we can be liberated, why we should keep that knowledge away from us. Kindly study Bhagavad Gita daily and ride on the boat of Harinaam which will let you meet your well-wisher”, I advised.
“Ok, can I see this”, while humbly looking at Bhagavad Gita.
That’s Great! HariBol!!
All glories to this sincere soul for accepting the Bhagavad Gita and giving himself a chance to make the best possible use of this rare human form before the landlord asks him to vacate!
Later, before leaving, I also offered him to learn flute and to listen its divine sound in his “me-time”.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who taught us to treat this body as a temporary guesthouse and the Gita as our permanent guide.
This conversation is a powerful push for every one of us who keeps saying “but…” — “but I’m busy,” “but later,” “but I already have one at home.” The human form is not guaranteed forever. The landlord (time/death) can knock at any moment. The only wise response is to stop postponing and start reading, start glorifying, start serving.
Even if your parents, spouse, or friends already have the Gita, make one your own personal companion — the one you carry, the one you open daily, the one that travels with your soul. Read a little. Speak a little of what you read. Turn your speech into Vaikuntha Gunanuvarnana. That is the best use of this temporary home.
If you’ve ever delayed your spiritual practice with a “but…”, let this story be your gentle push. The boat of Harinaam and the Gita is ready. All that’s needed is one firm step aboard.
What is one small “but” you are ready to drop today? Drop it in the comments — let’s encourage each other to stop waiting and start reading, glorifying, and crossing this ocean.
More real-life encounters of grace coming soon, all weaving into a book filled with these sacred, timely reminders. The landlord is kind — but He does not wait forever!