I Better Chant Really Good Rounds

During the eighties out at O'Hare in Chicago, the airport book distribution party had an hour and a half after mangal artik and tulasi worship to do our rounds and then it was into the vans and out to the airport. At that time there was a concerted effort under way to get the devotees out of the airport.
Teams had been organized by both the USO and one angry family - squadrons of navy enlistees and friends of the angry family would surround a book distributor and using clickers and even obscene and aggravating comments, they would break up any sales. They would tear up books and throw them in our faces. Sometimes people would even threaten to kill us. During the hour and a half Japa session I would have two thoughts chasing each other around in my head.
One thought would be..."I don't have time to chant these damn rounds, I might get killed today." That would immediately be chased away and replaced with the thought..."I might get killed today. I better chant really good rounds."
In this way my rounds had a real sense of urgency and so it is that insofar as I can recapture that mood and feeling as I do my rounds each day, I find that it's easier for me to be attentive and sincere in my effort to chant good rounds.

Posted on behalf of Sarvo

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