Dovetail
Durban, South Arica
When walking in urban areas in the morning (and chanting) the creatures most common to be seen are cats, dogs and birds. Amongst the birds are doves. Here at the Chatsworth/Durban temple I see or at least hear a dove each day. I began thinking about the word "Dovetailing" so often used by our guru, Srila Prabhupada in his writings.
In a letter by him written 38 years ago on this day, Prabhupada wrote to a devotee friend of mine, Thakur Haridas, from Canada about dovetailing. Although the word was not spcifically used in this context it is totally implied.
Thakur Haridas was a novice monk living in California at the time when he went door to door in Hollywood. He knocked on the door of pop star Neil Diamond. Neil opened his home to Haridas for a couple of hours and had frank discussions with Haridas. Haridas then told Prabhupada of the experience.
Here is an excerpt from the letter on channelling your talents or dovetailing:
"My Dear Thakur Haridas,
Please accept my blessings, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1973 and also the screenplay, "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" from Mr. Diamond. So it is good work that you are getting important man to understand the importance of Krishna Conciousness in the modern world... I can undrstand from the play he is talented man. Now you have to impress upon him that when talent is used to glorify the Supreme Lord, that is perfection of talent. Just like one of our students, he is scientist, PHD and he can present God by scientific statement. He has written one small book presenting God Consciousness based on scientific statement very nicely so we are publishing it..."
The point made is if you have a skill, a talent, use it for a higher purpose.
12 KM
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