Chant: Hare Krishna

I have a knack of bumping into weird people. And also other interesting things happen on Sunday mornings, like this one: I was walking to my bike parked outside the gym, and my thoughts were interrupted by a Swamiji from ISKON. Extremely fair, well dressed in saffron, with a nice tilak on his forehead. He is on the mission of spreading Krishna consciousness, and doing it exactly in the style of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as he did in Nabadweep. He is getting hold of every unsuspecting men passing by, and requesting him to chant the Mahamantra (Hare Krishna ...). We had an eye contact and came the inevitable.

Swami: Bro, please chant with me, Hare Krishna hare Krishna ...
Me: What does a chant make any difference?
Swami: Krishna will help you out of this mess (sorry don't remember the exact wording he said, mostly in line of ending my sufferings).
Me: Uh, how'll he help?
Swami: He is the God, just chant his name! ...
Me: See dude, in Vedas, it says "Ayam Atma Brahman", and "Tat Tvam Asi". I don't have to care ...
Swami: (probably preparing a defense) Krishnamay Vishwa ... just take his name!
Me (hurriedly): Yenaham namrta syam, kim aham tena kuryam?
Swamiji was ready to continue the chat, but I was already scraping the bottom of my Hinduism knowledge (so wanted to run away). I remembered we'll have to inaugurate a gas tandoor at my friend's house, and for that I have chicken legs floating in wine at kitchen. I wore my sunglass again and terminated the conversation: Hare Krishna! He gleefully accepted, and repeated the same. Handed me a small picture of the kiddo Lord, and started minding his business again!

Whew! I hope he doesn't get hit by the rim of a mud-pot ...