July 03, 2026
HH Indradyumna Swami shares a realizations on tolerance, reflecting on the survival story of Robert Adams to overcome the small discomforts of traveling and preaching.
Discomforts of Modern Travel
After experiencing traffic delays, losing patience with passengers at airport security, and having to squeeze my carry-on under my seat, I was feeling irritated and tired. But then I found a book in the seat pouch: The Narrative of Robert Adams, which immediately humbled me.
The Story of Robert Adams
Adams was a merchant seaman shipwrecked off West Africa in 1810. He was captured and enslaved by Moors, dragged through the Sahara, traded to Tuaregs, and spent years in captivity before finally being ransomed.
Comparing my modern travel issues to Adams' extreme suffering made me realize that the minor discomforts of preaching are nothing compared to the happiness of devotional service. As Srila Prabhupada wrote, tolerating travel difficulties for Krishna elevates a devotee to the highest point of surrender.
Comparing my modern travel issues to Adams' extreme suffering made me realize that the minor discomforts of preaching are nothing compared to the happiness of devotional service. As Srila Prabhupada wrote, tolerating travel difficulties for Krishna elevates a devotee to the highest point of surrender.