GVP Book Distribution Blog & News

On the Train

2011-03-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

by Vasanti dasi

Distributing books on the train is really fun. People are just sitting with nothing to do and it’s nice to walk through each car and offer everyone a chance to read something. I pass out the books to all in the compartment and then tell them it is a beautiful book about Krsna.

There were three police sitting and I offered them a book and they said no, so then I turned to the next people and there was a man lying down on an upper seat. I offered him the book, he took it, and asked if it was free. I said, no, it is ten rupees. Then he showed me his left hand and that he was handcuffed to the rail. I was in shock. I said, “Jail?” He nodded his head yes. I asked, “Why?” He made a motion of cutting his head and said kill. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but thought it meant he killed someone. I said, “For you, this book is free. It will help you.” He was so grateful. Then I left that car and had to pause and get grounded after that experience. I headed up the prison program for our International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society, and there just felt some difference between getting a letter from an inmate, and distributing a book personally to one. Really all jivas are suffering….

When I went back, I saw that he was reading. I wanted so much to take a picture of him reading the book for this report. So I thought I would hurry back to my seat (four cars a way) and get my camera. As I was walking back to my seat, so many people who originally said no to buying a book, then stopped me, and said, “Excuse me, can I see that book now?” So I would wait while they looked through the various books I had. I finally got the camera and hurried back to take the picture. By the time I got back, the train pulled into Delhi station, and the prisoner was at the door handcuffed to one of the policeman and about to get off the train. He thanked me and the police also smiled at me.

I followed them off the train to try and get a picture, and this is what turned out....

Nice Korean lady studying in India

Samsara hogya

2011-03-06T04:15:00.000-08:00

By Jai Sri dasi

Overcast skies were no match for the jubilant smiles of the ladies book distribution team as we headed for Har Ki Pauri, the main ghat in Haridwar for this years observance of Siva-ratri. Last year's Siva-ratri was also Kumba-mela and consequently we could hardly walk a few feet without a tidal wave of Siva bhaktas eagerly reaching for a copy of Siva-tattva. This year, as we strolled down the same path, I was a little worried to see only small tributaries of people coming our way. Luckily, all my fears were dispelled once we reached Hari Ki Pauri and I remembered its India! There’s always a crowd waiting nearby! My eyes met a kaleidoscope of colourful jivas gathered around the Ganga for bathing and puja. Initially I was a little nervous about approaching unknown people (it having been a while since my last book trip) but Gurudeva is ever full of surprises and eager to ease my anxiety in the wake of his seva.

I was happy on the first night to meet a young boy from Japan. We shared our common love of India and he told me he was hoping to study some yoga during his 6 months here. As I began to tell him about Bhakti yoga he instantly pulled out his journal and starting taking notes. I was really charmed by his eagerness to learn and told him I had some books he could take with him. Joyfully he replied "For me?!" He gladly took three books and gave a donation. At that point I noticed he had tulsi around his neck. He didn’t know anything about it but said he had gotten it in Rishikesh. I assured him it was a sign. I left feeling so inspired by his openness! With nothing to fear he was able to take away precious jewels in the form of Srila Gurudeva's transcendental books. And now he is planning to come to Navadvipa!

The next day I met a young Indian boy who told me he wasn't much interested in Indian culture and explained how he didn't think people should go to temples to ask for things that they can easily work hard for, and at the same time, he said, their karma would determine what they would or wouldn't receive. I agreed with him and we spoke about the importance of approaching Krsna instead with our spiritual desires, our need for Truth and True Love. He identified with this need and said "Yes, that is what I am looking for" and confessed "I am quite an emotional guy." I could see his sincerity and depth despite trying to profess that he wasn't spiritual. We agreed to keep in touch and continue our conversation. Using his interest in the west, I was able to use a film example to explain how our consciousness is covered by ignorance. In the movie Inception, the characters find themselves within several layers of dreams, trying to make their way back up to the surface of reality. As I see it, we are in a similar predicament. A dream within a dream, ad infinitum, and Srila Gurudeva comes to wake us up to the reality we seek.

That wasn't the last time I got the opportunity to use my immersion in maya for prachar. Later that day I was feeling tired and decided I needed some ice cream. Yamuna devi dasi also came and as we walked inside the shop she started to share books with the men working. She had a group of seven surrounding our table. At first I wanted them to go away, I just wanted my ice cream! But then as I was sitting and enjoying, I remembered the Hindi Jaiva Dharma I was determined to distribute. I reached into my bag and handed the Jaiva Dharma to one man standing in front of me, "This is the book you want." I said. (Jedi mind trick *wink*) He took the book and after looking through it for a while, decided he did in fact want it! I was so astonished! Have no doubt; Srila Gurudeva is always many steps ahead of us. The young man held his Jaiva Dharma, and with a simple heart said "I have a feeling this is a very special book." A village man who bought several books from Karunamayi dasi also felt the same way when he kindly expressed to her "It is very rare to meet someone like you and to find books like these." It’s moments like these that make book distribution worth every second.

One evening Anita dasi was asked if she could explain the topic of the books in hindi. Put on the spot she quickly scanned her brain for the best combination of the 50 or so hindi words she knows. Being the ever clever Anita we love, she discovered the most succinct way to explain Bhakti yoga to beginners. “Bolo Hare Krsna, Samsara hogya, chelo (while pointing to the sky)” For those of you that need a translation “Chant Hare Krsna, the cycle of birth and death will be finished, then off we go” We all got a good laugh about the brilliance of this explanation and I even found myself using it later.

All glories to Srila Gurudeva's magical endeavors to put us in the right place at the right time! How wonderful it is that has given me this opportunity to meet people and instantly engage in transcendental conversation. Without him my life would certainly be meaningless.

Siva-ratri in Hardwar

2011-03-03T23:09:00.000-08:00

by Vasanti dasi

I must be honest – I was feeling some trepidation about distributing books in Hardwar for Siva-ratri. It was the first time that I would be distributing books after Srila Gurudeva’s physical departure from this world. I had some fear and sadness and a range of emotions. I was thinking how easy it was to talk to people in India and that my entire motive was to show them Gurudeva’s picture and encourage them to come meet him, a pure devotee of Krsna. Now what would I say.

What to do? I couldn’t miss Siva-ratri in Hardwar. The Siva-tattva book is special to me and I know that Gurudeva wants book distribution.

Once I got to the ghat (the bank of the Ganga) where all the shops and people are, we set the books out and people immediately began to approach us. The second I picked up a book , a wave of joy overcame me and there was like no difference now or before in distributing books. The same conditioned souls are wandering by and as a messenger, I have the incredible fortune to share such transcendental life-altering truths.

I gave one man a Hindi Secrets of the Undiscovered Self. When he saw Srila Prabhupada’s picture, his eyes lit up and excitedly said, “Swami Maharaja, I’ve met him.” He bought the book from me for 10 rupees. Then a few minutes later he came upset and said, “you cheated me. This book is not by Swami Maharaja.” I was nervous at first by his reaction and didn’t know what to say. I opened to Gurudeva’s picture, begged his guidance, and then said, “This is Swami Maharaja’s successor and he is teaching the exact same teachings as Swami Maharaja did. You think you are an Indian man, and I think I am an American woman, but really we are the soul – our atmas are the same.” He got a big smile, and said, “Yes, thank you. “ I said, “Hare Krsna” and he walked away.

We took one box of books that was labeled Secrets of the Undiscovered Self (in Hindi). This is the most popular seller in India. The cover is so dynamic and all are attracted to it –and the book is only 10 rupees. When we got to the ghat, and opened the box, to our surprise, it was a box full of Hindi Sankalpa-kalpa-drumas. “Oh my gosh, how to distribute such a high book? Do we really believe Gurudeva’s words, ‘All for all?’” I even heard him say, “All for all” personally in the Fiji airport. We were all laughing, and decided must be Lord Siva’s mercy on the jivas to give the highest benediction – manjari-bhava. After all, he meditates on Radha and Krsna’s asta-kaliya-lila. We all tried to push that book and occasionally someone would buy one. It is 20 rupees, and thanks to the sponsorship program, we even offered it to people for 10 rupees. Then, one young boy came to our table. Taruni showed him the Sankalpa-kalpa-druma. He looked at it and I also showed him Siva-tattva. He then took 4 Sankalpa-kalpa-drumas and two Siva-tattvas (all for 100 rupees). Taruni and I were surprised thinking, “Why would he buy four?” What will he do with them? Then, a few minutes later, he came back and bought four more Sankalpa-kalpa-drumas and two more Siva-tattvas and gave us another 100 rupees. Taruni looked at the 100 rupee note and asked me, “Is it real? Or, is it counterfeit?” Between the 7 of us, we distributed about 30 Sankalpa-kalpa drumas on Siva-ratri day.

Transcendental Book Distribution ki jaya!!

Anita speaking to nice students from Jaipur

The Trip Unfolds - Siva Ratri in Haridwar 2011

2011-03-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

I think the last few months have been a very emotional and intense for all of us. I have felt the need to be very gentile with myself and others as we attempt to process Srila Gurudeva entering nitya-lila. Many plans have been altered or canceled, but I kept feeling a nudging to come to Haridwar for Siva-ratri again. Partly out of my anxiety that the book worms could be slowly devouring all the jewel like books we stored in Haridwar, partly remembering last year’s bliss of standing with a crowd around you grabbing Siva Tattvas out of our hands, and partly a desire to find a connection with Srila Gurudeva through trying to serve his desire for book distribution I booked the tickets.

GVP Book Sponsorship recently printed many fliers in Hindi and English so that money is never an obstacle for anyone to come in contact with the soul piecing message of our guru-varga. But I admit that the night before we left, when I stared at the boxes of pamphlets needing to be folded my mind grumbled, “forget it, we don’t have time to fold them.” But out of duty I filled up a big box while Taruni dasi convinced me we can fold what we can on the train, though I was still grumpy because I prefer to distribute books on the train.

The next morning our party of six made our way to the Mathura train station.

Once we boarded the train and all our luggage and boxes of books we settled I pulled out the good news, “lets fold fliers!” As I began to pull out stacks of the A4 sheets that needed folding, Syamarani didi’s words, “you can have the new people you meet help” came to mind.So I just began passing out stack to the other people in our compartment. Yamuna dasi quickly folded them a sample, and with the simple exchange of the word “seva” they began folding – two, three, four people. Then the fellows in the next compartment came to see what we were doing, and when I offered them a stack to my delight they took it. Periodically they would hand us a bunch of folded fliers and I would smile and offer them another stack to work on. A few people came to their stop and had to go and few more came and wanted seva. In less then three hours all the fliers were miraculously folded. We let everyone who helped pick a small book in appreciation.

Cebu distribution

2011-02-28T04:43:00.000-08:00

by Anjali dasi from Cebu, Philippines

We have gathering from my high school Batch 1994 last Sunday, and I brought 20 pcs. of Secrets of the Undiscovered Self and I distributed it to them, and they are very enthusiastic to read it and they like it very much. Some of them take 2 because they likes to give that to their special someone.

After that I go home around 2:30 p.m., but due to my son's (shyam) fever, I asked the Big sisters in our Krishna Kids School to continue distribute the books in our neighborhood and to some parents of the Krishna Kids. I hear from them that the people received the books are very happy and most of them especially the fathers said that "This is very good so that we don't have to think always drinking and gambling".

I'm so sorry I'm not really a very good story writer but I hope the pictures will give you more thoughts and story to tell. Hoping for your understanding.

I still have books to distribute, soon I will send you update for the book distributions in University of the Visayas with my niece Jovie Didi.

Hare Krishna!

Anjali Dasi (CEBU)

2010-12-15T07:04:00.000-08:00

Book Distribution Asylum Seeker Centre, Cork

All Glories to Sri Guru and Guaranga! I started the book distribution on 6th December 2010 from the main reception of the centre. During this time, one lady refused to take one initially saying she was a Christian. I told her I also love Jesus Christ and that there is only one God, she took the book. Another resident of the name Charles spoke about how he never ate beef but ate other meat such as chicken. He was happy to receive a book.

I gave a book to a lady who faces deportation, she was very happy to take a book and posed for photos with it. Another lady took one but refused to be photographed. One Brahmin asylum seeker from Mauritius was thrilled to take a book and asked for 5 more to distribute amongst his friends in the centre.

That evening, when I was finishing my shift I left some books in the reception area. I was delighted to see that the next day, 7th December, they were all gone. When I was going for my lunch, I left more on the table in reception and when I was finishing that day, I left more there.

On the 8th December, there was a lot of fighting in the centre, two ladies were arguing all day and it was really taking a lot of time and energy to restore the peace. The arguing was going on two days.

One of the ladies involved came to the office to speak to the manager and when she was waiting to go in I handed her a book. She left it to one side while she went in and spoke to the manager. When she came out, I said to her “Don’t forget your book”. She replied, “You want me to read this?”

I was surprised when the security guard next to me said to her “Yes, go read it, it’s a book about peace, love and harmony, you really need that now! Go read it!” I was amazed at the power of a pure vaishnav, Gurudeva is truly merciful!

I realized that leaving the books in the reception area was an ideal place, as the centre is open 24 hours a day and this gives residents a chance to take a book when I am not here. Sixty books out of a hundred have been distributed and I am sure that they will be gone by next week.

I am thinking of keeping some to one side to give to people in times of strife such as the arguing this week that turned to violence and assault and terrified the children of those involved who were present at the time.

I will be in touch soon with another update!

Your lowly servant

Tarini

Faridibad Book Stall

2010-12-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Last weekend a group of 3 devotees including me & 2 others organised a book stall in one of the biggest shopping mall in Faridabad. By Srila Gurudev's mercy I got the approval to organize a stall without any charge for 3 days. During these 3 days we Distributed about 300 Books from little ones like the way of love (50 Copies), beyond liberation, Secrets of the undiscovered Self, Chamatkar Chandrika, Damodrashtakam, Prem Samput to Big ones like Bhagawat Geeta (10 Copies), Raas Panchadhyai (2 Copies), Journey of the Soul (10 copies) & Jaiva Dharma (3 Copies). Along with that We Distributed lot of Transcendental Pictures.

I would like to share some of the wonderful experiences. A man named, Jamuna Prasad left his home to pick his children from the tudoring. He was delayed in being able to pick up his children so He was passing his time at the mall. He landed himself in front of our book stall to buy Jaiva Dharma, Raas Panchadhyayi, lot of other small books along with one year subscription to our monthly magazine "Bhagwat Patrika". Srila Gurudev brings Jivas to the Transcendental world through so many ways.

I also came across a school teacher who worships Lord Shiva. When I showed her the position of Lord Shiva through the map of the worlds printed in "Journey of the Soul", She was so happy. She bought a copy of the Journey of the soul along with Siva Tattva.

The most amazing part about this book distribution was the ISCKON book stall next to us. When I ran out of my BG I distributed few of Prabhupada BG & Krishna Book. The ISCKON leader (Gopeshwar Prabhu) & Others showed love & affection towards Srila Gurudev. He said Together we can fulfill the mission of our Acharyas & Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. At the end of the 3rd day they gave us Prasadam & Milk to us. It was a heart melting experience with them.

Puri Book Distribution

2010-12-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Today 2 girls from our book distribution seva team – Taruni dasi and Yamuna dasi – went out for an experiment. We wanted to distribute books near the Jagannatha Temple. We thought it would be a great chance to meet very pious people from all over India, who came especially to take darshan of Lord Jagannatha. We cannot go inside due to our fallen condition, so we were doing kirtana just near the main entrance. There was a big crowd there – hundreds of people searching for spiritual experience. We found distributing books there really easy. Yamuna was surprised, “I didn’t have to do anything. The books themselves did everything, books and kirtana, and Srila Gurudeva, and Sri Jagannatha.” While we were singing the maha-mantra, people were crowding around us and asking for books. We were non-stop giving them Ways of Love, Damodarastakas and especially Jagannatha Ratha Yatras. This constant flow was interrupted time to time only by dwarfish South Indian cows who were suddenly knocking their cute muzzles on our hands asking for some caresses.

I saw nearby one honorable looking Indian family and approached them with books. I was surprised to know that they came from New York. I asked the young gentleman, why didn’t he go inside the temple to see Lord Jagannatha. “My mum went for darshan,” he said, “but I didn’t go, because I feel bad they don’t allow foreigners to come inside. I think the Lord is for everybody, not only for Indians”. He bought the Jagannatha Ratha Yatra book.

Yamuna met very sweet children, with such a very natural and playful mood – she was just charmed by them.

In about two hours all our bags became empty and we managed to come back to Srila Gurudeva’s temple in time for evening prasadam. Now we are waiting for the rest of the girls who should soon come from the book fair, looking forward to hear their news. We’ll write more tomorrow.

Bhubaneswar Book Fair

2010-12-11T19:39:00.001-08:00

BOOK DISTRIBUTION SEVA IN BHUBANESHWAR
07.12.2010 – 09.12.2010

Haribol devotees! Dandavat pranams and greetings from Bhubaneswar and Jagannatha Puri! Yesterday 6 young devotees in our ladies seva team travelled to the annual Bhubaneswar bookfair to continue the distribution of Srila Gurudeva’s transcendental literature. After an auspicious morning of parikrama of Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama under the senior guidance of Sripad Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja, the ladies seva team arrived infused with an exalted mood from the dust of the holy Dhama. Jaya!
With more than 500 publication groups participating in the book-fair, in various genres such as yoga, philosophy, literature and education, we were met with a crowd that was open and eager about reading, ideas, and spiritual life. Many young people gladly accepted “The Way of Love” and “Journey of the Undiscovered Self” which opened many a lively conversation on the nature of the soul and for contact with other amazing books. For half the team, this bookfair marked their first book distribution seva. Taruni dasi observed an upbeat and brave spirit in the new ladies as they approached book browsers for the first time. Despite certain language barriers we realized that sincerity and trust in Gurudeva and the books empowered the strong connections we made with others.
Sita dasi shared that many were astonished and curious to encounter Western women distributing books on Krishna. “Why have you left your country of opulence and wealth (so many conceptions of USA and Russia) to come to India? Who are you? How do you know Lord Krishna?” We shared about the power of Srila Gurudeva’s mission distributing the true wealth to the lost jivas – pure bhakti. Just as the bee is attracted by the nectar of the flowers, so our hearts are searching for the highest love and affection. In many of our encounters, Indians expressed moods of deep appreciation and honor toward the power of the Vedas to speak to souls all over the world. Such is the nature of the Absolute Himself! The sakti of the transcendental literatures lifted our energies to continue book distribution late into the evening and periodically we checked in with one another to exchange inspiring anecdotes from those who received books.

Yamuna Flood

2010-09-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Dear All,
The Yamuna River has not been so high in over 30 years. This year she kept growing and growing until she finally flooded homes and unfortunately, after devotees watching and watching - she flooded our basement book storage room. The water came in through the drains, so that is why no one caught it in time. The Yamuna was not all the way up to our building yet - but the drains were overlookedS.

The devotees did a Titanic delve into the water and got all of the boxes out of the water. Then so many devotees helped with taking all of the books out of the boxes and packages and lying them out one by one all over the temple room, empty rooms (under the fans) and all over the building. We are still doing this and so many of the books have been saved. Some are wrinkled or have some blemishes now in the cover, and some we could not save.

We all realized that the Yamuna flooded the bookroom so we can flood the world with Srila Gurudeva's books. He has said so many times he does not want them sitting in cold storage.

So, a group of us plan to go to Delhi next week for the Commonwealth Games and to distribute as many books as possible for any donation.

We have had to incur many costs to save these books as well as the losses we have taken with the unusable books and posters.

If you would like to make a donation, we would be so grateful. You can donate through www.gvpbookdistribution.com/Sponsor.html

Aspiring for the service of Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas,
Vasanti dasi

School Program in South Africa

2010-09-14T02:58:00.000-07:00

by Vasanti dasi

On Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 Syamarani didi, myself, Mukunda prabhu, Anupama prabhu, Asim-Krsna prabhu and Lalita didi went to a school in a rural town outside of Johannasberg. There were about 50 kids there and they were so incredibly sweet.
First we chanted and we gave them all a Way of Love so they could follow along with the Maha-mantra. They loved the book and we told them that the books are sacred so to keep them in a special place and not on the floor, etc.

Syamarani didi gave a sweet class for them which can be viewed on my youtube page:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vasantidasi1&aq=f

We heard that one kid even became a vegetarian after the program because he said he doesn't want to eat his brothers. His mother came into the school, and told the teacher my kid won't eat meat anymore. The teacher told her alternatives and she was pacified.

Some of the kids couldn't stop staring at the Krsna pictures in the books.

We had a kirtan at the end and we all danced together. Then, I asked the kids who could chant the mantra into the microphone and they all came to the mic with such enthusiasm - some learned the maha-mantra so fast, some needed help, and some used the book.

We then gave them all sumptuous prasadam and they ate to their hearts content (we've heard some of these kids don't eat much on weekends, when they are not in school.) We also gave them take home plates for their families.

Preaching in India

2010-09-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

Preaching in India is challenging and inspiring. Everywhere people need Srila Gurudev’s books, in the West as well as in India. In our dealings with Indians we could understand, that Gurudev’s books are extremely necessary. Most of the Indians have the conception that all paths lead to Bhagavan, but they can not clearly define who is Bhagavan. For that reason, according to their birth, samskar and liking they choose demigods for their worship. In most of the cases they think that Sri Krsna is also like a demigod, but we detected that even though they can not understand Sri Krsna’s identity still they have some kind of special respect for Him. In other cases they know that Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they still have the strong desire to worship demigods as well

In Hindu temples, the Sri Sri Radha Krsna murtis are generally centred in the middle, surrounded by Sivji, Durga, Ganesh etc. It is very helpful when we make programs in Hindu temples and speak about the cause and the centre of all causes, Sri Krsna. Indian people very quickly feel if the preacher is sincere or not, so equipped with Gurudev’s powerful books and the weapon for Kali yuga, the harinam mahamantra, we try to capture their hearts. We meet those who practice Buddhism, Sikh Religion, Shivaits, Christians, demigod worshippers, the Brahmakumaris and new age movements like art of living, etc., which forces us to study our philosophy deeply to be capable in philosophical exchanges. We have learned it is very important to be respectful and careful towards other religions and habits.

In general people have appreciation and curiosity if they see us Western people speaking about Krsna, which is an advantage for us and makes book distribution easier. Many times people invite us to their houses, we perform kirtan and speak harikatha. In nearly every house Krsna is present, mostly as Balgopal. We can not expect that the people will change their lives in one day. But by slowly going their again and again they become more attracted to Krsna consciousness. A few sincere people take harinam and diksa from Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. For this reason we are inspired to go everywhere in India and to preach this wonderful message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

In the last year we have travelled to and distributed books in Sikhim, Darjling, Jaipura, Delhi, Mathura, Haridwar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhara and trains along the way.

Srila Gurudev ki jaye

Savitri and Bakula d.d.

Report by Ramacandra dasa

2010-08-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Haribol,
All glories to Srila Narayana Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada,
and all the assembled Vaisnavas. I want to thank you
for allowing me to express my sankirtan ventures to all the
devotees. I hope through my presentation of the
following events, other devotees are inspired to push
forward the desire of the parampara. Their desire is that
the Hare Krsna movement is spread throughout the
world.

For those who do not know me, my name is Ramachandra dasa, disciple of Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. By good fortune, I am under the guidance
now of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Narayana Maharaj. Since 1975, I have had the great fortune of coming up in the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. I was
able to get the good fortune of having the association of very serious and determined book distributors of Srila Prabhupada. This has led my life to this
day, of having the mission of book distribution. Srila Narayana Maharaj has expressed his thanks to me many times for my efforts in this book distribution service, including embracing me three times. What mercy!
Now, I know that everyone has their own approach on sankirtan. I, myself, being a military person, I enjoy approaching soldiers. A lot of these men I talk to have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or are on their way overseas. The two books that I enjoy handing out to these men are “The Perfection of Yoga” and “Beyond Birth and Death”. When I hand them these books, I don’t get into trying to explain to
them about Krsna. I find that people become disinterested in the book when talking about Krsna straight forward. So, my approach, when I hand the book to the
soldier, is to tell them that this book teaches stress management and psychology. It is a yoga book. When I mention “stress management”, everyone reaches for the book. I find that the people really appreciate the book when I explain it in this context.

I hope that every devotee that is into book distribution can continue praying hard to distribute books. This is pleasing the Lord, and our Srila Gurudeva, and we will attain the highest perfection if we please our Gurudeva in this way.
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga, all glories to book distribution,

Your servant,

Ramachandra Dasa

Worms, Dirt and a Miracle

2010-08-08T19:35:00.001-07:00

Book distribution report - Aug 5&6, 2010

By Anita dasi

I was walking back from a dip in Ganga devi in Haridwar, thinking what a nice start to this ekadasi. Nearby the matha I met two nice boys from Delhi and invited them in, shortly thereafter two more contacts stopped by. We were all having a nice chat and I was thinking what a peaceful day.

Bakula didi went to show them some books; suddenly she raised the alarm. “WORMS!!!” She hurried over with a pocket edition of the Bhagavad-gita, and showed me how worms had eaten the pages of the book. We had about 2000 books stored under the altar in the Haridwar matha. We quickly checked through all the boxes. Luckily the worms had only infested about 5 boxes. The books from the infested boxes we spread in the sun – worms hate sun.

But what to do with the books? We could not keep them in the same storage or they would all be digested. When Srila Gurudeva says to go deep into the books, I don’t think he meant it for the book worms. First we asked in the matha and guest house if they had a drier place to store the books that were not yet infested, but they could not help. Out of desperation I turned to one of the guests. He has not yet meet Srila Gurudeva yet, but he has been reading Srila Prabhuapda’s books for years. We met him in April at Kumbah and he has been inviting us to come for programs in Badrinatha and Rsikesh. I asked him if he could take the books now to Rsikesh and store them until we come there. Thankfully he was happy to help.

The books that were from infected boxes we did not want to store with the others in case they spread, so we decided to take those ones to the Punjab and distribute them immediately. We thought we had solved the big problem of the day.

When one local contact came for lunch, I asked him, “I haven’t seen any auto rikshaws on the road. Where can we find one to take us to the train station to catch our train tonight?” The city was overloaded with Siva-bhaktas dressed in orange, collecting ganga water then going by foot, bike, motorcycle, truck, train, bus, anyhow to the Siva temple of their choice where they will bathe the Siva linga in the ganga water.

He just shook his head and said, “Not possible.”

“What?!”

“Well they can take you part way, but you will have to walk 6 km.”

We desperately thought of every possibility – taxis, bicycle rikshaw, bus, hitch-hiking, motorcycle. The best option seemed to be to get a train from a nearby local train station to the main station. “What times do the trains come there?”

“Mam, 2 pm and 7:30.” I look at the time - 1:15- and the books de-worming in the sun. No way we can be ready and at the station in forty-five minutes. And our train leaves at 7:05pm, so a 7:30 train is useless.

We deicide to speak to some bicycle-rikshaw drivers to see if they will take us the long way around. We find two who say they will for 200 rupees each, we arrange for them to come at four.

We pack up the books and our luggage. At four when the rikshaw drivers turn up they have changed their price to 600 rupees each and they are not sure they can get all the way to the railway station.

Some other contacts who came in the afternoon from Deharadoon were helping us, they also wanted to take a train back home at six pm. They again came up with the idea of the local train station, thinking that since the roads are blocked that they must be running more local trains. We sent two of them ahead to inquire. They called and said come.

When we reached the small station my heart sank, only a few people resting in the shade. The whole city was teaming, if this was really away to move across the city then it would also be packed.

Bakula didi and Savitri didi went to enquire. Sure enough the next passenger train stopping here was at 7:30 pm. They had the idea that maybe our train would be late, and went back to the office to see if they could check in their computer. Our train was on time, but the station manager felt compassion for us, so he said he could put us on the “mal gari”. The boys from Deharodoon started laughing. I asked, “What does it mean?”

“Dirty train.”

After about 45 minutes a cargo train rumbled to a stop in front of the station. It was literally filled with dirt. With the help of three friends from Deharodoon we hauled our (you know the tune ) 5 boxes, 4 back packs, 3 rollies, 2 shoulder bags and 1 poster roll to the caboose of the train. Another 15 minutes pass and the train rolls into motion. We easily cross the few kilometers to the main train station, arriving about 15 minutes before our train.

Next mission: to find out what platform our train leaves from and get our luggage to it on time. Savitiri didi runs ahead and finds out its on platform seven. But the mystery is that the Dirty Train dropped us on platform 5 and there is nothing beyond that. We cannot find any porters or anyone to help, no signs indicating where this mysterious platform is. Maybe something out of a Harry Potter book. We are down to less than 5 minutes. How can we have overcome all odds to reach the train station only to not find the platform?

Finally one boy who sweeps out the trains understands we need platform seven. He leads us tearing through the train station to some practically hidden platforms, no time to go to overpass, we cross a set of tracks by climbing down from the platform, across the tracks and up the other side. Bakula and I are hot on the heals of this little sweeper, dripping in sweat, heart pounding, lungs burning (note to self – more athletic training is needed for book distribution). We reach our coach and fling the bags on. Just them the train gave a lurch. I look down the platform. I call out to the others, “Just get on in any coach!” Sulata and Saviti didi jump on as the train begins to pull off. I look out to the platform and see the three boys running as best they can with five boxes down the platform. The train begins to gain momentum, and I start running towards them thru the inside of the train. Hope against hope that they just throw the books into any coach.

Suddenly a miracle. The train stops. Some conductor must have seen our mad dash. I get to the compartment near the boys, they toss the boxes on to the train. I fold my hands in pranams, and call thanks as the train starts off again.

We met these boys during Kumbah mela some months ago, they came back to see us again. Little did they know they would get roped into our mad adventure and even miss their own train. And the contact from Badrinath who came to visit us and ended up with 16 boxes of books in his custody. I guess its sucretee like this that adds up over time. I pray that very soon they come to sat guru.

The Maha-magnet

2010-08-07T02:56:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report, Delhi July 29 – Aug 4, 2010

By Anita dasi

The most exciting part of book distribution is when you see a recipient of a book come to meet Srila Gurudeva. The books are like tiny homing devices which seek out fortunate souls and sat guru is like a maha-magnet pulling these tiny souls towards the absolute truth.

Over the past few months of book distribution here in India, we met many people. We try to collect as many email addresses and phone numbers as possible. Those who give their email are signed up for the harikatha emails – the gift that just keeps on giving. But most people in India don’t have email, but virtually everyone has a mobile phone. So we began sending out short Krsna conscious text messages about once a week to our contacts. We also let people know about festivals and programs in their area. Several came for Guru Purnima in Vrndavan and Mathura.

We met many people from Delhi. Srila Gurudeva was in Delhi for about a week after celebrating Guru Purnima in Vrndavan and Mathura and before leaving for the Russia festival. I was in Delhi this time and was stunned to see how many seeds planted as books, grew into a visit to the matha, and ripened into a darshan with Srila Gurudeva.

Srila Gurudeva gave went for a short walk outside the matha each morning and then gave darshan, answering questions from devotees as well as new comers.

On Aug 4 Guru pujya was celebrated at Raman-vihari Gaudiya Matha. At least six contacts though book distribution came for the program.

Story by Ananda Vardana dasa

2010-08-03T02:43:00.000-07:00

Heres an interesting story. This last weekend I went to a local nursery and was wearing a small badge with Shrila Prabhupada s picture. As I walked out into the parking lot one of the carguards sees me and says "Prabhupada !" so I say "Hare Krishna " to him and he says "Hare Krishna ,Andrew Freedman " (my name ) . I coudnt believe he said my name so I asked him " How do you know my name ? " He says " I heard you on the radio about 5 years ago ! " So I say " Thats amazing that you remember my name but how did you know I am the person you heard on the radio ? " He says , and laughs " I just knew . " So I ask him how he heard about Krishna and he says he went to a second-hand bookshop in Seapoint and saw a picture of Shrila Prabhupada on the cover of Science of Sel-Realisation and he felt "This man is a master , he looks so humble " so he bought the book and also Shrimad-Bhagavatam and Laws of Nature. His name is Anderson and he is a refugee from Congo and a qualified dietician. I invited him to come to our Bhagavad-gita group and he bought a Tulasi necklace from me and I gave him a copy od Shrila Gurudeva s Way of Love. He kept on saying "Shrila Prabhupada is a great master , very rare soul. " So wonderful how Shrila Prabhupada reaches out to sincere souls everywhere , touching their hearts , bringing them to Krishna. His books are indeed conscious. Beautiful , compassionate Prabhupada. Hare Krishn

Darshan July 14, 2010

2010-07-17T04:16:00.000-07:00

book distribution report by Anita dasi

Ever get the feeling you are being watched? We did, and it was amazing – giant wide eyes and a smile hidden by the crowds waiting hours to have a chance to go up on the chariot for a special darshan. Our book stall was directly in front Lord Jagannatha’s cart. It’s inexplicable what it feels like to be distributing books and to look up and see Lord Jagannatha watching. Those eyes . . .

Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra spent the night in Their chariots and the whole next day. This way many could come for darshan. Very long lines formed behind each chariot. With offerings in their hands, people would wait for hours for a chance to go up onto the chariot and have a very close darshan. Several of us went along the lines distributing books. Since those in line were in a devotional mood (and also probably a bit bored waiting in line) many took books.

Many people visited our book stall as they waited for Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra to come down from their chariots and enter the Gundica Mandira.

Around 9 pm the police roped off the path to the entrance of the mandir. Sulata dasi and myself were lucky to be in the front row, and the police were very kind to do their best to keep the crowd from overtaking us. Hundreds of pujaris gathered with their gongs. There were fire-twirlers and dancers to entertain Lord Jagannatha. One pujari tied a piece the rope that pulled the chariots around our hands and said. “You are all Jagannatha’s children.” Later the same pujari came with some maha prashada from Subhadra. He came up to us so quickly I opened my mouth in surprise and he stuffed a piece of cucumber in my mouth. Mahaprashada ki jaya!

We watched as Sudharshan, then Baladeva, then Subhadra and finally Jagganantha were coaxed from their chariots, across the courtyard and into the Gundica mandir.

(In this photo you can see Sri Baladeva wearing a big flower crown as He comes down from His chariot.)

Ratha-yatra July 13, 2010

2010-07-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

book distribution report by Anita dasi

“Mahaprabhu added this idea to the Ratha-yatra Festival, that the gopis brought Krsna from the mandir in Nilacala – they brought him from Dvaraka. . . .The singing of Radhika and the gopis is the deep mood behind the Ratha-yatra Festival. They were pulling the ropes of Jagannatha’s chariot by their moods of separation, and He was coming with them to Vrndavan.” – The Origin of Ratha-yatra

Hundreds of thousands come each year to Puri to see Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra leave Their temple, mount giant colorful chariots and pull the chariots by ropes down the Grand road to the Gundica Mandira. We came to witness Ratha-yatra and to serve Lord Jagannatha by offering those attending the festival an opportunity to understand the deeper moods of this festival and to receive the mercy of our Acaryas through their books.

Sulata dasi and myself distributed books in the proximity of the Gundica Mandir and waited for the carts to arrive. Many people would stop and take books.

For several years the devotees from the Jai Sri Damodar Matha here in Puri have set up a book stall in front of Gundica Mandir. Many people visit the book stall and it also serves as our base for book distribution.

Sri Balaram’s chariot comes first. When I first saw the bright top of His chariot coming down the road I hurried to meet it. I joined our kirtana party as they chanted and danced in front. When the chariot is moving there is a heart-stiring cacophony of gongs.The cart stopped for a little while and the kirtana party danced in front. Suddenly the gongs started up again. I was quite close to the ropes. Pulling the ropes can be quite dangerous because so many men are trying to get a chance and they literally run at times, but just as they started the end of the rope was sticking out, so Anandini dasi and myself ran over and grabbed the rope for a thrilling instant before dashing away.

We distributed books and waited for Subhadra’s chariot to arrive in a gentle rain. When I saw Lord Jagannatha’s chariot in the distance I hurried to meet it. After walking some distance I tuned back, a rainbow spanned the sky ending at the two chariots in front of Gundica. It seems there was a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, better than a pot of gold.

Our kirtana party was there again, but this time it had swollen to include hundreds. I joined them for sometime until Jagannatha’s chariot stopped. I had my first glimpse of His giant and immensely merciful eyes. Those of you who have experience know what I am talking about; those of you who have not, I am sorry, I cannot find the words.

At dusk His chariot joined the other two in front of Gundica. The thousands of devotees in the crowd sang, offered ghee lamps, coconuts, prayers or just stood and stared.

One student named Asutosh was inspired to see us distributing books and began helping us by translating for us. Eventually he took his own small stack of books and began distributing alone. He met us again the next evening and says after reading the two books small books we gave him for helping that he wants to meet Srila Gurudeva.

Jaya Jagannatha!

Purification - Jagannatha Ratha-yatra July 10-12

2010-07-17T03:06:00.000-07:00

book distribution report by Anita dasi

As we pulled into the train station at 6:45 am, I thought to myself, “Wow, everything is going so smoothly.” We entered the station and enquired what platform the train would be departing from, only to find out the train was running five hours late.

“No problem we can sing bhajans.” An hour passes. “Lets make breakfast.” Another hour passes. Tick, tick, tick . . .

“Lets distribute books.” We had a brought a box of books to distribute on the train, but out of boredom we broke it open. Unfortunately, after an hour we had distributed all the books except a few in Bengali and English. Only a few more hours to wait . . . tick, tick tick.

The books were a hit with the sampapri wallas. Even though there was a train teeming with hungry passengers in the station they set down their boxes of flakey sweets to examine the books. Word spread and more vendors came for books. I ran out and told them to follow me to the waiting room. Once I had more books they lead me to the room where they keep their goods. Nearly everyone one there took at least one book.

The five hour delay became six hours, and finally the train came. Once we were on the train it became more and more late. We were scheduled to reach Puri 12:30 pm, but it was 1:30 am when our train finally arrived. When we reached the matha the night guard did not know what to do with us, so we just collapsed on a balcony.

At 6am we awoke to gongs, whompers, mrdanga and devotees calling us to come clean Gundica Mandir. Delirious, we dragged ourselves downstairs.

“One day before the Ratha-yatra Festival, Mahaprabhu leads all the devotees to the Gundica Mandira to clean it. On the next day Jagannatha goes to Gundica Mandira along with Baladeva, Subhadra, and His devotees for ten days, after which they all return. Just as Jagannatha goes to Gundica Mandira after it is cleaned, so He may come into your heart if you make it very pure and clean.” – The Origin of Ratha-yatra

After some rest we returned to the Gundicha Mandir in the afternoon to distribute books. Sukadha dasi and Nagari dasi were just inside the gateway distributing books. Even though in this region they speak Oria, the Bengali books were a hit because so many Bengali bhaktas of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were coming for gundica-marjana.

Not the Controller

2010-06-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

Book Distribution report June 20, 2010 by Anita dasi

Reflecting back on the last two weeks I see that we make our plans but Sri Krsna has His own. Not that I should not make plans or try to do the seva as best as possible, but I definitely learned the need to be flexible and open when He sends curve ball after curve ball.

From Shimla we went first to Panchkula. That we even went there shows what complex twists and turns the Lord weaves. We ended up in Rajendra’s home because he “happened” to go with a colleague to visit a special Hannuman temple, they had some extra time and her daughter who “happened” to be a disciple of Srila Gurudeva said they should stop in Vrndavan and visit Sri Rupa Sanatan Gaudiya Matha. While they where there they “happened to meet” Sukadha didi, “who happened to mention” that we would be in the Chadigar area. She took their info and texted it to me while we were in Shimla. I called and said we could come, sing some bhajans and speak something.

When we reached his home we were a bit surprised to see all kinds of commotion as they were hanging speakers off the balcony, preparing an altar with the traditional set of Hindi gods, spreading white sheets for sitting. “Can you really sing Hindi bhajans. Sing something now for us to hear.” At least three family members questioned us along these lines. “We didn’t think you could, so we invited someone who can sing many.” As the program began and the 70 odd guests arrived then we realized that we had become guests at the program originally organized for us. We did sing a few bhajans after the traditional ones for Ganeshji and other demigods were sung, and I am certain they sang more Krsna bhajans then they normally would.What to do? After the program we did our best to connect with people, distribute a few books and issue many invitations to Vrndavan.

The next morning we offered arati and sang for our deities. Besides the immediate family, grandma, aunty, uncle and cousins stayed the night. They began to join us and called for more songs, and more songs, and more songs. We began explaining something about the songs. They asked more questions which led to more explanation. All the points we had planned to make in the class we had prepared came out naturally that morning. Our host even said, “If I had known, we would have let you sing like this yesterday.” Everything has its reasons . . . we are not the controllers.

Next we shifted to a home near Chandigar. We stayed for a few days meeting friends and family. They had planned a program for the 10th. We were totally shocked when we came downstairs for lunch and saw a small pandal being constructed in the road in front of the house.

We had prepared our class and even made photocopies of the songs we planned to sing from the Hindi song book so everyone could follow. But the pandal was never expected. We thought, “don’t panic, we are dancing white elephants. Whatever we do will be entertaining.” The pandal even had white elephants as part of the decorations.

I think this family also was not sure we could pull off a good enough show so they also hired singers. This troop was somehow connected to Vrndavan, so at least everything they sang was Sri Sri Radha Krsna Bhajans. When our turn came we were less shy this time and sang bhajans until we got the tap . . . twice. Then Kunja told me, “they want us to let the others sing again, but just speak something quick.” We had planned a class starting with how you can’t be truly happy in this world so you have take care of the soul, building into the glories of the holy name with the grandspectacular conclusion that you need sat guru. I guess it needs more work, or else the crowd wasn’t ready for it. So I stammered something about where we where from, why we were here, why we sang so much mahamantra and invited everyone to visit us in Vrndavan and meet our beloved guru. Not what we planned but . . . we are not the controllers.

A few crazy days in Vrndavan, changed my traveling companions for Yashoda didi and off to Delhi and then to Nanital. Well turns out the family that I had met in Haridwar who said they lived near Nanital, actually lived over an hour away. And instead of the cool mountains by the lake, it was still on the plains and hot like Vrndavan. I definitely was tricked into this.

The first evening we went out for book distribution. The first few people I tried were not interested. I could hardly believe it when I was called over by a few men at a food cart with bits of chicken bodies skewered to look . . . appealing?! I tried to avert my eyes but ended up looking at the chopping board and knife. I winced as they spread the books I handed them on the counter. But I can never underestimate the reach and compassion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They took four books, including the Bhagavad-gita. After that we had quite good luck distributing books in this town, Haldwani, which I never even knew existed, much less planned to visit.

The family was very sweet and enthusiastic. The daughter, Papul, loved distributing books. She was always thinking where would be the best place to take us and what to say to people. Even the mother and sister who only spoke Hindi would tell guests to the home all about us and then start pulling books from the box and selling them to their neighbors, family and friends.

But again all plans were changed when Yashoda didi came back from a day of book distribution quite sick. At the hospital I gave books to some of the staff who were helping us. One doctor spoke to us a long time and actually come to the house the next day. He ended up taking a Jaiva Dharma, and nine other books, including some to give as gifts. Maybe we came here to distribute books to the doctors at the hospital? Or maybe the guys in the chicken cart. Not sure. But we had to come back after just three days because our host family was called back to their village because their grandmother was in the final stages of cancer. A week in the mountains distributing books besides a lake, well . . . we are not the controllers.

I just pray that that Supreme Controller was able to make use of us somehow.

School

2010-06-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

June 4, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

Archana, the cousin of the family we are staying with, begged us to come visit her at her school. It’s an all girls government school with 3,000 students. We wandered through the halls past girls in neat uniforms, with braids tied with ribbons on the end, searching for the right class room. We narrowed down the wing, then the floor, and after completely disturbing about 3 classrooms found the right one. Archana popped out of her seat like a jack-in-the box. “My friends mam.” We came in and all the girls stood up to greet us.

We introduced ourselves and summarized why we came to India, what we are doing in Vrndavan. It was nearly the end of the day so the teacher let us speak for some minutes about how lucky the students are to grow up in Vedic culture and encourage them to go towards their own culture rather than turning towards western culture. We passed fliers around the room and invited them all to visit us in Vrndavan and to go our website.

After class was dismissed we stopped in the principles office to ask if we could speak to the whole school. She asked what the topic would be, I suddenly felt like a student in the principles office again, “Um . . . stress and unhappiness and how the Bhagavad-gita can help, mam.”

“OK, you can speak at the morning assembly tomorrow for ten minutes.” She replied.

We did out homework and prepared a ten minute presentation about happiness and how we will never find complete happiness in a temporary body. This morning we got ready for school, took the bus, and waited outside the principles office. In the assembly all the girls line up by class and sing the national anthem. The principle came to tell us we could not speak because the power had gone out so the mike would not work. The students would not be able to hear without the mike. What to do? We spoke to some of the students one on one, gave a book to the principle, and made our way home.

Hill Village

2010-06-02T23:32:00.001-07:00

June 2, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

Its amazing what we take for granted. For example delivery of a couch . . .

or some beds . . .

Here in the Shimla area everything is built on steep hills. Hills so steep I could would be daunted to walk up them, much less build a city. But the mountain people here literally carved out a way of life in the mountains.

Today instead of going to the crowded mall we meet our hostess for her lunch break. She works as a nurse in a community dispensary in a village called Sanjoli.

She took us up this steep road to a temple called Jakhu mandir. It is where Hanuman rested while going to get the herbs from the Himalayas for Laxman. We distributed books here for about half an hour. There were not so many people there and our hostess needed to get back to work.

We distributed books in Sanjoli while she worked in the afternoon. There weren’t the crowds we had become used to, but we certainly peaked people’s interest. I had groups of students, ladies sitting on benches, and people in chai stalls calling me over to see the books. Despite it being a village we still managed to distribute many books. Now we are beginning to worry we will run out of books.

First Days in Shimla

2010-06-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2009

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

With half the books we started with, we packed up and moved on to Shimla. When we were in Haridwar for Kumbha mela we met one family from Shimla. They invited us to stay with them. For weeks I have been talking to the mother and her three teenaged girls on the phone. The youngest daughter named Sakshi had her birthday on May 28. I promised we would be there for the party. We arrived on the evening so we could be rested for the party.

I wish I had more birthday parties in this style growing up. Family, neighbors and friends came for bhajans. Of course they sing bhajans to many of the demigods. In the mountain region they mostly devotees of Lord Siva and his shakti, but because since we were there they felt inspired to sing many hindi bhajans about Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. We lead some bhajans and maha mantra. Actually when we switched to Radha Krsna bhajans a huge wind came up, dust was blowing everywhere, the power went out, the altar they made for Lord Siva fell, rain started, and lighting came. About half the people went downstairs (we were signing on the roof) but for those stayed it was quite and experience. We just kept signing and signing, absorbed in the bhajans despite everything.

The next day we went with the three girls of the family and their cousin to the Mall. The Mall was built by the British, it’s a beautiful area to walk along the top of the hill in Shimla. Many tourists and locals are roaming through out the Mall.

Not only did the girls distribute the books, but they ran into some of their friends from school who also helped distribute books. In less than two hours we distributed around 150 books. We gave them all a free book for helping.

Yesterday the family took us to visit their village named Kotkhai and a place called Giri Ganga. We stopped a few places along the way to meet many family and friends. Then we had to hire a truck to drive the last steep rocky narrow track to Giri Ganga. Durvas Rsi had Ganga in a kamandalu. He sat way up on this mountain to meditate, then a bird came which knocked the kamandalu over. Since then Ganga devi has flowed out of this mountain.

On the way home, we stopped for dinner at their aunties home. Actually I met her also in Haridwar with the rest of the family. She and her husband visit Vrndavana form time to time and they are Krsna bhaktas. After sampling the local preparation called sidu (a steamed stuffed bread roll), we sang bhajans together. We sang “Jaya Radha, Jaya Krsna, Jaya Vrndavan” and explained how this song reminds us of Vraja Mandal parikrama and what parikram is like. We invited them to come for parikrama and they said they would. I hope they make it.

HERO

2010-05-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

By Anita dasi

At 3 am I woke up with so much pain in my ankle. The afternoon before I managed to ring the bell at the Manu temple, but I took quite a digger. In the middle of the night everything always seems bleak. I was thinking, how can I distribute books when I can’t even manage the 50 stairs into town from our guest house? Maybe I should get an x-ray. If it’s bad, should we call off the trip and go back to Vrndavan? So many grim thoughts, but then some inspiration came. Our god-brother Jitendriya prabhu is a healer trained in a variety of arts like massage, ayurveda and reiki. I waited until a semi decent hour and called him. Mid morning I hobbled to his place. After half an hour of torture . . . ah I mean treatment I had so much more mobility and again felt optimistic. I rested for the day, he gave another treatment in the evening and surprisingly today my ankle was back to 80% and we were able to go again for book distribution. It’s so nice to feel that Srila Gurudeva was taking care and that even in a little place like Vashishsta that a god-brother was there to help.

Hero of the day – Jitendriya prabhu

Today we went to the Hadimba temple. Hadimba was married to Bhima, when the Pandavas where in hiding, after Bhima killed her man-eating brother.

Hadimba temple

We set our mat with books near the temple and began signing bhajans. A small crowd gathered to watch us, but we also caught the attention of the temple authorities. They told us we could not sell anything there and needed to move to the mela grounds just outside the entrance. We joined the menagerie of booths with everything from bungee trampoline jumping, to custom painted key chains, to yak rides.

So we adjusted; one or two of would stay with the books on the mat and the others would approach people.

People are completely bombarded by hawkers approaching them with all kinds of stuff like saffron, sun glasses, and hot pink cotton candy, so sometimes they would even ignore you when you asked them if they wanted a book. At first it’s a blow to the ego to be completely blanked by people, but after 20 or so misses I would find someone sincerely happy to get the book. That experience erased the others and helps me to keep perspective. Its not that I am another hawker, but I am an agent of Srila Gurudeva, waiting for those souls who while journeying in this world have the good fortune to come in contact with one of these books.

NETWORKING

2010-05-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Manali book distribution report - May 25, 2010
By Anita dasi

For ekadasi we again invited all the devotees to get together for bhajans at the Rama Temple. We took turns singing bhajans. Various visitors to the temple would stop and join us for a few songs, or pick up the free Hindi or English pamphlets with a simple introduction to the maha-mantra and addresses for the temples in India. A few stayed for a long time, singing along with the Hindi song books. One Bengali man was so enthusiastic to sing with us, and wanted his seven year old son to get some inspiration for bhajans.

In the afternoon we went to Dylans coffee shop in old Manali. Not to have a coffee on ekadasi but to meet the proprietor Raj. Jaya Sri dasi and Nanadini dasi stayed in the ladies ashram in Gopinatha bhavan this last winter after taking initiation during Kartika. Some years before they both visited India as travelers and spent some time in Manali and made a connection with Raj who has a very open and caring mood. He is spiritual but not sectarian, and feels his service to God is to make all people feel accepted and affection. We chatted for a while, and when we left him a few Hindi and English books he said with a grateful smile, “thank you, and I will share these, because many who come here are seekers.”

From Dylans we wandered up the winding road towards the Manu temple stopping to offer books to shopkeepers and those on the road. Its always a surprise to see that sometimes those with the least money most readily take the books. One man selling cherries in plastic cups on the side of the road took a Bhakti Tattava Viveka. By the time we returned he was halfway through the book, and he asked us to see the other books we have. He carefully selected a Camatkar-chandirka.

We went for darshan at the Manu temple. Manu is the father of mankind and first heard this science of the relationship with the Supreme from Vivasvan, the sun god who heard it from the Lord. Of course over of time this knowledge became lost, and Sri Krsna had to give the instructions again to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra.

On stairway out of the temple there was a bell hanging over the stairs. It was up quite high and I couldn’t reach it on the way in, so fooling around I tried to jump up and ring it. I made a terrible landing.

TO BE CONTINUED
Tune in tomorrow to find out what happened and the fate of the book distribution trip . . .

SUKRITI

2010-05-24T16:08:00.001-07:00

All night the wind battered the trees. In the morning it was cloudy and raining. My sunburned forearms and hands were relieved. Some people get a farmers tan, I am working a beauty of a cartel-player tan.

Around 10:30 am the rain stopped and we were able to go to our spot. Though its not our spot any more – on the first day the temple committee told us it was temple property and we could not sell things there. We explained that it was not for profit only guru seva and preaching. We asked if we could just come for 3 more days and the gentleman consented.

It was a good spot, but I guess there are souls destined to get books somewhere else. We hear so much about sukriti in books and classes, but its amazing to see how it unfolds. For example one elderly lady came and gave us 10 rupees. We tried to give her a book, but she is from this region and does not even read Hindi. Karuna-mayi dasi ran after her to give her a small poster. She refused saying she was Buddhist. I suspect on account of that small donation she will not be Buddhist for long.

Pujari from Rama temple

When we packed up after the morning we went up to the Rama temple to thank the Pujari for letting us have the program the day before. We had a package of several books tied with ribbon to give him as a gift. He held the books to his chest and said, “I will read them again and again from my heart.”

SHAKTI

2010-05-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Manali book distribution report May 23, 2010
By Anita dasi

We sat down in our spot, arranged the books and began bhajans. One fellow with rosy mountain cheeks squatted down grinning and swaying with the bhajans. We had a Hindi song book so he so he followed along. He sang with us the full set of morning bhajans, when I would glance at him between songs he became happier and happier until he was beaming. He stayed with us the whole morning chanting and clanging the cartels.

Around two we began to pack up and to go back for lunch; we explained to him that it was the appearance day of Jahanva devi and Sita devi and we were going to have a small program at 5. He lives down in Manali but decided to stay and wait for the program.

The afternoon was very busy. I am quite lazy when it comes to preparing to speak; I guess I hope if I ignore it it will go away. But there was no more avoiding it. I decided to focus on Sita devi because the program was at a Rama temple and the temple of Vashista Rsi was just down stairs. While searching through old harikatha lectures I found one nice pastime that I had heard before but never realized it was Vashista Rsi. I was was able to weave it into the class in an attempt to emphasize the importance of sadhu sanga.

“Visvamitra Muni and Vasista Muni once had an argument about which was more powerful and important: tapasya or bhakti. They asked Anantadeva, and Anantadeva replied to Visvamitra, ‘Take the burden of one of my hoods. Take one universe on your head.’ Visvamitra gave fifty thousand years worth of the results of his tapasya. Anantadeva then placed the universal planets on his head, and the planets immediately pushed his head down. Vasista then gave one minute's result of his sadhu-sanga, and he was immediately able to hold the universe on his head” – from a class on Aug 23 2001 in India

Our god-brother Jitendriya prabhu sponsored halava, but we only had one small pot that Jagat-mohini didi loaned us. He arranged that we could use the temple kitchen, but it was 4:30 and the man with the keys was missing. He finally came and opened the door. Karuna-mayi dasi quickly got to work.

There are about seven or eight devotees from different sangas staying here in Vashishta who came, our friend from the morning and several temple visitors sat down and joined us for some of the bhajans or class. Kunja Kalika dasi lead very sweetly Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Bhavarnave Po’de Mora.

ogo sri jahnava devi! E dase karuna
koro’ aji nija-gune, ghucao jantrana

“Oh most revered Sri Jahnava-devi! Please show mercy to this servant today by virtue of your own good qualities, and kindly relieve all his afflictions.”

At the end we distributed prashadam to those who came to the program and also visitors to the temple. It is so inspiring to be at a 5,000 year old Rama temple remembering the pastimes and mercy of these divine incarnations.

Tourists and Locals

2010-05-23T09:12:00.001-07:00

Manali Book Distribution Report – May 22, 2010
By Anita dasi

“Did you see my snaps from my trip to Vashishta?” says any member of the digital camera age.

“The spectacular snow covered peaks,

the unique architecture of the traditional slate covered temple,

and the Hare Krsna’s singing bhajans.”

All the “snaps” we are in each day is worth it. It peaks people’s interest and makes it easy to start a conversation. The crowd here is generally more wealthy, and we have had good luck distributing bigger books and four or five books to one family.

But I remember most the local woman in her woolen dress who silently sat down behind us while we were signing Vraja-jana-mana-sukhakari. With a tear in eye she said, “gita” reaching for the Hindi song book. I winced telling her the price, thinking it would be too much for her. But from the folds of her embroidered wool suit she pulled out her purse and gave the fifty rupees.

Pinky and Spidey

2010-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Book Distribution report - Manali, India - May 21, 2010
By Anita dasi

I am pretty much a homebody. In Vrndavan people are generally shocked if they come to my room and I am not there. Now that we have settled in Vashisht, I find I don’t really want to go outside this sweet mountain village nestled on the hill above Manali. I thought for book distribution we would have to venture down the hill, but it turns out that the Vashisht Rsi temple, the Sita Rama temple and hot springs draw everyone up the hill. There is a steady flow of visitors all morning and afternoon.

This is our “spot” between the Vashisht Rsi temple on the left and the Siva Temple on the right.

We set up a mat with books in front of the entrance to the temples.We sing bhajans and maha-mantra, depending upon our mood and what the crowd is calling for. Some people watch, but some join in. We meet people from all over India and also the world.

Pinky and Spidey in his Spider Man suit

In the afternoon the local kids were all out of school and hanging around. We gave those who were old enough to read a flier with the maha-mantra, and got them to sing along. They especially loved as we would chant the mantra faster and faster until they jumbled up into laughter. One girl named Pinky was especially interested in us. She chanted, watched and sat with us. After she caught on to our program of book distribution she asked for a few books to try herself. She had amazing luck with an element of the crowd we often overlook – the kids. She distributed two or three books to a group of girls who looked about 11 or 12 from Agra. I think by the end of the night she had distributed seven or eight books. She invited us to her simple home where we met her mother and brothers. The book we had given her was already up on the small family altar.

Auspicious Beginning

2010-05-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

by Anita dasi

Aksaya Tritiya is an auspicious day to begin something. We didn’t exactly leave on this day, but we did make the rounds to many deities in Vrndavan on Chandan-yatra and offered prayers that we could be instruments of Srila Gurudeva and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu on our three week long book distribution trip.

On Chandan-yatra the deities in Vrndavan are covered with the cooling sandalwood paste. This is Sri Gopinatha from Gopinatha Bhavan.

Some felt the deities at Imlitala temple had the best chandan-yatra decoration with Krsna’s flower chudder.

I think they reciprocated by sending some expert last minute advice. We left the next morning first to Delhi in a shared taxi with Rasanda prabhu. He was on his way to his preaching trip in Australia and New Zealand. He offered many wonderful pointers about how to preach in India, the importance of using stories to illustrate points, the need to be ready to back up your points with shastra, how Hindi kirtan is a must in North India. He had Kunja dasi get out the mrdanga and start singing, and told us its a very good technique to pause while leading a bhajan and explain the meaning. He asked us if we could tell the history of the song Bhajahu re mana. I knew enough to make a fool of myself. He sighed and said we have lots to learn, but we are babies and we just have to start somewhere.

In Delhi, we were dropped in Connaught Place where the bus to Manali leaves from. Well, actually the bus left from the other side of the road. By the time we crossed the road with our (you have to hum the tune to the Twelve Days of Christmas):

Five boxes of books
Four Takura-ji
Three rollies
Two computer bags
One mrdanga

we were drenched in our own sweat – its around 45 degree Celsius or over 110 Fahrenheit these days in Vrndavan and Delhi. Is it a coincidence that we chose this time of year to distribute books in the hill stations of the Himalayas? Well I never claimed to be doing pure bhakti. But we did figure we could be of more use distributing books to the hoards escaping the heat rather than sweltering in Vrndavan. Its hard to believe we were so hot when now I am sitting in a wool sweater, socks, hat and chudder sipping tea.

After a night writhing in a bus seat we reached Manali around 9 am. It was pouring rain. We transferred all our luggage (remember the song) to under a tarp. Then we hired a car to take us the few kilometers to Vashist. This is the where Lord Rama’s guru Vashist Rsi had his ashram. Our god-sister Jagat-mohini didi helped us immensely by arranging a room here. Originally the idea to come to Manli came in February when we were distributing books for Siva Ratri. Someone in our group distributed some books to a nice man named Syam and his friend. They came and visited the temple later that evening. When we were talking to him he invited us to come to Manali. We had been in touch every week or two since then planning our visit. But the last 10 days I could not reach him. Perhaps he lost this phone, perhaps business called him away and he did not want to rescind the invitation, we may never know. Anyway, Krsna can be quite crooked in His arrangements and we are here now.

Yesterday, between the pouring rain and exhaustion from the overnight bus journey we mostly rested. Around 5 Karuna-mayi dasi went out to get some supplies. She has very little experience distributing books and was nervous if she would be able to do it. She came back from the shop and said, “I need some books, the shop keeper wants some.” We sent her off with 5 books, a variety of Hindi and English. We all giggled when she came home with none. She had been so nervous, and here she was the first one to distribute books, five at that, and without even trying. It was a sweet reminder that we are just instruments.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 16-18, 2010

2010-04-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 16-18, 2010

In deep concentration, balanced on one foot, a realization came to me. Maybe the art of holding yoga positions combining strength, balance and flexibility was perfected on Indian trains. Stretching and contorting, I maneuvered through the packed train towards the toilet; all floor space had someone standing over someone else sitting, packed body to body. Millions somehow came for this holy dip and now millions somehow have to leave. Reflecting back on the last few days in Haridwar, I am warmed to think of all the wandering souls Srila Gurudeva is reaching out to, myself included.

The days after the maha snan we were mostly busy with following up with people we had connected with. We had met some Sanskrit teachers from a local gurukul called Kangari Vidyala Bharmacary Ashram. On the evening of the 16^th we were invited to visit the school. The city was still completely jammed, so we had to walk and hour and half before the roads were open to rikshaws and we could complete our journey to the school. After all the crowds it was a relief to come to the spacious campus. The student band was lined up at the entrance to receive us. Students showered flowers on us as we walked past. They anointed our foreheads with paste and rice. Then all the youngest students lined up and touched our feet. The whole reception felt pretty embarrassing, but gave an impression of what a more satvic India must have been like. We were escorted to a shelter in the middle of the court yard where a fire yanya pit was set up. The students perform a fire yagna every morning and evening. We were seated in the front and offered grains to the fire while four-hundred students recited mantras around us. At the conclusion Caru Chandrika didi spoke about the meaning of Gurukul, the need for a self realized guru, and a personal conception of God. Then we presented a set of Srila Gurudeva’s books to the school library. After the program ended I saw the students eagerly thumbing through the new books. If any of you out there in internet land feel inspired, you can make a donation towards the gift of the set of books. The cost was around fifty US dollars. You can make donations through Vasanti’s cause on face book or through the book sponsorship program. http://www.gvpbookdistribution.com/Sponsor.html

The next we day we set aside to take inventory and pack the books we had left over. We did not finish that relatively simple job until nine pm, because we had a constant stream of visitors throughout the day. Friends and contacts we made in Haridwar stopped by the matha to see us. We chatted, shared prashada, answered questions and discussed Krsna Consciousness. A few leant a hand tapping boxes and moving them to storage. At first I was feeling I had made a mistake in sending too many books, but then I realized it was actually the perfect excuse to come back to Haridwar soon and finish distributing the books. In other years Srila Gurudeva has gone to Haridwar in late summer for a few day program. Hopefully he comes again this year and we can go a few weeks ahead, distribute books and invite people.

Our last day in Haridwar we did not spend in Haridwar at all. We took a two hour bus ride to Saharanpura. When we came to Haridwar for Siva Ratri, we met a man on the train from Saharanpura and went to his home for a house program. When we told him we were in the area again he invited us to return. Rasa Mayi dasi lead bhajans with great enthusiasm; she got all the kids to clap to the beat. Caru Chandrika didi had already gone back to Vrndavan so the class I prepared on the conversation between Vidura and Maitraya muni came in handy after all. Ironically my complete inexperience in giving class worked in my favor. I had prepared very detailed notes (practically sentence by sentence). Only our host spoke English, everyone else only understood Hindi. At first he was struggling to understand everything I said and translate it, but then he began to follow along in my notes and I could see it made his translation easier and probably more accurate. There was one guest in particular who was so sincere. I remember her from last time. With practically tears in her eyes she said (though the translator) that she wants to serve Sri Krsna, but she is getting old and her body has so much pain. She was so happy to hear that chanting and remembering Sri Krsna was a great service.

I’ll sign off here. Please forgive my tongue in cheek style, it just reflects on my low class nature. But it has been nice for me to write these reports and reflect on the mini miracles our Guru paramapara sends every day. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya! Srila Gurudeva ki jaya!

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 15, 2010

2010-04-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 15, 2010

I never imagined I would find it normal to have a conversation with someone with wet underwear on their head. But now I find if I stand on the side of the road of people leaving the ghat nearly every other man has this peculiar head wear.

We got an invitation to come to speak and do kirtan to 2,000 people. When we arrived at the address, it was a temple we had passed everyday that was doing mass prashadam distribution. When we went inside no one knew anything about the program. A kind Swami spoke to us. It was some kind of misunderstanding. But since we were there with mrdanga and books he invited us to sit in their mandir and sing bhajanas. Two-thousand in actuality was more like 12, but we made some nice connections. One man swayed in clapped in joy with every kirtan. He plans to come to Vrndavan in a few weeks. Also the Swami lives in Prayag, modern day Allabhbad, and insisted we should come there for book distribution. He said they have a big month long festival there every year during the month of mag, around January. He explained that because he has a trust he is given a few tents at the mela and he invited us to distribute our books from there.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 12-14, 2010

2010-04-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 12-14, 2010

Leading up to the main “royal bathing day” on the 14th, Haridwar swelled beyond bursting. News reports estimated 10 million people came to bathe in Ganga devi. They closed all the roads in the city, and they became filled with currents of pilgrims. These long crazy days I think are best presented as a medley:

Mari-lou, our new friend from South Africa. We seemed to run into her everywhere, and she came for lunch a few days and had lots of good questions.

We met Tribhuvanath in the photocopy shop. He came to visit later and brought a beautiful mounted poster of Sri Sri and Radha Krsna as a gift. Then he helped distribute books with us, and was so happy after distributing several books.

Taruni dasi was invited into a pandal. She announced the books. One man said he would pay for the books that anyone wanted.

One sadhu who wanted a pocket Bhagavad-gita so bad he put the book on top of his begging bowl and waited until enough charitable bathers piled money on top so he could buy it.

Yogesh prabhu, a new devotee from Delhi, came for a few days and had his first real taste of book distribution. The first day after selling one book and giving one to a sadhu for free he felt a bit discouraged. But by yesterday he was over the moon when he sold one big Bhagavad-gita and five small ones to one person, and another 38 Siva Tattva to someone else.

Many people who came up to us with ten rupees and asked for a book by name. I guess word spreads.

We ran into a boy who we met in February. At that time he came back a second time and said he took a book for free and felt bad and paid for it. We saw him again and he was so happy to meet again.

One Indian who lives in Hong Kong who bought a few books including the new Journey of the Soul. He says he has lived there a long time but never found people he could really connect with.

A police man Caru Chandrika didi met when we came for Siva Ratri came to visit and asked many questions about prosperity and spiritual life.

One person changed us up, but a day later someone else wanted to give extra of the same amount that was lost.

One sadhu who wanted a book and we told him that he should give something. He tried to give us his whole bag with a tiffin, a cup and a one rupee note inside. We took the rupee but refused the bag.

The man at the ice cream shop remembered us from Siva Ratri. He pulled out the copy of Siva Tattva he got then and asked if he had any new book for him.

Loads of invitations to people’s homes and cities across India.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 11, 2010

2010-04-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 11, 2010

“I will take the book, but I want to ask a question. Do you believe in all this?”

They didn’t ask what country are you from. My mind scrambled to come up with the words to reply. Do I really have faith in all this? In ALL – no. Flying mountains are among the other things on my unreconciled list. In a mild panic I began to wonder what business I had passing out books promoting something I had not achieved real faith in. But then I remembered Srila Gurudeva. I am unexplainably attracted to him and his katha. Like a magnet. Then I remembered so many of his classes . . .

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ’tha bhajana-kriya
tato ’nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah
athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati
sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah

"In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. This taste leads one further forward to attachment for Krsna consciousness, which is matured in bhava, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life."

Finally the words came, “Well I am practicing. It’s a process. See this picture of my Guru Maharaja . . .”

I must remember that you use a thorn to pluck out another thorn. This book distribution is as much to help me as for those who receive the books.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 10, 2010

2010-04-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 10, 2010

In the blazing sun, fasting and calling out the holy name. Some of the yogis doing tapasya? No, us being stupid keeping our book table open too long in the sun on Ekadasi. But every time we tried to close up shop more and more people stopped by. Now it is the weekend, just four days to the last royal bath of this Kumba Mela. Overflowing does not accurately describe the city. In the morning we set up a book table on the hill leading to the main ghat. The book table was a nice chance to sell bigger books that are hard to carry around normally.

We are also finding some people come and see us day after day. For example, two nice guys from Chandigar we see nearly everyday. Each day they take one or two books, and come with their questions. Then we recommend new books for them to take. Yesterday one of them came to the matha and Caru Chandrika didi spent some time answering his questions and beautifully explaining the basics of Krsna Consciousness. He came with us when we went out in the evening to distribute books. He pulled the trolley of books for us, and helped Taruni distribute books by translating. At the end of the night he said, “I will always remember this day.”

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 9, 2010

2010-04-10T03:09:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 9, 2010

“Oh Gurudeva, I am very tired. Send someone who you want me to meet,” prayed Taruni.

What would a sailor be doing thousands of miles from any ocean? Apparently he had to get a book. She gave him a Secrets of the Undiscovered Self in Hindi and began to explain that the material world is not the goal of life.

Suddenly he said, “It’s so true. It’s all so useless. As life begins to finish then I wonder, is that all that life was about.” He explained how he was a sailor and spent half the year at sea.

“Your family must miss you.”

“Actually they don’t miss me. Actually they don’t really love me. They only love the money I send them.” She took the chance to explain how the love of a pure devotee is selfless. Then before she got the opportunity to invite him he said, “I am not really a spiritual person, but I think I want to come to Vrndavan to be shanti for a few days.”

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 8, 2010

2010-04-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 8, 2010

Sixteen and nine-months, wearing a Che Gueveara t-shirt, with ear phones in, I didn’t think he would take a book. But I try to call out to everyone who goes by. Not only did he stop, but as he pulled out his ear phones he said, “Hare Krsna mataji.” About a year ago he became involved with the ISKCON temple in Ujjain. With joy he pulled out his malla from his bag and informed me he was chanting eight rounds a day, well sixteen since he came to Haridwara for Kumba. He carefully looked at all the books I had with me, and politely asked what I advised. I suggested Harenama Mahamantra, to inspire him in his jappa. When he came to the Siva Tattva book, he said with a start, “But we are devotees of Krsna, why a book about Siva-ji?” I indicated he should read the quote on the back explaining how Lord Siva is the greatest Vaisnava. He took a Siva Tatta and Secrets of the Undiscovered Self too. I felt so light and happy after meeting an Indian youth who all on his own had taken to Krsna Consciousness with so much enthusiasm.

Yesterday before going out in the evening, Taruni dasi watched the book distribution videos that are on www.gvpbookdisribution.com. She took away some inspiration that Srila Gurudeva is doing everything, and this is actually his compassion. When we go through the crowd and there are all kinds of reactions including neglect or even negativity, but actually everyone deserves compassion. One suggestion in the film was to make prayers to Srila Gurudeva as we are distributing. With this mood she went out yesterday and tried to keep in mind that it was not her who was doing the book distribution, and that this miracle of Krsna Consciousness that happened to her could happen to anyone. She felt with this in mind she connected with the people on a level that they could feel was special, and they very readily took books. Even though who did not take books, still walked away with a special impression.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 7, 2010

2010-04-08T01:37:00.001-07:00

by Anita dasi

April 7, 2010

The beggars and sadhus crowded round as one charitable lady gave out ten rupee notes. We watched as one sadhu tucked the note away in his inside safe-keeping pocket, and made his way to the cloth we had laid out with books and posters while we sang morning bhajans. This sadhu sat down next to our books. He carefully selected a Hindi Secrets of the Undiscovered Self. Often when we tell the price of the books to sadhus then they either return the book or try to convince you should give it for free, but he pulled out this ten rupee note he had carefully tucked away.

Someone who was upset with the contents of the book he had taken came back and was getting real aggravated. This sadhu tried to pacify him and send him away. In the end we start chanting harinama and the upset fellow gave up and left. The sadhu was quite enthusiastic shaking his bells and singing along. Others joined in, and the uncomfortable moment was transformed completely.

In the evening a camera crew from the national Dish TV station was curious what we were doing and stopped us for an interview. They asked us question about why we are here, what we think of Kumba Mela, Indian culture and our experience here. We did our best to glorify Srila Gurudeva, explain about book distribution and the beauty of such a large religious gathering. You never know, maybe we got on the air.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 6, 2010

2010-04-07T01:46:00.000-07:00

by Anita dasi

April 6, 2010

An elephant is a very big animal. You would not miss it coming down the road. I guess that is why they always have the elephant go first in Indian parades. We had just begun to distribute books when an elephant followed by a big parade came down the road from the main ghat. Of course there was a band with those silly velcro-on-boot covers, worn not over boots but battered flip-flops. A float with Lord Siva and Parvati dancing beautifully, about 20 Hanumans dressed all in red with big clubs, Punjabi dancers with big turbans, and a marching ocean of sadhus in orange cloth, except for those who were naga babas., who only wear ashes. As much as I called out and waved books, everyone was watching the parade. I decide to relax and let the parade pass. But a few of the sadhus in the parade saw my books and stopped. I showed them the books, and explained they should give some donation. What followed was mayhem. It was like the whole parade switched course and came at me. Books were wrenched from my hands, the box on the trolley was torn open and the treasures pillaged. A few among the sadhus policed that all should give at least some donation. A few notes, mostly coins, and even a rudraksha and semi precious stone where pushed in my hand as I stood by helpless. Only these words came to mind:

abaddha karuna-sindhu katiya muhana

ghare ghare bule prema-amiyara

“The ocean of mercy had formerly been sealed tight, but Nitai broke the dam. He went from house to house with this nectarean prema, sweetly requesting all to take harinama.” - Naita Guna Mani

I think Nityanda prabhu would have loved it. I know I was laughing like a mad-man at the end.

We were just recoiling from the ransacking when we ran into two guys Taruni dasi met the day before. They said they were talking about her last night and wishing they could meet her again to ask more questions. Amazingly we were just 30 feet in front of the place they live. Another five minutes and we would have missed each other. They had very sincere questions about renunciation and our process. We were explaining how you can just take a little time out of the day to chant. One of the boys reached for his wallet. From a special compartment he pulled out a worn and crumpled paper. As he opened it up he said, “Some years ago someone gave me this mantra to chant. I always kept it because I thought it was sacred.” As I saw the maha mantra I felt the chills. They took more books and we made plans for them to come visit us at the matha to talk and get more books.

Kumbaha Mela 2010 Book Distribution

2010-04-05T23:52:00.001-07:00

by Anita dasi

Hari ki Pauri Gahat, Haridwar

April 2, 2010

I named him Gramps; all legs and elbows, with a bulbous nose. Part of a group of dhoti clad villagers which shared our train compartment from Matura to Haridwara. After about seven hours in the heat and overcrowding (I guess you don’t really need a ticket to ride that train), Gramps ripped the book I was reading out of my hands. He began to clap, flapping his elbows, and point at the mrdanga we had stored on the seat above with our bags. I grimaced, grumpy form the heat. But he insisted in clapping and pointing at the mrdanga. Well, we are on our way to Kumba Mela, one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the world. A kirtan would be appropriate.

Before I knew what happened Rasa Mayi dasi and Taruni dasi had everyone in the compartments near ours clapping, chanting and smiling. Gramps never really got the mantra down, “Hare Hare Hare Hare Krsna . . .” But I am glad he insisted on kirtan. It set the right mood for arriving in Haridwara for Kumbah mela book distribution.

April 3, 2010

Shortly after returning from Navadvipa parikrama I sent books to Haridwar with a transport company. The boxes wait in the warehouse until you go to claim them. After our train arrived we stopped at the warehouse, but the books were buried under a mountain of other boxes. It was late, we were exhausted from the journey, and the guys at the warehouse were lazy to move all those boxes. So we made arrangements that they would deliver the books between 6-8 am the next morning. At eleven I called, they said there road closures due to Kumbha mela, it will come at three. Next call, it will come at five. Next call, “I’ll call you back in five minutes.” Grrrrr . . .

Luckily we brought one box of a small Hindi book called Vaisnava siddhanta mala on the train. We filled our bags with those and started into town. It was a good book to get our toes wet. The cost is only 5 rupees.

People talk about “lines” when distributing books. Seeing that none of us really speak Hindi, we can’t say anything too clever. For me it goes something like this:

“Sundar quitab.” Beautiful book - I wonder if it translates like that.

The people stop and I put the book in their hand.

“Panch rupees only.” Five rupees only. I got the only part from all the shop keepers here in India. It’s obviously not Hindi but it brings out a smile.

“**^&%^*^###**” . . . I don’t know what they say exactly.

But when I say “USA” they are satisfied. Maybe then they try to shake my hand. Usually they carefully examine the book, and then pull out five rupees. Of course there are varieties, but that is more or less how it goes.

April 4, 2010

A dip in Ganga literally takes your breath away. Even though it’s April and the temperature in the midday is 35 Celsius (that’s 95 Fahrenheit for those of you who are like me and Celsius means nothing to you), but in Haridwara Ganga is coming right out of the Himalayas. It also takes your sins away:

tayoh samvadatoh suta

pravrtta hy amalah kathah

apo ganga ivagha-ghnir

hareh padambujasrayah

[Saunaka inquired about the conversation between Vidura and Maitreya: There must have been many narrations of the spotless pastimes of the Lord. The hearing of such narrations is exactly like bathing in the water of the Ganges, for it can free one from all sinful reactions” (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.20.5)]

After our bath, Taruni dasi and I made our way back to Madhavai Kunja, Srila Gurudeva’s matha and guest house in Haridwar. All along the way we distributed books to the pilgrims coming and going from the ghats as well as to the locals in shops and on the street. The books had finally been delivered early this morning.:)

We had organized a program with a person that Vasanti dasi met when we were here distributing books at the time of Siva Ratri. I spent the afternoon trying to piece something together to speak about. I decided on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3^rd canto conversation between Maitreya Muni and Vidhura which took place in Haridwar. I wanted to read something that could help me connect to Haridwara as a holy city. I only got though Vidura’s questions, but there was more than enough beautiful material touching on guru tattva, the supremacy of bhakti, and the glories of harikatha. I guess it was for my own purification because just as we were about to leave we got a call that the grandfather from the home we were going to became seriously ill and had to go the hospital. Hopefully he gets better soon, and we can have a program later on.

A quick change of plans. We load up our trolley with a box of books and head towards Hare Ki Pauri, the main bathing ghat, to meet a new friend – Maharaja. Needless to say Haridwar is teaming with sadhus. Thanks to the kind donations to the book sponsorship program we are able to give out books at whatever price people can pay, but we try to ask even sadhus to give something, if even one rupee. One sadhu walked by me and thought I was giving the books out for free, took one, and kept walking. I called after him to give please give some donation. Well, as best as I could express it with the few Hindi words I know. He expressed back that he had no money. I asked again, and he said no and was determined to keep the book. So I relented and let him have the book for free. But then he saw how I was asking others for 10 rupees for books. Out of guilt, sympathy, inspiration or maybe just plain sucretee, he began to call people over to me and invite them to take a book. For the next three hours he drew in people, passed out books, pulled the trolley, and watched that no one took books without paying. All the while smiling and blessing me with his right hand. With practically no common language – all I could understand of his name was Maharaja – we both were just content to see the books work their way into the hands of those on the street. We did our best to let him know we would be back tomorrow, same time same place if he wants to help again.

April 5, 2010

After our morning snan in Ganga devi we displayed books and posters on a cloth. We had Gaura Nitai deties which we put on top of the box. We sat down to sing morning bhajans. In half a second a crowd gathered. Singing, clapping, staring, examining books, someone even wanted to buy Gaura Nitai – not for sale of course.

Many want to take our “snap,” that is local slang for photo. We always try to encourage them to take more than a photo as a souvenir of our meeting. A photo with a westerner is a novelty, but the books of Srila Gurudeva and our Acaryas will change their life. More than their life – drag them out of this samsar.

Taruni dasi had a few inspiring interactions in the evening she wanted to share. She met one newly married couple. The husband said, “I understand material life is useless, and I need to go to guru. But I feel responsible for taking care of my family.” Then they got to discuss how now that he has a family then he needs to also be responsible for the spiritual growth of his family. He wanted to try chanting the maha mantra. She felt the conversation went so nicely because she worked to involve the wife as well as the husband in the discussion.

Later on there was one boy from Delhi, around 16 years old. He bought one book, and then was hanging around as we were distributing the books listening in on conversations. Taruni noticed him and said, “Why just stand around, you can help distribute the books.” He began to help translate and pass out books. Later she saw him smoking. He saw her too and came up and apologized, “I just tried it for the first time with my friend. I am sorry. I will not do it again.”

Miami Yoga meets Yogamaya

2010-03-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

Report written by Tamal Krsna dasa brahmacari

After serving Sripad Vana Maharaj on his winter tour of America, I had a few weeks in Miami until he would return from his Brazilian tour. By good fortune, I was able to receive a box of Srila Gurudeva's divine literatures at no cost, via the GVP book-sponsorship program, and was thus able to stay connected to the disseminating flow of Sri Gaura-vani in this world. I have always struggled to distribute books on the street, but according to my own nature and the opportunities presented by providence I had some good success and fun. These are two highlights , both facilitated by our godsister Lasika didi who pilots the Bhakti House, a yoga ashram in Miami Beach:

First, the national television station PBS filmed a segment on the Bhakti House as part of an Arts & Culture in Miami program. I was filmed beside a large portrait of Srila Gurudeva answering the questions what are are yoga, mantra, and bhakti. We gave the whole camera crew mahaprasad and Srila Gurudeva's books.

Second, we were invited to lead a 4-hour module on bhakti as part of a yoga teacher training coursewithin the Jivanmukti lineage, and impersonalist yoga school. We boldly emphasized the infinitely superior charm of the personal conception and illustrated the nine limbs of devotional service as taught by Sri Prahlad Maharaj. Thereafter, we took the entire class (as well as the CEO of the yoga studio) on nagar-sankirtan to the nearby Bhakti House where they witnessed the arati of the Divine Couple and honoured mahaprasad. All of the participants expressed great appreciation, and upon the foundation of that favorable impression, each was presented with a copy of Beyond Liberation and Sri Prema-Samput. This is particularly exciting because these were yoga teachers in training, who in the future will influence their innocent students regarding the meaning of yoga. We pray that the incomparably beautiful conceptions of Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur and Sri Gurupad-padma will steal their minds and color their presentation of Vedic philosophy with the rosy lustre of pure bhakti.

(What books remained when I resumed traveling with Vana Maharaj were entrusted to my mother Malati didi, who is very enthusiastic to distribute books in Miami in preparation for Srila Gurudeva's visit there this spring.)

Bhubanesvara Book Fair

2010-02-17T02:23:00.000-08:00

Report written by Bansibadana dasa:

All glories to Sri Sri Guru & Gauranga

By Gurudev's causeless mercy and blessings, the 12 day Bhuveneshavar bookfair was very successful. We are able to distribute books and posters worth one lac and twenty thousand rupees. (books Rs.1,00000/ and postersRs. 50,000/-) This figure is almost double the sales of last year.

At present times, the books of our gosvamis in the line of Mahaprabhu,like Ujjvalnila-mani, Brhat-bhagvattamrtam, Madhurya-kadambini, Gita-govinda(with tika), Rasapancadhya, Jaiva- dharma, Cara vaisnava acharayjivani ,etc are not available in Orissa, nor in oriyan language, so people have warmly accepted these books. During the book fair 12 sets of Brhad-bhagvatamrtam and many copies of each of these big books alongwith lots of small books have been distributed. Also 25 copies of English Jaiva Dharma and 15 copies of English Bhagavad-gita with many many small english books were distributed. We have made a set of 9 Oriya books published so far and we distributed 150 sets of these Oriya books in the book fair.

On the last day of book fair, one persons probably the librarian of the local college took all of Gurudeva's Hindi, English and Oriya books worth Rs.6000/- We are now planning to go to all colleges in Bhuvaneshavar,Cuttack and Puri to show them the books and propose them to get themfor their college libraries.

Also we have translated just the prastavana of hindi Bhagvad-gita,written by Gurudev, into Oriya , printed its 10,000 copies which is likea pamphlet of 16 pages with title "Bhavat gitaar vastava uddesya" and freely distributed them during the book fair. The entire printing was sponsored by the books sponsorshp program, so we were able to do for free distribution for the occasion ofMokshda ekadasi(gita jayanti).

Everyday around 8-10 devotees went to Bhuvaneshara by car and among them would be 4-5 devotees from Mathura everyday accompanyingus turn by turn.

We are thinking to make a small booklet of Paramagurudeva article (Jive daya). around 20 or 30 thousand copies to distribute freely at Ratha-yatra.

Vaishnava Dasa Anu Dasa--Bansibadan Das .Jayshreedamodar Gaudia Math,C.T.Road,Puri-2, Orissa , India.

Ekadasi Book Distribution and Harinama in Vraja

2009-12-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

This is the view from Gopinath Bhavan - the parikrama path, then Yamuna River and out to Baelvan, where Laksmi-devi is still performing austerities to enter the rasa dance.

Yesterday was Ekadasi. Maha-mantra prabhu from Canada put a table in front of the Bhavan and a couple of us helped. So many people are doing parikrama and go by. Many stop and look at the books and several buy them as well. And, we meet so many interesting people who we invite in to the temple. Yesterday Maha-mantra prabhu met Deborah from Italy who is just traveling in India and met a man on the bus to Agra who told her she should come to Vrndavana. What a fortunate soul.

There's always someone to connect with - someone whose path will cross these transcendental books. All we have to do is get out there - no matter where we are, even in the holy dhama.

In the afternoon we went on harinama through the alleys of Vraja. Gaura-Nitai led the way and rained Their mercy on all the living entities. We chanted and freed our minds of all the junk (well at least I have so much junk) that resides there and sang the Divine Names of the Lord.

We distributed books on the harinama as well. Many people from out-of-town come for parikrama. And everyone loved seeing our harinama party - about 12 of us went.

Harinama-sankirtana ki jaya!
Transcendental book distribution ki jaya!

BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN PURI DHAMA

2009-07-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

Book Distribution in Puri Dhama
Report written by: Sulata dasi

On the morning of the Ratha Yatra, we all set out in the blistering heat towards the main road that joins the Jagannatha Mandira to the Gundica Mandira. Today, that same road, which is usually filled with locals going about their daily duties, would be host to millions of pilgrims from all over India and a handful from other areas of the world, all eagerly awaiting darsana of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra on their journey back to Vrndavana, Gundica.

In his morning class, Premananda Prabhu emphasized the importance of having the right mood throughout this special day. He said that we should fully give up all mundane talk and only do sankirtana, just like Mahaprabhu and His parikaras. He explained that by this sankirtana, we can attract Lord Jagannatha and that in our present condition we have no qualification to pull Him back to Vrndavana. Pulling the ropes of the cart will not purify our hearts, but sankirtana will.That day was particularly humid and the ocean breeze that Puri is famous for was notably absent, but the excitement and anticipation of receiving the sweet and merciful darsana of Patita Pavana Sri Jagannathdeva, helped us to forget the austere weather conditions.

We decided that the devotees who had not previously attended the Ratha Yatra should watch Jagannatha ascend the cart and that the others should pay their pranamas, have darsana, and make their way to the book stall.

AA few days before we arrived, Vamsi Vadana Prabhu, temple president of Srila Gurudeva’s Puri Matha, and Janardan Prabhu, a local devotee, had worked hard to arrange two stalls, one next to the Gundica Mandira and the other strategically placed on the main road. In the morning, Vamsi Vadana Prabhu and other brahmacaris, took hundreds of books to each location ready for distribution, and Premamanda Prabhu arranged for kitchari prasada for the thousands of pilgrims. .

By the time we arrived at the stall, the main road was already full of pilgrims. We grabbed an armful of books, put on our hats to protect us from the sun’s powerful rays, and plunged into the sea of pilgrims. We were immediately mobbed by eager devotees. It was really quite remarkable, as Orrisa is a very poor state and has one of the highest rates of illiteracy in India. The books seemed to fly out of our hands, sending us running back to the stall, for more books full of transcendental knowledge. The crowd was so dense and the weather was so extremely hot and humid that we had to retreat to the side of the road every half hour for some air and a drink of water.

All the pilgrims were very pleasant, and even though they only spoke scant English and Hindi, somehow we managed to communicate with them. It was an incredible feeling to be part of Mahaprabhu’s movement, under the guidance of Srila Gurudeva, carrying His message in our arms to thousands of devotees on the day that Krsna makes His way back home to His beloved Vrajavasis.At about 2 p.m. Baladeva Prabhu’s cart rapidly approached our stall and we had to quickly pack everything away. In a matter of minutes, the space we had occupied would be filled with thousands of devotes pulling the ropes of Jagannatha’s cart.After packing our books away, we joined Srila Gurudeva’s kirtana party, who were singing and dancing for the pleasure of Baladeva Prabhu. For the next few hours we were all absorbed in singing the holy names. No picture or video can capture the wonder of this festival and no words can describe how it felt to perform sankirtana on such an occasion.

At one point, Srila Gurudeva’s kirtana party were sandwiched between ISKCON and Caitanya Sarasvata Matha. Held high in the air above the heads of the dancing devotees were pictures of Srila Svami Maharaja, Srila Gurudeva, and Srila Sridhara Maharaja, all eternal devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who were carrying Krsna back home to Vrndavana, on the chariot of their hearts. For me, this was the highlight of the whole festival. I felt proud and fortunate to be sheltered by such a matchless Guru-parampara and happy to witness that by the arrangement of Mahaprabhu, all the kirtana parties came together as one family.When Jagannatha finally arrived, the skies opened up and rain began to fall. Jaya Jagannatha!The next day we all went back to area of the Gundica Mandira and spent the whole afternoon, evening, and night (until 12 a.m.) distributing books from the stall and within the crowd. Even the Mathura-vasi girls, who had never previously distributed books, fearlessly penetrated the crowd carrying the message of eternal happiness under their arm. On that day, even rickshaw, and pan wallas bought books from us. One rickshaw walla was so happy with the book that he said to me, “If you serve Jagannatha like this, you will always be happy.” Then he kissed the book and touched it to his forehead.

Late that night Baladeva Prabhu, and Subhadra devi entered the Gundica Mandira. Then, at about 1.15 a.m. Jagannatha also disappeared into Gundica Mandira, leaving behind the smell of His flower crown and the trail of His lotus feet in the dust. I felt sad knowing that it would be another year before I would have His darsana again, but I was happy and grateful He had allowed me to speak and distribute His glories on that day.Jaya Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra!Jaya Srila Gurudeva, the greatest philanthropist, who is giving freely in charity, the gift of krsna-prema to those who are willing to accept it.

Jaya transcendental book distribution.

Jaya Jagannatha!

2009-07-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was Ratha-yatra in London in Trafalgar Square. Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subadra mercifully gave darsan to thousands of onlookers in busy London.

I went with the Gangamatas there with Srila Gurudeva's beautiful book, "The Origin of Ratha-yatra." We all met so many wonderful people who were so thrilled to receive this book from us, and to be able to learn about the different histories of Lord Jagannatha's descent.

One devotee we met said he had been looking for this book for so long and that we made his day. Here's a video of it:

When I was walking down the street alongside the parade, I was passing by this cafe. Two very elegant ladies were sitting outside drinking a glass of wine, and they stopped me and asked me what was going on. I explained a bit about Lord Jagannatha, and then they asked me what Hare means. I deliberately did not bring any little books with me (I usually always have a Way of Love with me). I had a Gopi-gita in my bag, and I took it out and showed them a picture of Radha and Krsna and explained how Hare is the devotional energy of the Lord. They loved the Gopi-gita and thought it was so beautiful. These women were very lovely and open-minded, so I told them they should get this book as it will transform their lives and their home. One lady went back into the pub, and came back out and gave me 10 pounds. It was really inspiring.

When we were about to leave, Sita and I saw this man very sad about the death of Michael Jackson. He was writing Michael's name and looked like he was crying. So, Sita went up to him and talked to him about it and gave him a Ratha-yatra book. He gave her one pound for it, which for him was a lot! He told me to take a picture of him giving a pound as it was a big thing for him to give someone money.

News reached Srila Gurudeva of the days activities and about how many wonderful people we met, and he sent his heartly blessings to us all and said he was happy to hear so many received these books.

Letter to Srila Gurudeva from Karol Bagh, Delhi sanga

2009-06-24T03:16:00.000-07:00

Good news:
Our sankirtan party has split into two parties. First party is going on van regularly whereas the second party is now going on Rickshaw with KHICHARI Prasad loaded on rickshaw. This rickshaw party is going to big markets and feeds 300-400 people and simultaneously doing 3 jobs together. 2-3 boys carry books bag and distribute them. 2-3 boys doing kirten along with Distributing khicheri Prasad to 300-400 people daily. We are trying to spread the mercy of Caitanya mahaprabhu on your behalf. Many people are coming forward to sponsor the Khicheri Prasad. Rather than coming to the temple, for the kaliyuga jives Caitanya mahaprabhu showed this way by sending the sankirten parties to different directions.Nityanand prabhu and Haridas thakur did the same way and spread the mercy. We are also planning to distribute sweat water (sharbat) to the people along with kirten and books as it is very hot in Delhi (Temperature has touched around 45’ C- Half the boiling point). On 21st May we had a very big pandal programme at paharganj .Around 250-300 people were there from many nearby localities like Sadar bazaar, Nabhi Karim, and Pahar ganj. This is the real Ambulance for the soul suffering from millions of life times – The real Life (soul) saver . Gurudev, I understand that a saint like your Divine grace can inspire and bless us to do such programs. Even though some of our activities can be in the mode of goodness but it helps us to maintain better contact with the General public.

In addition to above , this week we organised a big Harinam sankirten in Karol Bagh market where we use to have our Rath Yatra.In this harinam there were around 300 persons. It started from our house and also terminated at my place. In between the procession many people of the market welcomed our procession and distributed water, juices, milk and prasadam etc. Now the police men and women also know us and welcome and escort our procession.In the procession we had a palenquine in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Baldev ,and Subhadra along with Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand prabhu were there. We also had Gurudev and Swamiji on the alter. After that we had big feast of 56 bhog ( 56 offerings) with bahjans and kirten. We got 2 buses from Paharganj and Sadar bazar.

Aspiring for the service of Sri Guru and vaisnavas. Rohini nandan das ( Karol bagh) Typed by : Ved- Vyas das

University Bhakti Yoga Club Houston

2009-06-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

Watch this video of the devotees in Houston engaged in University preaching program.

Give them the holy names of Krishna

2009-05-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Hare Krishna to all dear devotees and especially warm wishes to all those out there on the streets, subways, airports or at their book tables distributing the sacred literatures of our holy masters.

I wanted to share this link with you all. Download the file here. By downloading the file you'll be able to print some very nice Maha-mantra flyers or calling cards in A7 format, which is half of a postcard, for free distribution to everyone you meet. It's a nice way for people to remember they met a devotee of Lord Krishna. more downloads here

Haribol and happy sharing!
ys Raghava Pandit das

Gigantic Harinam in London

2009-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

All Glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga!

Dandavat Pranam,

Respected Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis, friends,

Gigantic Harinam in London has become a legend,
an institution, a household word in the Vaisnava World.

London has as one of the Metro poles in the world an ability to be a place of influence and anything that takes place in this huge city is broadcast to the rest of the world.

The Chanting of The Holy Names Hare Krishna and Rama are where ever they are uttered purifying those Jiva's who come in contact with them and when hundreds of devotees from all over the world come together to sing them joyfully, loudly in one of the largest cities in the world literally thousands of people come in contact with them.

They are waiting for them, trying so hard to maintain their facade of so-called material happiness, when the devotees turn up everyone joins in, they begin to turn and twist, smile and laugh, dance and sing, Hare Hare, Rama Rama, The bliss full mood of the devotees and the mercy of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas are transmitted to the core of their being.

They can never forget this, the impression lasts.

What a better opportunity to distribute the transcendental literature of the Guru Parampara.

Book you flower aeroplane, NOW!

and fly in to London to join the Singing, Dancing and Distribution of Love and Affection to all the Souls waiting.

Saturday 30th May 7pm
Meeting outside Covent Garden Tube Station:

Prepare your soul to dance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGAGGlpiiro&feature=channel_page

KUALA LUMPUR DISTRIBUTION

2009-05-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Written by Hemalata dasi

Dandavat Pranams
Please accept my humble obeisances
All Glories To Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

By the time we left the temple on Saturday the 2nd of May, after the weekly Temple Programme it was already 11pm. Sripad Bhakti Vedanta Bhikshu Maharaj who was very enthusiastic in wanting to distribute books with us decided it was just too late for him as Mangal Arati would be running right on schedule in the morning. We loaded the car boot with various books, made a stock list and Vijay Krsna prabhu had set the price list on only 2 of the 8 titles we were going to distribute. The rest were "FREE but Donation based."

Led by our visiting Brahmachari from Vrindavan, Krsna Kanta prabhu who was very excited at the prospects of distributing books anywhere anytime, we all got the blessings of Maharaj and began the night.

Bangsar, which is just 20 minutes away from the temple was decided as a more exciting location to distribute books given that it is filled with party-goers on Saturday nights and the 3 main streets with almost 100 restaurants, pubs and diners is busy with the hip and happening. So why not try something new, after all no one said transcendental book distribution had to be in austere locations only. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

As we turned into Jalan Maarof from Jalan Travers and were about to pass the Ramalingeswara Temple on the left, traffic was slowing to almost a halt. Large groups of Indians amounting to about 200 people were seen all over the road. As we looked to the right of the road we noticed a huge chariot all lit up and making its way to our side of the road.

Quickly we decided this would be the perfect opportunity to distribute books and those lovely prashad cakes packed in little packets by our wonderful Carumukhi didi. We had to think fast. We passed the crowd and a short distance away quickly parked in front of a “no parking” spot of a closed lighting showroom that was just waiting for us. Everyone practically flew out of the car, pooped the booth and grabbed especially the Shiva Tattva books and prashad in little bags and went headlong into the crowd.
Chariot Procession in full force along Jalan Maarof in Bangsar
It was such a perfect opportunity. Little did we know that the Chariot was for Goddess DurgaiAmman from the nearby Nageshwari Amman temple as it was the yearly auspicious Chitra Pournami. Indeed she must have blessed us for our little endeavour for Lord Sri Krsna. (Ahhh! That’s why we had to leave the temple a little later)

People were already in a very devotional state having walked with the chariot some distance so when we were handing them books and prashad they were just to happy to receive with open arms. One family even came back and asked for more of those delicious prashad cakes. So we asked them to pose for a photo with us and they were just too happy to smile. That’s (L to R) Balaram prabhu, Ramesh prabhu, Jaya Govindha prabhu, Krsna Kanta prabhu (at the back) , the family and Hema didi (me)
After this photo was snapped we got into the car and proceeded towards the Telawi Streets in full anticipation but as we circled the area almost 3 times we realised the entire area was just dead. This is not the Bangsar we know. Then it made sense. Friday being May Day and a public holiday meant a 3 day weekend which allowed most people to simply getaway and leave town. So we decided we would attach Bangsar on another night and decided on the next nearest town which was actually scheduled for next weekend – Brickfields.

Once again, Brickfields which is like a Little India to those of us in Petaling Jaya although there is indeed another Little India further into KL, know that this little place has almost 12 Hindu temples, mosques, churches, the biggest Buddhist temple and various other temples. We approached Jalan Sambanthan along the Seethram shop stretch and once again found a parking spot waiting for us, which was quite amazing considering that busy road. Krsna Kanta prabhu was quick to fill his bags with books and prashad and made sure everyone’s had an ample supply too. As the car had nearly run out of petrol I had gone for a refill and brought chilled drinking water back for the team. Seen here are some patrons having supper on the pedestrian stretch of the road where tables and chairs are put up at night for customers.

Jaya Govindha prabhu impressing the girls with his Finnish charm and smile. Many people were very impressed, and sat up and took notice when Jaya Govindha prabhu even walked through the shops or stall with his book. In must be the pure white dhoti, tilak, kantimala and Gurudev’s mercy working through him. People would just donate RM10 notes for even free books, to him.

As we finished with this row and headed to the row shops in front of this, we were joined by Santana prabhu who is Ramesh prabhu’s friend and has come to listen to Gurudev’s lecture at our temple. One family in a shop upon speaking to Krsna Kanta prabhu asked him to invite all his friends and wanted to buy us any drink we wanted. Prabhu’s warm personality drew the attention of another family who wanted to know where our temple was. Krsna Kanta prabhu took their details and gave them all our details and asked them to inform him when they were coming so he would cook prashad for all of them.

After finishing this stretch of shops we got into the car and drove to an inner part of Brickfields where the Gopala’s restaurant is. Only 2 customers were there that night so we proceeded a little further up where the red light street actually begins. Being foreigners, Krsna Kanta prabhu and Jaya Govindha prabhu were told that this row would be a little rough but they remained completely enthusiastic. The people on this part of town were not at all rude or offensive to any member of our team. As Balaram prabhu pointed out, they were very receptive eventhough sometimes a little spaced out. It really didn’t matter, because after all they would have found Gurudev’s books in their hands once they sobered up. By and large most people were moved or appreciative that a small group of people were sacrificing their time in a worthy way. It was easy to see that they respected that.

Calling it a night, we made our way back to the temple and realised we spent about 2 and half hours and had distributed 108 books in that short time. It was a wonderful night indeed and we discussed the next book distribution which was going to be as much fun if not more.

Transcendental Book Distribution Ki Jaya !
Srila Gurudev Ki Jaya !

Brighton Borders School of Vraja Program

2009-05-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Posted by Indupati dasa

PROGRAM AT BORDERS IN BRIGHTON, ENGLAND

The event Friday 30th January was a monumental, groundbreaking, profound success said in all humility acknowledging that Srila Gurudeva is the doer.
We had 150 + guests.
We sold more than 60 copies of the CD book School of Braja.
Srila Gurudevas and Srila Prabhupads books on display and for sale.
Borders is going to stock all Srila Gurudevas books and Srila Prabhupads Gita on Sale on return basis.
They want to do a follow up event in an outside venue.
They also want to facilitate us and host us doing events for the community and especially the youth in Borders.
People came from all over the UK to participate, including many of my earliest contacts from when I began doing events 10 years ago.
Everyone loved the event and my contact from Borders were amazed by our coordiantion and enthusiasm.
The event was an example of nice team and networking.
Gangamatas and many others came to help, we had Srila Gurudevas mercy all over.
I got about 40 email address which I will forward for the Harikatha list.
We had raw food and prasadam distribution going on at the same time.

Letter from Vrnda didi in Auckland, NZ

2009-05-05T18:27:00.001-07:00

Dandavats my dear Vasanti,
Just letting you know that yesterday I posted a box of Gurudeva's and Srila Prabhupada's books to the prison in Auckland. I gathered together books that were purchased ages ago by the Punja family in Fiji, as well as some books from other sources. Dhruva and Bela's One Love prasad catering business sponsored this lot of books for the prison.Hopefully this will be the first of many more boxes of books going out to various institutes around NZ!Thankyou for planting the seed of this book sponsorship programme here in NZ. I'm happy that I can be involved in some little way in getting our Acarya's books out there to the people.

Love from you sister, Vrnda

Bangalore Home Decor Show

2009-04-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Written by: Sripad Vaikhanas Maharaja

Oh Gurudeva! Oh Nitai! What is going on? Why is no one taking a book from me? I am in a great spot, the people are nice, and many seem interested in the books. But when I start talking to them, they lose interest and walk away. What is wrong with me?

Has this ever happened to you?

A few days ago, we got a free booth at a home décor show at one of the convention centers in Bangalore. Giridhari Prabhu and two of Srila Gurudeva’s young householder disciples, Sankarsana prabhu and Radha-priya didi, improvised a nice booth, covering the walls with extra-large blowups of many of Syamarani didi’s paintings. On two large tables, they laid out the beautiful posters from those paintings, some of them framed to show how nice they would look in the home.

The other tables were filled with the books of Srila Gurudeva in English, Kannada, Tamil, Telegu, Orrian, Bengali and Hindi. We also had Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is and Krsna Book in most of the same languages. In one corner was a table with devotional paraphernalia, japa beads, neck beads, and other items. All in all, it was pretty good looking, roomy, easy to get around and colourful. Now all we had to do was start preaching and selling.

As this was a home décor show, the posters were a natural seller. A lot of people were happy to have such beautiful pictures hanging in their homes. That gave us a chance to show books to those people who came up to see the posters. It was a perfect tie in- “What do you like about this painting? Would you like to know the story behind it?” Our approach was to always start with a big book- why not? It is the same effort to sell a big book as a small book. If that doesn’t work, you can always switch to the small book.

There was a nice flow of people throughout the day. Because the book and poster tables were so pretty, a lot of people would stop just to look at them. With so many nicely designed and colourful books and posters lying side by side, the tables resembled a field of attractive wildflowers and the customers were like bees buzzing around, looking for nectar.

On Saturday, I went go to the show. Yippee!!! It had been a while since I had been able to go out on book distribution. I knew I was a little rusty but was looking forward to talking with people and selling books. Indoor shows are great. You get a calm atmosphere and controlled climate, no rain, no hot sun beating down on you.

So, how did I do? Sankirtana book distribution is such an amazing activity because it is instructive on so many levels. I was about to re-learn many of these important lessons.

When the first people came, I was so intent on selling a book and “preaching” to them, that I would place a Bhagavad Gita or Jaiva Dharma in their hand and tell them non-stop for as long as they would stay, all the reasons that they would love this book and how important it was for them and the entire world that they get one. I was eloquent, charming, and persuasive, and must have sounded so learned and intelligent. The only problem was, no one bought a book. These were nice people, receptive and appreciative, but they did not take any books, large or small.

What was happening? What was wrong with my presentation? When I stopped to think about it, I realized that I was making all the classic mistakes. I was telling these people everything that I thought was great about the books. I figured if I said enough good things, something would strike a chord and they would want one. But, I wasn’t engaging them. I did not know who they were, why they may have stopped, what they did, what were their interests, what were they looking for in life, nothing.

I wasn’t relating to them as persons. I was talking at them, not with them. From my presentation, it seemed if I had no interest in them; I was only trying to sell them something that was important to me.

So then I realized that these are people, souls, just like me. They are wandering here and there searching for happiness and to make some meaning out of life. If I don’t know something about them, what makes them tick, then can I explain how the books in a way that is relevant to their life?

From that point on, I began taking a genuine interest in each of them. “Hello, my name is BV Vaikhanas and I’m from America. Who are you? Very nice to meet you.” Then a big genuine smile from me. “Where are you from, what do you do, what are you interested in, do you have a family, do you like to read, do you ever meditate, what do you think is the meaning of life, what are looking for, what would make you happy?” As they answered, I would come to understand them and could present the books in a natural way that had application to their life.

As I began to remember these lessons, everything began to change. My mood became one of compassion and surrender to the will of Mahaprabhu. I gave up the idea that I was a talented sales master and tried to see myself as a humble servant of the Lord and the other souls out there. As that mood took hold, books began to flow from the table very easily into the hands of happy people. The day just got better and better after that.

The show turned out to be a great success. We sold around a hundred big books and even more CD’s, small books and posters. We met lots of nice people and learned some wonderful lessons about building relationships and sharing these teachings in a very personal way. And we felt like we have a role in the grand mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Gurudeva. It is a pretty good feeling.

Book Distribution in Istanbul

2009-04-11T23:48:00.001-07:00

(written by Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja)

Dandavat Pranams,
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga,

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and sisters.
We have been here in Turkey for more than a week, visiting two cities Istanbul and now Ankara. The history of our little yatra here is quite short, now it is entering it’s third year here. As of now Srila Gurudeva has 11 initiated devotees from here, and more are on the way hopefully. Of course the preaching here exploded when Srila Gurudeva Himself stopped here for 12 days on his way to and from the Odessa festival last September.
Our God-sister Savitri has had a two bedroom flat given to her by her mother, actually she gave it to Srila Gurudeva and we are using it. It is on the Asian side of the city. Istanbul is huge, the second largest city in Europe with a population of @ 11 million. Of course it is a Muslim country but prides itself on its secular outlook.
Having our own centre is great because when you stay at other’s houses you have little control over the situation, but now we are free to have anyone over we choose, at whatever time.

A few days ago we went out on book distribution, and it was amazing. We had copies of Coming Back in Turkish, and a few English books of Gurudeva, and our own fliers and pamphlets.

There was pandemonium. We were constantly surrounded by 6 to 10 people asking questions and taking a look at the books. So many people were attracted, and genuinely interested. No one here has ever been rude or threatened me in all the times I have come here. People are respectful, religious and inquisitive. It certainly is a refreshing change

from the predominately atheist countries of Western Europe.
Simply using the arguments provided by Thakura Bhaktivinode in Jaiva Dharma, people were easily and happily persuaded to cough up $3 or so for the book, and many more took flyers. In no time at all myself, Savitri Dasi (a local), and German Brahmachari Gokul Chandra Dasa (the last of an endangered species) finished our books and returned home. The next day we also went to the Tourist area of Taxim and had the same experience. Just from these two days we have had 4 phone calls from inquisitive persons who want to come to our seminars next week. That is an amazing response. In just the one week we have been here, already 3 people have become vegetarians and are chanting the Holy Name.

One man complained that it was improper to do this outside a mosque, but the others chastised him, “Nothing happened to the mosque, it’s still there, don’t worry.” Quite a few people called after our two days of distribution, so if devotees could regularly come through here, we now have more than 200 people on our mailing list to invite for programs.

Then on Friday, the 11th of April we came to the capital city of Ankara. Nightly programs attended by about 12 persons, but the exciting thing was the Harinam done by the attendees of the program for about an hour. We danced and chanted through the restaurant section of downtown. We were surprised that so many people knew the Hare Krishnas, Turkish people are well travelled and educated also it seems.

The people on the street were so genuinely happy to see us, and many people chanted behind us. Once I asked Srila Gurudeva that, “Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura wrote two whole chapters of Jaiva Dharma specifically concerned with preaching to Muslims so it must be that he knew that in the future, this movement of Lord Caitanya would spread to there

also!” Srila Gurudeva smiled and said, “Without a doubt.”

So I hope this little message can inspire others to come to this country and stay a while. Pujyapada Tridandi Maharaja also came here last year and he is convinced that this is his favourite preaching field in the world. He will do a one week japa retreat in the South some time this year. If there are a few devotees who want to come here and preach, do sankirtana and books, then they can write to us. We have everything here for you, just write to us.

I took a little section out of the Jaiva Dharma, I hope you like it, and feel inspired.
Lahiri Mahashaya was fluent in the language of the Muslims. He had studied the Koran and also many books of the Sufis. To the Kazi he addressed this question: "What is your idea of liberation?"
The Kazi replied, "Where you use the word `jiva' (individual spirit soul), we use the word `ru'. The ru has two states of existence: 1. ru-mujarradi, and 2. ru-tarkibi. What you call `cit' (spirit) we call `mujarrad'. What you call `acit' (matter) we call `jisam'. The spiritual world (mujarrad) is beyond material time. The material world (jisam) is subject to time's control. The `tarkibi-ru', or `baddha-jiva' (conditioned soul), is filled with material desires. His mind is filled with material ideas. The `mujarrad-ru' (liberated soul) is pure and free from these contaminations. A person who says, `alam misal' (I am spirit) is able to become a `mujarradi-ru' (liberated soul). By the gradually development of `esk' (spiritual love) the `ru' (soul) becomes purified. A great saint goes to the abode of God. He does not stay in the material world. In that spiritual world he is the servant and God is the master. The soul and God have that relationship eternally. The attainment of that pure relationship with God is called liberation. The Sufis explain the Koran in that way, but not everyone is able to understand this explanation. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Chanda Kazi understood this and taught this to me. In that way I know that you are all pure devotees of the Lord.
Lahiri Mahashaya: What is the teaching that is at the root of the Koran?
Kazi: there are many teachings in the Koran. I cannot single out a particular kind of worship to tell you. However, the purpose of life is to worship God. When they see the supremely blissful Supreme God, all people become plunged into transcendental bliss. Lord Caitanya has explained in this way.
Lahiri Mahashaya: How does the Koran describe the form of God?
Kazi: The Koran says that God has no form. However, Lord Caitanya told the Chanda Kazi that the meaning of these words of the Koran is that God has no material form. The Koran does not mean to say that God does not have a spiritual form. The prophet himself saw the form of God, which is filled with transcendental love. He also described all the rasas, but only in a concealed way.
Lahiri Mahashaya: What do the Sufis say?
Kazi: their philosophy is "anal hak", which means "I am God". In this way the philosophy of the Vedic impersonalists and the Muslim Sufis is the same.
Lahiri Mahashaya: Are you a Sufi?
Kazi: No. I am a pure devotee. I have surrendered my life to Lord Caitanya.

Thus talking about many things, the saintly Kazi and the Vaiñëavas treated each other with great respect. Finally the meeting ended with a great chanting of the holy names of Lord Hari.

2009-03-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

Book distribution in Texas is really fun. We go place to place, shop to shop, home to home, street light to street light, door to door, neighbor to neighbor, classroom to classroom, highway to highway, Walmart to Walmart, gas station to gas station, all the while listening to Srila Gurudeva chanting sweet bhajans and telling people to chant "Haribol! Bolo Hari Hari Mukunda Murari! We give them Srila Gurudeva's books and healthy raw food snacks thanks to Gopal's Healthfoods. Here's a clip about sponsorship for the book rack program in Houston.

visit our website: www.bhaktiyogaschool.com

Gaura~Hari~Bol

A Walk in the Park in Hong Kong

2009-03-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong is such a packed, crazy city. Syamarani didi and I were walking in the park the other day, and seeing all the people I got inspired to distribute books. So, I went back to the temple and got some books and went back out. The devotees here think its really hard to talk to Chinese people, and to some extent that is true, but I met so many wonderful people. I felt so guided by Gurudeva and Krsna as I was walking. Not thinking about anything - just allowing them to guide me to those souls waiting for these books. I stopped to talk to this elderly man sitting on a bench. I showed him the book To Be Controlled by Love in Chinese and he said, "I don't believe in religion. I only believe in myself." I said that's good - Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita to abandon all varieties of religion and surrender to Him. He was flipping through the pages of the book and I said, "Just take it home and read it and if you don't like it you can give it away to a friend." He kept looking at the pages and looked really intrigued. I said, "The book is free, but if you want to give a donation so we can print more, that would be great." He said, "I'm a poor man." I said, "No problem - whatever you can give is fine, even if it is 1 or 2 dollars. So he pulled 20 dollars (Hong Kong dollars, which is like 3US) out of his pocket. It was a really genuine exchange.

Then today I was walking in the park and I dropped a book right in front of this bench where 2 ladies were sitting. I took the sign that this book was for one them. So, I said, "I have this beautiful book for you." One lady took it and said Jesus saves. At first I thought, maybe I should keep moving, but some force (not of my own) made me stay to talk with her. Turns out we had the most lovely conversation! I said, "There is one God, with many names - Jesus, Allah, Buddha and Krsna." She said, "Yes, I believe that." Then I showed her a picture of Krsna. She asked, "What does He represent?" I said, "God." She looked interested. I then gave her a flyer for the art program we were having the following day and told her we would love for her to come and I think she would find it a wonderful cultural experience. She read the flyer and she said, "Are you a vegetarian?" I said yes and she got so excited and said she is too. She became a vegetarian because of a heart attack 10 years ago so said she did it for health, not because of faith. I said, "But don't you feel good now?" She said she feels more peaceful. I explained that is because the way animals are killed is so cruel and the consciousness of the person who kills them comes into us." She said, "You are brilliant." It was really sweet. Her name was Margaret and she said she was so happy to meet me and is going to call her Indian friend and see if she will come to the art program.

Transcendental book distribution ki jaya!

Book Distribution at India Festival 2008, Fremont (SF)

2009-03-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks into August, I grudgingly wake up at around 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning. As I turn off my alarm clock, get out of bed, and start to get ready, I wonder why on earth I am getting up so early during my summer vacation. Then, like a splash of cold water awakening my drowsy consciousness, I remember that it is Sri Balarama’s Appearance Day and I am on my way to help distribute Srila Gurudev’s books and posters at the Festival of India in Fremont. As soon as I remember this, I am excited and happy that this day and the next will be a perfect opportunity to serve Srila Gurudev. I go downstairs and get the boxes of books ready, and wait for Hrdaya Govinda prabhu and Radha.
Before I know it, we are on our way and soon reach the festival site. As usual, Ranga dd is there on time greeting us with a cheerful grin. We unload and decorate our booth and tables with saris, posters, frames, and books. I survey the other booths at the festival, and I think ours is definitely the most beautiful. After setting up, we do a short kirtan and pray that these two days will be a success. In no time at all, streams of people start entering the festival site and exploring our booth.
Our booth is like a precious island full of jewels, and the people outside are like wandering fish in the sea. Hrdaya Govinda is the fisherman, catching the fish with his friendly greetings and reeling them into shore. (Don’t worry, we’re vegetarians so we don’t eat them J) I am shy and lazy a lot of the time and feel unqualified to speak to people about all of these wonderful books, but Ranga dd continuously inspires me to be enthusiastic. So many people come by, drawn by the beautiful posters and books. For every person that comes by the booth, whether they leave with literature or not, we give them a flyer for our local center. We also give them a biography of Srila Gurudev, a small book, and ask if they would like to sign up for the Harikatha mailing list and/or Nama hatta programs.
By Baladev’s mercy, we made enough donations in just two day's to cover the cost of the books and table. We even had extra profit to donate to Navadwip! Just this past weekend, we had a very successful Nama Hatta program at a person’s home, whom we met at the festival. We hope to continue to build a relationship with this very sweet family and the community in that area and beyond. Srila Gurudeva ki jai!! –Gopika dasi

Oh My Goodness! Sharing is so much fun! Hrdayagovinda Prabhu, Ranga Didi, Gopika Didi, and I went to Freemont for the Festival of India 2008 event. Thousands of curious souls walked booth to booth to check out what caught their eye. And as Gopika said, of course ours was super cool and amazing. By Gurudeva’s and Lord Baladeva’s blessings people purchased Gurudeva’s potent books and beautiful posters, and for each purchase we gave them a baggy of popcorn prasadam, which made them feel cared for. At first we were kind of shy, but no problem, that went away with time. It was evident that just as Nike ads advise, we had to “Just Do It”, accept that Gurudeva and Sri Krsna were going to guide the people, and of course help us be bold. We took down the names of people who were interested in receiving Hari-katha and/or hosting Nam-hatta programs at their homes or attending programs. Then from that list we sent out an e-mail, and one person responded. So we did a program at his house, and over 60 people attended. After that successful program he is now interested in having monthly programs at his house, and wants to invite 100 people next time. It’s so wonderful to see Krsna do His God thing in people’s sincere hearts. –Radha dasi

BOOK DISTRIBUTION AT INDIA FESTIVAL, FREMONT (SF)

2009-03-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

In the weekend of August 16 - 17, 2008 our Bayarea Sanga (Bhakti Center, San Francisco) participated in a 2 day annual event called 16TH INDIA FESTIVAL - 2008 organised by Federation of Indo-Americans of Northern California for past 16 years in rememberance of India Independence.
Some of the highlights of the festival were booths where vendors were selling clothing, jewelery, food, music, puja paraphernalia , literature and art & craft along with Free Health Fair, cutural programs and seminars. There were also non-profit booths from organisations around Bay Area. The foot traffic for 2 days was estimated to be around 15,000 to 20,000 people. This festival attracts not only Indian people but a mixed crowd who want to know more about different cultures, entertainment, just various respectful reasons.
Through Sri Guru and Vaisnavas causeless mercy our booth was well received. Lots of books were distributed and also Bhakti Art posters. Radha dd, Gopika dd and Hrdyagovinda Prabhu worked very hard.
There are many people there who want to know so much about just everything. Eg. a young man was going through books and he asked where do I start if I want to pursue on this path. And he took Jaiva Dharma. It is difficult to tell them about books when we don't know what it is about. We tried to get some emails for Harikatha Mailing List. For me, it was good experience to even try to talk to people only through Gurudev's causeless mercy. I'm praying at Sri Guru and Vaisnavas causeless mercy that they will allow us to do many many more such services. Lots of people are already aware about our Srila Prabhupada and were curious to know if we were Iskcon.

Radha dd and Gopika dd brought lots of books.. and she very nicely set 2 tables books stacked high. They nicely decorated the booth with beautiful sarees - very attractive. Hopefully we will do much better next year. It just naturally attracts people if you have a larger booth, books stacked high with one copy of each title placed upright in front of each stack, nicely decorated and when people see many people looking at everything. All these are very helpful. Radha dd said these are some of the marketing skills and yes, Radha dd is good about these things. Very inspiring for me. I learnt a lot. Lots of parents were requesting books for children, anything for children. Children are everywhere and if anything can be prepared for young childrens reading, it can definitely be distributed. We had Krsna books for distribution. Beautiful signs were made by Gopika dd. Parents were also asking about devotional cartoons. Coloring books - dasavatar was accepted well, we had few and it was sold out. People were quite receptive, very positive - especially younger people. I think overall our booth went well and praying that we will have many such opportunity to serve again. - Rangadevidasi

Excuse me sir! Welcome to the book distribution zone....

2009-03-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

Excuse me sir! Welcome to the book distribution zone, a transcendental Vaikuntha embassy bubble which has opened up on your street corner!

More inspiring videos on http://www.youtube.com/user/PureBhaktiBookDist

GVP Book Distribution Prison Program

2009-02-26T12:01:00.001-08:00

Hare Krsna,
Dandavat pranama. By the causeless mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, Srila Gurudeva's books are now going to the prisons.
Donations are mercifully being given through http://www.gvpbookdistribution.com/ and our team which includes Syamarani dasi, Mahasakti prabhu, Ranga didi, Gopika dasi, Visvambhara prabhu, Radha dasi and myself have been working towards having Srila Gurudeva's books sponsored for prisons, hospitals, hostels, doctor's offices and anywhere devotees are inspired to put these transcendental gems.

We will soon be sending books to two more prison programs (one in Australia and one in North Carolina), and also will be starting our rack program, where racks will be put in various places with sponsored books.

If anyone wants to get involved in any way - please write to me at vasantidasi@gmail.com.

Below is a thank you letter from the Philadephia Prison Program called Books through Bars:

Books Through Bars
4722 Baltimore Ave • Philadelphia, PA 19143
215.727.8170

info@booksthroughbars.org • http://www.booksthroughbars.org/

February 1, 2009

Dear Raksha (Ranga devi),
I am writing to you today on behalf of our organization Books Through Bars in order to thank you for your recent and generous book donation. You can be assured that these books will come to good use and be sent out in packages to incarcerated persons who write to us requesting either spiritual or meditational texts.

Thank you again for your donation and support.

Sincerely,

Emily Abendroth,
Books Through Bars

A day out with Syamarani didi

2009-02-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

Malaysia Subhayatra

2009-02-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Subhayatra with Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadhra was really great. It was in Johur Bahra, Malaysia on January 24, 2009 on Chinese New Year so there were Chinese boys there with a dragon. By the end of the harinama, some of the boys were pulling Jagannath. We had two carts - one with Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subadhra and the other with Srila Prabhupada. Many devotees distributed books and flyers along the way. There was a large Indian community and they were extremely receptive and all gave donations for books, especially for the Siva-tattva book. The Chinese people we met also were interested in our books and gave donations for books such as The Butter Thief and Happiness in A Fool's Paradise.

All for all

2009-02-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

I believe that even if a person's intelligence can't grasp a book's content, his soul can, if he has sukrtis.

Hare Krishna and welcome to our Blog

2009-02-18T05:50:00.000-08:00

We're happy to announce that today we launched our official GVP Book Distribution Blog and News section. Please visit frequently to stay up-to-date on inspiring book distribution stories from devotees meeting the public and any other related and relevant topics.

Haribol and happy book distributing!

Aspiring to serve Hari, Guru and the Vaisnavas,
GVP Book Distribution team.