Something from the BDS editor and Book Distributor
Going on Book Distribution with Devotees from Radhadesa by Tattvavit Dasa
Recently, Hamsavatra Prabhu, the sankirtan leader in Radhadesa, was at the temple for a few days to repair a van. He announced after mangal arati that he would take out a vanful of book distributors the next day, and that anybody could go along. So I jumped in the van the next morning, and seven of us men headed out.
We went to Maastricht, a Dutch city. In the morning, on the pedestrian shopping street, I met a psychology student. He grasps the idea that we have minds and that there is more to life than just the body. Building on his faith, I encouraged him to read Coming Back, because it has some academic arguments in it. He asked for a deal: one euro off the actual price. So I agreed. But then he said that the actual price of the book was the same price as a pack of cigarettes, and I jokingly argued with him a little: "Since you have money to burn, you should give the extra euro."
But he said, "No, we made a deal."
No problem.
Later, two ladies approached me. One said that she's already reading Srila Prabhupada's books, and wanted to see what else I had. I showed her the Krsna books. I showed her friend The Higher Taste and The Science of Self-Realization. I thought that her friend wouldn't take the books, so I began taking one of them back. But I felt her resistance. She wouldn't let go and tugged the book back from me. A nice sensation!
She paid for the books, and then I turned my attention to selling the Krsna books. I opened a book to the pictures and ended up explaining why Krsna kills demons. They could appreciate our philosophical viewpoint on that. The two friends decided to each buy one of the Krsna books and to trade them between themselves later.
Our group of devotees took a lunch break in the van, next to a park. Then we went out for the afternoon. The pedestrian street by this time was packed with shoppers. People were swarming through the streets, and in and out of the shops. A Russian musical team was doing a song and a costumed folk dance in front of one shop.
Too bad that we didn't bring our instruments and do a little harinama. Anyway, we all kept distributing, and by five, when we went home, we had distributed 49 books.
Hamsavatar Prabhu did the most books. He gave class this morning about a verse that mentioned the Lord's lotus feet. He asked the devotees present how to serve the Lord's feet, and various answers were given. Then he gave his answer: the Lord says that in this age He wants to go to every town and village, so the best way to serve His lotus feet is to bring Him everywhere and glorify Him and let people buy Srila Prabhupada's books.
Haribol.
