Become Happy Yourself
When I joined brahmacarini ashram actually I was the first lady to live there at that time (because Prabhupada completely convinced me) devotees told me to go with them on book distribution. So the first day I joined I went on sankirtan. I was distributing Prabhupada's books I have never read before! But I was reading them together with people on sankirtan. I approached them, opened the book and was reading to them. People listened and bought books. They were buying Prabhupada's words. Another way to distribute books is to make friends with people and give them books. Out of friendliness they will take. But the most exalted and powerful book distribution occurs when you approach the soul with great compassion and deep desire to help. Such feeling you obtain only by Krishna's mercy, when during many years of spiritual practice you become pure enough to understand each person you meet on the street. You look at his eyes, face or hands and you can say many things about him. You become clairvoyant. You can feel what he feels, you can tell which disease he has, what he thinks, everything. That's why Prabhupada told that book distributors are the best psychologists. With their pure eyes they can see what is lacking in another person, therefore they can help to the point, giving what he exactly needs. When the person sees that you give him what he really needs, he takes. You can help everyone you meet, according to Lord Caitanya's desire. And that is the success of book distribution. Most people are just innocent, ignorant, so they are very grateful to you when you show them spiritual happiness by approaching the way he likes. But first you have to become happy yourself to make others happy.
By Jagat Kirti Devi Dasi from Europe, Lithuania (JPS)
