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Los Angeles Sastra Dana Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 11
VANCA KALPA… THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO REQUEST By Mahat-tattva das When the demon Kamsa learned about how the 8th child of Devaki was to kill him he decided to mercilessly kill all of Devaki’s children including the 8th one, Krishna. When Krishna finally appeared Devaki was in fear of Kamsa killing her baby. Although she knew that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that no one can harm Him still because of her deep affection for Krishna she was in fear. Srila Prabhupada explains that this ISKCON society is like...
read moreLos Angeles Sastra Dana Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 11
ON MY WAY TO JOIN THE TEMPLE Narrated by Sarabha das, written by Mahat-tattva das (Continued from the previous issue) The remaining walls revealed that the houses had been new, and built in a modern style. A little further down the road a haystack was burning, giving off the only source of light in that part of the village. The unpleasant silence of the whole village was enough to make one’s hair stand on end. I was thinking: “I don’t know what hell looks like, but this would be suitable.” In the courtyard of one...
read moreMessage from Janaki Rama Dasa
Dear Devotees on the Book Distrabution Conference, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am not a member of this conference, but wanted to post something of relevance. I am former full-time book distributor, and now I am a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Everyday I speak with students and professors about the Hare Krishna Movement. Recently I have been speaking with a young man named Aaron. He relayed his experiences with book distributors, which were very negative, and I asked him to...
read moreBig Mac & Lord Siva
O demigods, one who has no compassion for humanity in its suffering and does not sacrifice his impermanent body for the higher causes of religious principles or eternal glory is certainly pitied even by the immovable beings. If one is unhappy to see the distress of other living beings and happy to see their happiness, his religious principles are appreciated as imperishable by exalted persons who are considered pious and benevolent. This body, which is eatable by jackals and dogs after death, does not actually do any good for me, the spirit...
read moreFrom Madhumangala – Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books as it is,
Please accept my most humble obeisances, all glories to our most beloved Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Sri Gutru and Sri Gauranga, all glories to the sankirtan devotees of the Lord! Here is some sankirtan nectar from today, whilst it is still fresh in my fading memory. Today at Simonstown, I approached a couple sitting outside at a table at a coffee shop. The lady and the man were both wearing black biker's leather jackets. The lady was sitting at the table smoking a cigarette, whilst her husband was busy talking on his cell phone. I...
read moreCulture Fest
Hare Krishna. Today in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A there was a culture fest. The lady who organizes it called the temple and asked the devotees to be there. I went down there and there were some booths and some people there so I started distributing books. It went nicely. It was slow but steady and many nice people. I met a man who saw the devotees at woodstock. Then I gave a book to a lady who is from Somalia and she remember the devotees from the 1970's in New York. She was a muslim but she said she loves the peaceful chanting and flower...
read moreFrom Lilananda Prabhu – New York
This is one of the most ecstatic letters I have ever seen. Srila Prabhupada is very happy to hear this. He also took a long time to actualize his preaching in America. So Krsna has been getting you ready and now you can do something great. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, Your servant, Kavicandra...
read moreAsking for a Donation
Vaisesika Prabhu wrote: "When I ask for a donation for a book, I often say, 'Sir, we won't sell these books because they are too valuable –they are spiritual books — so we just take a donation. Give the most you can.'" In my opinion, this is a wonderful way to ask for a donation. It displays all good qualities of a Vaisnava. expert (i.e. in selling the book and getting the most generous donation possible), respectful (i.e. addressing the person as "Sir") truthful (i.e. telling how valuable the books...
read more“Hitting up”
All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga! May 17, 2001 Krishna Era 5228 Dear Vaisnava book distributors, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for sharing your nice stories of selling books. Recently a devotee posted a story where the term "hitting up" a lady was included. In humility I will take the liberty to mention a few things which come to mind. The term "hit up" carries many unpleasant connotations: hit up. Slang. To approach and ask (someone) for something, especially for money....
read moreJehovah
Dear Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I hit up one young-ish lady and handed her a Srimad Bhagavatam Canto One, Part One. She liked it but could only give me some change, so I asked her if I could trade her down to an Isopanisad. She agreed, but the look on her face told me she wanted the Bhagavatam. Anyway, we talked a little, and she asked some nice questions. She revealed she had been preaching for the Jehovah's Witnesses for five years and wanted to know more about spiritual life. I told...
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