Blog
December Book Distribution
My dear devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In a letter to me dated December 1971, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Go on increasing books and go on increasing my pleasure.” December is a special opportunity to focus on Srila Prabhupada’s desire that we distribute books and thus increase his pleasure. As he wrote in the same letter, “I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books.” tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api...
read moreBook distribution anecdotes from Brazil
On a cold and difficult day in Curitiba, Brazil, Mahananda Murari Prabhu remembered that it is only by Krishna’s mercy that everything happens. He prayed that if it was Krishna’s desire, would He please allow nice people to emerge. Gabriela and Matheus then appeared, excited, saying: “It wasn’t by chance that we met!” He held the books for Mahananda to take the photo. In another photo, Mahananda was in doubt whether to approach the customers of Trajano Pub, because establishments do not always allow us. Finally,...
read moreUnveiling a nurse and mother’s highest purpose
“Often the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees, but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf Nair, a devoted nurse, had just completed a demanding night shift and was en route to her home. Despite being a single mother of three, juggling a full-time job, and even working overtime today for extra income, her passion for her profession radiated through her. Her beaming smile conveyed not only her love for serving the sick but also her...
read moreA poem from the early days of book distribution, mid 70’s
Sankarshan Das I was a young monk out to save the world. By teaching pure love of God And distributing a magazine Back to Godhead. Do you find that to be quite odd? At a mall in Leesburg, Florida, While showing folks how to attain the divine, The police came and put me in jail For committing this most heinous crime. Which side of the bars are you on? Which side of the bars are you on? They gave me a solitary cell, But I did not feel all alone Because I knew that God is with me In my newly attained, humble home. I didn’t touch their garbage...
read moreAn unexpected request from a professor
My recent week was such a hard week. I was at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville one day and two days before that at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. People were so much humiliating me. These were my worst days on a campus. I became so tired. For the first time in my life, I wrapped it up and finished one day by 1 p.m. I experienced the worst day in my book distribution career. I was extremely broken-hearted and extremely devastated. The total collection was only 261 dollars and the total amount of books distributed...
read morePrabhupada quotes about book distribution
– A book sold becomes a permanent matter for enjoyment. We read the scriptures again and again and it is still fresh. When there is time I go on reading my own books. – All of my students may not be inclined to study but they are very much eager to give others the opportunity to read my books and this should not be discouraged. – All the leaders should tax their brains for increasing the sales of our books. – As soon as I see that there is such increased book distribution figures, I take that to mean that all other...
read moreDistributing books when you don’t have any at the moment
My story begins with attending Mangal Arati on Radhastami at the temple. Initially, I planned to go with Bhakta Sivam instead of taking my car. I thought that he would return to the ashram after class. However, he decided to stay at the temple until the evening program. But there was a Harinama planned back in Otara. I really wanted to attend it and distribute books. So I managed to get a ride with Kadamba Kanana Prabhu, who was transporting temple prasadam for distribution at the Harinama. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop by the ashram...
read moreFrom Drunkard to Devotee: A transformation through the Bhagavatam
In a serene village far from Pune’s busy city life, Sachi Nandan Bhagawan Prabhu from ISKCON Pune embarked on the mission of spreading the spiritual wisdom of the Srimad Bhagavatam. He brought with him a dedicated group of devotees in a bus, eager to share the profound teachings of Lord Krishna. The bus trundled through the village called Vita in the Sangli district of Maharashtra, and it came to a halt at a quaint . There was a man, lost in his own world of intoxication. His bleary eyes fell upon the volumes of the Bhagavatam, and a...
read moreIt’s finally available, “Treasures of the Brhat Mrdanga”
Hare Krsna Prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! After years of working on this book it’s finally available. There’s nice stories about book distribution, realizations of senior devotees and Prabhupad’s quotes. If you go to Amazon to and put in “Treasures of the Brhat Mrdanga,” you’ll see it. When you do, you’ll also see that is says “temporarily out of stock,” but it’s not true, you can order it. Amazon still has some kinks to work out....
read moreFrom inquirer to leader
Many years ago, I was in front of the San Diego temple when a devotee asked me if I could speak to a guest who only understood Spanish. The guest had received a book from someone in Mexico and had some questions he wanted answered. By looking in the back of the book he found the address to the San Diego temple, which was closer to him than the temples in Mexico, so he decided to visit. To enter the US, go to the temple, and then return to his home in Mexico all took time, so he had to hurry to get back to his home before it got late. I had...
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