Praying to become Srila Prabhupada’s instrument on book distribution
Before I go out on book distribution, every time I make sure that I pray to Srila Prabhupada and all the acaryas. Doing so, I feel confident that I can distribute many books, and praying also helps me remain conscious that I am not the doer. One day, it so happened that all my friends went on harinama, and I was alone. To save time, I offered prayers mentally. I didn’t physically go to Srila Prabhupada’s murti and pray. Then, as usual, after reaching the first traffic signal, I started showing books to the people who had stopped...
read moreEncouraged by a recipient of Prabupada’s books
For a whole week I’d experienced a profound sense of detachment while distributing books at the southbound platform within the illustrious Broadway-Lafayette subway station in New York City. My steadiness and purity of mind were unprecedented. I jotted down notes to myself on how one must be kind and smile at everyone, regardless of their response. Be light. That was the key. The next week I attempted to employ the realizations Krsna had compassionately offered me. As the recently elected sankirtana leader, I felt it my duty to grow into a...
read moreWhen we distribute books Laxmidevi mystriously becomes the treasurer
While distributing books on the street in Mumbai, I once showed a set of three books to a person. He took the set in his hands, worth Rs. 200, and started walking away, without paying the amount. I started following him, thinking that he will turn back and pay me, but he entered a commercial building and soon disappeared. That’s when I realized he was a thief. I tried to search for him and went to the security guy and informed him, but he didn’t take my concerns seriously. When I was about to give up and go back, another man...
read moreSaved in Ukraine
I’m in the holy dhama of Mayapur. As I got ready to take rest last night, I heard a kirtan not far away. It was my neighbor, Niranjana Swami, and some devotees having a bhajana. Niranjana Maharaja is one of my favorite kirtaniyas, so I went over to hear the nectar of the holy names. After he had chanted a while, he saw me and said that he had a sankirtan story to tell me. In Ukraine, there are devotees cooking for the Food for Life program. They cook at the bottom of an empty swimming pool, because it’s safer down there. After...
read moreA humble scholar asks his taxi driver to narrate and sign the Gita
For about ten years, I maintained myself and my family by driving a taxi. Srila Prabhupada’s kirtan always softly played in the taxi, and I was distributing his books to my passengers. Some happily accepted, and some refused as always. One day, I picked up a passenger from the airport to take him downtown, about a forty-minute drive with traffic. On the way, he recognized the maha-mantra in the background and started a conversation with me. I slowly introduced him to the message of the Bhagavad Gita. He started listening to my narrations very...
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