It wasn’t your time…
I was distributing in Germany and approached a man, introducing myself as a monk. I mentioned karma and reincarnation. He asked, “You are a monk? I’ll tell you what. I have experienced something incredible. Let me tell you what happened to me. I had some serious health problems and died — legally dead. My brain was not provided with oxygen for so long that according to conventional medicine it was not possible to survive. What happened during that time was that I had a near death experience. I saw myself leaving the body. Then I heard voices...
read moreFrom student to mayor
In 1989, I had just returned to Canada from a six-year term in New Delhi, serving there as the temple president. I would walk the halls of McGill University and distribute books to students. One Indian student named Arjun Singh was quite intrigued by my activities and eventually got a book from me. Fast forward to summer 2017. I was organizing the Festival of India in a large Park in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada and intended to invite the local mayor. When I got to the mayor’s office, I was ushered in by the receptionist. And who was...
read moreA smart girl
Mahotsaha prabhu recalls: A Really cool Brooklyn college student from the Dominican Republic came by and she was in a very happy mood. I said: “Wow you look like you’re so cool. You must be a smart girl, at least smarter than me! These are the best books from India on meditation and love.” She said: “I’d love to take them but I’m going on a date right now. How am I going to carry all these books?” I said: “No problem when you meet your date just make him carry the books! We will give you a strong bag.” It took a little extra effort to...
read moreBooks bide their time before helping
I am reading sankirtan stories regularly. They are always inspiring. One day I received an email containing a link to “Vijay Prabhu’s Special Class on Book Distribution.” Before going out to distribute books, I listened to the lecture. A great lecture. I heard this new anecdote about how books are patient and help in time: On a street in Poznan (Poland), I stopped an elderly person. He said he is a hunter. He was interested in how karma works, what reactions follow killing. He said: “I have some animals on my conscience.” I explained to...
read moreA most amazing distribution point
As we know from the “Teachings of Lord Caitanya,” there are no hard and fast rules for chanting Hare Krishna. Similarly, there are no hard and fast rules for distributing books. I was distributing books at a college, and I saw a security guard coming my way. Sometimes people complain. He was some distance away, so I went into a nearby building. After going through the door, I walked fast to avoid him. I made the first left, and it turned out to be a restroom. I thought, “I’ll just hang out here for a couple of minutes, and then go out and see...
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