oldchakra.com

Cruzin’
By Aisvarya dasa

Dear Vaisnavas, Vaisnavis, Friends, Brajabasis, Countymen,

Please accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

One could have a field day describing the finer subtleties of Santa Cruz. Not that it’s that subtle. When I ask tourists what their first impressions of this Northern Californian town is, they normally take a few seconds to think about it and then look at me with a puzzled look. To keep things short, I normally help them along with the suggestion that it’s Hippieville. They nod profusely.

Not that everyone is a hippie there. Apart from the grunged-out followers of Gerry, who loiter on the streets all day, there are a few yogis, mystics, new-agers, and for some reason, many tourists. Many of these same tourists also walked the streets of San Francisco and couldn’t have been stopped by a police roadblock there, but for some reason, in Santa Cruz they stop without a second thought. It must be the "spiritually surcharged atmosphere."

I was once distributing Krsna Books in Dundee, Scotland (in the late 70's). A tramp started watching me. He seemed very interested but as he was really filthy and smelly looking, I was trying hard to ignore him so he'd go away. Finally he came up while I was talking to someone and started peering curiously at the books.

Inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s desire to have His books distributed to everyone, members of the Hari Smaran group distributed 1,329 books during the 2001 Srila Prabhupada’s book Marathon. The Hari Smaran group is a group of mostly Indian professionals whose purpose is to preach Krsna Consciousness in North Dallas. Of these 1,329 books, 583 were hardbound Bhagavad Gitas. Only 60 of these 1,329 books were sponsored. All other books were distributed in parking lots on a one-to-one basis. Aside from distributing books, more than 2,500 prasad cookies were distributed.

So, you want to serve Krishna, and at the same time you need to maintain yourself and/or your family nicely?

What better way is there than book distribution?

In the following article, we are going to give you practical hints and a proven method to do it. You only need to maintain some spiritual strength by having a regular program. The benefits are not only materially rewarding but spiritually refreshing as well.

Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 
Published in Urdu
by Amoghalila das

At the end of August 2001, Srila Prabhupada's complete Bhagavad-gita As It Is, translated into Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, went to press in Karachi. In early October, the first copies came back from the printer. Within the next two months, devotees around Pakistan distributed over four hundred copies of this long-awaited book, undisturbed by the political unrest in their country.

In 1985, Yasodanandana Prabhu (the late Prof. Yashpal Bhatia) translated Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Urdu. He had been very ill, and his family had given up all hopes of his survival. When he miraculously recovered, he took shelter of Lord Krishna at ISKCON Juhu, Bombay (now Mumbai).

Book Distribution on the Trains of Bombay 
By Vraja Vihari Dasa

Book distribution in the local trains of Bombay (Mumbai) is a very intense experience with hundreds of people pushing and nudging one another in a small compartment.

© CHAKRA 15 April 2001

Buddhimanta Sankirtana Hero
By Visvaretah Dasa

The 100 degree fever of Sankirtana in the early 1970s in America can only be described as an epidemic. At one point, when we were completely out of Books, waiting for Dai Nippon's shipment of Krishna Books to arrive, the leader on the west coast, the pre-GBC mega-authority was Karandhara.

© CHAKRA 8 April 2001

Tilak and Book Distribution
By Candrasekhar Acarya dasa

As the decades and centuries roll on, ISKCON will become more and more established and recognized. It will just become impossible for the book distributors to do what they sometimes did 15 years ago (or are still doing today), namely totally hiding their identity and selling people books without them knowing that we are Hare Krsnas'. Or if we continue to do so, we will just get the reputation of being "those cultish religious guys who trick you into buying their book, only to find out later on that the book is about Krishna and that the person who sold the book to you is a Hare Krishna but for some odd reason never dared to tell you." Does this sound like a respectable preaching plan that will be effective in making people turn to Krishna consciousness for the next 10 000 years? Rather, I propose, let us follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions on how we present ourselves to the public, and in this way pave the way for honest, straightforward, powerful and totally ecstatic Brihad Mridanga for the future generations of book distributors that will join Srila Prabhupada in his ISKCON movement.  

© CHAKRA 27-January-2001

World Enlightenment Day: Epic Harinam in an Epic City
By Bhakta Jerry

Approaching the Bay Bridge (San Francisco) in stop-and-go traffic, a car full of college kids noticed us. Rajahamsa Das was driving, and Balaram was in the passenger seat. We exchanged friendly glances, and they asked us what we were doing. We told them to go to Union Square because we will all be singing, dancing and drumming. They enthusiastically said they would come, and we gave them a card. It was a nice exchange, and a good boost to get us in the Sankirtan spirit.

© CHAKRA 6-January-2001

World Enlightenment Day 2000
By Vaisesika das

CHAKRA (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - Saturday, December 16, 2000: The Fifth Annual World Enlightenment Day Marathon (WED V) is just around the corner. World Enlightenment Day is a unique opportunity for everyone to exhibit their appreciation for Srila Prabhupada and all he's done for us. We invite you to help deliver Krishna's mercy (Prabhupada's books) to the unfortunate souls of the Kali-yuga on Saturday, December, 16th. Please join us for this special event and encourage others to do so. Hare Krishna.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 17-November-2000

I was at TWA terminal and I see this forty something year old guy with his daughter (maybe about 10) and his son (around 6 or 7 years old) so I was kind of hesitant to stop them ‘cause...well, some parents just have this thing for being overprotective of their little children, especially when a sankirtana devotee approaches them at LAX.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 15-Jan-2004

At least for the Month of December everyone should grab boxes of Srila Prabhupada’s books and distribute them like mad. Just experiment and see. It’s the best way to clear the cobwebs in the brain which is the cause of most of ISKCON’s problems.

Even though ISKCON has problems it’s still better than any other movement that exists and to be a part of it is the most glorious credit one can have. Whoever I meet I will try to impress upon them the importance of the Mayapura Project and help you to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire. 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 12-Nov-1999

CHAKRA (Los Angeles, CA) - October 17, 1999: Last year I met a lady with her two young daughters in a parking lot of San Francisco. I showed her the Bhagavad-gita and when she saw the picture of Srila Prabhupada she said “Oh, I saw this man once!” I politely told her that maybe she was mistaking him for another person because Srila Prabhupada had already passed away twenty-three years ago. She insisted, “No, I met him. I was 6 years old. My parents were hippies in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco."
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 17-Oct-1999

CHAKRA (Tokyo, Japan) - I met a nice person on book distribution in Japan who already received Srila Prabhupada’s book 5 years before. He had an amazing story. “I spend my time half for work and the other half is for spiritual time and have been living for the last 40 years in this way. I want to know the absolute truth,” he told me. 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 13-Oct-1999

Mayapur '99 Book
Distribution Seminars
from Navina Nirada Dasa
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This year's Mayapur festival the BD Ministry offers the following courses:

THE BOOK DISTRIBUTION GRADUATE COURSE

This is the standard five-day book distribution course which is mandatory for all regular distributors. This course has been fully revised. More then 1200 devotees have successfully completed it within the last 2 years. All you need and want to know about book distribution from philosophy, techniques, values, standards to the lifestyle of a book distributor.
===========

THE SANKIRTAN LEADERSHIP COURSE

This new four day leadership course has been launched successfully this year. More then 200 Temple Presidents and Sankirtan leaders have taken it. It is the most comprehensive course on management in ISKCON to date, covering a wide range of topics from conflict resolution, time management, communication skills to the personal development of a leader.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 15-Dec-98

A Reply to
Krpanidhi Prabhu's Letter
from Payonidhi das


Dear Krpanidhi Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

When Srila Prabhupada was asked the same question, he said all his books could be distributed. He gave the example of a sugar doll that is sweet no matter where you taste it.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 28-Nov-98

A Plea to Non-Ritviks and Ritviks
From Yajnamurti das (HDG)


As we all love Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada is the central point of our lives, I herein want to make a plea to all devotees to please Srila Prabhupada, and as a result we will be happy also.

My plea is that for (at least) one month, the month of December, let's turn off the computer and take a bag with Srila Prabhupada's books (at least 100 books!) and go out every day during Srila Prabhupada's transcendental Marathon.

Srila Prabhupada said, "If you really want to please me, then distribute my books, distribute my books, distribute my books."

So let's flood the world with the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. Then we will feel real happiness and we will forget this tendency to be the controller.

With a straw in my mouth,

Your servant,

Yajnamurti das (HDG)

P.S. I am presently in Atlanta, GA. If anyone wants to come and join us to distribute books in Atlanta, you're welcome. Hare Krsna.

© CHAKRA 18-Nov-98

Preaching by Example
From: Navina Nirada das


Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

A few months ago I met a simple man, your ordinary "9 to 5" man working in a chemical company in Basel, Switzerland. He was not really interested in the topics I tried to explain to him. But he had a great fortune: in his company works one really nice devotee. He preaches to the workers, brings them prasadam cakes and also distributes books. This man was impressed with this devotee's service attitude, saying that he works the hardest, he's the best at his job and helps others too.

Now this man was by no means a philosopher, but because he was so impressed by the good example of that devotee, he knew that Krishna Consciousness is something extraordinary. He happily bought three books.

So whoever you are, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, if your character is so nice that you can just convince people about Krishna Consciousness by your example, that is very glorious. That is actual preaching. It is not easy to convince someone simply by words, especially if one is not an expert speaker. It takes acara and pracara. Perfect behavior and perfect speaking.

Wishing you all the best

Your servant,

Navina Nirada Dasa

CHAKRA 6-Nov-98

Distributing Big Books
from Kripanidhi das


Dear Editors of Chakra,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances.

Your B.B.T. newsletter about 4 million books being distributed in the world of 97 was very enlivening. As a full-time book distributor in N.A. from '72 to '83, I would like to comment on the absence of Srimad Bhagavatams being distributed in N.A. Many books being distributed nowadays are transcripts from Srila Prabhupada's dialogues with someone.

I personally feel that Prabhupada put much more emphasis on the distribution of big books such as Srimad Bhagavatam & Sri Bhagavad Gita than on any other literature, yet I notice an absence of Srimad Bhagavatams in print for mass distribution. Is there a reason for this? Perhaps someone could comment on this.

Thank you for making Chakra available for open dialogue,

y.s.

Kripanidhi das (Vancouver B.C.)

CHAKRA 28-Oct-98

With a Little Help
from My Friends
from Maha Srnga dasa, Prague

In the summer I was distributing from door to door in a small village together with Krsna-nayaka Prabhu. Soon after I started, three little girls around ten years old spotted me and began to make jokes about me. They even shot cherrystones at me.

I continued with my distribution and they became curious about why I was going from door to door and ringing all the bells. One of them asked me who I was and what I was doing there.

"We are monks," I explained, "and we have to distribute very important spiritual books."

I showed them my books. They became excited but didn't say anything. I went on and they followed me. I went uphill with only five books in my hand and left my trolley down at the bottom. One mom took a book and because I didn't want to go down and up again, I called on one of the girls.

"Can you please bring me the black book from the trolley, the one I showed you before."

She very quickly found the book I wanted and ran to me with it. I rang the bell at the next house but it seemed that no one was there. I tried the front door but it was closed. I wanted to leave, but one of the girls stopped me. "It's not possible," she said. "My aunt lives here, and she should be home."
>Click Here

CHAKRA 27-Oct-98

The Appearance of
Lord Vishnu with Garuda
from Padmamali dasa (Prague CZ)

During the SP marathon 1996, when I was just a new bhakta, I was one time so spaced out that for an hour I couldn't even approach anyone. I became angry with myself and started to preach to my mind, "How can you just sit here while all these people walking by are actually searching for these very books you're holding in your hands? Do something!"

At last I pulled myself together to stop one young man who was hurrying back to work with his sandwich. He was interested in the books so he invited me to his shop. It was an alternative gift shop full of oriental and Indian gifts. His two colleagues also liked the books, but no one was willing to buy them. They were just interested in the vegetarian cookbook.

I began to narrate a story about Lord Vishnu and showed them the picture from Srimad Bhagavatam where Lord Vishnu is carried on the back of Garuda. One of the shop assistants exclaimed, "Hey, He looks like our one!"

I asked, "What?"

They took me upstairs to a statue covered with cloth. She uncovered the statue and there He was, Lord Vishnu standing on the back of Garuda, ready to release His Sudarsana Cakra. I cried out, "Vishnu" and paid my obeisances. )
>Click Here

CHAKRA 22-Oct-98

You Never Know
Who's Behind the Door
two stories from Satya-karana dasa

During the Nrsimha Marathon two years ago, we went from house to house in a small town called Turnov. I rang the bell of one older villa, but nobody answered the door. So I turned to next house, but suddenly I heard, "Is somebody there?" I went back and I saw an old granny peering out of the window.

She said, "I'll go to the door." It took her five minutes to make the distance from the window to the door. She apologized that it took her so long: "I'm almost eighty years old and I've got Parkinson's disease."

I showed her the First Canto and she exclaimed,"Oh, that's Bhagavad–gita and mighty Arjuna with wise Krishna."

She than told me that she had read some edition of the Bhagavad-gita when she was young student. Although she was so ill, she was nonetheless very sharp and clear.

"I was always interested in these subject matters but never got the opportunity to go deep into it. So now I'll take your books."

She decided to take First Canto and went for her money. It took her nearly ten minutes. At the end she thanked me and said, "Finally, before I die, I'll understand the Absolute Truth."

In the afternoon I brought her some Maha prasadam and incense and wished her good luck in her pursuit of the Absolute Truth.

*****************

A few weeks ago, we were doing shops and offices, I knocked on the door of a sauna/acupuncture studio. The door opened and an older man asked, "So , have you brought it?"

"Of course," I answered, bewildered by his welcome.

"OK. Show me, what you have for me." I just opened the box of books and he immediately agreed to take the whole set.

"I know that it's not by chance you've knocked on my door," he said. "That's why I responded the way I did. I'm very fond of spiritual literature." He gave a very generous donation and wanted more books in the future

Your servant

Satya-karana dasa (Prague CZ)

CHAKRA 17-Oct-98

Srila Prabhupada's Books
Save Lives
by Bhakta Chris (Vancouver)

(reprinted from Com)

While I was distributing in the subway, I approached a lady who was walking a lot slower than the rest of the people. She kind of stood out amongst the crowd, so I stopped her and presented her with the Bhagavad Gita.

She was a very sober and introspective person. She was very interested and so I asked her for a donation. She paused for a moment and then gave me ten dollars and took the book.

"Do you know what this has done for me?" she said. "For the last week I've been contemplating committing suicide, and I knew that today was the day. I was just about to go to the end of the subway and throw. . . . But now I have this book, and I'm going to read it, and I'm sure that things will get better from reading this book."

She thanked me and then left.

I was amazed to witness how Srila Prabhupada's books are really saving the people and that we never know who we might meet out on the street and what they maybe going through at the time. Therefore, it's so important for the devotees to be out there. The people really need these books more than we can imagine.

Your servant

Bhakta Chris (Vancouver)

CHAKRA 29-Sep-98

Thirty Years Later
from Candrasekhar Acarya das

In San Francisco, in a parking lot, I met a distinguished-looking lady with her two young daughters. I showed her the Bhagavad-Gita, and when she saw the picture of Srila Prabhupada, she said, "Oh, I saw this man. I met him."

Skeptically, I said, "I'm sorry, but this man passed away 21 years ago. How could you have seen him?"

She answered, "No, no, I did see him. You see, when I was seven years old, I lived on Haight-Ashbury, and my parents were complete hippies. Sometimes, they didn't even feed me and my sister, so we went every day to the Hare Krsna temple to have our daily meal there with the devotees. The devotees were so nice! Especially there was one lady, Bhaktin Melissa. She was so nice. We chanted, and danced."

At that time she did the Swami-step in front of her children right there in the parking lot. She showed the picture of Prabhupada to her children, and said, "You see, this is Bhaktivedanta Swami. I saw him when I was your age."

She continued, "One day, your spiritual master came in the temple, and he sat down, and chanted and gave a short talk. It was great. Wow! Just seeing you and this book brings back all these great memories, which I would have never remembered."

I noticed that she had goose-bumps on her skin by that time. She happily bought the Bhagavad-Gita and Your Ever Well Wisher.

The San Francisco devotees of the sixties ki jay!!

(Note: I do not remember a Bhaktin Melissa at the old San Francisco temple, so I cannot help wondering if the lady is thinking of Melanie, who is now Malati devi dasi. —Umapati Swami)

CHAKRA 18-Sep-98

A Change of Heart
Book-distribution nectar from Prthu Prabhu
...
The crazy guy tried to run away, but the policemen ran after him, grabbed him, gave him a good beating with their rubber sticks, and then arrested him and drove off.

I turned around to thank the gentleman who had saved me but he had disappeared. As mysteriously as he had appeared, he had disappeared within a second. I continued to distribute books.

Suddenly, in a reflection in the window, I saw a pair of shoes that I now knew only too well. I turned around. It was the same crazy guy who had chased me this morning. This time there was no way to escape, as I was standing against a wall.

"This is it, Prthu," I thought. "Your life is finished." I sat down and started to chant, "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna..."

Then I heard somebody crying.
>Click Here

CHAKRA 7 Aug 98

ISKCON Wins Denmark
Court Case
From Lalitanatha (das) HKS From Lalitanatha (das) HKS
reprinted from Com

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

At the end of 1996, Jyotisvara Prabhu was arrested by the police in a small Danish town for selling books on the street on the charge of illegal business enterprise. The police also confiscated around 800 books.

This week the case went to court in Copenhagen, and the verdict was 100 percent in our favor. The court confirmed a previous case we had seven years ago, that it is legal to distribute religious books on the streets of Denmark, as long as it is done as a missionary activity and not for profit. A great victory, actually.

Your servant, Lalitanatha dasa

CHAKRA 1-Jul-98

Thanks to Aisvarya das
A letter to the BBT from John

Hare Krsna,

I want to tell you a little story. A few years ago I was at LAX [Los angeles Airport] preparing to go to Amsterdam (I'm a professional musician) when I was approached by a devotee who gave me The Journey of Self Discovery. I put it into my backpack and didn't think much of it until this past summer when I pulled it from the bookshelf again. Krsna slowly caught hold of my mind and I finally ordered a catalog from the BBT and got some beads.

I am now chanting daily. The devotee who gave me the book which has led to my Joyful association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead wrote his name inside the books front cover: There it says: Aisvarya das.

Please thank him for me. I am grateful to him and to you for your good work.

Yours,

John

CHAKRA 17-Jun-98

Mayapur Sankirtan Seminar Tapes
by Navina Nirada dasa
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The tapes from the yearly sankirtan meetings in Mayapur are available now from the Sankirtan Tape Ministry. This years' speakers and topics were:

• Rohini Suta Prabhu "Reading Srila Prabhupadas books and chanting HK"
• Kavicandra Swami "Bhagavad Gita and BD"
• Bhaktivaibhava Swami "Srimad Bhagavatam and BD"
• Niranjana Swami "Caitanya Caritamrita and BD"
• Sankirtana stories from devotees around the world
• Question and Answer session with Yajna Purusa, Kaustubha and NND Prabhus
• Kaunteya and Kaustubha Prabhus "Book Distribution and the congregation"
• Navina Nirada das "My inspiration"

You can order these 6 tapes by sending a check (in the name of ISKCON) for US$ 25 (incl. shipping) to:

The Sankirtan Tape Ministry
Bergstrasse 54
8030 Zurich- Switzerland

Or tell me your orders on com. You will get them faster.

Wishing you all the best.

Your servant,
Navina Nirada Dasa

CHAKRA 13-Apr-98

Lord Nityananda's Mercy

by Jayapataka Swami

A devotee was distributing books on the street in Toronto, Canada, and he met a man of Indian descent, an immigrant from the Caribbean. The man was a welder in a big company. He liked to drink, and the devotee had stopped him on his way to the pub. The devotee offered him a Bhagavad Gita, but the man said, "No, no, I don't need this. I know this culture. My grandfather was a brahmana."

It was the usual story, and he didn't take the book. Later, on after visiting a few pubs and sufficiently lubricating himself with alcohol, the man happened to meet the same devotee again. "My dear sir," the devotee said, "I plead with you, I beg you, please, this is your culture. Take this Bhagavad Gita. It will be very good for you.''

The Indian felt proud, "I'm just an immigrant in this country," he thought, "but here is this white Canadian and he's begging me, he's pleading with me to please take his book. So, okay, why not?'' He gave a donation and took the Bhagavad Gita.
>Click Here

CHAKRA 09 Apr 98

Ambarisi's Birthday
A report from Moscow
When Adrisja prabhu returned from his visit to the Bombay Radha-Gopinatha Mandir, he told some things he had learned about proper dealings between devotees, and we immediately started implementing them in our Moscow Begovaya temple. One of thew new features is the birthday party.

Recently, we celebrated the birthday of Ambarisi prabhu, our former sankirtana leader. The day before the birthday, Adrisja told all the Begovaya devotees (except Ambarisi, of course) about the next day's festival.

From mangala arati onwards, it was a special day for Ambarisi. Devotees came to him, congratulated him, gave him their blessings, and some even gave gifts. After the morning program, Ambarisi felt so inspired that he ran out to distribute books, and that day he distributed more than he usually does in a month.

The spirit of teamwork and unity was so intense that the people on the street also felt it. They surrenderd on the spot, which isn't usual in Moscow. They even asked, "Can help I you more? What can I do for you?"

Not Even a Blade of Grass
Bhagavad-Gita Saves a Life
by Haripada dasa
I was distributing books on the street and saw a parked car. I took the opportunity that nobody was coming on the street to approach the driver and showed him the book The Science of Self-Realization, with a very ecstatic picture of Srila Prabhupada on the cover.

While I was speaking, I noticed that in the seat at his side  were a big knife, some whiskey bottles and some strange stuff in silver-paper envelopes, like those packages they use to sell illegal drugs. I did not give much importance to this, and with the index, I explained the topics of the book and spoke about the Hare Krishna mantra.

The man seemed positive and gave me a good donation (20 dollars) for the book. Then he drove off and I went on with my service.

Half an hour later the man drove back and told me he urgently wanted to speak with me. "It's a matter of life and death," he said anxiously.

Krsna Saves the Situation
A Story from Russia
The accountant wouldn't budge an inch. He refused to give anything, and the devotee was despondent. He had worked for days to sign up these people to take sets, but all for nothing

"Oh Krishna," he thought, "what can I do?''

His last hope was to go back to the director, who had given him the authorization in the first place. He went to the director's house in the late afternoon, and when the man opened the door, the devotee could feel a very strange vibration inside. The man and his wife were crying along with all the relatives there, and the devotee asked him what had happened. The man said that his mother-in-law had just passed away two hours earlier, and that was why everyone was crying.

The devotee apologized for disturbing them, and the man asked, "Are you the monk who came with your books to my factory?''