Join The International Festival of 1,008 Book Distributors!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

MSF of Loving Exchanges 2010



The Monthly Sankirtana Festival (MSF) of Loving Exchanges was held last weekend at ISV. Based on Srila Rupa Goswami’s ‘dadati’ principle of giving (Nectar of Instruction, Text 4),

dadati pratigrhnati

guhyam akhyati prcchati

bhunkte bhojayate caiva

sad-vidham priti-laksanam

Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.

The results of MSF are as follows:

  • 28 devotees participated in book distribution
  • 3870 books were totally distributed and
  • $2502 in Laxmi points were collected (including donations*)

On behalf of Team ISV, we thank all participants and contributors.

MSF of Loving Exchanges ki Jaya!

Yours in service,

Raxit


GNABS

I had brought a little sign that said, "Bhakti Yoga, Free Meditation Lesson" and some little japa malas.


The first lady I talked to, before other distributors arrived, took a Krishna book. Her name was Michelle. She had done TM and Namyeho Ringekyo chanting. She considered herself a Buddhist but actually believes there is a soul and a Supreme God (these statements were coming from her, not from me). It was clear that Krishna had sent her to me at this difficult time in her life, and she wanted a relationship with a personal God and was tired of impersonalism and voidism. She seemed smart and simple and good hearted.


She had recently lost her job in Napa County and had moved to Santa Cruz because she always wanted to live here, but she was in anxiety about economics. She is in her early 60s and is afraid about finding decent employment at her age. She said she wanted to become "fearless" and she was thrilled when I told her the "A.C." in Srila Prabhupada's name referred to Krishna (abhaya caranaravinda), whose lotus feet deliver one from all fears.


She sat and chanted a round with me, said it made her feel "lighter", and was very happy with the experience. I forgot to get her contact information, but maybe she gave it to Vaisesika, who arrived before we finished chanting. She asked us about contacting us, and Vaish was talking about how we were setting up a "meet group" on the internet. (I want to talk to her again. I wish I had at least given her my card. I noticed she was chanting with her left hand and was holding the beads between thumb and index finger. I hope she learns to do it right. I think she will love her Krishna book. I also gave her a paperback Gita and a little mala.)


Anyway, for me the whole day was like that. I had a brief to write and I could only stay out a few hours. During that whole time I was giving one japa lesson after another to people who were eager to experience bhakti. I ran out of malas and some people had to chant without malas. One person donated $5 for a little mala. I did not have time to distribute books (but our group distributed 15 Gitas and about 30 books altogether).


At least three of the chanters, including Michelle, might easily have moved into a temple asram (if we had a well-organized local temple asram for them to move into) for further training. This "free bhakti yoga lesson" idea is a keeper.

Ys

Akruranath Das

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Not a bad deal after all !

* Had an interesting conversation on phone with a mormon, whose wife received our books. Apparently he was not at all happy after he saw the books after going home. He called me and left a nasty voice message showing his dissatisfaction. He also spoke to me later and vented his anger at us using the name of George Harrison by selling our 'yoga' books. After some time I cut the conversation and said "Have a nice day". And he replied 'You have a nice day too.. HARE KRISHNA!!" It was so funny that he said Hare Krishna in the end. I said to myself 'that's not a bad deal after all' :))

* I met an Indian person who took the Bhagavad-Gita and when I asked for a donation. He gave $5 and he replied : "That is why we can not spread our Hindu culture through out the world. Just look at the christian missionaries. They distribute Bible like any thing without asking money like this. That is why they are able to spread so well. Because of your tactics, we can not spread like that. People will unwillingly give the donation and they won't feel good about you". I told him that we have to do this activity based on the money we receive from good souls like him. And we some one like him can donate good amount, we can afford to give freely to others. Then some thing happened to him and he immediately took his wallet and gave $20 bill and told me : "Use this and give 4 free Bhagavad-Gita's to others.. especially westerners.." :)) 'Not a bad deal after all', I said to myself :))

* Sri Krishna Purushottam and I met one old American man and he was quite familiar with Hare Krishnas. He knew about Srila Prabhupada and it seems he also worked with some devotees for procuring some things (it seems he set up a computer for them and a software which constantly scrolls the maha mantra in various fonts) for Berkeley temple. He accepted our book pack and gave some donation. He also chanted the maha mantra.

Ys
Kishore

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Janamastami 2010 MSF results









“Our business is to glorify Krishna and to popularize Lord
Caintanya’s Hare Krishna Movement

In keeping with that spirit, to lift conditioned souls from
the darkness and every-day struggles of material life, and
to realize Sankirtana goals, ISV devotees did massive
book distribution during the months of July and August.
They distributed books at the San Francisco Ratha Yatra
and during two Harinama performances in Palo Alto. In
addition, ISV devotees went door-to-door to distribute
books and MotelGita team members placed a little more
than 3000 Bhagavad Gitas in various motels across the US.
Books were also distributed via the Smart Box placed at
several establishments several establishments. Devotees also
made donations to support and sponsor book distribution.

All the scores were tallied up and here are the Final Results:

In all:
• More than 50 devotees participated in book distribution
• They distributed 5850 books and
• They collected $8473 dollars in Laxmi points (including
donations).

Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Ji ki Jaya!
Sri Sri Laxmi Nrsimhadeva ki Jaya!
Sriman Mahaprabhu ki Jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!
Gaura Prema Nande, Hari Bol!

Hare Krishna!

On behalf of team ISV,

Ys
Raxit