TEAM ISV @ Prabhupada Festival of 2011, Los Angeles, CA, USA

TEAM ISV @ Prabhupada Festival of 2011, Los Angeles, CA, USA

As far as acronym TEAM goes - Together Everyone Achieves More - the team ISV successfully demonstrated this during the recent Prabhupad Festival of 2011 at Los Angeles.

His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj once said, "Devotees who are doing Book Distribution are in complete Samadhi". I could not understood this phrase until I had the experience of distributing books with HG Vaisesika Prabhu and ISV team members. I had the good fortune to assist Vaisesika Prabhu during book distribution at Venice beach, which is nothing but one of Maya's complete arrangements to keep conditioned soul in her net. But the devotees' enthusiasm broke Maya's boundary. I could now realize how HG Vaisesika Prabhu was in complete Samadhi during book distribution. Unaffected by the environment, circumstance, and the results - whether some took a book or not- HG Vaisesika Prabhu was just absorbed in distributing the compassion that he received from Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaishnav Acharyas. Many other senior devotees like HG Bhumi Mataji and I took inspiration from this Book Distribution effort.

Earlier in the day we had the opportunity to chant in the Srila Prabhupada's quarter in the temple upstairs . We just followed HG Vaisesika Prabhu. The room was locked and we were waiting outside for 5 minutes. Later during the seminar, "Supercharge your Devotional Service," HG Vaisesika Prabhu shared his thoughts during his 5 min wait. He was just thinking "I am going to meet Srila Prabhupada in the room, and what I am going to offer Him?" How great is Srila Prabhupada and how glorious all his disciples are who every moment think of him, and how to serve him more! Vaisesika Prabhu through his own example showed that the most loving exchange between a guru and disciple is service to the guru.

The unique presentation style of HG Vaisesika Prabhu emphasizing principles coming from his deep Krishna Conscious realizations, and their application in any time, place or circumstance, gave audience a deep understanding. Every presentation started with devotional Kirtans which opened the hearts of the audience. One of the most exciting part of the festival was esctatic and joyous dancing of HG Vaisesika prabhuji duringTulsi Arti, Srila Prabhupad Arrival, Guru Puja. The entire group felt the enthusiasm flowing from him. The blissful smile on the face of his wife, HG Nirakula mataji, who was distributing the Prabhupada cookies reminded us of Srila Prabhupada.

The video of HG Vaisesika Prabhu's presentation is available in http://lalive.us/ (Select video on left hand side of the page).

From day one, the ISV team was very enthusiastic in the giving all the devotees a chance to take part in the Bhaktivinoda Thakurs MSF of 1008 Devotees , and their determination and enthusiasm was incomparable. The team members went from to devotee to devotee asking them to enroll, and worked all the way up to 10:30 pm! HG Vaisesika Prabhu had no time to spend with his wife Nirakula Mtj. The devotees had even missed their program just trying to enroll as many as devotees possible. In just two days the team registered more than 250 devotees to the Bhaktivinoda Thakur MSF. When the registration reached 500, I thought we have done enough. I was wrong: the very next moment HG Damodara Vamsidhari Pr said, "Now we have to go for 600". His enthusiasm left me spell bound!

I could see the ISV principal (individual , spontaneous and volunteer service) at work. I must say HG Vaisesika Prabhuhas been successful in planting seed of LAULAYAM (greed) for the Service in each and every individual of ISV team, and he carefully nourishes it.

I cannot go by without mentioning the great effort of the web team @ ISV,who made it made possible to for so many devotees to offer their service towards book distribution in honor of Thakur Bhaktivinoda Thakur's disappearance day. My most humble obeisance to web team for designing the Seventh Goswami website: http://7thgoswami.com. If you haven't registered then please visit the website and do so. It is a very simple process.

The new members of ISV team: RajaRam pr and Kamini mataji got an opportunity to serve His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj through their physiotherapy treatment, demonstrating perfectly how we can use every skill and profession in the service of Krishna and His devotees. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj was very happy to hear about team ISV effort in preaching at Stanford and other collage at bay area and gave his blessings. We all felt so much joy and satisfaction in our hearts to get the blessings from such a pure devotee and a glorious disciple of Srila Prabhupada.

HG Vaisesika Pabhu expressed his happiness at the unity and enthusiasm shown by the ISV devotees, which made a positive impression on the community at Los Angeles and everyone derived a lot of inspiration from this.

Special thanks to HG shraddha Mataji and HG Vrajendrakumar Prabhu for giving their valuable suggestion and editing the whole note.

Thanks to all the ISV team to make this whole festival the most memorable event in my life, and special thanks to HG SriGovindaDatta Prabhu, Balaji Prabhu and the Bhakti Yoga Club team who were very inspiring and made it possible for me to attend this event and get this nectarine association of such exalted Vaishnavas.

Thank you very much for reading my insignificant effort to glorify the great qualities of the Vaishnavas, and please forgive for any offences I may have unknowingly committed while writing this.

Team ISV kee jay…

This is Lord Nityananda's work

GNAB: A few randome thoughts today . . .

My heartfelt thanks to Raxit, Sonal, Neil, and Neesha for their selfless service to the Sankirtana movement. I had the opportunity to visit the sacred ground of Sankirtana Central at the Jariwalla's home yesterday on our way out for book distribution. It is one of my favorite places on earth.
Books are the life and soul of the Jariwalla's and they have used the entire space of their garage for many years to carefully keep vaisnava literature and BBT books with the intent to facilitate mass distribution. May Lord Caitanya continue to bless their lives in miraculous ways. My head is at their feet in utter appreciation.

Yesterday, Sri Govinda Datta Prabhu came with me to Sankirtana Central specifically to pick up Vietnamese books.

Dayanidhi Prabhu had picked out some places we could go to find Vietnamese recipients for these rare books, painstakingly translated, printing and shipped to America.

Enthusiastically, Malini, Gandharvika and Puja when to a Vietnamese area and scoped it out before we arrived. They found a small strip mall along Tulley Road that had lots of Vietnamese signs.

We went shop to shop and there and a new world opened to us. The Vietnamese were sweet and very much interested in seeing spiritual books in their own language.

(We sold almost all the books that Raxit gave us!)

One of the first people we met was a lady, the proprietor of a pure drinking water store. She glowed as she looked at the Vietnamese Gita and as we told her what we were doing she was visibly moved. She told us that she'd always desired to go to India.

She bought a Gita and a Vietnamese Perfect Questions Perfect Answer and also offered us a place in her store where we could set up a Smart Box.

Several more devotees joined us as we spent the next couple of hours going shop to shop and each new shop was marked with an exciting adventure.

In one bar/restaurant a young man sitting in a very dark corner bought a Gita. After this, Malini commented, "This is Lord Nityananda's work."

These are just a few quick thought that I woke up with this morning after performing the yajna in association with selfless devotees yesterday. I feel that my life was properly used and I am experiencing happiness in my heart because if it.

****

We are on a very fast pace of service right now and I see that many of you are sacrificing much to make the BVT a big success. Such sincere service will certainly attract the attention of Krsna. May He bless you more and more . . .

*****

Go Go Go!

With deep gratitude,

Ys,

Vaisesika Dasa

Knocking the doors like Nityananda Prabhu did .

I distributed books for 3-4 hrs only, and did not get a chance to interact much with others. But the Lord was merciful, and I had the glorious chance to shadow Sri Krsna Purushottama Prabhu at some doors, and also have him come to my rescue. at one. It was also very interesting to hear from his brother Sri-Ram Prabhu on how book distribution is done at his place back in India, and how he maintains a work/spiritual-life balance.

GNABs:

When my knock was answered by an Indian couple, I thought this would be an easy one. But it was not. After listening for a bit, they said they were Muslims. As I explained to them how the ISKCON philosophy was independent of religion, I was also mentally prepared not to ask them for a donation. And then, Sri Krsn Purushottam prabhu who was at the next door listening to all this, came over and charmed the couple into donating for our cause!

At another building, there were two doors side by side. Upon not getting a response from the first one, I knocked at the other. We had some luck there where our knock was answered and we started out with our little speech. I thought our luck doubled when the first door opened just a crack, but to my dismay a very grumpy lady inside told me that it was not a good time at all. I smiled and apologized, and thought I was ‘leaving with a good impression.’ But that was not so. Someone else was making the good impression, and of course it was Sri Krsn Purushottam Prabhu who was having so much fun at the second door, that the loud laughter seeped into the house of the old lady who opened the door one more time, very wide this time, and could not resist asking me what it was all about! She was very impressed with the philosophy and agreed to what we had to say. She could not believe that people would want to give classes and prasadam for free. She kept insisting that there was a catch somewhere. She took it well when we explained ‘overflow’. She is out of job right now but no one says no to Sri Krsn Purushottam’s sweet request for donation.

Ys

Shraddha devi dasi.

For the MSF, Khyati brought one friend Pompiya B. to temple last week and I had opportunity to talk to my old friend Amit, due to whose association I was blessed with the acquaintance of ISKCON in Boston, 7 years back.

We went to this Ashram out of curiosity to find a temple near Stockton. While we were talking to the priest,
he said that he did have some students from nearby universities come and that he had some challenges explaining.
We were able to provide the Bhagavad Gitas to the temple priest, who will probably use it for reference and possibly give it to devotees as needed.
We have placed fliers in the BG and around 7 small books placed in temple, hoping devotees get aware of our temple and possibly join us.
He was very happy to receive books and was also praising Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
MSF for Lord Nityanand ki Jai!

ys
niral & khyati

Historic result of MSF of 30000 :)

In his book ‘This is My Request’, Srila Prabhupada says, quote: “Our book distribution

program is most important work. Anyone reading our Krsna Book, Teachings of Lord

Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion and Bhagavad Gita As It is, is sure to become a Krsna

conscious person. The Sankirtana devotees are very very dear to Krsna. Because you are

doing the field work of book distribution, Krsna has immediately recognized you as true

servants. Just like during war time, a farm boy or ordinary clerk who goes to fight for his

country on the front, immediately becomes a national hero for his sincere effort, so also

Krsna immediately recognizes a preacher of Krsna consciousness who takes all risks to

deliver His message” unquote.

The initial goal of this Sankirtana was:

•To distribute at least 25,000 books, which was revised in early December to

30,000 books

This annual 2010 books marathon turned out to be a major historic event, with ISV

devotees distributing thousands of Srila Prabhupada’s books throughout the Bay area and

at distant spots, including other parts of the US, Europe and India.

Book distribution occurred with much enthusiasm during practically all weekends of the

marathon (MSF), during several Hari Nama performances in Palo Alto, during special

events marking Indian festivals such as Dusshera and Divali, on Govardhan Puja Day,

Thanksgiving Day, World Enlightenment Day, the day marking Advent of the Bhagavad

Gita, and during Christmas holidays and weekdays involving spontaneous and voluntary

Sankirtana activity.

The highlight of this MSF was massive door-to-door distribution of books at large

apartment complexes and traveling Sankirtana through which ISV devotees distributed

hundreds of book packs, Bhagavad Gitas & Krsna books in towns all across the Bay

area. Both adults and children were active participants in door-to-door book distribution,

including Sunday-School kids who organized their own Kids Sankirtana with a goal of

2500 books, succeeding in distributing over 2894 books. In addition, numerous cases

of Bhagavad Gitas and several Srimad Bhagavatam sets were distributed at temple

programs, and hundreds of Gitas were shipped for placement in motels all across the US,

with extensive devotee participation by MotelGita team members from different states.

During this MSF, Srila Prabhupada’s books were also placed in libraries, distributed

at weddings and special events, at Indian stores and different venues and at nearby and

distant temples. Book distribution continued through Smart Boxes placed in various

establishments. The smart box team had made a goal of opening new smart boxes in

2010. We are pleased to announce that by their untiring efforts, they were able to open 19

new smart boxes in the Bay Area.

All the scores from this MSF of Thirty-Thousand have been compiled and tonight at this

historic moment, we are pleased to report the Final Results.

In all,

• More than 150 devotees participated in book distribution
• They distributed 31,099 books, surpassing the MSF goal and setting a new recordfor book distribution, crossing the previous high of 23,581 books distributed during the Annual Marathon of 2009.

ISV devotees raised 55, 383 dollars, setting another new record in Laxmi points,

surpassing the previous high of $33,864 set also during the Annual Marathon

of 2009. The Laxmi scores include donations of which 27,309 was made to ISV

MotelGita.

We hereby offer these results to Srila Prabhupada and to their Lordships as our annual

contribution from this Sankirtana Yagna. We hope they are pleased with this outcome

from our book distribution efforts. We also pray for their mercy for the continued success

of our Sankirtana program, as it moves into a new phase in 2011.

We also take this opportunity to thank all the participating devotees including members

of Team ISV and all the donors and sponsors who contributed to the success of this MSF.

Last but not least we offer our special thanks to His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu for inspiring

us with this MSF of 30,000 books.

MSF of Thirty-Thousand ki Jaya!

Sri-Sri Radha-Madan Mohan ki Jaya!

Sriman Mahaprabhu ki Jaya!

Sri-Sri Laxmi Nrsimhadev ki Jay!

Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!

Gaura Premanande!

Haribol!

Yours in service

Raxit Jariwalla

The Marathon That Everybody Wins :-)

http://news.iskcon.com/node/3306/2010-12-04/the_marathon_that_everybody_wins

The Marathon That Everybody Wins

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 3 Dec 2010

December is the month of goodwill to all, of cosying up around the fire as the snow falls outside, of thinking of others and exchanging gifts with our loved ones.

ISKCON devotees around the world are also putting an extra focus on giving the most wonderful gift they know of to others, only they're doing it outside, on the streets, with their trusty book-bags slung over their shoulders.

December is the month of the Prabhupada Marathon, in which devotees make an increased effort to introduce others to the enlightening spiritual literature—introduced to the Western World by ISKCON's founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada—that changed their lives.

Of course, North American Book Distribution Strategist Vaisesika Dasa, a veteran of 35 years, prefers to think of the Marathon as a spontaneous event that is not restricted to a particular timeframe.

“The very first Marathon, in 1972, was completely unplanned,” he says. “Many devotees just happened to feel inspired at a certain time, and all went out to distribute books independently from each other. It was only later that they found out everyone had gone out at the same time, and the Marathon was born. Therefore many devotees continue to perform this service around the end of the year. But some prefer to start earlier, due to the bad weather in December, or the fact that many people are out of town.”

At ISKCON Silicon Valley (ISV), where Vaisesika is based, for instance, devotees began their Marathon in October, and have already reached their Marathon goal of 25,000 books.

“Now, we'll keep going throughout December, and smash our goal,” he says, with his trademark combination of enthusiasm and wry humor.

ISV, which, if you ask Vaisesika, also stands for Individual, Spontaneous, and Voluntary, is the proving ground for the innovative book distribution strategies that he and his team develop.

“We try them out here first, and then if they work, expand them to other ISKCON temples throughout North America,” he says. “The devotees in Toronto, Canada, for example, have greatly increased their book distribution using many of the techniques that we've tried and tested at ISV.”

One way of distributing books that devotees will be using this Christmas will be to include them amongst other gifts to family, friends and co-workers during office parties and family get-togethers over the holiday season. “It's a very personable and genuine way to distribute books, and of course it's a very acceptable thing to do at this time of year, because people are giving and receiving gifts in the dadhati pratigrinati spirit of loving exchanges, as decribed in the Nectar of Instruction,” says Vaisesika.

Door-to-door book distribution is also very popular. “Going door-to-door for political campaigns, to spread a religious message, or to sell things is an age-worn tradition here in America,” Vaisesika says. “So you don't even have to travel anywhere—just go door-to-door in your own neighborhood with some books, some prasadam (sanctified food), and some good cheer. Especially over the holidays, people appreciate that very much.”

Another method of book distribution cooked up in the ISV labs and taking off in Toronto, Boston, Houston, and other cities is the Smart Box. Installed in local shops, restaurants and other businesses, it's an ingenious honor system that allows devotees to distribute books even while they're sleeping—people simply take a book from the display and put their donation in a box.

“Here at ISV, three people became devotees in the last year and a half directly through the Smart Box,” Vaisesika says. “It's an easy, yet extremely effective program.”

Then there's the Motel Gita, a program which sees devotees placing copies of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is in hotel and motel rooms, along with the Gideons' Bible.

“Devotees across the country are getting involved on a local and national level, and are placing tens of thousands of books,” Vaisesika says. “We've had television coverage, attended major hotel conventions, and are establishing relationships with the biggest motel owners in North America. Our ultimate goal is to place 1 million Bhagavad-gitas in motel rooms within the next five years.”

Following a meeting in Vrindavana, India earlier this year with trustees of ISKCON's publishing arm the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Vaisesika says that plans are afoot for creating a unique edition of the Bhagavad-gita for motel rooms.

“The special edition will have a sturdy cover, so that it will withstand wear and tear through the many many people who will read it over and over again,” he explains. “It will also have an index at the front that people can refer to for answers to specific questions such as how to find peace in this life, how to overcome stress, and why we have to die. In this way, people will be able to see at a glance what's in the book for them.”

Despite all these innovations, Vaisesika is far more concerned with people than with tactics or numbers of books sold. And at the top of the list is giving plenty of attention to the book distributors' personal spirituality.

“Our first and foremost concern is that the devotees are conducting their service in such a way that they become attached to the subject matter of the books,” he says. “Our motto is 'save one person at a time, beginning with myself.' We want to create a sustainable environment for book distribution, which means one wherein devotees are safe from material motivation.”

Another very important thing is to, as Vaisesika puts it, 'encourage the heck out of everybody.'

“One of the secrets to a successful Marathon is to encourage everyone to do a little bit,” he says. “To encourage even the tiniest, most humble effort, and fan the spark, just as Lord Rama did when the small spider tried to help him build his bridge to Lanka by throwing grains of sand into the Indian Ocean.”

With this approach, even though there are very few full-time students at the ISV temple, the Marathon sees up to 400 devotees going out to distribute books—almost all professionals with full-time outside jobs and families, who spread Krishna consciousness in their spare time.

Vaisesika adds, however, that the 1970s model of celibate monks known as brahmacharis piling into a van, traversing the country, and distributing books full-time is still alive and well too.

“Teams such as the Rupanuga Vedic College traveling party, headed by Paramesvara Prabhu, are still doing the lion's share of book distribution in America,” he says. “They're visiting colleges, following concert tours, and distributing tens of thousands of books every year.”

Once the Marathon has been completed, Vaisesika suggests that the mood of encouragement and support of one another continues.

“At ISV, we end the Marathon with something we recommend that other temples across North America also introduce—Devotee Appreciation Day,” he says. “All the devotees get together for a big party, singing bhajans and enjoying delicious prasadam. Then we pass around a microphone, and everyone gets to glorify the service of their fellow devotees. It's so enlivening, and has become a regular event throughout the year.”

Devotees at ISV also meet on January 1st of the following year, after Devotee Appreciation Day, to discuss how they did in book distribution in the past year, and how to improve in the coming year. They set goals, and pre-plan group book distribution days in their calendar, so that their book distribution efforts won't clash with other temple events.

After the intense focus of the Marathon, of course, it's possible that devotees and temple management may put less effort into distributing books and focus elsewhere. Vaisesika offers some tips to keep the energy going:

“We've established some primary book distribution programs, and can help devotees around the country to institute them,” he says. “Monthly Sankirtana Festivals, which we've held here at ISV for years, are an excellent way to organize the community so that everyone can go out at least once a month. A lot of people each doing a little bit makes a big difference. There's also the Motel Gita and the Smart Box, both of which have been successfully established in cities around North America, and which we encourage devotees everywhere to get involved in.”

Vaisesika, for one, is convinced of the power of Srila Prabhupada's books, and their potential to help the lives of all—and it is this which drives him and his team to keep looking for new ways to get them into people's hands.

“These books help us develop gratitude, and inner happiness—remember, we don't see the world the way it is, we see the world the way we are,” he says. “ And, of course, they help us become free from stress, something that most people nowadays are suffering a lot from.”

He quotes the Sri Isopanishad, which says, 'One who sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being. One who sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?'

Vaisesika spreads his hands, insinuating that the quote makes his point for him.

“With gems like this on every page, who wouldn't want to read these books?” he says.

Read more: http://news.iskcon.com/node/3306/2010-12-04/the_marathon_that_everybody_wins#ixzz17C6BnpF1

Never too late to be a Sankirtan devotee

: These two new guests yesterday were very nice, highly qualified visitors whom we expect to see more of. The husband is C.J. Arunkumar, and the wife is Vasanthi Arunkumar. They are both electronics engineers, and they moved to the U.S. a little over 20 years ago. They have been living in Union City all this time, but never came to an ISKCON temple in this area until yesterday.

They originally hail from Kanchi and Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu, but after getting engineering degrees in India they worked in Finland before coming to the U.S. They have a son and daughter, and the daughter has one son, theiur only grandchild. Their son, 28, lives in San Francisco.

In about 1980, they met an ISKCON swami from India (possibly Gopal Krishna Maharaja?) on a plane, and he advised them to visit the ISKCON temple in Seattle. They visited New Vrndavana in about 1991 and loved it. They have been meaning to get in touch with ISKCON in the Bay Area for many years.

Earlier this year, Vasanthi was laid off, and she is using her extra free time to pursue spiritual interests. Recently she fulfilled a long-term ambition by making a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash, in Tibet. C.J. came with her and they completed the 56 km parikram in 3 days by foot, staying in tents and braving high altitudes.

They were happy to meet all the friendly devotees are they very eager to read Prabhupada's books. They would like us to have a program at their home to welcome the Bhagavatam set into their home. They also got a BBT art calendar and bead bags with beads from the temple gift store, and they are going to try chanting japa.

They expressed a willingness to go out on a door-to-door book distribution party, but then we spent a long time at the temple showing them the books and bead bags, etc. (it was a late program because of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Disappearance Day), and they decided to save that for another day. I think they should come on Harinama on Friday for sure. Please let me know where and when it will be and I will make sure to invite them.

Y.s., Akruranatha dasa

A bunch of pennies

It was very cold that evening, still the children went door to door very enthusiastically and distributed lots of books. All the time they kept chanting Mahamantra while walking around that must have attracted Lord's mercy towards them.

Many people mentioned being out of job and have no money, then children would very sweetly say even a penny is fine, and some of them donated bunch of pennies collected in the home. In fact most of the donation was a collection of pennies and other coins.

Anuradha Mataji approached one person and showed the books and explained very nicely and she said we are accepting donation if you with to give something. That person immediately replied, 'oh I am also accepting some donation if you wish to donate something!', and Mataji gave book bag to him and said this is what we are giving out today :)

Pooja had a dance performance that evening where she distributed many books with her parents. That score is included in this report.

Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!

YS

Kamesvari devi dasi

OUT of the Box thinking

A little out-of-the-box thinking was employed to inch closer towards our goal of deploying 150 devotees. The method today was to encourage the people who were receiving books to pass it out to their friends in the spirit of holidays. I went to the motel laundry and gave some books to the lady who passed them out to her friends.

In the same way, the motel manager Sanjeshini got some books and was planning to give it to her mom who is devout lady and she visits the Fremont/Livermore temple. That motel can be a prospective target for our Motel Gita program. Carlos volunteered to talk to the manager.

In the farmer's market, I spoke to Robert and gave him a book to give it to his boss which he did.

Thus those who received books were giving it out to others.

MSF of 20k ki jaya !

YS

Srivasa Pandita Das