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 disappea
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…
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