Book Distribution in U-district Fair — A purifying experience
Dear devotees,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to transcendental book distribution
It was a wonderful experience for all of us who distributed books, flyers and mercy to the visitors of u-district fair.
Thanks to Narayan Prabhu for organizing book table in U-District Fair and giving opportunity to all of us to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s mercy to the Strangers of Seattle. Thanks for HG Harivilas Prabhu and HG Prthu Prabhu for motivating us by continuous Harinaam Sankirtan. A Very special thanks to Taraka Prabhu for ordering, arranging books and other items.
Standing and preaching the whole day by running behind people even on fast day(Narasimha Caturdasi) with downpours of rain in between was certainly very purifying experience for all of us (Tulasidas Prabhu, Damodarrati Mataji, Narayan Prabhu, Sundar Prabhu, Dolly Mataji, Pranathi Mataji, Harish Prabhu, Yagya Narayan Prabhu, Jaysri Mataji & myself)
We distributed more than 100 books, couple of posters and t-shirts and we could collect a lakshmi close to $600. But the mercy that we have got and distributed is priceless.
Once again Narayan Prabhu distributed maximum number of books and collected lakshmi of around $170. Tulasidas Prabhu and Damodarrati Mataji also did a great job and became a new source of inspiration for Seattle congregation. Thanks to Damodarrati Mataji and Pranathi Mataji for keeping track of money. Sundar Prabhu and Dolly Mataji approached the crowds in their own style and preached to people very patiently and distributed books & flyers. The most wonderful thing about this book distribution is many first timers this time Pranathi Mataji, Yagya Narayana and Harish Prabhu. A special thanks to Pranathi for inspiring all of us with her enthusiasm. She also collected few contacts for Bhaktivriksha All of us cherished this great experience
Here are some of our experiences that we would like to share with vaishanaseva
Pranathi Mataji’s first book distribution Experience in her own words
It being my first ever book distribution, and even participating in a fair for that matter, was a great experience.
It was great to be in a place where you meet up with new people with diverse backgrounds and different conditionings.
I kept on with my service not being bothered too much about whether anyone really purchases or not, but just to sometimes show them pictures of Krishna or give them flyers, so unknowingly also if they appreciate, they have the “seed in place” to take it from there next time.
Whenever I saw people dancing to the kirtan or just looking amazed at the instruments or smiling back in appreciation, all I could think of is that this service, on the road, publicly singing kirtan and distributing books is an effective way to give people an opportunity to reach out for Krishna’s mercy.
And another thing which amazed me was the amount of faith devotees have in holy names and how it really works. We were initially given one corner spot, and were disillusioned that not many people will come here, but we started with a kirtan praying to Krishna and simultaneously trying for a different spot. Krishna reciprocated and we got a prime spot and later even better spot. Another instance was about weather and how devotees stuck to their job and it dint impact them even a least bit and surprisingly weather did not end up being as bad as it was forecasted.
Having a common goal, putting sincere efforts, great determination and acting in the mode of service were essential qualities which led us to have Krishna’s mercy to end the show in great success.
I wish Krishna provides us with more opportunities to inculcate such habits that engender Bhakthi.
Harish Prabhu’s Experinces in his own words
This is the first time, that I am doing such an activity (rather Service). Initially I was a little bit reluctant in doing this because, I had to go out and distribute books to people whom I have not at all interacted with or know about. Also I was a little afraid whether the people will take my service in a proper manner. But finally I decided that I am doing everything as a service to Krishna and I need to please him alone. Rest will be taken care of by HIM and he will support me for selling at least one book.
Once I reached there at the University fair, I was given a number of flyers to distribute to the people who were continuously walking by. I did this for around ½ hour and by then HG Harivilas Prabhu came there and called me for Kirtan. We started the kirtan and I got completely involved in this. The kirtan went for around 4 ½ hours and it was such a wonderful experience. Most of the people who were coming near our camp used to listen to the Kirtan that we were doing. I played most of the instruments that Harivilas prabhu had brought with him. During the kirtans I used to take small breaks of 10 mins each and during this time, I distributed a couple of T-Shirts and also some books. This was the first time that I distributed some books and T-Shirts in order to please Krishna. It was really a very wonderful experience. I became very happy when I distributed the first item. I got satisfied that I was able to get at least 10$ for building the temple and it was really HARD earned money.
By the time kirtan got over by around 6 pm, most of the people from the fair had gone home. So we were packing stuff so that we can also reach the temple early. But then a miracle happened. A person came to our booth and was very much interested in knowing about Krishna. He told us that he knew Harivilas prabhu and used to come to the temple earlier. I was really dumbfounded when he recited Jaya Radha Madhava…. He was a Hebrew and told us many think about Jesus and was comparing his teaching with that of Bhagavad Gita. He was very much learned. But the way he had dressed one would think that he doesn’t know anything. But after hearing the philosophy that he talked to us I was really astonished. He bought the books Perfection of Yoga, Vegetarian cooking and some photos. Also he bought the Kanti mala and chanting beads. I was very much happy that towards the end we got to meet a person who was very much interested in knowing about Krishna.
This was my great experiences at the Washington UW Fair.
Sundar Prabhu’s Experiences in his own words
Book distribution is such a wonderful & a purifying activity….I just got reminded of the previous years where we would do sankirtan and book distribution. it's purifying because no matter how skilled you are, nothing works it puts you totally being dependent on krishna…
unless the lord kindly reciprocates by sending the right person or inspiring from with in the other person's heart… it's difficult to get them to buy books…
I hope we get more oppurtunities to do this purifying act & to please Srila Prabhupada.
My Experience
There was down pour of rain couple of times in between. We had to pack, unpack, cover and move the books bunch of times and It did not effect us in any way. Tulasidas Prabhu started singing kirtan. Damodarrati Mataji, Dolly Mataji, Narayan Prabhu and I joined the kirtan and started chanting the holy names loudly, faithfully and pleasingly. Narayan Prabhu stopped a person passing by and started preaching and the person was literally drenching in the rain. Narayan Prabhu opened Bhagavad-Gita and showed some verses; pictures etc and spoke to him for about 15 mins. Believe me he took Bhagavad-Gita and gave $25 and I could see very few bucks left in his valet
For most of the time in the fair, I distributed only SSR, perfection of Yoga, Vegetarian cook book BG After a while, I thought I should distribute “Laws of Nature” book. Then I was trying to talk to people who are peeping at our book table. I do not know what to tell about “Laws of Nature”….After giving brief introduction and free flyers etc…” I told one American gentle man “Nature’s Laws are very subtle. There is reaction for every action just like what Newton told. Do you know why some people are rich, some are poor, some are beautiful and some are ugly and son on ……………This books has answers for all those. “ He listened to me patiently but non convinced to get the book. Suddenly I remembered HH Romapada Maharaja answering the question “Why bad things happen to good people”. By Krishna’s mercy I could repro the question and answer as it..That person responded “That’s interesting..!” and he took not only “Laws of Nature” but also “Perfection of Yoga”
At one point of time, I saw four of us (Narayan Prabhu, Tulasidas Prabhu, Sundar Prabhu & I) stood on the four corners of the street distributing books and four more (Dolly Mataji, Pranathi Mataji, Jayashree Mataji and Narayana Prabhu) distributing mercy by giving “My Sweet Lord Flyers” and temple cards and yet another four (Harivilas Prabhu, Harish Prabhu, Radhika Mataji, Damodarrati Mataji) distributing holy names by doing continuous Harinaam and couple of us including few stringers were dancing and jumping joy with some kind of transcendental experience. This looked like a Caturvyuha for attacking Maya from all four corners.
The whole atmosphere was so purifying and I’m sure our beloved Spiritual Master Srila Prahupada would have been pleased with all of us.
What Next?
Once more! Let us get the same experience once again. 2005 Fremont Fair (http://www.fremontfair.com/) is waiting for all of us on June 18th & 19th, 2005. This festival is three times bigger than U-district fair and there is lot of scope for book distribution. Please contact Narayan Prabhu(narayan.yhs@gmail.com or 425-391-2537)
