Book Distribution with Prasadam
There is an annual festival in eastern Australia called the Woodford Festival, but we devotees call it the Sense Festival because it titilates all the senses. The devotees are there to please the senses of Krsna. About 120,000 people attend this year over a five day period. The Govinda's portable retaurant distributed 8,000 plates, and by Krsna's mercy I distributed 300 Gitas from a table next to Govinda's. Bood distribution and Prasad distribution side by side, Prabhupada would be pleased.
Sometimes as people left the restaurant I would say, "Govinda's gives you food for the body, [of course, for the soul, too, but they don't know that] and this is food for the soul." Often they would take a book.
One man said, "I've never read a book in my life."
So I said to him, "If you ever do read a book in your life this is the book you should read."
He said, "Really? It's that good?"
"Have no doubt."
He took it and gave a nice donation.
Another lady said she had a friend who was a devotee that once took her to the temple in Los Angeles in the early 70's. At that time Prabhupada was giving out cookies to all of the devotees.
She said, "When I went up to him, he saw me, then put the cookie down that he had in his hand and found a bigger one and gave it to me, I'll always remember that kindness."
She also got a BG, "a bigger cookie," sweet and tasty.
Another man came back the next day and said, "After I read the book last night I was thinking that I didn't give you enough, here's another donation." He gave another $20. It's nice to see people appreciating the value of the Bhagavad gita.
When I had only one book left, a couple I was showing it to were surprisingly interested in it.
The lady then said, "Five days ago you showed me this, and I said I'd come back and get it at the end of the festival."
I said, "God is taking care of you. I can't remember you, but Krsna remembered you and saved the last one for you."
She responded, "I guess that's because I would have been very upset if I left this festival and didn't leave with the Bhagavad-gita.
Your servant,
Vijaya Dasa
