Determiation to get Srila Prabhupada’s books
Time and again we have been told that best way to preach is to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books and often we also think that the best way to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books is to preach about them. But an experience during book distribution marathon this year revealed the reality to us.
During last year's marathon we had set up a stall at the local Shani (Saturn) temple. It is in a Muslim locality and the two boys who helped us to set up the stall are actually Muslims. On one Saturday, the day of maximum crowd in the temple, a man visited our stall and was attracted to the beautiful volume of Krishna book. "I can not read Marathi," he said to the devotees. "Can you please give me a copy in my mother tongue, Kannad?"
"Let me see," the devotee checked her stock. "I am sorry we don't have a Kannada copy but surely by next Saturday we will have it for you," the devotee promised, and the man left, happily.
Next Saturday the same man arrived anxiously looking for his book. "I am sorry we could not get your copy this week," said Sabeena mataji, the devotee in charge of the stall. "Please give half an hour; I will surely get the book." The man agreed and left to do some urgent work. Now it was a race against time.
Quickly mataji grabbed a cell phone and called some devotees. Unfortunately every one she called was either busy in his job or so far away from the center and the temple that he could not have reached in time. Then at the last resort she tried Rajagopal Prabhu. He answered the phone. "Get a Kannada Krsna book from the center and bring it to the Shani temple?… Can I do it? Well, yes, How fast?… I guess I will be there soon because right now I standing at the door of the center!" Rajagopal Prabhu got two volumes of Kannad Krishana book and straight way dashed towards Shani Temple. Surprisingly the eager customer came back as promised and was waiting and reading one small book of Srila Prabhupada. He was happy to finally receive his desired book and left thanking the devotees.
This incidence has taught us how people are waiting for Srila Prabhupada's book and it is important to organize stalls at different places so that people can have a chance to obtain this wonderful literature. As Srila Prabhupada once said, "These books are like gold; one who knows their value will take them at any cost."
Your Servant,
Murari Gupta
