Getting a taste again
Yesterday, for the first time in two years, I went out for book distribution with the harinama party. While we were proceeding, I started praying to Srila Prabhupada for His mercy and blessings so I could distribute some books, as I had lost the taste for door-to-door distribution, and to revive myself I took shelter of the harinama party. Since it was going to be only a one-hour harinama, I decided not to take many books. There were two matajis who took only smalls books, which were easier to distribute, whereas I took a mixture of large and small books, since I used to love distributing bigger books. I started to move ahead of the harinama party so I could distribute books and then join with them easily. To my surprise, I managed to distribute books to the local Fijian ladies and also a Muslim guy, as well as many local Indians.
The native Fijians were easy: I just gave them some halva and then talked a little about helping with some charity for the temple, so they easily took a book. But the Muslim guy was a bit hesitant, so at first I gave him "The Science of Self-Realization" and then explained that it was a very scientific book and would help his children at school. I kept gently pushing him, and finally he gave in but took a "Beyond Birth & Death" instead.
As I was running from door to door distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, I felt so much ecstasy, so I approached my temple president and told him that this was what was missing in my life.
Finally I was left with only two big books. People were hesitant to spend that much, so I helped the other two matajis distribute their small books, which we sold out before the harinama was finished.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Book distribution and harinama sankirtana ki jai! . . .
Nityananda Das
ISKCON Suva, Fiji Islands.
PS: We received another donation for the Nigerian sankirtan van. Bhavana dd gave $100. She is a devotee in Taiwan who distributes books and at the same time has two daughters and a husband to take care of. Thank you, Bhavana. Now we have $1,500 — only $18,500 more to go. Actually it's less, because some devotees have sent laxmi to my mailing address but I won't be there for another month, so we won't know tell then.
Your Servant,
Vijaya das
