Sastra Dana Newsletter – March 2008
SD: How did you come to know Krishna Consciousness?
M: I was sitting outside a café in down town San Diego. Some young women walked by and one of them handed me a flyer. It was an invitation to the Hare Krishna Festival.
I always identified with Eastern philosophies. It seemed like I aspired toward Krishna consciousness before I knew anything about it. It was natural.
SD: What did you think of your first visit to the temple?
M: I liked it. I thought the music was nice.
SD: Was that a Sunday Festival?
M: Yes, it was on a Sunday. I got a free book, everyone was accommodating, food was good it was just really nice. I liked it from the very moment I was there.
SD: How did you get to develop interest in missionary activities?
M: I’ve always been an activist. If I am not doing something for the common good of humanity I feel anxious. Instead of being a political or environmental activist I will now be a spiritual activist. I was just sitting on the couch one Saturday, with nothing to do, and decided I wanted to distribute books.
SD: How did you learn about Sastra Dana?
M: On the Sastra Dana’s website I saw an interview with Bhaktin Lori. I thought it to be a good idea.
SD: How did you come to getting a rack and placing it in that store?
M: I spoke to you about book distribution and you said, “Look, you could put a book-rack.” I happened to be at the World Beat Culture Centre in Balboa Park. They have many workshops and festivals; lots of musical events. I asked the person who runs the place if I can bring a rack full of spiritual books to give away for free. He agreed.
SD: Did he ask any questions?
M: He asked what kind of books are those and I showed him the Path of Perfection. One of the women there said: “Oh, I met Prabhupada one time.” She just asked me where I want to put it. In the past three weeks around 50 books have been taken out.
SD: Very good! What does it take for you to maintain one rack?
M: I go every week. They have Chi Gong class on Monday that I attend, that’s when I do it. It doesn’t take extra time. It is also on the way home from work. It isn’t much of an effort.
SD: Besides maintaining a rack you also go on the street to sell books. How often do you go out?
M: I distribute books every weekend. I stay Saturday and Sunday at the temple and go out with the sankirtana devotees.
SD: Do you have any memorable events on sankirtana?
M: It is wonderful every time somebody takes a book.
SD: What was your experience first day on the street?
M: Well, nobody took a book. I was discouraged when people wouldn’t take. I felt bad thinking I was wasting time, but it showed me a lot about myself, and who I am. On the second day I was coming to the point where I am just going to give a book out there; it is bound to happen, there is someone who will take a book. Eventually a nice person from Germany took a book. Since then I got progressively better.
SD: How many books you distribute now?
M: Ten or eleven a day. I got one Bhagavad-gita out last weekend. I was happy about that.
SD: What are your plans for the future?
M: I want to join the temple.
