SD Los Angeles Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 19
ANONYMOUS
By Mahat-tattva däs
A few days ago we were in Santa Monica, 3rd Street Promenade where we usually go to perform harinama-sankirtana. That day as every other day we had our standard setup with four devotees sitting on the floor, one playing harmonium, one mridanga and two devotees playing caratalas. Little aside to our left was our book table where beside the books we sell tapes and CDs of our own bhajans. After two hours of dynamic and ecstatic bhajans we started packing our equipment to go back to New Dvaraka when bhaktin Sara, who was that day at the table, approached me with a white cloth bag, size of a larger japa bead bag, in her hand. She told me that one lady, unknown to her, approached her and handed her that bag saying that that was for the distribution of books. Bhaktin Sara asked her who she was but the lady refused to say wanting to stay anonymous. Right then the lady left. Everything happened so fast so we can’t tell you more about the lady, not even what she looked like. Bhaktin Sara opened the bag and found that the bag was full with coins, quarters, dimes, nickels and mostly pennies. The lady wanted the money to be spent on distribution of “Hare Krishna” books so bhaktin Sara thought it would be the best to give it to me for the Sastra Dana program. When we got home I counted $32 in the bag (if you go to the last page of this newsletter you’ll find it is reported that an anonymous person donated $32).
RAMA SAVE ME!
By Vijaya däs
I was distributing at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, it was one of those nectar days when you meet a lot of nice people and they happily take a book and give a donation. Then to top it off when I got back to the temple a devotee approached me and asked if he could have a word with me. He went on to tell me a pretty amazing event that took place. A few guru-kulies and one friend of theirs who wasn't a devotee but liked to hang around the devotees went to one swimming area where they jumped off these rather high cliffs. At one point the boy who wasn't a devotee (his name was Ryan) jumped off a cliff but fell in the wrong area and thus swiftly got pulled toward a water fall. No one saw him coming up so they went down to the river to try to help, then one devotee saw him come up. When Ryan saw this devotee named Rama, Ryan put up his hand and called out: "Rama save me, Rama save me!” Then he was pulled under never to be seen again. He left this world saying, "Rama, save me!"
Before Ryan went for his swim he asked a devotee to hold $60 for him. After this unfortunate incident the devotee that had the $60 thought it would be best if this money could be used in Krsna's service so he gave it to a devotee. The devotee that told me about this incredible event is the one who was given the $60, he gave it to me and asked that it be used to distribute books with. So now if I meet anyone who can't afford a book I'll give it to him saying, "This is for you in memory of a very fortunate soul named, Ryan."
DECEMBER MARATHON IN NEW DVARAKA
By Candraçekhara Äcärya däs
Right after Guru Puja, breakfast for the book distributors would be all ready and senior Prabhupada disciples would bend their backs and serve prasadam to them while Devamrita Maharaja or another Prabhupada disciple would give class.
After the first class that His Holiness Devamrita Swami gave, I asked him a question regarding a statement he had made regarding the fact that when book distribution is the top priority in a temple, all the rest follows, including money. I challenged, “How is it that in some temples the devotees really want to do book distribution, or are even doing it, but still they are struggling so hard financially?” He responded, “Which temple?!” I couldn’t answer.
