What’s nice about book distribution
Hare Krishna,
I’m back in Los Angeles, distributing books at the Griffith Observator.
This is a place newly opened for book distribution by Amarendra Prabhu, a lawyer and Srila Prabhupada’s disciple. For many years he’s helped the BBT open spots for the sankirtan devotees.
Last week, I found the going a little slow during the weekdays, so I tried Santa Monica Mall instead. It’s an outdoor mall, so the authorities allow us to distribute. But it’s not an easy place.
Paramesvara Prabhu, the sankirtan leader of RVC, once said, “If someone can distribute three books at Santa Monica Mall in a day, he’s doing well.”
And Bhrgupati Prabhu will not distribute there, because it’s so tough.
Well, I felt that difficulty today. I was getting so many no’s that I was thinking, “After all these years distributing books, it’s still difficult.”
Then Krishna gave me a realization: These no’s are good for me. They’ll help me become tolerant.”
As soon as Krishna gave me that thought, I started thanking the people who said no, just as if they’d taken a book and given a donation. I was thanking them because they were helping me develop tolerance, which is what we need to sincerely chant the holy name.
Within a short time after this adjustment of my consciousness, books started flying out. People felt the detachment and friendliness and wanted to give a donation and take a book.
Another thing I started meditating on was something I mentioned in an earlier post, the prayer of Sudama the garland maker. He prayed to Krishna to give him devotion, friendship with devotees, and compassion for all living entities. After reading that, I thought that these are the perfect things to pray for. So while on book distribution I prayed for devotion and compassion for all.
Book distribution is a continuous process of learning and purification, and thus it is so nice.
