Book Distribution 2011 - IV

I went door knocking today although I will admit I was on an all-time low with my mind battling to muster the enthusiasm to distribute. I made a cold call to a person whom I thought would be interested in Krishna consciousness this afternoon, anyways the call did not go as per plan and to be honest I got a little hung up on that. My mind was thinking about that. Anyways the highlight of todays distribution is I distributed Bhagavad Gita flyers and cards. I also distributed Higher Taste recipe book which I found people very eager to take versus the regular books. After few more books (although not much donation) I went home.

In addition to knocking on doors, this time I also placed books in shops. Actually I believe the smart box can distribute more books than me door knocking. So I placed two smart boxes in cafetarias. In my estimation, in one or two weeks the books are distributed. So I ordered small books and placed them in smart boxes. I am thinking of putting these smart boxes in more shops...lets see how that goes.

One other reason I am writing my experience of book distribution is to document my attempts so when I look back I can see how much effort was put in and what I can do better. Documenting is a crucial aspect of story telling. People like to hear stories and be inspired. I may not document all my book distribution efforts but hoping that if I do continue book distribution regularly then I may document it periodically.

So far I would say If you are a type of person who likes to meet new people, then book distribution is for you. You may not distribute books but just meeting new people in my opinion is exciting. When I say meet I mean the chance to have a discussion with new people. The person may not be interested in the books but by connecting with the person one can actually have an impact.

With that, I would also say this would be my last post for the year. I wish all my readers (although not sure if there are loyal readers) a very HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012.

I hope and pray your New Year starts on a good note and continue that way and perhaps you go one step closer towards Krishna!

Hare Krishna

Basic questions - everyone should ask!

Krishna Consciousness is a universal phenomenon. It is non-sectarian. It has the highest spiritual quotient. Practicing Krishna Consciousness sincerely can help an individual transcend the material dualities of life such as happiness/distress, fame/infamy, pain/pleasure etc. Sincere practice also cultivates a sense of humility, compassion and love towards all living beings. Of course these attributes are possible only when the practitioner becomes fearless. So Krishna Consciousness also inculcates fearlessness within one's heart to the extent one is not afraid even to die.

All this is possible because Krishna Consciousness starts by asking basic questions that I believe every sane human being should be asking themselves. Questioning in this fashion, I believe, is the pinnacle of human intelligence. So here are the basic questions Krishna Consciousness asks or we as humans have to ask.

1. Who am I? (am i this body and mind or something beyond the body and mind)
2. If God exists, who is God? (if God does not exist then we do not have to bother about anything)
3. If God exists, then, what is my relationship with God?
4. What is the process to know and connect with God?
5. What is the end purpose or result of all of this?

Asking these questions form the basis for human existence. However, unfortunately people are not concerned with any of the above questions. Their only concern is to maintain this material life and exploit it.

Going into the new year, if anyone is reading this post, please desire to arouse your spiritual side and start of by asking these basic questions. This is the start and to one who is sincere the Universe will surely respond to your questions.

Happy 2012!

Hare Krishna

secret to happiness

You cannot be happy thinking about yourself. The more you think about yourself and fulfilling your desires the more you become anxious and depressed especially if it is not fulfilled. All the drugs and psychotherapy is directed in trying to fulfill what you want which actually increases anxiety and distress. 

The secret to happiness is trying to think about others and what they want. In that spectrum, the highest thought and consequently the highest happiness (or the most blissful experience) is to think about the instructions of a pure soul and Krishna. Fulfilling their words as opposed to yours is the secret to happiness in this world and beyond. Try it and you will see the difference.

 Hare Krishna

Goshala service - your vote requested

Dear prabhus & mataji

Please Accept My Humble Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Project mentioned in below mail is for improving Goshala at Naigaon, about
30 km from ISKCON Pune temple.  This Goshala is connected to ISKCON Pune and
is being run under the guidance of ISKCON Pune. The cows and the calves are
kept in perfect natural condition and are treated with love and respect.

Our goshala team has requested us to kindly support them
by following the procedure given below.  If you do,
our goshala team will receive upto 4 lacs for GO-SEVA.  Thank you
for participating in Gomata's seva.


For Facebook account holders :

Go to http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=5096

Click on Vote in green colour

Click on Login and Vote

Click on facebook symbol

Log with facebook id and click on allow

Go to Agriculture and Rural Developement Tab

Click on Krishi Go Sanskriti Project and Vote



Other Users

Go to http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=5096

Click on Vote in green colour

Register on Left Hand Side of Sign Up page

Go to your email account and open email from sparktherise.com and activate
ur account

Go to http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=5096

Click on Vote in green colour

Login with your email id as log in and putting chosen password

Go to Agriculture and Rural Developement Tab

Click on Krishi Go Sanskriti Project and Vote



If we win, we'll get lot of media coverage and a grant of minimum 4 lacs (up
to maximum of 40 lacs). For this, we need more than 5000 votes. Kindly vote
the project and get everyone you know to put their votes.

Kindly vote in next 2-3 days as the last date is 30th Dec.

Please contact Gopal Agrawal at +919881255331 or Ram Vilas das at
+918390907239 for any assistance.


Thanks and Regards,  Hare Krishna.

your servant
Radheshyam das

Book distribution 2011- III

I would say today was my best day in terms of the amount of books distributed and money collected. I collected more than $35 and distributed more around 10-15 books (not exactly sure how many). I may have knocked on at least 125 doors of which I could convince say 10 people to take the book. I met a whole variety of folks. I must say the residents of the buildings were probably of low-income category or perhaps less affluent is more apt. Most of the houses had dogs and I have fear of dogs. Although the dogs were not on leash, the owners were always careful to not allow the dogs in front.

I have said this in my previous posts, and I say again that most of the residents practice Christian faith and most likely not interested in Krishna Consciousness. So I started to talk to them about Jesus and that chanting Jesus Christ's names would benefit them spiritually. I made sure this is not a sectarian concept of religion. I met a muslim girl from Pakistan who donated money generously but was absolutely adamant to not accept the books. Somehow I requested her to accept the Beyond Illusion and Doubt book which was purely an interpretation on western philosophy. She reluctantly accepted it.

Anyways, I met many people but unfortunately my memory escapes me. I do remember one funny incident. I was distributing a book to an elderly African American lady. As I was explaining the philosophy, the sister of the lady came into the living room and she saw me. The lady to whom I was talking introduced me to her and turned and pointed to her sister the book and said this is Krishna. The sister looked at me with exasperation in her breath and loudly said "Krishna?"...and she nodded her head in disapproval on hearing Krishna and went back her into the room. I didn't know what to say and the lady who was talking to me said its ok. The lady gave me a nice donation and I left. It is interesting to see the impressions people have on other religions and especially Krishna.

Overall however, I would say the majority response was either a big fat no and some seemed recipient to spiritual life. I distributed all the books I carried but one book. After about 2 hours, I became tired and was getting dark, figured I will return. With that, I went back to my office and then to my house.

I have to say I am little pessimistic in terms of anything sustainable coming out of book distribution especially where I live because people are either religious or very materialistic. It is very hard for me to convince them in like 60 secs to take a book and at the same time perhaps read it and email me. Unless I meet someone who is also seeking spiritual knowledge and who is not attached to any current form religious system, then may be I will have chance to make an impression and make something sustainable out of it. For now, I pray Krishna to give me desire to distribute and also pray Krishna to send me the interested person.

We will never know! This unknown gives some hope!

Hare Krishna

Best use of free will

In an earlier post, I discussed about free will and predestination. In that I mentioned about the forces of nature and how it is practically difficult to overcome the temptations and urges of material nature. Even if we have a strong desire to do something but our circumstance and environment and association is otherwise, there are more chances to be led astray. We will do something we will regret. This feeling of regret is there because internally our original desire was to not do the thing we end up doing. So there are forces of nature always acting to influence our free will and that force is strong beyond human capabilities. Therefore we should be careful when we judge people. Anyways that is perhaps a different post.

We have to train ourselves to use our intelligence to depend on Krishna. Below is a brief conversation by Srila Prabhupada on how to practically use our free will - in other words - depend on Krishna. Next time when we are faced with problems such as coworker problems or disease or money problems or job insecurity or spouse problem etc etc...let us try to simply focus all our energy meditating on Krishna and His form and submit our case to Him in humility and in that mood conduct our duties (not attaching to the result). Please read conversation.

He (Prabhupada) explained that the real problem is that people are not following Krishna ’s instructions properly. If one practically surrenders to Krishna , He makes everything successful.

“Practical”, he (Prabhupada) said, “means it will be done by Krishna . Your only business is to surrender to Krishna . You cannot do anything. And as soon as you think, ‘I shall be able to do it,’ then you are a rascal. Immediately you are rascal.”

“So only a fully surrendered soul can do everything perfectly?” Harikesa asked.

Prabhupada answered, “He cannot do anything. Everything is to be done by Krishna . But he has to apply his intelligence by Krishna consciousness. Even if he is intelligent, he cannot do anything.”

Harikesa added, “Except surrender.”

“Yes. He can surrender, and Krishna will do everything. You have to act very sincerely under the direction of Krishna , and then the war will be successful, as Arjuna did.”

- A Transcendental Diary (Vol 1,Ch 2, Pg 44) by Hari Sauri Das

In essence, we can only do one thing, use our free will and intelligence to surrender to Krishna under all circumstances (good and bad) and do our duty. We have to have faith that whatever transpires as a result of that duty & situation is Krishna's desire and be satisfied with that.

Hare Krishna

Truth never loses its glory

I find the following quote very inspirational. The truth is a testimony to itself and will reveal itself to the genuine seeker.

The truth is always the truth, the genuine always genuine. Ordinary people may or may not accept it, but it never loses its glory or respectable position. Maybe it will happen that within many eons only one sincere truth-seeking person will appreciate the genuineness of the Gaudiya Matha. Yet such a person could effect auspiciousness for unlimited millions of people.

- His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada