how to get the attention of my friends in our krishna conss.,

Hare Krsna,
My obeisances to all devotees, guru and gauranga.

Janardan prabhu, it is no different to how you get your friends to a social event. Lets say you want to organise a birthday party and want to invite people, you arrange for a particular date, time and venue. You print out the invitation and approach your friends or relatives to join the celebration. Inviting them to KC is no different. Make a list of your friends/relatives, Make a small flyer to invite people on the list to the temple or lecture or gathering. Some might be interested, some might not, but thats ok. You have to do your work of inviting and Krsna will give the knowledge and mercy for the people to be there. Among the people who eventually show up, the take up again is upon Krsna. Remember, without Krsna's mercy not a blade of grass moves, then how can one take up KC without Krsna's mercy.

Oh, and make sure you give them some prasadham during the invite.

Few weeks ago, I was at the temple chanting and this guy approached me and asked for directions to the rest room. I gave him the directions. Later, I was in the room to attend Tulsi pooja and the same guy approached me and asked me when the curtains would be open so he could take darshan of the lordships. I gave him the details and started to casually talk. I asked him if he knew about Bhagvad Gita and if he had read it. He said he knows about BG but had not read. So I asked him if he would allow me to buy the book for him, which would make me happy and requested him to read one page a day. He was a bit skeptical and nervous that he was being preached and was stuck. I could see his hesitation. I dint want to force him into anything. Then the Tulsi arati started and the Gaura arati followed soon after. During the Gaura arati, I requested Krsna to give me an opportunity to give His instructions to this guy and I bought the BG book and while he was leaving the temple, I gave it to him and told him "Dont think I am forcing you into this, but if you take this book, it would make me very happy". He gladly took it. Now Krsna has to do his work to either bring him into His care or if the guy wants to look away from Krsna then so be it.

So, please do your best to invite and leave the rest to Him. The other thing is to be happy (Chant and be happy). This happiness will show and people will enquire on why and how are you so happy.. You can then give them the reason behind your happiness. That should gain some attention from your friends, after all who doesnt want to be happy, right?.

Srila prabhupada ki jai..

Hare krsna

Replies

E-Counselor

Radha Rasamayi DD October 14, 2015 at 11:54am

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

My experience is that the young crowd loves music. You could initially take them to a kirtan program of your congregation if there is one. You could bring them to the regular program you attend in your congregation and let the leader do the talking.

The best way is to feed them tasty and sumptous prasadam.

Be patient and prepared for a lot of questions and comments. We should understand that everyone of our friends will not come on this path. We have to respect them for their views and faiths and ensure they do the same, even if they do not agree with our path.

Haribol,

Your servant,

Rashmi
Volunteer

kŗşņa dasa October 14, 2015 at 4:17am

Hare Krsna,
My obeisances to all devotees, guru and gauranga.

Janardan prabhu, it is no different to how you get your friends to a social event. Lets say you want to organise a birthday party and want to invite people, you arrange for a particular date, time and venue. You print out the invitation and approach your friends or relatives to join the celebration. Inviting them to KC is no different. Make a list of your friends/relatives, Make a small flyer to invite people on the list to the temple or lecture or gathering. Some might be interested, some might not, but thats ok. You have to do your work of inviting and Krsna will give the knowledge and mercy for the people to be there. Among the people who eventually show up, the take up again is upon Krsna. Remember, without Krsna's mercy not a blade of grass moves, then how can one take up KC without Krsna's mercy.

Oh, and make sure you give them some prasadham during the invite.

Few weeks ago, I was at the temple chanting and this guy approached me and asked for directions to the rest room. I gave him the directions. Later, I was in the room to attend Tulsi pooja and the same guy approached me and asked me when the curtains would be open so he could take darshan of the lordships. I gave him the details and started to casually talk. I asked him if he knew about Bhagvad Gita and if he had read it. He said he knows about BG but had not read. So I asked him if he would allow me to buy the book for him, which would make me happy and requested him to read one page a day. He was a bit skeptical and nervous that he was being preached and was stuck. I could see his hesitation. I dint want to force him into anything. Then the Tulsi arati started and the Gaura arati followed soon after. During the Gaura arati, I requested Krsna to give me an opportunity to give His instructions to this guy and I bought the BG book and while he was leaving the temple, I gave it to him and told him "Dont think I am forcing you into this, but if you take this book, it would make me very happy". He gladly took it. Now Krsna has to do his work to either bring him into His care or if the guy wants to look away from Krsna then so be it.

So, please do your best to invite and leave the rest to Him. The other thing is to be happy (Chant and be happy). This happiness will show and people will enquire on why and how are you so happy.. You can then give them the reason behind your happiness. That should gain some attention from your friends, after all who doesnt want to be happy, right?.

Srila prabhupada ki jai..

Hare krsna

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