I will share a story about the fructification of sankirtan. We never know what will happen. Even distributing a small book can turn into something amazing.
Two Maori boys, cousins, showed up at the Bhakti Lounge shaved-up with sikhas and tilak. Where did they come from? Who were they? None of us knew.
We found out that they had received “Chant and Be Happy” from a sister who had bought it at the New World mall in Papakura. They read the book and felt convinced that they have to give up “animal
By Gurushakti Dasi
I returned to Reading today where I met Noddy, aged 83. Having successfully stopped him in his tracks, I introduced him to the Bhagavad Gita. I explained it contains the oldest writings known to man.
This attracted Noddy’s interest and he was fascinated by our scriptures wanting to know more. We spoke for some time whilst I expanded on the essence of the teachings. Noddy revealed his wife had passed away three years ago and he still feels incomplete without her. Whilst being o
By Karuna Mayi Shankla and Jahnavi Shankla
In the summer of 2021, two cousins Kana (age 8) and Meera (age 14), got Vaisesika Prabhu’s inspiring book Our Family Business. Meera says, “Reading Our Family Business made me and my cousin Kana filled with excitement to distribute books.” Kana said that after reading the book it made him realize that life isn’t just about maintaining our existence (eating, sleeping, playing), but about using our life to share Lord Krishna’s blessings with others.
Read
By Ravi Ramgoolam
"I want that you all my students shall very vigorously try for this book distribution." Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Kirtiraja -- Vrindaban 27 November 1971
Mahotsaha Das has proven that the words of our founder Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are still living strong in the hearts of many. Our beloved Srila Prabhupada’s heartfelt call to all his students of Bhakti Yoga to push vigorously for book distribution is amazingly still being carried down
By Madhava Smullen
One of the biggest book distributors in East Africa, Dwarka Vasini Devi Dasi, along with her teams Vaishnavi Sanga and Krsna Kids Sena, distributes about eighty percent of ISKCON Nairobi’s total during the December Prabhupada marathon every year. Throughout the rest of the year, she and her niece Ambika Gopi Devi Dasi are the main book distributors in the Kenyan capital. With her efforts, ISKCON Nairobi has gone from distributing about 5,000 books during the marathon to 30,000
From a devotee who is distributing Bhagavad-gita and other books in Hungary:
“I was going door to door. A lady opened her door, and I showed her books. She invited me in and said she would get a donation for me. I was astounded at what I saw in her house. There was a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ, 2.5 meters high (about 7 feet tall). I was awed. It was so nice. The lady returned and saw me appreciating the picture.
She said, “I think you will understand what I’m going to tell you since you l
By Giriraj Swami
We have again reached December, that most auspicious time of year when the book-distribution marathon takes place. In honor of the occasion, I quote two verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam that embody the devotee’s mood in distributing Krishna consciousness.
naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas
tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah
soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-
maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan
“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material
By Madhava Smullen
About 170 book distributors, temple presidents, GBC members, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust staff and devotees in general viewed the 12th Annual BBT Africa Conference, held online and broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/c/BBTAfrica on Saturday November 6th.
Speakers from Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Mauritius participated in the three-hour conference, which is a platform for an exchange of ideas and strategies on all matters of book distribution, publication, and innovation. Insp
By Niranjana Swami
I was recently inspired. It was the 2nd day of our GBC meetings. I was completely absorbed the whole day, which for me is not something very easy. I am not so inclined to meetings, but on this 2nd day of our GBC meetings, there was only one subject, and that was book distribution. It was affirmed by other GBC members with whom I spoke that this was the most enlivening day ever spent in a GBC meeting because the subject matter was just about Srila Prabhupada’s books.
We got the
By Madhava Smullen
As the year nears its conclusion, Team ISKCON Alachua, the book distribution effort of the biggest Hare Krishna community in the Western world, is already in the midst of its final marathon of 2021, the Live to Give Campaign.
Running from September until the end of the year, Live to Give is an international book distribution campaign run by the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team, in which over 250 ISKCON communities in more than 55 countries participated last y
By Madhava Smullen
Surendra Singh, an engineer and ISKCON devotee, has distributed Bhagavad-gita As It Is, celebrated Janmastami (Lord Krishna’s appearance day), and practiced Krishna consciousness with fellow scientific expedition team members at the Indian Antarctic research station “Maitri.”
Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is home to the the South Pole. It is the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent, and 98% of it is covered with ice. Only scientists and supporting s
Below are more reflections from inmate David B., from a prison in Danbury, Connecticut.
When I got the Covid19 I felt physically terrible with severe joint pains, chest pain and uncontrollable shivering. Yet, I was so at peace, and not only did I manage to chant my twenty rounds every day but even during the worst I spent all my waking time chanting the maha mantra, grateful for such suffering and the focus it gives to what matters and all the mercy Krsna so kindly bestowed.
I was thinking back
By Madhava Smullen
Historically in ISKCON, the only book distribution marathon was held in December, leaving the rest of the year rather quiet on the book distribution front in many parts of the world. Recently, however, Global Duty Officer for book distribution Vaisesika Dasa and the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team have been introducing new campaigns throughout the year to give devotees special impetus to reach goals in disseminating transcendental literature.
These now incl
By Madhava Smullen
The Bhadra Campaign, flooding the world with spiritual wisdom in the form of full sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam, keeps going from strength to strength.
Launched in 2017, the campaign is inspired by the Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 12.13.13, which states, “If on the full moon day of the month of Bhadra one places Srimad-Bhagavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.”
It’s also driven by Srila Prabhupada’s instruction in a 19
By Madhava Smullen
The Live to Give Campaign, run by the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team, has smashed its 2 million Gita goal, distributing 2,172,456 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is around the world.
Over 250 ISKCON communities in more than 55 countries participated, between September 17th 2020 and January 7th 2021. The campaign also commemorated Gita Jayanti, or World Gita Day, on December 25th.
Live to Give was a phenomenally successful effort to get de
By Damodarleela dasa, Maharashtra Padayatra leader
Padayatra reached Bastavade village in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district on January 21. When we went for advance party to the village the previous day the leaders happily received us and quickly arranged our accommodation. As the news spread that some saints would be arriving with a rath carrying the Lord the residents prepared by sprinkling the roads with water and decorating them with rangoli, then welcomed us at the village entrance on the day
Devotees around the world are aiming to distribute at least two million Bhagavad-gitas during the last quarter of 2020, as part of the Prabhupada marathon and the Live to Give campaign.
The campaign will culminate with World Gita Day (also known as Gita Jayanti) on December 25th. To mark the occasion, there will be a live Zoom broadcast wherein ISKCON communities from all over the world will glorify the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in creative ways, concluding with a COVID-safe fire yajna broadcast on
