By Vijaya Dasa
Hare Krsna,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
It looks like some temples got so much good momentum going during the marathon that they just didn’t want to stop. Simhacalama (Germany) is one of these. The team consists of brahmacaries traveling around Germany in a bus to distribute the mercy. In January, with 3,425 book points, they came very close to doubling the January results of the first-place temple in Western Europe for 2013, Bhaktivedanta Manor. And last year they were only about three thousand points behind the Manor. So look out, Bhaktivedanta Manor book distributors! The Germans may be seeking that first-place spot this year.
Curitiba (Brazil) is another temple that just kept going . In January they led the charge against maya in South America, doing 2,868 book points, way ahead of any other temple. In a third-world country, it’s not as easy for people to give, but the devotees’ sincerity breaks down all barriers.
New Govardhana, a farm community in Australia, was the No. 1 temple in Australasia with 1,292 book points. Ajita Prabhu, the temple president, asked me to go there to help get book distribution going from the farm, and we had about six devotees going to the Gold Coast five days a week. He wants to keep it going. Let’s hope they are able to, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.
Here’s a story for you. I was distributing books in downtown Sydney, when a mean-looking businessman approached, seriously mean-looking. But I thought, “You never know what is behind a mean face.”
So I approached him and said, “Excuse me.”
He stopped, and as soon as I presented the Bhagavad Gita he said, “Oh, the Bhagavad Gita. ”
I asked, “Have you read it before?”
“Bits and pieces, here and there. It’s a book that I’ve always wanted to read.”
His demeanor completely softened, like a puppy, a complete change in a moment. I was amazed.
I showed it to him, and because he was getting into it more and more, asking for a donation was just a formality. He wanted it and gave the best donation of the day for it. I showed him the address of the temple, and he walked away a very satisfied customer.
Your servant, Vijaya Dasa www.ISKCONbookdistribution.com