By Sutapa das
Srila Prabhupada’s books have reached more souls than those of bestselling author Stephen King. To date, they’ve even sold more copies than the record- breakingly successful Harry Potter series. A staggering half a billion books have been distributed in the last 50 years. This Christmas, remember that the Prabhupada Marathon, held every December, has been a major contributing factor.
On December 22, 1972, devotees in Los Angeles noticed that stores in the area were staying open until midnight, still attracting hordes of Christmas shoppers. The devotees had a bright idea: in this season of goodwill, why not offer them spiritual gifts? Leaving early in the morning, they began energetically distributing books and magazines with fresh enthusiasm, and by the late evening they were all still out there, intoxicated by the amazingly enthusiastic response!
The Marathon lasted only three days, from December 22nd to 24th, but devotees sold nearly six thousand books each day.
Prabhupada was delighted at this news and wrote to Ramesvara prabhu: “By this effort alone, all the book distributors are assured to go back home back to Godhead!” The letter and its dramatic statement authorised the Christmas Marathon and sent book distribution to a new high. Since that time, the marathon has been an annual fixture in the ISKCON calendar.
This Christmas period offers everyone the unique opportunity to do the simple, sublime and special service of distributing a transcendental book; an act of compassion that could change someone’s life forever.
“Books are the best friends: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.”
Please get involved this winter and experience the magic of sankirtan,
Your servant, Sutapa das
Bhaktivedanta Manor Sankirtan Newsletter
International Society for Krishna Consciousness,
Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Winter 2014 as.it.is