As I remember, Srila Prabhupada didn’t like giving away books without collecting enough money to cover the printing costs. For instance, in San Francisco, the newly purchased temple on Valencia Street, back in 1971 I believe, almost went bankrupt because we were giving away tons BTG’s and books for free, without getting any money to pay for them. It was the beginning of Book Distribution, and we just didn’t understand how to do it. It took a lot of courage and nerve for the early book distributors to actually sell the books, and receive money for them.
I read a room conversation recently where Srila Prabhupada commented that if householders purchase books from the BBT, and give them away, he approved of it.
It is nice to offer someone a book, and ask for a donation, because when people pay for something they tend to value it more. We should encourage people to offer guru-dakshin, which will give them great benefit, even if it is performed by them unknowingly.
I like giving away books for free at this time. It really makes sense for me. I agonized for many years, over my inability to sell books, like in the past. I awoke from many nightmares, where I realized I could no longer sell books.
For me, giving away small books and pamphlets, which I have purchased at wholesale from Sastradana, provides me with great joy and satisfaction. I started out by buying a case of “Krsna the Reservoir of Pleasure”, because they are so inexpensive – only $.20 per copy. I put a card in each one advertising the Sunday Feast at the local temple.
I graduated to giving away “Perfection of Yoga” (I believe it is out-of-print now), “Light of the Bhagavat” (what a great book – but now out-of-print), “Hidden Glory of India” (also out-of-print), “Spiritual Yoga”, “Introduction to Bhagavad-gita”, and small paperback “Bhagavad-gitas” at the local yoga studios I frequent.
It was such a great joy for me to give away the sumptuous “Hidden Glory of India”, packed full of beautiful art, to all my yoga teachers and student friends. Sadly it is out-of-print now, with no plans by the BBT to reprint, due to sky-high printing and paper costs.
I buy 10-20 small books each time I go to the Sunday Feast, and give them out during the week. It’s a lot of fun to put out books, and see them gone the next time I return. I give them out anonymously. That way, I can in no way be a detriment to the Krishna Consciousness Movement, by my own personal example.
I am always surprised by devotees who sell books, but state they have never read them, or don’t know what is in them. What do they do if someone asks a philosophical question? Sometimes, in the past, I was criticized for reading our books, and was told that we were just supposed to sell them – not actually read them.
If someone has a question about our philosophy, I am prepared to answer, since I have been studying and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books for many years. I always qualify myself though, by stating that I am just a beginning student.
Suresh wrote, “I am always surprised by devotees who sell books, but state they have never read them, or don’t know what is in them. What do they do if someone asks a philosophical question? Sometimes, in the past, I was criticized for reading our books, and was told that we were just supposed to sell them – not actually read them.”
This is a really important point. In Honolulu in 1974, Srila Prabhupad noticed the devotees’ hesitation in responding when he asked for a Bhagavad-gita verse. So he gave us a little sauce, commenting just as Suresh did above. I don’t have the exact quotation available right now, but he said something to the effect of, If they ask what’s in the book, what will you say? “I don’t know, sir. My spiritual master writes them, and I just distribute them.” He told us unequivocally that we must both study and distribute the books.
The truth is – it is not so easy to read Srila Prabhupada’s books or distribute them, even for free. He doesn’t mince words. I like giving out “Spiritual Yoga”. It has a beautiful cover. But the message inside is so heavy – the words and instructions of Lord Rsabhadev from the 5th Canto of “Srimad Bhagavatam”. The first chapter, first instruction – don’t have sex like the hogs and dogs – that is real spiritual yoga. But who can or will follow this advice , or not be offended by it?
Many senior devotees of our temples have contiuously recognised the need for increasing books distribution. This is very fortunate and opportune moment for all the enthusiastic devotees looking forward to distributing more Srila Prabhupada books. But how to motivate our congregation members to distribute books? The answer is to organise regular Monthly Sankirtana Festivals and engage our temple leadership to motivate congregation to regularly go out on those special days. Book distribution and sankirtana is a collective responsibility of temple authorities. Unless we regularly emphasize it’s importance to the members that we are cultivating we will never be able to distribute books in the quantities that our Spiritual masters want.
Collecting contacts and cultivating them is as important aspect of Sankirtana as to cultivate them and enthuse them to continue going out for book distribution. By enthusing devotees that we are cultivating to go out for Monthly Sankirtana Festivals, smart boxes distribution we will render a very important service to Srila Prabhupada. Often times we see that devotees have huge contact database but still very few devotees go out to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. The reasons that we hear from devotees that they have many services and therefore they are unable to go out for distributing books. Monthly Sankirtana festivals provide an opportunity to every congregation member to distribute Srila Prabhupada books. No one expects a family person to distribute books every single day but 2 hours in a month can be managed if we allocate some importance to this activity. Sometimes we get feedback that Srila Prabhupada said it’s time to boil the milk. However we have practically seen today that by engaging in Sankirtana not only devotees are very nicely taken care of spiritually (in terms of knowledge and understanding) but also actively help in increasing book distribution.
It is very well recognised that Srila Prabhupada’s books are the best preaching tool and they have the power to change consciousness of anyone who reads them with an open mind. But if we are not presenting this opportunity to conditioned souls then we have to revisit our strategy of preaching. Since most of our temples are supported and maintained by congregations, therefore congregations have also to be engaged and trained to distribute books. That will increase the book distribution many folds. ‘Culture of Sankirtana’ is what we should try to inculcate. ‘Culture of Sankirtana’ includes book distribution, collecting contacts, cultivating contacts and enthusing the members to go out for more book distribution. Otherwise we will continue to look for “book distributors”.
Regarding following up with people we meet on book distribution, the devotees in ISV (ISKCON San Jose California) have been taking email addresses from book customers and following up with emails.
Below is one sample reply email that Bhakta Kishore Reddy Nandyala recently received:
Pritaz (Nepal) :
—-
Yes I did read few pages so far of “Self Realization” book and have been listening to the Gita-CD. It is quite clearly spoken unlike my past experience which wasn’t that clear.
But because I had opportunity of watching “Maha-Bharata” in TV, I recalled many as pictured. However this was quite authentic version considering commercial version and some conflicting flaws shown in TV. I talked about your good works to my friends. I am quite close to Buddhism and of course as a born Hindu towards Hinduism, further no doubt about Lord Krishna. Unlike mass distribution, campaigns and converts steps taken by Churches, Hinduism despite of being the oldest in culture, tradition and great values with respect towards Humanity in itself not much can be seen done to educate youngsters in particular. In that scenarios giving continuity to Sri Prabhupadha’s great work, I thank you and your friends. This will certainly go a long way. I myself find everyday as a new day as I explore something new and feel enlightened in some way or other by the guiding principle of our moral values that we abides by the disciplines that “I” follow that of Lord Krishna or say Hinduism at
the end as a “religion”. So thank you. Will try to attend this program given schedule conflict doesn’t happen.
Hare Krsna!
PAMHO! AgtSP!
“We used to donate to libraries,but we stopped because we found it much more productive to place books in coffie stores and such places…”
Why stop? Use both methods in the same time – donate to libraries and distribute by other means!
yhs Dhamesvara Gaura das
Visit www.sastradana.com
Dhamesvara Prabhuji, because our funds are limited.
Mahat-tattva Dasa
www.sastradana.com
As I remember, Srila Prabhupada didn’t like giving away books without collecting enough money to cover the printing costs. For instance, in San Francisco, the newly purchased temple on Valencia Street, back in 1971 I believe, almost went bankrupt because we were giving away tons BTG’s and books for free, without getting any money to pay for them. It was the beginning of Book Distribution, and we just didn’t understand how to do it. It took a lot of courage and nerve for the early book distributors to actually sell the books, and receive money for them.
I read a room conversation recently where Srila Prabhupada commented that if householders purchase books from the BBT, and give them away, he approved of it.
It is nice to offer someone a book, and ask for a donation, because when people pay for something they tend to value it more. We should encourage people to offer guru-dakshin, which will give them great benefit, even if it is performed by them unknowingly.
I like giving away books for free at this time. It really makes sense for me. I agonized for many years, over my inability to sell books, like in the past. I awoke from many nightmares, where I realized I could no longer sell books.
For me, giving away small books and pamphlets, which I have purchased at wholesale from Sastradana, provides me with great joy and satisfaction. I started out by buying a case of “Krsna the Reservoir of Pleasure”, because they are so inexpensive – only $.20 per copy. I put a card in each one advertising the Sunday Feast at the local temple.
I graduated to giving away “Perfection of Yoga” (I believe it is out-of-print now), “Light of the Bhagavat” (what a great book – but now out-of-print), “Hidden Glory of India” (also out-of-print), “Spiritual Yoga”, “Introduction to Bhagavad-gita”, and small paperback “Bhagavad-gitas” at the local yoga studios I frequent.
It was such a great joy for me to give away the sumptuous “Hidden Glory of India”, packed full of beautiful art, to all my yoga teachers and student friends. Sadly it is out-of-print now, with no plans by the BBT to reprint, due to sky-high printing and paper costs.
I buy 10-20 small books each time I go to the Sunday Feast, and give them out during the week. It’s a lot of fun to put out books, and see them gone the next time I return. I give them out anonymously. That way, I can in no way be a detriment to the Krishna Consciousness Movement, by my own personal example.
I am always surprised by devotees who sell books, but state they have never read them, or don’t know what is in them. What do they do if someone asks a philosophical question? Sometimes, in the past, I was criticized for reading our books, and was told that we were just supposed to sell them – not actually read them.
If someone has a question about our philosophy, I am prepared to answer, since I have been studying and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books for many years. I always qualify myself though, by stating that I am just a beginning student.
Dear Mahat-tattva Prabhu!
Well, now you have a little bit from me, donated online. Please ,use it for libraries :)
yhs. Dhamesvara Gaura das
Suresh wrote, “I am always surprised by devotees who sell books, but state they have never read them, or don’t know what is in them. What do they do if someone asks a philosophical question? Sometimes, in the past, I was criticized for reading our books, and was told that we were just supposed to sell them – not actually read them.”
This is a really important point. In Honolulu in 1974, Srila Prabhupad noticed the devotees’ hesitation in responding when he asked for a Bhagavad-gita verse. So he gave us a little sauce, commenting just as Suresh did above. I don’t have the exact quotation available right now, but he said something to the effect of, If they ask what’s in the book, what will you say? “I don’t know, sir. My spiritual master writes them, and I just distribute them.” He told us unequivocally that we must both study and distribute the books.
The truth is – it is not so easy to read Srila Prabhupada’s books or distribute them, even for free. He doesn’t mince words. I like giving out “Spiritual Yoga”. It has a beautiful cover. But the message inside is so heavy – the words and instructions of Lord Rsabhadev from the 5th Canto of “Srimad Bhagavatam”. The first chapter, first instruction – don’t have sex like the hogs and dogs – that is real spiritual yoga. But who can or will follow this advice , or not be offended by it?
Many senior devotees of our temples have contiuously recognised the need for increasing books distribution. This is very fortunate and opportune moment for all the enthusiastic devotees looking forward to distributing more Srila Prabhupada books. But how to motivate our congregation members to distribute books? The answer is to organise regular Monthly Sankirtana Festivals and engage our temple leadership to motivate congregation to regularly go out on those special days. Book distribution and sankirtana is a collective responsibility of temple authorities. Unless we regularly emphasize it’s importance to the members that we are cultivating we will never be able to distribute books in the quantities that our Spiritual masters want.
Collecting contacts and cultivating them is as important aspect of Sankirtana as to cultivate them and enthuse them to continue going out for book distribution. By enthusing devotees that we are cultivating to go out for Monthly Sankirtana Festivals, smart boxes distribution we will render a very important service to Srila Prabhupada. Often times we see that devotees have huge contact database but still very few devotees go out to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. The reasons that we hear from devotees that they have many services and therefore they are unable to go out for distributing books. Monthly Sankirtana festivals provide an opportunity to every congregation member to distribute Srila Prabhupada books. No one expects a family person to distribute books every single day but 2 hours in a month can be managed if we allocate some importance to this activity. Sometimes we get feedback that Srila Prabhupada said it’s time to boil the milk. However we have practically seen today that by engaging in Sankirtana not only devotees are very nicely taken care of spiritually (in terms of knowledge and understanding) but also actively help in increasing book distribution.
It is very well recognised that Srila Prabhupada’s books are the best preaching tool and they have the power to change consciousness of anyone who reads them with an open mind. But if we are not presenting this opportunity to conditioned souls then we have to revisit our strategy of preaching. Since most of our temples are supported and maintained by congregations, therefore congregations have also to be engaged and trained to distribute books. That will increase the book distribution many folds. ‘Culture of Sankirtana’ is what we should try to inculcate. ‘Culture of Sankirtana’ includes book distribution, collecting contacts, cultivating contacts and enthusing the members to go out for more book distribution. Otherwise we will continue to look for “book distributors”.
Your servant, Adiguru dasa
Regarding following up with people we meet on book distribution, the devotees in ISV (ISKCON San Jose California) have been taking email addresses from book customers and following up with emails.
Below is one sample reply email that Bhakta Kishore Reddy Nandyala recently received:
Pritaz (Nepal) :
—-
Yes I did read few pages so far of “Self Realization” book and have been listening to the Gita-CD. It is quite clearly spoken unlike my past experience which wasn’t that clear.
But because I had opportunity of watching “Maha-Bharata” in TV, I recalled many as pictured. However this was quite authentic version considering commercial version and some conflicting flaws shown in TV. I talked about your good works to my friends. I am quite close to Buddhism and of course as a born Hindu towards Hinduism, further no doubt about Lord Krishna. Unlike mass distribution, campaigns and converts steps taken by Churches, Hinduism despite of being the oldest in culture, tradition and great values with respect towards Humanity in itself not much can be seen done to educate youngsters in particular. In that scenarios giving continuity to Sri Prabhupadha’s great work, I thank you and your friends. This will certainly go a long way. I myself find everyday as a new day as I explore something new and feel enlightened in some way or other by the guiding principle of our moral values that we abides by the disciplines that “I” follow that of Lord Krishna or say Hinduism at
the end as a “religion”. So thank you. Will try to attend this program given schedule conflict doesn’t happen.