By Omkara Devi Dasi ACBSP
Recently I started part time book distribution, several days a week. Please find some stories based on my distribution program. These have enlivened me ever so much. I hope to share with youâŠ. Hare Krsna. Your servant, Omkara dasi
March 27, 2010
( 1 ) Recently while I was distributing Perfection of Yoga in a Spanish neighborhood I started a new method whereby I would open up the book and flip through the pictures in the book. I could see how this gets the attention of the people more, and helps me distribute books. One man I preached to when he started pulling out laxmi — I said, “this is your spiritual meditation and yoga … and that will make you peaceful”… he emphatically stated, “I sure can use this.” He also confirmed that he will come to the feast and bring his friend.
( 2 ) Another rewarding instance…. I went up to two men with two little kids and preached, asking for laxsmi. One man said he couldn’t give and how expensive everything was these days. This event he was attending cost him so much. Kids cost so much. Food costs so much. (I understand because I went thru this with my kids when they were growing up.) ” I told him I know… and I see what you mean. I had young kids and I did the same thing. It’s tough.” Then I said your kids are so cute but I’ll just give them a cat sticker each and I’ll give both of you an invitation to the Hare Krishna Temple. Come bring your family to our free feast. The children will love it and everything is free there.â I told him a little bit about Krsna and said we have Spanish classes too. He could even bring his mother or grandmother…. Then he gave me a $5.00 contribution.
( 3 ) Another nice story…. the same bus ride on a long day of preaching. A street person that sat next to us was uttering lots of nonsense really loud. We decided to move one seat over because ‘I couldn’t even think straight’ because of all his loud talking….. But as we were riding in the bus…. all of a sudden — in between all his loud âjibber-jabberâ nonsense he utters… ‘Hare Krishna’ really loud and we both looked at each other in amazement! WOW he even pronounced it so well. That made us happy. This street person, aside from all his issues, could utter the Lord’s Holy Name so perfectly. How wonderful!
April 2, 2010
( 1 ) Just last night I was at a soccer stadium going to the ladies restroom. As I was going to the restroom heading towards me was a big parade of Chivas fans who were
dressed in their uniforms, cheering, singing a song, with flairs and in big glory. I thought
this was so nice — and reminded me of our Harer Nama Party. They really had lots of zest and love for their Chivas soccer team. They put up a big show in front of the soccer convention center. Then I thought⊠I wish I had a good preaching story for Jayapataka Maharaj! Right that instant a man came up to me and said: âYou know you never see this type of thing in America!â (the Chivas fans chanting and dancing). âYou see it in the UK, in Central America, not hereâ. I said, âI wish I had my camera. I like it!â We started talking and I told him what I was doing. I preached to him and told him about Rathayatra, even gave him a Perfection of Yoga & a Jagannath sticker. He gave me his business card and said he had a band. I told him if he would sing a song with Hare Krsna, and do it for Krsna, he might have some luck, and maybe be on the stage for Rathayatra. I decided to make sure to email him, and get him to the temple, hoping to have him sing for Lord Jagannath.
( 2 ) One night after distribution at a Megadeth concert while HarerNam and Omkara were at a Coffee Bean resting and drinking hot herbal tea we met 2 young boys. One boy lost his ticket and the other friend stayed back, because he would not leave his best friend out of the concert, to go alone without him. This young boy who lost his ticket was very sad, but knew it was just something he had no control of in life. We both felt he had a realization there…. We preached to them about Krsna, gave a Perfection of Yoga, and an invitation to the temple. We talked about karma, what goes around comes around… and true friendship. We told them that Krsna is the best friend. Omkara gave the young boy who lost his ticket a big hug and he was so appreciative… He thanked her and genuinely smiled, like a young son to a caring mother.
My inspiration & solace while on book distribution & during the day: I pray to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya constantly. I pray for them to send me hungry spirit souls who are looking for the spiritual mercy of the Lord. I pray for the ability to preach and show others how merciful the Lord is, and how easy it is to take shelter of Krsna Consciousness. Daily I realize and pray. âSrila Prabhupada, you are present in my heart, please speak through me today, preach through me. I offer myself while on book distribution. I am a helpless soul. I am nothing without you, my dear Gurudeva. I ask that you help me reach out to others and give the Holy Name, please help me spread this Krsna Consciousness to others. I pray to Lord Caitanya, please help me distribute this mercy. This is my biggest desire.â Many times I focus my mind on Supersoul. The Supersoul in their heart. When I talk to these people I look at Krsna in their heart and that is what keeps me spiritual. Then I continue to pray to Srila Prabhupada who is always with me. And I pray to Lord Caitanya who is with me on this Sankirtan Mission. This way I always have the association of my Guru and Lord Caitanya. I am not alone. That realization makes me more inspired day by dayâŠ.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Book Distribution!
All Glories to Sri Guru & Gouranga!
My dear Mother Omkara,
I have read your wonderful stories on the web, how you cared for Sudama and others till the last. you are a true living inspiration that Prabhupada’message is lifelong. We can never separate ourselves froom the order of Shri Guru.
Prabhupada used to discusss the four types of people who come to Krishna consciousness, saying that of the four, three would leave when their inquisitiveness or desires were satisfied. You have shown what it is like to be the fouth type, the person who is fixxed in knowledge and deevotion. You are the example of the selfless devotee who desires nothing in return, but only wants to share this topmost sectet with others as the goal of life. P
lease bless us your fellow Godbroghrs and Godsisters that we can understand Krishna’s blessings upon all of us, the great community of Krishna consciousness Your book distribution stories are very enlivening. I am inspired.
Your humble servant,
Patita Pavandadas
Dear PatitaPavana Prabhu,
Thank you for your kind post. I have come to realize at this stage in life that everything I do is because of the mercy and blessing of Srila Prabhupada, my beloved Gurudeva. Srila Prabhupada has been so kind to initiate me, give me this connection to Lord Sri Krsna, and the golden opportunity to go Back to Godhead in this very lifetime. I am interested and desirous to go Back to Godhead in this lifetime. Therefore, I am applying myself as best as I can. I know Srila Prabhupada said we can go Back to Godhead simply by desire. Simply by: following the 4 regulative principles, by chanting at least 16 rounds a day and by preaching Krsna Consciousness, in the best way we can. That is all it takes to go Back to Godhead. Simple yet sublime. Always think of Krsna and never forget Him.
This is the blessing of Srila Prabhupada. Therefore, I hope to share the Mercy with other’s as I oftentimes feel ‘stingy’ when I am so happy and so blissful serving the Lord. I look at some living entities and how they are suffering. In the past I have suffered a great deal — in many ways. In my heart I knew it was a lesson in detachment. I knew it was a learning experience and an opportunity to turn to Sri Krsna and Srila Prabhupada. And this gives me the strength to just lift up my hands and say “I surrender my dear Lord, my dear Srila Prabhupada”. Because yes, in this material world we are all helpless beings…. all the time. We have no control of when we will leave these material bodies. No matter what the best doctors, what the best practitioners can say or do.
Therefore, I try my best to share, in my own way. I pray for further strength and for further encouragement. I realize I am a human being and in this material body. I am fallible. That is why it is important to constantly pray. I take shelter of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krsna. Finally, it is so important to have association of Godbrothers, Godsisters and a local temple. Srila Prabhupada emphasized association. He always wanted us to associate with the deities, the temple and Godbrothers and Godsisters. He did not want us to isolate or live alone. So I urge everyone to please associate properly. And most of all to read his books. Distribute his books. Give Krsna and receive Krsna.
All for Srila Prabhupada
Your humble servant,
Omkara devi dasi
Amen. “Books are the basis.” When we go out on book distribution we get practical realization of how the pastimes of Lord Caitanya are going on. We see them go on with our very eyes, changing the hearts of the people who touch and begin to appreciate these books, which are sound incarnations of Krishna.
“Kali kalera nama-rupa krsna-avatara.” And these books are also equivalent of nama-kirtan. Brhat-mrdanga.
“If you ever get money, print books.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada even went so far as to tell Srila Prabhupada he would rather sell the marble of the Calcutta Gaudiya Math temple and use the money to print books.
Of course, temples are useful too, and Srila Prabhupada has inaugurated the construction of a huge temple in Mayapur which is now going up, as well as other temples.
These temples will help induce people to purchase and read the books! :-)
But for associating with devotees and chanting, we actually do not even need temples. We can meet in each other’s houses, or meet up in public places for chanting and book distribution. Without the temples, the Krishna consciousness movement could still go on, but without the books, the temples would become lifeless places and the Deities would soon be misunderstood and neglected, as they are in so many Hindu temples.
Sometimes Christian fellowship groups meet in coffee shops or on college campuses or in each others’ houses to sit together and discuss the Bible carefully and thoroughly together. I always think, “How nice such discussion and study is. This Krishna consciousness movement will spread by a similar method of meeting and discussing Srila Prabhupada’s books.”
Srila Prabhupada sometimes cited the example of how the Marxism-Leninism communist movement expanded rapidly in Bengal through a program of distribution and discussion of the writings of Marx, Engles, Lenin, Bakunin and so on. Similarly, Lord Caitanya’s movement will spread very rapidly through the formation of study groups and bhakta-vriksha programs and Srimad-Bhagavatam classes and istha-ghostis in which Srila Prabhupada’s books are discussed in detail and from all angles.
These books have a wondrous potency unlike dry philosophy and economics books.
We are even finding many places to watch such classes and discussions on the internet. But of course, actually being there face to face if possible increases the potency, because, as Omkara Mataji points out, association is so important.
Thank you Mataji Omkara for this wonderful sankirtan report. You are showing exactly how to be dependent on the mercy of the Lord, one of the six principles of surrender in Krishna consciousness. And we can see in the examples you give how Sri Krishna reciprocates with you (and isn’t that a wonderful experience?!). Undoubtedly you are attracting Sri Krishna with your service and attitude. As well you are attracting many conditioned souls to the wonderful world of Krishna consciousness, helping them find relief from the hard struggle for existence in this material world. Thank you for your selfless example in devotional service. I pray that Sri Krishna will bestow unlimited mercy on your good self, and although I am undeserving, I pray to receive the blessings of wonderful devotees like you.
With great respect and appreciation,
Dhanesvara Das
Dear Dhanesvara Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your sincere note above. I have recognized oftentimes that ‘I am not the doer’ and that simply I am the vehicle in this body. That is why it is very important to constantly meditate on Srila Prabhupada, who is directing me in my life. As well as to focus on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada by reading his books and attending classes in the temple.
When Srila Prabhupada came to the West, his goal was to deliver the fallen souls and preach Krsna Consciousness. He simply landed in New York City with only a few dollars, and attracted a handful of sincere souls. Chanted with his karatals under a tree in Tompkins Square Park and made more devotees. Little by little, many others became attracted. That is the beauty and potency of a pure devotee. That is the potency of the Holy Name.
I am a useless without Srila Prabhupada. My only credibility is that I am serving my Gurudeva as best I can. If we all try to serve our spiritual master and endeavor sincerely, it all is to our individual purification. I pray that Krsna blesses you, and all our Godbrothers, God sisters — Iskcon as a whole — since this is Srila Prabhupada’s desire. That Iskcon remain strong, and Krsna Consciousness grows throughout the entire world. Preaching is the essence. Book distribution is the most important thing for Srila Prabhupada. As well as ensuring that these temples remain strong, with many disciples that support — with unity, dedication, service attitude and preaching stamina.
Your servant, Omkara devi dasi