{"id":33873,"date":"2016-12-01T11:12:55","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T10:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=33873"},"modified":"2016-12-01T11:13:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-01T10:13:17","slug":"strategies-to-become-a-weekend-warrior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=33873","title":{"rendered":"Strategies To Become A “Weekend Warrior”"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Vaiseshika Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A renaissance in book distribution is blooming in North America. This revival is being led by a new pedigree of transcendental book distributors\u2014the \u201cWeekend Warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many \u201cWarriors\u201d are householders who have family obligations and who work during the week to earn their livelihood. But despite their busy professional and family lives, these devotees, eager for the nectar that comes from direct preaching, go out on weekends to distribute Srila Prabhupada\u2019s books. But the \u201cWeekend Warrior\u201d comes in all shapes and sizes: Kids, students, temple managers, retired book distributors, and congregational members of ISKCON are all joining the swelling ranks of the \u201cWeekend Warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In fact, this new approach to book distribution is so simple and appealing that even devotees who previously thought of book distribution as being intimidating or too demanding are now enjoying Srila Prabhup\u00e4da\u2019s favorite method of preaching.<\/p>\n

One successful group of \u201cWarriors\u201d lives near the ISKCON temple in Potomac, Maryland. There, four enthusiastic preachers: Bhakta Steve, Lokadhyaksha Dasa and his wife, Vidarbha-suta Dasi, and their five year old son, Nimai, have come together as a powerful weekend preaching team.<\/p>\n

Bhakta Steve, a householder and long-standing member of ISKCON, works for a property management company during the week. Despite his busy work schedule and family obligations, Bhakta Steve commutes to Potomac to attend the temple\u2019s morning programs and volunteers to help several temple projects. His favorite service, however, is book distribution, which he does alongside his other team members, Lokadhyaksha Dasa, Vidarbha-suta Dasi, and young Nimai.<\/p>\n

Lokadhyaksha Dasa is a computer programmer with a demanding work schedule and his wife Vidarbha-suta Dasi has her hands full home schooling Nimai. Despite these obligations, they both give valuable service to their local temple. And like Bhakta Steve their most cherished service is distributing Srila Prabhupada\u2019s books on weekends. Vidarbha-suta Dasi says, \u201cEven Nimai loves to go out. He often asks us when we\u2019ll be going out to distribute again. His favorite job is passing out pamphlets.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of this team\u2019s favorite preaching spots is on the world famous \u201cMall\u201d inside the beltway of Washington D.C. They specifically chose this sankirtana spot because of its location. Being very near the Lincoln Memorial and just outside the Museum of Natural History, the \u201cMall\u201d attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.<\/p>\n

To secure this valuable preaching venue, they approached the Washington D.C. Mall Authority and asked for permission to set up a table from which to distribute religious literature, to solicit donations, and to perform hari-nama-sankirtana. After the devotees filled out some paperwork, the Park Authority granted them full permission to do their work. Now, during busy weekends these four dedicated \u201cWeekend Warriors\u201d gather to distribute books and to chant Hare Krishna at this world famous tourist attraction.<\/p>\n

These \u201cWarriors\u201d have assembled a preaching display that includes a folding tent (costing $100 at a sporting good store), a portable folding table, a small \u201d Changing Bodies\u201d exhibit, a sign (which reads: \u201cBooks on Yoga, Meditation, and Vegetarianism\u201d), a hearty supply of Prabhupada\u2019s books, and a sitting carpet (for sit-down bhajanas ). When erected, their display becomes the backdrop for a \u201cmini festival.\u201d And if lugging all this gear sounds unwieldy, it\u2019s not. Their entire setup fits handily into a Toyota Corolla sedan and takes only a couple of devotees a few minutes to assemble (or disassemble).<\/p>\n

These devotees make it a point to invite other members of the Potomac community to come out with them on the weekends. Bhakta Steve is famous for urging others to come out to experience the bliss of book distribution. \u201cCome experience the nectar for which you are always anxious!\u201d he exalts. Lokadhyaksha and Vidarbha-suta are just as enthusiastic to put out the word about their program, inviting friends and congregational members of the temple to join with them for a few hours of preaching on weekends. \u201cUsually a few others join us,\u201d says Bhakta Steve. \u201cBut,\u201d he remembers, \u201cone Sunday during the summer we were able to recruit a dozen devotees from the temple community to join us.\u201d Working together that Sunday, their group distributed 150 books. And according to Vidarbha-suta Dasi, \u201cWe all had a lot of fun doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bhakta Steve recounts some of the events of that particular day: \u201cOne group of devotees sat and chanted Hare Krishna to sweet melodies accompanied by harmonium, karatalas, and mrdanga.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother group stood behind the book table greeting the people attracted by our tent and signs, inviting them to browse through the books we\u2019d displayed. We\u2019d trade off with one another\u2014sometimes chanting, sometimes selling books.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the chanting and special display attracts many passersby to take notice.<\/p>\n

Bhakta Steve comments, \u201cIt draws people in. When they come near they seem to become transformed as if they had stepped into the spiritual world for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bhakta Steve tells how one lady stopped at their table to peruse the books on display. With a big smile she said, \u201cI\u2019ve walked by your booth three weeks in a row and I finally had to stop to find out why you guys are so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also remembers how an employee of the nearby Smithsonian Institution called out to the devotees one Saturday, \u201cI love the Hare Krishnas!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bhakta Steve summarizes the reason for their success: \u201cIf you just represent Srila Prabhupada nicely, then the people appreciate what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Weekend Warriors In California<\/h2>\n
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Weekend Warriors are mobilizing in other cities as well. Jayanti Radhika Dasi, who works part time as a clerk and who is a member of ISKCON of San Diego, became interested in starting a Weekend Warriors group in her area after hearing about it at a seminar at ISKCON, Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

She launched her own program by approaching senior preachers in her community, asking them for ideas for potential sankirtana spots around San Diego. At the San Diego Sunday Feast program she made the rounds, introducing her idea to the congregation, asking for their blessings and support. By networking she gathered a list of potential Weekend Warriors and some good ideas for places to set up tables for distribution.<\/p>\n

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