as.it.is Bhaktivedanta Manor Sankirtan Newsletter
International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Autumn 2013
The Transcendental Drama With the coming of the winter season, the temperatures begin to drop but the transcendental atmosphere warms up! In the Christmas period our attention turns towards the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books – the time of year when our energies are enthusiastically invested in the “family business” of ISKCON! In this Autumn edition of “As It Is” you will find out about the inspiring initiatives of the Bhakti Vriksa Program and the Book Placement Team, who are distributing thousands of books in their own unique ways. There is information about the upcoming marathon, and notice of exciting opportunities for you to get involved. I’d like to share an inspiring anecdote with you. Recently, Ramesvara Prabhu (ACBSP) found an amazing lost letter that Srila Prabhupada had written to the BBT in 1977. In this letter, Srila Prabhupada was encouraging his book distributors and acknowledging their great endeavors in this area. On the back of the letter, Tamal Krishna Maharaja had
written a note to Ramesvara Prabhu, which had never been seen before: To Ramesvara Maharaj, Prabhupada commented on the Sankirtan Newsletter No. 11: "Every week the highest". I said, 'Srila Prabhupada, this is the perfect reciprocation: You are working so hard day and night to write these books, and all the devotees are working day and night to distribute them.' Prabhupada said, "I am writing the drama, and they are playing on the stage." What a wonderful thought! Let’s all seize this golden opportunity to be part of the “transcendental drama.” If I can be of any assistance please do contact me.
Inside this issue: Bhakti Vriksa Success
Books in Prisons Sankirtan Bus Project
Marathon 2013 Your servant, Sutapa das sutapa.kks@hotmail.com 07957 636 283
Maha SKP Istagosthi Reflections & insights
July-Sept Scores
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Bhakti Vriksa Sankirtan Explosion By Aravinda Krishna das In East London we get the special opportunity to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books on a mass scale during the months of Damodar (October & November) and Srila Prabhupada Marathon (December). This is in addition to our monthly maha book distribution which takes place on the final Saturday of every month.
“In the spiritual world everything is present but one thing: the pleasure of saving the conditioned souls through sankirtan. Therefore even Krishna descends, in the form of Lord Caitanya, to perform sankirtan and taste this pleasure. So who can doubt that sankirtan is the real source of our joy and happiness.” (Sacinandana Swami)
During these three months alone we distribute nearly 4000 books of varying sizes – small, medium & maha big books. For the last two years running the Bhakti Vriksa group achieved a “top 3” position for contact distribution in the UK Prabhupada Marathon. During Damodar month we conduct special 1-hour Damodar programs in nearly 800 to 1000 houses. During the December Marathon time we organise huge outreach programs to honour the “Gita Jayanti festival” with full cultural and spiritual activities. During these programs we distribute thousands of books. In each Gita Jayanti festival alone we distribute a minimum of 1000 Gitas in one night! Many get sponsored to the extent of 108 books per person! It doesn’t stop there. The new people we attract at these programs are then followed up and invited to our weekly Bhakti Vriksa programs. They start as
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beginners and within the short space of one year they become frontline messengers of Krishna’s message! It’s so satisfying to see how Srila Prabhupada’s books can bring people together, nurture them and inspire them to give the same fruit to others in a such a short span of time! We see how the energy has caught up with West London devotees headed by HG Madanmohan Govinda Prabhu. They also distribute books on a large scale during this festive period. If local yatra leaders need our assistance for book distribution & congregational development then please don’t hesitate to contact us (email below). I would like to thank Bhaktivedanta Manor temple authorities for all the wonderful support and encouragement given in these endeavours. Aravinda Krishna Das krishnahari@hotmail.co.uk
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Maha Sankirtan Istagosthi In preparation for the December Prabhupada Marathon we will be having a maha-sankirtan istagosthi at Bhaktivedanta Manor. There will be inspirational talks, sankirtan stories, practical guidance and information for anyone wanting to get involved in distributing books (or helping in any other way). We are expecting devotees to come from all over the country so it should be a very inspiring session. Please do come along! Sunday 24th November, 10am-1pm, Srila Prabhupada’s darshan room
Placing Books in Prisons By Radha dasi A visit to Wormwood Scrubs Prison took place in August this year where approximately 40 Hindu prisoners stay. I had the opportunity to see the prison inside out from the kitchens to the prison cell. Meeting the inmates was quite an experience in itself and nothing quite prepares you for it. The inmates all walked into the prayer room one -by-one to attend the Hindu service and I felt honoured to be engaged in prayer with them. Seeing Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani (the kind Chaplain had made an arrangement for them to have deities in the prayer room) was in itself a picture of the Lord's grace and mercy. If we cannot go to him he travels to us - a beautiful heart warming thought. After the service we distributed ‘simply wonderfuls’ accompanied by heart shaped biscuits, along with a copy of “Krsna, The Reservoir of
Pleasure” for each of the inmates. It was at this moment that one particular young man stood out. He took the book, gazed at the back cover of the book for a few moments and pointed to a picture of Srila Prabhupada. He said he had seen him (his deity) in the Manor temple as a young boy. He looked at the picture with the expression one can only have when they have found a long lost loved one after a long time. When the inmates were given some time talk to each other, this young man sat alone and read the book. I approached him and he said that everything in this book was making sense. We looked at the picture of the soul passing through the body and talked. You could really sense that in that moment he was having the beautiful realisation of being touched by God's grace.
Each of Srila Prabhupada's books has someone's name on it and seeing the magic of that intimate loving exchange between a soul and his Lord, unfold right before me in a prison was humbling to say the least. In total, 120 Gitas and 60 small books were distributed at Wormwood Scrubs Prison. They will be made available to inmates via the library, multi faith prayer rooms and the chaplain office. Srila Prabhupada ki jai! The Book Placement Team has been working on systematically placing Srila Prabhupada’s books in hospitals, prisons, hopices and airports. They have many leads and opportunities so if you would like to get involved please contact Sutapa das sutapa.kks@hotmail.com 07957636283
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Sacred Street Party
Everyone likes a good party. Devotees have ingeniously taken the party onto the street and added the Krishna factor in what is now known as the “sacred street party”! Every Saturday groups of devotees visit local towns to chant, dance and distribute prasadam and books to the public. The participants come in all shapes and sizes: professionals, students, temple managers, retired book distributors, and congregational members of ISKCON. Even those who previously thought “In the spiritual world everything is present but one thing: the pleasure of saving the conditioned souls through sankirtan. Therefore even Krishna descends, in the form of Lord Caitanya, to perform sankirtan and taste this pleasure. So who can doubt that sankirtan is the real source of our joy and happiness.” (Sacinandana Swami)
of book distribution as too intimidating are now going out and having wonderful experiences. This new approach is simple, appealing and definitely works! To find out details about future Sacred Street
Party events please contact: Krishna Kirtan das 07958 764 409
Traveling Temples
“I was extremely pleased to hear your report from your travelling buses. It sounds as if your program is very, very wonderful and I am very encouraged to hear that such a program is coming along so nicely… In the end of your letter you mention that people are not very much eager to go to temples but with your program you are bringing the temples to the people. You have picked up this idea very nicely, of bringing the temples to the people. In this way you will give everyone the opportunity to step in the direction of back to Godhead, back to home. (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tamala Krsna Goswami, 1974)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a traveling temple in the UK! A team of devotees have begun work on the idea, but we need your help in the following areas: 1. Finding a suitable van / mini coach 2. Converting the vehicle into a temple and living space 3. Ideas / advice you could offer in this regard If you can help please get in touch with: Sutapa das sutapa.kks@hotmail.com 079576363283 Ratha Yatra Success
Devotees from the Manor had a wonderful time distributing books at London Ratha Yatra. In just 4 hours they were able to distribute: 1,085 Chant & Be Happy 345 Higher taste 120 Bhagavad-gita 130 Veda
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Jagannatha Ratha Yatra ki jai!
Manor Sankirtan Results - July to Sept 2013 Name
Sml
Med
Big
Maha
BP
Ananda Caitanya das Bh John Bh Peter Bh Pradeep Bh Reuben Bhakta Prahlada das Dhananjaya das Gadagrajah das Hema Haladini dd Jagabandhu das Jagat Pita das Janmashtami Books Kalyani Ladies Ashram Narahari das Nirantara Bhakti dd Premarnava das Rabindra das Sacimata dasi Scandinavia tour Southampton Sankirtan Sridham das Sudeshna das Sutapa das Tribhanga das Vicaru das Visvambhara das
20 22
254 185 220 49 1500 7 120 6 524 112 11 122 180 412 320
45 9
350
300
1402 87 152 580 150 1727 303 225 460 20 300
TOTAL
501
9428
11
87 60
16 32
12 5 42 25
22
371 4 40 30
877.00 107.00 116.00 296.25 750.00 3.50 160.00 3.00 882.00 92.00 15.50 382.75 431.00 231.00 160.00 30.00 701.00 83.75 118.00 374.00 125.00 863.50 151.50 876.50 238.00 90.00 285.00
322
1641
8443.25
5
3 132
50 30 2 44 86 1
295 17 5 128 120 12
30 1
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Read the books. Live the books. Distribute the books.