PAMHO
AGTSP
Many devotees even back in the 80th wanted to stop distributing Srila Prabhupadas books and just do temple service, and gradually bookdistribution
has mostly declined in ISKCON in the west, but the silver lining is congregational devotees are doing this service, so actually we should
do away with "congregational devotees" as many are very sincere and strict devotees and do just as much or more service in the preaching mission than those who live in a temple.
This is from a conversation with a siksa disciple:

I met a family from Sweden that asked why we do not see devotees anymore
people from Brasil and so on

what they do they mean by that prabhu? 'see devotees?'

even young people from China buying Prabhupadas books
well in Sweden we used to distribute books in Dhotis
and many people really likes us there and bought books again and again
but since over 15 years it is very less
so many of the older generation from all over the world asks for devotees

where is Harinama and bookdistribution
? these are their questions

yes, where is it? that was the basic when I joined

now it is congregation development
and supporting temples via congregation

whole temples where been maintained by book distribution mostly, it was very ecstatic

yes, like mormons, 10% to the church

well that is a must to go preaching for one year there

which is ok too, because is the duty of a grhasta to donate in charity for the cause but the preaching, harinam and sankirtan is missing

but ISKCON it is sadly decreasing in the west
in terms of Harinama and bookdistribution
congregation will do the job because the temples wont

temples will just do deity worship and congregation all the preaching
so we need a fixed up congregation
here in Washington DC only congregation devotees does Harinama and bookdistribution
"congregational devotees" are mostly doing the real job in preaching

is true, hardly street book distribution anymore

yes but people ask for it, I meet people daily that thanks be for distributing Srila Prabhupadas books
but ISKCON leaders in the west talk about supporting it when they have little to zero interest
what to speak of ever distributing books themselves
they think they are to "big" for this service
Today

and managers, but that is ok let them think what they want ,those devotees that distribute Srila Prabhupadas books wether in the temple or living outside are my real heroes
well all kinds of service has to be done
so all is important
but Prabhupada gave stress to bookdistribution
always
I have written something about bookdistribution
We should always remember this letter by Srila Prabhupada:
3 August, 1973
Bhaktivedanta Manor
My Dear Ramesvara,
Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated July 29, 1973 and I have noted the contents with great pleasure.
There is no doubt about it, to distribute books is our most important activity. The temple is a place not for eating and sleeping, but as a base from which we send out our soldiers to fight with maya. Fight with maya means to drop thousand and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during war time the Bombs are raining from the sky like anything.
So you are the expert in this field. I like also your programme of sending out your best men to teach the others. That is the actual process of Krishna Consciousness. To train others continue this programme so that in the future every devotee in our movement will know the art of distributing books. This is approved by me.
I hope this letter meets you well.
Your ever well wisher
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
your servant
Payonidhi das
You need to be a member of Sastra Caksusa to add comments!
Join Sastra Caksusa