Congregation is gradually taking over bookdistribution in ISKCON at least in the west

[Paramananda das]

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

 

oh I see...

 

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

 

long gone

in most places

 

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

 

yeah that's true

 

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

http://www.dandavats.com/?p=8936

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