shaved headed Hare Krsna monk as Santa Claus on Yonge street Toronto

[Paramananda das]

shaved headed Hare Krsna monk as Santa Claus on Yonge street Toronto
I can not imagine being on Yonge street in Toronto soliciting donations without a hat it was super cold when I distributed Srila Prahbupadas books there in 1991 December
this must have been in the 1970th and 80th ,I must say it was so freezing cold that December many gave 20 Canadian dollars and took a book,they must have thought I was super sincere because the wind and the cold was terrible, I have distributed in minus 60 celsius in North Sweden, but Canada Toronto felt a lot colder because of the heavy wind

Book distribution in Toronto is actually a good place to distribute books, but I would recommend June July , and December was a lot of Tapasya,,, one person came up to me and it was Devamrta Swami, we had had a major fallout in ISKCON Denmark because I refused to sell paintings, I joined to distribute Srila Prabhupadas books, and i am sure I would also not have agreed to dress up like a Santa Claus and not distribute Prabhupadas books ,Srila Prabhupada wrote to just distribute books and Krsna will meet with all the needs of ISKCON ,but many ISKCON leaders deviated and had devotees dress as Santa CLaus and sell illegal things, it was not following Srila Prabhupada

Ajita Prabhu wrote me and told me how Hansadutta was furious that he had dared ask Srila Prabhupada ,it was obvious Hansadutta really did not care for Srila Prabhupada's opinion ,later the next GBC Harikesa also had us devotees sell records, I told Harikesa and Devamrta in 1981 we would get arrested by selling records ,we should just continue selling Prabhupadas books ,they did not listen , and we did get arrested and almost had our Sankirtana van confiscated
Anyway Devamrta Swami invited me to New Vrindavana he and others there had been kicked out of ISKCON , I went anyway to see all the mayhem in New Vrindavana at the time in 1991,,it was not pretty ,but that is another story

Letter to: Ajita
To:AjitaDate:January 6Year:1975Place:Bombay
Stockholm
My dear Ajita das,
Please accept my blessings. I am due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 27th, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding dishonest means being used I have never advised or taught anyone like that. That is not my idea. This record distribution has caused havoc. It should be stopped immediately. I have also asked Hansadutta to stop it. Book distribution is our real business. If we give them a record, they simply hear some magical sounds and take it for sense gratification, but if they receive one of our books and read even one page, they get eternally benefited. Therefore I am stressing this book distribution, not other things. Stop record selling completely. This is my order.
I have accepted Gauracanda dasa brahmacari and Sriharini devi dasi as duly twice-born brahmanas and their threads are enclosed along with mantra sheet. You can hold a fire sacrifice and let them hear the mantra through the right ear from the tape of myself saying it.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/ps