namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

This weekend the theme of our Sankirtan Festival here at ISV is loving exchanges. This is such a wonderful focus because that is really what ISKCON and sharing Krishna consciousness is all about. Unfortunately many people have been turned away by our "preaching," or by the way people within the Hare Krishna movement have presented Krishna consciousness because it was not a loving exchange, but done in the mood of lust or exploitation.

Every action is either an expression of pure love and meant to satisfy the transcendental sense of Krishna, or it is an expression of selfishness meant to satisfy our own mind and senses.

Local TV presenter Charmaine Line

Here’s a short video news item about our regular meetings in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The town is just 20 minutes from the Bhaktivedanta Manor.

Our activities in Luton have been rewarding so far, and all the more encouraging because our investment of time has been comparatively minimal. Book distribution in the town is by one person, our stalwart all-weather preacher Madhurya Gaurangi Dasi, (seen in film) and is accompanied by following up with emails and phone calls. The meetings are held monthly and are quite simple to maintain. Samosas and Kachoris are our speciality. However, those who come to the meetings are also invited to visit the Manor.

Continuing to look at the focus of book distribution, I want to talk a bit about organization structure.

Firstl there needs to be a desire to start or expand a center's support, qualified individuals.

We notice when we listen to Srila Prahupada that on several occasions, when the desire to set up a temple or center was there, he would ask a senior devotee, who had been under his instruction, with simple words to go help this person. This has to be firstly our mood; if not, then our efforts will be of waste.

by David Haslam

The other day I was reading an article about the preaching work done by Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons compared to ISKCON devotees' book distribution. They noted that from what they could see, both were more successful in making followers, and questioned how this could be.

One focus is, what is the purpose of book distribution?

by Su-gita Vani dd

In the past our temple did book tables only in book fairs, local temple festivals and "Bhaagavath Saptaah(s)". But on Sunday, we did something different, we set up our table at a leading shopping complex here, in our area where we frequently shop. Because it is a commercial complex, they charged us a fee of Rs.500. The temple agreed to take this risk.

It was worth it because by the end of that day, our sales had crossed Rs. Six thousand. Two people even learned to chant.Seems people are looking for Krishna every where!

Here at ISKCON Silicon Valley we are in the middle of our Janmastami Vyasa Puja Sankirtan Festival, which is another two weekend event. We've completed the first weekend and we are heading into the second. Below are the emails that Vaisesika Prabhu has sent out to inspire us to perform the sankirtan yajna.

Kripamoya Prabhu explains history and development of book distribution follow-up strategies in the UK. This online-book contains the following articles:

• Book Distribution Follow Up Strategies: The Mail Order Miracle
• Book Distribution Follow Up Strategies: Meet the Monks!
• Book Distribution Follow Up Strategies: Market Place Festivals

The articles have been posted originally on his blog, The Vaishnava Voice. If and when Kripamoya Prabhu writes more on this subject, I'll include it here.

You can download the whole series as a pdf-file, too.

Our Bhaktivinode Thakur Sankirtan Festival begins today with a harinam procession in downtown Palo Alto. Here is an excerpt from an email Vaisesika Prabhu sent out to inspire everyone for the upcoming festivities.

It is a really amazing glimpse into the heart of a vaishnava; I am very grateful to be connected to such a wonderful personality.

Why is book distribution so glorious? Here are a few benefits:

On BD (book distribution) we interact on the level of soul to soul—we are talking about Krishna, glorifying Him, glorifying the spiritual master, and acting in a way that pleases the Lord—doing His work, His mission. Such interactrions with others satisfy the heart.