English
Book distribution tips - Gopeshwar Prabhu
I am blessed, Maharaja to be in your shelter and in your divine association. Maharaja had also come to Faridabad and all the devotees were blessed by his katha and kirtana. I am really very grateful and need the blessings of Maharaja and all Vaisnavas so that I can do some humble service.
Depending on your mercy I will try to say something. I welcome all of you and I thank for calling me. I will try to speak something by the mercy of Maharajaji.
I will talk on a sloka from Canto 10, Chapter 2, Verse 19 of Srimad Bhagavatam, the chapter title is Prayers by the Demigods to Lord Krsna in the womb.
om namo bhagvate vasudevaya
sā devakī sarva-jagan-nivāsa-
nivāsa-bhūtā nitarāṁ na reje
bhojendra-gehe ’gni-śikheva ruddhā
sarasvatī jñāna-khale yathā satī
Translation:
Devakī then kept within herself the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, the foundation of the entire cosmos, but because she was under arrest in the house of Kaṁsa, she was like the flames of a fire covered by the walls of a pot, or like a person who has knowledge but cannot distribute it to the world for the benefit of human society. (SB 10.2.19)
In this verse the word jñāna-khala is most significant. Prabhupada says in the purport that knowledge is meant for distribution. The more we hide the more we lose, the more we share the more we gain. Our process is sravana and kirtana.
Prabhupada gives one more example in the purport. We should also gain knowledge from materialistic people. Whenever scientists or philosophers awaken to a particular type of knowledge, they try to distribute it throughout the world. Otherwise the knowledge gradually dries up and no one benefits from it. India has the knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, but unfortunately, for some reason or other, this sublime knowledge of the science of God was not distributed throughout the world, although it is meant for all of human society.
It's very important that we also share our knowledge on a large scale. And our treasure is knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā. Although India has the sublime knowledge Bhagavad-gītā, Indians have not done their proper duty of distributing it. Therefore, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been set up to distribute this knowledge as it is, without distortion. Although previously there were attempts to distribute the knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, these attempts involved distortion and compromise with mundane knowledge. But now the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, without mundane compromises, is distributing Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, and people are deriving the benefits of awakening to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and becoming devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
We always speak of our right, but we never speak of our duty.
Prabhupada has made ISKCON and the 7 purposes of it were,
To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life, and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
To propagate a consciousness of Kṛṣṇa as He is revealed in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
To bring the members of the society together with each other and nearer to Krsna, and thus to develop the idea within the members and humanity at large that each soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
To teach and encourage the sankirtan movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, and to reveal the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
To erect for the members, and the society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the Personality of Godhead.
To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simple and more natural way of life.
With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
These 7 purposes will be fulfilled by the distribution of books. Book distribution is the foundation.
Our senior Vaisnavas and devotees say in Kali yuga there is no need of temples, but we build temples to attract people and as they come to temple they will get the knowledge of Gita and Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada further writes therefore that the proper distribution of knowledge has begun by which not only will the whole world benefit, but India’s glory will be magnified in human society.
We Indians say mera bharat mahan, and we want to glorify it all. But Srila Prabhupada says when we propagate about Bhagavad-gītā in the whole world, then only we can truly glorify our nation. Prabhupada writes in the purport that there are two benefits. The world will be benefited. Each person will be benefited and India will be glorified in the right sense. We should read Gita and also distribute Gita. Every house in India has a Gita, each person knows about the Gita. So what’s the use of distributing Gita in India? They have Gita but do not have “Gita As It Is.”
So many speakers and commentators do not know anything about Gita They do not understand Gita. In Kuruksetra Gita Jayanti is celebrated and also in Faridabad and many speakers are called to speak about Gita. They speak for 10 to 15 minutes, but no one presents Gita As It Is. The only proprietorship to describe Gita is with the pure devotee of Krsna and that is Srila Prabhupada.
When people come closer to Gita they gain knowledge. They come closer to Lord Krsna. They achieve happiness and peace of mind. Prabhupada says in purport of verse 3.21.31 that a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a devotee of the Lord, is always compassionate. He is not satisfied that only he is a devotee, but he tries to distribute the knowledge of devotional service to everyone. There are many devotees of the Lord who faced many risks in distributing the devotional service of the Lord to people in general. That should be done.
Srila Prabhupada is such a saint. HDG left Vrndavana to spread the knowledge of Gita. We all can see Lokanath Maharaja fully surrendered to the Lord and still he gives his association on zoom. We also should try to be a good devotee. How can we do that? Srila Prabhupada is awakening us. Prabhupada says, “Do not be satisfied that you have gained knowledge. No!” We should not just silently sit at home, but we should go out and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books.
It's said that books are our best friends. When no one is with us when we are alone, that time Lord Krishna is with us, but we are not connected. In such cases distribute books and when a person reads Gita he will come closer to Krishna.
It's very important that each house has a Gita. In fact every person should have a Gita. When people say we have a Gita I say, “You have to two mobiles so why not two Gitas.” You should have 3 copies of Gita. One copy at home, your personal copy and one at your office, so that you can read it as you get time.
You can see the Lord became the chariot driver for Arjuna. The Lord is ready to be the Driver of our life and how is that possible by the medium of Bhagavad-gītā.
Rules of book distribution:
Strong sadhana. The food of soul is harinama kirtana. When our stomach is full we burp which means that we are satisfied. Like that when a devotee is satisfied, he will go out and distribute books. When I was a child I saw a movie named Sholay 5 times and I inspired many to see the movie. We should be satisfied first then we can preach to others. This will happen by good sadhana.
Like we take a vow in Kartik, we should take a vow to distribute books. If sadhana is good then you can distribute books.
To distribute books, we need enthusiasm. Gopal Krsna Maharaja once said to Srila Prabhupada that we should display books in stalls at the airport. Srila Prabhupada agreed and later on he asked Maharaja how the book distribution was. Maharaja said that the all books were sold. Srila Prabhupada said, “ This is due to the enthusiasm of my devotees.”
We need some marketing strategies, but strong sadhana is very important. A marketing company did a study that when 90% of the people buy any product, they depend on the recommendation. 64% of the people had heard about the product from word of mouth.
So how to distribute books?
1. Strong sadhana
2. Go to the mall and set up a stall
3. Set up a stall in factories
4. Set up stalls in market places.
I started like that. I used to go out during lunch time and display books and many people would come and buy books. Some devotees put stalls in different places. They also take children with them. When they see children carrying a Gita, it has a knock on effect As other children are missing mobiles, so our children are a good example.
Your stall should be well presentable and books should be nicely visible. Play Hare krsna kirtana that makes a good atmosphere.
Use the Triple C strategy .
Connect - Connect, praise - you are very smart; glorify the person you meet. If the ambience is very nice, people will be attracted to your stall.
Convey - This is Gita, Gita Jayanti is there. Every verse in the Gita is given nicely.
Convenience - Give the Gita in his hand. Touch the book on his head. Show Prabhupada’s picture. Show the picture of the sloka - dehino smin yatha dehe.
Encourage them to read some lines which will serve as inspiration. Then they will like the book. Then as he reads Gita, Prabhupada is directly preaching to him. Anything we do, we only do by the mercy of our spiritual masters. So whomever you meet, encourage them to read some lines from Gita.
The other group is people known to you. I recommend devotees whom you invite to your children’s marriage. Make that list and go to them with a Gita and ask for sponsorship. 92% of people buy the product because someone has recommended it. Gopal Krsna Maharaja says, “ We are not going to ask for anything. In fact we are going to give them Krishna.
They will spend that money on some other thing, like an addiction. So always be confident that we are not going to ask for money. Even if we go to ask, what is the problem? We keep asking throughout life. So why not ask some money for Gita. When you go for sponsorship ask them for sponsorship of 10 or 20 or more Gitas.
Veni Madhav Prabhu was asking why people give donations? The common reason is because someone is asking. So we should got to people and ask for donations.
Set some targets. In Faridabad we give targets to different preaching groups. Do not shoot arrows in the air. Targets should be there. We will always keep remembering the target while chanting in the morning. We should pray, “Krishna, please help us.” Our targets should be big as the Lord’s mercy, which is big. If we set small targets, then how will we get big blessings.
Try to work on professionals. Why not give Gita with the products you sell. We should go to doctors to tell them to give Gita to every patient. Now every year they take 1000 Gitas. Prabhupada said, “Lets shoot the rhinoceros.”
The contacts for house wives would be their relatives. HG Vaisesika
Two people should go for big meetings - one sadhu and one businessman. In reality he is also a devotee. The sadhu will convince the party and other person will seal the book distribution deal.
Question. We are doing book distribution, but so many people say that they already have a Gita. How to convince them?
Answer : Inspire them to read books at multilevels. Take 5 Gitaa and distribute to your loved ones. Encourage them read the last sloka. Tell them to take 3 copies - one for your home, your personal copy and another for your office. If they have Gita, give them Bhagavatam or other books.
