Remembering Srila Prabhupada - on Distributing Books

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Srila Prabhupada on Distributing Books

 

 

"Distribution of my books is the most important thing.

These other things such as selling incense and

records, etc., are not so much important as this. I

want that my books be distributed in huge quantities,

thus we will be able to thoroughly convince the

majority of the population especially there in

America. But finances are also needed. Therefore for

further direction you please contact the GBC men and

they will give you consultation."

 

-- Letter of December 19, 1974

 

 

 

"In the evening, Tamala Krsna Maharaja came in and

discussed with Srila Prabhupada about organizing book

sales in India. He reported to Srila Prabhupada that

actually, if they organized correctly, they could

probably sell at least a hundred thousand books a

month, and with the five lakhs that Srila Prabhupada

had promised, they would spend two and a half lakhs

each on Hindi and Bengali publications. Srila

Prabhupada was very pleased and told him, 'Yes,

organize this. You have got experience. Now show them

how to do it. Make arrangements with your good brain.

This is good business. Sell books, print more with

profit, and support the temple.' Prabhupada then told

a story how one man wanted to go from Bengal to the

Ratha-yatra in Jagannatha Puri, but he wanted to make

money at the same time. So he took some bananas, sat

on the roadside where the Ratha-yatra cart was due to

pass, saw the ratha, and sold all his bananas. 'In

this way,' said Srila Prabhupada, 'he combined

business with pleasure. We should also do.' "

 

-- Hari Sauri dasa

Diary entry, February 16, 1977

 

 

 

"That is my opinion. Instead of spending so much money

for films, you should spend money for propagation of

book distribution. Any advertisement is good, it never

goes in vain, but the film advertisement is very

expensive. In comparison to the money expended, the

success is little. Just like I, in the beginning, I

advertised my books in The New York Times. They

charged me $63 for a small space. So there was

inquiry, not order, but three inquiries. I have got

this experience. For me, at that time, $63 was too

much. So I did not get any response. I got three

inquiries, but not even one order. The New York Times

has millions of customers and millions of readers, but

I got only three inquiries."

 

-- Morning walk, Tehran

August 10, 1976

 

 

 

"There is no hindrance of your being a householder so

far as distributing books is concerned. Lord Caitanya

Mahaprabhu had many householder disciples who would

preach Krsna consciousness. I understand recently in

Toronto the entire temple distributed many Isopanisads

and other books. So you can engage yourself in spare

hours in this book distribution without any hindrance.

Side by side you can also paint pictures for Krsna. In

this way, fully engage yourself in Krsna's service."

 

-- Letter of November 22, 1974

 

Letter to Vipini dasa, December 19, 1974; Hari Sauri

dasa, diary, February 16, 1977; morning walk, Tehran,

August 10, 1976; letter to Krsna-katha dasa, November

22, 1974.

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

=Please Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna

Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare

Hare And Be Happy

 

 

 

 

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