The Day the First book Distributor Left-Feb 13

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The Day the First book Distributor Left-Feb 13

 

Although Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to be as eager to

distribute Krsna consciousness literature as he was, no one of them knew how

to do it. Distributing a magazine and asking for small donation was one

thing-but a big hardbound book? When the entire shipment of "Teaching of Lord

Caitanya" had arrived in New York in April of 1967. The devotees had hired a

truck, picked up the books at the dock, and unloaded them at 26 Second Avenue.

 

 

They had then shipped them to ISKCON centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco,

Boston, Montreal, and elsewhere. And there they remained, in the temples.

Some devotees had tried placing ads in magazines and leaving books in book

stores on consignment. But the books didn't sell. How to sell these big,

hardbound books remained a mystery-until something significant

happened, an accidental discovery.

 

One day in 1971, while driving back to the temple after chanting in

downtown San Francisco, two brahmacaris stopped at a local service station for

gas. When the attendant came to the window for money, one of the

devotees(Buddhimanta) showed him a "Krsna" book. the Attendant seemed

interested, and the two devotees began preaching the glories of Krishna

consciousness. When they suggested he take the book as payment for the gas,he

agreed.

 

Astonished at what happened and inspired at their success, the two

brahmacaris went the next day with several "Krsna "books and stood in front

of a grocery store. And again it happened: this time they sold two books.

 

When Buddhimanta began selling as many as five books in a day the devotees

in other temples especially Los Angeles, San Diego and Denver wanted to follow

his example. And whoever tried and sold a book became caught up in a euphoric

excitement.

from Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, volume 6, Uniting Two Worlds

 

 

 

Meeting Srila Prabhupada

 

 

Buddhimanta had never met Srila Prabhupada and the Temple president of the

San Franscisco, Kesava dasa. thought he should since he was the " biggest "

book distributor at that time. They were all in Los Angeles and Buddhimanta

had just come in from a day of distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. He had

distributed about 100 small books at store

right near the temple. When he returned from sankirtan Kesava said to Buddhi

that Prabhupada wanted to see him ASAP. Buddhi ran to the Bhramachari ashram

and took a shower put on a dhoti but could not find a clean kurta so wore

nothing on top. He returned and they went up to Prabhupada's quarters. Buddhi

the fast talking book distributor was in

awe. He had distributed thousands of his books but never personally met Srila

Prabhupada.

 

Srila Prabhupada entered the room and Kesava and Buddhi both paid their

obiesances. Srila Prabhupada sat down and said to Buddhi "so you distribute

the most books?" Buddhi was in such awe he could not speak, so Kesava spoke

for him and said"yes Srila Prabhupada, he is the biggest distributor."

"How many books did you distribute today" asked Srila Prabhupada. Buddhi still

could not speak and Kesava replied " about 100.do you trick the people or

tell them the truth to sell them a book" questioned Srila Prabhupada. Buddhi

still was speechless and Kesava replied, "he tricks them . he tells them it

is for a yoga society. that is ok " Srila

Prabhupada answered. "How come you are not wearing a shirt" questioned Srila

Prabhupada looking at the bear chested Buddhi manta. "you work very hard and

should stay covered to not catch a cold." finally Buddhi could speak and

relied, "I had just come back from book distribution and Kesava said we were

going to see you I took a shower and my kurtas were dirty, so I came bare

chested rather that wear a dirty shirt." Srila

Prabhupada turned to his servant and said "go to my closet and get a clean

kurta for Buddhimanta." the servant appeared with a clean kurta and gave it

to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada handed the kurta to Buddhimanta and said

"put this on and stay warm."

Buddhi manta was about six feet two inches and much larger than Srila

Prabhupada but slipped into the kurta and thanked Srila Prabhupada. Srila

Prabhupada thanked Buddhimanta for his book distribution and told him to

teach other devotees how to distribute his books. Buddhi and Kesava thanked

Srila Prabhupada , paid their obiesances and left the room.

 

Buddhi was visiting Hawaii teaching book distribution and kept that kurta

with his other clothes. One day a devotee that he had sold book in the Los

Angeles airport, was having difficulties and was thinking of leaving. Buddhi

gave him Srila Prabhupada's kurta with the promise he would not leave. He did

not and at the present time does huge service

distributing Krishna consciousness news in a newspaper under the guidance of

Mukunda Goswami.

 

The other evening a sanayssi was speaking about how he had purchased this

Krishna Book from Buddhimanta. The sanyassi said his wife was angry for three

days because he purchased the Krishna book. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

and his first book distributor, Buddhimanta.

 

 

Srila Prabhupada sent Buddhimanta to different places where he showed the

devotees how to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. Buddhimanta had a habit

of always calling all devotees Maharaja. Sometimes he is referred

to as the inventor of book distribution . Something he never took credit

for. On February 13, 1990 he left his body in Vrindavin. All glories to

Prabhupada's servant, Buddhimanta dasa.