first book distributor leaves

[Guest guest]

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 had 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 Srail 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 Srial Prabhupada's kurta with the promise he would not leave. He did

not and at the present time does huge service distributing Krishna

consciouness 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.

Buddhimanta left his body on Feb 13.

your servant,

Pandava vijaya dasa