[Nectar] The Prabhupada Marathon is here!

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Dear Devotees,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Worries about terrorism, escalating healthcare and living costs, global

warming, nuclear proliferation and widespread violence are just a few

of the concerns that plague people around the world. People everywhere

are looking for peace, prosperity and happiness, but in Kali Yuga,

these things are hard to find.

 

Fortunately, however, everyone can get relief from all material pangs

by participating in Lord Caitanya¹s Sankirtana movement. Sankirtana,

the congregational chanting of the holy names, simultaneously cleanses

one¹s heart and vanquishes suffering, while giving even beginners a

taste of real happiness.

 

Srimad Bhagavad tells us that the root of all worldly afflictions is

forgetfulness of Krsna. The remedy is Sankirtana. As such, Lord

Caitanaya ordered every human being within this universe to accept the

process and to help Him spread it everywhere (Cc Adi 9.36).

 

Krsna dasa Kaviraja describes the wonderful effects of Sankirtan thus:

 

³The fruit of love of Godhead distributed by Caitanya Mahäprabhu is

such a great intoxicant that anyone who eats it, filling his belly,

immediately becomes maddened by it, and automatically he chants,

dances, laughs and enjoys. When Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the great

gardener, sees that people are chanting, dancing and laughing and that

some of them are rolling on the floor and some are making loud humming

sounds, He smiles with great pleasure.² Adi 9.49-50

 

Another muni, Karabhajana, who lived thousands of years ago, described

the importance of Sankirtana like this:

 

³Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate

the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons

worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can

easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.² (S.B. 11.5.36)

 

Yet, even with these benefits, devotees often find themselves too busy

or distracted to personally perform Sankirtana. However, this December,

there¹s a good opportunity for everyone to take part.

 

During the holidays, people tend to embrace - or at least to ponder --

spiritual values like generosity and kindness. In this mood, they more

readily accept prasadam, books, and spiritual association and they

reciprocate generously with donations and words of appreciation for our

work.

 

Adding to this, more people than usual come out of their homes and

businesses at this time of year to shop and to attend social events.

 

For these reasons the Prabhupada Book Distribution Marathon has endured

for more than thirty years.

 

Srila Prabhupada always took special notice of the book scores from

around the world and was particularly pleased to hear that his

followers were increasing book sales and sending money to the BBT.

Clearly, he was also aware that December was an especially good month

for selling books. This is evident in the following response he wrote

to Bali Mardan prabhu - the temple president of the New York temple in

1972 - who had sent him a favorable Sankirtana report. Srila Prabhupada

wrote:

 

Now December is finished and I think in your country this month is the

best month for spending, being the Christmas season, so I shall be

anxious to see what was your collection for December and what was your

net savings. I note also that your expenses have remained almost

constant for so many months, except for the money paid to book fund,

which is increasing more and more, so that is the best system: pay to

the books fund larger and larger sums, keep other expenses constant as

much as possible or reduce . . . On December 31, 1972

 

Srila Prabhupada loved to hear that the devotees were distributing

large numbers of his books and he consistently encouraged them to sell

more of them. He once wrote, ³These books and magazines are our most

important propaganda weapons to defeat the ignorance of maya's army,

and the more we produce such literature and sell them profusely all

over the world, the more we shall deliver the world from the suicide

course. Letter to Jayadvaita, 18 November 1972

 

So, have some real fun and make your plans now to go out this December

to distribute books, prasadam and the holy names. Organize your family,

yourself, or your temple, so that you¹re ready for this once-a-year

opportunity.

 

Although the entire season is favorable, here are a couple of events

worth noting for this years book distribution marathon:

 

World Enlightenment Day is Saturday, December 16th. Even those who

don¹t normally have a chance to go out to distribute books,

traditionally participate on this day (either by going out to

distribute or by donating Laxmi to sponsor books for others to

distribute).

 

In whatever capacity you decide to participate this December, you¹ll

find true happiness and will gain solid spiritual advancement by

performing the Yuga dharma -- Sankirtana.

 

Your servant, Vaisesika dasa

 

 

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