The Prabhupada Marathon has inspired book distribution throughout ISKCON since 1972. Now it is being celebrated as the Live to Give campaign. 

This year our global team has set an unprecedented goal to distribute at least three million Bhagavad-gitas between September 11th and January 7th, 2023. Last year we distributed 2,805,444, smashing the goal of 2.2 million.

Vaisesika Prabhu said, “The purpose of the campaign is to carry on the work of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as passed down to us through the previous Acharyas. Sankirtana, especially through the medium of book distribution, is the very essence of the Krishna consciousness movement.

This is the most important time in history for us to distribute Bhagavad-gita. It’s a well-accepted book of knowledge, people will read it and benefit, and the whole world will be a better place. Start by assuming you can do it–and in a big way. You will be successful. Go for it!”

Communities all around the world are making pledges to distribute Bhagavad-gitas. As the campaign website states, “Our mantra is, “a lot of people, each doing a little bit.’”

Momentum is at an all-time high, following a record-breaking Bhadra Campaign which distributed over 45,800 Srimad Bhagavatam sets earlier this year.

Members of the ICC have verified that India has already pledged 2.7 million Bhagavad-gitas to be distributed. Additionally, they are launching an app where devotees can track progress in real-time and report scores as they distribute books, rather than waiting for the end of the month.

North America has pledged 124,000 Gitas so far, with many more communities still calculating pledges.

Throughout the campaign, Zoom events are scheduled to share inspiration, hear tips from advanced devotees, and catch updates from around the world.

At the most recent “Super Sunday” Zoom call, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami said, “This marathon is not only for the brahmacaris, but for all the grihastas. The Vaisnavas and the Vaishnavis, they can also participate… We should all live to give Bhagavad-gita to everyone!”

Many leaders were in attendance sharing best practices. Gopal Campu Prabhu from Brooklyn gave a practical tutorial on distributing stacks of books. Malini Devi Dasi shared techniques that have been working at ISV, such as empowering youth teams and using language cards in ethnic areas.

In addition, Vaisesika Prabhu gives a few tips:

• Assume it can be done. Assume we can reach our goals. Lord Caitanya is backing us up. He’s in our hearts; he’s all-pervading. He’s providing the energy for us, we just have to take it. We have nothing to lose and all to gain. 

• Always sell in bunches like bananas. Most people don’t buy one banana, they buy a whole bunch. It’s easier to sell more than one book than it is to sell a single book. You’ll find that people respond more readily to a bunch of books. Try it!

•  Write down your goals. Decide and write it down. When you write a goal and show it to everybody, there’s an energy that’s palpable. People want a ladder to climb; to see where we’re going. As soon as they see it, they’ll be enlivened. You need a pledge to be successful. 

•  Manage your inventory. Take inventory of your stock and find out what you have. Place your orders from the BBT strategically, and early. Keep an active track of inventory and take standing orders. If it turns out you’re a little short, don’t stop distributing! You can distribute books by promising people you’ll deliver them later. Just assume the sale, take the payment, and then deliver the books later.

He added, “The world is in disarray on all levels. There is a solution, and we hold it in our hands. It’s Bhagavad-gita… Since this is our conviction, we have an opportunity to display our faith by making pledges. Nothing happens at all unless one makes a pledge and writes it down. We’re not even engaged in the sankirtana movement until we make a pledge and write it down… So we need commitments. If you make a commitment, you’ll get the energy.  If you don’t make a commitment, you’ll be on the sideline watching other people get the energy.”

Want to get involved? Make a pledge for your community at www.prabhupadamarathon.com. You can distribute books yourself, or sponsor books to be placed in various venues around the world.

Srila Prabhupada said in Los Angeles, “I took up this from [Guru Maharaja’s] mouth, that he is very fond of books. And he told me personally that ‘If you get some money, print books.’ Therefore, I am stressing on this point: ‘Where is book? Where is book? Where is book?’ So kindly help me. This is my request. Print as many books in as many languages and distribute throughout the whole world. Then the Krishna consciousness movement will automatically increase.”

As Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to Giriraja Swami, “Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure.” The Live to Give campaign is a special opportunity to increase the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, and the parampara, by distributing books about Krishna consciousness. So, our global team encourages you all to increase their pleasure—and your own—by distributing as many books as possible.

Last year’s numbers

Here are some helpful resources including training, scripts, and graphic designs to improve your campaign scores: www.Prabhupadamarathon.com

For a history of the Prabhupada Campaign, read here: ​​https://iskconnews.org/the-story-of-the-prabhupada-marathon/

Get your free Assume it Can Be Done wallpapers for your phone: https://bhaktivedantabooks.gumroad.com/l/livetogive