The News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Articles tagged as Book-distribution
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    • North American Teams See Book Distribution Increase During COVID-19 Marathon

      “When the lockdown started, nobody thought we could distribute books, and everybody was worried about what would happen,” says Shyama Mohini Dasi, co-sankirtan leader at ISKCON Toronto, Canada. “But Vaisesika Prabhu encouraged us to think differently, and innovate.”

    • Devotees Use New Innovations to Distribute Thousands of Books Amid COVID-19

      With ISKCON book distributors off the streets and staying at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, you might think their service has completely ground to a halt. Instead, however, they’ve put all their energy into innovations such as mailing, contactless delivery, and e-books to distribute thousands of Prabhupada’s books at a time when people need them more than ever.

    • ISKCON Book Shop Opens at New Delhi Railway Station

      ISKCON India Communications Director Yudhistir Govinda Das and Vakreshvar Pran Das developed the idea, while Mohan Rupa Das, Temple President of ISKCON New Delhi’s East of Kailash temple, saw the project through to completion.

    • With Mercy, Nothing Is Impossible

      My sister—19-year old, wheelchair-bound, muscular-dystrophic Madana-mohana-mohini dasi--was the No. 1 female book distributor in Pune, India last December.

    • Cold Showers

      The best things I ever did were often the very things I passionately resisted in the beginning. The things I avoided, argued against and convinced myself were unnecessary – those were the things that brought me the invaluable jewels of growth.

    • Bhaktivedanta Academy Students Share Krishna in the Holiday Spirit

      This Christmas season, students from Alachua’s Bhaktivedanta Academy (BANA) participated in “Outreach Week” from December 16th to 20th, distributing books and prasadam cakes to local businesses.

    • ISKCON Brooklyn to Distribute 10,000 Books By End of the Year

      Historically, ISKCON Brooklyn, New York, was perhaps the greatest center of book distribution in the world. The huge amounts of books distributed from Brooklyn, meanwhile, contributed much of the funds to build flagship ISKCON centers such as the Juhu temple in Mumbai, and Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. For the past twenty years, however, book distribution came to a complete standstill in Brooklyn.

    • Author Deepak Chopra Receives Set of Prabhupada's Books in New York

      Devotees of Yuga Dharma Sankirtana Ashram are found chanting and distributing books at New York’s Union Square almost every day. 

    • Sailing Temple Makes Epic Voyage From Mississippi to Mayapur

      A lifetime dream is finally being fulfilled as Prabhupada disciple Mahendranath Das captains his Sailing Temple, “The Jai Nimai Nitai,” 16,000 nautical miles from Mississippi, USA to Mayapur, India. 

    • “Each One Carry One” Recreates Magic of ISKCON’s Early Days

      “The principle of Prabhupada’s time was that everybody had the hope – even the expectation – that every moment could be magical in Krishna’s service."

    • Bhaktivedanta Library South American Seminar: An Unforgettable Spiritual Adventure

      In February 2019, a Bhaktivedanta Library Seminary was held with a great success in the farm of Nava Gundica dham, Mendoza, Argentina, with the idea of focusing on the service to the scriptures "sastra seva", promoting the vision of bhakti by studying and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books.

    • Sankirtan Fields Bloom Brightly in Ahmedabad This Vasanta Panchami

      On Saturday, 9th February, Vaisesika Das gave a presentation on the philosophical significance as well as practical techniques of book distribution to the entire team at ISKCON Ahmedabad, then the entire team got onto buses heading out to Bhadrakali – a busy shopping spot in the city for the practical session!

    • Sastra Dana and Motel Gita Deliver the Ultimate Gift This Christmas

      Two programs are gifting Srila Prabhupada’s books to thousands of people every year and will change lives across North America this Christmas.

    • Be A Giver Campaign Unites The World For Book Distribution Marathon

      After the major success of the recent Bhadra Campaign, in which devotees all over the world distributed thousands of full Srimad-Bhagavatam sets, the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team is launching a new global campaign for this winter’s Prabhupada Marathon – “Be A Giver.”

    • Book Distributors Reach Out to Russian-Speakers in North America

      ISKCON book distributors are constantly trying to find new ways to give out Srila Prabhupada’s books, and new people to reach. One of the biggest niche audiences is the Russian-speaking community in North America – some 7 to 8 million natives of Russia and former Soviet Union countries.

    • Bhadra Campaign Inundates the World With Srimad-Bhagavatam Sets

      This year, from July until Bhadra Purnima on September 24th-25th, a wave of ecstatic energy to bless homes with the Srimad-Bhagavatam engulfed the entire world.

    • The End of An Era: How The Warped Tour Changed Book Distribution in North America

      After 24 years, it’s the end of an era for the longest-running North American festival concert tour; and the biggest venue for distribution of Prabhupada’s books on the continent. Every year since 1995, The Vans Warped Tour saw 70 metal, punk and ska bands playing in about 50 cities for some 750,000 young people.

    • BBT Project Manager Helps Create Automated Systems for More Responsible Publishing of Prabhupada’s Books

      Often we don’t realize how much work continues to go into producing Srila Prabhupada’s books at the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, or who is responsible behind the scenes.

    • Mukunda Datta Das Translates Classic Works of the Acaryas for the BBT

      The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is filled with extraordinary devotees continuing Srila Prabhupada’s legacy and bringing us the works of the acaryas. Translator Mukunda Datta Das is now working on the Sat-Sandarbhas and Bhakti-Rasamrita Sindhu.

    • New “One World Team” Aims to Send Book Distribution Skyrocketing

      Vaisesika launched the plan for a One World Team with a message that at first may seem counter-intuitive: “Be dissatisfied.” He ecouraged devotees to shoot for “a higher goal than you think you can attain.”

    • Toronto Devotees Defy Record-Breaking Cold to Deliver Prabhupada’s Books

      Christmas 2017. Toronto, Canada was colder than the North Pole, dropping to -22C for the first time in recorded history. Schools closed. People stayed home from work. Outdoor New Year’s Eve celebrations were canceled. The roads were treacherous. But none of this stopped ISKCON Toronto devotees from venturing out to deliver Srila Prabhupada’s books during the six-week Prabhupada marathon, from November 19th to December 31s

    • Baltimore Devotees Spend Holiday Season Giving Books to Hospital Patients

      “One of our main inspirations was the book Life’s Final Exam: Death and Dying from a Vedic Perspective, edited by Giriraja Swami,” says Tarini Ganga. “It describes how in hospitals and hospices people are suffering so much, and how their families are so emotionally drained."

    • The BBT’s Training Program Is Transforming Book Distribution in Latin America

      Since 2007, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust’s training center for new book distributors – Colegio Bhaktivedanta in Mexico – has been gradually strengthening book distribution culture in Latin America. Now, with visible results all over the continent and two new centers on the way, this innovative idea seems to be reaching its turning point.

    • BBT Brazil's Crowdfunding Success for Large Scale Bhagavad-gita Print

      “Without a doubt, the most exciting element of the campaign was to see the cooperation of the devotees, leaving their differences aside and uniting in a common purpose. It was possible to see how Prabhupada's books are powerful and go beyond anything we can imagine. They are not just books, but tools for individual and collective illumination," says” BBT Brazil director Nanda Kumar Das.

    • Go Matsya Project Sees Resurgence in Distribution of Full Srimad Bhagavatam Sets

      An innovative new project called “Go Matsya” has instigated fast growth in distribution of full sets of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the idea is catching on around the world. BBT Trustee and Sankirtan Strategist Vaisesika Das created the project, which aims to “preserve Vedic culture through mass distribution and education.”

    • Youtube Star Inspired After Filming Sankirtan Devotee on Book Distribution

      Kevin Wu, a Youtube star with over 300 million views on his “KevJumba” channel, has been left feeling spiritually uplifted after following and filming sankirtan devotee Madhava Puri Das on book distribution. Wu met Madhava Puri while staying at the ISKCON Los Angeles ashram, looking for spiritual answers during a difficult period in his life.

    • Madhava Puri - A Traveling Monk

      A video by Kevin Wu.

    • Distributing Treasure

      A video by WestCoastMonk.

    • 'Our Family Business' Available as E-book

       Vaisesika Das' super-successful book about the art of transcendental book distribution, Our Family Business, is now available as an e-book in all flavors, for all devices. In this very readable book, Vaisesika Dasa discusses ISKCON-devotees we should join the “family business” of distributing transcendental knowledge through the written word, as well as how book distribution benefits distributors, the devotional community, and all those who receive one of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

    • Entry.title: South African Devotees Walk 650 kms to Raise Funds for Sankirtana Bus
      Entry.type: 'Meditation'
      Entry.tags: [book-distribution] [sankirtana] [south-africa]
    • Ibadan Sankirtan Party Becomes West Africa Book Distribution Marathon Champion

      The Nagara Sankirtana party of Ibadan, Nigeria became West Africa’s book distribution marathon champion for 2016. The sankirtan party led by Yadhunath Das has distributed 901 books in December. The Nagara Sankirtan project started off in 2015 with the purpose of reviving the Harinama Sankirtana spirit initially in West Africa, by providing special support and care for book distribution devotees, who are serving and traveling in groups.

    • Former Hip-Hop Artist Turns No. 1 Book Distributor

      You might not have heard of Jaya Chaitanya Das, the thirty-year-old who’s been the number one book distributor in the U.S. for the past two years. Even if he sold 85,000 of Prabhupada’s books this year alone. That’s because until recently, the young man was living at home with his parents in Orange County, California.

    • U.S. House of Representatives Library Purchases Srimad-Bhagavatam Set

      The U.S. House of Representatives Library in Washington D.C. recently purchased an entire set of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, during the House’s Diwali celebration on October 31st. The books came from ISKCON Baltimore’s Jiva Daya Sankirtana Team, which is working hard during ISKCON’s 50th anniversary to place Srila Prabhupada’s books at various prestigious locations such as government offices, libraries, and embassies in the Washington D.C. area. 

    • Street Spirituality

      High streets are intriguing places; a microcosm of modern life. It’s where people descend in their thousands, searching for something extra to enrich their existence. Enter the monks. This is where we spend many days and weeks; standing on street corners, speaking to random people, and showing them spiritual books.

    • ISKCON50 Book Distribution Days in Hungary

      As part of the ISKCON50 program series, Vaishnavas in Hungary organized a two-day national book distribution event, taking place at different locations of the country. Devotees who had never distributed books before, or had not taken part in sankirtana for a long time were also involved. During the two days, 36 participants from the farm sold 619 books, while the 195 devotees on the streets of Budapest distributed 2,650 books. 

    • Special Month of Activities at ISKCON-London to Celebrate 50th

      On a joint initiative themed “Day of Gratitude”, ISKCON-London and the Bhaktivedanta Manor distributeed 5,000 cupcakes to commuters at key locations in central London on July 13th.The grand finale of the month-long celebration will be the Kirtan on the Thames Boat Event on 31st July. This National Signature Event will be a day of chanting, dancing and feasting on a cruise around the famous landmarks of London. 

    • A Little Boy Distributing Books in Mayapur
    • Veteran Preacher Shares “Family Business” Secrets

      In his upcoming new book “Our Family Business: The Great Art of Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Books” – out February 24th -- veteran distributor Vaisesika Das shares the history, key principles and techniques of book distribution, drawing from a lifetime of experience. Vaisesika, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is known for strategizing innovative ways to distribute his spiritual master’s books on spiritual knowledge. 

    • 12,500 Gitas Distributed at 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Ahmedabad

      Supporters and well-wishers of ISKCON who attended a 50th Anniversary gala event in Ahmedabad sponsored over 12,500 Bhagavad-gitas.

    • Matchless Gift for Malaysia

      During the month of Damodara, the Food For Life Society Malaysia and Bhaktivedanta Books Trading Sd. Bhd jointly organised a famous project in Malaysia, the Sastra Dana and Anna Dana (food and books distribution) program.

    • Gopal Krishna Goswami Speaks About Book Distribution Marathon 2015
    • Gauranga Das Speaks about Book Distribution Marathon 2015
    • UK 100k Effort - Door to Door
    • The 100k Effort - Prabhupada Marathon 2015

      This December Marathon, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada on the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Manor has a set a goal to distribute 100,000 of Srila Prabhupada's books all over the UK.

    • The Greatest Gift

      Upon realizing that this was George’s first contact with devotees, and that George had had been reading and chanting on his own for two years, it became obvious that Krishna had brought the devotees to meet George. 

    • Street Spirituality

      Standing on street corners, speaking to random people, and showing them spiritual books, amongst whatever else I do in life, this simple and sublime activity is what I relish most. 

    • The 100,000 Effort - Prabhupada Marathon UK, 2015

      This December Marathon, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada on the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Manor has a set a goal to distribute 100,000 of Srila Prabhupada's books all over the UK.

    • Belarus ISKCON Devotees Detained for Offering Religious Literature

      Three Hare Krishna devotees, Aleksandr Grankin, Aleksei Vlasyuk and Pavel Ivanov, were detained in the streets of Vitebsk on 17 June for sharing their religious views and offering religious literature to passers-by, they complained to Forum 18. The three were detained by Sergei Fadeenkov, the Chief Specialist of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Department of Religious Affairs and Nationalities.

    • BBT Africa Reports Exciting Year of Increased Outreach

      While it may be turning up a little late, the BBT Africa’s recently released 2014 report shows encouraging growth in outreach – especially for a branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust established just five years ago to better deliver Prabhupada’s books to the African Continent. “The continent has recorded amongst its best book distribution scores ever in 2014,” says managing trustee Govardhana Das.

    • Miraculous Meetings - James Bird, Torquay

      One of many miraculous encounters UK devotees had whilst out touring the country distributing Srila Prabhupada's Books. James Bird, who is from the sunny south coast of England explains to us how his entire life changed just from reading a chant and be happy.

    • Miraculous Meetings

      Every day we experience a small miracle. Last week, on our way to Torquay, the driver lost his bearings and we accidently parked up in Paignton, a small neighbouring town. As we got onto the high street, we realised we were in the wrong place!

    • Spanish Language BBT Reprints Bhagavatam, Continues Resurgence

      ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s masterwork the Srimad-Bhagavatam has been reprinted in Spanish after being out of stock for four years, to the delight of the Spanish-speaking world. It’s been a lot of work. Proofreader Gauravani Dasi in Mexico and designer Govinda Damodara Das in Argentina marathoned for sixteen-months nonstop to get the proofs ready.

    • The Bhagavad-gita Saves Lives - A Book Distribution Story

      One of the most astonishing miracles of placing Bhagavad Gitas in motel rooms was a story of a man who was saved from committing suicide by reading just a few pages of Bhagavad Gita.

    • Almost 9 Million Prabhupada Books Distributed in 2014

      In 2014, ISKCON's worldwide book distribution increased 10% over 2013, with almost nine million books distributed, the best year since 1996. It is in India is where the biggest amount of books has been distributed,  5,355,465 of the 8,913,251total  books handed out in 2014.

    • Could North American Book Distribution Income Reach $2 Million by 2016?

      Distribution of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books in North America has made another dramatic increase for the third year in a row. At this point, says Sankirtan Strategist Vaisesika Das, “It’s no fluke.” According to Vaisesika, the increase in book distribution has resulted not only in new people becoming devotees, but also in a renaissance of programs to care for these new devotees.

    • ISKCON Hungary Celebrates Christmas With Massive Food Distribution

      During the month of December, ‘Food For Life Hungary’ ISKCON Hungary’s charity program has been distributing 30 tons of dry food (rice, flour, oil, pasta, canned vegetables) as well as 30,000 plates of hot meal to the needy all across the country. The ‘Christmas packages’ that the volunteers have been giving out in 12 locations and cities represent the only source of food for many families during the cold winter and the holiday season.

    • Book Distribution with Lord Shiva's Blessings

      Karthiga deepam a festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva attracted more than 12 lakh of people at Thiruvanamalai, South India this year. This festival has been attracting millions of pilgrims to this tiny town of for hundreds of years now.  In the midst of all this there was one thing that caught a lot of attention, the Bhagavat Gita As it is. 

    • Ukrainian Devotees Distribute Krishna's Message in War Torn Region

      In a country torn apart by war and suffering a plunging economy, Ukranian devotees are braving sub zero winter temperatures to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books this December. And they’re being rewarded by a receptive public. “People are very grateful,” says ISKCON Ukraine Regional Secretary Acyuta Priya Das.

    • New Issue of “Imprint” Reports BBT Africa Successes

      The latest effort from the African branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust – which has been publishing ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books in various African languages since 2009 – is the e-magazine “Imprint.” The magazine, which released one issue last year but is becoming a regular quarterly with this November’s issue, is intended to communicate all the latest developments of the BBT Africa.

    • Launching of the Srimad Bhagavatam Gifting Chain Project in Mumbai

      “The Srimad Bhagavatam Gifting Chain Project” is a unique idea inspired from the purport by Srila Prabhupada to the first verse of the first chapter of the first canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, where Srila Prabhupada referring to the Matsya Purana, states that anyone who makes a gift of this great work on a full moon day attains to the highest perfection of life by returning to Godhead.

    • Nigerian Chief Invites Devotees to Preach at his Trado-medical Herb Healing Home

      ISKCON devotees distributing books for the end-of-year Prabhupada marathon got an unexpected boost on December 4th when Dr. Eromosele S.A, a highly influential chief in the Bini Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria, invited them to preach at his Trado-medical Herb Healing Home.

    • UK Bhrahmacaris' Summer Sankirtana Tour

      Footage from the Summer Sankirtan Tour conducted by Manor Brahmacari ashram, teaming up with UK temples, Hare Krishna Festival Team and Food For All.

    • Street Spirituality

      High streets are intriguing places. It’s where people descend in their thousands.  Crazy as it may sound, this is where monks spend many days and weeks; standing on street corners, speaking to random people, and showing them spiritual books.

    • Book Distribution in USA
    • Hare Krishna in Harvard Square - Vaisesika Distributes Books About Bhakti Yoga

      Vaisesika Das, disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Hare Krishna temple president in San Jose, California, book distribution coordinator for North America. In this video he distributes ancient spiritual scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

    • Prabhupada’s Books Sold at Bookstores and Stands in Nigeria

      An enthusiastic team of devotees led by ISKCON Lagos temple president Kavi Karnapur Das is placing Srila Prabhupada’s books in bookstores and bookstands throughout the Nigerian city. They have a huge audience: the New York Times estimates the population of Lagos at an astronomical 21 million, which would make it the most populous city in Africa.

    • Hare Krishnas Cannot Solicit Donations at Los Angeles Airport

      A ban on soliciting donations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) does not tread on Hare Krishna members' free speech rights, the 9th Circuit ruled Wednesday. A city ordinance forbids the immediate solicitation of money at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), including the terminals, the parking lots, and adjacent sidewalks.

    • University of Florida and Krishna Lunch: The Cooperation Goes Stronger

      Serving up to 1,200 students a day, five days a week, the Krishna Lunch prasadam distribution program has flourished under Srila Prabhupada's vision. Krishna Lunch is served on the University of Florida's main crossroads, the Plaza of the Americas, which is the very place Srila Prabhupada lectured to over 500 students and faculty on his visit to Gainesville in 1971. 

    • Kenyan Book Distribution Reaches All-Time High

      Distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books in the East African country of Kenya has reached an all-time high, with 54,399 books distributed during the December marathon of 2013 by just three small temples: Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. The score catapulted Kenya to the number seven country in the world during the marathon.

    • Radhanath Swami and Radha Krishna Das Speak at Annamrita Midday Meal Program's 10th Year Celebration

      Radha Krishna Das and Radhanath Swami speak about the beginnings of ISKCON's Midday Meal program (Annamrita) and the inspiration for doing this service.

    • Basanti Roi - A Government Officer Speaks on Annamrita

      On the occasion celebrating ISKCON's Annamrita Food Relief program Basanti Roi a Government Officer speaks appreciatively about the project.

    • ISKCON Food Relief Foundation Celebrates 10 Years

      ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (IFRF), which has so far served 1.25 billion healthy sanctified vegetarian meals to underprivileged school children across India with its “Annamrita” program, celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 6th. People packed out the 3,500-seat auditorium at the Yogi Sabhagriha of the Swaminarayan Temple in Mumbai for the event, entitled “Abhar: Expressing Our Heartfelt Gratitude.”

    • BBT Reaches Half a Billion Books Distributed Since 1965

      The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which publishes the spiritual literature of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada, has reached a new watermark of success. Thanks to the efforts of book distributors around the world, it has sold over half a billion books -- 503,385,383 to be exact -- since Srila Prabhupada began ISKCON in 1965. 

    • Book Distribution Leaders’ Conference in Tirupati

      BBT India organized a two-day seminar fon Jan 31st and Feb 1st 2014 on the topic of ‘Merits of Organized Book Distribution’ at ISKCON Tirupati, India. This was a pioneering attempt to get book distributors in India more organized. Around 80 devotees participated at the seminar.

    • Merits of Organized Book Distribution

      The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) India  invites ISKCON devotees to participate in a 2-day seminar on the “Merits of Organized Book Distribution.” It is scheduled to take place on Jan 31,2014 and Feb 1, 2014 at ISKCON Tirupati. It is being conducted under the expert guidance of Vaisesika Dasa Adhikari.

    • Book Distribution Marathon in Russia

      An inspiring video by the brachmacharis of Yurlovo ashram about the book distribution leaders in Russia. 

    • ISKCON Hungary's Merry Charity "Krishmas”

      6,000 plates of hot meal and 32 tons of food packages, warm cloths and toys were distributed by Hungarian Krishna devotees over the Christmas holidays. Many political leaders, well-known public figures, sportsmen and artists joined them as volunteers in helping their efforts to care for underprivileged families.

    • Prasadam Brings Smiles to Thousands in Philippines

      ISKCON’s Food For Life continues to feed victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on November 7th with winds of 195 mph. ISKCON’s Food For Life is one of the many aid organizations doing what it can to help in the wake of the disaster. A a total of 15,130 plates were served over the thirteen days from November 18th to 30th.

    • Book Distribution Set For Another 20% Increase in 2013

      The distribution of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books has seen a major resurgence in North America in recent years. Inspired by the positive signs of increase he saw in 2010 and 2011, veteran book distributor and “Sankirtan Strategist” Vaisesika Das attended the Temple Presidents’ meeting in Dallas, Texas with a mission: he suggested that ISKCON North America distribute books as one team with one common goal.

    • A Pre-Marathon Address from Russia

      A video by Shkatyavesha Avatara dasa.

    • ISKCON Toronto Gears Up For Book Distribution Marathon

      As the holiday season comes around, ISKCON devotees like to wrap up warm, pack their bags full of books by their Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada, and head out on the streets to give the most valuable Christmas present of all: spiritual knowledge. One of the most enthusiastic ISKCON communities of recent years in this endeavor has been ISKCON of Toronto, Canada.

    • Quietly Confident

      Real confidence comes from humility. We realise our inherent limitations, but gain firm conviction from knowing that the all-powerful will of providence is on our side.

    • ISKCON Food Relief Featured in Influential Corporate Magazine

      Annamrita, an initiative of ISKCON Food Relief Foundation in India, has received a three-page feature article in CSR Mandate magazine. The article describes how ISKCON Food Relief Foundation feeds more than 1.2 million underprivileged children across India everyday. It explains how this allows poor children to attend school and get an education rather than turning to crime or menial work in order to survive.

    • Book Distributor Connects with Fortunate People

      Shaktyavesha Avatara Das, a London-based book distributor originally from Moscow, has devised a new way of following up with people he gives ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books to on the street. His project, “Fortunate People,” uses modern technology and social networking through Facebook, one of the most popular websites in the world with over 1 billion users.

    • ISKCON Feeds Nearly 30,000 Victims of Cyclone Phailin

      Two weeks after Cyclone Phailin struck Odisha (formerly Orissa) and Andhra Pradesh at 140 mph, the Eastern Indian states are still reeling. Doing its part to help, ISKCON Food Relief Foundation -- which delivers healthy vegetarian meals to 1.2 million underprivileged school children around India every day -- flew members into Odisha on October 15th.

    • World Charity Day Celebrated With Food Distribution

      Accepting a motion by the Republic of Hungary, the United Nations declared September 5th to be the International Day of Charity.

    • ISKCON Suggests Preventative Measures After Midday Meal Deaths

      On July 17th in the Northeastern Indian state of Bihar 27 school children died of food poisoning. Some of the groups are well-equipped NGOs such as ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (IFRF)—was not involved in the tragic incident. So why did this negligence occur, and what can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future? Radha Krishna Das, the managing director of IFRF explains.

    • New Book Distribution Website Educates and Inspires
      A still relatively new website on the art of distributing spiritual books has drawn nearly 35,000 unique visitors in the past ten months, and numbers are increasing as many find inspiration.
    • Mandala Turns a New Page in Devotional Publishing

      In the late 1960s, when ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada personally negotiated his first book contracts with Japanese publisher Dai Nippon, he insisted on high grade paper and binding, considering the highest quality to be essential for books containing the highest knowledge.

    • New Book Distribution Website
      To inspire ISKCON devotees to increase their desire to distribute more books and thereby make this world more Krishna-conscious, the Book Distribution Ministry and ISKCON Desire Tree has come together to launch a new website
    • North American ISKCON Leaders Applaud Book Sales Success in Annual Meeting
      ISKCON's North American Governing Body Commission and Temple President Annual Meetings began at the Houston Hare Krishna Temple with two inspiring topics: A Key Note address on “Srila Prabhupada’s Position” by Ravindra Svarupa Das, ISKCON scholar and GBC member, and a Book Distribution Report by Vaisesika dasa, North American Book Distribution Minister.
    • North American Book Distribution at 11% Increase so far in 2012
      At ISKCON North America’s annual Governing Body and Temple President Meetings in Dallas, Texas on January 13th this year, Book Distribution Minister Vaisesika Das reported that distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books in North America had seen a steady upward trend in the past five or six years.
    • Pandharpur Pilgrims Purchase Over 17,000 Bhagavad-Gitas
      ISKCON of Pandharpur, a pilgrimage city in Maharashtra, India, has reported the largest distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books in its history. With the help of only a few devotees, Bhaktin Radhika Mehta handed out 17,856 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Marathi to pilgrims during the famous Vitthal temple’s Ashadhi Ekadasi celebrations this June.
    • Bill Clinton Receives Bhagavad-gita
      On 14 June ISKCON devotee, Bhakta Brian was out distributing books on a crowded sidewalk in Santa Monica, California when all of a sudden former US President Bill Clinton chose him out of the crowd, walked up to him.
    • A New Book Distribution Website Launched
      The devotees at 'ISKCON desire tree' have launched a new book distribution website with videos, seminars, screen savers and inspiring stories in relation to book distribution.
    • Mumbai's Bhaktin Radhika Breaks Book Distribution Records
      Bhaktin Radhika Mehta is an enigma. Since she began in 2007, she has distributed 228,016 of Srila Prabhupada’s books—nearly a quarter of a million. According to the World Sankirtan Newsletter, in five years, she has given out more books than any other female distributor since 1982.
    • Stop Them If You Can!
      Being threatened, being jailed, being harassed, couldn’t stop them. They zealously continue distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books in the streets of Nairobi.
    • Canadian Book Distributors Brave the Cold to Cross New Frontiers
      It’s heartwarming to see a group of eight devotees brave sub-zero temperatures to bring Srila Prabhupada’s books into small towns and cities in the Canadian Maritimes, where few have ever heard of Krishna.
    • Book Distribution Up 23% in North America
      At the recent 2012 North American Governing Body and Temple President meetings in Dallas, Texas on January 13th, Book Distribution Minister Vaisesika Dasa had some exciting news for the more than sixty leaders from across the US and Canada in attendance.
    • Bhaktivedanta Manor Tops Book Distribution Record

      The Prabhupada Christmas Book Marathon is a special time of the year. Many ISKCON devotees make special endeavours to distribute Srila Prabhupada`s books, and many others made extra sacrifices to facilitate them. In the Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, it was an especially wonderful team effort and exhibition of unity.

    • On Book Distribution: Vijaya Das Talks At ISKCON Melbourne
    • Africa Ranks High on BBT Agenda
      Africa is the second-largest continent in the world. It has fifty-three countries, 2,000 languages, and a population of over 900 million. Yet with the South African BBT publishing books mainly in English, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has only touched the tip of Africa’s potential. Until now.
    • ISKCON At the Annual Hong Kong Book Fair
      Hong Kong hosts yearly a book fair at the International Exhibition Hall. This year, from July 20th until 26th it again attracted over a million people. Visakha Priya Dasi and her team of twenty devotees arranged for two booths to sell English and Chinese Krishna conscious literature.
    • 13 Year Old Leads Mumbai Marathon for Charity
      Gaurangi Desai, 13, who raised Rs3.63 lakh for Iskcon Food Relief Foundation, emerged as the youngest fundraiser, while the highest fundraisers were finance professional Mihir Doshi and author Shobhaa De, who both raised more than Rs25 lakh for Childline India Foundation. De was the highest fundraiser among women.
    • BBT Sales Rebound in 2010
      Despite a dire economic situation in the U.S., the North American branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust—ISKCON’s publishing arm—saw sales soar last year, its best since 2004. Selling over $1 million worth of books on Krishna consciousness, the company, established by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada in 1972, saw a thirty-two per cent increase in sales since 2008.
    • Book Distribution - A Complete Form of Worship
      Book distribution is sankirtana. `Kirtana` means `glorification` and `sam` means `complete`. Glorification of Krishna is complete when many devotees participate. Who worships Lord Caitanya by sankirtana? Those who are highly intelligent. Of course, sometimes someone might not be so intelligent–he might just be fortunate.
    • The Marathon Where Everyone's A Winner
      December is the month of the Prabhupada Marathon, in which devotees make an increased effort to introduce others to the enlightening spiritual literature —introduced to the Western World by ISKCON's founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada—that changed their lives.
    • Hare Krishnas Can Be Barred From Soliciting at LAX
      A federal appeals court has ruled again that airport police can enforce a city ordinance barring the Hare Krishnas and other groups from soliciting immediate donations at Los Angeles International Airport.
    • Attorney for Krishnas Wins Delay of Ban From Los Angeles Airport

      Authorities were blocked this week from finally being able to enforce a 13-year-old city ordinance that bans solicitors from seeking donations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), officials said Friday.

    • Toothpaste with a Spoon
      Occasionally, at ISKCON News we run stories from the secular press that are about ISKCON members or of particular interest to friends and members of ISKCON. We think it is important (and healthy) to be aware of what people are saying about us—good, bad, and ugly.
    • US Court Stops ISKCON Seeking Donations At Los Angeles Airport

      Hare Krishna movement has been stopped from seeking donations at the Los Angeles International Airport by a US court. The court allowed the Los Angeles Police to enforce a 13-year-old municipal ordinance, which would prevent members of the movement from seeking donations at the airport.

    • LAX Grounds Hare Krishnas
      A California Supreme Court ruling prohibits the Hare Krishnas from soliciting passengers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
    • ISKCON Vows to Fight LA Airport Ban on Soliciting Donations
      Amarendra Dasa, a lawyer representing ISKCON, has vowed to challenge a March 25th ruling by the California Supreme Court that bans Hare Krishna devotees and other groups from soliciting donations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
    • Court: Hare Krishnas Barred From LAX Solicitation
      The California's high court ended a long-running legal battle Thursday when it barred the Hare Krishnas from soliciting donations at Los Angeles International Airport.
    • Toronto’s Goodwill Ambassadors Put the Fun in Book Distribution
      When ISKCON’s Governing Body Comissioner for Canada, Bhakti Marg Swami, invited Vaisesika Dasa to help revive the culture of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books at the Society’s Toronto temple, he knew it would have an impact on the community.
    • Kenyan Prime Minister Receives Bhagavad-gita As It Is

      Govinda-Prema Dasa, an ISKCON devotee from Nairobi, gifted Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita this May. The opportunity arose when devotees attended the same Sikh community college opening that the Prime Minister had been invited to speak at. After Odinga’s speech promoting higher education as the way to a peaceful and happy country, Govinda-Prema approached him.

    • Mother Shyama Priya’s Life of Service
      Shyama Priya Dasi, the driving force behind ISKCON’s Prison Ministry, passed away on April 16, 2009 in Gainesville, Florida, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. As her son, daughters, daughter-in-law, and many loving devotee friends sat close by her bed and chanted the names of God, they reflected on her exemplary life.
    • ISKCON Inaugurates Motel Bhagavad-Gita Project
      On April 22-25, 2009, at a convention center just outside Washington, D.C., members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) met for their annual national convention and trade show. Amid the booths of vendors of furniture, ice machines, accounting software, and just about everything else related to the hospitality industry, stood a booth of a different kind, in which a group of earnest volunteers passed out copies of Bhagavad-Gita and made a humble request to the assembled hotel and motel owners: “Please let us provide copies of Bhagavad-Gita to place in your rooms alongside the Gideons Bibles.”
    • People: Vasudeva Datta Dasa

      The year was 1997. In the midst of a frantic search for material enjoyment, Vasudeva Datta reluctantly agreed to go along to a Hare Krishna meeting with one of his friends. There he bought Life Comes from Life and a set of japa beads—and within two weeks he found himself chanting sixteen rounds a day and devouring Prabhupada’s books.

    • Congregational Book Distribution: Monthly Sankirtan Festivals

      “Monthly Sankirtan Festivals are a great way to engage the entire congregation in book distribution,” says Vaisesika dasa. “At our temple, we combine the festival with a holy day on the Vaisnava calendar. Our meditation during the Monthly Sankritan Festival is that the sankirtan results are our special offering to the Lord.”

    • Bhagavad Gita Distributed at Hotel Owners Convention

      “Asian-Indians own almost 65% of the total motel rooms available. Our goal is to place Bhagavad-Gita As It Is in every one of those rooms,” says Milan Doshi from the Pancajanya Project. “The motel owners we already approached were very receptive. They liked the idea of placing Bhagavad-Gita As It Is in their own motels. They also gave us recommendations for their friends are relatives in the industry!” Approaching motel owners on an individual basis has proven successful.

    • Spiritual Vision: Bringing Prabhupada's Books to Braille

      Luca Pistolese didn't have an easy start to life. Born premature, he was placed in an incubator to care for his frail body. But a malfunction caused too much oxygen to be released into the chamber, burning his eyes. Luca would be blind for life. The darkness was complete, enveloping him both physically and spiritually. As a young man, he tried to dispel it by studying different books on spirituality, but they only left him unsatisfied and confused.

    • BBT Trustees Change Book Distribution Point System

      The Trustees of ISKCON’s publishing arm, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, have modified their “book point” system, unchanged since 1989, to eliminate the now negligible difference between hard and softcover books. The point system emerged in 1974 with the first issue of the “Sankirtan Newsletter,” a publication which keeps track of book distribution around the world and compares overall results. A lengthy list of editors modified its format many times until 1989, when current editor Mayapur Sasi Dasa came onboard.

    • President Obama Receives Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita

      The 44th president of the United States Barack Obama has been presented with a copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by an old friend – the brother of Srila Prabhupada disciple Krishnalaulya Dasi.

    • Spiritual Paper Hits San Diego Newsstands

      Sastra-Dana, the US program that places donated copies of Srila Prabhupada’s books in public locations where they are properly kept and read, is now supplementing its main course with a lighter snack: its own full-color newspaper.

    • Hare Krishna Soldier Discharged, Plans Spiritual Mission
      Partha-sarathi Dasa, a Hare Krishna devotee from New York City, separated from the US Army on Monday, January 26, 2009. He held the rank of Sergeant First Class. Partha-sarathi enlisted in the Army in 1995 at age 17. He served in Bosnia in 1998, in Kosovo in 1999, and in Iraq for thirty-six months between 2003 and 2008.
    • The Story of the Prabhupada Marathon
      It may surprise you to learn that with over 464 million copies sold since 1965, Srila Prabhupada s books have reached more souls than those of bestselling author Stephen King, who began his career at roughly the same time. To date, they've even sold more copies than the record-breakingly successful Harry Potter series an amazing achievement for books on a spiritual philosophy relatively new to the western world.
    • Bringing the Temple to the Street
      I gave class this morning at the temple. The subject was the ninth chapter of the Antya-lila portion of the Caitanya Caritamrita, the life and teachings of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We study it every weekend. The ninth chapter is all about an incident that took place while the Lord was living in Jagannatha Puri, the seaside pilgrimage place in the present state of Orissa, east India.
    • ISKCON Silicon Valley Sets the Example
      It was as far back as 1972 when ISKCON devotees first discovered the potential for distributing large amounts of spiritual literature during the December Christmas rush. As we begin another marathon for our founder Srila Prabhupada thirty-six years later, observers may still be asking the question, “Why is distributing books so important for ISKCON devotees?”
    • Why do Hare Krishnas Distribute Books?
      When he began the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Srila Prabhupada wrote out its seven purposes. The first of these was: “To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large, and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life, and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.”
    • From Knowledge Comes World Enlightenment

      World Enlightenment Day for ISKCON signifies a thrust for radical social change. On this day, thousands of Hare Krishna devotees expect to achieve a world record by distributing the greatest number of Srila Prabhupada's books ever in one day. But what exactly are these books, and what is their value to ISKCON and society at large?

    • Short Story: Mad Mick Meets His Maker

      A few years ago, in a small village in Roscommon County, one of the most rural parts of Ireland, there lived a man by the name of Michael Henmore. He never married and at an early point in his life he became a hermit. He had few possessions except a cow, a horse and a cart, and a small house that time had forgotten. He lived without running water or electricity.

    • New Zealand Monk Teaches Philosophy of Life
      Hriman Krishna Das was smiling on Kerikeri main street. He stopped me, hurrying past, not to sell the books he was carrying or conduct a survey or collect membership to a group or religion but to share what he describes as universal information about life.
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