ABOUT THE PRE-EMINENT IMPORTANCE OF BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN THE KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT v. 2018.1
All quotes are Copyrighted Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc.
Non-BBTI text copyrights remain with the author and YBT, Yadavendra Book Trust.
Honorable Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada’s ever transcendental to time, place and circumstances Vani!
This magazine represents a humble attempt to impress upon its reader the pre-eminent importance of book distribution in the Krishna Consciousness Movement and aims to help one to make chiefly the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also the books of his faithful and talented disciples and followers a regular feature of one’s total service contribution to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission.
Besides being a prolific book writer and producer, Srila Prabhupada was a book distributor Himself. In letter to Rupanuga, dated November 13, 1970 Srila Prabhupada writes:
“…I have personally placed my books formerly in the library of Bombay which they were very glad to accept.”
On the back cover of Lilamrta, volume one, there is a picture of Srila Prabhupada handing a book to Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India. We also know that Srila Prabhupada would sometimes distribute His newly printed and autographed books after class.
And finally, Srila Prabhupada came to America as follows:” I went to your country with only Rs. 40/- and 200 sets of books. So if we take the capital of the whole business, it was the books and the Rs. 40/-. The Rs. 40/- was not even touched because Indian Rupees currency could not be spent in your country. In 1967 when I came back to India the Rs. 40/- was paid for the taxi cab. The 200 sets of books was sold, and I was maintaining myself with great difficulty.”741008Let.Karandhara
Book distribution does not mean exclusively street Sankirtan. It is a state of consciousness. Just as we are striving to be Krishna conscious, we should also strive to be book distribution conscious and constantly ask ourselves Srila Prabhupada’s own question “Where is book, where is book, where is book?” One may distribute books while traveling, while shopping, while visiting friends and relatives, in the hospital and of course, after class or at preaching programs. Not everyone will be a full time book distributor. But everyone can distribute a few books in the course of discharging one’s daily, routine occupational duties, as soon as one resolves to do so and thus radiate Krishna consciousness in one’s own immediate sphere of activity. Besides that, it is an exciting and constructive way to relate to fellow human beings. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in CC Madhya 7.128: “To whomever you meet…please tell them about Krishna…..” And the best way to tell is to give them a Krishna book (in a broad sense) because that will give them the opportunity to find out gold for themselves and at their own leisure.
But charity begins at home, meaning to say that we must be willing to administer the medicine to ourselves, i.e. to plan at least one or two hours a day, besides scheduled classes, to study, understand and become conversant with the content of Srila Prabhupada’s books. “…read our books daily with great care.” (741216let.BhLance) The salesperson that has full knowledge of his product and is fully convinced of its superior quality will surely be a successful salesperson. Srila Prabhupada’s books are without any doubt, the best books available in the three worlds, because they not only offer the universal remedy for all miseries of materialistic existence but also “enable us the fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious”. Due to our conditioning and negligence, however, we fail to always appreciate them at their proper value. This mentality we have to reform.
Book distribution also means to practice ahimsa or nonviolence, the first principle of spiritual life. The relevant passage of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 13.8-12, Purport, speaks for itself: “People in general are trapped by ignorance in the material concept of life, and they perpetually suffer material pains. So unless one elevates people to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence. One should try his best to distribute real knowledge to the people, so they might become enlightened and leave this material entanglement. That is nonviolence.”
Although Srila Prabhupada’s books are not ordinary mercantile commodities and although “book distribution is preaching, it should not be thought of as done for money” (730723let.Jagadisha) still we should endeavor to distribute them at a viable retail sales price, without too much compromise.
Besides highlighting some prominent quotes, I have divided another 40 or so quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s letters according to four headings as follows. These represent indeed only a fraction of the passages available on this topic to the inquisitive and scrutinizing reader.
1) General importance of book distribution and its relative importance to other transcendental services
2) How much Srila Prabhupada is pleased by book distribution.
3) Quantity of books Srila Prabhupada expects us to distribute.
N.B: According to the World Sankirtan Newsletter, more than
540 000 000 pieces of literature have been distributed worldwide. Currently one book distributed every six seconds,
anywhere in the world! All glories to the book distribution Sankirtan preachers!
4) Benefits derived from book distribution.
Vegetarian or vegan cookbook distribution, which in Srila Prabhupada’s own words is “very important”, should not be underestimated or neglected! Cookbook distribution is our “cheval de Troy” or in Srila Prabhupada’s own words “…in like a needle, out like a plough.” There is a special end section about this aspect of book distribution, which also includes a letter about the need for proactive Sankirtan.
If this presentation inspires only one devotee to significantly increase his book distribution, I shall consider my attempt a success.
Thank you very much for considering this important matter and good luck in your book distribution endeavors. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the Founder- Acarya of Iskcon, Institutor of BBT, Founder of BTG magazine in 1944 and Translator and Commentator of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta!
In service to His Divine Grace and in service to my readers,
Yadavendra Das (ACBSPGen1)
P.O. Box 221
Sherwood QLD 4075 Australia
Email: ajm108@gmail.com
Original edition: October 1996 Perth, Western Australia
This edition: May 2018, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Posted on http://www.dandavats.com
My general request is that you all distribute as many books as possible and at the same time be very careful in dealings with others so that they may not become irritated with us. Your book sale statistics are astounding. I am so much pleased. Please continue distributing such nice quantities and try to enthuse others more and more. You are sincere, so Krishna will give you all intelligence, strength and everything else you may need to distribute millions and millions of books.
General Book Distribution Request. 750116let.Tripurari
….chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is more powerful than Deity worship. Sri Caitanya Mahaaprabhu set a practical example in that He did not establish any temples or Deities, but He profusely introduced the sankirtana movement. Therefore Krishna consciousness preachers should give more stress to the sankirtana movement, especially by distributing transcendental literature more and more. This helps the sankirtana movement. Whenever there is a possibility to worship the Deity, we may establish many centers, but generally we should give more stress to the distribution of transcendental literature, for this will be more effective in converting people to Krishna consciousness. SB 7.14.39 P
“SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF TAKING OTHER ENGAGEMENT; DISTRIBUTION OF MY BOOKS IS THE HIGHEST KIND OF PREACHING AND THUS THE BEST ENGAGEMENT.”
740609let.NandalalDas
…SO THE BOOKS ARE SELLING AND WE ARE EXPANDING. THIS BOOK DISTRIBUTION IS THE BRIHAT MRIDANGA. IT IS THE GREATER PREACHING…OUR BOOKS ARE BETTER THAN THE NONSENSE BOOKS… AND EVEN IF THERE IS SOME COMPLAINT, THEY ARE GETTING THE REAL THING FROM OUR BOOKS. THEY ARE FORGETTING THE AIM OF LIFE… OUR MEN ARE DOING GOOD, THAT THEY DO NOT SEE. THEY ARE SO BLIND. BUT THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS. WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM EVEN IF THEY DO NOT WANT IT. THAT IS OUR DUTY.
ACTUALLY WHAT IS OUR AIM? OUR AIM IS TO CREATE MEN OF IDEAL CHARACTER AND IF OUR MEN ARE DISTRIBUTING BOOKS ON THIS ACCOUNT, THEY ARE DOING BEST SERVICE TO SOCIETY….SEE THEIR SACRIFICE, WHAT IS BEHIND THEIR LIFE, HOW THEY ARE LIVING; HOW THEY HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR THE WELFARE OF SOCIETY….
741206let.SriGovindaDas
“… ACTUALLY IT IS A FACT THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYONE SHOULD PREACH AND DISTRIBUTE BOOKS IF THEY WANT TO PLEASE ME IN THE BEST WAY. BOOK DISTRIBUTION MUST BE GIVEN STRESS ALWAYS.
… IF YOU DO THIS SINCERELY, IT IS A FACT THAT KRISHNA WILL SUPPLY EVERYTHING ELSE REQUIRED….I BLINDLY FOLLOW MY GURU MAHARAJ. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE RESULT. SO I AM STRESSING ON THIS POINT OF BOOK DSITRIBUTION. HE TOLD ME THIS PERSONALLY.”
741206let.SriGovindaDas
28th November, 1970
My dear Jagadisha,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17th November, 1970 and I am so much enthused to understand how nicely you are distributing our books. Actually these two books, KRSNA book and Nectar of Devotion, are revolutionary to your country. Not only your country, but all over the world. Nobody has any clear idea of God. In hopelessness they declare that God is dead. So these books will supply clear idea of God, not only that but anyone who will read this KRSNA book in two parts, Nectar of Devotion, and if possible Teachings of Lord Caitanya, I am sure he cannot go away from becoming a devotee of Krishna. So try to push our books, especially Bhagavad-As It Is, TLC, KRSNA, NOD, backed by a regular supply of our magazines and regular performance of sankirtana. Then I am sure Krishna Consciousness movement will go forward without any hindrance. You have a strong governing body, all determined to push forward this movement and I’m sure of success in the future….
…It is so much encouraging to hear how you are introducing this Krishna Consciousness Movement in the schools and colleges there. Especially this is an ideal opportunity for distributing our books also, so you should make all serious endeavors in this connection. These books are so potent that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. So it is a very valuable service to distribute our books.
Yes, incense distribution has been very helpful in many centers for maintaining financially, but we are not businessmen. So producing candles for distribution is not at all necessary. We do not want to increase factories. We want to increase Krishna Consciousness and this can be done best by distributing our books and preaching. So in that way you can make your program…
710422let.JohnMillner
…There is no doubt about it; to distribute books is our most important activity. The temple is a place not for eating and sleeping, but as a base from which we send out our soldiers to fight with Maya. Fight with Maya means to drop thousands and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during the war time the bombs are raining from the sky like anything. So you are the expert in this field…
730803let.RamesvaraDas
…Thank you very much for your endeavors in book distribution and please offer your good wife my blessings for her service in this connection. Our preaching work will be measured by the quantity of books we distribute so continue ever-increasingly…
731211et.MakanlalDas
…IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE WORK ON OUR B.T.G. AND OTHER BOOKS IS GOING ON. ACTUALLY PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING BOOKS IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT, ALL OTHER ENGAGEMENTS CULMINATES IN THIS ONE END-DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS…
730727let.TamalKrishnaGoswami
Prabupada: No, it is useless to talk with them (the scientists). If you can peacefully sell some books, that’s all. Don’t enter into very long arguments, because they are all rascals. They cannot understand. Better peacefully, as far as possible, sell some books. Dante nidhaya trinakam padayor nipatya kaku-satam kritva….. “Putting a straw between my teeth and falling at your feet, crying in distress again and again, I say: O noble men, just leave everything far behind you and try to develop your love for the lotus feet of Lord Gauracandra.”
(Prabhodananda Saraswati)
Morning walk, Honolulu
12 May 1976.
GENERAL IMPORTANCE OF BOOK DISTRIBUTION AND ITS RELATIVE IMPORTANCE COMPARED TO OTHER SERVICES.
Our book distribution program is most important work. Anyone reading our KRISHNA book, TLC, NOD and BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS is sure to become Krishna conscious person. Therefore somehow or other we must push on this literature distribution program, either through schools, colleges, libraries, life membership program or ordinary sales. 710305let.JananivasaDas
You should give much effort for book distribution, it is such a valuable service. Simply if one will read our KRSNA book, TLC, NOD, and Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, he will surely become a Krishna Conscious person. So somehow or other distribute these books, either in schools and colleges, libraries, through life membership, bookstores, or wherever else you think they might be accepted. Do so with enthusiasm and determination and Krishna will surely help you. 710401let.NityanandaDas
Whatever money is owed to the BBT, that should be paid. As far as record distribution is concerned, if you have no big books, you may temporarily continue, but give a book with each record. With record distribution alone, the result is temporary. They will hear it for some time and throw away. Book distribution is solid. Even if they do not read, simply by touching they are benefited. It is so much powerful. 750202let.Puranjana
Organization of book selling is more important than incense distribution. Incense sales is clearly business only. But when we sell books it means we push forward our movement. So unless it is absolutely necessary, we should not become ordinary businessmen. Try to understand this point. 710421let.BhagavanDas
These books are so potent that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. So it is a very valuable service to distribute our books. 710422let.JohnMillner
Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity. Without books, our preaching has no solid basis. 711226let.CyavanaSwami
Practically our Society means books, so if there are no books how can we preach? 711228let.BaliMardanDas
I am also encouraged to hear that you are distributing many of our books and magazines. Continue to increase this activity, as I consider it the most important preaching work. 711228let.RishabdevaDas
If there are ample books, everything else will succeed. Practically our Society is built on books. 711228let.YogesvaraDas
… Preaching means selling books. 720221let.BhaktaDas
…this distribution of books, combined with preaching is the best process for spreading Krishna Consciousness, so always there must be books. 720714let.HanumanDas
We must do both, reading books and distributing books, but distributing books is the main propaganda. Reading in class for two hours is sufficient and other reading can be done in spare time if one has got it…720918let.BaliMardanDas&PustaKrishnaSwami
Here at Mayapur my Guru Maharaj was printing one paper. It was selling for only a few paisas. Sometimes whenever one brahmacary would go to Navadvipa and sell even a few copies, I would see my Guru Maharaj become very much pleased…He personally instructed me that books are more important than big temples…So I am always emphasizing book distribution. It is the better kirtana. It is better than chanting. Of course chanting should not stop, but book distribution is the best kirtan. 741024let.SrutadevaDas
Book distribution is bhagavata marg and the temple worship is pancaratriki viddhi. Both are important for cultivating Vaisnavism but comparatively speaking bhagavata marg is more important than pancaratriki viddhi. As far as possible both should go on in parallel lines but still bhagavata marga is more important than the other. 741206let.GovindaDas
This book distribution is the essence of our mission. 741218let.RupanugaDas
But one thing that everyone should understand is that I am not so interested in selling incense as I am in selling books. Distribution of my books is the most important thing. These other things such as selling incense, records etc, are not so much important as this. 741219let.VipinaDas
I like also your program of sending out your best men to teach the others. That is the actual process of Krishna Consciousness: to train others. Continue this program so that in the future every devotee in our movement will know the art of distributing books. This is approved by me. 730803let.RamesvaraDas
So far as the women distributors who have left New York and Boston Temples and have gone to New Vrindaban, they should return immediately and resume their original service. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Movement, everyone is preacher, whether man or woman it doesn’t matter. I do not know why Kirtanananda Maharaja is encouraging our woman devotees not to go out on Sankirtana for book distribution. Everyone should go out. 731006let.KarandharDas
HOW MUCH SRILA PRABHUPADA IS PLEASED BY BOOK DISTRIBUTION.
I am especially happy whenever I learn that my books and literature are being widely distributed, so it is very good news to learn that you are selling so many of our literatures. 700709let.JagadishaDas
I am especially glad that Karandhar is there and that you are working conjointly to print many books. That is my greatest pleasure, to see books being printed and distributed profusely. Without my books how can our preaching go on? 720204let.SudamaDas
I especially appreciate your attitude toward increasing more and more the distribution of our books, that will sanctify all other activities of preaching because preaching means selling books. 720221let.BhaktaDas
I am very keen on the distribution of my books and I am very indebted to all of you for your untiring efforts to see that every man and woman in America gets one of my books. 740420let.HariBasaraDas
Please try to distribute my books in huge quantities more and more. This is very much satisfying to me. 741228let.Mydearsons
… actually it is a fact that ultimately everyone should preach and distribute books if they want to please me in the best way. Book distribution must be given stress always. 741206let.GovindaDas
QUANTITY OF BOOKS SRILA PRABHUPAD EXPECTS US TO DISTRIBUTE
My first concern is that my books shall be published and distributed profusely all over the world. Practically, books are the basis of our movement. Without our books our preaching will have no effect. 720120let.MandaliBhadraDas
Now go on in this way and distribute all of our books profusely, as many as possible to all classes of men. 720904let.JaduraniDD
I am also glad to note that you are distributing the books in increasing numbers. We want that our book distribution should increase more and more in the coming years. 741121let.NrisimhaCaitanyaDas
I want that my books be distributed in huge quantities, and thus we will be able to thoroughly convince the majority of the population especially there in America. 741219let.VipinaDas
Please try to distribute my books in huge quantities more and more. This is very much satisfying to me. 741228let.MydearSons
Regarding book distribution, this is my foremost desire to have my books circulated profusely. 750104let.PrabhaVishnuDas
Fight with Maya means to drop thousands and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during wartime the bombs are raining from the sky like anything. 730803let.RamesvaraDas
BENEFITS DERIVED FROM BOOK DISTRIBUTION.
To Bhavananda Das, 28 October 1970. So, all our books are as good as Krishna because we deal in the books about Krishna only. Therefore taking shelter of these books means taking shelter of Krishna – there is no doubt about it and if you stick to this principle there will be no attack from Maya. 701028let.BhavanandaDas
Our book distribution program is most important work. Anyone reading our KRISHNA book, TLC, NOD and BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS, is sure to become a Krishna Conscious person. 710305let.JananivasaDas
These books are so nice that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. You can show them Krishna Book and ask them to read any part and if they like what they have read they should purchase, and if not you will walk away. Who could resist? Krishna book is so nice that everyone will like it, either as a storybook or history or whatever, they are sure to be attracted. Simply it depends on your presentation. So do it nicely and Krishna will help you. 710325let.SukadevaDas
These books are so potent that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. 710422let.JohnMillner
If you simply push on this one activity of distributing my books, your all success will be there. I have hatched this “transcendental plot” for getting money by selling my books, and if we stick only to this plan, and use our brain for selling books, there will easily be sufficient money. 711115let.LalitKumar
So go on in this way distributing my books in Djakarta, that is solid work. If we simply sell many books, then all our success is guaranteed. 711225let.AmoghaDas
If there are ample books, everything else will succeed. 711228let.YogesvaraDas
The more will sell books, the more we advance in Krishna Consciousness, and the more we help others to have solid information how they may take advantage of their human form of life and achieve the supreme perfection. So I want that you should now increase very greatly this selling of books and literatures. I have heard that in San Francisco they are selling daily not less than 75 Krishna books. So I am VERY much encouraged to hear this. Now you take this spirit of transcendental rivalry… 720110let.KulasekaraDas
I am pleased that your distribution of literatures is also increasing. Go on giving this matter your full attention. The more books we sell, the more we ourselves advance in Krishna Consciousness. 720110let.SriGovindaDas
There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books – in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. All reading of outside books, except in certain authorized cases such as for example to read some philosopher like Plato to make an essay comparing his philosophy with Krishna’s philosophy – but otherwise all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. It is simply another botheration. If my students cannot even read my own books thoroughly, why they should read others? I have given you TLC, what need is there to read Caitanya Caritamrita translated by some else? You are right to stop such reading. 720120let.SriGovindaDas
I especially appreciate your attitude toward increasing more and more the distribution of our books that will sanctify all other activities of preaching because preaching means selling books. 720221let.BhaktaDas
Without such books and magazines, our preaching work has no authorized basis, so there must be always books. 720224let.KrishnaDas
…see that every man and woman in America get one of my books. If they simply read one page, even if they do nothing else, they can become perfect… whatever transcendental tactics you leaders think best for distributing the books you can employ. 740420let.HariBasaraDas
If you are actually serious about taking out a traveling party your main activity should be to distribute books. By this most powerful preaching we are becoming very influential in your country and people are seriously reading the books and considering the importance of Krishna Consciousness. 740501let.MahatmaDas
In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. 741122let.BahurupaDas
I am glad that you have understood the importance of my books, therefore I am stressing it so much. Let everyone take these books. If he simply reads one page then he is getting something substantial, a real eternal benefit. 741228let.TamalKrishnaGoswami
Regarding dishonest means being used I have never advised or taught anyone like that. That is not my idea…. Book distribution is our real business. If we give them a record, they simply hear some magical sounds and take it for sense gratification, but if they receive one of our books and read even one page, they get eternally benefited. Therefore I am stressing this book distribution, not other things. Stop record selling completely. This is my order. 750106let.AjitaDas
SB Preface. Srimad-Bhagavatam should be introduced also in the schools and colleges, for it is the recommended by the great student devotee Prahlada Maharaj in order to change the demoniac face of society.
“The word kriyasu, meaning “by manual labor” or “by work” is important in this verse. One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krishna Consciousness movement, all our activities are concentrated upon distributing Krishna literature. This is very important. One may approach any person and induce him to read Krishna literature so that in the future he also may become a devotee. Such activities are recommended in this verse. Kriyasu yas tvac-caranaravindayoh. Such activities will always remind the devotees of the Lord’s lotus feet. By fully concentrating on distributing books for Krishna, one is fully absorbed in Krishna. This is samadhi.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.37, Purport.
We are receiving the transcendental knowledge through guru-parampara succession. So we have to simply take instruction from guru, and if we execute that to our heart and soul, that is success. That is practical. I have no personal qualification, but I simply tried to satisfy my guru. That’s all. My Guru Mahäräja asked me that “If you get some money, you print books.” So there was a private meeting, talking, some of my important Godbrothers also there. It was in Radha-kuëòa. So Guru Maharaja was speaking to me that “Since we have got this Bagh Bazaar marble temple, there has been so many dissensions, and everyone is thinking who will occupy this room or that room. I wish, therefore, to sell this temple and the marble and print some book.” Yes. So I took up this from his 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.
Arrival Address, Los Angeles, June 20, 1975.
Dallas, 30 July, 1975
75-07-30
Srimatis Jagaddhatri, Pasupati,
Sailogata, & Pamela Devi Dasis
My Dear Daughters:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 29, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding the problem of how to be aggressive on Sankirtana and submissive in the temple, my request to you is that you should go on being aggressive on Sankirtana. I myself was aggressive in coming to your country. No one invited me. Even you boys and girls did not invite me. But, I came and I preached aggressively, and therefore you are now my disciples. So now you well know you have to approach the men and women of your country, and it may appear that superficially that you have to disturb them. They are doing their business peacefully, and you come and disturb them, “Please take this Krishna book.”
Of course it is good that you are concerned about being chaste, shy, and submissive amongst your god brothers. Canakya Pandit said that every man should see all other women as mother, and similarly a woman should see all men as son. So what is your difficulty? If you are completely aggressive on Sankirtana, there should be no material aggressiveness and pride remaining. You have to distinguish between devotees and non-devotees.
Aggression for the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is pure. If you become completely absorbed in such aggression to spread Sankirtana Movement, there will be no question of wanting to lord it over in the temple. Preaching purifies us of these material tendencies for sense gratification. It is simply a matter of time that you will see this. Do not worry. Krishna will help you.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well wisher,
- C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
New Vrindavan
15 June, 1969
My dear Krishna Devi,
…
I am pleased to learn that you are thinking of putting together a cookbook of our Krishna prasadam recipes. I understand that in London, Yamuna Dasi has already done some work on this same project, so you may correspond with her in this connection. I know that at our feasts especially many persons become interested in preparing foodstuffs in this way, so this cookbook is a nice thing to instruct such persons in preparing and offering nice prasadam for the Lord. So when there is some tangible book ready for publication, please inform me, and we shall try to arrange for its publication. I am pleased to note your description of the increasing interest in vegetarian diet in this country. Actually, the practice of meat-eating is very detrimental to spiritual life, because in spiritual life the goal is to become free from all sinful reactions, and meat-eating means simply to force oneself to suffer the sinful reactions of killing our fellow living entities. So as many people will be taking to practicing spiritual life through the influence of our Sankirtana Movement, such cookbook will be very important, and you should work for this as you are able.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
…..There are two types of animal-killers. The soul is also sometimes called the “animal” or the living being. Therefore, both the slaughterer of animals and those who have lost their identity of soul are animal-killers.
Mahäräja Parékñit said that only the animal-killer cannot relish the transcendental message of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if people are to be educated to the path of Godhead, they must be taught first and foremost to stop the process of animal-killing as above mentioned. It is nonsensical to say that animal-killing has nothing to do with spiritual realization. …………This rejection of the Vedas by Lord Buddha was adopted in order to save people from the vice of animal-killing as well as to save the poor animals from the slaughtering process of their big brothers who clamor for universal brotherhood, peace, justice and equity. There is no justice when there is animal-killing. SB 1.3.24 P.
Srimad-Bhagavatam class 1.16.8.
Los Angeles, 5 January 1974
There is no comparison. There is no literature throughout the universe like Srimad-Bhagavatam. There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society, every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one’s hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, “Oh, I have taken so much price. Let me see what is there.” If he reads one shloka, his life will be successful, if one shloka, one word. This is such nice things. Therefore we are stressing so much,
“PLEASE DISTRIBUTE BOOKS, DISTRIBUTE BOOKS, DISTRIBUTE BOOKS!”
--The Australian Society for Krishna Culture. AUSKCULTURE, operation start 1984 -- ABN 65 231 425 870. 