A day-by-day report

Posted on August 18, 2011 by admin-vasanti 1 Comment

Book Distribution Report

by Chandrika Devi Dasi

Miami, Florida.

July 2011

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Right after picking up the books from my mailbox, I decided to talk to the University of Miami (UM) Reservation Office to see if I could set up a table for book distribution on campus. Unfortunately, I was not able to do so since UM, a private institution, do not have that particular set-up for Alumni. Consequently, I have to distributive the books off campus.

On the home, I took the metro-rail and while waiting for the train, I approached two UM female employees and a man sitting next to them. The Indian lady, who was my previous classmate in our Spanish class, was interested in knowing the self and love. So after giving a brief introduction of the books I gave Indian lady a copy of “The Way of Love” and “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self, and her co-worker, also a copy of the” Secret of the Undiscovered Self. Next to them sat a   man, to whom I gave a copy of “The Way of Love.”

On board the metro-rail, I talked to an English major student, and gave her a copy of” Secret of the Undiscovered Self,” and “The Way of Love.” Across from the student, sat a black lady reading the newspaper. She refused to take any books, but after telling her that our cross may not pass again, she gladly took a copy of “The Way of Love.”

When I got to work, I managed to talk to several of my co-workers and students without being apprehended by the supervisors. I was very happy to be able to distribute copies of ”Secret of the Undiscovered Self,” and  a copy of “The Way of Love ” to  my coworker, Yolanda G., Beverly (Pre-Med major), and Carmen (Pre-Law major). To Alexandro (Criminal justice major), I gave a copy of”Secret of the Undiscovered Self.”

After work, I went to South Beach to do some shopping.  Walking down the popular Lincoln road, I distributed a copy of   “Secret of the Undiscovered Self,” to a female Jewelry seller, and to a female tourist from South Carolina. I also gave copies of   ”Essence of Bhagavad-Gita,” and a copy of “The Way of Love” to a young Hispanic guy who stopped me for blood donation.

Friday, July 15, 2011

John R. , a Math-tutor at the Miami-Dade College Math-lab, has previously written an exposition of Emily Bronte’s poems for his English course comparing the poet’s tone and mysticism to that of the Bhagavad-Gita’s. He was very pleased to receive a copy of the “Essence of the Bhagavad-Gita” and “Siva-Tattva”.

Lucas, V., a Seven – Day Adventist Christian, is a MDC Math Instructor and a supervisor at the MDC Math-lab. To him, I gave a copy of “the Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” explaining to him that there is no conflict between Christianity and Krsna-consciousness, and that the bible do not expound on the topic of the Eternal Self.

Jose D., a Catholic, is also a MDC Math Instructor and a supervisor at the MDC Math-lab. To him, I gave a copy of the “Journey of the Soul,” “The Way of Love,” “Siva-Tattva,” “The essence of Bhagavad-Gita” and “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self.” Jose got interested in Krsna-consciousness after attending a nama-hatta program with BV Damodar Maharaj, held at my apt. He especially loves hari-katha. I had previously given him a copy of the Bhagavad-Gita, which he likes to read.

On my way home, I stopped by at the college café.  There I distributed copies of “The Way of Love,” and “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self” to two older ladies having coffee, and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita” to an older female English major.

At the metro-rail, I approached a black man in his forties.  Although he accepted a copy of the “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self” and a copy of “Siva-Tattva,” he refused to disclose who he was or what he does for a living. So I left him alone.

*Total books distributed for Friday: 14 booklets and 1 medium book

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Today, I decided to stop at the college and downtown Miami to distribute books. At the Earlington Heights metro-rail station, I approached a Hispanic family on their way downtown. Majority of Hispanic in Miami do not speak English very well, so I was happy Julio Perez chatted with me while we wait for the train to arrive. Julio works at the Aventura Hospital, and he likes to read spiritual literature. His young daughter is also an avid reader. They were happy to receive a copies of “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” “Way of Love” and “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.” I promised to get him a copy of the full version of Bhagavad-Gita for future reading.

Once I reached downtown, I stopped by my workplace at MDC where I distributed a copy of “Way of love” to my friend Marie (Biology major) and to Andrea (Social Studies major).  To Arange, (Pre-Med major), I gave him “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self” and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.” He spoke to me about how he had seen devotees on harinam-sankirtan a couple of times, chanting on the streets, and realized that the devotees were giving mercy to the public with their chanting. I was very impressed with this realization, so I gave him a deeper understanding of Krsna-consciousness.  I am glad that almost all of my friends that I have approached are open to Krsna-consciousness.

From there, I went to Indian Prem, a grocery store where my Indian friend, Ashok, works. I asked him if he could distribute “Siva-Tattva” to his Indian contacts and also to the Indian costumers. He gladly accepts the request, so I gave him 8 copies of “Siva-Tattva.” Next door to Indian Prem, I distributed a copy of “The Secrets of the Undiscovered Self” and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita” to Caesar, the owner to Boutique store.

Next, I stopped by at the local Health store, where I distributed a copy of “The Way of Love,” “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita” to Charro, who owns and runs the store with her husband. The couple loves to associate with devotees who often stop by their store.

The last two booklets I distributed for the day were copies of the “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” to two young black female students who were waiting for the bus. I didn’t have the chance to talk to them since the bus arrived.

Sunday July 17, 2011

On Sundays, I usually commute to Miami Beach to buy bhoga at the Lincoln Road farmer’s market. I brought along a few books to distribute. That day I decide to way down the beach to see if I could distribute some books to interested people. Although I get the feeling that I would not get good response from the public, I tried anyway.

I first approached a group of European tourists, but the man in the group reacted negatively. Then I approached a couple of Hispanic ladies in their thirties, who were happy to chat with me since they were familiar with Krsna-consciousness and have devotee friends from the ISCKON temple in Coconut Grove, FL. I gave both of them copies of “The Way of Love,” and “Essence of Bhagavad-Gita,” and took their phone number as well because they wanted to attend nama-hatta programs. After that, it started to rain, and I left the beach scene to take cover in the shops along Ocean Drive.

The last stop for the day was Macy’s Store on Lincoln Road. They were having a big sale that weekend. Puja, a young Indian lady in her twenties helped me out with my shopping. I was thankful for her assistance and so gave her a copy of “The Way of Love “and “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.”

Monday, July 18, 2011 – Worked, no book distribution activity.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 – It rained all day. No book distribution activity.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

At work, I approached other friends of mine and students that I have helped.  Elena, who is in her forties, works as the receptionist at MDC Math-lab. She was very excited about the books, and grateful for my distributing the books. She expressed her understanding that my book distribution is an act of helping others understand life better. I gladly gave her a copy of “The Way of Love,” “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.”

Guillermo, who is a Math Instructor at MDC, likes to discuss about mathematical concepts in real-life applications. We have exchanged much information on such topics in the past. So it was no surprise that he was open to Srila Gurudeva’s writings. I gave him a copy of the “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self” and told him that I have other books that would interest him also. He replied that he will start with this book first, since he felt this book is the beginning step to the Absolute Knowledge that oppressive governments do not want their constituents to discover.  What a realization! I cannot wait to get other books that would help him in his spiritual journey.

Next, I talked to Melissa, a devout Christian who accepted the “The Way of Love,” and a copy of “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.” She does not want to worship anything other the Holy Trinity she said, but wanted to give the books to her instructor who has similar spirituality.

After teaching my class, I run into Mozell, a former student of mine, a black male in his late forties, who was surprised I approached him about spirituality. He showed me some of the Christian literature that had been recommended to him by other friends. He further disclosed to me that he has reached the point in his life where he is discovering God. I then talked to him about the eternal soul, and distributed to him a copy of “The Journey of the Soul”, “The Way of Love,” and “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.”

The last person I talked to at the Math-lab was Marckenley, the afternoon receptionist at the Math-lab. I know he is a Christian, so I first asked him, “How open-minded are you?” To which he replied, “Oh, I’m very open-minded…you need to be able to see other perspectives in life. I like to know other people’s perspective…”  Wonderful! I exclaimed. He gladly accepted a copy of “the Way of Love.” At this I believed I have already run out of the “Secrets of the Undiscovered Self,” which I had wanted to give him also.

I went to Publix, the local groceries chain store in Brickell, where I talked to Joliane and Keara, two employees there. Although I noticed that their supervisor was watching them, I managed to distributed copies of “The Way of Love,” and “The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita” to Keara and a copy of “The Way of Love” to Joliane.

I got very busy for the rest of the week, due to final exams week preparation. However, I managed to distribute two “Siva-Tattva” booklets, one copy to Ajata Satru Das, (ISCKON devotee) and another to Caitanya Candra Das (disciple of Paramadwaita Swami).  I also run into Monique (one of my former student) as I was commuting on the people mover. She has read the Bhagavad-Gita before but by a different author. So she was interested in reading Gurudeva’s “Essence of Bhagavad-Gita.”

Wednesday, July 28, 2011

I spoke with Kamala Didi, who lives in Hollywood, Fl. yesterday on the phone and asked her if she would distribute the “Siva-Tattva” booklets at the Siva Temple in Margate Fl. where she goes most Sundays. She said that would be a good place to distribute those booklets and I will give her the 12 copies of “Siva-Tattva” that I still have with me to distribute.

This is the account of the booklets and the two medium books that I distributed. I may have not remembered all of them. I am just so happy that due the gvp book sponsorship program, I got this opportunity to continue Srila Gurudeva’s mission- to give away the Absolute Knowledge to those who wants to receive.  I am beginning to understand Gurudeva’s mood, his mercy and his mission. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! Radhe Radhe!