by Vasanti dasi
BOOK DISTRIBUTION SEVA IN BHUBANESHWAR
07.12.2010 – 09.12.2010
Haribol devotees! Dandavat pranams and greetings from Bhubaneswar and Jagannatha Puri! Yesterday 6 young devotees in our ladies seva team travelled to the annual Bhubaneswar bookfair to continue the distribution of Srila Gurudeva’s transcendental literature. After an auspicious morning of parikrama of Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama under the senior guidance of Sripad Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja, the ladies seva team arrived infused with an exalted mood from the dust of the holy Dhama. Jaya!
With more than 500 publication groups participating in the book-fair, in various genres such as yoga, philosophy, literature and education, we were met with a crowd that was open and eager about reading, ideas, and spiritual life. Many young people gladly accepted “The Way of Love” and “Journey of the Undiscovered Self” which opened many a lively conversation on the nature of the soul and for contact with other amazing books. For half the team, this bookfair marked their first book distribution seva. Taruni dasi observed an upbeat and brave spirit in the new ladies as they approached book browsers for the first time. Despite certain language barriers we realized that sincerity and trust in Gurudeva and the books empowered the strong connections we made with others.
Sita dasi shared that many were astonished and curious to encounter Western women distributing books on Krishna. “Why have you left your country of opulence and wealth (so many conceptions of USA and Russia) to come to India? Who are you? How do you know Lord Krishna?” We shared about the power of Srila Gurudeva’s mission distributing the true wealth to the lost jivas – pure bhakti. Just as the bee is attracted by the nectar of the flowers, so our hearts are searching for the highest love and affection. In many of our encounters, Indians expressed moods of deep appreciation and honor toward the power of the Vedas to speak to souls all over the world. Such is the nature of the Absolute Himself! The sakti of the transcendental literatures lifted our energies to continue book distribution late into the evening and periodically we checked in with one another to exchange inspiring anecdotes from those who received books.
dandavat pranams. very nice service, I miss my younger days when I was still doing sankirtan. All glories to Sri Krsna saankirtan! All glories to Mahaprabhu!
Excellent idea & deploying the young western devotees is bound to attract lots of Oriya attention.
Good move, top points for this one.
ys
tkd
Hari bol,,,how amazing and fortunate for those born in the land of Bharatavarsha, to be given an opportunity to remember their roots. Especially by foreigners, as it was foreigners who for centuries tried to destroy their roots of Sanatana Dharma.
The western civilization has tried to put a Coke factory, and a McDonalds on every Indian street corner, trying to make people forget their own orginal spiritual culture, of hot milk and samosa.
If you had a large tray of samosa’s for prasadam distribution, it would compliment your book distribution.
So inspirational to hear of your good works.