A Funny thing happened

By Braja Bihari Dasa

It was 1984 and after distributing books at the State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, we had parked in a Days Inn parking lot for the night. Our van of five brahmacharis was fast asleep when we heard over a megaphone, “Alright in there! Come out slowly with your hands raised!”

I looked out the window surprised to see the van surrounded by ten police cars and more than a dozen officers with their guns drawn!

We emerged from the van squinting from the bright flashlights burning our eyes. The officers began to frisk each one of us, though we were dressed only in gamshas (bath towels).

“What are you doing here?” the officer in charge demanded.

“We are distributing love of God in the form of books,” I explained.

“Prove it!”

I opened the van doors, thinking this to perhaps be a dream. I reached into one of the boxes, pulled out a Bhagavad-gita and handed it to the officer in charge. He intently inspected the book, then me, then the book again, until finally he broke the silence declaring, “All glories to Srila Prabhupada!”

I was taken aback, as were his gun-toting subordinates. At this point I was convinced this was all a dream! The officer in charge proudly explained, “I used to go to the University of Florida and regularly ate the Krishna lunch. You practically put me through college. I even stayed two days at the temple!”

Turning to his associates he pronounced, “These are great books and you should all buy one.” On his order, the officers began reaching for their wallets. Of the twenty officers, I think about 90% of them took books. We made almost $200!

Our new friend then apologized for the abrupt entry, telling us that earlier that night a gun store had been robbed and the description of the getaway vehicle exactly matched our van. I doubt I got back to sleep that night after one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. But thanks to prasadam distribution it turned into a great sankirtan story!

I also remember once in 1991 we went to Toronto temple to do book distribution, and we had a marathon there for almost one month on Young street, Tripurari Maharaja also used to sell many books there many years ago, it is great spot for sankirtana in the summer .Actually what I like to mention is when we came back through the border to US-Canada- we got stopped on the US side (close to Buffalo in upstate New York ) and one officer asked to see the contend of our van, so he started to look and opened one cabin that had some of the books we devotees would use for personal reading, he pulled out the Nectar of devotion, He shouted out :’ Hi Guys come over here, this is the Nectar of Devotion, ( as if he as a customs agent had found the greatest treasure on earth he was talking to his fellow officers ) He then told us he used to go to the temple in Buffalo and once met Srila Prabhupada there and heard him give a lecture, he asked if he could make a donation for the Nectar of devotion, and gave us $ 50 US . He told us he often would tell his colleagues about the time he spend with the Krishnas ,and Srila Prabhupada.

Once in Boston a Logon Airport in 1989 I was distributing books with Murli Krsna das (or Murli Krsna Swami) ,Murli Krsna stopped one young man, with a question :Are you flying in or out? He was a bit confused , and though maybe Murli was part of some security check…Murli explained what this was about and handed him a hard cover Bhagavad Gita- he was very interested an bought the book. The next moment I stopped a middle age gentleman with his teenage daughter…He was so happy to see the Bhagavad Gita as it is….’You know, I used to go see the Swami at the lower east side in New York City , and I went often, but I have not had my own personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita in many years . He took out a $ 20 bill and handed it to me.’Thank you so much for what you guys are doing’.

Then he turned to his daughter and showed her the Bhagavad Gita, he told her this is the book I named you after , her name was’ Gita’.

I believe he was one of the most satisfied persons I have ever met, that we sold Srila Prabhupadas book too.

Personal experience

By Bhaktin Sara Bock

We never can tell what effect Krishna’s name or His books will have on people.

One lady who I work with ended up in the hospital – in a room that happened to have a view of the LA Krishna temple. She had learned some mantras in our meditation class at work, and had visited the temple once when we took a field trip there.

She called from the hospital and asked me to bring her books, music, and Krishna food while she was in the hospital to cheer her up. Part of me hesitated for fear of work authorities accusing me of “proselytizing” in a work related situation, but deeply I knew this was too important to pass up! I dropped off some books, music, and of course Krishna cookies.

A week later when returning she told me of her situation – she reads daily Light of the Bhagavata which she loves, and each morning at 5 am, and each night before bed, she closes her hospital room door, looks out the window at the temple, turns on her “Temple Bhajan Band” music, and chants and dances to lift her spirit.

Hospitals seem to be a very wide open door for sharing Krishna Consciousness with others.

Hare Krishna.

Our Purpose

The Mission:

The purpose of Sastra Dana is to enable you to participate directly in the missionary activities of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books by sponsoring them. Our goal is to expose as many people as possible to the spiritual information given in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

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How Do We Distribute the Books?

By placing donated books in locations where they are properly kept and read, such as libraries, schools, prisonhouses, hospital waiting rooms, government offices, dentists’ offices, and nail and hair salons. Sastra Dana members also distribute books to relatives, colleagues, etc.

How Can You Participate?

By sponsoring the books, by coming up with creative ideas for getting donations or for distributing books, by personally distributing the sponsored books, by telling others about the program, etc.

What are the Benefits of Sastra Dana?

Everyone benefits! People in general benefit by getting a chance to read about Krishna, and you directly participate in the preaching mission of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. Your help increases book distribution, which is the highest welfare work for all humanity.

All BBT publications are made available to you at the printing cost only. Donations to Sastra Dana are fully tax deductible. Receipts are available upon request.