The first important point about book distribution, in my realization, is that we can’t distribute what we don’t have. We go out to try to give people Krsna consciousness and to convince them about the importance of Srila Prabhupada’s books, but it’s not possible to do that if we ourselves are not Krsna conscious, and don’t have faith in his words.
According to the descriptions of different disciples of Srila Prabhupada who were in the movement in the 1970s, one of the major differences at those times was that devotees had a very strong faith in Srila Prabhupada’s words, and were very much into studying his books, anxiously waiting for new volumes to come. Devotees would read, discuss together different points, have mock philosophical disputes (where one would play the role of an atheist, impersonalist, etc. and the other one would try to defeat him using arguments from the books), and so on, and therefore they would quickly get a good understanding of the philosophy and become firmly convinced about the value of Srila Prabhupada’s books. By having such understanding and faith, they were able to present the books with conviction and therefore to inspire the public to take books and accept Krsna consciousness.
It’s not always possible to have close association with Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, and many have already left this planet. However, we can always associate with them through the Memories of Srila Prabhupada series, which contain the memories of numbers of disciples who had personal contact with him. By hearing from them, and from other devotees that have firm fate, we can get infused with the same spirit. That’s the essence of the parampara system: the message is transmitted from one generation to the next through oral reception.
In any case, the progression is the same for us. The first step is to study the books, understand their value, get convinced about the philosophy and apply it to our own lives. We need to develop our connection with Srila Prabhupada and our faith in his words. From such faith, we will get the necessary conviction to go out and distribute his books. One who is not convinced himself will not be able to convince others. Actually, the opposite may happen: he may end up getting convinced by the people he is trying to preach to. This is what actually happens when we go on book distribution and become mental. This means that the conviction of the people on their materialistic activities is actually stronger than our determination in spreading Krsna consciousness, therefore they continue their activities, but we become mental and go home.
Personally, I don’t recommend that one try to go out before he attains such conviction. It’s better to wait, continue studying, associating with devotees and doing service until such faith is established. Srila Prabhupada himself gave a similar instruction to Madhava dasa in 1975:
“Better read these books thoroughly and be firmly convinced yourself before going to these demons for convincing them. if you are weak yourself, while trying to convert them, you will be converted by them. Don’t try any hard task before you are very strong. Chant 16 rounds daily, follow the rules and regulations, and read our books. Don’t become very big preacher immediately.” (Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Madhava, 20 May 1975)
The second point is to develop our own Krsna consciousness. If we live close to a temple, we can join the morning programs and do some service. If we live far, or can’t go for different reasons, we should at least create a routine that allows us to read and chant our japa in the morning. This will give a lot of spiritual strength.
Our minds are very restless, therefore we have to put some effort into controlling them, in order to chant attentively. The first step is to follow the four principles and to avoid or, at least restrict our exposure to materialistic pollution, like TV, mundane movies and music, etc. These things create powerful samskaras which stay in our minds for a long time, creating remembrances, desires, and fantasies that destroy our concentration while chanting. If one can stay for a certain period without contact with any of these things, simply immersed in studying the books, chanting, and performing different devotional activities, he will notice that his mind will become much more peaceful.
While chanting, the best is to just sit down and concentrate on the mantra, the vibration of Krsna’s names, focussing all our attention on the chanting until we chant all our rounds. Naturally, for this to work, we have to be well-rested, otherwise, we will just fall asleep. Therefore, it’s important to go to sleep early, so we can wake up early and at the same time be well-rested. In the days when we are feeling tired, we can chant while standing or pacing back and forth. Srila Prabhupada himself was teaching this:
HG Srutakirti Prabhu: In New Dwaraka he told me, “In the evening, if I get tired, I walk and chant. If you are tired, then walk and chant like I do. Sometimes, if I am tired, I pace back and forth in the room. Simply, in one room you can do everything. If you are tired, you can stand up and chant, like I do.” (Srila Prabhupada Uvaca, 62)
Usually, it’s easier to concentrate while sitting, looking at the tip of the nose, or with closed eyes, so the mind can be fully absorbed, but to stand or pace back and forth is our second-best option, useful for when we are too tired to be able to concentrate while sitting (much better to chant while walking than to just fall asleep). Anyway, it’s recommendable to practice and try to chant at least part of our rounds seated, in full concentration.
“Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma Muhurta time. Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally. Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing.” (Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Radhavallabha, 6 January 1972)
In any case, our japa is the first battle of the day. If we lose this battle, the tendency is that everything else will go even worse, especially book distribution. Better to start the day well.
As we concentrate on the chanting, we may start meditating on one particular form of the Lord, but this should come naturally, not in a forced or artificial way. The first step is to feel the presence of the Lord in the chanting and understand that He and His names are non-different. As explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: “When anarthas will be removed due to chanting the Holy Name, then Krishna’s form, qualities and pastimes will automatically manifest from the name. There is no need to make an endeavor to artificially remember His form, qualities and pastimes.”
Maya is waiting for us with her sledgehammer. As soon as we go out to distribute books, she starts trying to smash us with her weapon, testing our strength and determination. If we are not careful in our spiritual practice and not determined in chanting 16 rounds or more before going out, we will not stand a chance.
“If you want to stay in Krsna Consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Sastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don’t take this movement as something cheap.” (Srila Prabhupada, letter to Srutadeva 30 October 1976)
The third point is that studying Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly is essential for any devotee, but for book distributors, it’s eminently crucial. Book distribution is a powerful type of yajna, and as in any other type of yajna, it requires that we make some sacrifice. Instead of sacrificing grains and ghee, we sacrifice our energy, time and effort. In order to be able to continue, we should know well why we are doing it, and for that, we have to study the books. As Srila Prabhupada wrote: “Actually these books are the foundation stone of our movement.” (letter to Hrdayananda, 31 October 1974).
During the discussion for the custody of Ajamila, the Visnudutas challenged the Yamadutas on the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion. Having studied under Yamaraja, the Yamadutas gave a convincing sastric explanation. Naturally, the Visnudutas were operating under a higher principle and in the end, they won the argument, but the example of the Yamadutas is very significant for us. In his purport, Srila Prabhupada emphasizes that all devotees, but especially preachers, must be well versed in the philosophy, and thus be able to give convincing answers when challenged by others. When preaching, we are representing our guru, Srila Prabhupada and all previous acaryas, therefore we must know well the mission and philosophy of our movement.
“The question posed by the Visnudutas was very suitable. One who represents someone else must fully know that person’s mission. The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement must therefore be fully aware of the mission of Krsna and Lord Caitanya; otherwise they will be considered foolish. All devotees, especially preachers, must know the philosophy of Krsna consciousness so as not to be embarrassed and insulted when they preach.” (SB 6.1.38 purport)
Another point is that when we are distributing books, we are trying to convince the public about the importance of spiritual life and spiritual knowledge. If we are not cultivating spiritual knowledge ourselves, our so-called preaching becomes a farce. As Srila Prabhupada points out in a letter to Tribhuvanatha Prabhu, from 16 June 1972:
“I am very much stressing nowadays that my students shall increase their reading of my books and try to understand them from different angles of vision. Each sloka can be seen from many, many angles of vision, so become practiced in seeing things like this. If we are selling the books but we do not know what is inside the book, then that will be a farce, especially if you are preaching and selling books to the students of Edinburgh”.
The secret is to read the books in a disciplined way, always reading for a certain time, or a fixed number of pages daily. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to study for at least one or two hours a day. If one can read 40 pages per day, he is going to read the whole Srimad-Bhagavatam in less than one year. Then, in another year, he can read all the rest of Srila Prabhupada’s books, with still some time left to read a few other books by his disciples and grand-disciples. If one continues like that until the end of his life, he will have enough time to read all Srila Prabhupada’s books 10, 15 or even 20 times!
Even if you can read only 10 pages per day, still you will finish all the books in around 7 years. In other words: just by reading 10 pages daily, one can read all the books three times or more during his lifetime. There’s really no excuse, except, perhaps, lack of interest in spiritual life.
Different from mundane books, spiritual literature can be read unlimited times, since every time we read, we learn new things and get new realizations. There is unlimited taste, and the more we study, the more it increases:
“We read the scriptures again and again and it is still fresh. When there is time I go on reading my own books.” (Srila Prabhupada, letter to Hamsaduta, 01 October 1974)
“Bhagavad-gita can be read or heard many times, but because it gives great pleasure, the more one reads Bhagavad-gita the more he gets the appetite to read and understand it, and each time he gets new enlightenment. That is the nature of the transcendental message. Similarly, we find that transcendental happiness in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The more we hear and chant the glories of the Lord, the more we become happy.” (SB 3.25.2, Purport)
“Another specific description here is srnvan bhagavato ’bhiksnam avatara-kathamrtam. It is not that because one has once finished Bhagavad-gita he should not hear it again. The word abhiksnam is very important. We should hear again and again. There is no question of stopping: even if one has read these topics many times, he should go on reading again and again because bhagavat-katha, the words spoken by Krsna and spoken by Krsna’s devotees about Krsna, are amrtam, nectar. The more one drinks this amrtam, the more he advances in his eternal life.” (SB 7.14.3–4 Purport)
“I am very pleased that you are keeping to a very strict schedule and are reading my literature daily. If you continue in this manner you will grow up to be a first class preacher of Krsna consciousness. And this is the highest service that you can perform.” (Srila Prabhupada, letter to Ekendra, 03 February 1972)
Before building a house, we must spend time building a good foundation. Without it, we can build the most beautiful house, but it will fall apart in a short time. Similarly, to study Srila Prabhupada’s books is the foundation of our spiritual lives, and such foundation is especially tested when we go out to distribute books. Not only are the people going to question why we are distributing these books, but our minds are going to demand convincing explanations. Without the right philosophical foundations, we are not going to last. We have to build and continuously reinforce our foundation with the regular study of Srila Prabhupada’s books.