Sankirtan Update From the Longmont Devotees

My wife and I were pondering how to reach out the community with Prabhupada books during the pandemic and we happened to see little birdfeeder-sized, house-shaped structures full of books on the front lawns of houses in our neighborhood. We thought that these would be nice altars for Prabhupada books, and peeked inside. They contained books related to fiction, science, romance, health, and travel as well as kids’ books. As we didn’t see any spiritual books, we thought to place Bhagavad-Gita and other small books of Prabhupada. We went to one of the Little Free Libraries to put Prabhupada’s books, stood there for a few minutes and returned with the books in our hand. On our third attempt, by the Lord’s mercy, the landlady came out, encouraged us to put Bhagavad-Gita and other books in that library. Further, she said, “In fact, we have been looking for such books. They help us to feel solace, strengthen our mind and heart, and develop community bonds with people of all ages in the neighborhood”. We placed the books we had with us, and returned with some more Prabhupada books. When we returned, by then the landlady was reading Bhagavad-Gita As It is sitting on her porch and the other three books were gone. We were very enthused that people are appreciating Prabhupada’s books, so we started filling all the Little Free Libraries located in our neighborhood. We made sure that every library should have a copy of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and 3-5 other Prabhupada books including Krishna book and Srimad Bhagavatam First Canto. Out of curiosity, we revisited all those libraries. When we saw all Prabhupada books were gone, we wondered whether they were thrown out or people took them to read. With mixed feelings we peeked into another library and saw a request note for a personal copy of Krishna book and in another library a note on Bhagavatam copy – “Next volume please”. We felt that people are appreciating Prabhupada books, and with redoubled enthusiasm, we placed a Krishna book in a gift wrap, and first Canto of Bhagavatam in those libraries and thought of extending this to neighboring towns.

Thus far we have covered over 150 locations in our neighboring cities from Fort Collins, to Boulder, to Lakewood, Colorado. The interesting thing is we have located almost 95% of the mapped little libraries, yet we placed books in 105% of them. Meaning, we didn’t find some in listed routes and found a few that weren’t listed. While filling the libraries, our consciousness also purified (any connection with Krishna is purifying) and turned in to compassion on the people living in those areas. We no longer felt that those are Little Free Libraries. We felt each library is a heart of all the souls of the neighborhood, and the whole community has set up an altar for Prabhupada and were blessed with an opportunity to have vani association with Prabhupada. While doing Little Libraries, we didn’t feel like we were missing other routine activities, in fact we were able to accomplish other routine tasks as well, indicating that when we utilize the time in Krishna’s service, it favors and expands for us because time is Krishna. 

The entire devotee community in our town is being surcharged with enthusiasm and fervor for book distribution. The mantra for the marathon is “Double it”.  I take this opportunity to thank all devotes who supported us to accomplish this mission by providing Prabhupada books and Little Library routes. 

I take this opportunity to share the following few lines to enhance the mood of book distribution. 

Brihat-mridanga ’the great drum’ - A phrase coined by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura; refers to the power of the printing press—as its sound (books) can be heard all around the world. 

Transcendental book distribution was started in the mid-16th century when Narottama Dasa Thakura, Srinivasa Acharya and Shyamananda Pandit traveled to Bengal and elsewhere with the writings of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan.  

A couple of centuries later the great acharya Bhaktivinoda Thakura had the foresight to predict the appearance of Srila Prabhupada, his future activities and that the chanting of the holy name will be heard and practiced in all corners of the world (Russians, Europeans, and Americans). 

Our predecessor Acharyas, beginning with Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, through the six Goswamis, to Narottama das Thakura, to Bhaktivinoda Thakura to Srila Prabhupada, has given us the secret of how to multiply this process many times. That is brihat mridanga. 

The Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and Chaitanya Charitamrita, and even magazines with extracts from these spiritual books, are generally read and appreciated by many different generations of people throughout the course of time. The glorification of the Lord is thus heard and performed by the many different people who read and re-read them. Hence the sound of the great drum is heard far and wide. 

Prabhupada stressed preaching, particularly book distribution and harinama, because as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta pointed out, books are the Brihat mridanga. Prabhupada said: “If you sell a book to someone, that is better than your speaking to them—what will your three minutes' preaching do? But if they read a book it may turn their life” (SPL to Brahmananda, November 3rd, 1972). He would cite many instances of people becoming devotees in countries without a devotee presence simply due to the books going there. In that manner he said the books can reach places the devotees cannot even go. 

Prabhupada said “More than anything I want that my students should distribute my books and literatures profusely all over the world” (SPL to Sridhama dasa, November 17th, 1971). 

So now that this world deliverance mission has been passed down to our hands we must take it very seriously. Let us beg Srila Prabhupada and Krishna that by their combined mercy we may be able to finish this work of delivering the entire world from the stringent clutches of this material existence. 

Yes do it (if you are so inspired to), and can do it. Every effort to help Srila Prabhupada’s mission is appreciated. Book distribution is a dual service to the Lord – smaranam and service - thinking of the Lord while distributing books.  You may email RadhaKrishnaCOS@gmail.com to get started distributing to the Little Free Libraries in your area.

Krsna is bound to fulfill the declaration of his devotee. Brihat Mridanga ki Jay!! 

Your servants, 

Longmont Devotees