European Sankirtan Newsletter

Dear prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This month was very special as we had 2 temples with the highest scores they have done so far. We will also be introducing 2 new features for the SK Newsletter at the request of some senior devotees. The first will be books per capita according to the population giving the smaller countries a chance to excel. The second is the percentage of increase or decrease from one month to another.

The temple with the highest scores was Sankirtan Dham in Italy with over 15,000 book points and over 10,500 total books distributed!! They are only 10 devotees no congregation or sponsorship.

Of course, London Soho st. had the second score with a nice increase over the previous month. They are especially exemplary distributing, I think on the street, 26 Srimad Bhagawatam sets, and 13 Caitanya Caritamrta sets!!! Incredible desire and showing the sets and they go themselves. Then second in the UK and third in Europe was Wales very inspiring. Regarding the other temples some did better and some less, but the important thing is to keep book distribution in the forefront of our life. Another couple of highlights were the Oslo Norway temple for the first time with a great score of 350 book points and for the first time Sweden and Denmark have participated. We are only missing Estonia and Finland. We hope to hear from them to make the Newsletter complete.

I would like to cite some quotes from Srila Prabhupada that I found in The Transcendental Diary of Harisauri prabhu.

“Our first business is this book distribution. There is no need of any other business. If this book distribution is managed properly, pushed on with great enthusiasm, and determination and at the same time if our men keep spiritually strong, then the WHOLE WORLD WILL BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS”.

Prabhupada recently said, “I know those that are sane, they will accept. No one is distributing so much quantity of religious books. Therefore, I challenge all these fools and rascals. After 80 years no one can expect to live long. My life is almost ended….it is ended. So, you have to carry on. And these books will do everything. Simply by bluffing words, these bogus gurus and yogis are nothing. But when the people read our books, then they will get good opinion.”

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada said to Srila Prabhupada. “There is no need of establishing many temples. Better we publish some books”. He said like that.

He said that “We started our this Gaudiya Math in Ultadanga. The rent was very small, and if we could gather two to two hundred and fifty rupees,it was very nice, going on. But since this J.V. Datta has given us this stone, marble stone Thakurbari (temple)our competition between the disciples has increased. So I don’t like any more.Rather, I would prefer to take out the marble stone and sell it and publish some books.”

“So, I took that point, and he also especially advised me, “If you get money, you try to publish books.” So, by his blessing it has become very successful by your cooperation. Now our books are being sold all over the world, and it is very satisfactory sale. So, on this particular day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s advent, try to remember his words. That he wanted many books should be published about our philosophy.

So, on this day, particularly on the advent of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, I’d especially request my disciples who are cooperating with me that you try to publish books as many as possible and distribute throughout the whole world. That will satisfy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. Thank you very much.” Srila Prabhupada then asked Bhanu das,now Maharaja, to offer the aratik to his Guru Maharaja. I think that these quotes are self-explanatory. We should know that book distribution is the heart and soul of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON movement and always will be. As Srila Prabhupada said, “go on making your lifetime plans for distributing my books.”

We will hold our next Sankirtan meeting online at the beginning of September after the summer is over. I will announce the date time and special guest in the next Newsletter.

⚡Flash!!!⚡ Last minute news. The Ukrainian yatra just sent in their scores just in time to inspire and amaze devotees all over the world with their incredible determination to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books despite the greatest difficulties imaginable. Thank you to all the devotees there for their incredible service and that Krsna protects them.

⚡Second flash!!!⚡The Estonia yatra, that we haven't heard from, finally sent in some amazing scores and we hope to see them every month. Thank you Estonia yatra for your wonderful service.

Your servant,

Trai Das

Continental European Sankirtan Scores

Sankirtan Scores United Kindom

Sankirtan Charts

Sankirtan stories

Rapallo - Italy

I rang the bell of an office, a boy opens the door. I propose the book on karma but he tells me that he is not the owner. I then ask him to show the book to the owner who is inside the studio and let me know the feedback. Usually it is very rare for a situation like this to be successful but I tried anyway. While I was waiting I began to recite the verse of the Bhagavad Gita Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistho, praying that that person's Paramatma would inspire him... and in fact after a while the boy returns without the book in his hand but with a donation for it!

Varazze - Italy

I enter a beach bar and at that moment George Harrison's song “My sweet Lord” was playing in the background on the radio! I point this out to the boy and girl at the bar, trying to get them to also listen to the part in which he pronounces the Maha Mantra. Inspired by this beautiful coincidence they willingly decide to get a big book and Chant and be happy! Prabhupada told George Harrison, “You don't have to come and live in the temple, you can spread Krishna consciousness by singing lyrics glorifying Krishna.” And thanks especially to this song many books have been distributed and many will be distributed again!