Book a Day Program
Interview with Yamunapati Prabhu from San Diego
VIDEO:
Yamunapati: I joined ISKCON in 1975. As far as my occupation, for the last sixteen years I am facilities manager for 24 Hours Fitness multiple locations.
Sastra Dana: That probably keeps you really busy.
Y: Oh yes, it is definitely a busy, engaging, occupation.
“I joined ISKCON in 1975. As far as my occupation, for the last sixteen years I am facilities manager for 24 Hours Fitness multiple locations.”
SD: How do you manage to incorporate book distribution in your life and how thus the Sastra Dana program help with that?
Y: The Sastra Dana program is an excellent way to participate in book distribution. Between contributing to the nice devotees who are regularly distributing books and getting books yourself to distribute…it is a really great program. I purchase books and I carry them in my vehicle and when I go about my day to day business, shopping, or whatever, I’ll carry some with me, sometimes in a little side pouch or sometimes in my pocket. If you have a vest you can put a few books in your pocket and you get plenty of opportunity when you meet people to give them some books.
SD: Can you give us some examples?
Y: What I like to do, I usually like to carry a variety of books. I usually carry The Perfection of Yoga, Coming Back, and Higher Taste. And what I do, I will meet someone, some nice individual and I will say, “I’ve got these great books on yoga, meditation, and vegetarian cooking. I like to give them to people who are interested in reading them.” And I will show them a variety. I will say, “I’ve got this book on yoga. I’ve got this book on reincarnation. I’ve got this vegetarian cook book. Which one would you like?” People really like the opportunity to look at the attractive books and they pick one of the three and they ask me a question, “Are you giving these for free?” I say, “Yes, I enjoy sharing knowledge and I like to give them to people that are really interested and like to read and delve into the subject.” Every time they pick one of the books. Sometimes they want couple of them. So it works out very nicely.
SD: How often are you in the situation where you can give a book to someone…
Y: Practically speaking, every day. If you have them with you, you will find an opportunity. You get to a gas station, filling for gas, you will meet somebody either at the pump or maybe at the cash register, and you will give them some books. You might be shopping in the store, or in the grocery store. If it is not too passionate or too crowded you can give the cashier a book or even to someone who has helped you. Today I was at the Office Depot and this one fellow helped me look at some different chairs for my office at my house. For his help I said, “Hey I’ve got these books and I would really like to give you one. Which one would you like?” And he said, “Wow! You know, I am studying yoga and I would love the one on yoga.” And I said, “Here, please take it.” So it works out really nice like that. As long as you have them with you, you will have an opportunity to give them away.
SD: Do you find it troublesome to always carry books on you?
Y: No, no. You just get a…. When I carry books, I usually take the thinner varieties. Higher Taste, Coming Back, Chant and Be Happy, Beyond Birth and Death, Perfection of Yoga, those books are very easy, it is easy to pack three in a pocket, even in the back pocket if you have to. It works out really well.
SD: Do you have any idea how many books you distribute like that, let’s say in a week or a month?
Y: When I am on the regular role, I would say an average of 30 to 40 books a month.
SD: That is over a book a day.
Y: Yes. It works out really nicely. I seem to have more opportunities on a weekend. But driving around throughout the week, like I said stopping to get gasoline or whatever you’re doing in your daily activities, you will meet nice people. A little conversation will give you an opportunity to give them a book.
SD: Do you ever meet people that don’t appreciate your desire to share books with them?
Y: Yes, but they are usually very courteous. They say, “Oh, no. Thank you.” or, “I’ve read books like that before.” Then you just say, “OK, thank you very much.” There is nothing intimidating about it. It is just “OK, no problem.” Just leave it like that.
SD: What is your motivation to distribute books? Why do you distribute books?
Y: I know it is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. I know that sharing this knowledge provides a great benefit. Even a little bit, just a paragraph, a sentence, it is that much that plants the seed to help them advance in life and become eventually Krishna conscious. In short run and in long run it is the supreme welfare activity for all living beings. I am glad to be able to do a little bit toward that end.
Yamunapati with his good friend Guru Krishna on harinam in downtown San Diego.
SD: Any final thought?
Y: I encourage devotees: get the books in your vehicle. Get them in your car and just like I said, just grab a couple when you go into any kind of situation when you are encountering other individuals and it is a very pleasant exchange. People really appreciate it. They are very thankful. Generally people are shaking my hands, thanking me very much. So it is a very nice exchange. I encourage everyone to do this.
SD: Thank you.
Y: Sure.
SD: Hare Krishna
Y: Hare Krishna
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Facts & Figures
According to www.ISKCON.com, ISKCON has over 250,000 congregational members worldwide.
If everyone would distribute one book a day that would amount to seven and a half million (7,500,000) books a month, or ninety million (90,000,000) books a year.
According to the World Sankirtana Newsletter (www.wsnl.net/wsnhome.htm), in 2006 ISKCON devotees worldwide have distributed 4,606,476 books.
That is only 5.1% of what we could distribute by engaging our congregation.
Come on Prabhus! Let’s do it!
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Your Contributions
Los Angeles Sponsors:
Vamsi Dasa’s family $420.00
Esekiel Jaggernauth $400.00
Advaita C D & Sita T DD $169.00
Jay Krishna Dasa $163.46
Gonzalo G. Aguilar $51.00
Justin Connor $31.00
Cesar O. Lopez $30.00
Jiten Patel $21.00
Sergio Angon $10.00
TOTAL: $1,295.46
San Diego Sponsors:
Varun Verma $101.00
Peter Stefani $100.00
Yamunapati D & Jayasri DD $51.00
Randy & Kripa Mayi DD $51.00
Raj & Santosh Chadha $51.00
Mandy & Nila Madhava $31.00
Caitanya-caritamrita D $30.00
Jayram Shetty $25.00
Nitin & Jaysri Patel $22.00
William Andersen $20.00
Anonymous $20.00
Arya Siddhanta D $14.00
Madhusudana & Kancanbala $10.00
Elizabeth $10.00
TOTAL: $536.00
GRAND TOTAL: $1,831.46
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Distribution
957 books!!! have been placed in the following institutions:
# / Donated to / Address / City
* 5670 / The Medicine Shoppe / 17623 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5671 / Pioneer Flowers / 17601 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5672 / Neeta’s Herbal / 17607 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5673 / Dr. Thomas Kang / 17617 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5674 / Instant Sign Plus / 17615 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5675 / Ideal Florist / 11816 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5676 / Bethesda Acupuncture / 18761 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5677 / Optimal Dental Care / 11828 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5678 / The Kerala Store / 1826 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5679 / Freephone Wireless / 11824 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5680 / Lucy’s Beauty Saloon / 11818 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5681 / Matrix Computer / 11818 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5682 / Phone T- Mobile / 17801 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5683 / Alterations by “Zee” / 11841 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5684 / The Hair Artist / 11837 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5685 / UR Dental / 11821 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5686 / Brenda’s Beauty Supply / 11825 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5687 / Woodlands Indian Cuisine / 11833 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5688 / Water Goumet Juice Bar / 11839 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5689 / Artesia Center Cleaners / 11831 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
* 5690 / Clinica Santa Isabel / 2760 E. Florence Ave / Huntington Park
* 5691 / Extreme Sound Shop / 4259 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5692 / Stars Restaurant / 4214 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5693 / Lucy’s Beauty saloon / 4330 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5694 / America Auto Registeration / 4261 California Ave. / Bell
* 5695 / Casa de Ceramica / 4201 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5696 / Mirna’s Restaurant / 4355 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5697 / HR Pena Tax / 4013 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5698 / The Professional Body Shop / 3813 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5699 / Ables Auto Repair / 3901E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5700 / Ladislao Appliances / 4215 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5701 / International Beauty Salon / 4219 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5702 / Marcy’s Clothing / 4255 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5703 / Metro Restaurant Equipment / 4103 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5704 / Family Sleep Center / 4273 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5705 / Strong Tie Insurance / 4249 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5706 / Las Player Restaurant / 4233 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5707 / Salon 4015 / 4015 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5708 / Bell Auto Retail / 4121 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5709 / Miami Restaurant / 4021 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5710 / Alfredo’s Mexican Food / 4143 E. Florence Ave / Bell
* 5711 / Excelsior School Grounds / 15711 Pioneer Blvd. / Norwal
