The Forgotten Book Distributors (V Dasa)

V DASA:

"Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana

In the 1970s so many devotees renounced their career, education, vocational training, and a chance for a retirement pension and substantial social security to work for ISKCON and distribute as many books as possible. A short time later, many -- or in fact most of them -- experienced many difficulties trying to make a living and had to make money in very questionable ways.

Even those who kept distributing got attacked by leaders who wanted to maintain their own extreme standard book distribution policy. I remember when I was averaging about 60 paper back Gitas per day at the Washington Mall, devotees that didn't like me -- influenced leaders to place a book embargo on me -- that applied to my service in DC.

But the DC Mall was the primary source of my service and income. This greatly disturbed me and was one major doubts for our philosophy.

Since then I haven't been to Mayapur even once, because I was afraid of having to be attacked by devotees there -- who were not personally distributing books but felt that they had the obligation to instruct those of us who were.

I'm still distributing SP's books even though I have Parkinson's, but I'm also forced to make money in very questionable ways because I have no college degree or job training. Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day, so I will be getting donations for flags, with me wearing a Navy hat, Navy shirt and a Navy thing around my neck. 

If people ask me if I am a Navy veteran, I say no but my father was Admiral Nimitz's personal pilot -- which is true. I have been making a living primarily with things like these flags since the anniversary of D Day last June 6th. I feel guilty of the way I make living, but some other ex-devotees have a far worse plight than me.

I'm saying this because the Gita Festival and revival book distribution is a wonderful idea, but what will the result be down the road? That is why I advocate that younger devotees graduate from college, get a good paying job, and work during the weekdays and then distribute SP's books on weekends. They can also distribute books and cards at their work. 

HARE KRISHNA


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Dear PADA

Right, this should not be forgotten -- what happened shortly after Srila Prabhupada had departed. New disciples came pouring in because Prabhupada's presence was still vibrant. The legendary eleven immediately took measures to cement their dominion and empowered their new disciples to replace all the Prabhupada rank & file devotees. 

Eighteen, nineteen-year-old Temple Presidents were everywhere. We were literally pulled out of our Sankirtan vans and thrown into meaningless kitchen service and uselessly send here and there, back and forth, as if the Prabhupada disciples were not needed anymore. The new devotees did not actually realize that they were instrumentalized to remove thousands of Prabhupada disciples. 

Of course, as soon the Prabhupada disciples were gone, the empires of the "gurus" started to crumble. So practically the whole book distribution program collapsed. Now they have some folks going out for "book marathon" photoshoots, as if there is a big Christmas marathon in New York and LA. 

No. Manidhara, Rohinisuta, Navina Nirada, and all the former big book distributors hang around in India as if the Hindus never heard of Krishna. But it doesn't stop there. The GBC started to investigate, check what all these driven out Prabhupada disciples are doing right now. 

Intention is not to bring them back but to find a reason for excommunication. These Prabhupada disciples are struggling to survive amidst the Kali-yuga society and the GBC is trying to find something how they can put a ban on us from visiting ISKCON temples.
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[PADA: Yep, the GBC took all the money, and years of lives from all these people, then removed and banned the victims. The leaders wanted the material assets of ISKCON, just like the Gaudiya Matha gurus wanted "the bricks and stones." Now they have a teeny elite club of the big gurus and their dedicated hand selected few Srila Prabhupada disciples left remaining, who only remain because they support the debauchee guru process. And the dedicated leaders and their hand maidens are potentially eligible to get the top notch care from servants, Cedars Sinai hospital visits, and driven around in luxury town cars etc. 

Its all about mundane control of assets, money, manpower and buildings. That is why the Isopanisad calls this a "guru business." And the fate of people involved in this guru business is, they go to the most obnoxious regions of the universe. So that is where the false gurus and their hand maidens are destined to go. And if we consider how these poor ex-ISKCON have to live hand to mouth with little or no money, little to no support, even when they get parkinson's disease etc., we see why they have to go to the lowest regions of hell, they are making Krishna's devotees suffer. Krishna will never forgive that, period. ys pd]