Sankirtan – Book Distribution for Beginners

The days of ISKCON when everybody who joined Srila Prabhupada’s movement was found either on public harinama or engaged in book distribution are gone. Those few who are still willing to be engaged in these missionary activities mostly come from the congregational field, as living in the temple and within the brahmacarya or brahmacarini ashramas has become a truly rare way to cultivate Krishna Consciousness—especially in Europe.

This text is dedicated to those rare and brave devotees who feel compelled to follow Srila Prabhupada’s call to distribute his books widely, regardless of one’s qualification. As with everything else, book distribution is based on desire, and even if that desire may not be very strong, it can instantly be invigorated by studying Srila Prabhupada’s life and instructions. Book distribution is a matter of duty, not a matter of personal qualification or personal taste. In this way, EVERYBODY is qualified to distribute books, regardless of personal situation.

I saw the most unqualified ones becoming the most qualified—including myself. All this happens when one touches the stream of mercy coming from the guru-parampara, brought to us by Srila Prabhupada in the form of his books.

To become an effective book distributor allows one to taste nectar of unknown proportions, but to help others distribute books is an even greater ecstasy.

Let us start with some basic challenges anyone may face on the first day standing on the street, somewhat ready to distribute a book.

How should one dress?

Srila Prabhupada loved devotees to look like devotees—there is no doubt about it. This was especially the case during harinama processions. Even though he clearly stated that the dress code is of secondary importance, he also stated, “We like to be noticed,” and thus looking like a Vaishnava or Vaishnavi enhances our presence and the demonstration of Krishna Consciousness.

However, when it came to book distribution, Srila Prabhupada exhibited endless tolerance. He did not like hippies looking like hippies anymore, but he approved of devotees distributing books in acceptable disguises, “looking like respectable gentlemen,” as he stated in connection with Prahlada Maharaja being suspected of coming into contact with Vaishnava preachers.

There is no need for fashionable tricks to distribute books, and there is no need to look like clowns when joining harinama (as done by certain sannyasis). Purity is the force behind preaching, not the show we put on.

Thus, devotees may choose their dress when going on the street. Seeing extreme examples on both sides—devotees distributing books in dhoti and kurta at minus twenty degrees Celsius, or looking like someone who just came out of a bar after a good drink—one could likely settle for a compromise. Personally, I started book distribution in 1972 in Germany, where distributing in Vaishnava dress would automatically mean ending up within five minutes in a police station. Naturally, I spent most of my time on sankirtan dressed “like a karmi”. Later it was demonstrated by great book distributors that Vaishnava dress is not at all an obstacle to distribution. Thus, it depends on time, place, and circumstance how one dresses for sankirtan.

Once this is said, the real problem arrives: how does one stop a person walking on the street?

Like a greyish mass of human bodies, people seem to float anonymously down shopping streets, offering little chance to single one out. The first realisation that comes to a sankirtan devotee is how much everyone lives in this world in total anonymity. This is especially visible today, as people walk like zombies with earphones on, disconnected even from the illusions around them, locked into their own virtual worlds.

It is a challenge to draw them out of their isolation and make them ready for a personal encounter. In more pious countries it is easier; in more impious countries one may feel as if running against a wall of impersonalism. That is where the first step toward surrender can be made.

A devotee should know by now that Krishna is present in the heart of every soul we meet, that the guru-parampara is present once we are engaged in its mission, and that we are not alone on the street. The only one who can stop us from engaging in book distribution is ourselves. Most of us spent our lives in a totally isolated state.

I was one of those imploding introverts before joining Srila Prabhupada’s movement—avoiding human contact and living in my own mentally conceived world. Sankirtan made me a human being, ready for human contact with anyone, anywhere. Today I even find myself talking to animals, as they are persons as well. All this happened because sankirtan broke the shell of my conditioning and brought me out of dark confinement into the daylight of Krishna Consciousness. EVERYBODY can do the same—provided one wants to.

And so the first challenge is to GIVE HIM A BOOK.

Usually people passing by have two hands, so it is easy to aim for one of them and, when it comes up, simply drop the book into the palm. Without the person holding the book, there is little use in talking, as he or she will be dragged on by the power of the mind. After all, nobody walks the street searching for a book; people are preoccupied with what to buy and where to go.

We are blocking their path in one way or another, redirecting their minds toward Krishna Consciousness—and it all begins with holding the book. Sometimes we see preachers simply holding pamphlets without giving them to anyone. Such preaching is ineffective. So—GIVE IT TO THEM!

Once the book is in their hand, a fast and intense scenario unfolds. (Those who refuse to stop or hold a book may be instantly dismissed in a well-wishing mood; it is unrealistic to expect everyone to be receptive.)

Here begins the real sankirtan drama. We may have stopped the conditioned soul physically—but how do we stop them mentally and sensually?

At this point, a sankirtan devotee must internally absorb himself in prayer, begging the Lord to empower him to do the impossible. Sankirtan is constant absorption—praying internally while acting externally. Our determination to give Krishna Consciousness must be stronger than their determination to remain in illusion. It is a battle of desires.

One must look into their eyes—the windows to the soul—smile, and pray intensely to “impress them” with Krishna Consciousness.