On Feb 9th 2012 Paul McCartney who is one of the Beatles had received a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. I had gotten an email last Monday about it and it said his star ceremony would be held at 2pm on Thursday Feb. 9th. So I thought to myself "Ah a perfect book distribution opportunity!"
On Thursday morning I did my services in the pujari room and kitchen. I had left around 11:30am. one of the devotees here was going to come with me but he had to cancel at the last minute due to serving Their Lordships on the altar which is more important. So I went alone. He gave me the information by bus on how to get to the Capitol Records Building where the ceremony was to be held. Paul was to receive his star next to his three fellow Beatles John, George, and Ringo. When I got there it was 1pm and there was already quite a crowd there. i thought I'd make an attempt to see Paul too, but I really was not there to see him but to distribute books. we waited for nearly an hour before Paul came out.And finally he came out and the crowd went wild. We heard Paul speak for a bit. The whole ceremony lasted only about 10 or 15 minutes. That was it. People were expecting him to come back out and do an outdoor concert but it was to be held on Itunes that night at 7pm. But I waited another hour so that I could get a picture of the star. But while I waited I distributed the Chant and Be Happy books I had. I had a total of 13 of them and they were gone within less than an hour. I also distributed a Bhagavad Gita and Self Realization book too. So I distributed about a totall of 15 books which came to about $16.00. I was quite surprised I distributed that many. I didn't think i'd do any at all but it was all Krishna's mercy that allowed me to distribute these books and my guru Maharaj too.
I got back around 6pm and I was pretty tired after the day's excitement.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Book Distribution Experience Hollywood Los Angeles California
Yesterday I decided to go out on book distribution. Earlier this week I read on the internet that Paul McCartney was in town and was due to receive a star this Thursday on Feb. 9th. So I thought to myself..."hmmm that would be the perfect time to go out on book distribution!" One of the devotees here was going to go with me but he had service to do at the last minute so I went by myself.
Before I left I gathered up some yellow cards advertising our temple on it, and then i went into the book room to pick out books to distribute. I grabbed some Bhagavad Gitas, Self Realizations and more than a handful of Chant and Be Happy books. Since this was about the Beatles I took as many Chant and Be Happy books as I could. I took 13 of those. Then I head out and waited for the bus. I had to take two buses to get there but it was easy and I could find my way there simply. I took Venice Metro bus to La Brea and then I took La Brae's bus all the way to Vine Street. The star ceremony was to be held at 2pm on 1750 Vine Street, right in front of the huge Capital Records Building. There was quite a crowd already when I got there. I was in the middle of the crowd. So unfortunately I was unble to see Paul himself. But I was able to hear him speak for a few minutes.
After the star ceremony I began to distribute the books. I grabbed the Chant and Be Happy books. The Beatles fans noticed the books right away. The 13 copies I had of it were all gone within an hour! There were some hard core Beatles fans that wanted the books. I also was able to get out a Bhagavad Gita and a Self Realization book too. So I distributed 15 books and the donations came to $16.00. That was the most books I have ever distributed so far. I didn't think I'd distribute that many but apparently Krishna was being merciful to me and let me distribute more than a handful of books. He saw my determination to get better at book distribution.
So I am very happy that I am gathering up courage to distribute Prabhupada's books even alone if I have to. Prabhupada said distributing books is the highest service one can do for him and Krishna. So I want to get better at it somehow or other to please them and also hopefully bring back some lost souls back to Krishna. I will have to keep praying sincerely to Srila Prabhupada nd Krishna to let me continue doing this service for them so that they may be satisified and try to bring home lost conditioned souls.
Before I left I gathered up some yellow cards advertising our temple on it, and then i went into the book room to pick out books to distribute. I grabbed some Bhagavad Gitas, Self Realizations and more than a handful of Chant and Be Happy books. Since this was about the Beatles I took as many Chant and Be Happy books as I could. I took 13 of those. Then I head out and waited for the bus. I had to take two buses to get there but it was easy and I could find my way there simply. I took Venice Metro bus to La Brea and then I took La Brae's bus all the way to Vine Street. The star ceremony was to be held at 2pm on 1750 Vine Street, right in front of the huge Capital Records Building. There was quite a crowd already when I got there. I was in the middle of the crowd. So unfortunately I was unble to see Paul himself. But I was able to hear him speak for a few minutes.
After the star ceremony I began to distribute the books. I grabbed the Chant and Be Happy books. The Beatles fans noticed the books right away. The 13 copies I had of it were all gone within an hour! There were some hard core Beatles fans that wanted the books. I also was able to get out a Bhagavad Gita and a Self Realization book too. So I distributed 15 books and the donations came to $16.00. That was the most books I have ever distributed so far. I didn't think I'd distribute that many but apparently Krishna was being merciful to me and let me distribute more than a handful of books. He saw my determination to get better at book distribution.
So I am very happy that I am gathering up courage to distribute Prabhupada's books even alone if I have to. Prabhupada said distributing books is the highest service one can do for him and Krishna. So I want to get better at it somehow or other to please them and also hopefully bring back some lost souls back to Krishna. I will have to keep praying sincerely to Srila Prabhupada nd Krishna to let me continue doing this service for them so that they may be satisified and try to bring home lost conditioned souls.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day
We had a fabulous appearance day of Lord Nityananda. it was pretty much crowded, even in the kitchen it was packed doing service. I had to cut vegetables for Monday everyone else helped with the feast that day. I had finished around 12:30pm however with my service. I didn't go do any cleaning in the pujari room because I didn't want to be in the pujari's way since there were so many of them scurrying here and there getting ready to do Aartis, dressing the Deities, or setting up for the fire yajna (sacrifice) Everything had to be ready by 3pm. I was in the pujari room for a short time. I had to make small Lord Jagganatha garlands. I finished those in ten minutes and then got out so I wouldn't be in the way.
At 3pm I went to sit outside where the fire yajna was being set up. There was also a chanting and dancing procession with devotees following behind the Deities. Two pujaris held up Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda during the procession. I did get some photos of it.Then they all sat down for the fire sacrifice. We were honoring Lord Nityananda on His birthday. Lord Nityananda is an incarnation of Lord Balaram who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Nityananda is the most merciful to everyone. We also did this fire sacrifice for Him too because we prayed to Him sincerely to help us be allowed to distribute books at the LAX Airport. the court hearing was today. I hope it went well. I am sure we will find out soon if we will be able to distribute books or not.
Anyways, then there was the bathing ceremony, Aarti, kirtan, class, and then the feast. I didn't attend the second half of it. I was outside the temple chatting with my friend Omkara Devi Dasi who is a Prabhupada disciple. She and I were goofing off yesterday having a good laugh. It's nice to hang out with devotees who have a sense of humor.
So I still had a great time remembering Lord Nityananda. ALL GLORIES TO LORD NITYANANDA! HARIBOL!
At 3pm I went to sit outside where the fire yajna was being set up. There was also a chanting and dancing procession with devotees following behind the Deities. Two pujaris held up Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda during the procession. I did get some photos of it.Then they all sat down for the fire sacrifice. We were honoring Lord Nityananda on His birthday. Lord Nityananda is an incarnation of Lord Balaram who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Nityananda is the most merciful to everyone. We also did this fire sacrifice for Him too because we prayed to Him sincerely to help us be allowed to distribute books at the LAX Airport. the court hearing was today. I hope it went well. I am sure we will find out soon if we will be able to distribute books or not.
Anyways, then there was the bathing ceremony, Aarti, kirtan, class, and then the feast. I didn't attend the second half of it. I was outside the temple chatting with my friend Omkara Devi Dasi who is a Prabhupada disciple. She and I were goofing off yesterday having a good laugh. It's nice to hang out with devotees who have a sense of humor.
So I still had a great time remembering Lord Nityananda. ALL GLORIES TO LORD NITYANANDA! HARIBOL!
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