ISKCON South Africa Annual Report - 2014 | Page 42

Innovation in Book Distribution
The Smart Table and Smart Box are both unmanned stations, which if monitored
effectively, yield rewarding and productive results. They are not labour intensive
and once attractively set up, the books distribute themselves.
The Smart Table and Smart Box allow people to browse at their leisure. Books are
not always taken but people are introduced to tenets of transcendental
philosophy by the ambrosial writings in Prabhupada’s books.
Statistics have revealed that gift sets (4 small books and a Bhagavad-Gita) which
are gift wrapped, have been selling extremely well and an ethos of displaying
plentiful books has proven fruitful.

Reflections on Book Distribution at ISKCON
Pietermaritzburg

Jagannath Singh, a dedicated youth of Pietermaritzburg commented
“The initial idea of harinam sankirtan came from the Kartik programme
last year. We would go to people’s homes and set up an altar and show
them how to offer a lamp to Lord Damodar. This was the spark that
ignited the devotees to continue.”
Vaishanv Prana Das from ISKCON Pietermaritzburg recalls that there was
no strategy in the propagation of the holy name, book distribution and
harinam in Pietermaritzburg. However, things took a turn late last year
when Bhakta Jagannath and Bhakta Dineshan inspired and organized
the youth to commit to weekly harinams and book distribution. Since
then, the strategy was to cover every inch of the map. Slowly but surely
the team systematically covered the area, street by street. The
community is attracted by the harinam and are eager to purchase
books.
Through these activities, the devotees have met with people from
different walks of life. Many of these individuals have shared their own
spiritual experiences and some have expressed how Srila Prabhupada’s
books have assisted in the planting and watering of their own spiritual
seeds. They wish to continue rendering this service as it is beneficial to
their spiritual endeavor and also because they have started to see the
impact that Krishna consciousness is having on the lives of those they
meet.
Being involved in book distribution and harinam-sankirtan has been a
privilege, which has proven to be enjoyable and worthwhile. Albeit
‘green’ when the devotees initially started, the desire to please Srila
Prabhupada resonated deeply leading everyone to earnestly support
and encouraging each other for this invaluable service.
The devotees who are involved in this service are inspiring and have
witnessed how they too, are ex