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NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2008
ISKCON-London
Providing knowledge of Krishna to All
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-acharya His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

RADHA-KRISHNA TEMPLE
10 Soho Street - London
W1D 3DL
T: 0207 4373662
W: www.iskcon-london.org
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SRI SRI RADHA LONDONISHVARA 39th
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INSTALLATION ANNIVERSARY

F or the first time this years anniversary

program to celebrate the 39th year of Sri
Sri Radha Londonisvara installation was
an open event for all our community.The festi-
val was held at Conway Hall which was once
of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara.
The evening was concluded by some final
words of inspiration and thanks given by HG
Kripamoya Prabhu followed by a final ecstatic
kirtan led by HG Sakhya Rasa Prema dasa.
graced by Srila Prabhupada’s presence. In total we had 200 guests who were fed sump-
The festival began promptly at 6pm with bha- tuous prasadam cooked by Bhakta Chips.
The festivals team would like to thank all the
volunteers who helped in organizing the event
and who gave their valuable time and assistance
on the day.

Remember next year is the 40th Anniversary of

the installation of our beloved Lordships Sri Sri
Radha Londonisvara. If you want to help us plan
for this event then please contact HG Kasinatha
dasa on (kasinatha@pamho.net)

jans by Bhakta Sean followed by HG Shyam

dasa and HG Gopi Bhava devi dasi. HG
Kripamoya dasa was the MC for the event and
gave an enlivening talk about the glories of Sri
Sri Radha Londonisvara and Their servants.
Bhaktin Divya Prasad performed a Bharat
Natyam dance depicting the qualities of Lord
Krsna. Afterwards HG Ranchor dasa read from
his upcoming new book about the history of
how Srila Prabhupada came to London.
We then had the Krishna Kids Club perform
the play ‘The Killing of Kamsa’, which was
enjoyed by all.
HG Jai Nitai dasa gave a review of 2008 and the
inspiring plans we have for the future. This was
followed by a dynamic film directed by Bhakta
Matt which depicted the love of the devotees

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SRI SRI RADHA LONDONISHVARA 39th
INSTALLATION ANNIVERSARY (PHOTOS continued)

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SPOTLIGHT ON HG TARUNA KRSNA DASA
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Taruna Krsna Prabhu 2. Come to as much of the morning program

is our former illus- as you can, even mangala arati if you can
trious sankirtana make it. Or alternatively, have a strong
leader and has morning program at home.
been distributing
books for 7 years. 3. Get the association of fixed up devotees,
Here I caught up especially strong book distributors and ask
with Taruna Krsna them how they do it.
Prabhu to get some
invaluable tips on 4. In the beginning go out and get trained
book distribution. up by successful book distributors.

Bhava Bhakti dd: What do you find most 5. Build up momentum - do it regularly and
appealing about book distribution? as frequently as possible and always hear
and chant about Krsna.
Taruna Krsna dasa: The taste you experi-
ence whilst doing it; the importance to Srila Bhava Bhakti dd: How important is sad-
Prabhupada; the adventure part of it; seeing hana in distributing books?
the world through the eyes of Sastra while
doing it; the enlivening effect it has on one’s Taruna Krsna dasa: All important. Krsna will
sadhana. only use you to the extent you are usable. If
you think YOU are doing it then you will
Bhava Bhakti dd: What top 5 tips do you become puffed up and Krsna won’t allow
have for budding book distributors? that to happen. So to see that you are
merely Krsna’s instrument one needs very
Taruna Krsna dasa: strong sadhana.
1. Stick at it. In the beginning it’s tough but
if you persevere you will get a taste that can
be matched by nothing else.

READ KRSNA BOOK AND

BECOME A DEVOTEE!
“Push this on. Then our movement is suc- get transcendental knowledge. Anyone who
cessful. All Americans should have at least reads Krsna book, he will become Vaisnava.
one set of books. That is not very difficult for That’s a fact.”
them, to purchase one set books. But it will (Conversation with Srila Prabhupada
be a good asset for them if they keep and 3/2/75)
see sometimes. Any line he reads, he will

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 SRILA PRABHUPADA DECEMBER
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MARATHON
This issue is dedicated to the Srila
Prabhupada December Marathon.

If you would like to get involved please

contact Bhakta Kevin on
dasa_anudas@yahoo.co.uk or 07846
917875 or pop into the Temple sankirtana
office.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE TEMPLE

PRESIDENT
On the 13th, started University preaching
seminars at King’s College. These lectures
will be running every Thursday.

On the 15th, attended the 39th installation

festival of Sri Sri Radha Londonishvara at
Conway Hall, Holborn.

On the 17th, gave a talk at Southampton

University on the yoga ladder.

During the month of November, Jai Nitai On the 22nd, attended the Vyasa Puja cele-
dasa carried out the following engage- brations of HH Srila Radhanath Swami at the
ments. house of HG Prem Sankirtana dasa & HG
On the 3rd, returned from Vrindavan, India Radhika Priya devi dasi.
after 3 weeks.
On the 28th, gave a presentation on
On the 7th, attended a house programme at Bhagavad-Gita at Harrow Jammin’ to 60-70
the Dattani household. students.

On the 11th, started University preaching

seminars at Imperial College. These lectures
will be running every Tuesday.

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 HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
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WHAT WOULD PLEASE SRILA
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PRABHUPADA THE MOST?

Devotee: “We would like to know what would please you
the most.”
Prabhupada’s reply was brief and to the point. “Understand
Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, become perfect
and distribute this knowledge to your fellow countrymen.”
Sunday, 25 April 1976
(From “The Great Transcendental Adventure”)

VIP SPEAKERS
During the month of November we had the opportunity to hear from the
following transcendental VIP speakers.

HH Janananda Goswami
HH Candramauli Swami
HG Ranchor dasa
HG Parabhakti dasa
HG Radha Krishna dasa

APPRECIATION
Dear Jai Nitai Prabhu, and didn’t get the names of your in-charge
devotees there but everyone was very kind
Please accept my humble obeisances, all and helpful. My regret is I could only stay a
glories to Srila Prabhupada few hours and was not able to give class as
they requested.
Thank you for arranging my reception at
Soho Street. I got a much needed rest and Thank you again for doing such a wonderful
shower and had a great feast. Was able to job of serving there.
lead mangal arotik and met many sweet I thank Krishna for your kindly providing a
devotees who took very nice care of me. place for me to spiritually refresh in London.

In particular Bhakta Niket Biyani made me All the best with your retreat and studies
feel very comfortable at his flat and there in Vrindavan,
Danvantari das invited me to the British
library. I am afraid I was a bit spaced out Jnanagamya das
Iskcon-London Monthly Report - Page 7 November 2008
 INTERVIEW WITH HG SRUTIKIRTI DASA
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Srutikirti Prabhu would be around the Harinam party and

was one of Srila with our tilaka, dhotis and shaved heads
Prabhupada’s per- would be happy to get 20p from anyone
sonal servants for that would graciously take a magazine from
many years. You us. This was when ‘book’ distribution was
can read about his just getting started. It began on the west
adventures in coast in Los Angeles and San Francisco area.
‘What is the It was the first time I ever went out to do
Difficulty?’ Here I books. I went with one devotee door to
catch up with door in Los Angeles. We joined together a
Srutikirti Prabhu year before. We were dressed as devotees
and put forward some questions from our and both of us were terrified.
community.
It was amazing. The only book we had was
Bhava Bhakti dd - How important was book the Krishna Book Volume I. It didn’t get any
distribution to Srila Prabhupada? bigger than that. It was the largest book
ever printed in ISKCON. We didn’t know
Srutikirti dasa - As Srila Prabhupada said so what to do. We just knew that we should try
many times, it is most important. We have and sell them. We would knock on doors.
all heard the many stories about how he Most would send us away but sometimes
encouraged the devotees to distribute as people invited us into their homes. We
many as possible and how happy he was would sit down with them at the table and
when he would hear the results at the end begin showing them the pictures in the
of the day at whatever temple he was stay- book and then show them how George
ing it. What is most revealing is that when Harrison helped with the printing. We were
Srila Prabhupada came to America the only surprised to see that people were so attract-
thing he brought with him was a pair of kar- ed to the paintings of Krishna and the
tals and a few trunks full of books. From the cowherd boys. I sold my first book that day
very beginning in the west he was selling and many more. It was apparent that
books. He said everything he did in ISKCON Krishna was ‘All attractive.’ We could see
he was doing from his childhood, except the that we just had to do our part and make
writing and distribution of books. Srila Him available to others. He was in their
Prabhupada is the person Bhagavata and he heart and would dictate the rest to them.
gave to us the book Bhagavata. When we This was the very beginning of book distri-
give someone a book we are giving them bution and devotees everywhere became
the association of Krishna and Srila enthusiastic realizing they could do the
Prabhupada. most important preaching work.

Bhava Bhakti dd - Can you share a person- Bhava Bhakti dd - Does strong sadhana
al sankirtan story with us please? play a factor in successful book distribution?

Srutikirti dasa - I remember in May of 1972, Srutikirti dasa - Strong sadhana is most
at that time we were distributing BTG’s. We important. It gives us the strength to remain

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 HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
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fixed in Krishna Consciousness while we are attracted by our devotion.
out amongst the non-devotees. Srila So, in the same way we have to remember
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Prabhupada told me so many times that if that whatever we are doing we are doing
ones chants 16 rounds, follows the regula- for Krishna’s pleasure. All the results are
tive principles and rises early in the morning
offered to Him. We don’t have to be afraid.
for Mangala Arati that Maya can not touch It is not up to us what happens while are
you. It is a bubble of protection that we get.
out distributing books. The more we focus
It is real and it is something we can realizeon satisfying Krishna with our efforts the
by our steadiness in devotional service. By more blissful we will become. People will
the practice of Krishna consciousness one naturally be attracted to us when we are
can see Krishna and also see how Krishna connected to Krishna in this way. I often say
protects them in all circumstances. that we can’t give what we don’t have. We
only have to connect to Krishna and medi-
Bhava Bhakti dd - How can a novice sankir- tate on pleasing Him. Everything else will
tana devotee break the fear factor associat- happen automatically. Fear comes when we
ed with street book distribution? are thinking about results.

Srutikirti dasa - The key to rendering serv- Bhava Bhakti dd - Will you be taking part in
ice in all circumstances is to always remem- the December Prabhupada Marathon?
ber that we are performing devotional serv-
ice to Krishna. That means that whatever we Srutikirti dasa - To this point I have given a
do we are doing for the pleasure of the few book distribution classes. I will be leav-
Supreme Lord. Once in the early days one ing on December 10th for the USA and will
devotee asked Srila Prabhupada what he stop at temples in Alachua, Los Angeles,
could do on Harinam to attract the condi- Laguna Beach and San Diego. I hope to
tioned souls. Srila Prabhupada responded by encourage the devotees in book distribution
saying we are trying to attract Krishna by while I am at these temples.
chanting with devotion and if we do that
then automatically living entities will be

FINANCES
We made the following memberships this 2 patrons
month during the celebrations of Sri-Sri 1 subscription member
Radha Londonisvara’s 39th installation 1 member
anniversary at Conway Hall:

KRISHNA’S COMMUNITY SHOP

We made £6,800.98 during the month of November in Krishna’s Community Shop.

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JOIN IN THE
FUN OF
SANKIRTANA

Iskcon-London Monthly Report - Page 10 November 2008

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HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
INTERVIEW WITH HH SATSVARUPA
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DAS GOSWAMI
This month I was become enlightened enough by reading
very fortunate to Prabhupada’s books as received from the
be given the sankirtana devotees that they will demand
opportunity to put the big companies to stock the books, and
forward questions the bookstores will order them.
from our commu-
nity to HH Bhava Bhakti dd - What is best - to read
Satsvarupa dasa Srila Prabhupada’s books or to stop and
Goswami - a sen- make
ior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and author notes and read and stop, etc.?
of Srila Prabhupada’s Lilamrita. Please visit
http://www.sdgonline.org/ to read the Satsvarupa das Goswami
latest writings by Maharaj and to catch up Either way of reading is all right; it is not
with the latest news. that one way is better than another. The
main thing is to attentively and submissive-
Bhava Bhakti dd - Why can’t we find Srila ly read his books, with or without notes. I
Prabhupada’s books in the mainstream personally like to do “writing while read-
bookstores? ing.” It helps my retention powers, and
what I write can be shared by others.
Satsvarupa das Goswami: The bookstores
order their books from huge companies. Bhava Bhakti dd - What is your favorite
These companies do not stock Prabhupada’s Srila Prabhupada memory?
books because they consider them sectari-
an,religious books. Bookstores do sell sec- Satsvarupa das Goswami
tarian religious books (Christian, Muslim, I have many favorite memories. One mem-
Buddhist, and others), so a service devotees ory I like is of a lecture that Prabhupada
could take up is to approach the big compa- gave in 1975 at the annual Mayapur festi-
nies and try to convince them to stock val. Prabhupada quoted Bhaktivinoda
Prabhupada’s books. This is an unfortunate Thakura saying that he longed for the day
misunderstanding on their part, because when the Europeans (and Americans)
Prabhupada’s books are actually books of would join with their Bengali brothers and
knowledge and are not limited to one sec- chant the holy names of Krishna and
tarian religion. Also, the sankirtana devo- Caitanya. Prabhupada announced from the
tees have so much flooded the market with vyasasana that now that prophecy had
Prabhupada’s books by selling them on the taken place today. It was a wonderful
streets that the bookstores are aware of this moment of history to be present while
and don’t stock them separately. Perhaps Prabhupada announced that the prophecy
the day will come when the people will of Bhaktivinoda Thakura had been fulfilled—

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ends, we did even better.
Bhava Bhakti dd - If I just chant and not
read, is that sufficient protection from
Maya?

Satsvarupa das Goswami

The nine principles of devotional service
begin with sravanam, kirtanam, hearing
and chanting. Hearing means reading.
Prabhupada said that religion without phi-
losophy is sentimental. Of course, chanting
by Prabhupada’s own work and by is absolute, and even if one just chants, he
his own movement and witnessed at Sri can make all spiritual progress. But
Caitanya-Candrodaya Mandir. Prabhupada wanted us to be knowledge-
able and equipped as preachers.
Bhava Bhakti dd - Do you have a sankirtana Therefore, it is necessary to read as well as
story that you have to share? to chant.

Satsvarupa das Goswami Bhava Bhakti dd- Can keeping a journal be

My own sankirtana or book distribution was a way of communicating with Krishna?
done mostly by selling Back to Godhead
magazines. I remember racing down the Satsvarupa das Goswami
main streets of Boston and Harvard Square, Yes. Prabhupada asked all of his devotees to
Cambridge (Massachusetts), begging peo- write. Krishna is our best friend, so we can
ple to give a donation for the magazine. I express ourselves to him in the form of a
would open the pages of the magazine and journal. It may contain sastric verses and
show them the illustrations and the essays our own realizations, and even our lamenta-
and try to stop them in their tracks. A low tions at our lack of realizations. A devotee’s
percentage of people stopped, but the BTG journal is not mundane, but it is filled with
distributors were tireless in running after transcendental aspirations and is a recom-
them and eventually would sell sometimes mended way of practicing Krishna con-
50 or 100 magazines in a day. On the week- sciousness.

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