Their main source of income is the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books
Meanwhile, the preaching in America is still going on. As temple presidents of ISKCON New York and the Radha Damodara TSKP respectively, Adi Kesava and Dhrishtadyumna Swamis wrote jointly to forward the names of three men for second initiation. Srila Prabhupada was pleased to accept their recommendations.
There was also today a report for the month of September from Balavanta prabhu in the southern USA zone. Next to the date he added a note saying, "Report sent late due to work in New York emergency." He opened with a nice prayer. "Your shelter is as cooling as the autumn moon as it easily provides one shelter from all the dangers of the material world. The only problem is that just as for persons whose bodies are not made of fire, it is impossible to enter into the sun planet, similarly it is difficult for persons as impure as ourselves to remain in your pure association. Still, since even Sivananda Sena's dog achieved Vaikuntha by His mercy, we are confident that somehow or other, by your compassionate nature we will also get success."
Balavanta listed each of the seven temples he oversees and gave a short account of their activities. There is a new epidemic in Atlanta, but unfortunately not the kind he had previously reported. All the devotees there got infected with hepatitis. According to the doctor who treated them, the hepatitis seems to have been carried from India and then spread through the temple prasadam. Immediate steps were taken to check the infection, and devotees were put on a rest regimen and a diet of papaya, starchy foods, and sugar. Balavanta is confident that the hepatitis has not spread beyond the local devotees, there was no bad publicity, and on the upside the doctor bought a Bhagavad-gita As It Is. But sankirtana activities were curtailed. "Ultimately," he confessed, "I can understand that if everyone were more clean, this would not have happened. I should have trained the devotees more seriously in these matters. I think now everyone understands more of the importance of personal hygiene. All the devotees are now well and the bright spot is that they maintained their spiritual strength very nicely understanding that these difficulties come, but that in any circumstances we must chant Hare Krishna and keep engaged in devotional service."
In Gainesville, Prabhupada was especially glad to hear, book distribution is booming. Devotees are stationed in the Orlando airport, a busy hub for all the tourists traveling to and from Disney World. There are also welcome stations on the main highways, where a single devotee can distribute $150-$200 worth of books per day. Gainesville, Balavanta said, is quickly becoming the top medium temple in book distribution.
In Miami, where an upcoming council hearing will decide on their zoning, the devotees have been beautifying the temple grounds and gathering support from neighbors, who, Balavanta says, are all favorable. He is confident that the zoning will be approved.
New Orleans temple has increased book distribution by engaging more brahmanas in Deity worship, thus freeing up the temple president to develop the preaching. They are also adding a reception room and library.
Due to the closure of a farm in Bridesville, Canada, Balavanta reported, many new devotees have come to live on the Mississippi farm and that this has improved their cow protection program. They are now supplying all the milk for both Mississippi and New Orleans. He included a one-page drawing of a proposed new temple that is very similar in design to Krishna Balaram Mandir except with two Floors and only a single dome over the Deities.
At the Tennessee farm the devotees are getting 250 lbs. of milk a day and last year harvested 6,000 lbs. of wheat, which they intend to increase this year. Winter pastures have been developed so that the cows will have year-round grazing, and there also the devotees are building a new temple, which, he said, will soon be complete. Their main source of income is the distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books.
The only problem spot Balavanta mentioned was in Houston. "We are still pushing hard to open the airport but the city officials are great demons and are trying every tactic to delay things. So, they are powerful and we are doing whatever we can. Still, I am feeling very anxious about this situation as I know that so many more of your books will be distributed as soon as it actually opens. And when that day comes book distribution should be appreciably increased."
He also included a letter to Jagadisa prabhu recommending two new devotees for first initiation and eight for second.
Prabhupada enjoyed hearing the report, especially about the book distribution, his life and soul. "I am very glad to hear how the book distribution is increasing more and more. This is our greatest weapon. The more the books are distributed, the more the ignorance of the Age of Kali will be smashed. The world is feeling the weight of this Hare Krishna Movement, especially in your country. We have to increase this book distribution work more and more to firmly establish this Movement, which is the only hope for the suffering living entities."
He ended with an approval of the plans for the Mississippi temple and acceptance of the candidates for initiation, telling Balavanta to chant on the new devotees' beads and have the brahmanas listen to the tape of him (Prabhupada) chanting the Gayatri mantra through their right ears.
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 5 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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