Alachua, FLorida
My name is Divyanga das. I joined in 1973. I did not join a temple, per se, I actualy joined a van. TSKP [Traveling Sankirtana Party] van! I was walking to a concert when I saw a van with Hare Krsnas in it, pulling into a gas station. I'd seen devotees at many concerts, so I went over to see if I could get a ride. The friend I was with said: I would rather walk, see you! I went over to the van, devotee said - get in! Mrgendra handed me a Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Nectar of Devotion. I had about $90 in my pocket, which I donated. Then we had kirtan on the way to the concert. After the kirtan the devotees got out book bags and incense. They asked me to help them, and for some reason, I sold my ticket and joined the sankirtan party. It's a long story, but it always reminds me how every jiva, no matter how covered, can be saved by the mercy of SP books. I know how much it meant to me to get my first books. I never asked for a book, but the devotees were always giving them to me.
In 1976, Srila Prabhupada said, " Therefore, I have to see that in all languages our books are published. If we strain and if he takes one book home, some day people will come to understand what valuable knowledge they have received. It is transcendental literature. Please continue like this to print books in all languages for the benefit of suffering misdirected humanity." I have my personal experience, a devotee stopped me on the street in Ann Arbor, gave me a stick of incense and asked for a donation for Bangladesh. I gave him $5. He gave me a Bhagavad-gita and Beyond Birth and Death. I took them home, put them on the shelf, and never read them. Six months later, I joined that SKTP van. nama sankirtan bhakta vrinda ki jay, brihad mridanga ki jay!
I was then 17. Now I am 53. I live in Alachua, am married and have 3 children. My wife, Govinda Mohini, is a teacher here and supports my book distribution fully, as well as personally distributing books at book tables. She pays the rent and maintains me so I am free to distribute books. Book distribution has been more difficult since the airports closed. Finding legal spots is hard, and everywhere I go, I am
New Raman Reti distributes books regularly on Harinam Parties and is developing a weekend warior program with book tables at local retail stores and door to door.
If you would like to assist Divyanga prabhu in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books throughout Florida simply go here and enter "Divyanga dasa" in the field "I would like books sent to..."