Tag: old city hall

2025.68-110 + 2026.1 – Engaging Diverse Audiences & Achieving Sankirtan Goals in Extreme Cold Weather – Ecstatic 2025 Prabhupada Marathon!

In Toronto’s brutal winter, Srila Prabhupada transforms the cold into spiritual gold by encouraging remarkable Sankirtan efforts, exceeding a total of 110 outings in 2025 against all odds for one humble warrior. Battling frigid temperatures and indifferent crowds, Srila Prabhupada tirelessly inspires diverse audiences, from skeptical Sikhs to curious Muslims. Each cold encounter becomes a lesson in humility to the Sankirtan warriors, the transient nature of recognition, and the deep connections formed within fleeting moments. Amidst dismissals and challenges, he ignites a spark of spirituality, guiding strangers towards timeless wisdom with every book offered. Dressed like a warrior against the harsh elements, the Sankirtan warriors are inspired into urgency into Srila Prabhupada’s mission: spreading enlightenment, one icy encounter at a time.

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!
Please kindly accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I pray that you are all well and in good health and spirits.
By your blessings I can join in this Hare Krishna movement, despite my disqualifications. Thank you!

Since I carefully started tracking my Sankirtan outings in 2017, I have completed over 950 outings! I started distributing books in 2009 though. By Krishna’s mercy, with some conservative estimates, I have been fortunate to be out on 1,144+ outings since 2009!

General Update:

What an ecstatic marathon this has been! At the beginning of November, I was 40 outings short of my annual target of 108. And there were so many challenges. My other services, commitments, and not the least, the frigid Toronto weather! But I’m happy to say that by your blessings, I have made it. I went out there 40+ times and also opened up my 2026 Sankirtan outings account!

In general, December is a cold month in Toronto. But usually the really cold weather only starts at the end of December. We got used to warm Decembers for many years. But this year, the polar vortex brought very extreme temperatures much earlier in the month. It also brought freezing rain, snow, and strong winds. The coldest temperature, with the windchill, that I went out in was -21C. I lasted about 30 minutes outside. I wore all possible winter gear. Then, I quickly sought warmth to continue.

Gratitude to my family for supporting my Sankirtan activities. Special thanks to my son Vitthal Bhakta who came out with me often. During the last few days of the marathon, it got extra cold, and I was out for longer. That extra support helped a lot.

Note: Photos are less, because, taking the hand out of the glove/mitten can mean an early break!

Cold Weather Sankirtan

How to keep going in the cold? Well, set a target, easy one, like, say, I will be out for 10 minutes. Then, once the 10 minutes are up and your mind reminds you? Say “I will ask those 3 people”, then “That one lady”, then “those 2 boys”, and then “that man”… and in this way, before you know it you have been out for an hour and never noticed the cold! But that is once you actually are well prepared for the cold.

It a cold December 2025 in Toronto

If you are well prepared for the cold, then it is manageable. If it is not too cold, and it is only -3C or even Zero, you feel like Krishna is back. It seems like Spring has arrived. You have a spring in your step.

For aspiring cold weather Sankirtan warriors who don’t have a Canadian body, or a youthful body… Enduring extreme cold is challenging. Here is my clothing outline for the coldest of days. The trick is to dress in layers, many layers. The better dressed we are for the weather, the better we can serve.

  • Torso: Long Sleeved Cotton T-shirt + 2 Warm Acrylic/Wool Sweaters + Hoodie + Inner Coat (3 layers + insulation) + Outer Long Winter Coat (4 layers + insulation) (rated -30C)
  • Legs: Thermal Pants + Thick Jeans + Wind/Snow Pants
  • Head: Winter Hat + Winter Pilot’s Hat (rated -30C)
  • Hands: 1 Pair of Woollen Gloves, 1 Pair of Mittens (rated -30C)
  • Feet: 1 Pair Cotton Socks + 1 Pair Woollen Socks + Winter Boots (rated -30C)

All that clothing weighs you down with it’s sheer weight. It’s not too different from the warriors putting on armor! 🙂 Gives a special meaning to the phrase “Sankirtan Warrior”.

As some smart Nordic person said… there is no such thing as bad weather, there is only poor clothing.

Of course, you need to be properly fueled up with Prasadam before heading out. Being out in the cold on an empty stomach is the worst thing.

Also, you need to make sure your books are properly accessible. Make sure it is possible to pull them out without having to take your mittens off. Once the fingers freeze, it’s time out!

It’s best to stay close to a place which is warmer, like a subway station, shopping mall, etc. Productivity is higher if we can slip in for a few minutes, get warm and then head back out again.

Of course, in that type of cold, it is not always possible to have long conversations! I know that the weather is harsh. I am there for a particular purpose. This purpose gives me the strength to tolerate the weather. But not my customers. They don’t know why I am stopping them. They don’t know what advantage they will get by speaking with me. I am just another pesky fellow in their way! I have to stay alert. I must keep it short. Somehow, I must try to make it so that they leave with a book or a mantra or goodwill.

Freezing rain is breathtakingly beautifu. However, it is quite deadly when the trees overloaded with ice crash down onto houses, roads, cars, people, etc.

Rewarding Nevertheless

But it is a most rewarding experience. Trying to convince someone to take something spiritual can be exhausting, but always exhilarating. It is said that for someone who endeavors in this way, they build their spiritual body. This happens one interaction at a time. One learns more in a few hours or days than one can in an entire lifetime! One learns about oneself so much. When I see some negative quality or trait, it is so easy to spot that very trait in myself! Would I stop? Would I speak to a stranger? Would I take something from them? Would I encourage?

Above all, there is great appreciation for someone who took something spiritual. It is such a blessing that I can play a role in their spiritual journey. And it is almost 100% sure that the specifics of this interactions will be forgotten. I will be forgotten in the sands of time. I will be just one of the anonymous servitors of that soul. Just like I have so many anonymous benefactors. I have benefited from their service. Now I can pay it onward.

New Audiences

In this marathon, there were the usual mix of people, rich, poor, simple, sophisticated, etc. There were Indians, Caucasians and more. But there were a few observations on new audiences who otherwise don’t resonate with our message…

Filipinos: Mostly simple working class people, they don’t resonate with a philosophical approach. They are simple people. But they are fluent with English. The message needs to be simple. The books need to be simple. Most of the books with high philosophy don’t resonate with them. They loved to read about Reincarnation (Coming Back, Beyond Birth and Death). Food (Higher Taste) also interests them. They also enjoy reading about Meditation (Chant and Be Happy). And they will open up the book right there and start to read. Most of the time, I started with “Do you like to read?” and showed them a book.

Muslim Afghans: These are mostly displaced persons, new to Canada. They are also simple people, but wary of losing their Islamic connection. So, I place emphasis on the brotherly affection between those from India and Afghanistan. I tell them that knowledge is knowledge, no matter which language it comes from. I reassure them that I don’t intend to take them away from Islam. It is true, Pure Bhakti is the highest form of Islam. I show them Sri Ishopanishad, and ask them if the verses don’t remind them of Allah. That approach resonated with many Bangladeshi Muslims also.

Africans: There are so many African people in Canada. I don’t mean just the descendents of those who escaped slavery in America. These Africans are younger, well educated and curious. Many of them are very fluent with English and they love to read. They are also simple and open. All I had to do was ask them if they like to read. I was respectful in answering their questions. Then, the book was theirs.

Chinese: This is most interesting. For years, I have tried to distribute Chinese Books and it was always very difficult. I live in an area that is full of Chinese people. But I think I have found a technique that works. Do not say anything. Just hold out the book. Make sure the title is clearly visible. Use both hands so they can read the title. When they take the book, one little nod a light bow, and the book is in their bag. Most of the Chinese people I met, even those who spoke English fluently, preferred to read Chinese books. But I saw that they were intimidated by the size of the Chinese Bhagavad Gita. The small books I had this time (all donated by devotees) were perfect. They would read the title and say to me “Magic of yuga? yes, good?”.

Christians: Considering that I distribute right next to a Baptist Church, people would ask me if this was about Jesus. I said yes, this book explained Jesus’ way. I said that this book helps them go deeper into the Bible because it is about God the Father. Of course, some Christians asked things like “spirituality, which spirituality”. Some seemed freaked out. It was as if they’d seen a ghost and quickly got away. I blame the dishonest or evil preachers for that reaction. “Chant and Be Happy” and “Higher Taste” are especially good because of the copious references to the Bible there. But when there was no chance – I reminded them of the commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. I repeated Srila Prabhupada’s instruction. He said that anyone who claimed to be a Christian but consumed the flesh of animals is not a Christian. He stated that consuming the flesh of animals contradicts Christian values. That made an impression. Hopefully “Higher Taste” next! 🙂

Arabic: Arabic people are so much like Indian people. Most of them are not overly concerned about spiritual topics. But they love the cookbooks and books in Arabic. I just had to hold out the title to make it visible as they passed. They would break out into a BIG smile and stop to chat. Even the ladies with face coverings pushing strollers and managing so many kids.

Nepalis: I have never met so many Nepali boys in such a short time before! It was practically like distributing books in India. They needed no convincing. I just had to ask them “Do you want a Gita?” They would check with me “Are you selling or distributing?”. Of course I was not selling. And then they would send me a donation by eTransfer after. If I didn’t have a Gita, then I would say “based on the Bhagavat”. They would take a book like Second Chance. Very pious souls.

Outings Outline:

2025.69 – 15 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.70 – 16 Nov 2025 – ISKCON Brampton Class & Shastra Daan Collections
2025.71 – 16 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.72 – 17 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & FInch Books
2025.73 – 19 Nov 2025 – Old City Hall Books
2025.74 – 22 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.75 – 23 Nov 2025 – Anglican Church + ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Distribution Incl. SD
2025.76 – 24 Nov 2025 – Queens Park Station Books
2025.77 – 25 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & FInch Books
2025.78 – 29 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.79 – 29 Nov 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.80 – 30 Nov 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Distribution
2025.81 – 1 Dec 2025 – LinkedIn Distribution + Temple Distribution
2025.82 – 2 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.83 – 3 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Temple Corridor Books
2025.84 – 4-6 Dec 2025 – Montreal + Vermont Travel Distribution
2025.85 – 7 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Distribution
2025.86 – 12 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & FInch Books
2025.87 – 13 Dec 2025 – 65 Forest Manor Door to Door Books
2025.88 – 14 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Books
2025.89 – 15 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.90 – 16 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.91 – 18 Dec 2025 – Don MIlls & Finch Books
2025.92 – 19 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.93 – 20 Dec 2025 – 25 Forest Manor Door to Door Books
2025.94 – 21 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Books
2025.95 – 22 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.96 – 23 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.97 – 24 Dec 2025 – Finch Bus Station Books
2025.98 – 24 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Books
2025.99 – 25 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.100 – 26 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.101 – 27 Dec 2025 – 25 Forest Manor Door to Door Books
2025.102 – 28 Dec 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Books
2025.103 – 29 Dec 2025 – Yonge & Edward + YD Square with VB
2025.104 – 29 Dec 2025 – Nathan Phillips Square + Old City Hall with VB
2025.105 – 29 Dec 2025 – Finch Bus Station with VB
2025.106 – 30 Dec 2025 – Don Mills & Finch
2025.107 – LinkedIn + WhatsApp Friends & Family Campaign – counted when distributed/donated out
2025.108 – Don Mills & Finch Books
2025.109 – ISKCON Toronto Corridor distribution
2025.110 – Old City Hall Harinam + Books with VB, BMS and temple devotees
2026.1 – Old City Hall Harinam + Books with VB, BMS and temple devotees

New 42 2025 Outings

Total 110/108 outings in 2025, and 1/108 outings in 2026!

With the family at the St. John's Anglican Church, after the Ordination of Reverend Dr. James Leatch, also seen Bishop Right Rev Kevin Robertson.
With the family at the St. John’s Anglican Church, after the Ordination of Reverend Dr. James Leatch, also seen Bishop Right Rev Kevin Robertson.

Diverse Interactions

Here are just a few of interactions that stood out… Note that I have had thousands of interactions, and noted a one-liner after each outing about those that stood out… Some of these are short. They show how little time one has to get a book out in the extreme cold!

The most common reaction that a book distributor faces is to be ignored. People pretend we don’t exist at all… either they are uncomfortable, in a hurry, or genuinely disinterested. So that is the most common reaction, and doesn’t count as an interaction. I counted hundreds or thousands of those in each outing.

A Sikh boy didn’t want to take anything because he said we worship stones and wood. He hadn’t heard of Guru Nanak visiting the temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri!

An Afghan man named Suleiman chanted names of Lord Ram very beautifully. We had a very sweet conversation on an unusually warm evening. He took 2 books.

A big part of book distribution in marathon is to collect donations from the congregations members. A lot of people each doing a little bit. I have no way to track these because the collection was centralized. Unless a transaction happens right in front of you, no way to see what actually happened. I was very conservative about counting these in my scores. But the congregation was very generous overall, they gave well over a quarter of a million dollars. Many different temples, including Toronto, Brampton, and other places. This is despite donor fatigue from being asked each year, year after year.

A running girl passing by said “I don’t need it but will take it” and ran off with a book!

A boy named Kamal, of Turkish heritage, he came to Canada about 4 years ago. Now he studies Computer Science and the more he studies the more disgested he gets. “What is the world coming to, what are we spending our lives on” he was thinking! He took books and promised to read and reach out.

A Muslim girl from Bangladesh was initially hesitant, but took an Ishopanishad when I showed her some of the verses. She bought the argument “Knowledge is knowledge”.

Ginger from Ukraine spoke of war, death, suffering, and so on. She said she didn’t know what can be done about all that. She did take books when presented as the only solution to all the problems. She liked that those who read will either stop such nonsense, or will not be affected by such nonsense.

I met Karthik, from Andhra Pradesh in a crosswalk, walking in opposite directions. I handed him a book and said he could donate if he wanted to, email inside. He’s a student and sent $40 by eTransfer! I was touched by his generosity.

This Dentist from Mumbai, Anil presently works at a Tim Hortons Coffee shop. I told him about my cousin who had to do the same things. He said he had many questions so took a Perfect Questions Perfect Answers.

Steve, who is from Gujarat, surprised me by taking a book when he heard “hey, knowledge is knowledge”. Usually Indian Christians rarely take books, in my experience.

Akshay took a book without a word, and said he wanted to join classes. He gave me $20 right away without hesitation.

Arash is from Afghanistan. He is not a quick reader. He knew about Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, and the goddesses. I met him so many times during marathon. Always had a warm smile and a kind word for me. And even though he can’t read well, he took a book.

Enny born in Nigeria, now from Houston came here to study Computer Engineering. He was asking about the market for new graduates. I said not too good, thanks to AI. But he took a book. Franklin, his friend from Jamaica, also a student in the same class, actually took a SB 7.1! That was rare, to distribute a Bhagavatam on the street.

One boy asked me when I came to Canada, I said 2003. He said he was born that year, then he asked me how old I was. When I replied he said I was as old as his father. He then said he would never refuse anything his father told him to do. So he dutifully took a book.

Shane is a Seventh Day Adventist. He first apologized for the cans of beer in his hand. Then he told me he was giving it all up in the New Year. And he shared that he no longer goes to Church because he can worship any day of the week. I said reading this book as as good as going to church. So he took it.

Mohammed from Bahrain loves going to the Gym. I said this was not that kind of exercisy yoga. I said this was more internal. He said, yes, he is scared of that internal deep part. But since the book is in Arabic, he took it. And then he said “I will read, Inshalla”, and crossed… All this in about 10 seconds!

Every time we went door-to-door, the people overwhelmed us with their generosity. There was the lady who handed over all her week’s worth of groceries. The boys from India asked me to place the Gita in their altar. They hadn’t yet had a bath! Najib from Somalia donated generously. Sara from Ethiopia gave $50, and she is married to Christopher from Chennai who said “This is Gita. This is the best book!”.

One Chinese girl, said “I like to read, depends on the topic”. She was hooked in the Science of Self Realization, love at first sight. Took the book and immediately started reading. She kept reading as she stepped into the bus. She continued reading while she found a seat. When the bus took off, she was still reading with rapt attention. Wow! Srila Prabhupada ki kaya!

There was this Russian man who was attracted when I said “mystic secret knowledge.” However, he was disappointed when the book couldn’t teach him to fly. I couldn’t convince him that flying back home was better than flying like a bird in this world. But he knew that this was important, because all his arguments were quite inconsistent and he was laughing. But anyways, the bus came and he left.

Simple Spanish speaking lady took the book and said “nothing bad, right?” and started reading the book while crossing the street in the dark. I called out “careful!” but she was too engrossed in the book, though she made it safely across the street. Like anyone who can live in Srila Prabhupada’s vani is always safe in all situations, she was in safe hands.

Shivam and Krishnaa, a couple asked me what I was doing, and then Krishnaa took a BG Compact edition. She was an atheist before, just like me, and Shivam’s Mom is an ISKCON devotee in Nashik.

This man who looked like a ghost, white pasty skin, BIG eyes, half bald, open coat in the sub-zero weather… Lumbering gait, limping along… Reminded me of Frankenstein. He made his way straight at me, open mouthed, breathing hard, fixing his gaze on me without blinking! I must admit I was a little nervous. Then he took a book, smiled, and got on the bus. That man turned out to be a saint!


I asked an Indian girl alone at a bus stop where she was from. She looked exasperated as if I was some fellow trying to ask her out or buy her a drink. She said I am from this world. I knew she was from Gujarat from her accent. I replied that these books are from another world. She immediately replied “Let me take it then!”.

In my 40+ outings and meeting hundreds of Christians, I met only one Christian lady who eats no meat! I congratulated her. She was happy to know she was among the very few following the “Thou Shalt Not Kill” commandment.

Along the same lines, in an elevator between floors, I asked one Muslim boy what he thought of all the people claiming to be Muslim and then killing people to go to heaven. He said “They are not Muslim”. There is still hope for this world!


I did meet some people regularly. Like this man who was very short with me “I read books on my own terms”… after a few meeting he became very nice to me. Still didn’t take a book, but I will work on him the next time I see him! 🙂

One man I met at the Finch Bus Station carefully looked through each book I had in my hands… Some of the pictures freaked him out. He was especially disturbed by the Changing Bodies picture. The various species coming out of material nature endlessly picture also unsettled him. He loved Srila Prabhupada’s picture and he loved the picture of Mahaprabhu leading the devotees in Harinam Sankirtan. He took a CBH with tremendous gratitude, and thanked me for approaching him on that day!

One curious man near a bookstore asked me, “Why are you doing this?” I replied, “Because these books help anyone who reads them.” He took a small one and said, “To increase my chances of actually reading it.”

Stuti from Haridwar passed us by. Then came back, took a book, and promised to write to me and send me an eTransfer.

Two young girls at a bus stop were cautious, almost nervous when I approached them. One was in a white body, one in a black body. No one else was around, it was late and dark. Cold and windy. But as soon as I showed them the books, they immediately gravitated towards the books on reincarnation. Coming Back, Beyond Birth and Death, Second Chance… etc. You get the picture. They behaved very differently after, like they would with an old friend.

Salman from Kerala took a book, saying he only knows English and Malayalam. He didn’t respond to my Muslim greetings.

A father and son from Syria saw the books in my hands. They asked for them and took one book each. The father excitedly recommended a particular one to his son!

Anas from Mauritius wore no gloves! I asked him and he said he’s very new, still getting used to it all. He loved the example of how his Mom or Grandma can cook something special. No one else can ever replicate that same taste. He was intrigued with the ingredient beyond the ingredients. “Higher Taste” calling!

Hrithik from Bangladesh took the Bhagavad Gita and Krishna. He took beads too, which Brahma Prabhu offered to the deities. He promised to chant 2 rounds daily to start with.

This boy from Haryana couldn’t speak a sentence without using an expletive. He tried really hard controlling himself, seeing that I was with a child. Fortunately Vitthal Bhakta doesn’t understand any of that. But he was very open about his atheism. He said he didn’t believe all this. He said he did what the elders told him to do back home, but here he did whatever he liked. I tried to interest him in the difference between an animal. say a dog, and a human. He insisted there was no difference. I asked him so many questions about why no one wants to die, etc… Then he said he wouldn’t mind being a dog. They didn’t have to struggle so much. Their lives were so uncomplicated. At this point I remembered what Srila Prabhupada said to a boy who said he wanted to be a dog. So I touched him and blessed him that in his next life, he would be a dog. He seemed to be very happy with the blessing! Vitthal Bhakta was shocked I did that. But later I prayed for him. I hoped he would be born as a dog in the home of a Vaishnava. There, he would become purified by the dust of the Vaishnava’s lotus feet. I prayed that he would get Krishna Prasadam before and in his next human life. That’s the best I could do for him!

These are only a few of the many interactions… something about these stood out to me even now and I wrote them down for your pleasure. Please pray for everyone else who reciprocated with any devotee who was out on Sankirtan. They deserve your blessings. A few pictures attached.

Would you like to help? I can’t hit my targets alone. But you can help. You can donate for distribution in any region of the world. I will work to get your donation to book distributors in that part of the world. This way, we can make it easier for someone to get Srila Prabhupada’s books. Will you help?

All this is possible only by your encouragement and blessings! Thank you!

Do you want to be notified when I go out? Anyone you know? When I’m going out on Harinam, book distribution, or giving a class, I send out a notification. Please let me know… let us together flood this world with Harinam Sankirtan, Krishna Katha, and Srila Prabhupada’s books!

My 2025 goals summary is

  • 110 Sankirtan outings – target exceeded
  • 83 classes delivered – target exceeded, and
  • 1662+ Bhagavad Gita or equivalent distributed (below target of 2330).

    My lifetime goal of being an instrument in distributing 1 Lakh Gitas tracking is at 10,620+/100,000 (10.6% of goal).

    My 2026 goals are,
  • 108 Sankirtan outings
  • 100 classes, and being an instrument in the
  • distribution of 3319 Bhagavad Gitas or equivalent!

I can only set goals and pray for mercy, then try my best. But the Vaishnavas and Krishna can help fulfill the prayer, enable the effort and make the target possible to achieve. Please bless me, because your blessings are certainly potent!

107 outings to go in 2026! Please bless me, please pray for me.

Please engage in acts of Harinam Sankirtan wherever you are!

This is written for your pleasure. 

your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
dasadas.com

P.S: If you wish to help me distribute Bhagavad Gitas, please let me know. Distribution can be arranged in a country of your choice. You can start with as little as 1 Bhagavad Gita. There are no upper limits! 🙂

P.P.S: Please forward to as many souls as you can with your personal note, where attention goes energy flows, so more and more souls may take up Harinam Sankirtan and Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution all over the world…

2025.27-68 – Summer, Fall, Poland, Canada, India, Pre Marathon update

2025.27-68 – This is only my second Sankirtan update of 2025, and there will be just one more 2025 marathon update after this… Lots of outings, lots of classes, online articles, service, mentoring, travel, etc., no time to write about it all promptly. But more and more engaged in sadhana and service than ever before, carefully tracked and measured. Feeling very blessed and grateful for it. 68 outings this year so far, 73 classes, 1027 Bhagavad Gitas. Please could you help?

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!
Please kindly accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I pray that you are all well and in good health and spirits.
By your blessings I am able to participate in this Hare Krishna movement, despite my disqualifications. Thank you!

General Update:

You’re used to getting my Sankirtan updates via email. But it became really hard for me to manage all my different communications channels alone. So I will use my website as the primary channel and connect all other channels to it. I pray for your kind understanding. Thank you.

This is only my second Sankirtan update of 2025, and there will be just one more 2025 marathon update after this… Lots of outings, lots of classes, online articles, service, mentoring, travel, etc., no time to write about it all promptly. But more and more engaged in sadhana and service than ever before, carefully tracked and measured. Feeling very blessed and grateful for it.

Outings Outline:

2025.27 – 28 May 2025 – Old City Hall Harinam
2025.28 – 31 May 2025 – MSF Old City Hall with VB and devotees
2025.29 – 7 Jun 2025 – Waterloo Ratha Yatra Book Table
2025.30 – 16 Jun 2025 – Warsaw Prosta & Zelezna Harinam + books
2025.31 – 18 Jun 2025 – Warsaw Old City Harinam
2025.32 – 23 Jun 2025 – YD Square Toronto RY Flyers Distribution
2025.33 – 28 Jun 2025 – Avenue & Bloor Harinam Toronto MSF
2025.34 – YD Square RY Flyer distribution
2025.35 – 7 Jul 2025 – Toronto General Hospital Kirtan with Bhaktimarga Swami & Vaishnava Prabhu
2025.36 – 12 Jul 2025 – Toronto RY Distribution
2025.37,38 – 12 Jul 2025 Toronto RY Book Tent Distribution
2025.39 ,40- 13 Jul 2025 Toronto RY Book Tent Distribution
2025.41 – 19 Jul 2025 – Thunder Bay Ratha Yatra Book Tent Distribution
2025.42 – 20 Jul 2025 – Thunder Bay Festival of Colors Book Tent
2025.43 – 2 Aug 2025 – Stratford Vaishnava Sanga Harinam & Books
2025.44 – 9 Aug 2025 – ISKCON Scarborough Ratha Yatra Book Table
2025.45 – 10 Aug 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Distribution
2025.46 – 17 Aug 2025 – ISKCON Toronto distribution
2025.47 – 23 Aug 2025 – Kensington Market MSF
2025.48 – 24 Aug 2025 – Toronto Sunday Feast Distributon
2025.49 – 31 Aug 2025 – Toronto Radhastami Distribution – SB Sets + BG
2025.50 – 6 Sep 2025 – Cabbagetown Festival Book Distribution
2025.51 – 7 Sep 2025 – Toronto Sunday Feast Bhadra Purnima
2025.52 – 14 Sep 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday Feast Distribution
2025.53 – 15 Sep 2025 – Old City Hall Harinam
2025.54 – 25 Sep 2025 – Old City Hall Harinam w/ Rahul
2025.55 – 5 Oct 2025 – Hyderabad Nagar Sankirtan with Vishwa Kirti Prabhu ACBSP
2025.56 – 6 Oct 2025 – P&T Colony Books – counted separately
2025.57 – 7 Oct 2025 – Hyderabad Nagar Sankirtan with Vishwa Kirti Prabhu ACBSP
2025.58 – 8 Oct 2025 – Hyderabad Nagar Sankirtan with Vishwa Kirti Prabhu ACBSP
2025.59 – P&T Colony Books – counted separately
2025.60 – 9 Oct 2025 – Hyderabad Nagar Sankirtan with Vishwa Kirti Prabhu ACBSP
2025.61 – 12 Oct 2025 – ISKCON Juhu Books
2025.62 – 13 Oct 2025 – ISKCON Juhu Books
2025.63 – 16 Oct 2025 – Thiruvananthapuram Adi Keshava temple Books
2025.64 – 17 Oct 2025 – P&T Colony Books
2025.65 – 2 Oct – 18 Oct 2025 Continuous India distribution all day – counted separately
2025.66 – 26 Oct 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday feast distribution
2025.67 – 30 Oct 2025 – Royal St. George College Talk & Books
2025.68 – 2 Nov 2025 – ISKCON Toronto Sunday feast distribution

New 42 2025 Outings

Total 68/108 outings in 2025

Here are just a few of interactions that stood out…

Poland was a delightful place for Sankirtan & Book Distribution!

Poland was a delightful place for Sankirtan & Book Distribution!

Rahul joined me on Sankirtan one day at Old City Hall

Rahul joined me on Sankirtan one day at Old City Hall

Radhashtami blessings! Siddharth is a young man who I struck up a conversation with on Radhashtami, discussing the Bhagavatam. He surprised me with his openness and deep questions, and took a set almost right away! Doesn’t happen too often. I remain in touch with him… that day was blessed and 11 sets were distributed in that outing! Bright young people, looking for answers to the questions of life. Just the type of people Srila Prabhupada had in mind!

Ritiv, the man of questions, was referred to me because he was asking so many questions. And he joined the classes reading the books carefully and asking many questions. He writes “this class is changing me into the best version of me. I would be always grateful to Radha Rani for giving me this opportunity to better understand myself with the help of Bhagavad Gita”. Thank you Ritiv and the whole Parampara is rooting for our success, we’re only getting started!

YD Square is a loud space, Toronto version of Times Square experiences, I call it an assault on the senses. The square with gigantic screens, all sorts of sights, sounds, and smells. And a continuous stream of people moving through it in all directions. Distributing Ratha Yatra invitation cards was a fun and interesting experience there. I got to invite several who would otherwise not know about the festival. The ones I least expected to took the cards. That reminded me again that we’re not these bodies. Krishna consciousness operates on the level of the spirit soul.

The Toronto Ratha Yatra is really BIG in terms of the opportunity to distribute books. Even though we have been distributing extensively there, there are still repeat customers. And the festival gives the perfect atmosphere for spiritual discussions. It was good numbers for me personally, even though my time was fragmented in so many services.

In my first unexpected visit to Thunder Bay, I was delighted to join their Ratha Yatra celebration. With a team that is stretched thin, book distribution often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Serving souls up there in the North was very inspiring. I know this is one reason why Krishna took me from a tiny village in South India and plonked me here in Canada!

The Vaishnava Sanga festival was in Stratford this year and the Harinam was as good as it gets. There were hundreds of devotees out on the streets of Stratford. But they were light on the book distribution side – with just a few books. So I added my own personal stock to the mix and together we all distributed many books.

The ISKCON Scarborough Ratha Yatra has been steadily building up. They have a nice focus on book distribution, led by Anuttama Prabhu and my Godbrother Sudarshan Prabhu. It was a pleasure and privilege to assist them with book distribution

The Kensington market in Toronto has its own vibes. Whenever I go there, I can be sure to meet some far out folks. The total number of books distributed has somewhat reduced there. This is owing to the gentrification. But Kensington remains a great spot to go out on book distribution!

Kensington is still a fun place for Harinam Sankirtan & Book Distribution

Kensington is still a fun place for Harinam Sankirtan & Book Distribution

One of the summer festivals we go to is the Cabbagetown festival. Named after its frugal inhabitants who grew cabbages in front of their homes instead of lawns, that reputation persists. We were met by this keen bargain hunter, a gentleman who wanted the Bhagavad Gita in Tamil. He came and he went. The devotee he spoke to first refused to give him a Gita… He came back, and again. Finally he got a Gita for what he thought was a bargain price. But he didn’t know that he’s bargaining with the best bargainer in the business, Sri Krishna. I got my Gita for free around 25 years ago, and look where I am!

Friend in deed! Antariksh is a young devotee in the community. He brought some of his friends to me at the book table. He then asked me to recommend some books for them, which I did after asking them a few questions. He then ensured that these young men liked the books. And then, he bought the books for them. What a friend!

My new friend with a book to sober him up

My new friend with a book to sober him up

On my trip from Frankfurt to Hyderabad, I sat next to a young man. The flight was full. The cabin crew served passengers with their German efficiency. I struck up a conversation. he was an ambitious engineer. Reminded me of myself a couple of decades ago. He worked fulltime and had a business in Hyderabad. He was looking for advice in running his business. The young man, Sai, later confided in me. Among other things, he regretted getting drunk on this day. Of all days, he felt it was unfortunate since he was to sit next to me. We spoke about spiritual life, Krishna, about Karma. We spoke about chanting Hare Krishna. But anyways, he took a book, gave me a generous donation in Euros.

These boys have a Japa circle of their own at ISKCON Juhu!

These boys have a Japa circle of their own at ISKCON Juhu!

India Sankirtan is always ecstatic! The Nagar Sankirtan with Vishwa Kirti Prabhu (ACBSP) was a highlight. There was also the book distribution at the ISKCON temple book stalls. It was even more exciting out on the street. Coming from the west, it is relatively hard to get the books out! But not in India. One just had to stand somewhere with the books and souls would make a beeline for the books. One just has to scratch the surface, and almost everyone in India is Krishna Conscious.

Books fly out in India

Books fly out in India

Narayana is the owner of a motorcycle repair workshop. He pulled up on his sleek motorbike and I handed him a small book. He took out his phone and transferred the entire content of his bank account to my Sankirtan account! I struggled to find books to reciprocate with his generosity! I gave him a few extra copies. Narayana said he was going to make the books mandatory reading for his “boys” back at the workshop! I look forward to visiting that transcendental workshop in my next visit!

This gentleman teaches chemistry and is preparing to serve as an officer in the government.

This gentleman teaches chemistry and is preparing to serve as an officer in the government.

BACE Power! All this time, I’ve been distributing alone at my spot at the P&T Colony 5-road-intersection… But this time, all of a sudden, some boys with Tilaka came and asked if they could assist. Turns out, ISKCON Attapur has opened a BACE not too far from there. Boys stay there, work, study, and practice Krishna Consciousness. These boys enthusiastically distributed all my books in a few minutes – no donations LOL! Clearly they hadn’t been trained in the art of book distribution! We can afford to give the books away. But we try to get whatever donation we can for the benefit of the recipient. I look forward to associating more with those boys in my next visit. And I heard there is another BACE from ISKCON Hyderabad not far away. Talk about ecstatic!

My enthusiastic book distributor friends from the BACE in P&T Colony Dilsukhnagar

My enthusiastic book distributor friends from the BACE in P&T Colony Dilsukhnagar

This young reader, Krishna, is reading Srila Prabhupada's book. He later brought a handful of rice as a donation in exchange for the book.

This young reader, Krishna, is reading Srila Prabhupada’s book. He later brought a handful of rice as a donation in exchange for the book.

I have an inspiring Godsister named Guru Vandana Devi Dasi. She is a very sincere and serious devotee. She distributed an SB set, and let me be an instrument in her distribution. Of course, Sri Adi Keshava orchestrated all this, we were all just instruments.

Sriman Padmakumar is a retired chief engineer from the Kanyakumari district. He met us at the ancient Sri Adi Keshava temple in Thiruvattaar, Tamil Nadu, right on the border with Kerala. We were on yatra there with my spiritual master and Gurumataji. There he expressed a wish to get a Srimad Bhagavatam set in English. He told Mother Guru Vandana, who passed me the lead. We only had enough time to exchange numbers. Over the next couple of days, I coordinated with Padmakumar and India BBT. With the magic of electronic messaging and transactions… while I was travelling around… Padmakumar sent me a donation, which I forwarded to the BBT. The BBT shipped an SB set! And just like that, 1 SB set distributed while on pilgrimage!

These are only a few of the many interactions… something about these stood out to me even now and I wrote them down for your pleasure. Please pray for everyone else who reciprocated with any devotee who was out on Sankirtan. They deserve your blessings. A few pictures attached.

Now, here in Toronto we have welcomed the Srila Prabhupada marathon. This is the month where we try in a concerted way to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. Especially the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, we distribute as much as possible. At least in Toronto, most of the targets are achieved through collection of funds – shaastra daan. This is a good way for those who don’t distribute books to get involved in book distribution. But for me personally, it’s about going out regularly. It is a very purifying experience, especially in the cold weather of Canada. If it was not for the kindness of the followers of Srila Prabhupada, where would I be? Probably on the other side of the marathon. So I try my best to reach as many souls as possible.

Would you like to help? I can’t hit my targets alone. But you can help. You can donate for distribution in any region of the world. I will work to get your donation to book distributors in that part of the world. This way, we can make it easier for someone to get Srila Prabhupada’s books. Will you help?

All this is possible only by your encouragement and blessings! Thank you!

Do you want to be notified when I go out? Anyone you know? When I’m going out on Harinam, book distribution, or giving a class, I send out a notification. Please let me know… let us together flood this world with Harinam Sankirtan, Krishna Katha, and Srila Prabhupada’s books!

My 2025 goals summary is

  • 68 Sankirtan outings
  • 73 classes delivered, and
  • 1027 Bhagavad Gita or equivalent distributed.

    My lifetime goal of being an instrument in distributing 1 Lakh Gitas tracking is at 10,195/100,000 (10.2% of goal).

    My 2025 goals are,
  • 108 Sankirtan outings
  • 70 classes (exceeded), and being an instrument in the
  • distribution of 2330 Bhagavad Gitas or equivalent!

I can only set goals and pray for mercy, then try my best. But the Vaishnavas and Krishna can help fulfill the prayer, enable the effort and make the target possible to achieve. Please bless me, because your blessings are certainly potent!

40 outings to go in 2025! Please bless me, please pray for me.

Please engage in acts of Harinam Sankirtan wherever you are!

This is written for your pleasure. 

your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
dasadas.com

P.S: If you wish to help me distribute Bhagavad Gitas, please let me know. Distribution can be arranged in a country of your choice. You can start with as little as 1 Bhagavad Gita. There are no upper limits! 🙂

P.P.S: Please forward to as many souls as you can with your personal note, where attention goes energy flows, so more and more souls may take up Harinam Sankirtan and Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution all over the world…

2020.31-43 Downtown Toronto Harinam, Street Distribution, Work Sankirtan, Temple Distribution, Work & Professional Outreach. Online

It is marathon month! Sharing Sankirtan stories from 2020 with you… it was another memorable time, and right now, its another memorable time. I feel fortunate to be able to go out, and to share with you. Thank you for your kind support!

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 12 November 2020

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I pray that you are all well and in good health and spirits.

By your blessings I am able to participate in this Hare Krishna movement, despite my disqualifications. Thank you!

Summary:

29 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall Harinam

6 Oct 2020 – Old City Hall Harinam

8 Oct 2020 – Old City Hall Harinam

10 Oct 2020 – Walk to Temple – Street Distribution + Summer Hill Harinam

20 Oct 2020 – Old City  Hall Harinam

22 Oct 2020 – Old City Hall Harinam

23 Oct 2020 – Niagara Falls Clifton Hill Harinam

24 Oct 2020 – Niagara-on-the-Lake distribution & downtown Harinam

29 Sep – 10 Oct – Sankirtan in the professional world

29 Sep – 27 Oct – Various Online Sankirtan

3 Nov 2020 – Old City Hall

6 Nov 2020 – (Summer in November) Old City Hall

Sep-Oct 2020 – Combined temple distribution & temple guest Sankirtan

————————————-

Total 13 Outings

The mini-summer in an otherwise chilly Toronto November was a great blessing though I couldn’t go as much as I would have liked to.

It has been fun, trying to figure out how to go out on Sankirtan. It has been quite challenging on the time front, but Krishna has been merciful. My spiritual master has always been encouraging, and somehow or other I have managed to focus on Sankirtan and book distribution, despite all my other commitments and duties. I am sure you are much busier than me, but surely you can figure out how to make time?

I am a gap-filler by nature. I was instructed “do the needful” at the beginning of my journey in Krishna consciousness. And this suits my personality just fine. I am drawn to wherever there is a gap, a need. There is surely a shortage of Krishna consciousness in the world today. But while there are many practicing devotees, there is certainly a BIG gap in the Harinam Sankirtan area, especially in Toronto. The devotees are practically invisible. Millions of souls are milling about, going to work, shopping, hanging out, going to restaurants, etc., but the mercy of the Holy Name is being denied to them. This is violence, no? 

Many devotees, such as Rupanuga Prabhu are busier than ever before, propagating the Krishna consciousness movement online. I know that Mother Aditi and Bhadra Krishan Prabhu are doing online programs. So many souls, like Madhava Govinda Prabhu, Sucaru Mataji, Manoj Prabhu, Paramahamsa Prabhu are distributing books by phone. These are all great. What about those who are not ready for those classes or are not in the mercy circle of a devotee yet? The journey in Krishna Consciousness has to start somewhere, no? I still remember the days when I was on the fence after reading the books, and the Harinam Sankirtan party of Bhaktimarga Swami, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Prabhu, Dharmaprana Prabhu and others rescued me from my fence-sitting! I am sure we can do a lot together even if we go out alone together in different parts of the city, and help the souls get enough Sukriti to participate further in the Krishna Consciousness movement!

Imagine if 10, 20, 500 devotees were chanting on different street corners in Toronto and surrounding areas? Everywhere you go, there is the sound of the Holy Name… do you think we could make a dent in the hard materialistic times we live in?

Agreed, I don’t think it makes sense for people to go in large numbers out in public, but wherever you are, go out in ones or in twos! Be seen, be  heard chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Srila Haridas Thakura will bless us!

If you live in a small place, then put on a mask, take your voice and GO! If you live in a big city, put on a mask and GO OUT! Don’t shake hands, don’t get too close to people, but let your voice vibrating the Harinam Mahamantra reach the ears of the poor suffering souls of this age. You will feel happy, Mahaprabhu will be pleased with you, and our lives will be worthwhile. Please go, and report your outing to encourage others. Harinam Sankirtan is the only medicine in the age of Kali, vaccine or no vaccine.

Here are 2 experiences that stood out… never a dull moment out on Sankirtan!

One evening, I was feeling dejected as I went in the dark that I was a madman to go out like this, and who was benefiting from my impure chanting anyway. But I forced myself to go and start. Glad I did! As I stood chanting, an elderly man, unsteadily approached and said “I know this, I know this deeply. Deeeeply”. And then he began crying. He raised his arms, he looked up to the heavens and crossed himself. He said “my man, you have saved me”, and then “do you know what you have just done, you have just saved a soul”. I don’t know what his previous experiences with devotees have been, but he was quite emotional. He said “but it is so hard, SO HARD, how do you do it”. I said “never stop chanting” after a mantra, and continued chanting. He then said “I will say something to you, but you don’t stop chanting”. He said how people think “Toronto” means “meeting place” and that is right, but the full meaning was “Meeting place where the different tribes meet but no one fights”. He said “thank you thank you thank you” so many times”, and tried his own version of chanting. He rambled on philosophically as I continued chanting. Then he said “I have something for you, for your temple”, and pulled out some money, counted out 5 dollars in change. I had to give him a book. I pulled out a Nectar of Instruction. He held the book to his head, he placed it on the wall and bowed to the book. He danced around with the book. He started reading, read a bit, nodded, and then say “my dear man, you have saved me. I have outlived my life, my father is gone, my daughter is gone but I am still here, thank you for giving me hope hope hope”. And then we exchanged some deep Japanese-style bows (I was chanting and playing Karatalas) and he left.

The very next time I went, another madman approached me. The man looked like he was of South Asian descent, told me his name was Raglan. But he was lost to the world, drugged, cigarette in one hand, a Coke in another. The Karatalas just drew him in, he came close, close, closer, until he was about 2 inches from my face, staring into my eyes with a mad look on his face. I had to stop, and say “not this close OK, you stand here” and he obeyed. But as soon as I started the Kirtan his feet moved to the beat, closer, closer, closer. This happened many times. I finally stopped and asked him if he would read, he said no, so I pulled out a Mantra card and he said “I want that, I want that”. So he chanted the Mahamantra with me almost unwillingly. It is as if there were 2 personalities, one was demoniac and one was a bewildered confused lost soul, so innocent. I felt like maybe he was possessed. His feet moved like a zombie’s, his eyes were bloodshot, it is practically as if he wanted to step into me. I felt unsafe. He  (the demoniac personality) had already told me to stop thrice, even thught he couldn’t stop dancing and he couldn’t leave, as if he was hypnotized somehow by the chanting… and the voice was getting more menacing. It was late, dark, and I was not sure anyone else passing would help if he did something stupid. So I stopped and asked him if I could go elsewhere, he agreed, like a child. I said “don’t lose this card, this card will bring great good fortune to you”. As he took the card, I moved across to the South West corner of the intersection and began to chant. He disappeared shortly thereafter.

Going out on Harinam is putting oneself out on a limb, depending only on Krishna’s mercy. This should be done carefully. Many cannot do it at all – for example, as Aruna Keshavi said later “what if the man was COVID-infected?”, I responded, “then the virus is chanting Hare Krishna by now”. That was a joke but it was a serious risk! But those who can do this, should do this, because it bestows the highest blessings on one. I am a madman, mostly in the material sense of the word. But I pray to be mad to spread the mission of Srila Prabhupada or at least die trying.

My 2020 goal is 108 outings, and I have 65 left to go, with just 49 days left this year. Please bless me that I may humbly perform this service. I am very greedy for your blessings. In fact, I am 100% convinced that I can only go out on Harinam Sankirtan because of your blessings, because otherwise I am just a useless fool.

Praying to be always out on Harinam Sankirtan, or at least be in Harinam Sankirtan consciousness 24X7, this is my humble desire, though I must admit that unfortunate as I am, I still maintain all sorts of material attachments. Please bless me.

your servant, 

Mahabhagavat Das

Please subscribe to daily inspirational emails from His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari (Writings and lectures archived at www.ecstaticmedia.com ), written fresh every day from his travels around the world sharing the highest spiritual knowledge with everyone. Sign up now at www.joincourse.com

2020.21-30 Sankirtan Adventures – Old City Hall, Online Sankirtan, and Chinese Old Age Home

December is celebrated as marathon month all over the world, where the followers of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada go out to distribute spiritual literature profusely… this is from 2020. But I’m out again in 2022, and it feels like it all happened yesterday. Please help us by going out, or supporting those who are out, in harsh weather, to benefit the world by adding more spirituality to the collective consciousness of the world. Thank you!

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 26 September 2020

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I pray that you are all well and in good health and spirits.

By your blessings I am able to participate in this Hare Krishna movement, despite my disqualifications. Thank you!

Summary:

26 Aug 2020 – Old City Hall

1 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall

3 Sep 2020 – Old Ciy Hall (With Sagar Vankwani)

7 Sep 2020 – Book distribution at Chinese Old Age Home in Markham

8 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall

10 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall (with Shanti, Ciaran, Nick, Anastasia, Chris)

15 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall

17 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall (with Bhakta Nick, Aruna Keshavi, Vitthal Bhakta)

Aug 21 – 18 Sep 2020  Online – Bhagavatam set distributed (plus more books)

25 Sep 2020 – Old City Hall

————————————-

Total 10 Outings

This online Sankirtan really works! I just write as I have been hearing, and then, often while I am asleep, someone finds what I wrote and reads it. Over the last 2 years thousands have read… Sometimes they request more information, sometimes they request books, and they are often secretly practicing Bhakti at home! One person took an entire Bhagavatam set after a few months of reading the Bhagavad Gita As It Is with me. One person invited me into a Chinese Old Age home where I was able to distribute all the Chinese books I had with me!

I am glad at my great good fortune to be going downtown thrice a week. Am able to go out at the end of the day at least twice a week.

Now I have caught the Harinam fever, and can’t wait to go out. Sometimes, I get the privilege of associating with devotees (especially Nick, he has been very kind to me), sometimes it is just me, my spiritual master and the disciplic succession encouraging me on. Sometimes it is difficult to get going, sometimes unexpected barriers stop me from going. I always have books with me, and no matter what, there are always amazing interactions.

There are people who smile

There are people who begin slapping their bodies in rhythm

There are people who dance

There are people who sing

There are people who clap

There are people who staaaaare

There are people who look as long as you don’t look back at them

There are people who look with tremendous interest (mostly little children)

There are people who take a book

There are people who give a donation

There are people who say “Haribol”

There are people who say “Radhe Radhe”

There are the people who scowl

There are people who frown

Then there are the people who don’t even notice (the most unfortunate of all) – it is not me they don’t notice, but they don’t notice Sri Harinam, their ONLY saviour!

The longer someone stays within earshot of the Harinam, I notice a clear difference come over them… sometimes, people intentionally miss a streetcar so they can hear more. Sometimes, agitated people calm down. Sometimes noisy people quieten down. Sometimes sad people visibly become happy. Many are curious, I am sure they will check us out.

Even though I have begun wearing a mask when outside, I note that many who would have otherwise stopped, don’t stop…. they just continue on.

But times will change. One day they will stop.

They will take the Harinam home with them, and the Harinam will take them home with Him.

People are repeatedly dying, again and again they are taking birth, again and again they are dying. This Harinam Sankirtan will change that trajectory, no more birth, death, old age, and disease, no more misery of any kind. The more Harinam there is in the world, the more fortunate the souls in this world will be, until everyone is fortunate, and then this world will be Vaikuntha.

My 2020 goal is 108 outings, and I have 78 left to go, with just 97 days left this year. Please bless me that I may humbly perform this service. I am very greedy for your blessings. In fact, I am 100% convinced that I can only go out on Harinam Sankirtan because of your blessings, because otherwise I am just a useless fool.

Praying to be always out on Harinam Sankirtan, or at least be in Harinam Sankirtan consciousness 24X7, this is my humble desire, though I must admit that unfortunate as I am, I still maintain all sorts of material attachments.

your servant,

Mahabhagavat Das

dasadas.com

Please subscribe to daily inspirational emails from His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari (Writings and lectures archived at www.ecstaticmedia.com ), written fresh every day from his travels around the world sharing the highest spiritual knowledge with everyone. Sign up now at www.joincourse.com

Sankirtan Adventures – Old City Hall, Guelph, Online, Janmashtami

Sankirtan during the Pandemic, a look back at 2020…

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 21 August 2020

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I pray that you are all well and in good health and spirits.

By your blessings I am able to participate in this Hare Krishna movement, despite my disqualifications. Thank you!

Summary:

14 Jul 2020 Old City Hall

16 Jul 2020 Old City Hall

19 Jul 2020 Downtown Guelph Harinam

23 Jul 2020 Old City Hall

23 Jul 2020 Walking Harinam Old City Hall to ISKCON Toronto

28 Jul 2020 Email/WhatsApp Sankirtan

11 Aug 2020 Janmashtami Sankirtan

21 Aug 2020 Old City Harinaam

————————————-

Total 8 Outings

It has been a very nice summer generally. The Pandemic is a pity, because it is really hard to meet Canadians at close quarters when it gets cold. Yes, there is the phone, email, WhatApp, zoom, etc., Sankirtan, but a majority of “laying the groundwork” happens out there, on the street, in summer festivals, knocking on doors… The devotees have been largely absent from public consciousness.

As the Pandemic wears on, the attention to social media has waned, and many are not as receptive to online platforms as they were before. So, at least based on the reception we’re getting outside, the devotees should cautiously resume outdoor Harinaam Sankirtan, even though it will probably not immediately result in a lot of books distributed. Right now, we are circling amongst ourselves, preaching to ourselves, which, no doubt,needs to be done, but we also need to distribute the mercy outside of those we know presently.

I had some really nice experiences, in Guelph with Paramahamsa Prabhu, on Janmashtami, with Yogesh who had never been out on Harinam Sankirtan before. He took many books home with him, especially the smaller ones we don’t seem to be distributing a lot of these days. What is more, he is a customer for books that we could not distribute because they were “old looking”! 🙂 And Yogesh is reading those books intently – Mahaprabhu has already brought Yogesh into His tidal wave.

Especially now, the people are very needy for Harinam Sankirtan, while a lot of Harinam may be going on behind closed doors and behind virtual closed doors like Facebook and Zoom, we do need to get out there.

Especially in Toronto – the restaurants are open, the bars are open, the cinemas are open, the liquor shops are open and liquor is now being sold in the grocery stores. The brothels are open, the casinos are open, the malls are open, the offices are open. But the devotees are indoors. Harinam Sankirtan is a closed club. It is indeed a cause for concern that those who know we are not the body but spirit souls are sitting indoors even when the risk has gotten so low. We are supposed to be the fearless Hare Krishnas. Where is our “abhayam”? We are supposed to be surrendered to the Lotus Feet of Sri Abhaya Charanaravinda, where is our Abhaya?

Where possible, I’m urging devotees to get out there and not be lazy/afraid/overly cautious. Please, the world needs us and what we have.

Writing about one experience from yesterday, though there were many more…

I was on Harinam yesterday… Many were responding, many were not, but one man, unsteady on his feet due to being inebriated, cigarette in hand, came close. He asked “Indian song?” I said “yes I am from India but this is the song of the heart”. He listened really intently, thankfully he kept his distance. But I felt somewhat uncomfortable… I  mean, it is easier to be ignored than to be scrutinized like that. He then started singing, suddenly asked me, “Do you need some change”, I asked him “Do you need a book”, so he took 2 books, one by Srila Prabhupada and one by my spiritual master Sankarshan Prabhu. He gave me a donation and immediately started reading the book. He did say “Always Christ” and I said “All the way my brother”. I was intensely praying to Lord Chaitanya “please give this man your mercy and the Lord did shower His mercy upon that soul! So we can see how one can get instant feedback while out on Sankirtan.

Go out where you can. Go out when you can. Go out in ones or twos. Go out with a mask if you have to. Stay outdoors. Wash your hands, stay far away from others, but let the sound of your voice become the humble vehicle for the Holy Name to go out there and do His magic. There is no other way, no other way, no other way, except Harinam Sankirtan Harinam Sankirtan Harinam Sankirtan.

I reported my Sankirtan outing this morning and my spiritual master was pleased. So, dear devotees, please let us please our spiritual masters.

quote

So we have to be very careful. The age is very bad, the Kali-yuga. You are experiencing. We have to simply take shelter of krsna and always cry,

krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, he!

krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, he!

krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, raksa mām!

krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, pāhi mām!

krsna, keśava, krsna, keśava, krsna, keśava, raksa mām!

rāma rāghava, rāma rāghava, rāma rāghava, pāhi mām!

Like that, as Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us. The time is very dangerous. And still, in this dangerous time… Just like in epidemic condition where every people is being contaminated and dying, still, the doctors appointed by the government, they have to go into the epidemic area and try to treat the person and save them. Our duty is like that. The whole atmosphere is epidemic, whole atmosphere, this Kali-yuga. And still, by the superior orders we have to preach this krsna consciousness movement. Therefore our only shelter is krsna. krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, krsna, raksa mām. Very dangerous position. The foolish people, they are thinking that “We are very happy and we are very safe.” But nobody is safe. Nobody is safe. So we have to deal with persons very carefully, and at the same time, we have to push our missionary activities. Aho kastam dharma drsam.

– from SB 6.2.1-5 in Calcutta, India

unquote

My 2020 goal is 108 outings, and I have 88 left to go, with just over 130 days left. Please bless me that I may humbly perform this service. I am very greedy for your blessings. In fact, I am 100% convinced that I can only go out on Harinam Sankirtan because of your blessings, because otherwise I am just a useless fool.

Praying to be always out on Harinam Sankirtan, or at least be in Harinam Sankirtan consciousness 24X7, this is my humble desire, though I must admit that unfortunate as I am, I still maintain all sorts of material attachments.

your servant,

Mahabhagavat Das

dasadas.com

dasadas.com

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2019.61-71 Old City Hall, Vaishnava Sanga, Janmashtami, Trinity Bellwoods, Cabbagetown, Travel

2019 Summer Sankirtan Adventures. Krishna is Adventure. When you go out on Sankirtan, your life becomes an adventure too! Sankirtan is life. Live it!

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 05 October 2019

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna!

Please kindly accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Even though it appears that summer may be coming to a close, at least as far as my Sankirtan Life is concerned, the summer of Sankirtan continues on, thanks to blessings from the spiritual master and the devotees!

Being out on Sankirtan is the most adventurous thing one can do. When we are out on Sankirtan, we literally put our lives in the hands of Sri Krishna. We beg for His mercy, we remember Him intensely, we make ourselves vulnerable as beggars, and we just go out on a limb to serve the disciplic succession. It is truly a privilege and pleasure to serve in this way.

Sankirtan is also the surest way – second only to marriage 🙂 to remind oneself about one’s false pride in action, and to see what a sad and sorry state the present world in, and just how much everyone just suffering.

Like all genuine pleasures, it takes time to begin to appreciate, and it takes time to practice and hone, it takes time to appreciate every single experience, but once one is in that circle of mercy, truly in that circle of mercy, then one hankers to be back in that flow, that zone of intense Krishna consciousness.

Nowhere does one witness the magic of Krishna consciousness more than being out on Sankirtan. Miracles happen at every moment, and the most unlikely experiences occur, and each experience is hand-picked by Krishna for one’s own betterment.

If you want to see Krishna’s hand in your life, then go out on Sankirtan! If you want to lose attachment to material pleasure, then go out on Sankirtan,. If you want to be humbled, then go out on Sankirtan. If you want to feel pride for Krishna, then go out on Sankirtan. Little or a Lot, PLEASE, do go out on Sankirtan!

Summary:

10 Aug 2019 – Old City Hall

14-17 Aug – Vaishnava Sanga  (3 outings in Shawinigan, Quebec)

23 Aug – Sri Krishna Janmastami (2 outings in the temple)

31 Aug – Trinity Bellwoods Park

31 Aug – Sri Radha Shyamsunder Janmashtami

4 Sep – Downtown Individual Outing (after a LONG time!)

8 Sep – Cabbagetown festival

17-30 Sep – Business Trip Sankirtan in Toronto, New York, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.

———-

Total 11 Outings

Vaisesika Prabhu and His wave of Sankirtan mercy

Vaisesika Prabhu distributes books on the street

Whenever great Sankirtan warriors descend, in their presence and in their footsteps we experience tremendous empowerment. Old City Hall was another magical experience, with the devotees performing Harinam right in front of Old City Hall, and so many devotees greeting the souls milling about. We also got an opportunity to bathe in the nectar shower that was his Vyasa Puja in ISV.

Michael, Dennis, and Wes all gave me their contact information, in fact that’s the only reason I still remember them – they gave me their contact information! Especially Dennis was coming “home” to Canada via Russia, China, and London, England. He felt at home with Krishna too, saying “Hey you’re a Krishna guy, I’ve seen your guys all around”. Wes was back to Toronto after a long stretch in Australia.

Right after that outing, in the temple, I met Karishma and Raghav who were visiting the temple for the first time. They both also took books, gave donations, chanted Hare Krishna and heard all about Radha Kshir Chor Gopinath! And yes, they did share their contact info.

If I can only follow up effectively with everyone I meet (remember these are the cream of the crop, they stopped, gave their time, attention, money, took a book, and left a contact!), ISKCON Toronto will surely be forced to expand into the church across the street! 🙂

Vaishnava Sanga magic

On Harinam in Shawinigan during Vaishnava Sanga

Right after Vaisesika Prabhu left, we got a solid dose of inspiration from the great souls gathered in St. Mathieu Du Parc in Quebec. I got to serve in the kitchen on 2 days, it was blissful service, cooking for all these delightful Vaishnavas! But what’s more, I got to go out on the famous Shawinigan Harinams, not once, not twice, but thrice!

These Shawinigan Harinamas are directly from the spiritual world (like every other Harinama, but I experienced the magic most here. First of all, its not a bunch of shy newbies, but veterans of the art of Harinam, senior devotees, disciples of Srila Prabhupada, advanced souls like Bhaktimarga Swami, Mahatma Prabhu, Krishnadas Kaviraj Prabhu, Lakshminath Prabhu, Guru Prasad Prabhu, and many more elevated souls! And accompanied by such young veterans of the art of Harinam as Krishna Dulal Prabhu and Prana Gauranga Prabhu! It was a pleasure to take the little town of Shawinigan by the storm of Sri Harinam Sankirtan.

Right before, we had stopped at ISKCON Montreal and stocked up on those elusive French books on Krishna consciousness. With a nice box full of books, we set out, only to almost run out on day 1! 🙂

ISKCON Montreal

Here we witness the power of the Holy Name. One can’t speak French or Quebecois to save one’s life, except for a hearty Bonjour (surely said with the wrong accent)! So how these books get distributed, and how donations come in is just a complete mystery to me. Well, not only me, but many many devotees took books, our own Vrajalalana Mataji, and Mathieu Prabhu from Ottawa, and many others, they just congregated on the books and within a very short time almost all the books were gone!

Quebec, Canada

A few years ago, I had met the wife of the owner of a restaurant, she was from Mauritius. Now this time I met her husband and his employees, who all took books and made donations! Now the circle is complete, the whole family has Srila Prabhupada’s books. I am convinced that Krishna has a GRAND plan for this family – I mean he sent a whole Harinam Party after them, not once, not twice, but SO MANY times! 🙂 And His pure devotee’s books! He has accepted donations from them, and allowed them to serve the devotees with drinking water (in that hot weather, it is the most precious thing)… I can’t wait to see what Krishna unfolds in due course of time!

Also followed up with another contact I met a couple of years ago – her family attended one of the events at the Vaishnava Sanga!

I met a couple visiting Quebec from Brazil!

Many many souls took books, not only French, but also English. Very successful in reaffirming the magic of Sri Harinam to me!

A lady who accepted books 3 years ago in Shawinigan texted me excitedly “Hi Krishna das do you have Mahabharat in French?”. So I’m asking around.

Here are a few I remember from the other Sankirtan outings…

On Sri Krishna Janmashtami, I was almost exclusively at the book table, eagerly approaching visiting guests with our books, some took, some didn’t but so what, “next”! Our two little Sankirtan warriors, Govinda and Vitthal Bhakta wanted to distribute books too. And they did. Not only did they distribute books, but also collected handsome donations for Krishna. I was distressed to see these little children treated badly by a couple of guests who treated them as if they were some sort of street urchins begging for themselves! But they are small enough not to notice the insults, and happily and enthusiastically carried on. However, this drives home to me how careful we need to be to protect these little innocent devotees from nastiness (unlike some other Sankirtan warriors who did not get that kind of protection as children or vulnerable adults), so their Sankirtan outings need to be carefully planned and arranged so that they have happy childhood experiences of Sankirtan.

Get Spiritual Books

At the Janmashtami celebration of Sri Radha Shyamsunder close to Toronto, there was this one lady who wanted to begin the Bhagavatam but couldn’t commit to the full set. So she took the personal copy of teh first Canto copy Mother Sucaru! Mother Sucaru was in the midst of reading that particular copy, but she graciously allowed the distribution of her own copy… I had thought that the devotees could replenish, but apparently that big First Canto is not being printed at the moment! She reminded me of Srila Prabhupada who gave his personal copy away for distribution!

Devotees at a Book Table

Two sisters from Wales visited our booth, and said “cool, our Mum is a yoga teacher” and “she probably has tha’one and tha’one”, until suddenly one of them said “tha’one, tha’one I’d like to read”, and took a couple of books, made a donation. They also chanted Hare Krishna “no problem, we’ve chanted before”.

Abhishek was a gas station attendant, a bright young man from Nepal. This was at a gas station close to ISKCON Berkeley – New Jagannath Puri Dham. He didn’t know about this amazing temple! He told me he was reading Paramahamsa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a yogi”. He said he’d read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is before, promised to read again, accepted a couple of books, and said “sometimes we follow this path, sometimes that path”. And then he acknowledged “without guru we cannot make spiritual advancement, so a group of us are looking for a genuine guru”. He gave me all the contact information and responded with a “Hare Krishna. Thank you very much”

David chanced upon us – on a bike with his toddler son, in Trinity Bellwoods, and was gracious enough to ask very intelligent questions, get a Bhagavad Gita and make a generous donation. He didn’t want to go further in terms of giving me contact details etc., but at least he has the Gita!

Krishna the gas station attendant at a Shell said “Hare Krishna” and pointed to his name badge. He didn’t know about the ISKCON of Silicon Valley, so I wrote down the address for him. He passed the book back to me saying “and your contact information also, in case I have questions”.

Syed, from Lahore, Pakistan had been chased out of a cushy job in Dubai after it was discovered that he was the wrong kind of Muslim – a Shia instead of a Sunni. He’s arrived just 5 months ago, and we could tell he was feeling the cold – with his car warmed up like an oven and togged up with a hoodie with the hood on inside that baking hot car today with 18C weather outside. We had a good philosophical conversation about how God is fair to all and no one sect has a monopoly on God. He had said he liked to cook, found it amazing that I liked to cook too, and accepted a Higher Taste, saying “I like vegetarian food”.

J, a colleague in California, has steadily accepted (and read) Srila Prabhupada’s books over the last couple of years. I started with Prasadam, and cookbooks, and now she has Devamrita Swami’s Hiding in Unnatural Happiness and the Bhagavad Gita As It is.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is

Wonderful Serendipitous meeeting with Book Distribution General Vijaya Prabhu – on our way to Los Angeles we stopped at Ahimsa Cafe for some Prasada. This is a restaurant run by Tukaram Prabhu and his wife, in Long Beach California. I was reluctant, but the family was eager… and as I parked the car and walked over, what do I see but Vijaya Prabhu relishing Prasada! I got some undeserved mercy from a very humble Vaishnava who was out distributing the Bhagavad Gita at the Long Beach College. I pray that I may be able to follow in his footsteps, and 10, 20, 30, more years from now always continue to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books, Srila Gurudeva’s books, my spiritual mentors’ books.

Vijaya Dasa Master Book Distributor & Inspirational Speaker

In Los Angeles lives a saint, His Holiness Amala Bhakta Swami. About 87 years of age, he doesn’t travel anymore, but is the prime example of “tirtham kurvanti tirthani”, for him, a picture of Sri Krishna is not just a picture, but directly Krishna. He took us around a tour of his Ashram, asking us “why would I need to go anyplace else”? He said his focus was on chanting and praying and purifying himself, and that he would preach in New Dvaraka but not leave those auspicious premises. He was extremely encouraging with my book distribution efforts. He told us about some of his early experiences, how he transitioned from a Hollywood actor to a Sadhu gradually, but with firm determination. Meeting him was a great highlight of my life, and when I distribute books, I do so in the hope of pleasing great souls such as him. He is one of the few, in addition to my spiritual master, who have taken the effort to actually correct me, caution me, warn me and guide me in the right direction. To these souls I remain grateful.

Amala Bhakta Swami, a modern-day saint

I’ve been writing this in bits and pieces for many days, actually over 3 weeks, but I fear that it is already too long and may tax you, dear devotee more, so even though I have a lot of amazing stories, they will have to wait for some other day.

My Sankirtan outings goal for 2019 is 108, and write about them all, and I now have 37 to go. Please bless me that I may humbly perform this service. I am very greedy for your blessings. In fact, I am 100% convinced that I can only go out on Harinam Sankirtan because of your blessings, because otherwise I am just a useless fool.

Praying to be always out on Harinam Sankirtan, or at least be in Harinam Sankirtan consciousness 24X7, this is my humble desire, though I must admit that unfortunate as I am, I still maintain all sorts of material attachments.

your servant,

Mahabhagavat Das

dasadas.com

Chaitanya Das, 05 October 2019,

Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Dandavat Pranam. Please accept my humble obeisances.

Thank you so much for sharing, hope one day i should also be able to do it, seeking your blessings Prabhuji.

your servant,

Chaitanya Das.

Rasika Krishna Das, 6 October 2019

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

Jaya!! All glories to your Sankirtan outings.

your servant,

Rasika Krishna Das

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 08 October 2019

Dear Chaitanya Prabhu,

Hare Krishna!

Thank you for your kind encouragement.

Why not let today be the day? Today you can give a book by Srila Prabhupada or Srila Gurudeva to one of your family members, friends, or colleagues. And if no one is around, then give to yourself, meaning, read to yourself 🙂 The power emanated by vibrating the contents of a pure devotee’s writings changes the world for the better. Please try it.

your servant,

Mahabhagavat Das

dasadas.com

Chaitanya Das, 08 October 2019

Hare Krishna Prabhu. Please accept my humble obeisances. Thank you so much Prabhu, will do. Will read Srila Prabhupada’s books everyday and distribute whenever i can. Hare Krishna. 

your servant,

Chaitanya Das

Tapas Chakraborty, 09 October 2019

Hare Krishna

Thanks for sharing the enormity of your involvement in spreading the Krishna conscious movement and experience which will benefit us immensely in our determination to progress with higher enthusiasm. We firmly believe setting targets will enable the resolve to reach greater heights of spiritual and transcendental knowledge.

With warm Regards

Tapas

Please subscribe to daily inspirational emails from His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari (Writings and lectures archived), written fresh every day from his travels around the world sharing the highest spiritual knowledge with everyone. Sign up now at www.joincourse.com