UPBUILDING THE SELF

[Part 1] Book Distribution: Timeless Lessons Learned By Two Monks on the Streets and Subways of New York City, Part 1

If you’ve spent time in New York City, or many other cities around the world, you’ve likely seen monks on street corners or in subways, holding out books and trying to spark conversations. This sacred practice is known as Book Distribution. In this episode, Hari Prasada and Rasanath share what it was like to engage in this practice during their early days in a New York City monastery. They tell stories, some funny, some more serious, and speak about the deeper purpose behind Book Distribution. With honesty and reflection, they reveal how the experience challenged their egos, tested their intentions, and opened them to unexpected moments of grace. Without having to walk the streets of New York book in hand (though we hope one day you will!), they give you a taste of the experience and accompanying lessons.

Podcast Hosts: Vipin, Hari Prasada and Rasanath

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform

Highlights

  • [01:15] What is book distribution?

  • [04:45] Book distribution KPIs

  • [12:30] The importance of pure motivations

  • [16:10] The content of the books

  • [27:10] From a banker to a street-level beggar

  • [36:00] Signing up for rejection

  • [39:10] The overwhelm of Hari Prasada’s first experiences with book distribution

  • [43:00] Confronting your resistance to becoming a servant

  • [44:20] A prayer to one day bring this experience to the Upbuild community

Quotes

  • “Book distribution was a concentrated form of medicine for the ego.” - Hari Prasada

  • “The warmth, the dynamism, the provocation, the purity …is where the gold is.” - Vipin

  • “[During Book Distribution], there is a lot happening in a very short period of time. It's a very mystical experience, and it is also a very intense experience.” - Rasanath

  • “I had to become a beggar. And the irony is we were begging for them to accept something, not for us to get some money so that we could feed ourselves.” - Hari Prasada

  • “Becoming a beggar means entering a realm of utter humility, where I'm simply a servant on behalf of my teachers who have given me everything, and I just want to give back…I'm requesting you kindly accept.” - Hari Prasada

  • “Complete lack of control also makes for some of the most mystical experiences, because the one thing you know when those experiences happen, is that it was not because of you.” - Rasanath

For first timers, welcome to Upbuilding the Self

About the podcast: Two former monks, a former startup founder and CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.

We also have three upcoming programs. Please reserve your spot ASAP.