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June 2003

This issue dedicated to the memory of Michael Dench, a seeker who found Krishna.

Iraq: Liberating the liberators

By Krishna Dharma Dasa

It is interesting that the US and UK styled themselves as "liberators" of Iraq. Subtly implied in this euphemistic term is the assumption that we are ourselves already liberated, in a position to bestow our happy state on others. And that is surely a commonly held assumption in the West. We view ourselves as having the most progressive and free societies. But how true is this?

A popular newspaper columnist recently wrote a book about globalisation in which she described it as the "onward march of the human rights culture." As one country after another eagerly embraces the Western ideals of capitalism and the free market, then along with Coca-Cola, McDonalds and pop music, they inevitably imbibe the West's underlying values such as democracy, liberality and tolerance.

Junk culture aside, that sounds like a good enough thing. Who can complain as the fanatical theocrats and 'ethnic cleansing' despots are swept away by the all-engulfing tide of the free world? But it begs a question. Where is it all going? The West may enshrine progression and liberality, but what are we progressing toward? If we are to be truly liberal, then what is the evil from which we must be freed?

Perhaps it is obvious-oppression, denial of the basic right to practice the religion or politics of choice, denial of education or employment, and so on. What all that adds up to is that we want to be happy, to be free or liberated from unnecessary suffering.

On the face of it, the West promises just that. Certainly it is striving in that direction. But has it properly identified the real impediments to lasting happiness? Even if we free ourselves from the oppression of every tyrannical regime on Earth, it seems we still face some pretty oppressive problems.

For example, figures given by the charity Mind show that three in ten people in the UK suffer from a mental illness. Every day of the year twenty of them commit suicide. Alcoholism is rife, with 40,000 people a year admitted to hospital for alcohol-related illnesses, out of which 5000 of them will die due to that problem. As for America - 30,000 US citizens took their own lives during 1997. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that the numbers of Americans being treated for depression between 1987 and 1997 more than tripled from 1.8 million to 6.3 million, while those taking antidepressants doubled. Then there are the crime figures!

Happiest People

Clearly, something is going wrong somewhere. It seems that the advance of technology and modern amenities is not making us happier. In fact a recent UN survey polled a large number of people in many countries around the world, trying to determine who were the happiest. Way down the list came the US and the UK, along with other Western countries. Top, perhaps surprisingly, was Bangladesh, where the average person consumes some thirty times less resources than his American counterpart.

India's ancient Vedas have much to say about this. They would first of all question whether increasing access to resources means more happiness. Indeed, it is said that the more we have the more we will want. It simply feeds our lust and greed. The Vedic ideal is "simple living, high thinking." Keep our needs to a minimum and concentrate on a higher, spiritual reality.

The Vedas identify lust, greed, anger, envy and illusion as the true oppressors of everyone. Even the oppression of tyrants can be traced to these agents, as despots everywhere are driven by them. And which of us can say we are free of them ourselves? But as long as we are not then can we say we are truly liberated?

The Vedas define liberation as a state of ineffable peace and inner joy. Are we peaceful as we view the barrage of consumer advertising that daily assails our senses, urging us to buy more and more? Are we happy when we realise we simply cannot afford the things we think we need? How does it make us feel when we see others who have those things?

The founder of the Krishna movement, Srila Prabhupada, coming as he was from a peaceful Indian village, and bearing the spiritual messages of the Vedas, looked with astonishment at Western society. "It is madness," he declared. "A mad pursuit of a mirage of happiness, an illusion that you will never grasp." His message was simple. We are all eternal parts of the Supreme Spirit, blissful by nature. Shift your focus away from material things and onto this truth and you will find the happiness you seek.

Of course, the secular ideologies of the West, and increasingly the whole world, take no account of spirit. It is little more than rampant materialism dressed in the smart clothes of progress. Sooner or later we have to wake up to the fact that it is a progression toward insanity. Far from advancing human rights, it is robbing us of our rights, of our birthright to be peaceful and happy, a right that is being utterly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of sensual allurements that promise much and deliver little. Is that what we want to bestow upon the world?

Teaching from the Srimad Bhagavatam

"A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the Supreme Whole, the Personality of Godhead".

(S.B. 2.3.10 - Sukadeva Goswami speaking to King Pariksit)

Nothing to Declare

By Tony Steveacre

I always feel a bit uneasy going through Customs in the Far East. For the many hours that your bags are out of your sight, it seems to me that it would be all too easy for a villain to unzip a side pocket and store something illicit there, which could put you on Death Row. However, at Male Airport in the Maldives eight weeks ago, I had no real qualms, despite the sniffer dogs roaming the runway. The coral islands are not on the drug smuggler's route, and there's very little crime. Visitors come to enjoy the remoteness, the balmy climate, the underwater delights, tropical fish nibbling your toes.

Anyway, I was a bit surprised to be summonsed by the stern lady customs officer who was manning the X-ray machine at Male. She wanted me to identify a lumpy object at the bottom of my black suitcase. 'Oh, that's a birthday present for my wife' I explained. 'It's an antique. I bought it in India last week for 2400 rupees.' Stern Lady wanted to see it. So I unpacked the whole suitcase and laid out the detritus of a two-week tour of South India on the table in front of her: soggy trunks, snorkel, paperbacks, tea-bags. I proudly unwrapped my treasure from its carrier bag.

It's a solid metal figurine depicting Krishna and Radha. I bought it from a trader in Varkalla after a certain amount of haggling. This is expected in South India, where everyone is a Small Business. The Suburbs of all the towns extend for miles of thrown-up shacks clustered together, and all offering different sales or service. A man with a pile of odd bald tyres is the local Kwik Fit. A pensioner with an ancient Singer calls himself a 'Stitching Centre'. A hut with two metal chairs is the 'Bismi Hotel', offering Toddy (drink made from coconut wine). One trader was offering the unusual choice of Mutton or Aluminium. My antique dealer had a table of dusty items, some obvious fake reproductions, Kathakali masks, the usual touristic junk. But the metal sculpture caught my eye. Eager Trader explained that this was Krishna, playing his flute, while being embraced by one of the many cowherdesses who loved him. Whenever he played his flute, the cowgirls would leave their husbands to go and join him in the forest. Musicians invariably have this effect on women!

I explained all this to Stern Lady. She seemed unimpressed and summonsed a colleague. There was a lengthy discussion. Then the announcement was made. 'This item cannot be imported into the Maldives. It's a religious idol, a Buddha.' My jaw dropped. Of course, the Maldives is mostly Muslim. I knew that. I explained that the piece was a birthday gift for my wife, nothing more, nothing less. This cut no ice. 'We will impound it for your stay. You can collect it on your departure.' I became agitated: 'That won't work, because my wife's birthday is in two days time.' Much shrugging. A crowd was now gathering. Clearly there's not much action at Male Airport, and an irate Englishman was good for a laugh. I demanded that the supervisor be sent for. At this point I counted six customs officers clustered around this tiny offensive figurine. And two sniffer dogs. When the supervisor arrived, I gave it to him hot and strong. I was wearing a Panama hat and sandals, so it seemed to me I should play the part of the Englishman Abroad with conviction.

I spoke eloquently about the need for religious tolerance in a world on the brink of war. I talked of respect for different cultures, and different belief systems. I asked them to explain why the Maldives were prepared to tolerate visitors from every part of the world, and yet limit their freedom to enjoy the art and history of other cultures The Maldive holiday islands allow alcoholic drinks, pornographic movies, and other decadent Western entertainments. And yet they want to ban hand crafted representations of ancient Sanskrit traditions? It's nonsense. I made a bad joke about Osama Bin Liner, whose spirit, it seemed to me, hovered over this international incident. Religious bigotry manifesting itself in an official uniform. 'I wish I'd gone to Mauritius,' I declared in summary.

Needless to say, officialdom won the day, and I was escorted from the Customs hall sans Krishna and Radha. We collected them a week later. I tried to engage in dialogue with the duty officer, but it was futile. I wanted to show him photographs I'd taken at the Taj Coral Reef Hotel, where life-size stone sculptures of Balinese gods were on display outside the massage parlour. 'You ought to close it down,' I suggested. We flew home, passing a bit too close to Baghdad, it seemed to me. Two days later, war was declared.

Tony Staveacre produces music programmes for the BBC. This story will shortly be appearing in The Guardian.

Harinam, Harinam, Eva Kevalam

As the Hari Nama procession began for the Gaura Purnima celebrations down London's Oxford Street, the comedian Lenny Henry and his television producer stood at the side watching and listening to the kirtan with interest. Tiger Aspects Productions faces the Krishna temple in Soho Street. Sruti Dharma approached the comic. "Hare Krishna," Sruti said, "Come to join us?" With a smile, Lenny replied: "Nah...I don't think my mum would let me. I was just writing material for my new series in the offices across the road. We (he and his producer) heard the music and came out to see what was going on. (Beginning to sway with the kirtan beat) I know this Hare Krishna song. I remember buying the record in the '70s. We could use this to start off our show: A number one record!"

Devotees chant daily along Oxford St. and in other parts of London. The biggest procession of the year is coming up soon: The London Chariot Festival. Up to 10,000 people - with a 50-foot wooden temple chariot - walk from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square where a festival takes place and everyone is fed sanctified vegetarian food (prasadam). This year marks 35 years of the Chariot Festival and you are invited to come and bring your friends. 12 noon, Hyde Park Corner, 22 June, 2003. Nearest tube is Marble Arch.

Reports from the Groups

Reading

Meetings during the winter months are usually a bit light on numbers, and we have been down to 5 on a couple of occasions over the past few months. However, we had a really good Gaura Purnima evening recently with 15 devotees attending. Syam came and as always conducted a good discussion based on the reading for the evening taken from the Srimad Bhagavatam. And even though it was Ekadasi there was still an excellent feast for the devotees to relish. Arati was offered to Their Lordships, Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, and a hearty kirtan followed.

Six of us took part in the annual Friendship Walk around Reading recently, organised by the local Interfaith group. It was only 2 or 3 miles, but it was on a beautiful sunny afternoon starting at the Roman Catholic church, and visiting en route the Gurdwara, the Mosque, the Hindu Temple and finishing at the Friend's Meeting House. There were 150 or more people on the walk by the time we reached the end, including a couple of local MPs, various local councillors and one or two other dignitaries. As we walked around the town the six of us treated it more or less as a harinam, accompanied by mrdanga and kartelas, although we ceased singing as we approached each of the places of worship! We didn't want to upset anyone! I was interviewed over the phone by local radio, and there were reports of us being seen on the local TV report. All in all a very satisfying event. - Dave Edwards

Norwich

With the concerted efforts of around ten members, the Norwich city group continues to attract new members while holding before them the goal of renting their own premises. They've planned to take part in the Mayor's Carnival on 13 July and will be holding a grand festival at the Blackfriar's Hall on 17 July.

Cambridge

Sixty attended a festival held at the Bharat Bhavan where Giridhari and his festival team stage 'The Promise' play and led a lively kirtan that had everyone up and dancing.

London sanga

300 members of the London Sanga groups took part in an Easter Retreat at Buckland Hall in South Wales where Sivarama Swami, Radhanath Swami and Bhakticaru Swami were the visiting senior speakers.

Upcoming events

See new calendar section.

Community Chronicle

Departure of Michael Dench

In March, the devotee community lost a dear soul. Michael Dench, 74, a devotee for some 25 years and father of a devotee son, Ramanarasimha das, passed away after a heart attack.

His obituary is in the departed vaishnavas section of the site.

Baby boy for SitaRama and Vibha

Sitarama das and his wife Vibha were blessed with a baby boy the day before Gaura Purnima: Monday 17th March. He weighed in at 6lbs and 8ozs and has been named Gopinatha. Sitarama das is head of the Manor's Training and Education department and Vibha is a gynaecologist.

It once happened

In 1879 the British army, under the leadership of Colonel Martin from the British cantonement at Malwa, attacked Afghanistan. In the beginning Colonel Martin used to send messages to his wife. But the battle continued for a long time and Lady Martin did not get any more messages from her husband. She was very worried.

Riding on a horse one day she went out and on the way she saw in a temple some people worshipping Lord Shiva. She asked what they were doing. One old brahmin replied that they were worshipping Lord Shiva. On enquiry from Lady Martin, he explained the greatness of Lord Shiva. Seeing her very worried, he asked her what was the matter. She told him the situation.

He suggested that she observe the 11-day "Laghu-rudri anusthana" of the mantra "Om namah Shivaya". Lady Martin prayed to Lord Shiva that if her husband returned safely from the battle-field, she would build a Shiva temple and started to observe the "11-day anusthana".

At the end of the 11th day, a messenger came to the temple and handed over a letter from Colonel Martin to her. In the letter he had written: "In the battle-field we were surrounded by the Pathana soldiers. I would have died along with others in the regiment. Under such precarious situation I observed a yogi with matted hair from India appearing on the battle-field, who was wielding a trident weapon. By seeing the yogi the Pathana soldiers fled away. Then he said to me: 'Do not be afraid. I am Lord Shiva. I am pleased with the worship of your wife and have come to save you'." Reading the letter Lady Martin burst into tears and bowing her head she started praying to Lord Shiva.

After a few days Col. Martin returned to the cantonement. Now both husband and wife started praying to Lord Shiva regularly. As per the wish of his wife, Colonel Martin built a Shiva temple in 1883 at the expenditure of 15,000 rupees. The inscription in that temple at Malwa still exists. This is the only temple built by an Englishman in India.