Wednesday 30 April 2014

We caught the culprit: what should we do with him Prabhupada?”

Yogeswara Dasa remembers:

There was a young man who was discovered stealing cheques out of the  mail in Bombay in the early days.
The devotees captured him finally and brought him to Srila Prabhupada.

“We found out why the bank is not getting cheques Srila Prabhupada; we caught the culprit. What should we do with him?”

Srila Prabhupada replied, “There’s only one thing to do... forgive him!”

But if someone was a repeat offender then Srila Prabhupada asked them to leave the temple because otherwise they would just be compounding the offenses!

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Festival of Colours: the Countdown Begins

...didn't we just celebrate the Festival of Colours last Sunday (you ask)? Yes! If you were one of those blessed to taste the all-out fun of throwing colours with our guests, you will be counting down till next year too! Transcendental music from our sound-stage lifted us all to chant and dance in clouds of colour...with sky and bush welcoming our laughter.

Like Festival of Colours - Australia on Facebook to follow our countdown to 2015, and like Hare Krishna Melbourne for amazing photos.

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“...You will never see the light of day!”

Deena Bandhu Dasa recalls:

I think it must have been 1975; the opening of Krishna Balarama temple was there.
And everyday Srila Prabhupada used to go down what is now legally called Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg.

One day while walking Srila Prabhupada was so heavily preaching against abortion and birth control. He was just going on about how nasty this abortion is, this Kali yuga.

Srila Prabhupada gave the example, “Just like if I’ve purchased an apartment and I go there to take possession, and then you stop me: that is illegal! You will be arrested if I go to the police. Or if I’m living in the apartment and you come to kick me out: it is illegal! You will be arrested! So that soul he’s purchased that womb; that’s his apartment. If you stop him to come that is illegal! If he’s inside and you kick him out: that is illegal!”

Srila Prabhupada went on, “You will go from womb to womb and you will never see the light of day!”

On the way back he was a little quiet. One Indian man suddenly said, “Oh Prabhupada, I read today that this Guru Maharajaji his mother has denounced him!” We all laughed. Srila Prabhupada said, “What is that?”

The Indian man replied, “This Guru Maharajaji his mother has gone to the papers and she’s saying that this guy is bogus and she’s denounced him!”

Srila Prabhupada laughed. We walked a few more steps and the Indian man continued, “Yes, practically she has finished him!”

Srila Prabhupada stopped, dug his cane in the street and looked at all of us, “She should have finished him in the womb!”