Archive - 2005

The spiritual world need not be considered far away. The Hindustan Times published this article on November 9th, 2005:

Who's the mother of magic realism

WHAT DO C.S. Lewis, Quentin Tarantino and J.K. Rawling have in common? Maybe nothing, but here's what I think. One, all will have hit the big screen by December 2005; two, all are considered innovators; three, all have written about their characters entering a parallel world.

In relation to this, we can remember the story of Mrgari the hunter. The Hindustan Times published an article I wrote about it, on October 27, 2005:

The Lord giveth and taketh away

A COUPLE from Chennai decided to live simply - by a stream in a one-room hut. The man, Magari, would forego his occupation of hunting while his wife Madhavi would cultivate tulasi instead of selling baskets. Magari would also give up non-vegetarian food.

The following ?Janmastami article? was published in the Hindustan Times on August 26, 2005:

Janmashtami: Who is Krishna?

HERE'S A Janmashtami question. Can God manifest mortal characteristics or is he always super-human? According to the Bhagavata, God is Krishna, who sometimes cries, displays genuine fear and is a naughty child.

I wrote this shortly after the bombings on London?s transport system. The Hindustan Times published it on August 3, 2005:

Religion is not about bombing

THE RECENT London bombings have made me think.
The city became the world's largest in 1825, even though the British empire is now just a history lesson. Yet Oxford still has great snob value. Maybe that is why there's still a Commonwealth of Nations with governor generals yielding political power in many countries (India excluded, of course).

The logo designed by Padasevanam Prabhu for the centennial celebrations (a tilak, open peacock, and lotus combined) has now become the emblem for ISKCON worldwide. I am grateful to have played a part in this happening.

Only Krsna consciousness, in its pure form, is religion in the mode of goodness. Above almost all forms of Hinduism, Krsna has four unique qualities: extraordinary beauty, mysteriously haunting flute-playing, exceptional loving activities with his devotees, and an abundance of wonderful associates. This is the ultimate from of goodness, or sudha-sattva.

Science does not generally prove God's existence, and we find that some people naturally believe, while others do not, regardless of how well educated they may be. Srila Prabhupada has often told the story of the cobbler who hear from Narada that Visnu was once threading an elephant through the eye of a needle. The cobbler thought this was wonderful, while a learned brahmana disbelieved it.

In the compilation of the "Nectar Books," page 258, a letter of Srila Prabhupada, dated August 16, 1976 is quoted. It says, "Regarding the restaurant, you should not name it as you have suggested, but 'Hare Krsna Restaurant.' That should be the name."

Srila Prabhupada has told the story of a famous silent comedian (Max Linder or Charlie Chaplin) who created a fashion after tearing the pants of his suit at a formal ball dance. Somewhat bizarrely, all the men present copied this action as they could see he was gathering so much interest.
Srila Prabhupada said we should propagate Krsna consciousness in a similar mood, creating something fashionable and desirable from something unconventional and unknown.

In the book, "Life Comes From Life," Srila Prabhupada talks about lagima, or the mystic power of humans becoming "lighter than air" and flying like birds. He says that in this way birds have natural mystic power.