Danavir Maharaja's Article on Sports
By Dharma dasa

Danavir Maharaja's long and meticulously researched diatribe against sport was fine, as far as long and meticulously researched diatribes on sports go. But I couldn't help wondering whether it wasn't rather, er.., frivolous. To list and research over 200 "frivolous sports" seemed a little bizarre. And then to throw in the prajalpic "Not too long ago, a famous professional basketball player boasted publicly that he had indulged in sex with over 1,000 different ladies" seemed ironic. I mean, where did that quote come from? Somewhere, someone has been "reading mundane newspapers."

More importantly, it seemed that the Swami was aiming this at someone. If he wasn't, I think he needs to be more aware that the world is not composed of maha-bhagavats, or sannyasis. If he was, I wonder if this article was the result of his tenure at New Vrindavan, where he was opposed to the basketball court. I hope not. On my last trip to New Vrindavan, I was delighted to see a group of 15-20 former gurukulis, all healthy looking young guys in their twenties, playing sports together on an ISKCON property. I would never wish to take that camaraderie and that passion away from them. After all they and the movement have gone through, isn't it time to tone down the dogma?

Quoting “Srila Prabhupada Uvaca” by Sruti Kirti Prabhu, “Srila Prabhupada is being driven in a car. Paramahamsa Swami and I are with him. As we go past a playground Srila Prabhupada smiles and says, "I played football there when I was young. I would be the goalie because I was lazy. I didn't like to run around. That was the position I liked."

Your servant, Dharma das

© CHAKRA 16-December-2000

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