Open Letter to Danavir Goswami
By Sadhusanga das

Dear Danavir Maharaja,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my most humble obeisances.

I firmly believe that those types of “sports” that grant physical exercise and Vaishnava “bonding” are bona fide and healthy.

When I lived at the Los Angeles temple during the early and mid 90's, I played racquetball 3 times a week with devotees. I also played volleyball every Sunday at the local park. (Almost 30 devotees showed up every week.) These participants included pujaris, book distributors and temple presidents. At that time I was in the best of health and enjoyed a close friendship with all the devotees that I played racquetball and volleyball with. The level of friendship I had can be directly attributed to the sporting activities. It was a type of bonding activity.

During this time period, temple cooperation and morale was at it's peak. The sporting events not only helped to keep the devotees physically fit, but it had a more important aspect of bonding the devotees together in a common activity. It broke down the bearer of "I'm a pujari, you're not,” and "I'm a book distributor, you're not".

With all due respect, I think Srila Prabhupada may be speaking of sports that we may want to watch on TV, like boxing. These types of sporting events do nothing for building up a sweat or bonding devotees together. They simply entertain one and, yes true, stimulate the propensities for gambling.

Sincerely,
Your servant, Sadhusanga das

  © CHAKRA 16-December-2000

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