Polish Woodstock Highly Successful
By Indradyumna Swami

CHAKRA (Poland) - August 26, 1999: We sold over 1000 books. And on Sunday night the marriage was shown on the main Polish television news broadcast for 2 1/2 minutes. Associated Press also covered the event. Internationally we were mentioned for our mass distribution of food and for keeping the Polish Woodstock festival “peaceful.”
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© CHAKRA 26-Aug-1999

I want to clarify Children of Krishna's position regarding any signing that occurs in regards to the recent posting headed ISKCON Abuse Victims Coerced To Sign Away Rights To Sue?

Children of Krishna is an independent organization and has no need for such documents for our applicants to sign. The document has nothing to do with any grants that Children of Krishna gives. Please do not associate Children of Krishna's name with it before calling and asking us, as you will find we have no such papers to sign to receive grants. Below you can read the forms that we ask our applicants to sign which simply outline our policies and restrictions. That is it.

Regarding the Office of Child Protection, as a youth organization, CKI makes it our business to know what and how the OCP is doing. I can say that they also have no such form for applicants to sign. I myself received a therapy grant from them and never received such an agreement.
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© CHAKRA 22-Aug-99

WORDS FROM A CRITIC: "The new BBT book changes web page informs us that the transcripts for the last six chapters of Srila Prabhupada's dictation of 'Bhagavad-gita As It Is' were lost 'sometime before 1972.' Most editors would have some difficulty in editing a book to 'make it closer to the original' if they did not have the original to work from! But it's no problem for our BBT editors! They still managed to make hundreds of changes in these six chapters without any original material from Srila Prabhupada to work from at all. It appears to be all their own work. It seems they had NOTHING to work from except Srila Prabhupada's original unabridged 'Bhagavad-gita As It Is' and the final version of the manuscript that was used by the typesetters to produce the book (which must be practically identical to the printed book)."

COMMENT: The critic misunderstands things badly. Yes, the original transcriptions were lost. No, we did not have "nothing to work from." As explained in an opening text on the Gita Revisions Website, the "original manuscripts" we relied on for the last chapters were "the old retyped manuscripts from which the 1972 Macmillan edition was produced. The 'retyped manuscripts' for the last six chapters were copied from original transcriptions on which much editing had already been done. The typist followed the edited version, adding what the editor had added and deleting what he had deleted."
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© CHAKRA 10-Aug-99

CHAKRA (Taiping, Malasia) -

By Bhakta Siva Taiping. 4/8/99

This report by me is to clarify the VNN report by Ravi Krsna dasa as regards to the incident involving Radha Prananatha dasa and Raja Krsna dasa recently at Taiping, Malaysia. Since I was present at the time and place of the incident, I wish to report the incident as accurately as I can remember.

My first comment is that Ravi Krishna dasa could not have written the report, as he is illiterate in English and did not even know the actual content of his report. This clearly shows that a third party using Ravi Krsna’s name wrote the report. It is full of exaggeration.

Ravi Krsna's report is a lie.

Based on my report it is clear that the so-called Ravi Krsna dasa's report overly exaggerated the incident so as to discredit HH Jayapataka Swami and ISKCON as a whole.
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© CHAKRA 29-Nov-2003

Children of Krishna
from Jahnavi dasi

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my respects.

In reading recent posts it seems that many devotees may not know about some of the positive measures being taken to rectify and prevent abuse to the children of the Hare Krsna Movement. Organizations like Children of Krishna Inc. and the Office of Child Protection both have proactive and comprehensive programs dealing with such issues as past abusers, helping our youth affected, preventing child abuse in the future and supporting our youth in achieving their goals in general. More can and should be done, and if you would like to help be part of the solution or know more information please get in touch with us.

904-462-1081, or read below to learn about us.

Yours truly, Jahnavi dasi, Managing Director, Children of Krishna

Children of Krishna, Inc.

Location

Main Office - Alachua, Florida

>Click Here

© CHAKRA 15-Mar-99

Thank You to the GBC
From Nimai Caitanya das

I just wanted to say how good it felt to read the apology from the GBC concerning its past mistakes that ultimately led to the zonal acarya system. Taking 100 percent responsibility for one's mistakes is the first and most important step in any healing process. I am inspired, and my dream of an ethical, honest, and true GBC— the one Srila Prabhupada wanted— is still a possibility. Integrity on behalf of Prabhupada is the way.

One other point. I hope that the GBC also realizes that the whole Ritvik issue was mass produced by Krsna in order to fully bring to the surface all the issues in ISKCON that need to be purified and honestly dealt with. The Ritviks are not the bad guys in the end. They only reflect something in us. We should ultimately thank them for helping us to clarify, in the long run, some very important issues.

So let's be strong in our understandings, yet humble and grateful in our behaviour. All that is happening in ISKCON is purification for this movement to be what it is meant to be and is capable of being. In our hearts we know what that is!

Jaya Srila Prabhupada,

Nimai Caitanya das

© CHAKRA 15-Mar-99

No Reform Without Varnasrama
from Janesvara dasa

I found the recent article entitled "Message from the GBC to the Devotees of ISKCON" as a small step in the right direction towards correcting some of the past mistakes made by the "leaders" of ISKCON and the GBC. The apologetic attitude expressed therein actually seemed genuine regarding the Zonal Acarya System. Such apologies are always welcome and help soothe many deep-rooted feelings of betrayal and abandonment by some of our Godbrothers.

Unfortunately, the apparent majority of GBC-member opinions is to move forward in a direction which does not promise much practical change or success in solving the root problems of the society. As I first started to read the text I had hopes of reading the all important words — varnasrama-dharma. But alas, once again, the GBC has found in their infinite wisdom a way of putting hundreds of nice words together about social and spiritual reforms within the society without mentioning the Lord's and Srila Prabhupada's advice on how to achieve these nice goals.
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© CHAKRA 15-Mar-99

Who is ISKCON?
From Radharani dasi

It really hurts me to hear so many people referring to issues and problems within the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, as being ISKCON's fault! Who is this elusive ISKCON who is the cause of so many problems?

Certain persons within any given society create problems and issues. By putting blame on ISKCON, instead of properly placing the issue on who is responsible, invariably puts blame on all members of the society, a very large and vast, global society. It also creates a bad image for (the) ISKCON, and leaves one to question its basis. To loosely throw the acronym around, especially at others, is not only neglectful, but also cowardly.
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© CHAKRA 15-Mar-99

Science and Sunlight
From Pradeep Tandon

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Shrila Prabhupada.

Today, as we know how Optical fibres are used to carry information in the form of light waves. Similarly, one cannot conceive the information carried by sun light. The intelligence carried by Sunlight would certainly be directing all living entities to function, grow, and die at the end of life. As stated by Prabhupada (I do not have shastra's reference) the living spark is carried by Sun rays which then enters the rain water and then into the vegetation which is eaten by living entities and finally entering through mother's womb takes birth. It would be nice for our ISKCON scientific community to give a thought to it. There would certainly exist a code to decipher the intelligence carried by Sun rays. Maybe it is beyond our mental capacity.

Hare Krishna

© CHAKRA 15-Mar-99

The Mayapur Project
from Abhirama Das

(from Sri Mayapur News, Feb 99)

Srila Prabhupada was keen for his disciples to take advantage of the spiritual qualities of Sri Mayapur. He wanted a flow between the ISKCON centres and the holy dham. He hoped students would grow and advance in spiritual life, both to remain and develop Mayapur and also to return to the preaching field with renewed vigour. Mayapur was to be the heart of ISKCON, pumping the preaching spirit around the arteries of the thriving movement.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 12-Mar-99

It's Not ISKCON
Arsenic: Correction
From Paramananda Das

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

I noticed that my reply to Madhusudhani Radha regarding what we are doing about the arsenic problem is published on Chakra. That was very nice of you, and I would like to thank you for the publicity.

However, there is one aspect that requires clarification. In the headline you write something like: "What is ISKCON doing about it?" Actually ISKCON is not doing anything about it. The organization running the arsenic project is "Sri Mayapur Vikas Sangha," SMVS (Vikas Sangha is Bengali for "development society").

ISKCON is a missionary organization. It is not within ISKCON's brief to do philanthropic work. There is an exception in Mayapur where Srila Prabhupada at several occasions expressed a commitment to the local people and actually instructed the devotees to do philanthropic work. Therefor the Sri Mayapur Project, SMP, has initiated the SMVS and it's fund-raising sister organization in Europe, The Mayapur Trust, TMT.

It is important to always remember that SMVS and TMT are separate organisations with their own objectives. The objectives are quite different from those of ISKCON, expressing a commitment to sustainable human development in the region of Mayapur without any religious agenda.

Your servant,

Paramananda Das

© CHAKRA 6-Mar-99

CHAKRA  - 17-August, 1999: 

Dear Ajamila Prabhu,

A bit more listening and caring for devotees might bring a lot more people back to follow the present guru system, if that's what you want. To call them a bunch of nutters won't.
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© CHAKRA 17-Aug-1999

CHAKRA (London, UK) - August 16, 1999: Rathayatra in London was bigger than ever yesterday, as 7000 people followed the procession from Marble Arch to Nelson’s Column at Trafalgar Square. It is the same route that Srila Prabhupada danced along in 1973.
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© CHAKRA 16-Aug-99

CHAKRA (Brooklyn, New York) - August 21, 1999: It was one of those confirmations that we all need on occasion to assure us that everything we are doing is indeed worthwhile. For Satyaraja Prabhu, it was an unsolicited email message from Columbia professor and leading expert on Brijbhasa poet Surdas, Jack Hawley. Satyaraj sent me a copy of the letter and I decided it was time to share him and his work with the wider devotee community.
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© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

CHAKRA (USA) - August 21, 1999: 

A. Letter from Varsana Swami

In my last letter I had stated that I had become addicted to the alcohol contained in tinctures used for pain management and insomnia. I would like to add at this time that I was requested and directed to write that letter. The purpose was supposed to clarify my health situation, but because my original seven-page letter was edited (not by me) down to two and a half or so pages, the holistic overview was diminished.
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© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

This is just a little note of thanks for presenting that wonderful picture from Trafalgar Square. It was such a thrill to see the Lord's cart in such a location.

I do believe that except for Srila Prabhupada, Lord Jagannatha has become Lord Caitanya's greatest preacher in the West.

Jaya Jagannatha!

© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

TV preaching
By Stoka Krsna dasa

CHAKRA (Melbourne, Australia) -

Recently I did a little four-minute segment on the devotees' farm near here for a life-style show on Melbourne community TV. This was seen by a surprising number of people, and was quite well received. A group of devotees in Dallas have a successful regular spot on community (called "public" in the US) TV there. In Berlin some years ago the devotees did a spot on community TV there.
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© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

CHAKRA (France) - August 21, 1999: If Bhavananda and any one else who polluted the lives of these children, is not willing to do just that, begging forgiveness from his victims, it would in fact be better to lock him up, for he is then not behaving like a (fallen) devotee, as far as I understand and should be treated as any other criminal of his sort: having a trial and get convicted by the state of law.
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© CHAKRA 21-Aug-99

CHAKRA (Crescent City, CA USA): Today I noticed something that I have never seen on CHAKRA previously--outside advertisements. Just beneath the index of site categories on the far left column sits a small box, which says "Enter here, Free chat." The link goes to http://www.hitbox.com, a web service for web masters who like to keep track of who is visiting their site. Unfortunately, this site also sells quite a bit of advertising space on their home page. When I followed the link, I was bombarded with ads for a psychic service, dating services, and online gambling! 
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© CHAKRA 20-Aug-99

Drutakarma a Best Seller in Poland
European Tour: Hungary, England and Poland

[Michal Cremo is Drutakarma Dasa — Ed.]

Contact: Lori Erbs 360-738-9813

Internationally acclaimed writer and speaker Michael Cremo began his 1999 European Tour as a featured speaker at "The Masterpiece of Creation" Conference in Budapest, Hungary (March 5-17). Then he’s off to the UK for a presentation at the Transmute Conference in Salisbury (March 19-21) and a lecture at the Royal Geographical Society in London. A presentation at the Paleoastronomical/UFO Forum in Wroclaw on April 17 will be a highlight of his media blitz through Poland (April 11-24). The Polish Media is eager to interview the author of The Hidden History of the Human Race, for it was #8 in Poland’s bestseller list during November 1998.

The January 1999 South Africa Tour was extremely successful, beginning with a presentation at the Fourth World Archeological Congress in Capetown entitled "Forbidden Archeology of the Early and Middle Pleistocene: Evidence for Physiologically and Culturally Advanced Humans." Following that was a lecture before faculty members at Durban’s University of Natal. In Johannesburg, Mr. Cremo was interviewed on one of the most popular national radio talk shows. During the show, the producers contacted Ron Clarke, discoverer of a new australopithecus skeleton at Sterkfontein, South Africa, and put him on the air for a lively debate with Michael about the origins of mankind. Michael was also interviewed on various radio and televised news shows.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 20-Mar-99

Child Protection: Our Work Continues
An Update by Dhira Govinda dasa

Here is an update on the activities of the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection (ICOCP):

The Office continues to receive many applications for grants from gurukula veterans who suffered mistreatment while they were children under the care of ISKCON, and during the past year the ICOCP has funded more than $70,000 in grants. These grants have assisted devotees with educational and vocational opportunities, as well as with therapy.

One grant recipient wrote, "Just when I was going to give up hope (temporarily of course) the resources were made available."


>Click Here

© CHAKRA 20-Mar-99

Nonsense Posted on CHAKRA
from Vijay S. Pai

"an enlightened Bodhisattva, His Divine Grace Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,..."

This is an amazing offense. A Bodhisattva is a shunyavadi spirit who only preaches the voidness of the jIva and paramAtma. That such words can be used to describe Srila Prabhupada is ridiculous, and that they get posted on Chakra is even more absurd. Why are the Chakra editors showing such a lack of discrimination here?

Yours,

Vijay S. Pai

(See "Who is ISKCON?")

© CHAKRA 16-Mar-99

Force-Majeure: The Politics of Atheism and the Parampara
from Jalakara das

Mundane wranglers and philosophical speculators puffed up with a false fund of knowledge claim that Prabhupada has transcended time and space and become a modern-day Christ figure complete with his own Pharisees and even a poison-theory calvary, as well as a self-appointed clergy ever-ready to pontificate over confidential instructions they have received from on high. Such covered atheists are ready and even eager to abandon the sublime Gaudiya Vaishnava parampara lineage from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in favor of their speculative spiritual universe.

Why do I use the term atheist to describe a philosophical phenomenon which has found wide adherence and sympathy within ISKCON? Because at its extreme, it advocates the termination of the parampara.
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© CHAKRA 16-Mar-99

Beware of
Vaisnava Aparadha!
from Pancha Tattva dasa

Dear Editors of CHAKRA,

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

I received the following text a while back from my goduncle Ramiya prabhu. I thought the Vaishnavas would appreciate it. The quotes are from the Chaitanya Bhagavata by Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura. I am assuming that they were translated by Kusakratha prabhu.

Considering these statements in relation to the debate and rejection of ritvik doctrine may generate another lively discussion among the readers of CHAKRA.

Your servant,

Pancha Tattva dasa

IF YOUR AIM IS LOVE OF GODHEAD BEWARE OF VAISNAVA-APARADHA

* "The Vaisnava devotees of the Lord are eternally pure and realized souls. Sometimes there are differences of opinion amongst them, which might appear like an argument, but in fact, it is an amazing relationship between devotees. Foolish rascals who do not understand this exchange, praise one Vaisnava and denounce the other. Such a mentality will lead to destruction of faith and knowledge." (M 5)

* "Any person who sides with a Vaisnava against another Vaisnava and criticizes him is destined to be destroyed." (MI 3:160)
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© CHAKRA 12-Mar-99

CHAKRA Ki Jaiiii!
from Premananda Goura

Dear Prabhus,

How can we thank you for the wonderful service you are doing? This is wonderful. I see in the future a live internet connection with the Mayapur festival. I'm like a desperate person without water in the desert. You are the oasis. For devotees of Krsna, drinking the nectar of the holy dam is the most wonderful experience. Even though we can't make it physically, we are there because of you great Vaisnavas. I pray for all of you to keep doing this wonderful service, and I beg to remain in the association of ISKCON devotees until my last breath. What can I say? Like the devotee in the Bahamas said, I'm hooked. Its wonderful.

Your servant,

Premananda Goura

© CHAKRA 12-Mar-99

A Krishna Meditation
from Dravida Dasa

A poetic rendering of Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.5 (barhapidam...)


With lovely peacock plume upon His head,

And small blue lotus fixed upon each ear,

He enters Vraja's woods with graceful tread,

A handsome dancing actor without peer.



His golden-yellow raiment brightly glows,

His splendid garland reaches to His knees,

And from His luscious lips the nectar flows

And fills His flute with charming melodies.



And so Govinda starts His joyous day

With cowherd friends who sing His glories sweet,

And as He walks He beautifies the way

With fine impressions of His lotus feet.

© CHAKRA 12-Mar-99