Making New Delhi Pollution Free

New Delhi, India is one of the world's most heavily polluted cities and is home to what Time magazine describes as the "Delhi cough". But in in spite of the health risks associated with living here, there are many dedicated preachers of Krishna consciousness who are residing in New Delhi for the purpose of spreading Krishna consciousness in this hellish place. Therefore in this city Krishna consciousness is thriving like anything. During my brief New Delhi weekend visit I lectured at four different well-attended ISKCON temples located in different parts of the New Delhi metropolitan area. These temples are true oases in the parched New Delhi desert.

When I arrived last Friday (27 November 2009) I ventured out in the evening into a hell of polluted air and heavy traffic jams to pick up a harmonium. Sitting forever at an endless stream of traffic lights we were routinely approached at our car windows by all varieties of hawkers and beggars trying to convince us to part with some of our rupees. Even though we sometimes give to the beggars, one naturally cultivates a bit of aloofness from the constant solicitation. But our aloofness bubble was immediately popped when we saw the most enlivening sight. It was a saffron clad ISKCON brahmacari coming along the queue of jammed up cars sticking a copy of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is into each car asking everyone to purchase a copy. We would have definitely been customers had it not been that we already own several copies. This is the secret of success for the deliverance of the suffering humanity from the ever-increasing pollution and illusion. The more this Bhagavad-gita As It Is is distributed, the more the world will become transformed from hell into heaven. Some day because of this most wonderful Krishna consciousness movement, this most important city of New Delhi will be filled with clean air and with a population possessing clean consciousness, Krishna consciousness. May that day come soon!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Obstacle from Non-Devotee Family Members

I am new to Krishna consciousness, and I am really happy to be aware of Krishna and enjoying service to Him. Thank you for your "Thought For the Day". It really helps me. My question is that my parents are not supportive at all and are creating problems and obstacles in my devotional service. Though I want to do more, I am not able to because of mental tension that my parents are giving me by discouraging the very purpose of spirituality. Please help. What can I do to come out of this obstacle that is having such a negative effect on my Krishna consciousness?

N.M.

Answer: Overcoming the Even Bigger Obstacle

The biggest obstacle we all face in our progress of Krishna consciousness is our own material attachments. This is a much greater obstacle for each of us than any external obstacle such as non-devotee family members who are opposed to our practice of Krishna consciousness. If you will focus your heart on becoming completely 100% attached to Krishna in all times, places, and circumstances, your material attachments will naturally melt away and your non-devotee family members will not be able to impede the tidal wave of Krishna consciousness which will be inundating your heart in an ocean of transcendental realization and bliss. And then in due course of time by the power of your association your family members will also take to Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Little Sparrow Who Conquered the Ocean

Image
In his purport to Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 6, Text 24 Srila Prabhupada wonderfully teaches us the power of determinations by telling us the story of the little sparrow who conquered the ocean: "As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuda at once asked t
Read more

Heart Melting Reunion with Amarendra and Gayatri

Image
On Friday 26 June 2015 I was blessed with the greatest good fortune of meeting with two of the dearest devotees of my entire life, His Grace Amarendra Prabhu and his good wife, Srimati Gayatri devi dasi. I am eternally indebted to these great souls for how much they helped me in my spiritual life when I was a young devotee. When I was young brahmacari monk in 1973 I joined with the two of them in Gainesville, Florida. We were a three person preaching center, and they were just like a mother and father to me. I had so many wonderful Krishna conscious experiences in their association that I can hardly begin to describe them here. But at least may it suffice for me to say for now that Gayatri taught me what it means to be a soft-hearted devotee of the Lord and she gave me my first cooking lesson, teaching me how to make cauliflower pakoras, and Amarendra taught me the art of how to preach strongly, intelligently, and coolly to defeat opposing arguments. Recently Gayatri almost died. But
Read more

Misguided Fools Say that Masturbation is Healthy

Image
Foolish modern day materialists recommend masturbation as follows: "Masturbation is a common activity. It’s a natural and safe way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and release built-up sexual tension. It occurs among people of all backgrounds, genders, and races. Despite the myths, there are actually no physically harmful side effects of masturbation." They are wrong. To get a proper understanding on this this topic read the question and answer section below. Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: What are the Ill Effects of Masturbation? Since you answered questions related to understanding the real need of sex in a human being's life, so I also request you to please enlighten us with the knowledge about semen conservation, it's importance, and the consequences of frequently releasing it thorough sex or masturbation. Since today most of the youth are indulged in mansturbation and they think it to be good in comparison to doing sex with some female for
Read more