"Hare Krishna" on the Net & in the News - December 2007

27th December

Phone vid of Christmas Harinam in Sydney

http://media.revver.com/qt/585414.mov

Rath Yatra in New Delhi: Servitors take to streets

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20071226022238&Page=Q&Hea...
Burning effigies?????

24th December

Row over ISKCON rath yatra

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070036757&ch=1...
".....But ISKCON argues the yatra can be taken out any time of the year.
The powerful Puri temple and other Hindu groups are gearing up for a campaign against ISKCON, accusing it of sacrilege."

What do you Indian people think about the Hare Krishna-Movement (ISKCON)? (Q/A)

http://www.jyxia.cn/thread-4659-1-1.html

Tirupati conference held in honour of Swami Damodara

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=40525&typ...
“Spirituality is now being explored by the scientific community including Nobel laureates. It is wonderful,’’ said Vrajendra Das, an organizer.

Temple authorities to take legal action against Iskcon

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=182...

23rd December

The Twelve Days of Indian Christmas (POP VIDEO)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owK5tHjL0aE

hare Krishna (BLOG)

http://entrancetotheshrine.blogspot.com/2007/12/hare-krishna.html

22nd December

No rathyatra by Iskcon

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=181...
"The Puri Jagannath Temple Administrator Mr Suresh Mohaptra has requested chief minister of Delhi not to permit the proposed rathyatra scheduled to be held in the state by Iskcon devotees on 23 December."

21st December

‘Stop untimely ISKCON rath yatra’

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20071221003829&Page=Q&Hea...

Puri priests demand ban on entry of ISKCON monks (INDIA)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Puri_priests_demand_ban_on_entr...
Times of India reporting as the plot thickens...

18th December

National Book Fair begins with clarion call to youth (PUDUCHERRY, INDIA)

http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/18/stories/2007121851030200.htm
"The ISKCON stall has greeting cards with image of Lord Krishna." lol

17th December

On a wing and a prayer (US)

http://www.business-standard.com/lifeleisure/storypage.php?leftnm=5&subL...
A devotee's story.

16th December

What would happen to science if Darwin ceased to be God? (blog)

http://post-darwinist.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-would-happen-to-science-...
Very insightful discussion on the end of materialistic atheism's effects on science, and the first time I've read someone even infer that the Hare Krishnas have a point of view on design.

How the Bellringer got started and why it still remains so popular (Ventura County, Ca, USA)

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/dec/15/fond-holiday-memories-...
"In the 1970s, soliciting shoppers for money at Christmas became almost a national fad. Besides the traditional Salvation Army kettles, with their bellringers, such organizations as the Hare Krishnas and Black Muslims also wanted to solicit Christmas shoppers for cash donations....."

15th December

Protest rally against Iskcon Rath Yatra (Jagannatha Puri, INDIA)

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=180...
The Statesman weighs in on the Jagannatha Puri protests.

Holy Cow: It's Hindus vs UK govt again (INDIA)

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/holy-cow-its-hindus-vs-uk-govt-again/54258-2...
An Indian take on the UK Cow execution crisis.

Puri temple priests hold rally against the King (Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, INDIA)

http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news1/20071214-rally-against-the...
"On Friday, hundreds of Sri Jagannath temple servitors.... charged the Gajapati for helping non-Hindus to enter the Puri temple, and encouraging the ISKCON devotees to organise Rath Yatra in a number of foreign countries defying the principles of the Puri temple."

Iskcon counter (INDIA)

http://news.hinduworld.com/click_frameset.php?ref_url=/index.php&url=htt...
An Iskcon statement [in response to the Communist Party of India - Marxist's claims] said the organisation was “absolutely apolitical”.
I'm not, though, "Vote Ron Paul"!

BIGOTRY MONITOR (RUSSIA)

http://www.fsumonitor.com/stories/121407BM.shtml
"TWO RUSSIAN TV STATIONS LINK PENTECOSTALS TO SATANISTS. Two Russian television networks broadcast a program that lumped together Pentecostals and Hare Krishnas with Satanists, according to a December 11 report by the Sova Information-Analytical Center. The Rossiya network and Channel 3 simultaneously broadcast the show, during which psychologists and the country's most prominent "battler against sects," Aleksandr Dvorkin, accused "sects" of turning their adherents into zombies, stealing their property, and committing other illegal acts." (half way through)

Monks to protest over cow killing (UK)

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1906634.0.mo...
"This issue has incensed and united everyone."

Hindu's feel betrayed as cow is put to sleep (UK)

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&c...
Submitter feels somehow betrayed by factual & grammatical retardedness in newspaper headline. What is our children learning?

14th December

Russell ditches his wild side and gets a brand new religion (UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?...
The Daily Mail was there, but puts an 'interesting' spin on the rest of the article...

RSPCA 'secretly' killed cow at Hindu temple (UK)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3047068.ece
“This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour. We have been deceived by those who had given us their word,” Mr Das said.

Cow put down at Hindu temple (UK)

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1903458.mostviewed.cow_put_...
Wot!?! Insulting a cow? OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

13th December

UK school revises 'Hindu' admission policy

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14575066
Entrance criteria revised...

UK: Mr Paparazzi: QT video report of Russel Brand with devotees (second item)

http://media.revver.com/qt;sharer=9551/524514.mov
Nice one! Hare Krishna!

MYSORE, INDIA: "Pak Terrorists Shifted To Bangalore Jail"

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=15138
"We want 'shaadies, we want 'shaadies!"

11th December

UK: The Harrow Times straw-poll results are out!

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1892665.0.reader...
61% against /39% for. The tide is rising!

10th December

JAPAN: I love the Japanese Hare Krishnas! (blog)

http://www.julieinjapan.com/2007/12/i-love-japanese-hare-krishnas.html
English teacher in Japan loves the Japanese Hare Krishna

9th December 2007

INDIA: CPI(M) brands Iskcon major threat to Communists

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=412135&sid=REG
Communists are afraid of Krishna. Give it up, guys - the Russians did! Now just about everyone in the whole world loves Krishna. Except for you guys...
Thanks to this article we learn what CPM stand for (see 8th Dec. headlines). Who'd'a'thunk it was an abbreviated acronym!?!? PAMHO AGTSP, YS SKD P.S. HK

8th December 2007

MALAYSIA: Johor Buzz: Vegetarians not forgotten

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Features/2103295/Article...
"I am a Hare Rama Hare Krishna follower who used to travel a lot. I have friends all over the world and they taught me how to bake cakes and make pizzas....." hahahaha, the cultural conquest continues! All glories to prasadam!

WEST BENGAL, INDIA: Ram to Krishna, CPM smells threat in Iskcon

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071208/asp/bengal/story_8644383.asp
"The CPM (Communist Party M.....???) in Nadia has described Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) as a “major threat” to communists." Nooo! Krishna consciousness is spiritual communism, we're brothers!!!

BULGARIA: From where do we come?

http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/from-where-do-we-come/id_26547/catid_30
Archaeologist and author Michael Cremo encourages audiences to not always accept scientific ‘fact’.

7th December 2007

USA: Spiritual punks - New book looks at hardcore Hare Krishnas

http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=604532
"....Would it surprise you to learn some punk musicians are devoutly religious, are opposed to abortion and abstain from drugs, alcohol and premarital sex?"

4th December 2007

FIJI: Temple will benefit all, says Gita

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=75876
New Temple emerging in Sigatoka, Fiji.

BLOG: Cremation soots you

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/4/0343/08259
Humorous article about sati. Do you know what to say if someone asks you this?

4th December 2007

RUSSIA: Building places of worship in Moscow still a struggle

http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1056
...but the Krishnas are making progress. (see 3/4 down)
3rd December, 2007

BLOG: Vita The Lion (Rude)

http://bacchante-glam.livejournal.com/33439.html
Drunk guy attends Hare Krishna Sunday Feast, blogs it so he can remember later.... Hare Krishna.

UK: Krishna-Avanti school issue

UK's first Hindu state school attacked over admissions policy
http://www.24dash.com/communities/29707.htm
Hindus proclaim "We was duped, duped I tells ya!"

Hindu school outlines entrance policy
http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/news/education/Default.asp?article=%7B20872...
UK Education Union report

Row over Hindu school admissions
http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1870167.mostviewed.row_over...
with interesting public viewer comments...

INDIA: Within him, without him

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=08f8679d-0121-...
A nice eulogy for Sriman George Harrison

2nd December, 2007

NEW ZEALAND: Local Betsy Welch heads to New Zealand for the winter

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20071201/AE/71201009
Colorado schoolteacher fondly remembers the Krishnas as inspiring her curiosity about the world.

1st December, 2007

BLOG: 11/30/07 11:01 am

http://slebalete.livejournal.com/469353.html
Read a student's bitter lament in separation from Krishna (prasadam).

ORISSA, INDIA: Five pilgrims denied entry into Jagannath Temple

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=178...
ISKCON devotees from Bali denied entry into Jagannatha Mandir, Jagannatha Puri. Its a question of respecting someone's authoritah.

MANIPUR, INDIA: A meeting of science and spirituality

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=1724&type...
A very nice article about the 2-day International Conference on Science and Spirituality for World Peace, a tribute to Sripad Bhakti Svarup Damodar Maharaja, held in Imphal, Manipur recently.

UK: Yay or Nay: all-vegetarian schools

http://www.hippyshopper.com/2007/11/school_will_onl.html
A columnist puts the Krishna-Avanti School issue to the vegetarian community...

Sat, 12/01/2007 - 22:28 — subalkrishnadas

opposite opinions

From time to time an article or report comes up that could be construed as 'offensive'. For example, in one recent article, a lady who was a practicing Hare Krishna devotee for ten years but who left due to disillusionment with the institution is criticising the leaders of the 70's and 80's, and also Srila Prabhupada, albeit obliquely. In another article, a Christian Baptist preacher is advising against the use of Hare Krishna-made incense. He also tells an evocative short story to explain his position.

These articles are interesting in their own way, and they both have "Hare Krishna" in them, but there is a dilemma that i want to discuss here.

These two articles report peoples' opinions, which are based on one hand on personal experience (by someone who argues that if it had been just the Hare Krishna morning program she was exposed to, she would have been happy as anything and still!, but unfortunately.... there was politics, etc..), and the other, apparently motivated by devotion to God in the Christianity tradition. The point is that neither of these people, on the face of it, are bad. The lady is a 'fried' devotee (one among many thousands), whose doubts about Srila Prabhupada really originate, as alluded to by her, in the character and behaviour of some of his leading followers she observed, and the man is a preacher trying to lead his flock toward Lord Jesus Christ. It appears to me that these people are not 'bad'. They both seem, as I said before, on the face of it, to be moving towards the Lord.

I guess my dilemma here is to clarify how can we develop our faith in God, the cause of all causes, if we close our eyes to reality by shunning and not publishing reports like this here. On one hand, these peoples' opinions are misguided in the ultimate issue, and in some ways do extend to 'aparadha'. But on the other, I don't want to 'hide' things from devotees who read these forum posts, and who, as people dedicated to increasing their love and service for God, help comprise the most intelligent section of human society. At the same time, however, I definitely don't want to be guilty of introducing the very big, bad boogey-monster of aparadha into this sweet arena.

Faith is a fragile thing in the beginning. adau sraddha tatha sadhu sanga... Srila Prabhupada warned loudly and often at 26 2nd avenue that IF we take this process seriously and IF we advance, then we will be sooo happy in love of God. He also warned that we MUST advance to madhyam stage or we will surely fall down (the madhyam stage of bhakti is described in Nectar of Instruction). In the beginning stages of transcendental bhakti, all sorts of doubts may arise about the existence of God, and when the focus on the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna is very vague, it would probably not help by fostering them here by publishing these kinds of reports. So I am not publishing them.

To me, Srila Prabhupada's statement (in NOI) about the necessity of finding a very high-class of Vaishnava is again emphasized in this situation. How else can we really gain a Krishna conscious perspective on this world? Everyone has some opinion, but the pure devotees' opinions are based on pure love of God. We can't copy them by adopting their opinions superficially, but we can (& must!) hear from them, assist them, try to understand their message of pure bhakti ... and chant Hare Krishna..

So, I am not going to publish these articles here, and hope that I have explained why clearly.

All glories to the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna.

Fri, 11/30/2007 - 19:47 — abrennan

Here's another source for you

http://www.prabhupada.org/krishna/

________________________________________
Visit the Food Channel @ Krishna.com

Sat, 12/01/2007 - 00:39 — subalkrishnadas

Thanks

these posts are just about Krishna around the web and on the news.
Remember Siddhanta Prabhu's ITV "Hare Krishna in the Movies" videos? Well this is like that, only this is like "Hare Krishna on the web & in the news".
And in that spirit, it isn't about how we (like to) see ourselves so much as it is about how "Hare Krishna" is reported by others, who may not be devotees like us. Just a different point of view i guuess

Thanks a lot for these links:
http://www.news.iskcon.com/
http://www.prabhupada.org/krishna/

I'll keep an eye on them for myself!

Sat, 12/01/2007 - 02:03 — abrennan

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