Your Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, Your Excellency President Jacob Zuma, Distinguished KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize, ministers and government officials, ladies and gentlemen;
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I will get straight to the point. There is no need to elaborate on South Africa’s social ills: each of us in our own way has felt the repression, aggression and frustration of living in a society split by ethnic, tribal, religious, economic and political divisions. In our heart of hearts each of us desires a truly cohesive society that respects the rights of all others and works as a united body.
My humble proposal today is based on the teachings of the sacred texts of India: it is that social cohesion will be achieved only when we stop seeing our differences and recognize what we have in common. But what do we have in common in a country where language, economic situation, religion and skin color differs so radically from person to person? What we have in common is that we all created by the same God. Think about this for a moment: if we are all created by God, then we have a common father. If two people have the same father they are brother and sister. If four people have the same father they are brothers and sisters. And if fifty million people have the same father they are brothers and sisters. My point is that we are all brothers and sisters here in South Africa. God the Father is the common denominator, the cohesive factor uniting the people of this county.
But one may ask: which God is the common father? The Christian God? The Muslim God? The Hindu God? The Jewish God? No. Just as there is one sun that is known by different names in different parts of the world, God is know by different names such as Christ, Allah, Adonai, Krsna and Un-kulun kula. It is important to understand this, for to achieve perfect social cohesion we must transcend even our religious differences. In other words, we must unite on the spiritual platform by realizing we are all part of the greater family of God. There is a saying about family attachment: “Blood is thicker than water.” If we understand that God is the Supreme Father and that we are all his children, the bond between us will be unbreakable.
“In our heart of hearts each of us desires a truly cohesive society that respects the rights of all others and works as a united body.“
With Prince Buthalezi.
Another important point is that when we recognize our common identity, our differences will complement each other. In a symphony orchestra the individual instruments are distinctly different but when they play together under the direction of the conductor the effect is simply wonderful. In the same way, when we respect our differences as Africans, whites, coloreds and Indians while realizing our common identity as eternal servants of God, the supreme conductor, there will be social cohesion in South Africa.
We try to demonstrate this principle in the Hare Krsna movement by propagating the chanting of God’s names in public. One tangible result is that in any number of our centers around the country there are now micro-societies of Africans, whites, coloreds and Indians living together in perfect harmony. We want to share this good fortune with others and we try to do so on a daily basis by breaking down social barriers in a practical way. For example, for the past twenty-four years our movement has distributed tens of millions of plates of hot, nutritious food in low income areas such as the outlying towns and villages of Kwazulu Natal. Our pledge today is to work together with others to achieve nothing short of a “Hunger-Free South Africa.” When the children of this land are fed they can concentrate on their education, and with education comes career and stability. When there is stability in the lives of the citizens there is less crime and violence; people are more likely to treat one another with generosity and to see each other’s commonalities.
We are also attempting to achieve social cohesion by organizing a grand cultural event called the Festival of the Chariots on the Durban beachfront over the Easter weekend in late March. The theme of the festival is similar to the one promoted by today’s program: “Culturally many, spiritually one”. We encourage all ethnic and religious groups to participate in the seminars and to perform on the main stage. King Goodwill has already graciously accepted our invitation.
In conclusion, let us respect our differences and recognize our common bond as children of God so that we may truly become the Rainbow Nation, a nation of different colors and cultures that is united on the spiritual platform. It is said that there is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. In a country like South Africa that is blessed with so much diversity, culture and religion, that pot of gold will be the respect we show for each other and the sense of national pride that will flow forth when we finally recognize that we are all brother and sisters.
By solving South Africa’s social ailments, the citizens of this great country can one day stand united as an example for the whole world. It is possible. It not a dream. It is not a fantasy for the Vedas say, vasudhaiva kutumbakam: “The whole world is but one family.”
May God bless you all. May God bless South Africa. Hare Krishna.
With His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini.
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Brilliant. Everyone will say, of course, it is simple, but without the chanting of the Maha mantra they cannot apply it. The conditioning is so strong but the Holy Name can knock it out . Harinam sankirtan kijay.
Krishna consciousness is above the material plane, and our ability to give a clear understanding to people in general how it is that simple to achieve by understanding our true self and our common relationship with one God is a great service to humanity. Deep understanding of the philosophy of KC is required for this on the part of a preacher.
Usually humanity is at loss with so many unworthy misidentifications based on the bodily platform; if a devotee can bring this into light and give the proper position of all souls, then again, that is practically the greatest act of charity one can perform for the benefit of all human beings. For this purpose innovative, imaginative or cultural concepts can be put to contribution provided the proper message of the Vedas can come trough as very clear to people in general, then it is a great service. Devotees can preach, but they should try to make sure that their audience do understand the message clearly. On the first hand, if devotees themselves have a clear understanding of what they preach, then chances are that their audience will catch on such understanding too. Preaching KC is not just a question a repeating verbatim, it is a question of deep realization of the subject matter by dint of revelation/realization of the import of Vedic knowledge. If one’s heart is surcharged with KC, then it will reflect on others as one speaks.
Communication is a two-way street. As far as KC is concerned it is the street of heart. One devotee preacher must know how to let his heart reach an audience’s heart too. This is a most pleasing and in great demand service to be done. Namaste to Indradyumna Maharaja who is one preacher of this kind. Purity and sincere desire to preach go hand in hand. The reward of such service is a die-hard desire to preach more and more. It is way too satisfying to the heart to ever consider to stop such an act out of love for the sake of Lord Caitanya’s movement and the whole line of acharyas and guru. There is no contamination of fatigue on this path. This is the nectar that we are always hankering for.
Hare Krishna. Jaya Srila Prabhupada who has turned so many sincere followers into such beneficent preachers for the uplifting of the whole world. All glories to Indradyumna Maharaja’s service and all his surrounding servants on this wonderful tour of Gujarat. It is truly glorious. Hari hari bol!
For example, for the past twenty-four years our movement has distributed tens of millions of plates of hot, nutritious food in low income areas such as the outlying towns and villages of Kwazulu Natal.
I was fortunate to go with Laxminath Das on food distribution once, in rural Kwazulu Natal. It cannot be emphasised enough how Laxminath Prabhu always distributes the holy names with prasadam and he has single-handedly made Hare Krsna a household word amongst the indigenous Africans of that region. If you ever travelled in and around Durban (capital of KZN) or greater KZN, and if you had tilak on your forehead or a sikha or looked like a devotee, Africans, mostly children from informal settlements or villages would come up to you at traffic lights or stop signs and greet you with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and show pleasure in seeing you.
This is indeed using prasadam distribution the proper way. These people are innocent and therefore they take to the holy names with simplicity and sing and dance with enthusiasm. Their devotional service has started.
Laxminath Prabhu, a disciple of HH Indradyumna Swami, has been doing this for over 24 years all by himself. He cooks every morning, loads his van and goes to the rural areas – the villages and informal settlements to distribute prasadam but he makes the people chant the Mahamantra as well. Harinam Sankirtan is regularly held in these areas together with prasadam distribution and the results are clearly to be seen – the Mahamantra is a household name amongst the locals and Krsna consciousness is very favourably accepted due to prasadam distribution done properly. It has even infected Nelson Mandala who looks favourably towards the Hare Krsnas and now we see the present President of that country and other leaders from that region become infected as well.
Other devotees distributing prasadam in other parts of the world should take a leaf out of this example. Give Krsna Consciousness WITH prasadam – do not feel embarrassed! We do not hear the glories or Laxminath Prabhu as we do other Prasadam distributors – because Laxminath Prabhu does not desire recognition. He is successful because he has the adikari, he is a simple brahmacari and his faith is simplistic and wholesome. I always wanted to glorify this Prabhu for single-handedly and selflessly spreading the holy names all through Kwa-Zulu Natal and here is my chance.
Brilliant. Everyone will say, of course, it is simple, but without the chanting of the Maha mantra they cannot apply it. The conditioning is so strong but the Holy Name can knock it out . Harinam sankirtan kijay.
Krishna consciousness is above the material plane, and our ability to give a clear understanding to people in general how it is that simple to achieve by understanding our true self and our common relationship with one God is a great service to humanity. Deep understanding of the philosophy of KC is required for this on the part of a preacher.
Usually humanity is at loss with so many unworthy misidentifications based on the bodily platform; if a devotee can bring this into light and give the proper position of all souls, then again, that is practically the greatest act of charity one can perform for the benefit of all human beings. For this purpose innovative, imaginative or cultural concepts can be put to contribution provided the proper message of the Vedas can come trough as very clear to people in general, then it is a great service. Devotees can preach, but they should try to make sure that their audience do understand the message clearly. On the first hand, if devotees themselves have a clear understanding of what they preach, then chances are that their audience will catch on such understanding too. Preaching KC is not just a question a repeating verbatim, it is a question of deep realization of the subject matter by dint of revelation/realization of the import of Vedic knowledge. If one’s heart is surcharged with KC, then it will reflect on others as one speaks.
Communication is a two-way street. As far as KC is concerned it is the street of heart. One devotee preacher must know how to let his heart reach an audience’s heart too. This is a most pleasing and in great demand service to be done. Namaste to Indradyumna Maharaja who is one preacher of this kind. Purity and sincere desire to preach go hand in hand. The reward of such service is a die-hard desire to preach more and more. It is way too satisfying to the heart to ever consider to stop such an act out of love for the sake of Lord Caitanya’s movement and the whole line of acharyas and guru. There is no contamination of fatigue on this path. This is the nectar that we are always hankering for.
Hare Krishna. Jaya Srila Prabhupada who has turned so many sincere followers into such beneficent preachers for the uplifting of the whole world. All glories to Indradyumna Maharaja’s service and all his surrounding servants on this wonderful tour of Gujarat. It is truly glorious. Hari hari bol!
I was fortunate to go with Laxminath Das on food distribution once, in rural Kwazulu Natal. It cannot be emphasised enough how Laxminath Prabhu always distributes the holy names with prasadam and he has single-handedly made Hare Krsna a household word amongst the indigenous Africans of that region. If you ever travelled in and around Durban (capital of KZN) or greater KZN, and if you had tilak on your forehead or a sikha or looked like a devotee, Africans, mostly children from informal settlements or villages would come up to you at traffic lights or stop signs and greet you with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and show pleasure in seeing you.
This is indeed using prasadam distribution the proper way. These people are innocent and therefore they take to the holy names with simplicity and sing and dance with enthusiasm. Their devotional service has started.
Laxminath Prabhu, a disciple of HH Indradyumna Swami, has been doing this for over 24 years all by himself. He cooks every morning, loads his van and goes to the rural areas – the villages and informal settlements to distribute prasadam but he makes the people chant the Mahamantra as well. Harinam Sankirtan is regularly held in these areas together with prasadam distribution and the results are clearly to be seen – the Mahamantra is a household name amongst the locals and Krsna consciousness is very favourably accepted due to prasadam distribution done properly. It has even infected Nelson Mandala who looks favourably towards the Hare Krsnas and now we see the present President of that country and other leaders from that region become infected as well.
Other devotees distributing prasadam in other parts of the world should take a leaf out of this example. Give Krsna Consciousness WITH prasadam – do not feel embarrassed! We do not hear the glories or Laxminath Prabhu as we do other Prasadam distributors – because Laxminath Prabhu does not desire recognition. He is successful because he has the adikari, he is a simple brahmacari and his faith is simplistic and wholesome. I always wanted to glorify this Prabhu for single-handedly and selflessly spreading the holy names all through Kwa-Zulu Natal and here is my chance.