By Vrndavana Vinodini Devi Dasi
HH Radhanath Swami has been a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) since 1996. For the past twenty-five years, besides guiding the development of the ISKCON Chowpatty community in Mumbai, Radhanath Swami has directed a number of acclaimed social action projects including Midday Meals, daily serving over 250,000 plates of pure vegetarian food to the children in the slums of Mumbai. He has also worked to establish missionary hospitals and eye camps, eco-friendly farms, schools and ashrams, an orphanage, and a number of emergency relief programs throughout India.
A valuable member of the Strategic Planning Initiatives, he is a part of the Devotee Care Committee. Hear what HH Radhanath Swami has to say about the Strategic Planning Meetings and how it brings leaders together from around the world to come up with solutions for real issues in our society.
Dandavats to you all. I had always envisioned that The Bhaktivedanta Institute might become a credible conscience for the political, social, philosophical, and religious problems in the world. There are other springboards like the Christian Monitor and other news outlets that try to make sense of the world from a spiritual perspective. After all, Krishna says that there is “no higher Truth than Me.” While it would be ideal for the ISKCON society to present an alternative model for the materialistically misdirected world, there can also be an exchange of ideas in the media addressing the issues of intolerance, sectarianism that leads to violence, maldistribution of wealth, preservation of natural resources, etc. The Bhaktivedanta Institute has rather been a venue for scientists to push their agenda perhaps with some modulating influence by association with bhaktas. So, where will the brahminical guidance for society come from? What wing of ISKCON will address the contemporary issues of the day through a Krishna conscious perspective?
The internal difficulties of the ISKCON society will always remain day to day, year to year challenges, because we exist within the illusory environment. The changing nature of material energy will not permit a “static” solution to problems, just as they will not for society at large. Intelligence comes from Krishna, and if it is used for Krishna’s service, there can be no limit to the quality and quantity of intellect that will come through to address the problems of the Kali Yuga. We know that the unifying priniciple is the chanting of the Holy Names. Solutions will need to proceed from inside out, rather than outside in. The change in heart for individuals and humanity at large must proceed from a revolution in consciousness. That wave of Krishna consciousness is very much needed.
Pusta Krishna das