By Shyama Priya Devi Dasi
Krishna goes to Prison!!!
Who would think that Krishna would go to prison?
Actually this whole material world is described as a prison house by Srila Prabhupada and the former acaryas. Just as the warden of the prison is not affected by the rules of the prison, so Krishna comes here and not being affected by the laws of nature, He comes to free us. Krishna appeared in the prison of Vasudeva and Devaki, when He appeared over 5,000 years ago, now He is here again, as shown in these letters from real inmates who are writing to us at ISKCON Prison Ministry.
–‘ Krishna’s Protection Surrounds Me: I have a very deep love for Krishna and Srila Prabhupada, and there is not enough words to express the gratitude I feel to Srila Prabhupada and his devotees for offering me the opportunity to learn about and to cultivate a closer relationship with Krishna. I am approaching the end of my sentence here in TDC, and although I will be homeless and not sure exactly where I will end up, I know I Krishna’s protection surrounds me. I am looking forward to continue my studies and associating with more devotees in person. I have already lived through hell, so I know no matter where I end up or what I do, as long as I do it in service of my Lord Krishna, the life on the earth will continue to improve until I am able to return home back to Godhead to live with Krishna (John Brashear, Woodville TX).
–‘ Real Purpose in Life: The Bhagavad Gita As It Is send to me by Shyama Priya Mataji answered the question which no other religious or person could have answered. Like the cycle of Karma, that horrific tragedies about wars, world hunger, diseases, the suffering of kids and women. Before I was introduced to this profound realization, I carried a hole in my heart physically and mentally. I have studied scriptures or other religious philosophy, and none has ease my mind and soul until I was introduce to Krishna Consciousness. I came to prison for someone else’s wrong doing, I am grateful for that because I found Krishna. Before I came to the prison, I just work and go home and exercise, I didn’t had a real purpose in life. I was just wandering this earth with no meaning and now I am a devotee and my views are different. I have found purpose in life, when I get out of prison I am going to paint Krishna’s artwork (Pedro Pinedo, Corcoran CA).
–‘ Illusion got cleared by reading Bhagavad Gita: Since from birth I was under illusion and my illusion got cleared when I started reading Bhagavad Gita As It Is. For example I was under impression that sin is not really all that bad unless you get caught, but Bhagavad Gita states that ignorance is the cause of sinful life and sinful life is cause of ones dragging into material existence. I was in illusion and this enemy lust maya ‘ illusory energy is very hard to fight. Thanks to Lord Krishna through His loyal devotee Srila Prabhupada, I understand that this materialistic society which is made to look like its new or modernize on futuristic way of a life is really demonic society built on illusory energy in the form of sense gratification, which is yet another trap of entanglement for spiritual self (Rodney Smith, Lancaster CA).
–‘ Everything is in Srila Prabhupada’s Books: Srila Prabhupada’s books contain everything needed to go back to Godhead and they are purely transcendental. Any sincere follower of any bonfide religion can easily appreciate them. The words spoken by and of Krishna through the mouth of pure devotee resonate the three worlds with pure love of Krishna, which is many times greater than salvation. As I reflect deeply back on my life, I come to the conclusion that it is meant for Krishna and Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure, every nano second should be used in Their service (Hardik Kaswala, Morgan GA).
–‘ Perfection of all Religion: I chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra all day long, and I also read Bhagavad Gita every day. Chanting relaxes me and allows me to express my devotion to Krishna. I am very happy to have found the perfection of all religion. The essence and total foundation of all religion is to be found in Krishna Consciousness. Krishna Consciousness uplifts humanity and generates true peace for everyone that becomes a part of it. In this age of Kali (age of quarrel and confusion), a practicing Hare Krishna has the good fortune for being able help the world to deliver peace. Now I know that killing animal and eating meat is wrong and I believe that teachings of Hare Krishna movement are correct spiritual path. I am a real eternal spirit soul and my ultimate and pure desire is to be a grateful servant of Lord Krishna (Robert Creech, Brunswick, NC).
–‘ Wisdom and Knowledge: By reading and studying the Gita and Prabhupada’s books I gain wisdom and knowledge of God. God judges the heart thorough surrender unto the Lord, by chanting japa and studying Prabhupada’s books and scriptures. I have found God and been elevated back to mode of goodness and spiritual platform. I wouldn’t trade in my new life in God for anything. I don’t miss the things of the material world, nor do I miss the women, men, drugs or alcohol. Through prayer, surrender and chanting the Mahamantra I stay very close to God (James Spark, Carson City, NV).
–‘ Books of Srila Prabhupada helps me to carry thorough tough time: Srila Prabhupada’s books cover such a vast amount of topics that lost souls such as myself are benefited exponentially. Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books along with the mercy of Hare Krishna Mahamantra have carried me through many tough times during these twelve years of incarceration. There are still so many books I have not read, I look forward to finishing the one I am reading and starting the next (Uttama Sloka, Frackville PA, he is son of devotee).
–‘ New Meaning in Life: After being confused for so long I have discovered a sense of hope and love in chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra that simple words can’t explain. Through the readings and teachings of Srila Prabhupada I have found a new meaning for a life spent in desperation. It’s because of all of this that I have found a new purpose and a sense of happiness that knows no boundaries. There is no other way (Zachary Clark, Wilton NY).
–‘ Life and Soul: Srila Prabhupada’s books and chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra are my life and soul and is my service to Guru Maharaja, Krishna and to all the devotees of the Lord. Everything else is suffering, everything is for Guru and nothing for me (Jivananda Dasa, Salem OR, He is initiated devotee and he preaches to inmates very nicely).
–‘ Parallel Spiritual Knowledge: I have been attending yoga meeting at prison with Hardwick (Indian inmate who is serious student of Krishna Consciousness). I want to express my deep appreciation for chance to read Srila Prabhupada’s books, although I am a strong disciple of Lord Jesus Christ and the Christian message, I have found many parallel spiritual principles that have caused Hardwick and me to walk together these few months (Michael Tamargo, Morgan GA).
–‘ Why I should be miserable?: The letters I get from the devotees are very positive and hope filled. I read, chant and have letters from devotees, why should I be miserable? Though I know I have many issues that I need to work thorough, may be things are not as bad as I thought (Mark Myers, Huntsville WV). Planting seed in my spiritual consciousness: I want to express my gratitude for the books and all the material, which has planted a spiritual seed in my consciousness. Nonetheless the spiritual energy is wonderful and powerful, and I frame my daily living around it (Reindorf, Morgan GA).
–‘ I know more about God from Prabhupada’s books than I have during my whole life:
About four months a go I ran into the Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (All glories be upon Him) and learned the Mahamantra. I have been chanting over 16 rounds a day for over a month now and I love it. I have learned more in the last four months about myself and my relationship with a God than I have during my whole life. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada and his books and all the people at IPM. Thank you so much for all you have done and will do (Robert Bailey, Corcoran CA).
–‘ Found Krishna by meeting Srila Prabhupada: I was searching for God and I knew that if He existed than my life would have meaning. So on one Sunday I went to the temple in downtown Washington DC on Q street, and I learned about the encyclopedia of Vedic literature that was being translated and published with purports by Srila Prabhupada. Somehow or other I was allowed to immediately join the temple that very Sunday night. I was so happy to find out that God is a person named Krishna that I was happy to chant His names as much as possible so that I could associate with Him.
In conclusion, I can not imagine any kind of life without Srila Prabhupadas books and chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. (Jana Janamadi Dasa, Huntsville TX).
–‘ Inspiration & Knowledge: I love to read Srila Prabhupada’s books, which is full of inspiration and knowledge. I read the Bhagavad Gita everyday and chant the maha-mantra almost all day. I chant even when I am working, I even caught myself humming the maha mantra while doing conversation. I read Bhagavad Gita everyday because I want to understand it and understand what it is. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada stated that, ‘only fools and enemies of Krishna, who can’t understand the Bhagavad Gita? No one is perfect, I know I am not, but I do pray to Lord Krishna to help me to control my senses, because I know only thorough Him I am able to do so. I fully understand now how Srila Prabhupada is my Siksa Guru (Kendrick Curry, Rusk TX).
–‘ Miserable life: You know I must admit before coming to prison I never knew much about religion or God and to be honest with you I lived a very miserable existence. I am very pleased to say that I have slowly come to the realization that we are all spiritual beings and we can never find lasting happiness unless we live our life on spiritual platform. I have developed a deep love for Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna. I have been chanting Hare Krishna Maha mantra and working on four regulatory principles. I have yet to give up coffee. I pray by Krishna’s grace, He will give me strength to overcome my addictive behaviors (Bhakta John Brashear, Woodville TX).
–‘ Strength, hope and satisfaction: This chanting and reading are my pastime and main activities here and they give me strength, hope and satisfaction. I have been chanting 16 rounds for 4.5 years now, everyday without fail. Right now I am chanting 8 minutes a round, they are very clear and I am hearing them never before. The most wonderful and my favorite activity here is when I have kirtana in the evening before my Deity pictures for 30 to 45 minutes. Kirtana is highlight of my day. Daily I am reading Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya-Caritamrta, Krishna book and all transcendental diaries. I spend 5 to 6 hours a day chanting and reading (Thomas Daigle, Aiea, Hawaii).
–‘ Sufferings from identification with the body: ‘The suffering of all living entities are imaginary created by identification with the material body’ I agree whole heartedly with that because it is that identification with the material body that is cause of Divine-self and the divine presence of God (Prabhupada Nectar Volume 1, page 34, Section 28, Little drop of Nectar). Another one is where Srila Prabhupada tells another story, where he says ‘One who has got intelligence, he has strength and one who has no intelligence, a rascal, has no strength’ (Gregory L. Cain, Norco CA).
–‘ Enlightening Experience: Srila Prabhupada’s books have been an enlightening experience more so than anything I have read or accomplished in my life. His guidance to our Lord Krishna and his enlightening of our self-realization is something very special. Something that I probably would have never found if not for Srila Prabhupada’s books (Anthony Lofton, Manson, NC).
–‘ Torchlight of True Knowledge: Thank you for your fine appearance to bring torchlight of true knowledge. In this degraded age, you uplift the sleepy soul to Krishna Consciousness. As you say there is no other way to chant Hare Krishna and be sublime (Mark Barnett, Canon City CO).
–‘ Hope in Life: I continue to chant and read Srila Prabhupada’s books, I am now reading from Prabhupada nectar. I greatly enjoy reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, all of his books are very special to me and they give me hope that I never had in my life. (Mark Myers, Huntsville, WV).
If you would like to find out more about the prison minstry or if you would like to donate, we always need books,tapes, CD’s DVD’s, new or used, to send to the inmates and prison libraries. Or if you would like to send a donation, postage stamps or sponsor Back to Godhead subscriptions for inmates, please contact us.
Contact: Shyama Priya shyamapriya@aol.com
386-418-8149
Donations and Mail to:
Vaisnava Outreach, Inc ISKCON Prison Ministry PO Box 2676, Alachua, FL 32616
Hare Krsna. Just see the potency of Srila Prabhupada’s books! For those who support the idea of a criminal record investigation before allowing persons to live in our temple associations; please be sure to consider the essential needs of those we preach to, as well as the necessary protection of the weaker devotees. It appears that there are many sincere souls who have engaged in abominable activites, but who later see clearly by the light of the Vedas. We don’t want to reject them as Krsna conscious persons or discourage their spiritual progress.
A person CAN change. There are no material qualifications for performance of devotional services. As we see, a person can be reformed by the potencies of Krsna quite easily! Let us not allow the material mode of goodness to supercede transcendence, and so in the name of caution reject sincere spiritual aspirants. Rather let us see what the individual’s character is before automatic rejection due to formulaic “screenings”, ( something Srila Prabhupada never indulged in, to my best knowledge. ) There are still many devotees whose background is revolutionary or socially deviant, myself included. Is deviance not a normal reaction to a deviant (demonic) culture? Are those mindlessly towing the rope of a demonic culture’s ways not the real deviants from “normal’? Are we devotees not all deviants, then, by so-called normal social (demonic) definition?
The criteria for spioritual life is a sincere humble but steady attempt to reform one’s life and return to Godliness. I argue that the individual’s past is not necessarily a bar to full engagement in pure devotional service, that we need to accept the true reformer.
Devotees within Iskcon, after taking vows etc. engaging in potentially harmful criminal activites, however, is another story. It is one thing to be impure then to reform, another to claim purity or maintain a position within our culture that traditionally requires pure character, and yet to act otherwise. Even our own men may have done abominable things, they can reform themselves by right punishment, right introspection and sadhana, right action. Still, my own opinion is that there are some things that can be forgiven but not practically forgotten, due to the severe potential for damage to our collective reputations, even though the reformed parties may be sincere; child abuse, and sexual predation being two. Even among criminal associations, these are crimes which cannot be easily forgiven due to the depth of sin.
Many thanks to Shyama Priya Devi Dasi for her incredible compassion and efforts to spread the mercy even to those needing it most. Most importantly, many well-wishes to the inmates; may you have every success in your spiritual endeavors, and soon obtain your eternal freedom. Keep on chanting!!
Hare Krishna Prabhus,
We are wanting to know if any Canadian temples have been contacted by Canadian prisons/prisoners for Srila prbahupada’s books. We are ready to send them along and would like to have a contact within the prison to communicate.
Thank you!!
Hare Krishna and all glories to Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement!
Kripanidhi das (ACBSP)
Karunamayi devi dasi
karunamayi.rns@gmail.com
To Kripanidhi & Karunamai Prabhus,
Hare Krsna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
A good person to contact would be Yamal-Arjuna Prabhu. My memory is fading, but I recall that he had been cultivating one of the guards in a local prison (in BC). I went with him once on a preaching engagement to a group of prisoners where that guard was employed…it went over quite well
Anyway, thank you both for being so dedicated to reaching out to the conditioned souls.
Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai,
Bhava dasa (ACBSP)