Reaching out to a greater public

By Kripamoya Dasa

In this brief blog I would like to take the opportunity of introducing you to three Vaishnavas who are doing an excellent job in getting some of our messages out to a broader public. In some cases that means thought-provoking pieces on foundational dharmic principles, in other cases it means specific teachings on the practise of bhakti.

They have distinguished themselves, I feel, by first understanding their respective audiences and then delivering engaging and appropriate ideas relevant to their section of the great British public. Sometimes they’ve had to subsume their tendency to speak directly on Krishna in order to gradually win over a larger audience to progressive conceptions of life.

Although it could reasonably be argued that there are now many others who disseminate similar ideas, the purveyors of these ideas often, albeit unwittingly, lead their audiences towards impersonalism, voidism, or other forms of confusion. By having artistic, thoughtful and articulate Vaishnavas offer moral and intellectual upliftment to people, they not only steer them towards a healthier and happier life, but help them along the path to Krishna.

I think their service needs greater exposure to our international Vaishnava community, and I think its time their unique contributions were given more devotee appreciation. So please take a look at the following sites to see and hear their work. Then please drop them a line!

First is Akhanadadhi Das who broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ Although each of the thought-provoking pieces is only 2 minutes and 45 seconds long – precisely – this morning feature has an audience of over two million. He has been a contributor for six years now and has done so much to introduce the greater listening public to thoughts from a tradition beyond Christianity and Judaism.

You can hear all his archived pieces by going to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Religion and Ethics site. Just find his name on the list of speakers – its near the top – and take your pick: click here

Next is Rajasana Dasi, who, for two years now, has produced a colour magazine for the vegetarian, cruelty-free, organic and free-trade buying public. She has all the news from and for this particular demographic and her magazine features interviews with celebrities and leading thinkers. The sales figures for the magazine just keep going up and she is due to be placed in a leading national supermarket chain soon.

Rajasana’s Lifescape can be found on www.lifescapemag.com

Next is Dwarkadish Das who runs his own radio show reaching out to around 7,000 listeners in the east of London every Sunday. Featuring ’straight’ presentations of Krishna consciousness, his show includes some of the dramatic theatrical presentations he’s helped to create over the years in his own recording studio. His listeners are also writing in with questions and he’s finding that even committed Vaishnavas are finding his show a source of support.

You can find his website with recordings of the show on: www.nectarofdevotion.co.uk