Drawing by inmate Bhakta Brian Babinsky
By Mother Shyama Priya
Dear Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Two months prior to Gita Jayanti festival, I requested inmates, who regularly write to me, to write down a few lines about how they received the 1st copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is and what they learned from the Bhagavad Gita and what are their favorite verses. I have tried to keep inmates responses as it is, in order to keep the originality of the text and their feelings. We can always use donations of Bhagavad-Gitas and other books to send to the prisons for many hungry souls to read. Please contact us if you’d like to contribute.
Mother Shyama Priya
ISKCON Prison Ministry
PO Box 2676
Alachua, FL 32616
386-418-8149
shyamapriya@aol.com or chandra16108@yahoo.com
The following is a compilation of inmate’s quotes:
Appreciation of Bhagavad-Gita
Modern civilization is teaching people about me and not I: H. G. Mukta Kesa prabhu has written how Srila Prabhupada would begin a conversation by citing verse 2.13, as the embodied soul continuously passes in this body from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes the body at the time of death. A sober person is not bewildered by such change. Srila Prabhupada said, “How people are concerned about the “my” (possessed objects), but what about “I” (spirit soul) that gives life to the body.” At prestigious universities and institutes of learning, the external movement of the body is studied; but where is the department which teaches at a university to study and learn about the eternal soul, the possessor of the temporary body.
My favorite verse is 10.10, “To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they come to Me. The purport is very significant and enlightening, as Srila Prabhupada comments on guidance of Krishna. Lord Krishna is so kind that He never forgets any amount of service rendered to Him. He is always guiding us from within as Paramatma. As our eternal father – mother, He is anxious for us to surrender unto Him, there by return to Him in His abode, Goloka – Vrindavana. By Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy and transcendental literatures, we are able to study and realize the truths of the soul, the supreme soul and their relationship with each other. (Bhakta Hardick Kaswala, Morgan GA)
Overall spiritual truths are found in the Bhagavad Gita: I received the Bhagavad Gita from inmate, who was Buddhist and was not practicing Krishna Consciousness. I read Gita over and over. I became convinced that overall spiritual truths which are found in the Gita, and those truths are the essential perfection of all religion. I read the Bhagavad Gita so much that I wore the entire book out, and I requested new copy of Bhagavad Gita from ISKCON Prison Ministry. I have learned from Bhagavad Gita that “chanting God’s name brings a person in contact with God, and our natural condition is to be at peace and at harmony. I have also learned that a Krishna Conscious person is always happy and content in all circumstances, and we can overcome any kind of difficulties by following the standards of Krishna Consciousness.
By following the teachings of the Gita we can manifest more compassion and kindness to all living beings. Lord Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead and universal source of everything that exists and supreme Lord situated in everyone’s heart. I have learned many other things from the Gita, three modes of material nature and yoga. I love each verse in the Gita, but 18.66 (abandon all variety of religion) is my personal favorite. (Bhakta Robert Creech, Burnswick NC.)
Bhagavad Gita is everyday blessing to me: As soon as I received the Bhagavad Gita, I was given my marching orders to stand up and fight the enemy forces attacking my mind. Like Arjuna I was bewilder by my pain. I started chanting. The Bhagavad Gita is my everyday blessing. I receive this blessing a new each time I read from the pages. In this way you saved my life but much more, on the cover page Arjuna is being lead into war by Krishna Arjuna stands for us. The war is life, Krishna is controlling the horses. The horses are like the mind they must be controlled by someone who can master them. Krishna can do this very nicely.
From the first day I opened the Bhagavad Gita, I found the answers to the things I felt but could never put into words. The knowledge I am finding are the truths that transcends ordinary religious doctrine. It is in my hands most of the time. The Gita is providing a medicine for illness I didn’t realize I had. The verse 3.40 really answered my big questions. You are right about chanting the names of Krishna – I am really becoming more happy, peaceful and free of anxiety. (Bhakta Muhmmaud Saleem, Somers, CT.)
Lord Krishna is so gracious that He accepts the simple offerings of love: I am at war like Arjuna to get the minimum jail sentence possible. Krishna is the supreme controller, I honestly believe that without a doubt. I purchased Bhagavad Gita from Hare Krishna Restaurant – wisdom about 10 years ago, there I was introduced to Krishna Consciousness. My favorite verse is 9.26, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a flower, a leaf, fruit or water, I will accept it.” The Lord is so gracious that by offering simple things with love, we can reciprocate with Lord Krishna. My other favorite verse is 9.31, He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti declare it boldly that my devotee never perishes. The prison system can hold me forever but I belong to Krishna.
My another favorite verse is 9.30, even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is considered to be saintly because he is properly situated in his determination. (Bhakta Donte Baker, Los Angeles CA)
Got peace by reading Bhagavad Gita: I received my copy of Bhagavad Gita from Chandra Sekhar – ACBSP. By reading Bhagavad Gita I have found something which I never had before, and that is great sense of peace. In verse 18.66, Lord Krishna states that I should surrender myself unto Krishna. “By such surrender, not only one will be released from all miseries into this life but in the end he will reach the Supreme God.” I sit in this jail facing the death penalty, but I am not fearful; because Chandra Sekhar – ACBSP has taught me that I am not this body but I am a spirit soul. The different religious groups claim that they worship God but they all seem to argue about what not; if they all worship God, why not try and find out what they have in common? The verse 18.66 states that forget about arguing and worship Me and Lord Krishna tells us not to be afraid. The Bhagavad Gita teaches me “who God is? And how to be a devotee of Lord Krishna. (Bhakta Benjamin Baker, Phoenix AZ)
May Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Srila Prabhupada bestow mercy on all of you.
For more information:
Contact
ISKCON Prison Ministry
PO Box 2676
Alachua, FL 32616
386-418-8149