{"id":9117,"date":"2010-12-15T05:00:33","date_gmt":"2010-12-15T04:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=9117"},"modified":"2010-12-15T05:00:33","modified_gmt":"2010-12-15T04:00:33","slug":"iskcon-prison-ministry-an-hare-krsna-from-the-hindu-tribe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=9117","title":{"rendered":"ISKCON Prison Ministry An Hare Krsna from the Hindu Tribe"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Bhakti-lata dasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

The brhat mrdanga continues to resound very loudly in all the jails and prisons through IPM (ISKCON Prison Ministry) and many hear and respond to Lord Caitanya’s call, as the quotes below illustrate.<\/p>\n

Before proceeding, here are two service opportunities you may want to take up:
\n1) We are looking for devotees to visit bhakta inmates in various prisons around USA. For example, a bhakta just wrote from Coyote Ridge Correction Center in Connell, Washington, asking for a volunteer to give KC presentations. We need volunteers in every state!<\/p>\n

2) IPM desperately need a legal department to help bhaktas with their vegetarian diets or their right to practice KC. Some prisons are grossly violating inmates’ rights to practice their religion and until we have the support of attorneys, IPM can’t help in this regard. If you are an attorney and find it in your heart to give some of your time, please contact IPM.
\nThank you!<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a little nervous when everyone went around and introduced themselves by name and tribe [at a sweat lodge]. Especially when my cellie just said, \u201cI\u2019m Rick, Arizona Hopi.\u201d Luckily Sage said, \u201cMost of you know me. I\u2019m Sage, Northern Cheyenne and I want to introduce the man on my right. We call him Griff. He\u2019s Arizona Rick\u2019s cellie and my neighbor. He looks paleface by he\u2019s Hare Krishna, Hindu tribe. His people are wise and his medicine is strong. I ask that you all respect him as my guest.\u201d
\nBhakta Gary Griffin
\nSalem, OR<\/p>\n

\u201cI came into contact with Krsna Consciousness via an issue of \u201cBack to Godhead\u201d magazine that I found in a cell when I arrived in prison (I still have it!). I was very intrigued by the lessons and saw in them the thoughts that I have been having quite some time now. For instance \u201cbirth and rebirth,\u201d transcendence, etc. I have always firmly believed in what Krsna consciousness teaches. I just never knew what path to take to find it until now. I have been a Muslim since I was 17 years old, but the philosophy of Islam does not fit with my yearning to be as close to God (Krsna) as I would like.
\nI am attracted to Krsna consciousness for the following reasons:<\/p>\n

1. No eating of meat, 2. No gambling, 3. No illicit sex, 4. No intoxicants. And we get to have altars! (I love candles and incense!)
\nThe basic principle of the Hare Krsna way of life is \u201csimple living and high thinking.\u201d (pg. 342 of The Science of Self Realization) and \u201cKrsna consciousness is a serious education, not an ordinary religion. (pg. 27) and \u201cThe first thing is to understand that you are a spiritual soul. You are changing your body.\u201d (pg. 29)\u201d
\nBhakta Albert Gertman
\nBeeville, TX<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of this material hullabaloo seems important. All that\u2019s important is to try to remember Krsna at every moment and especially at the time of death. Maybe we\u2019ll be as fortunate in the end as Ajamila! I still find memorizing scriptures and prayers to be a good method of training the mind to always be on Krsna. Haribol!\u201d
\nBhakta Gerald Niles
\nDaytona Beach, FL<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been reading the Mahabharata, which has been increasing my character and virtues.\u201d
\nCarlos Parham
\nHelena, Georgia<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told to write you in order to obtain more knowledge concerning Hare Krsna. My roommate is Mark Dozier and honestly, he has been an inspiration to me concerning this subject\u2026.
\nI have up until this time studied various religions, but haven\u2019t shall we say, applied myself due to the contradictions and illogical reasoning, so to speak.
\nAfter being introduced by Mark to this movement and reading various articles in the Back to Godhead magazine by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I feel that I have found what I have been seeking. His Divine Grace wrote that \u201cYou have this human form of life. REALIZE GOD. This is responsibility. Otherwise, you are finished. Your only responsibility is to understand God\u2026.\u201d So I must now apply myself.\u201d
\nAllen C. Crane
\nValdosta, GA<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started reading Prabhupada\u2019s books my skeptical mind led me to check what he wrote about scriptures, time frames (etc). I would track down things at the library and have my daughter check on things. I never found one single erroneous fact. I no longer have a need to research what Prabhupada says. I then began offering obeisances to him prior to chanting and asking him to please accept my food as an offering to Lord Krsna.
\nWithout ever having met him physically, when I think about him, I\u2019m overcome with love and reverence. My chanting and studying are going very well.\u201d
\nGary Winters
\nRaiford, Florida<\/p>\n

“Dear Mother Shyama Priya, I received the scriptural quotes I needed and the beautiful photograph of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s murti in Los Angeles. Thank you so very much, my very dear Mother. Each of these items is so very purifying, and, yes, I very much like the picture, having put it before my eyes and chanted while looking upon His Divine Grace\u2019s wonderful form.
\nThank you for your kind words expressing your appreciation for the article within my previous correspondence. And, as for your being impressed by writing skills, I am truly humbled all the more before the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
\nAbout transcendence, I would like to tell you that the tapes you have sent have moved me to tears while listening to the sweet spiritual sounds of this music. Yes, Mother, please know that your loving devotional service is reaching me at the deepest level of my very soul. And, speaking of this, there is one tape in particular that has profoundly touched me in such a way that I could not contain the tears as they streamed down my face. This tape is entitled Ancient Hymns\u2026it has changed my life so much for the better\u2026\u201d
\nJason Matthews
\nColumbia, South Carolina<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, I\u2019ve been trying to strengthen my mind and body. I have to sharpen my mind. Without Krishna I believe the world would be lost. When I do read the books, I like to believe that they\u2019re talking to me and teaching me.\u201d
\nLarry Prickett
\nDaytona Beach, FL<\/p>\n

\u201cThis past Monday at the chapel there was just Bhakta Mike, Frank (the faithful Catholic) and myself. We heard \u201cGovinda\u201d first, then read the poem, \u201cLord, Claim me as Thy Own\u201d from Sri Brihat Bhagavatamritam. Then we enjoyed the CD reading of Bhagavad-Gita As it is, chapters 8, 9, 10 & 11. Then we had sankirtan and I recited the few prayers I\u2019ve learned, and had a splash of [read about] Radha-Kunda and distributed prasadam (Jolly Ranchers). Each time is fresh and nice, and we\u2019re always looking forward to remembering Krsna. Haribol!\u201d
\nGerald Niles
\nGraceville, Florida<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I keep Krishna on my mind daily.I choose the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through my devotional service, Krsna has revealed to me wonderful things. He has showed me the doors, or gates, to the spiritual world. I have learned and seen so much in the last 30 months.
\nI have a Srimad-Bhagavatam and I love the pastime stories of Krsna. The transcendental bliss I get from reading and chanting is indescribable. I will be waiting for the books and BTGs; I appreciate them highly.\u201d
\nFarrat Garnett
\nDelano, Georgia<\/p>\n

\u201cYou also spoke about the mind\u2019s resistance to chanting 16 rounds. I see that happening to me even in this cell alone. Nowhere to go and nothing else to do and still the mind would rather do something \u201celse\u201d. I see now the mind is like this stranger that is there. Just there. And if you don\u2019t keep an eye on him and remain vigilant against the mental projections he weaves, you will get caught up in his recklessness, chasing illusions and replaying the past like a broken record.
\nI only want to do service now. For what else is this human birth for? To chase sense pleasures? It is to help humanity grow in honesty, dignity, righteousness and God consciousness.\u201d
\nRobert Cepeda
\nMalone, New York<\/p>\n

Don’t forget to visit our website (www.iskconprisonministry.org) for more nectar quotes and also to see our book distribution reports!
\nIf you want to be notified of all new material added to the our IPM website, please send us an e-mail with \u201cSubscribe to IPM NEWS\u201d in the subject line.
\nTo help with this prison program, please contact Mukunda Dasa or Bhakti-lata Dasi at:<\/p>\n

ISKCON Prison Ministry
\nPO Box 2676
\nAlachua, FL 32616-2676
\nIskconPrisonMinistry@gmail.com
\nwww.iskconprisonministry.org
\n352-575-0298<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Bhakti-lata dasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

The brhat mrdanga continues to resound very loudly in all the jails and prisons through IPM (ISKCON Prison Ministry) and many hear and respond to Lord Caitanya’s call, as the quotes below illustrate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}