An article we wrote

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In June 2004 here in Australia all houses were sent an information package

sponsored by the Australian Government. It was entitled, “Violence against

women, Australia says no.”

 

We were very happy that a stand was taken to uphold what is unarguably a

progressive principle in human society. We are still unhappy, however, that

despite such apparently noble attempts as this to bring sanctity to society, we

observe that the real cause for the catastrophe is still being ignored.

 

Why is it, dear reader, that although many new legislations are being enacted

globally on a daily basis, statistics reveal that the people are obeying laws

less and less?

 

On the seventh of May, 1975, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, had

a conversation with Lieutenant Mozee of the Chicago police force. The concern

of the City of Chicago was the city’s alarming rate of crime. The front page

headline in the newspaper read, “Crime, why, and what to do?”

 

It was here, to Lieutenant Mozee, that Srila Prabhupada coined this poetic

phrase: “Change habits by changing the heart.”

 

Just now we hear a voice rising from nearby “Oh here we go again, another

sentimental cry for religious adherence. Just believe and we will be saved,

isn’t it? So many people say they believe, but we find insufficient improvement

in their character, and that of the world.”

 

Such may be the doubt of any intelligent person, but why is Srila Prabhupada’s

cry for religious adherence more profound, genuinely earnest and universal? As

he taught repeatedly, changing the heart is not something whimsical, but

instead a thorough familiarisation with, and application of, pure,

non-sectarian spiritual values.

 

Here is an excerpt from the conversation with Lieutenant Mozee, just he asked

Srila Prabhupada for a practical suggestion as to what would help curb crime.

The Lieutenant said he would dutifully pass this information to his superiors

for their consideration. Srila Prabhupada replied:

 

 

Srila Prabhupada: “[The effect of chanting Hare Krishna is] Ceto darpana

marjanam, it is Sanskrit, which means cleansing the heart. Bhava maha davagni

nirvapanam, that all the troubles of the material world will be solved.

 

Lt Mozee: A very difficult task, Sir.

 

Srila Prabhupada: It is not difficult, a very simple task, to ask them: Please

come here, chant Hare Krishna, and take sumptuously prasada, spiritual food, go

home, where is the difficulty? Because we have no money, it is on a small

scale, but if the Government gives us facility we can expand, that’s all. We

have our own money and business, and we have no dearth of devotees, but the

Government is faced with this difficulty: “crime, why and what to do?” So we

are suggesting this, that because they are unclean in their heart, therefore

there is crime, and if you take this process [chanting Hare Krishna and

partaking of prasada, spiritual food] it will be successful.

 

Our own experience is that by chanting Hare Krishna and partaking of prasada,

Krishna gives us the intelligence and strength whereby we can overcome

undesirable habits. This only brings satisfaction to oneself and others. We

hope that the progressive individuals concerned with the root cause of

impropriety, ignorance and of course violence against women and all beings will

see truth in these words and, if they haven’t yet done so, be prepared to

accept the principles of self purification in their own lives.