ISKCON Baroda organizes earthquake relief prasad distribution...

[Guest guest]

>On the other hand if thousands and thousands of people are starving and

>suffering from acute agony and pain because they have wounds and there is

>not enough water and not enough to eat and not enough medical help etc. etc.

>people in general might think it is heartless to just stand by the side and

>sing.

 

What an excellent point. We may feel like we're engaging in a highet form

of relief work by chanting to the victims. However, as anyone who has even

a tiny bit of knowledge about public relations and advertising knows, the

key is to meet others where *they're* at and to meet their needs as

perceived *by them*. You're unlikely to win converts to any product, by

simply telling people that you know better than they do what they need. On

the other hand, if you provide water, first aid, food or whatever the

victims are asking for, you're likely to be seen as friendly, helpful and

sensitive, and people will remember that for a long time, and thinking

fondly of the devotees. It's more likely that they will be interested in

hearing your preaching later if they don't remember you as "the person who

just stood by singing while we bled and starved".

 

Your story about Palme was very instructive. I remember those days when

noone read papers or listened to the news. However, that night, you must

have been the only people in all of Sweden who didn't know about the

murder. It was one of the biggest news events of that century.

 

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi