A revolutionary story

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S Das [daskrish108 ]

31 August 2006 01:16 AM

daskrish108

A revolutionary story

 

 

Creating Revolution in the World's Misdirected Civilization

 

 

Hare Krishna, Prabhujis and Matajis,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Recently I heard an awe-inspiring incident from one of the devotees. There

was a very, very notorious criminal (who had two files full of criminal

records) in one of the Far Eastern countries, and the police were on the

lookout for that person. The criminal decided to hide himself in the Hare

Krishna temple. After staying in the temple for a few months, his heart was

purified and he ultimately changed to a devotee. He had his head shaven and

started distributing books to various people. Once while he was distributing

books, he was recognized by the police, and they took him to jail. Because

of the severity of his criminal acts, the government wanted to send him to

an island. (Hard-core criminals are sent to that island for the periods of

their sentences.) And to prevent prisoners escaping, the authorities give

them an injection that tranquilizes their brains, so they forget their

original identities, and they become almost like vegetables).

 

The devotees from the temple went and pleaded with the police commissioner

to release the devotee, as he had completely changed his way of life. But

the commissioner expressed his inability, because of the huge criminal

records: "The devotee has to undergo the punishment, and there is no

escaping that."

 

The prisoners in the camp were treated very badly. The police used to throw

loaves of bread on the ground, and the criminals had to fight among

themselves like dogs to get a morsel of bread. Because the temple devotees

requested a lot, the commissioner agreed not to give an injection to this

devotee, since he had changed totally.

 

The devotee was sent to the island, and after few months the commissioner

went to see the status of the criminals. To his astonishment, there was no

more throwing of bread to the prisoners. Each prisoner would get his loaf of

bread and then offer it to the Radha-Krishna deity they had made out of

sand, and then take the bread as prasadam. All the prisoners were chanting

the maha-mantra, and they were completely transformed into devotees by

associating with the criminal who had turned devotee.

 

The commissioner came back from island and informed the temple about the

developments, and he was quite happy about the transformation of character

of such notorious criminals, including the devotee criminal. In fact, he was

completely stunned by the whole episode and decided to reduce the sentence

of the devotee criminal on the island.

 

This Hare Krishna movement, as predicted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, has inundated every nook and corner of the world.

And this, of course, reminds us of our beloved Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada,

whose invaluable contribution has really created a revolution in this world

of deterioration, and reminds us of a beautiful verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam

(1.5.11):

 

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo

yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api

namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat

srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

 

"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the

transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the

unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words

directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this

world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even

though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men

who are thoroughly honest."

 

Srila Prabhupada, in his purport, explains how transcendental literature

can create a revolution:

 

"But a saint is far above the level of an ordinary man. He is always

absorbed in glorifying the Supreme Lord because by broadcasting the holy

name and fame of the Supreme Lord, the polluted atmosphere of the world will

change, and as a result of propagating the transcendental literatures like

Srimad-Bhagavatam, people will become sane in their transactions."

 

The revolution on the island was possible because the devotee (originally a

criminal) had unflinching faith in Srila Prabhupada and the holy names of

the Lord.

 

I used to wonder why, in spite of my little knowledge of the sastras, I was

not able to convince even a few people who are pious and religious to chant

the holy names of the Lord. Now I understand that the reason is the lack of

faith in Srila Prabhupada and his books. I therefore pray at the lotus feet

of Gurudeva and Lord Sri Krishna that they shower their mercy upon me by

instilling in me unflinching faith in Srila Prabhupada, which is the only

way for perfection.

 

Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

 

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva,

 

Sajjana priya Krishna Das

 

Abu Dhabi

 

 

[For clarity, the language has been slightly edited. --GS]