NOTE: Readers discretion advised. I mean no offense to any culture or religion through the following writing. The thought presented here is purely personal and is not meant to offend any person, caste or religion in any manner.
Having completed fourth week in Toronto, Canada, after my return from an eventful vacation in India recently, I no longer could resist the urge to go to a place that will give me a feeling of something "Indian" in a foreign land, to curb my home sickness. The first idea that came to my mind was the Hindu temple whose ambiance could echo Indian tradition. With few of my friends, I decided to visit ISKON temple. This was ideal for the fact that I am personally a Lord Sri Krishna devotee (apparently, by mere coincidence, I am reading ‘Bhagavad-Gita’ at the moment) and it is a place that I have never visited before.
On the chilly winter of January 31, with the temperature as low as minus twelve degrees, we took the Subway train and headed to the temple, not really aware of the mixed feelings of satisfaction and disappointment that I was going to witness.
Interestingly, the temple, as it is well known for its meditation practice, had an ambiance of calmness and warmth. Historically ISKON was founded for the purpose of promoting awareness of Lord Sri Krishna and his preaching internationally, through its devotees across the globe.
Amidst exploring the temple, I mentioned to my fellow comrades that it would give a sense of satisfaction to take up voluntary work at the temple for a good cause. Coincidentally, as we were heading out, we were intercepted by a young volunteer (also a devotee) who asked us about our interest to help them distribute food for the needy and homeless, around a location which is few kilometers away from the downtown area of Toronto and reasonably populated by the poor. Taking this opportunity, we joined them with loads of food packed.
The group of volunteers consisted of Indians (which by definition in terms of geographic boundaries, included me & my friends) and few Canadians of European & Indian origins.
We reached the location around three in the evening where we unloaded the food and lined them up on the pavement for distribution. I also (surprisingly) spotted a mrudangam (musical instrument that sounds like a drum), a microphone and a battery powered speaker being set up. I curiously inquired with a fellow Canadian devotee about the need for the musicals to which she replied that we need to sing Bhajans to promote Lord Sri Krishna awareness. Well, interesting, I thought, Bhajans on the street to promote the lord, and curiously waited to witness the next show.
My disappointment with the process being adopted by the foundation began when we reached the location to kick start the event. As we setup the place, we took our respective positions for food distribution in the two lines of volunteers facing each other, one side with food packets and on the other side with volunteers taking possession of their musical instruments of expertise, a lead Canadian singer with the microphone and other background singers.
The Bhajans began with a well coordinated tune of "Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ...". The group of singers, speaker and the accompanied dance moves were sufficient to gain the attention of the passers-by.
There was a rush of many homeless and needy people, of different age groups and personalities to collect food. It was disturbing for a moment when I noticed the people with bare minimal clothing surviving in below freezing temperature; a feeling which I find difficult to explain. At the same time the sense of satisfaction which I got by extending help for a charity cause was phenomenal.
The next 45 minutes went on with these Bhajans, food distribution and dance on the streets of Toronto. It was rather funny to watch a Canadian devotee shouting “Krishnaaaaa” bending backwards, her head and arms pointing skywards. While standing in the distribution line, the winter chill made my ears, nose and toes numb to a point where I felt no sensation in them. It almost felt like I did not have them fixed to my body.
Although admiring and respecting the work being done by the foundation, all through the session, my deep thought process had kicked in thinking about what are we doing in the name of spreading Lord Sri Krishna awareness and his preaching? Isn't this a politically correct language for "the act of spreading religion"? For some reason, I could not comprehend my thoughts well at that moment. The various thoughts that were running in my mind were; are we spreading religious bias in a foreign land, with a hidden agenda of spreading Hinduism as a religion? Is this a right way of executing the vision of His Divine Sri Prabhupada who originally founded ISKON with the purpose of promoting the well-being of the society by teaching the science of Krishna consciousness, according to the Bhagavad-Gita and other ancient Vedic scriptures?
The show on the street ended with the last 5 minutes of the bhajan and dance gaining intensity and momentum, with increased tempo of the Bhajan "Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ...". The last minute went on by praising His Divine Grace Sri Prabhupada and the Bhajan changed to "Jay Prabhupada,. Prabhupada....." in the same tone as that of "Hare Krishna...".
On our way back home, I put this thought that had been running in my mind for the last 45 minutes, for discussion to my fellow comrades. I was debating on the lines of taking an introspective view on whether we are really spreading “awareness” of the purpose of the foundation. In my understanding, spreading awareness and preaching is not publicizing on the streets by singing Bhajans and attracting the crowd to market that we belong to Sri Krishna foundation or a community which follows Hinduism. This to me is merely an act of marketing religion in the name of charity. Spreading awareness and preaching’s of Lord Sri Krishna should be by helping the “interested” in understanding the Indian heritage, the Bhagavad-Gita and it's preaching’s which have abundance of knowledge in them.
It is believed that ‘His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’ was one of the most eminent Vedic scholars of modern times and a distinguished disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami in the chain of disciplic succession from Lord Krishna. He is the founder of ISKON and has also published the well acclaimed "Bhagavad-Gita as it is".
Keeping all thought processes and (others) motivations aside, I must say that it gave me an immense sense of satisfaction to be part of the charity drive of giving away food for the needy and homeless.
We later spent some time at Starbucks discussing this event and warming ourselves. It also felt good to get back the sensations on my ears, nose, and toes and to realize that they are still fixed to my body!
Good one! The people in question to whom the food etc was distributed have no other way of learning about Lord Krishna if it is not by this way.. I am not sure if they would ever come to a temple normally to hear about a speech on Sri Krishna and hinduism neither can they afford to read on those. But yes one thing I agree ( I have visited Mayapur in India , the birthplace of ISKON) and I strongly agree that there is an inclination toward "publicizing" and "marketing" ( using ur words) than any other place which also promotes to follow Sri Krishna or hinduism and the pass on of the "Hare Ram Hare Krishna ( or the methods) are getting diluted day by day. - Dola.
Its tradition,al Sanal ... In India everywhere chariot ride is there with bajans and all in street , and its again these people have spent their money to promote hindusim I dont feel there is no wrong in that , even in India all most all religions , they try to promote their religions it's same way . we feel shy / hate this activity only, because this thing is happening in foreign country .. But Im strongly accept that what ever they did that is right . "without consideration void "
Religions use different ways to spread the message, proselytizing, force, painting a colorful picture and the like. But, I don't think there is any harm in spreading the message through a harmless activity such as providing food, isn't it much better than using force? Come to think of it.
Oh wow, I didn’t know that u r Krishna’s devotee. Good to see that. Okay let me come to the point. I believe religion, philosophy and charity(Action/deeds) are like three dimensions; X, Y and Z; which describes the plane and Perspective is the Fourth dimension which defines the state of act at any certain instance,the way Time describes the fourth dimension, as per some physics laws.
I am not a religious guy and I felt it complicated to comprehend it.
Yes, the act of doing charity on the name of religion can be referred as marketing and it won’t be wrong to state that this is almost direct way to boost Hinduism How far it will be right to justify any such act which actually serves a different purpose than what its intend for is a very very interesting thought.
I have few opinions which may be considered as different dimensions; how many times we think about needy people so if occasionally we get chance and if at all it comes with the marketing of religion then it’s not a bad deal. When identity becomes larger than life, then religious identity becomes phenomenon and same applies to Lord Krishna and that’s why I believe that Lord Krishna becomes different than Hindu religion and is more expressed as philosophy and anything done in the name of phenomenon can be justified as perspective. And at last I would like to share this thought, "I added sugar in the juice and it tasted good enough so i decided to add some more and it tasted even better so i thought of adding more and consequently i started feeling the sugar crystal". “Sugar” in the above context is like a expression of any charity, if done in a humble manner without making someone awkward and with intended intention, then it always keeps the best taste but if it is overdone then the crystals of sugar can be felt same as when someone publicize his deeds.
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Good one! The people in question to whom the food etc was distributed have no other way of learning about Lord Krishna if it is not by this way.. I am not sure if they would ever come to a temple normally to hear about a speech on Sri Krishna and hinduism neither can they afford to read on those. But yes one thing I agree ( I have visited Mayapur in India , the birthplace of ISKON) and I strongly agree that there is an inclination toward "publicizing" and "marketing" ( using ur words) than any other place which also promotes to follow Sri Krishna or hinduism and the pass on of the "Hare Ram Hare Krishna ( or the methods) are getting diluted day by day. - Dola.
ReplyDeleteIts tradition,al Sanal ... In India everywhere chariot ride is there with bajans and all in street , and its again these people have spent their money to promote hindusim I dont feel there is no wrong in that , even in India all most all religions , they try to promote their religions it's same way . we feel shy / hate this activity only, because this thing is happening in foreign country .. But Im strongly accept that what ever they did that is right . "without consideration void "
ReplyDeleteDistributing food was fine, i wonder why nobody thought of distributing warm clothing, considering it was very very cold.
ReplyDeleteReligions use different ways to spread the message, proselytizing, force, painting a colorful picture and the like. But, I don't think there is any harm in spreading the message through a harmless activity such as providing food, isn't it much better than using force? Come to think of it.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I didn’t know that u r Krishna’s devotee. Good to see that. Okay let me come to the point. I believe religion, philosophy and charity(Action/deeds) are like three dimensions; X, Y and Z; which describes the plane and Perspective is the Fourth dimension which defines the state of act at any certain instance,the way Time describes the fourth dimension, as per some physics laws.
ReplyDeleteI am not a religious guy and I felt it complicated to comprehend it.
Yes, the act of doing charity on the name of religion can be referred as marketing and it won’t be wrong to state that this is almost direct way to boost Hinduism
How far it will be right to justify any such act which actually serves a different purpose than what its intend for is a very very interesting thought.
I have few opinions which may be considered as different dimensions; how many times we think about needy people so if occasionally we get chance and if at all it comes with the marketing of religion then it’s not a bad deal.
When identity becomes larger than life, then religious identity becomes phenomenon and same applies to Lord Krishna and that’s why I believe that Lord Krishna becomes different than Hindu religion and is more expressed as philosophy and anything done in the name of phenomenon can be justified as perspective.
And at last I would like to share this thought, "I added sugar in the juice and it tasted good enough so i decided to add some more and it tasted even better so i thought of adding more and consequently i started feeling the sugar crystal". “Sugar” in the above context is like a expression of any charity, if done in a humble manner without making someone awkward and with intended intention, then it always keeps the best taste but if it is overdone then the crystals of sugar can be felt same as when someone publicize his deeds.
At last it’s just an opinion.