October | 2024 | The Hare Krishna Movement

Tyranny and Tyrannical Rule

31 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Robert Reich, Tyranny Tags: American democracy, constitution, freedom, government, history, political season, Politics, Robert Reich, The Hare Krishna Movement, tryannical rule, Tyranny

With all the political discussion going on this election year, I have been paying attention to some of the language. There are some words being used that I think I know, you know, words, we heard before, think we understand, but never actually took the time to look up in dictionary. Words like tyrant, autocracy, totalitarianism, liberality, etc. So this morning I took some time to look up the definition of some of these words. I began with the word “Tyranny”.

Dictionary definition

tyr-ran-ny

noun: tyranny; plural noun: tyrannies

cruel and oppressive government or rule.

Similar:

absolutism, absolute power, autocracy, dictatorship, undemocratic rule, reign of terror, totalitarianism, Fascism, oppression, suppression, repression, subjugation, enslavement, authoritarianism, high-handedness, imperiousness, bullying, harshness, strictness, severity, cruelty, brutality, ruthlessness, injustice.

Opposite:

democracy, liberality

Simple definition: a government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler. 2. : harsh, cruel, and severe government or conduct. 3. : a tyrannical act.

Month of Kartika

19 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Damodara, Kartika, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna, Krsna Book Tags: Damodara, hinduism, India, Kartika, Krishna, lord-domodara, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, spirituality, Sri Damodarastaka, Sri Satyavrata Muni, travel

A few days ago on the full moon (purnima) we started the month of Kartika, or as I like to say, the month of Damodara. As always during this month, we sing the Damodara prayers (Sri Damodararastaka) daily and light a candle to offer. It is also a good time to read from the KRSNA Book and just delight in the childhood pastimes of Lord Krishna.

Included below are the lyrics and translations from the original “Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas” song book.

The Prabhupada Revolution

11 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Padmapani das, Prabhupada Connection Tags: Bhagavad-gita, Hare Krishna, Krishna, mantra-rock-concert, Padmapani das, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, the prabhupada connection

(Mantra Rock Dance poster, Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, 1967)

The Prabhupada Revolution

by Padmapani Das

For many of us who came of age in the Sixties and Seventies, the counterculture and its promise of an alternative society based on love and peace was an important part of our lives. Art, music, poetry, philosophy, ecology and human rights were just a few of the buzzwords floating around the collective psyche of the Sixties generation. Revolution was in the air. “The establishment” was doomed and soon to be replaced with a kinder, gentler society. Peace would reign supreme and all peoples of the world would unite and be free from the chains of oppression. Or so we thought.

Truthfulness (satyam)

08 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Politics, truthfulness Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Bhagavad-gita, faith, God, Krishna, Krsna, philosophy, satyam, Srila Prabhupada, truth, truthfulness, Vedas

There has been so much misinformation lately, on the news networks, on social media, in politics, etc. about election results, relief funds for hurricane victims, eating pets in Springfield Ohio, etc., that it got me thinking about truthfulness. The English definition is simply: the quality of being honest and not containing or telling any lies. However according to the Vedic definition which goes a little deeper: Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented as they are for the benefit of others.

Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented as they are for the benefit of others. Facts should not be misrepresented. According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in a straight and forward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth. (from purport Bhagavada-gita 10. 4-5)