08/20/98 - 2042

For Mother Bhumi's Sake

USA (VNN) - by Visoka dasa

In the first canto part 3, we read a fascinating description of weather anomalies and how the earth reacts to the departure of lord Krishna. I quote from 1st canto- "Just see how the smoke encircles the sky. It appears that the earth and mountains are throbbing. Just hear the cloudless thunder and see the bolts from the blue. The wind blows violently, blasting dust every where and creating darkness. Clouds are raining everywhere with bloody disasters rivers, tributaries, ponds, reservoirs and the mind are all perturbed. .. what is this extraordinary time? What is going to happen."

It is equally interesting to note the uncanny similarities of these first canto descriptions of wind, etc, with the unprecedented weather pattern phenomenon, and floods and disasters which we have witnessed in 1998, and is still going on. See the similarities of what is happening today- "Violent winds" (more tornadoes in US than ever, and 120 mile/hr winds in TX and Michigan, which was the jet stream coming down to the surface.) "Raining and bloody disasters" (more rain and flooding than ever, all over the world, making thousands homeless) "earth throbbing" (more earthquakes and volcano activity than ever.) Again, "what is this extraordinary time?"

The "disappearance of lord Krishna" chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam tells us how mother Bhumi reacts in separation from the supreme lord, how she goes through heavy changes, when the lord leaves. When Krishna left, at that moment the personality of Kali appeared. Inauspicious portents or signs will follow the departure of great personalities, or the departure of religious principles. There are tangible reactions to the decline of religious principles.

So, inauspicious events can happen in the departure of the principles of religion, of which truthfulness is the last leg of the cow still standing in this Kali yuga. Truthfulness is a highly valued virtue in Kali, since it is the last leg standing. Even in mundane events, the president of the USA is put to task, when he is under suspicion of lying and coverup. In the 8th canto, it states that "mother earth can tolerate all kinds of burdens, except the burden of a liar." From this we can understand the high priority of truthfulness. It is even vital to our physical well being and continuance.

We, as members of Iskcon, have the responsibility to show example of truthfulness to the rest of the world. Brahmanas are truthful, as the Gita emphatically states. If we are exposed as being shady and slip-shod and hypocrisy-ladden, then what hope is there for the rest of the world?

Srila Prabhupada has said that Iskcon will "save this planet in its darkest hour." What does this mean? Most probably it means that we will show the world the true meaning of religious principles, which culminates in love of God. But before we come to the stage of love of God, we at least need to come up to the basic principles of religion, which has truthfulness as its central focus. If we are shown to be always fighting internally and are exposed to cover-ups and general deception, then what hope is there for the world and ourselves?

The same principle is confirmed by leading prophets of our age, such as Edgar Cayce and Nostrodamus, and Gordon Micheal Scallion in our modern era. They all see a doomsday scenario in the latter years of the millennium, but they all say that the worst can be averted, if people turn to God and become more pious and loving to each other, etc.

Now of all times, is the most critical time for us to display our Brahminical and Vaisnava qualities, most of all, the virtue of truthfulness! The world, ie, Mother Bhumi is banking on us! Now, more than ever, we have got to get in tune with the divine teaching of our divine master, Srila Prabhupada, and start following his example and his commands, before it is too late! We have got to start being his true disciples and do what he told us, or else the world is going to come crumbling down, all around us. This is the stark reality of what is happening right now.

Sometimes one does not know what it will take, to get us to wake up the the realities of the disasters which loom around the corner, in order for us to get our act together. What does it take?, a nuclear war or something? Practically speaking that is what it takes. Srila Prabhupada has warned us of WW3 and how the sankirtan movement can stop the war. We've got to act on that, and at least be truthful to each other, before we can make any tangible change in the course of history. We at least have to come up to the platform of basic religious principles, or else its all going to go flushing down the tubes. How big do the letters have to get, on the "writing on the wall," before we get the big picture?

We should understand this very clearly, that we have the power to prevent the degradation of the world and the acceleration of Kali-yuga, or to "save the planet in its darkest hours" by leading the world in religious principles, mostly in the principle of truthfulness. If we fail, then what is the hope?

We can see from recent events, that many of the senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada are highly suspicious of untruthful dealings in upper management in Iskcon. They are calling meetings in FL and India, and starting to do something about it. Still, we see a great struggle ahead, just to come up to the basic platform of Srila Prabhupada's orders and desires. The prime desire of Srila Prabhupada was that "we all cooperate." But it does not seem to be happening. This is not an auspicious sign. In fact, it portents disaster to the world! If we cannot come clean with ourselves, and be honest to each other, and quit lying, even to our own personal selves, then what hope is there in this world? That is like saying that the movement is doomed to failure and all of Srila Prabhupada's work is going for naught. Do we really want to continue this trend?

To wrap this up and not go over the same points, I think the point is made, and the answer to the problem is obvious, we have just got to come up the real standard of being Brahmana Vaisnavas, and start being truthful, and kick out the untruth, and do it for Mother Bhumi's sake, as well as our own. God help us. Srila Prabhupada please help us. Most of all, let us help ourselves, as God helps those who help themselves. Let us become true devotees of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant, Visoka dasa