Srila Prabhupada trying to start a spiritual movement amidst the vietnam war and police brutality

1967 Vietnam War protest photos show savagery by police in Oakland.
Police in riot gear assault protesters at an peaceful anti Vietnam War demonstration.

Srila Prabhupada trying to start a spiritual movement
amidst the Vietnam war and police brutality

Dec 13 1972 letter to Balavanta

You are having difficulty with police-force, that is to be expected. This material world is so full of danger, even from our so-called “protectors.” But we have got the best Protector, Krishna, so do not worry about anything police or other envious persons. In one stroke Krishna can finish them all. But you may get some relief in this connection if you can approach very carefully some leading members of the city government, or big, big men of the town, and convince them by your words and behavior that our devotees are not in any way unworthy persons, that in fact they have left their lives of criminals to try to turn others away from being criminals, and that if simply we get a little facility we can render immense service to the cause of law and order. Like that, if you are sincere and cool-headed, they will appreciate after some time—and if only one of such big, big leaders understands the real fact, that is sufficient to stop all further cases of police attacks. But one thing is, we have not got anything to gain by “fighting the demons in the streets and courts.” No, our process of solving the matter is simple, why should we unnecessarily take botheration for fighting? Only after exhausting every possibility of peaceful solution shall we fight anyone. Just like Krishna. He did not call for fighting until after every chance for settlement failed. So we shall try to overcome our opponents by, first, our words and our behavior, and all means of friendly approach we shall attempt by sober planning, and only later, all else failing, shall we actually fight. That is our philosophy. And if we stick to these lines of politics and diplomacy as set out for us by Krishna, we shall expect always victory, without any doubt:

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo, yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir, dhruvā nītir matir mama
(B.G. XVIII, 78)

Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.

Police brutality today 2022 – riot gear and beating sticks against peaceful protesters

Sept 14 1972 letter Hamsaduta

I have read your account of the incidents of fighting with the hoodlums with great concern. After all, this world is full of darkness and controlled by the demons, so difficulties are there certainly. But if we stick to the lotus feet of Krsna, these difficulties will be over, just like a child jumps over the pit caused by the hoof of a calf. Krsna fought with so many demons so fighting is not prohibited if it is for the good cause. But one thing is, these are young boys, so actually if you approach them humbly and you yourself go to their leaders and speak to them nicely about Krsna Consciousness they will agree to leave us alone, that I think. But if you make big armed confrontation and show of strength there will be continuous fighting more and more. Better to resolve the whole situation by approaching their leaders at once and reconciling everything with them by bringing them prasadam and other nice gifts and giving them our philosophy, and if they are willing to hear it, also teach them how to chant Hare Krsna mantra. These are innocent young boys, they are simply misled, so you go to them and give them the right information and then you will have nothing more to fear from them. But if you think buying a shotgun is necessary, that is all right, we have to defend Krsna’s temple if it comes to it.

I understand that you are having one book festival in Frankfurt this month, and I think Karandhara is coming there to assist you, so try to make our display and exhibition very prominent, and if they will allow us to have kirtana or distribute prasadam, we may also do that. That is a very important occasion so try to make the best utility of it and make our books very widely distributed all over Europe and other places. Hoping this meets you in good health,

DEc 28 1974 letter Jagadish pandit
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents.

My opinion is that it is not necessary for us to utilize these different musical talents for spreading Krsna Consciousness. I would rather see people follow strictly the path of Lord Caitanya and His Sankirtana devotees. We are using mrdanga, karatala, that is enough. We are not musicians. We are Krsna bhaktas. Therefore we do not stress so much importance on these different musical talents. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself. Had He thought it would have been better to spread Krsna Consciousness by another way He would have done so. But no, simply with mrdanga and karatala, traveling and chanting Hare Krsna, asking everyone to chant Hare Krsna, preaching simply Srimad-Bhagavatam philosophy, this is the process. There is no need for us to try and add anything to this simple method. It will only be a distraction. Therefore I request you to follow the simple path of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and help me spread this wonderful mission all over the world.

Police brutality today 2022 — assault on peaceful demonstrators
riot gear, beating sticks, pepper spray, dogs and water cannons

Nov 10 1975 letter to Bahudak

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 23rd and have noted the contents. I am glad to note that you are taking out the traveling party. I hope that you have good success. Just do everything very soberly. Regarding the instruments, stringed instruments are Vedic, but the real Vedic instrument is mrdanga and karatala. Anyway, you have to do according to the time and circumstances if you use these other instruments. So you have got my approval and you can go on.

Regarding complaints by the sannyasis, these things shall be discussed in everyone’s presence at the Mayapur meeting. There is no question of change but sometimes change is invigorating.

I note that your wife has given birth to one girl child. Are all your other children also dasi’s or do you have any das’s? We want more das’s than dasi’s.

Oct 9 1968 letter

Please accept by blessings. I have received your letter without date, stating about the situation in Boston. On the statement of your letter, I can understand that it is a political situation. Of course, although everything includes in Krishna Consciousness, we do not wish to take part directly in controversial politics. We can take part in politics only which is sanctioned by Krishna. This political struggle by the students is different thing. It is reaction of the karma. Because both the opposing parties namely, the students who have taken shelter in the churches, and the government force, which is coming to arrest them, both of them are on the same category, because when there will be question of meat eating, or supporting the slaughterhouse, both of them will agree. So the present situation is reaction of man’s sinful activities. We, specially recommend to restrain from four kinds of primary sinful activities, namely, illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. But all these fighting people, they are cent per cent addicted to all these habits. So if they are serious of mitigating the unpalatable situation of the society, they must agree to accept Krishna Consciousness, otherwise, there is no possibility of peace in the world. Anyway the situation in Boston as you have described is not very much favorable for preaching our Krishna Consciousness, but if there is possibility of selling our Back To Godheads, that is very nice. You can take advantage.

So far my going to Boston, unless the students agree to hear patiently for some time, Bhagavad-gita, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, the casual lectures will not be very much beneficial. So they are not very much interested, otherwise they would have come to our classes. But I told you previously that I am prepared to go provided they pay the expenses. But I think that is also not possible. So why should you take the risk? Of getting me there and with great difficulty you shall maintain my expenses, I think it is not very much favorable, so we shall see later on what is to be done; for the time being let it be dropped.

Students’ prayers 24 hours a day to listen to the political talks and desiring the war should stop is useless. God cannot be their order supplier. First of all they act sinfully, and when there is reaction of war, pestilence, famine, and so many other nature’s disturbances, they pray to God for stopping them. This is not possible. Just like a criminal first of all commits theft, burglary and debauchery, and when he is captured, by the police force, if he prays to the government to stop, that is not possible. So they are engaged in all sinful activities, and by natures’ law, there must be reaction. I am encouraging now cow killing or animal killing, and when by nature’s law, the turn comes upon me to be killed, if I pray I want to stop it, how it can be stopped? So their process is not very genuine. They want to make God as order supplier. So God is not order supplier. He is order giver. He orders everyone to surrender unto Him, and the fools and rascals who do not surrender unto Him, they want to order God in the form of so-called prayer, that He should ask material nature to stop her legal activities. That is not possible. So the situation is not very favorable, but if somebody agrees to hear Bhagavad-gita and the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, continually for some time, even they do not pay me anything, I am prepared to go and lecture. But not to take part in some political agitation. So I was awaiting your letter if I was to go to Boston, now I shall prepare my next program. I think for going to Los Angeles. And my going to Europe is not yet fixed up.

Protesting the Vietnam War with Flowers put on Bayonets

NOTE—-this was the social climate back in the late 1960’s–the vietnam war was going on now for years, and so many people dying and nobody wanted the draft. So in this atmosphere Srila Prabhupada was trying to plant the Hare Krsna spiritual movement

It was a tough time to try and preach when everyone was fighting each other over which policy was correct. The establishment was pounding its lies and the draftable  young men (of which I was one) were trying to avoid it. And since then when has there ever been any peacetime??? So many major and minor wars have been fought since then. And the real solution? Stop disobeying God-that they will not take

Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das