Life Comes From Life - A.C. Bhaktivendanta

Once upon a time (as in a fairy tale), most of us believed that the food we ate was basically wholesome, nutritious and free from dangerous chemicals, that advertising may have been believable, and that product labels truly described the qualities and contents of what we fed ourselves and our families. Once upon a time, most of the world believed in the integrity of our heads of state, high-ranking political officials and local leaders. Once upon a time, we thought our children were getting a solid education in the public school system. Once upon a time, many of us believed atomic energy had "peacetime uses" that were perfectly safe and completely congruous with a happy and healthy society.
Yet in recent times our illusions have been shattered. Repeated exposes of widespread consumer fraud and grand political collusion and bribery have all but destroyed our former innocence. We now know that through mass marketing and the media, a veil of fantasy and deception can be created with such unprecedented expertise that it can become impossible for us to distinguish between substance and simulation, reality and illusion.
Today many scientists are propagating the doctrine that life originates from matter. However, they cannot provide proof, either experimentally or theoretically. In fact, they hold their stance essentially on faith, in the face of all sorts of scientific objections. Srila Prabhuda points out that this groundless dogma has done great damage to moral and spiritual standards worldwide and has thus caused incalculable suffering.
Though beset by internal doubt and division, modern scientists have somehow managed to present a united front to the nonscientific public. Their behavior brings to mind the worst in political and corporate trickery. For instance, despite the recent outcry over their masking the difficulties of maintaining safety standards at nuclear power plants, the scientists and the government remain committed to nuclear power and even make light of the fact that there is no safe way of dealing with radioactive waste.
In popular works and in textbooks scientists present their account of the material origin of life as the only possible scientific conclusion. They claim that no other theory can be scientifically acceptable. And so everyone is taught that life gradually arose from chemicals, a "primordial soup" consisting of amino acids, proteins and other essential ingredients. Yet in their journals and private discussions, the same scientists acknowledge that their theory has grave, sometimes insuperable difficulties. For example, certain features of the DNA coding mechanism cast serious doubt upon the substance of evolutionary thought. The noted biologist W. H. Thorpe writes, "Thus we may be faced with a possibility that the origin of life, like the origin of the universe, becomes an impenetrable barrier to science and a block which resists all attempts to reduce biology to chemistry and physics." The highly committed evolutionist Jacques Monod has pointed out these same difficulties. Theodisius Dobzhansky, another prominent advocate of evolution, can only agree: "Our scientific knowledge is, of course, quite insufficient to give anything like satisfactory accounts of these transitions [from no life to life, from no mind to mind]. Biologists as basically different in their... views as W. H. Thorpe and Jacques Monod agree that the origin of life is a difficult and thus far intractable and unsolved problem. I concur." Dobzhansky goes on to call the origin of life "miraculous." These admissions by Dobzhansky, Monod and Thorpe are by no means unique. Yet in popular presentations and textbooks one finds little hint of such widespread doubt.
Nobel prize-winning physicist Eugene Wigner has shown that the probability of the existence of a self-duplicating unit is zero. Since the ability to reproduce is one of the fundamental characteristics of all living organisms, Wigner concludes that our present understanding of physics and chemistry does not enable us to explain the phenomenon of life. Herbert Yockey has demonstrated by information theory that even a single informational molecule such as cytochrome c (what to speak of complex organisms) could not have arisen by chance in the estimated lifetime of the earth: "One must conclude that, contrary to the established and current wisdom, a scenario describing the genesis of life on earth by chance and natural causes which can be accepted on the basis of fact and not faith has not yet been written."
As we can see, on the one hand many scientists have a deep personal commitment to the concept that life comes from matter. On the other hand they admit that they do not have the evidence to corroborate their conviction, and that their theory is beset with intractable problems. They are convinced that life arose from matter and is reducible to matter, yet at the same time they must confess to having scant scientific grounds for their conviction. Thus their theory is a priori: it supersedes the scientific method and science itself. Their fervent, almost messianic hope is that someday, somehow, someone may be able to validate it, and in the meantime their faith is unshakable.
Dazzling technological achievements have given modern scientists an aura of infallibility, and so when the scientists present untested or unprovable theories about life's origin, people tend to accept with blind faith. In Passages About Earth William Irwin Thompson writes, "Just as once there was no appeal from the power of the churches without risking damnation, so now there is no appeal from the power of science without risking a charge of irrationality or insanity." And as botanist Garrett Hardin notes, anyone who questions the status of Darwin "inevitably attracts the speculative psychiatric eye to himself."

Special soul!

I gave this special soul, Charles a book during this year's 2006 Srila Prabhupada December Book Distribution Marathon at Fashion Valley Mall. Just a month ago, by the mercy of Guru and Gauranga, I met him again at Fashion Valley Mall. I met him again downtown yesterday -he took another book!! Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

We have to give them the right books - Srila Prabhupada's books

So many people love reading books - we have to give them the right books, Srila Prabhupada's books!

Spiritual Warrior in East and Central Africa

In 2004, I was most fortunate to be part of a travelling party, headed by His Holiness, Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj for a pioneering book distribution mission to Central Africa - Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I landed in Nairobi, after a month marathon in Pretoria, distributing books to collect for my ticket. I stayed at the Nairobi Temple for a week, then to Mombasa on the East Coast of Kenya, distributing books there. I then went back to Nairobi for a few days and travelled to meet Maharaj in before he arrived in Kampala, and distributed books there till we left 2 weeks later, to begin our transcendental journey to Central Africa.

Maharaj had been donated 7 tons of French books, which for years had been in storage at the Swiss BBT. The books had originaly come from France, and for a long time they had been unable to distribute them in that country. Maharaj had a strong desire to do something special for SrilaPrabhupada. As an offering of love To Srila Prabhupada, Maharaj used the oppertunity to distribute them in 2 French speaking countries in Central Africa, that had not yet had SrilaPrabhupada's books distributed there.

The following has been taken from my dairy - all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Yesterday, Tusta Gaura, Kesava and myself went out to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books along one of the busy main avenues here in Kampala, which abounds with so many shops along it. Today was a very special day, at least 4 Muslims took Srila Prabhupada's books for me, this for me is the mercy of Haridas Thakur. Please allow me to describe the glories of the mercy of Haridas Thakur: The shop I went into I cannot remember exactly what it sold, but it was a very bare shop with not many goods for sale. It had a very high ceiling; it was almost as though it were some vast cathedral, as I spoke my voice echoed like I was in a cave. Standing behind the counter was an elderly lady and gentleman, whom at first sight looked as though they were Indian (there are so many Indians both born in Uganda and coming from India in Kampala). I introduced myself - she greeted me with a smile. I began to tell them about Srila Prabhupada's books and showed them to them. The lady said, "Thank you very much for showing me these books, I respect them, but I am a Muslim." I told her that yes, although she was a Muslim, her first position was that of servant of the Almighty. I began to tell her that we are not the body, but that we are the soul, the soul is the eternal servant of the Almighty who is the Creator of everybody and everything in creation. She nodded her head, looked at her husband who agreed. I spoke in a loud voice which echoed like some amplifier and said, "We must remove the false misidentification of the temporary material body and call upon the name of the Almighty, Allah Akbar (God is great, there is no one greater than Him), then there will be no more wars in the name of religion, the result is that we will come to understand that there is only one religion, there is only one God and that real religion, is the religion of the soul and God." She told me that was so true, she had been living in Uganda during the reign of the dictator Idi Amin and she had witnessed the bloodshed and slaughter of such a godless dictator who did not know about God or the soul. I asked her if she would like to take Srila Prabhuapada's books - she went around to the back of the shelf, I could hear her husband saying how much she must give. She gave me a green envelope and handed to me, I in turn gave her the book. She told me no it was alright that I should take the donation, that I need not worry to give her the book, a small On The Way To Krsna. No I told her, she should take the book, as I could not take what she had given me without giving her something in return - she took the book and thanked me. I put my hands together and chanted, " Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Hare. Today you have blessed me by your humility and kindness upon me, I can see that you are both sincerely walking in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon His name, may Allah bless you and your household, may you dwell in His house forever, inshala amen!" I took both hands of her husband and put them on my on my forehead and said, "Thank you for blessing me," - tears started to come to his eyes and his wife. As I was to say goodbye I said: "There is one great saint, His name is Haridas Thakur, he is constantly calling upon the name of the Allmight almost 24 hours a day, say Haridas Thakur ki jay," they both repeated, Haridas Thakur ki jay! and smiled."

Today was a particularly slow day, for starters, the sun was blazing hot (Kampala is right on the equator), for about an hour or so I had only distributed about three of Srila Prabhupada's books. I went into one small shop selling sports goods and introduced myself to a young Indian man, the owner of the shop. I asked him if he was from Kampala, no he was originally from Punjab in India. I noticed on his wrist he had a silver band, the kind that the Sikhs. I pointed to the solver wrist band, "Oh I see you are a katriya, you are a warrior?" He nodded and said yes he was. I showed him Srila Prabhupada's books which he looked at with great interest. I told him the books were not about religion, religion tells you what to do. I told him, "These books tell you who you are and how to find out for yourself."

"Can you tell me my future, I have always wanted someone to tell me." I asked him to show me his hand and pointed to the palm of his hand, "You see that, yes I will tell you what your future is." I took a book out of my book trolley and put a Teaching's Of Lord Caitanya in front of him on the counter, "This is your future; this book is about Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, do you know who He is? (he nodded his head If you read this book, study it, eat, put it in your heart, follow it's teachings and principles and apply it in your daily life, your future is that you will go back to Vaikuntha loka and be eternally with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you will never have to come back to this temporary material world, ( I pointed outside the door and said that was not our real home) which is full of miseries, but go back home, back to Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahprabhu ki jay, Gauranga!" He opened up the cash drawer and gave me a note, 20,000 Ugandan shillings. I asked him to put up his hands, as he did so I said repeat after me: "Jay Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Nityanada Sri Advaitada Gadadhara Srivas Gaura Bhakta Vrnda!" He looked at me with wide eyes, I started chanting and dancing and took his hands as he danced with me as we both laughed. I told him that he must have been a devotee in his last life. "You see, all your life you have been waiting for someone to tell your future, now you know your future, it is in the book I have given you, the seed has been planted in your heart, your material life is over, you are on your way back to the spiritual sky!" I embraced him and whispered in his ears, "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Hare Hare," he reapted: "Jay Sri Krsna!" The future to our eternal existence is in Srila Prabhupada's, each and every page we read is a step, back home, back to Godhead - Srila Prabhupada saviour of the whole world ki jay!

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, this transcendental journey together with his Holiness Mahavishnu Swami, that glorious spiritual warrior to distribute Srila Prabhupada's French books to East and Central Africa is about to begin - we are asking for your blessings upon us, so that we may please Srila Prabhupada in this pioneering effort in his book distribution mission. This is our offering to Srila Prabhupada's 108th Appearance day this year. We loaded up Srila Prabhupada's books here in Kampala last Saturday where they have been stored in a warehouse, the documentation and transportation of the books has been finalized, and just like Srila Prabhupada, the greatest book distributor, they are ready to travel and to be distributed in every town and village, so that those who take them, may always remember Krsna and never forget Him! Srila Prabhupada saviour of the whole world ki jay!

His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami arrived here in Kampala last Friday – how glorious it is to have the association of Maharaj, everyday is like a festival with him, his mission is to chant and glorify the holy name of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This past Sunday we all went to the weekly farm program at the village called Seeta – it is about half an hours drive outside of Kampala. ISKCON Kampala has a farm there with 5 cows, very fertile land, a very nice sweet well water, and a small school. The village is mostly agricultural one growing maize, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes and a variety of local green herbs. It is a very peaceful village; wherever one goes everyone greets you with: “Hare Krsna!” The village is almost as if one were in India. Maharaj led the harinam through the village, as children, mothers, fathers and aunts came out of their houses to greet us and to invite us to chant in front of the houses. After the hainam, we went to the small little temple room for more ecstatic chanting and Maharaj gave a close through an interpretation by a local devotee into the Luganda languadge, after which everybody feast on a sumptuous Ugandan feast of matoke, green bananas steamed in banana leaves served with beans and vegetables. All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s holy name and the glories of his sankirtan mission here in East Africa.

This Monday afternoon, Mahvishnu Swami Maharaj, bhakta Kesava and mother Vivian and another local African lady, we went out to the main street here in Kampala – Maharaj and Kesava led a harinam, while I stopped and talked to many people who stopped by the harinam. I then introduced myself to them, and told them what we were doing was chanting the holy names of God to inaugurate the start of the mission to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books for the first time in Central Africa. We handed out flyers to everyone and invited them to ISKCON Kampala and our restaurant that has just recently opened. I was to speak to one man whom I saw the other day outside a bakery near the temple. “Oh yes, I remember seeing you,” he said. I joked with him and said that we had better stop meeting like that – he laughed and shook my hand. I showed him Srila Prabhupada’s books, which he looked at with great interest. I asked him if he was a creative person, as I felt something like a creative energy coming from him. He said, he was a musician. I told him that music plays a very important part in our lives, that it can bring people together and can also heal, not only that but music also plays a very important role in attaining higher consciousness, in the form of transcendental sound vibrations. I asked him what he did, he told me that he was a rap artists, “Oh we have CD out by a group of young boys, who here in Kenya who before were street kids, called Little Gokool who do rap music which deals with the anxiety of the temporary material nature causes and the real message of aids education y way of higher knowledge.” He asked if I had a copy, no I said and gave him a flyer to the center address – he would certainly come by and get a copy. He took 3 of Srila Prabhupada’s books and gave me a nice donation. I thanked him and I told him that I looked forward to meeting him again. Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

Our trip starts some time next week – we are waiting for one nice sankirtan devotee from Italy who will arrive in Kampala tonight. We 3 Maharaj, myself and the devotee from Italy will all be sharing the same room together - Maharaj says it will be like mazoonga (a name for a foreigner) loka! So Im am very much in anxiety to begin with Maharaj this new pioneering mission to East and Central Africa. I am constantly meditating on dear Srila Prabhupada so that for his pleasure we may please him more in his book distribution mission.

All glories to Lord Sri Nitayanada, whom Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered to preach the glories of His sankirtan mission in every town and village, this is all due to the mercy of the Pancattava who broke open the storehouse of love of God – Sri Sri Gaur Nitai ki jay!

Please pray for us, we are depending on your mercy so that we may distribute as many of Srila Prabhupada’s books as possible.

His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami arrived here in Kampala last Friday – how glorious it is to have the association of Maharaj, everyday is like a festival with him, his mission is to chant and glorify the holy name of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This past Sunday we all went to the weekly farm program at the village called Seeta – it is about half an hours drive outside of Kampala. ISKCON Kampala has a farm there with 5 cows, very fertile land, and very nice sweet well water, and a small school. The village is mostly agricultural, growing maize, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes and a variety of local green herbs. It is a very peaceful village; wherever one goes everyone greets you with: “Hare Krsna!” The village is almost as if one were in India. Maharaj led the harinam through the village, as children, mothers, fathers and aunts came out of their houses to greet us and to invite us to chant in front of the houses. After the hainam, we went to the small little temple room for more ecstatic chanting and Maharaj gave a close through an interpretation by a local devotee into the Luganda languadge, after which everybody feast on a sumptuous Ugandan feast of matoke, green bananas steamed in banana leaves served with beans and vegetables. All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s holy name and the glories of his sankirtan mission here in East Africa.

This Monday afternoon, Mahvishnu Swami Maharaj, bhakta Kesava and mother Vivian and another local African lady, we went out to the main street here in Kampala – Maharaj and Kesava led a harinam, while I stopped and talked to many people who stopped by the harinam. I then introduced myself to them, and told them what we were doing was chanting the holy names of God to inaugurate the start of the mission to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books for the first time in Central Africa. We handed out flyers to everyone and invited them to ISKCON Kampala and our restaurant that has just recently opened. I was to speak to one man whom I saw the other day outside a bakery near the temple. “Oh yes, I remember seeing you,” he said. I joked with him and said that we had better stop meeting like that – he laughed and shook my hand. I showed him Srila Prabhupada’s books, which he looked at with great interest. I asked him if he was a creative person, as I felt something like a creative energy coming from him. He was a musician he said. I told him that music plays a very important part in our lives, that it can bring people together and can also heal, not only that but music also plays a very important role in attaining higher consciousness, in the form of transcendental sound vibrations. I asked him what he did, he told me that he was a rap artists, “Oh we have CD out by a group of young boys, who here in Kenya who before were street kids, called Little Gokool who do rap music which deals with the anxiety of the temporary material nature causes and the real message of aids education y way of higher knowledge.” He asked if I had a copy, no I said and gave him a flyer to the center address – he would certainly come by and get a copy. He took 3 of Srila Prabhupada’s books and gave me a nice donation. I thanked him and I told him that I looked forward to meeting him again. Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

Our trip will begin some time next week – we are waiting for one nice sankirtan devotee from Italy who will arrive in Kampala tonight. We 3 Maharaj, myself and the devotee from Italy will all be sharing the same room together - Maharaj says it will be like mazoonga (a name for foreigners) loka! So I’m very much in anxiety to begin with Maharaj this new pioneering mission to East and Central Africa. I am constantly meditating on dear Srila Prabhupada so that for his pleasure we may please him more in his book distribution mission.

All glories to Lord Sri Nitayanada, whom Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered to preach the glories of His sankirtan mission in every town and village, this is all due to the mercy of the Pancattava who broke open the storehouse of love of God – Sri Sri Gaur Nitai ki jay!

Last Friday I went out to a local shopping center here in Kampala to distribute books. I was to meet so many nice people who took Srila Prabhupada's books from. I remember one man was coming out of a restaurant. I introduced myself to him and showed him Srila Prabhupada's books. He told me that he was from Cairo - he took a book from me and gave me a nice donation. Even one Indian gentleman was coming out of the shopping center - I gave him a book he said that he did not have any money, but said I should come with him to his shop which he took me to and gave me a nice donation. I met 2 young boys from SA whose parents are teaching in Kampala. I asked them if there was much to do in the city for young people compared to SA - NO it was very boring they said. "Well here, here is something for you to do, it will keep you busy, you will not be bored anymore," I gave him a Chant and Be Happy and he gave me a nice donation. Then there was one Muslim man, and owner of a toy shop who took an SSR for me and gave me 10 000 Ugandan shillings. I said to him, "There is one great Muslim saint, his name is Haridas Thakur, he is always calling on the name of the Almighty constantly, can you say Haridas Thakur ki jay." He replied with as smile on his face, "Haridas Thakur Ki jay!" Then there was a young lady working for the UN who took a book from me. "That's great that you are working for the UN, you should take this book, it has the perfect peace formula in in it," I gave her a Chant And Be Happy which she said she was glad to have and said to me: "Do you take Ugandan shillings?" I told her of course I did, whatever money she gave me I would gladly accept it and gave me a nice donation of Ush 10 000. I am so pleased to have this good fortune to share the mercy of dear Srila Prabhupada - I am trying to always remember you in my heart Maharaj as I distribute Srila Prabhupada's books.

Last Friday I started down one of the main streets to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books - believe me when I tell you, it's a big place. Also on the old part of town there are so many small shops with many Indian owners, you will never be able to finish them in this lifetime. I will go out on Monday there. Yesterday I went to a new Chekers Shoprite store, it was not busy as they have not completed it. I walked along the road next to shopping center and came to the Lugogo show grounds, where there are a lot of small businesses. I saw one man coming out of his car. I introduced myself to him - he told me that he was from the US and the art gallery he is in partnership with another young Ugandan. He took 3 books from me and asked if I would like to come to the gallery, as each Thursday they have a get together of young artists, poets and musicians. I told him that I was sure whether I could come and told him I would try. Bal Nitai went out armed to the teeth with a couple of books, prsaadam, Little Gokool CD's and a Bhagavad-Gita. When we got there we noticed that outside the gallery there were lamps on the grass, above was a spherical hollow ball inside which was inside was burning. Robert the man who asked me to come said that he was glad to see us and introduced to some of the artists ect. I asked him what the burning sphere was, was it a work of art I asked, “Oh yes, it's called Burning Moon, would you like to put a log in the Burning Moon?" He went and opened the boot of his car and gave me a log, which I put into the Burning Moon. Bal Nitai and I continued talking to Robert as he introduced to some more of his artist friends. We started talking about art and its relationship to music and the importance of sound vibration in particular transcendental sound vibration. Bal Nitai mentioned that we would like to give him a CD, Little Gokool. We explained that on it were street children and aids orphans who were now through their music educating the masses of people in general about the real importance of aids education and the solution to be found through higher knowledge. Robert looked at the CD and said to his friend, "Wow, this really looks interesting, how much I should give you for the CD?" I gave him a Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and told him that he could give whatever he liked. I asked him what his wife did in Uganda - he told be that show was working for the State Department of aids education and development in Uganda. I told him that was great, "Hey how about we get the whole of Little Gokool to come here to Uganda, you could have a music festival which to could tie in with aids education and art?" I said. He became very enlivened and said to his freind that would be a great idea. So by the mercy of Guru and Krsna, Little Gokool and prabhupada's books will be having a festival here in Kampala soon. Srila Prabhupada ki jay! This morning distributing Srila Prabhupada's books downtown, I saw this very tall gentleman aproaching - he had an enormous smile on his face as I looked at him. I introduced myself to him and Srila Prabhupada's books. "What nice books these are, yes certainly I will take one," and took a Journey of Self discovery. I asked him was he from Kampala, yes he had been living there since he had retired. I asked him what he did before he retired - he told me that he was the ambassador of Germany to Uganda, by reading Srila Prabhupada's books he will become the ambassador to the spiritual world!

Mahavishnu Swami will arrive here in Kampla tomorrow night - by the mercy of Guru and Krsna, the transcendental journey will begin, Hare Krsna!

Thursday I went out to a local shopping center to distribute books. I was to meet so many nice people who took Srila Prabhupada's books from. I remember one man was coming out of a restaurant. I introduced myself to him and showed him Srila Prabhupada's books. He told me that he was from Cairo - he took a book from me and gave me a nice donation. Even one Indian gentleman was coming out of the shopping center - I gave him a book he said that he did not have any money, but said I should come with him to his shop which he took me to and gave me a nice donation. I met 2 young boys from SA who’s parents are teaching in Kampala. I asked them if there was much to do in the city for young people compared to SA - NO it was very boring they said. "Well here, here is something for you to do that will keep you busy, you will not be bored anymore," I gave him a Chant and Be Happy and he gave me a nice donation. Then there was one Muslim man, and owner of a toy shop who took an SSR for me and gave me 10 000 Ugandan shillings. I said to him, "There is one great Muslim saint, his name is Haridas Thakur, he is always calling on the name of the Almighty constantly, can you say Haridas Thakur ki jay." He replied with as smile on his face, "Haridas Thakur Ki jay!" Then there was a young lady working for the UN who took a book from me. "That's great that you are working for the UN, you should take this book, it has the perfect peace formula in in it," I gave her a Chant And Be Happy which she said she was glad to have and said to me: "Do you take Ugandan shillings?" I told her of course I did, whatever money she gave me I would gladly accedpt it and gave me a nice donation of Ush 10 000. I am so pleased to have this good fortune to share the mercy of dear Srila Prabhupada.