AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF CULTURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS BANGALORE

May 31, 1997

  It gives me immense pleasure to associate myself with the inauguration of the Centre for Advancement of Culture of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) here in Bangalore. This magnificent complex, a blend of tradition and modernity, is a symbol of the dedication and devotion of ISKCON to the cause of "Bhakti" and service. It is an architectural landmark. I congratulate all those who have worked tirelessly to set up this splendid edifice.

ISKCON has spread the message of Bhakti throughout the world. Over the years, the Society has provided relief and succour and has brought peace and harmony into the lives of millions of people. It has grown and flourished in many countries and continents. On the occasion of birth centenary of the founder of ISKCON, Shri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I pay my tributes to this enlightened soul. Following in the footsteps of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, with determination and devotion has propagated the message of our ethos of peace and harmony.

In today's world, there appears to be a relentless and single-minded pursuit of material wealth and prosperity. Though this has resulted in an improvement in the standards of living of people, particularly in the so-called developed western countries, the spiritual needs, requirements and aspirations are yet to be met. Material wealth has not necessarily brought happiness and peace of mind. Instead, it has been accompanied by considerable mental stress and tensions and has led to a spiral of insatiable greed and desires which remain unfulfilled. The pursuit of hedonistic pleasures with no regard to the needs of other people, specially those that are less privileged, has brought in its wake discord, discontent and disharmony.

It is in such a context that our tradition with its philosophy of love, compassion, non-violence and service has acquired new meaning, relevance and significance. The approach of Bhakti or devotion not merely to God but to all beings who belong to God and of selfless service, has been preached by our seers and saint-singers from remote antiquity.

The _Bhakti_ movement has flourished in every part of India. The songs of Alwars and teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya and Shri Madhavacarya in the south, the bhajans and dohas of Surdas, Sant Kabir and Mira Bai in the North, the abhangs of Sant Tukaram and Sant Gyaneshwar in the West, and the kirtanas of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sankaradeva, Madhavadeva in the East are still sung and recited in the millions of homes.

In Eastern India, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagated the idea of oneness of man before God. Bhakti to God manifested itself in love, compassion and service. It did not recognize any barriers of caste or creed. The repeated chanting of divine name, individually and collectively, was one of the paths to salvation. In his "Shiksha ashtak", Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sings:

namnam kari bahuda nija sarva shaktis tatra arpita niyamitah smarane na kalah (siksastaka)

(God has expressed His own name in various ways; also He has bestowed all His powers in that name.)

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisware bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

(O Lord of the earth, I do not pray for earthly desires. My only prayer is - God let my unqualified devotion be to you in all my births.)