Guest Editorial
The Devotees of Lord Krsna Are Optimistic
the activities of the Hare Krsna movement
in Australia and New Zealand.
1982. Another year passing us by with its tidings of yet more disturbances and suffering. The headlines jump out at us . . . CRISIS! FLASHPOINT! RIOT! WAR! . . . and our anxiety increases. Even if tucked away in the most insignificant, isolated place in the world, we won’t be left at peace. As the elected and unelected leaders of the world battle it out for political supremacy, innocent citizens wonder, “Will we ever have happiness and peace in our lifetime?” Millions now worry about devastations that could transform whole countries into slaughterhouses at the flick of a few switches. Antinuclear demonstrations gather momentum across the globe.
That people are actively seeking a lasting solution to these seemingly insurmountable problems is good. But the prospects of success are not. Since the two world wars, nothing seems to have come along that could stop us from having a third. In fact, the old adage “history repeats itself seems certain soon to prove itself again.
But despite all the gloom, the devotees of Lord Krsna are optimistic, unfazed. Indeed, they’re positively joyful. Why? And if they are, can others be? Yes—if people are willing to make a few simple adjustments in their lives.
History repeats itself because human behavior repeats itself. According to the Vedic literature, the natural laws of karma guarantee that every act we perform will bring us a precise reaction. If we perform good acts that help others, good results will follow. But if, for example, we maim and slaughter innocent living beings, the world will be transformed into a giant slaughterhouse for human beings also.
Changing the course of the world is not a matter of politics—moving parties in and out of power does little to change people’s lives. No. There has to be a change in consciousness—a change big enough to inspire people to give up meat-eating, intoxicants, illicit sex, and gambling, for the reactions of these are the causes of the mess we’re in today. For peace and harmony, we must replace these with a life that is spiritual and pure.
Impossible? No. And the Hare Krsna devotees are living testimony to the benefits of living purely and simply, in obedience to God’s laws. Their bright eyes and clear faces shine with the inner pleasure of bhakti-yoga, the process of attaining God through love and devotion.
To give everyone a chance to share in this joyful process, the devotees are building transcendental villages like New Varshan, which is situated in the lush New Zealand countryside in Riverhead, near Auckland.
This community of Krsna conscious families is showing how people, regardless of background, race, and religion, can live together in sweet harmony, working for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. Anyone who wishes to learn the secrets of successful, blissful life can come for a day, a week, a month, or even a lifetime.
We invite you to come and inquire about this spiritual way of life. You may even want to join us as we build this genuine positive alternative to today’s materialistic chaos. We can show the leaders of the world that the way to peace and harmony is not through diplomacy and military might but through a pure and selfless life of glorifying the real, eternal leader of all living beings, Lord Krsna, by chanting His holy names—Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—and living according to His plan.
We’d like to share with you the peace and happiness we’ve found. And you have nothing to lose but your anxieties. So please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and give us a call or visit. We know you won’t be sorry.
—Prabhupada-krpa Goswami
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