A report on a prison preaching program in Croatia, led by HH Candramauli Swami, demonstrating how spiritual knowledge and kirtan can bring true freedom even behind prison walls.
The Power of Vaishnava Dress
"Where is your tilak?" Candramauli Swami asked us as we gathered in front of the Karlovac vege restaurant club, managed by local devotees, preparing to go for a preaching program in a nearby prison. Quickly running to refresh my already invisible Vaisnava marking, I overheard Maharaja quoting Prabhupada on the importance of wearing tilak and Vaisnava clothes and remembered Sridhar Maharaja's instruction:
"If you are unable to preach by explaining philosophy, just dress as a Vaisnava and go out. You will be a walking advertisement for Krsna consciousness."
Entering the Prison
Once at the entrance, one by one we were searched by the police officers and then let into the small corridor room, which turned out to be the place for our program. Soon, inmates started to pour in, and the managers began bringing in extra chairs. They were from all walks of life – very young and innocent looking, mature and old, and very serious. Almost at the very beginning, some amongst them asked about our tilaka, and Mohan promptly explained it.
After introductory words, we distributed the Maha mantra printed on a nice card, and then Raghunath started singing while playing on the harmonium. Our audience joined in as best as they could.
After introductory words, we distributed the Maha mantra printed on a nice card, and then Raghunath started singing while playing on the harmonium. Our audience joined in as best as they could.
lecture on Spiritual Identity
During the subsequent lecture, Maharaja talked about the need to find out who we really are in order to be really happy. He asked them to participate in an experiment which they shyly accepted: when asked to point to different parts of their body, serious and even dangerous grown-up men appeared bewildered, just like children, when at the end they were to point to themselves.
When it was mentioned how Krishna is all-attractive, one young and cocky inmate filled in, "I'm also all-attractive. I'm God." Explaining peacefully to him that he might be attractive to some, but definitely not to everybody, Maharaja warned him, smiling: "Don't try to compete with Krishna. You will be the loser!"
At the end of the talk, when the inmates heard that one can be free and happy even within prison walls, they eagerly took the books we brought in. The program concluded with bhajan, questions on meditation, and an invitation to a free prasadam lunch in our nearby restaurant once they are released.
When it was mentioned how Krishna is all-attractive, one young and cocky inmate filled in, "I'm also all-attractive. I'm God." Explaining peacefully to him that he might be attractive to some, but definitely not to everybody, Maharaja warned him, smiling: "Don't try to compete with Krishna. You will be the loser!"
At the end of the talk, when the inmates heard that one can be free and happy even within prison walls, they eagerly took the books we brought in. The program concluded with bhajan, questions on meditation, and an invitation to a free prasadam lunch in our nearby restaurant once they are released.