Without God as the center and the root of all activity, ‘solutions’ to social problems only generate further problems. “We may therefore, invent by our advancement of material knowledge all sorts of counteracting material resources, but without being guided by the Lord, all such inventions end in fiasco, however strong and stout the reactionary elements may be (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.38/purport).

When people want to know WHY many Hare Krishna monks wear the saffron color, it can be explained that the Sanskrit word for this color is kinjalka, the color of Krsna’s lower garment.

On October 16, 1972, in Vrindavana Srila Prabhupada said this: “preaching work is not easy-going. There are many difficulties. All the big, big preachers Sri Ramanujacarya. His life was attempted to be killed. Why Ramanujacarya? My guru Maharaja was attempted to be killed. Twenty-five thousand rupees were raised fund for bribing the police officer. He told me personally. The Navadvipa, Navadvip Gosais, they wanted to kill him. So preaching work is always risky.”

Thought to be enemies, science and religion are creeping closer together. For 146 years science has not produced “Darwin’s missing link.” Serious students of anthropology as well as biology students are beginning to doubt Darwin’s theory. IDT (intelligent design theory) is becoming increasingly prominent.

On one walk Srila Prabhupada said that as a small child he thought there was a ghost in a loudspeaker. In this way he was indicating that everything, including God, has a personality.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura talked of following Rupa Goswami as “our supreme desire.” In his last will and testament he writes: “All of you preach the message of Rupa Goswami and Raghunath Das Goswami with great enthusiasm. Our supreme desire is to become the dust of the lotus feet of the followers of Sri Rupa Goswami.”

While one might forgive tree cutting to make room for crops or to built shelters or provide fuel where no fallen branches big enough are available, the ‘beautiful green rolling hills’ of world were once covered with trees. Most countries have ruthlessly denuded the land of trees and some today have even passed laws forbidding the felling of certain native trees (like some redwoods in California or Kauris in New Zealand). We may have heard or read about the story in which Srila Prabhupada expressed anger at the cutting of the tree in Dallas Texas, although devotees protested vainly that the tree was falling in the gurukula building. In the 7th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The cutting of trees simply to manufacture paper for the publication of unwanted literature is the greatest sinful act.” (SB 7.2.12). Although some might use parts of the fourth canto (4.30.44-47) to justify tree cutting, on close reading, one finds that in general tree felling is looked down upon. The current practice of clear-cutting (lead ball and chain massive tree felling) and generally massive denuding of forests of their native trees — most of which are now gone — is a phenomenon, that has occurred over the last hundred years, usually on pretexts of overpopulation, need for housing, and need for furniture. However, if we look more closely at these excuses, we shall see that large corporations like International Paper, Weyerhauser, and the like, who breed and harvest pine in ‘tree farms,’ are filling huge warehouses with wood, creating needs that are thinly disguised desires, all with aim of being more profitable. Further, if we look at history we’ll find that even though there has been a population surge especially in large cities, over the past few hundred years, most dwellings were made of stone, brick and concrete (sand, gravel and water), straw, and other ‘earth materials’ which can be mined almost inexhaustibly, while trees are essential for oxygen, topsoil retention, lack of flooding, fertility, as well as human and animal health.

There is a theory that “deviant” ISKCON groups arise from insults and mental hurts rather than from philosophical differences. A Srimad Bhagavatam quote partially supports this view: “Sharp arrows which pierce one’s chest and reach the heart do not cause as much suffering as the arrows of harsh, insulting words that become lodged within the heart when spoken by uncivilized men.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.4)

Guru dasa once told that he heard Srila Prabhupada say, “He who wants fame the least, gets it the most.” Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, the renowned author of Caitanya Caritamrta, considered himself shameless. CC, Adi 8.72: “By their mercy, all these devotees ordered me to write of the last pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of their order only, although I am shameless, I have attempted to write this Caitanya-caritamrta.

Terrorism is possible because terrorists don’t see the soul. Their attitude is that all humans and other living beings may be killed indiscriminately. Some even believe in reincarnation but lack any knowledge of its purpose.