[Posted October 28, 2007]

Bid to Escape Punishment

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

A wanted man on the run...

New York TimesOctober 26, 2007 - DOREEN CARVAJAL

Groups Tie Rumsfeld to Torture in Complaint

PARIS, Oct. 26 — Several human rights organizations based in the United States and Europe have filed a complaint in a Paris court accusing former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld of responsibility for torture.

...The French complaint accuses Mr. Rumsfeld of authorizing torture at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and says it violated the Convention Against Torture, which came into force in 1987. go to story

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Unwanted Administrators

Out to Destroy A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

When such misuse of human energy is prominent, the saner living beings become perturbed by the awkward situation created by the vicious administrators, who are simply burdens of the earth, and the Lord appears by His internal potency just to save the saner section of humanity and to alleviate the burden due to the earthly administrators in different parts of the world. He does not favor either of the unwanted administrators, but by His potential power He creates hostility between such unwanted administrators, as the air creates fire in the forest by the friction of the bamboos. The fire in the forest takes place automatically by the force of the air, and similarly the hostility between different groups of politicians takes place by the unseen design of the Lord. The unwanted administrators, puffed up by false power and military strength, thus become engaged in fighting amongst themselves over ideological conflicts and so exhaust themselves of all powers. The history of the world reflects this factual will of the Lord, and it will continue to be enacted until the living beings are attached to the service of the Lord. more

No hiding from Krishna, the supreme witness and facilitator

excerpt from Krishna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift

People do not believe in a next life because they want to avoid botheration and punishment, but the next life cannot be avoided. It is a well known fact that we must act according to law, or we will be punished. If one commits criminal activities, the state will punish him. Sometimes, however, a criminal may escape punishment by the state, but this is not the case with God's law. One can cheat others, commit theft and hide, thereby saving himself from the punishment of the state, but one cannot save himself from the superior law, the law of nature. It is very difficult because there are many witnesses: the daylight is witness, the moonlight is witness, and Krishna is the supreme witness. Thus one cannot say, "I am committing this sin, but no one can see me." Krishna is the supreme witness sitting within the heart, and He not only notes what one is thinking and doing, but He also gives the living entity facility. If one wants to do something in order to satisfy his senses, Krishna gives all facility. This is stated in Bhagavad-gita. Sarvasya chaham hridi sannivishtah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Mattah smritir jñanam apohanam cha: [Bg. 15.15] "From Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness."

In this way Krishna gives us a chance. If we want Krishna, He will give us a chance to have Him, and if we don't want Krishna, He will give us a chance to forget Him. If we want to enjoy life forgetting Krishna, forgetting God, Krishna will give us all facility so that we can forget, but if we want to enjoy life in Krishna consciousness, Krishna will give us the chance to make progress. That is up to us. If we think that we can be happy without Krishna consciousness, Krishna does not object to that. Yathecchasi tatha kuru [Bg. 18.63]. After advising Arjuna, He simply said, "Now I have explained everything to you. Whatever you desire, you can do." Arjuna replied immediately, karishye vachanam tava: [Bg. 18.73] "Now I shall execute Your order." That is Krishna consciousness.

God does not interfere with our tiny independence. If we want to act according to the order of God, then He will help us. Even if one falls down sometimes, if one becomes sincere, thinking, "From this time I shall remain Krishna conscious and execute His orders," then Krishna will help him. In all respects, even if one falls down, he will be excused and given more intelligence. This intelligence will say, "Don't do this. Now go on with your duty." But if one wants to forget Krishna, if he wants to become happy without Krishna, the Lord will give so many chances to enable him to forget Him life after life.

Sri Guru and Gauranga