IPM Newsletter January - March 2008

From the Editor

Here comes our third year of the Freeddom Newsletter. So many great things are happening inside of prisons to spread Krishna consciousness. With the conviction and inspiration of devotees like Chandra Prabhu, which he demonstrates in his article, IPM is sure to continue to spread Lord Caintanya’s mercy throughout jails around the world.

Announcements

• By the mercy of Amala Gaura Prabhu in Washington D.C. and Phanisvara Prabhu in Mayapur, we have launched an IPM website, www.iskconpm.com, with stories of all the prison preaching activities around the world, plus inmate artwork, essays, and poems. All newsletters are being posted and can be downloaded; also our All Purpose Declaration. Our monthly expenses are there and we accept donations via Pay Pal. Please take a look at the site and contact any of the volunteers with suggestions or comments.
• Two inmate devotees have made book requests:
  • Srimad Bhagavatam, the one volume edition printed many years ago, and
  • Srimad Bhagavatam, the compact edition of Cantos 1 thru 10.

If you have the ability to donate these or know where they can be purchased at a reasonable price, please contact Bhakta Jerry at bhaktajerry@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Thanks to our Donors

IPM would like to express our most gracious appreciation for the donations from the following persons:

• Bhakta David Ehler, $400;
• Amala Gaura Prabhu, $302;
• Linda, Radha & Mickey, $151;
• Bhakta Bob, $150;
• Bhakta Randy and Krpamayee, $41;
• Bhakta Scott, 100 stamps & books;
• Inmate Patel Jayprakash Dahyabhai, $25;
• Thomas Nicholson, $15;

Letters

Dear Bhakta Jerry,

…I must say ISKCON Prison Ministries is the most sincere ministry I have ever come across in all my soul seeking. It is one big family with one helping the other through life. I know I have found my place in this life… When I first asked ISKCON for help you all explained and showed me why I should not eat meat and I have stopped eating meat… Well, I thank you again and may Krishna bless ISKCON always.

Sincerely, Bhakta Joseph

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Krishna's Lotus Feet

Hare Krishna Everyone!

Here comes our third year of the Freeddom Newsletter. So many great things are happening inside of prisons to spread Krishna consciousness. With the conviction and inspiration of devotees like Chandra Prabhu, which he demonstrates in his article, IPM is sure to continue to spread Lord Caintanya’s mercy throughout jails around the world.

Despite of all the difficulties we face we must continue to practice our dharma. In the previous article Srila Prabhupada clearly explains what dharma and our real occupation in this world are.

Thank you everyone for your inspiration. Please keep in touch about your realizations in Krishna consciousness.

Your servant,
Bhakta Jerry 

What is Dharma?

by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The material existence of the living being is a diseased condition of actual life. Actual life is spiritual existence, or brahma-bhuta (SB 4.30.20) existence where life is eternal, blissful, and full of knowledge. Material existence is temporary, illusory, and full of miseries. There is no hap- piness at all. There is just the futile attempt to get rid of the miseries, and temporary cessa- tion of misery is falsely called happiness. Therefore, the path of progressive material enjoyment which is temporary, miserable, and illusory, is inferior.

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Why Save Inmates?

by Chandrasekar das

“The benediction moon of the mercy of Sri Caitanyacandra shone only in the courtyards of the professional brahmanas proficient in various rituals, and the prominent and wealthy vaisyas who were as laden with Laksmi as the beehives overflowing with honey in Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Sri Gaura Hari and his brother Sri Nityananda Rama never chanted the holy names amongst the contaminated masses which included prisoners of state, students, women, the low born, sudras, simple villagers, the forlorn, distressed, and unsophisticated.”

—from Swami Bogananda’s Bogus Caitanya Upanisad.

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Jail Promises to Serve Prasadam to Prisoners

On 25 October, the day before Kartika started, we again went to do a preaching program in the Gwalior Central Jail. During his lecture HH Subhaga Maharaja convinced the Jail Superintendent to first offer all food to the Lord and then serve prasadam to the prisoners. In his thank-you speech, the Jail Superintendent announced to the three thousand prisoners that from now on they would be served prasadam.

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