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ETT TAL AV INDIENS FD PRESIDENT DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA,
DEN 31 MAJ 1997 
"It gives me immense pleasure to associate
myself with the inauguration of the Centre for advancement of culture
of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
here in Bangalore. This magnificent complex, a blend of tradition
and modernity, is the symbol of dedication and devotion of ISKCON
to the cause of bhakti and service. It is an architectural
landmark. I congratulate all those who have worked tirelessly to
set up this splendid edifice.
ISKCON has spread the massage of bhakti
throughout the world. Over the years, the Society has provided relief
and succor and has brought peace and harmony into the lives of millions
of people. It has grown and florished in many countries and continents.
On the occation of the birth centenary of the founder of ISKCON,
Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I pay my tributes to this
enlightened soul. Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Srila Prabhupada, with devotion and determination, has propagated
the message of our ethos of peace and harmony.
In today's world, there appears to be a
relentless and single-minded pursuit of material wealth and prosperity.
Though this has resulted in an improvement in the standard of living
of the people, particularly in the so-called developed Western countries,
the spiritual needs, requirements, and aspirations are yet to be
met. Material wealth has not necessarily brought happiness and peace
of mind. Instead, it has been accomanied by considerable mental
stress and tensions and has led to a spiral of insatiable greed
and desires which remain unfulfilled. The pursuit of hedonistic
pleasures with no regards to the needs of other people, especially
those who are less privileged, has brought in its wake discord,
discontent and disharmony. It is such a context that our tradition
with its philosophy of love, compassion, nonviolence and service
has acquired new meaning, relevance and significance. The approach
of bhakti or devotion not merely to God but to all beings
who belong to God, and of selfless service, has been preached by
our geers and saint-singers from remote antiquity.
The bhakti movement has flourished
in every part of India. The songs of the alvars and the teachings
of Ramanujacarya and Madhvacarya in the south, the bhajans
and dohas of Surdas, Sant Kabir and Mira Bai in the north,
the abhangas of Sant Tukaram and Sant Janesvar in the west,
and the kirtans of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sankaradeva, and
Madhavadeva in the east are still sung and recited in millions of
homes. In eastern India, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu propagated the
idea of the oneness of man before God. Bhakti to God manifested
itself in love, compassion, and service. It did not recognize any
barriers of caste and creed. The repeated chanting of the divine
name, individually and collectively, was one of the paths to salvation.
In His Siksastaka, Caitanya Mahaprabhu sings:
namna akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis
/
tatrapita niyamitah smarane na kalah
(God has expressed His own name in various
ways; also He has bestowed all His powers in that name)
na dhanam na janam na sundarim /
kavitam va jagad isa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare / bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
(O, Lord of the earth, I do not pray for
earthly desires. My only prayer is, God, let my unqualified devotion
be to You in all my births)
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's kirtans
are sung by thousands of devotees not merely in India but, due to
the efforts of ISKCON, throughout the world. The bhakti-marga
propagated by Srila Prabhupada has struck a sympathetic cord among
the people which has resonated across the oceans and continents.
Swamiji's approach is remarkable for its simplicity. It is not a
rigid ritualistic or merely intellectual approach. It is personal,
intuitive, amotional faith based on a passionate love and adoration
for the Lord. This is reflected in the singing of kirtans
and in living a good and decent life in harminy with oneself, with
society, and with nature.
Srila Prabhupada's work has given new meaning
and direction to the lives of thousands of people. In India, the
activities of ISKCON are rekindling the latent knowledge and awareness
among our own people of our great spiritual and cultural heritage.
I believe deeply that in our efforts for modernization and growth,
we must never forget the philosophy of humanism of our civilization.
There can be no real progress and prosperity, there can be no balanced
material and spiritual developement unless and until the poorest
of the poor and weakest of the weak in our country prosper and progress.
This can happen only by re-instilling aming our people the moral
and ethical values of our ethos, of love and devotion, compassion
and selfless service. Only by helping others can we achieve true
happiness and balance in our lives. With these words, I have great
pleasure in inaugurating the Centre for Advancement of Culture of
the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. I wish the
Centre many years of fruitful endeavour in the service of society.
Jay Hind!
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