Prison Preaching
By Mahat-tattva dasa
There is a great thirst for Krishna consciousness in prisons. It seems that when calamities strike, people instinctively turn to God. To ease their difficult situation and put them on the right track, one that leads back to Krishna, devotees take advantage of the situation and preach to prisoners. One portion of the money you donate to Sastra Dana is used to provide these unfortunate souls with Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Bhakta David Prabhu, one of the brahmacaris here in New Dvaraka, has been successfully cultivating several prisoners by writing them letters, sending them books and chanting beads, and instructing them how to lead a Krishna conscious life in prison. What follows is a letter Bhakta David recently received from one of the prisoners he is cultivating.
May 14, 2002 Dear Bhakta David dasa, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am sorry that I have taken so long to write. It’s nothing you said, it’s that I have been really busy and studying a lot of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
In your letter to me you said you wanted to know my recreations. Well, I am a poet. I write science-fiction stories and epic fantasy poems. I draw and write philosophy on different subjects. I keep a journal and express myself in a proper manner.
You don’t have to worry about me talking about sex or drugs. I have revoked the use of both when I got here. When I finish this letter I will attempt to draw a Krishna for you.
I was wondering how I could go about taking the Hari-nama initiation while I’m in here and if it can be done? If so please tell me and I will talk with my warden. Okay?
Also, I was wondering about beads and books? The institution has this to say about beads: The beads must be made of wood, the string that the beads are strung on must at least be breakable for security reasons and the length can be no longer than 24”. You must send them in care of IMSI Property with my name and number and address. If you can do this I would appreciate it.
Now, the books. I have read both volumes of Krishna, Personality of Godhead, Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Nectar of Instructions. I would like to read Nectar of Instructions again. I also would like to get Nectar of Devotion. I am allowed to have a total of 10 books and 10 magazines in my cell. So if you can send me a couple extra books, some that are in two, three or four volumes, that would be great.
And any other literature you would want me to read, send it to me please.
I will keep chanting the maha-mantra and meditating. If you want me to write you a poem about something, just send your request. It’s all I have to offer.
I am your servant and I always think of Krishna. Also, I was wondering how I could get my name changed to a devotee title? Sincerely, Thomas Helms
Below are two letters I got from Candrashekar Prabhu, the ISKCON Prison Ministry Director, which he recently received from two prisoners.
ON DEATH ROW
Dear Chandra, I am Yahweh A. Israel, a new believer in Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I’m presently on the death row in North Carolina, waiting to be executed. I’ve read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and feel spiritually elevated by the message of the Gita. My fear of death was removed from my heart, as I read the conversation with Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield. I want to learn how to control the mind and senses before my death, so that my physical liberation be in true renunciation of all things. I want to be free from the entanglement of sin and Hell. I sincerely want to be a partaker of the divine nature. Please help me develop true potential in Krishna consciousness. So walk in Krishna’s devotion and His love. Respectfully, Yahweh A. Israel Raleigh, N.C.
PRISON GUERRILLA MISSIONARY
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Ki Jaya!
I have been transferred to a new facility. By Krishna’s mercy I have been moved here to Victor Valley MCCF, the state of California’s one and only completely vegetarian prison. Wow! Imagine that! I immediately noticed a common trait among inmates. They are all much more mellow than any other prison population that I’ve encountered. I don’t mean just that they are more mellow; it seems by removing dead bodies from their systems and I mean all dead bodies: no meat, fish, or eggs there is much less fueling of the inherent prison society aggression.
Every day that goes by Krishna shows me more and more mercy through the mercy of the acharyas, namely Srila Prabhupada. His teachings that I have been studying have taken new shape, one by one, sporadically it seems, a few here, a bunch more there. And I even get goose bumps while writing this here, now. The process of jnana transforming into vijnana is very special and extremely enlivening.
Please allow me this time to thank you for sending Prabhupada’s brihad mridanga, the great drum (Srila Prabhupada’s books). And thank you for serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission, Lord Caitanya’s mission! Thank you so much.
I will continue any and all guerrilla missionary operations to my current fullest capacity. If there is any service I can perform, please tell me of it immediately. Bhakta Michael Kurtz Delphos, CA
It is very astonishing to see how this prisoner developed attachment for Krishna consciousness, so much so that he is even very eager to preach, to convey the message of Krishna to other prisoners as well.
