Aug 13, 2013 — CANADA (SUN) — In response to yesterday's article on Mahavishnu Swami's activities, "Simply Wasting Time", we received from a UK reader pointers to several more bizarre videos posted on YouTube by Swami & Co. In tomorrow's edition of the Sun we will add one more piece to this story: putting the situation with Mahavishnu Swami into the context of the draft Constitution for ISKCON As It Is, in order to demonstrate how such a situation would be prevented or decisively dealt with. But first, we ask the reader to consider the following videos, which tell us a great deal about the Swami's 'preaching mood' and its effect on the devotees associating with him.
First is maharaja's 'arrival kirtan' at London's Heathrow airport, May 18, 2013. Before watching this video, please take a moment to recall the mood of the devotees and bystanders when Srila Prabhupada arrived at an airport. Every man, woman and child who witnessed one of these events was the recipient of the mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. These airport arrivals were transcendental because His Divine Grace was transcendental -- but also because of the reverence, humility and authentic joy the devotees expressed, which was itself very inspiring.
Of course, we can't expect that every sannyasi today will command an equally transcendental moment when arriving at an airport and being met by his followers, but certainly everyone should be aware that these airport arrivals are public preaching opportunities -- made all the more important because of the legacy of His Divine Grace's own glorious arrivals. What we find in the video below is the absolute opposite of that mood. It is not only a lost opportunity to spread Krsna consciousness, but is actually a denigration of it (beginning around the 2 min. mark). You will also hear a most offensive rendition of chanting the Prasada prayers.
Glorification of the Lord's Prasada should be done with all respect and sobriety. First one offers obeisances to it, then sings its glories, then chants the Maha-mantra and offers prayers to the Spritual Master, the Sampradaya's Acaryas, Lord Caitanya, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and the assembled Vaisnavas. Sri Krsna Prasadam is honored with the singing of 'Prasada-sevaya', from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Gitavali:
"O brothers! This material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths to death. The senses throw the soul into this ocean of material sense enjoyment and, of all the senses, the tongue is most voracious and uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. O brothers! Lord Krsna is very kind to us and has given us such nice prasada, just to control the tongue. Now let us take this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and, in love, call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda."
What Mahavishnu Swami is demonstrating, and has obviously taught his followers, is something entirely different than this prayer. In fact, it is the antithesis of the 'Prasada-sevaya' -- it is a display of ignorance and senses out of control And clearly, the devotees with the Swami in this video are his followers. One is even sporting his own rendition of a Swami 'fascinator' hat. This is how contamination spreads.
In the next video you will see what is apparently Mahavisnu Swami's quarters somewhere… presumably in London. This is the gallery housing the various pieces of his 'artwork' shown in the Simply Wasting Time article. The Swami sings a little ditty that might serve as preaching to children. Unfortunately, it seems that mostly full-grown devotees populate the audiences he shares these songs with.
And finally, although one is hard-pressed to say it's worse than the 'prasada prayers' video, here is Part 1 of the 'Congo Triology'. Entitled "Vishnu Baba Reveals Dinosaurs!!!!", this undivine drama was apparently filmed in the Congo with the help of Mahavishnu's entourage. The Swami, who has painted himself black, is pretending to be Vishnu Baba… a mystic ascetic who has been meditating for thousands of years under a rock.
Aside from the whole thing being a colossal waste of time and preaching resources, as well as a nonsense depiction of real rishis engaged in tapasya, at the 11:55 mark on the video, the Swami begins to chant this offensive lyric:
