In the lecture opening this issue, Srila Prabhupada begins by discussing the dangers of sinful life and then goes on to speak about pious persons. He quotes Lord Krishna, who says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16) that among the poor, the distressed, the inquisitive, and the learned, only the pious turn to Him to fulfill their particular need.
A principle of the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is that pious persons in any religious traditions can gain immensely from what it has to offer. That’s why Krishna’s devotees, understanding that human life is meant for spiritual progress, try to carry everywhere the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krishna’s avatar for this age. In doing so, they naturally interact with members of various religions.
The cover story in this issue is about taking Krishna consciousness to Punjab, a predominantly Sikh state. The Krishna devotees found a warm welcome and much enthusiasm for chanting the holy names of God, the essence of Lord Caitanya’s movement.
In New York, Satyaraja Dasa often finds opportunities to discuss Krishna consciousness with his Jewish family, and in this issue we hear about one such exchange in his article “Six Essential Questions.”
Hare Krishna.—Nagaraja Dasa, Editor
Our Purposes
• To help all people discern reality from illusion, spirit from matter, the eternal from the temporary.
• To expose the faults of materialism.
• To offer guidance in the Vedic techniques of spiritual life.
• To preserve and spread the Vedic culture.
• To celebrate the chanting of the holy names of God as taught by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
• To help every living being remember and serve Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead