Krishna at the United Nations: Connecting the Dots 60 Years Later.

​Anuttama Das addresses us from the steps of the United Nations in New York on the subject of sustainability, claiming that religious movements contribute to this goal.* This is utterly laughable, at least regarding our leadership and our interest in this field. We despise politics; how can we hold any weight within such an institution? Even his historical connection to Srila Prabhupada leaves much to be desired and shows just how out of touch we are: sixty years ago, Prabhupada's disciples failed to understand that the gathering in front of the United Nations was meant to be held in silence...

​What is the environment? That is the real question.

​Instead, Anuttama asks: who owns it? He unwittingly introduces politics instead of bringing in metaphysics: the environment is Krishna's energy, and it is non-different from God.

​But Krishna devotees, who now wish to advise the United Nations and the rest of the world, do not only dread politics; they equally abhor the idea of focusing the mind on the Virata Rupa (or pantheism: God is present everywhere). They turn their attention away from this metaphysical subject because all they care about is Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan.

​Yet, I must acknowledge and appreciate that it is a step forward from ISKCON's Minister of Communications when he states: "Everything in this world belongs to Krishna, and everything has a connection with Krishna." It was high time, but the path has yet to be cleared.

​By refusing to meditate on the Virata Rupa, Krishna devotees deprive themselves of the philosophical tools necessary to speak to the world. They want to advise the United Nations, but they stand before them "empty-handed," without the comprehensive metaphysics that should be their only true strength. ■
_________________
* His talk:

. To come

In relation to this article: Spinoza and Prabhupada on God