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Is this Madhudvisa that Madhudvisa?

You may have seen things on the internet written by “Madhudvisa Dasa.” And you may have wondered, Is this the Madhudvisa, the senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada? Or perhaps you assumed it was.

In fact, there are two Madhudvisas, two entirely different people.

The senior Madhudvisa The junior Madhudvisa
The senior Madhudvisa Dasa The junior Madhudvisa Dasa


  • Age: 61
  • Nationality: American
  • Civil name: Michael Morrissey
  • Initiation: First and second initiation in 1968, both ceremonies performed directly by Srila Prabhupada. First initiation in San Francisco, second in Los Angeles.
  • One of Srila Prabhupada’s intimate disciples. In 1972 Srila Prabhupada personally requested him to become a GBC man. During Srila Prabhupada’s time, he served as one of Srila Prabhupada’s “right-hand men” in America, India, Australasia, and elsewhere.
  • He received about 100 personal letters from Srila Prabhupada.
  • Rousing kirtana leader
  • He stays off the net
  • Age: early 40s
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Civil name: Michael Thompson
  • Initiation: Well, we’re not sure whether he was ever formally initiated. But a senior leader from Australia tells us that Michael received the name “Bhakta Madhudvisa” from Jayadharma Dasa, one of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, around 1988.
  • He first came in touch with the Krishna consciousness movement well after Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure and never physically met Srila Prabhupada.
  • Presents himself as “a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,” although in what sense he regards this to be so is unclear.
  • Extremely active on the net

 

How to achieve peace of mind

For those who doubt we live in a world where peace is attainable, I saw this advertisement today in Leicester, UK, in the window of a mortician:

“Discover the peace of mind that comes from planning and paying towards your funeral.”

Mr. Ginsberg and Mr. Buckley

Mr. William F. Buckley, Jr., the politically conservative founder of the magazine National Review, an opinionated intellectual whose views I have sometimes agreed with, sometimes disagreed with, and often not known or cared about but whose skill as a writer I have often admired, died on Wednesday at 82.

Among his other roles, for thirty-three years he served as host and combatant on “Firing Line,” a television program of highbrow discussion and debate.

An article today in The New York Times about Mr. Buckley and his program relates an anecdote told by Richard Brookhiser, a conservative writer and a frequent guest on the program:

And there was the time that Allen Ginsberg asked Mr. Buckley’s permission, in the middle of an episode, to sing a song in praise of Lord Krishna.

“That was a howl—sorry, sorry about the word choice,” Mr. Brookhiser said. “Bill was very gentle with him. He said of course.”

Mr. Ginsberg proceeded to play a long and doleful number on a harmonium, chanting along slowly and passionately, Mr. Brookhiser said. “And when he was finished, Bill said, ‘Well, that’s the most unharried Krishna I’ve ever heard.’ ”

Avoiding bad association

I subscribe to a free e-mail newsletter that arrives twice a month with brief extracts from valuable Krishna conscious writings. In the latest issue I found these instructions from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, which I thought I’d share:

varjile e saba sanga sadhu ninda naya
ihake ye ninda bale sei varjya haya

One should avoid the association of persons who criticize saintly devotees.

ei saba sanga chadi ananya-sarana
krsna-nama kari paya krsna-prema-dhana

Anyone who avoids these persons, chants Krishna’s holy name, and takes shelter of Krishna and no one else attains the treasure of love for Krishna.

You can request to receive the newsletter, Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, by writing to katha@gopaljiu.org.

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