Chapter 18, Verse 48.
Every endeavor is covered by some sort of fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one should not give up the work which is born of his nature, O son of Kunti, even if such work is full of fault.“

Mahamsa: Yes, he himself will come. But he will have the habit of smoking and I think we can at the most regulate his smoking. “If you want to smoke, you go somewhere far away and smoke and before you start cooking you must wash yourself, have a bath, and then do the cooking.”

Prabhupada: Yes. What can be done? Ne mama che kana mama  “If there is no uncle, one blind uncle is all right.” So the matter is now clear. You do it and develop it.

(c) How Akshaya Patra Operates – employees take part in kirtan regularly and are encouraged to chant – children in most schools recite prayers and chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra before taking prasadam.

Each centre of The Akshaya Patra Foundation operates under the guidance of devotee-presidents who, on a voluntary basis, oversee the functioning of the organisation.

A team of hired men helps in the cooking in the mechanized, ISO standard kitchens where high standards of hygiene are ensured.

These men participate in kirtans regularly & are encouraged to chant.

An initiated devotee offers the food to deities/picture of Lord Jagannath/Krishna.

And finally during lunch hour, in most schools (except Urdu medium) children chant prayers & Hare Krishna mantra before taking prasadam.

(d) Being practical – “If there is no uncle, one blind uncle is all right.” – Is it prasadam?

Thus we see that Prabhupada is practical, not short-sighted like Dayalu Nitai. It is not expected that a few brahmacaris do the mammoth cooking in the wee hours everyday, keeping aside their other preaching/devotional engagements. The hired cooks may not have been devotees at the time of induction, but they are encouraged to become devotees gradually. So when the cooks adhere to the rules of cleanliness (cleanliness standards as per ISO guidelines are followed) and try to be devotees as far as possible, and a devotee offers it to Lord Krishna, the food becomes sanctified prasadam. Hence it is derogatory and most offensive to call it bhoga or ordinary food.

(e) Many quotes on importance of prasadam

(f) Schools as slaughterhouses vs need for educated and capable leaders – long discussion – Uneducated, half-educated, poor, poverty-stricken. They could not do anything.

(g) Bangalore’s multi-dimensional approach to engage with society at large and some how inject Krishna Consciousness is working – ken api upayena manah Krsne nishevayat – catch them some how and engage them in Krishna’s service.

– Lecture Nov 20, 1971, Delhi

Thus Iskcon Bangalore & group of temples have been conducting a number of Krishna conscious programs in schools throughout the year. To name a few programs that are getting a tremendous response from the student community:

•  Culture Camp during Summer Vacation for Class I to Class X
•  Heritage Fest – an Inter School Cultural Competitions for LKG to Class X
•  Sri Krishna Contest – Written Quiz Competition for Class V to Class X
•  Goloka Shades – Coloring Competition for LKG to Class X
•  Gita Quiz – Quiz Competition based on Bhagavad-gita As It Is for Class V to Class X

(h) Bangalore’s conviction –

The authorities at Iskcon Bangalore and Akshaya Patra are thus convinced that this prasadam distribution program is authorized by Srila Prabhupada, is in line with his desires & teachings, and that it is going to have a massive impact on the re-spiritualization of the entire world in the coming days.

(i) My opinion – In light of “Srila Prabhupada’s Goal – no child within a radius of ten miles from our centre should go hungry.” Bangalore is doing right thing on Akshaya Patra front and other fronts and creating momentum. Please add daily hari nama and book distribution on similarly massive scale and experience unlimited success.

Wishing You Well,

yhs- Gadadhar Dasa