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We want simply to chant Hare Krsna

The on-going conflict with the Sydney City Council had reached boiling point. The Council gave an ultimatum:

The Hare Krishnas have until 10am on August 4 to give an undertaking that its members will stop chanting in Sydney streets. Unless the undertaking is given, we will seek a Supreme Court injunction to restrain them.

The devotees, of course, ignored the ultimatum.The whole continuing debacle had attracted the attention of the Council for Civil Liberties, an enthusiastic group that championed the cause of the legally oppressed. They argued that the devotees had a fundamental civil right to practise their religion by means of peaceful assembly.

Lawyers representing the Council for Civil Liberties had approached the Sydney City Council and argued the devotees' cause. Their solicitors had even defended the devotees in their numerous court cases at the Central Court of Petty Sessions without charging any legal fees. They had argued that the charges of obstruction and loitering laid under the Metropolitan Traffic Act Regulations were not only discriminatory, but were also a useless waste of time for legal authorities concerned. It meant the tying-up of courts, police and council officers, who should be dealing with more substantial business.

The Council for Civil Liberties was eager to follow the case through to the Supreme Court, but was running out of money. Its lawyers asked the devotees whether they could pay something for consequent legal representations. Meanwhile, harassment became more and more frequent. Now almost every day, no matter where the devotees set up downtown, the police would soon arrive. The devotees became accustomed to immediately dispersing, running in all directions, provoking the police into desperate high-speed chases on foot, sometimes through Farmers' Department Store and other times down side streets. Those who couldn't run fast enough were immediately arrested. The situation had become chaotic. Caru wrote to Srila Prabhupada on 31 August asking for advice. Srila Prabhupada replied ten days later with clear directions:

Now, regarding this business of sankirtana; the solution is simply to go on with sankirtana activities as you have been doing and let them arrest us if they like. We will not stop.

Just like in London, they became arrested so many times and there was so much public display over arresting, that gradually the police stopped arresting, and now they have sankirtana anywhere they like, without any botheration.

If we take this case into court and spend so much money for big, big lawyers and still if we do not win, then they have got legal right to stop us. So, better to forget this business of lawyers and judges and simply go on with sankirtana. That is Civil Disobedience Movement. Let them fill their jails with us again and again, but we shall not stop our sankirtana movement.

Also, it may help if you get some public sympathy through publicising our constant prosecution in the newspaper journals. Gradually, the City officials and constabulary will become embarrassed to arrest us further, and gradually we will be allowed to carry on our sankirtana unhampered. But I do not think this business of expensive lawyers and going to court will solve anything, better to simply become determined to hold our sankirtana in our own manner, as we like, and simply depend upon Krishna and His protection at all times.

Srila Prabhupada added in a handwritten postscript:

There is no difference between our chanting on the street or in a temple or in jail. A Krishna conscious person is not afraid of any place, but he wants to chant constantly, in all circumstances.

The issue stayed on Srila Prabhupada's mind. Three days later he reiterated his firm and strong feelings on the matter in a Srimad-Bhagavatam class in Los Angeles:

"You have to chant the Hare Krsna mantra against the demons. Just like in Australia, the demons have instituted a case against us, a big case by the city authorities. So what can be done? They want to appoint big, big lawyers. I have advised, 'Don't appoint lawyers. You go on chanting. They may put you in the jail. So you go on chanting.' What is that? You chant on the street, or chant in the jail. They're the same thing. So don't be afraid. They'll take you to jail. Go on, 'Hare Krsna'. We have got one means. Narayana parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati: 'Those who are devotees, they are not afraid of anything.' Svargapavarga-narakesv api tulyartha-darsinah: 'Either they're sent in the heavenly planets or in the hell planet, it doesn't matter.' We want simply to chant Hare Krsna and remember Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. It doesn't matter whether it is in hell or heaven."


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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