Election campaignIt was Saturday morning in Lygon Street, Carlton, just a few weeks before the Federal Elections. Lygon Street was the heart of Melbourne's student community, and more significantly, the heart of Sabhapati's electorate. The seat of Melbourne consisted of over 12 inner-city suburbs north of the Yarra river , and Carlton was one of them. The enthusiastic sankirtana party, consisting of a dozen young boys and girls, had just done a quick chant around the busy spots of the neighbourhood. With Sabhapati at its head chanting enthusiastically to the accompaniment of large brass cymbals, today's party had a slightly different agenda. One tall thin brahmacari was carrying a large banner promoting Sabhapati's new political party emblazoned with the slogan 'In God We Trust'.The meandering party had stopped at all the busy spots in Carlton -- King and Godfrey the grocers, Papa Gino's Restaurant, Jimmy Watson's, Genevieve's and Johnny's Green Room, to name a few. A couple of very enthusiastic young devotee girls had already distributed most of the "Simply Wonderfuls" to passers-by. Nearly all of the money allocated for Sabhapati's campaign for the House of Representatives, in fact, had been spent on butter, icing sugar and powdered milk, the magic ingredients for the famous mouth-numbing "Simplies".The crowd was thickest on the corner of Lygon and Rathdowne Streets. The party had come to rest near the Shakahari Restaurant. It was here that Sabhapati had decided to give today's policy speech. While a couple of shaven-headed devotees handed out flyers, bespectacled Sabhapati, speaking loudly to be heard above the din, described his three-point program for a progressive society:"First, there must be honest leadership. The voters must learn to judge a man's character. A strong leader must be free from immoral sex life which leads to abortion, venereal disease, prostitution and divorce."A couple of girls standing nearby giggled. Sabhapati pressed on. "Also our leaders must be free from gambling, intoxication and animal slaughter. These things cause the loss of truthfulness, compassion and austerity. In order to restore honesty and character into Parliament, and to serve as a rallying point for the honest people of Australia, I have, as a matter of duty, entered this race."A few people applauded from the crowd that had already partly blocked the footpath."The second part of my three-point program is education and spiritual culture. Real education means self-realisation. What good is my Ph.D. if I don't know who I am?"This drew the loudest applause so far from the mixed crowd now spilling onto the road."And my third point is progressive environmental development. As you all know, fruits, flowers, beautiful gardens, parks and reservoirs of water are essential for peacefulness of mind. Medical science has shown that regular bathing and ample space are necessary for maintaining good health. My plan is to create an atmosphere of peace and prosperity by way of God conscious festivals which will include chanting the non-sectarian names of God, free food, and open forums."The crowd was getting a bit restless, so Sabhapati drew his speech to a close. "So I am asking the people of this electorate to seriously consider the proposals of this wonderful, timeless and practical philosophy. Make your choice now, between the good and the bad, and on May 18th, vote 1, Scott, P., the only God-conscious candidate."The crowd whistled and clapped, and as people grabbed for the remaining flyers, the political campaign with a difference launched into its last kirtana for the day.- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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