Science Graduate's Search for Almighty

BY: SEEMA SHARMA

Nov 10, LABASA, FIJI (TIMES) — Bruce Jocobs (Bir Krishna das Goswami) finds peace in the Hare Krishna movement.

Bruce Jocobs' journey from a happy-go- lucky New Yorker to becoming Bir Krishna das Goswami, a spiritual leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON), was not an easy one. He faced opposition from his business-oriented family, friends and relatives but did not look back after realising he had found his chosen path.

A part of his responsibility is to travel to more than 20 countries each year, meet devotees, inspire new followers and spread the beliefs of the organisation. He was in Labasa recently meeting devotees and a brief chat with him revealed the other side of this science graduate.

The devotee said from a very young age he started looking for the meaning of God. As a teenager, he started reading all the scriptures he could lay his hands on. After trying out with many sects, faiths and forms of meditation, he was still not satisfied and at the age of 18, he became vegetarian.

He said it was not a decision based on a religious belief but a choice out of responsibility and love for animals. During his days of searching he joined a group of travelling hippies who kept away from drugs and alcohol. He grew his hair but attended all religious functions because he did not want to be associated with any one group. His life changed when he met the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, Srila Prabhupada, in 1971 and decided to don the orange robe and become full-time devotee.

Laughing, he said before joining the organisation he used to wonder why devotees wore orange bedsheets' and some of them shaved off their hair. He said his family was shocked when he returned home without his long hippy hair and in orange.

"I was given guilt trips by my family as I was expected to help in the family's real estate business. Initially, many people thought I had gone crazy or was hypnotised but within a few months they realised I had changed for real. "My father started supporting me with donations because he believed after I joined the movement his business had developed further.

"My mother is very supportive now but none of them are active members of the movement. I have a younger brother who is a doctor and who has accepted me but all of them are thinking about the commitment I had taken. In 1978, I became celibate and started travelling and preaching. I come to Fiji once every four months. "The most essential task of Krishna conscious spiritual masters is to publish the Vedic scriptures of ancient India and distribute them throughout the world. In 1972 I began traveling throughout the United States distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and lecturing at colleges and universities," said the vibrant spiritual guru. "I have written a few books and keep releasing albums of bhajans and kirtans (religious songs). He said religions were misinterpreted by self-serving people to fulfill their agenda.

He said the solution to all problems was love, understanding and dialogue. "It is important that self-serving people go back to the roots of their religion to find out its foundation.

"All religions preach love and understanding. "There is only one God but with many names.

"ISKON is seen by many as an extremist organisation with strict disciplines but there is sacrifice for all attainments and once it becomes a way of life, it is no longer a burden.

"I am happy to be in Fiji. It is a lovely country with loving people.

"My only hope is that problems between politicians and other concerned institutions is solved.

"Leaders who face challenges should seek answers from their holy books and religions.

"This will give a clear perspective without ego and self-service," said Bir Krishna Goswami.