Havi das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada received recently a Grammy Award for his extraordinary musical career in Venezuela. This is his speech during the ceremony of his Grammy Award: “ Good morning to all, thanks to the Grammy awards for recognition.
As time is limited, I prefer to put the thanks, which are extensive, on social media. But if I would like to take this opportunity to offer Venezuela my most heartfelt gratitude and a loving and special appreciation to my wife Merci Majorca for her talent, her dedication and her enormous contribution to the work that together we did these almost 20 years.
On one occasion Dustin Hoffman asked actor Laurence Olivier: ” what motivates us to do this work we do?“ and Olivier replied: ” it’s very simple: look at me, look at me, look at me!“
And since you are looking at me and listening, I would like to share a short reflection inspired by the sacred texts of India which I consider important.
We talk about democracy, equality, freedom, when since the United Nations project was set up in 1945, we humans have fought 140 wars. Only 240 million people died in world war I. On the other hand, very few are aware that 65 billion animals are slaughtered annually in the name of protein and good food. We sing and talk about love when since 1980, 1.5 billion abortions have been carried out. Not to mention the levels of consumption of alcohol, drugs, pornography, racial discrimination, paedophilia, systematic destruction of forests, water pollution… these are just some of the symptoms of the disease. And nature responds, because every action that is not in harmony with the laws of God and nature will inevitably result in suffering; individual and collective suffering. Karma is stored and when it comes to a critical point, it blows and something happens… conflicts, wars, diseases, earthquakes, tsunamis, miserable governments, etc.
I have a friend, a great devotee of Krishna whom I love and admire. On the occasion of recognition in Las Vegas I told him that I would have liked to say something substantial, something important for the benefit of those who could be watching or listening. At 15 minutes I command this text with which I fully identify:
” there are undoubtedly great causes in this world but the great cause is the one that has the ability to lead us to freedom, looking inward.
Beyond the skin and the bones, it is to discover that we are spiritual and eternal beings as parts of divinity. Only so, from this crucial discovery is that we can be truly useful, by offering the world the best version of ourselves.“
Thank you very much.