Beej 11 :: 1 /January 2016
DHARMAVIJAYA
John Edwin Favors was born on February 25, 1950 into a
Christian family living in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). He
excelled in his academic achievements and received a
scholarship to attend the prestigious Hawken School.
Being a good orator even as a child, John Favors used to
appear on television to preach Christianity.
In 1968 he came to Princeton University. While at
Princeton, he was a leader in Martin Luther King's civil
rights movement being "at the forefront of political
activism on campus, a leader of the Association of Black
Collegians (ABC) and a founder of the Third World
Center". He also served as a president of the student
council. In 1972, he earned a B.A. in psychology and
African American studies.
Attending lectures at the university and reading books on
different subjects, "he began feeling the futility of
acquiring knowledge, which would become obsolete
very soon". His search for ultimate truth led him to Hindu
Dharma. After Princeton, he joined the Hare Krishna
Movement. On February 16, 1973 in Los Angeles he was
initiated into the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition by
ISKCON's founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. Thus John Edwin Favors became
Ghanashyam Dasa (meaning servant of Krishna).
But his desire for
completely devote himself
to Bhagwan Srikrishna led
him to become Sanyasi on
March 13, 1979 at New
Vrindaban, and he was
given the name Bhakti
Tirtha Swami. Apart from
the deep Sadhana he had
to do worldwide travel,
study, teaching, lecturing,
and writing. In 1990 Bhakti
Tirtha Swami was
crowned High Chief in Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Warri, Nigeria, West Africa in recognition of his reputable
work performed there.
In addition to encouraging self-sufciency through the
development of schools, clinics, farm projects and
cottage industries, Bhakti-Tirtha Swami conducted
Bhakti Tirtha Swami and Nelson Mandela
seminars and workshops on principle centered
leadership, spiritual development, interpersonal
relationships, stress and time management and other
pertinent topics.
He was the highest-ranking African American in
ISKCON. He wrote 17 books on religious topics and led
community development projects in the United States
and other countries. Bhakti-Tirtha Swami's books are
used as reference texts in universities and leadership
organizations throughout the world. Many of his books
have been printed in English, German, French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Macedonian, Croatian, Russian, Hebrew,
Slovenian, Balinese and Italian.
He was the founder and director of the Institute for
Applied Spiritual Technology in Washington, DC, "a
nonprot, nondenominational organization whose
membership represents a variety of spiritual paths and
professional backgrounds". He traveled frequently and
served as a spiritual consultant. He also served as
chairman of the Third World Coalition.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami died June
27, 2005, at Gita Nagari, the
G a u d i y a Va i s h n a v a
community in central
Pennsylvania. On February 7,
2006 the Council of the District
of Columbia adopted
ceremonial resolution, in which
it "recognized His Holiness
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Krishnapada for dedication to
social change that has
impacted civil and human Bhakti Tirtha Swami
rights for residents in the District of Columbia".
Thus, John Edwin Favors, who was born in a Christian
family and who even had preached Christianity in his
childhood, later became a Hindu Sanyasi and spent a
meaningful life by serving the humanity by following the
path of Hindu Dharma.
AGNISHIKHA
Tarini was travelling in the train. Gradually she got talking
with the co-travellers.
A person asked her, 'What do you do?'
'I am a teacher in a school run by a service organization in
Arunachal Pradesh'. Tarini replied.
'What does your service organization do?' another
person asked.
'It renders service in various elds'.
'Oh, so you are making the people in Arunachal as
Hindus?' the same person remarked.
'Do you know what is Hindu?' Amused Tarini asked.
'Why? Hindu is... Hindu. Everyone knows it.' The person
faltered.
'Look Hindu Dharma is way of life based on Oneness.
Hindu is one who sees divinity everywhere and so he
respects the nature, the people and also Gods that he or
any other people worship on this earth. Thus you would
not see any Hindu going and telling others that, 'your God
is false and my alone is true'. I as Hindu see God
everywhere so what is there for me to tell others follow my
God and leave yours'. Tarini explained.
'But you call them for Durga Pooja or Siva Pooja.' The
Beej 11::1 /January 2016
person continued.
'Do you know when I am in Adi area in Arunachal
Pradesh, I pray in Gangging to Ane Donyi or I pray to
Rang Fra when I am in Changlang. We see God in all
forms. By the way are you Christian?' asked Tarini. 'Yes,
my name is David but how do you know?' The person
asked surprised.
'Only a Christian could think of like this that you are going
to make them Hindu, because Christian missionaries go
and convert people. They tell the people that their God is
false and the only True God is Jesus Christ...'. Said Tarini.
'What is the difference; we call them to Church and you
call them to temples!' persisted David.
'Oh there is a total difference. When our people in
Arunachal, suppose if they come to Siva temple or Durga
temple no one tells them that do not pray hereafter to Ane
Donyi. We do not tell them that stop going to Gannging or
Nyder Namlo or performing the traditional poojas or
celebrating festivals' Tarini continued.
'But we also celebrate Solung, Nyokum, Mol festivals.'
Defended David.
'How? By dancing and drinking? What is celebration of
festival? Not just dance and drinking. It is linking
ourselves to our traditional Gods and Goddesses,
offering to them in all gratitude and then taking their
blessings in the form of Prasada. But I know even if
converted Christians come to the ground for celebrations
they do not take Prasad they do not participate in poojas.
Please understand, Jesus Christ was a great person so if
I praise or pray to him. But for that if you start telling me
that 'hereafter you should pray only to Jesus and no one
else', then some where you are cutting me off from my
roots. See a really spiritual person would not limit God to
one name or one form. He sees God everywhere. Thus
Hindu is really spiritual he does not limit God. A traditional
Arunachali is spiritual he does not go telling others 'My
God alone is true' he prays to Ane Donyi or to Siva or to
Durga or to Krishna or even to Jesus. As I pray to God by
all his beautiful names and forms. So, we all who do not
have this exclusive approach to God share same spiritual
wisdom whether in Arunachal or any other part.' Tarini
explained.
'So, you are criticizing Christ and Christians!' Exclaimed
David.
'Not at all. If you properly internalize what I am saying I am
 Beej 11::1 /January 2016

neither criticizing Jesus actually I told you that we see cheated others, I have worked hard in life. Now the
Divinity everywhere so in Jesus too. I am neither
criticizing Christians what I am telling you is that this
exclusive approach that 'My God alone is true and you
worship false Gods or Devils' is responsible for creating
spiritual vacuum wherever Christianity went in Europe,
America or now Asia.' Tarini told good-naturedly.
'What vacuum, I do not understand.' David told puzzled.
'Look, in the America as well as in European countries the
very few people go to the Church, the Churches are sold
to become libraries, community halls or temples. For the
loss of peace felt within many are going in search of some
spirituality in life. In some European country there is a
movement to go back to one's roots ie to the worship of
traditional Gods and Goddesses.' Told Tarini.
'Hmm! So what do you suggest should I give up praying to
Jesus.' Asked David.
'No, not at all! As a Hindu I would not tell you that do not
pray to this God or that God. Continue praying to Jesus if
you like so. Only never look down or abuse others' God.
Pray to Jesus but if being an Arunachali if you are invited
to traditional festivals pray with all your heart to your Gods
and Goddesses also. Do not deny your roots, your
traditions, your ancestors.' Told Tarini
'I have some questions to ask...' said another traveller
'Wait, now it is lunch time and we have a long travel of two
days so would have enough time to discuss. So shall we
continue our discussions some time later? When
stomach is empty, head cannot work' said David
humorously. All travellers laughed and agreed to
postpone the discussion.

DHARMAKATHA
'Kirti, How much I have struggled but the fortune has
never smiled on me. Now we need money to marry off our
daughters but we are penniless.' Old Gajanan told his Sri Krishna and Arjuna
wife. They had three daughters who were to them after
many years of marriage and now when they were of
marriageable age he was worrying.
Kirti more evolved and woman of conviction told him,
'When the fortune was smiling on us long back we never
thought of helping anyone. You were too miser to help
others. For various reasons the money went out of our
hands now we have no one to help us.' 'I have never
 Beej 11::1 /January 2016

DHARMABEEJ WINNERS

Rajneesh Chouhan, Sudhanshu Vivekananda Gupta,

Pratapnagar, Jodhpur,Rajasthan Patna, Bihar Jamui, Bihar

Dharm Beej Quiz

This is a quiz based on the last two issues of Dharmabeej. The rst three participants who answer all the questions correctly
will be given books worth of Rs 500 and a statue of Swami Vivekananda and their name and photo given in the next issue of
Dharmabeej. You can send your replies with name, address and photo by email to: dharmabeej@gmail.com or to
Dharmabeej, Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari 629702.

Q.1:Who is considered as the Adi Yogi or the First Yogi in Yogic tradition?
Q.2:To help thousands of Hindu refugees coming from East Pakistan, which organization was formed because of Eknathji's
efforts?
Q.3:What is the approximate population of Hindus living in Afghanistan today?
Q.4:Write the names of any 3 Hindu temples situated in Kabul (Afghanistan).
Q.5:Which Indonesian island is famous for celebrating the festival of Diwali?