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Archive for November 15th, 2007

sitproperly on Nov 15th 2007 Gaudia Vaisnava

Yet another reason to avoid celebrity worship…

Boy George charged with false imprisonment…

All too often, many devotees engage in this weird ritual of celebrity worship. I’m not talking about how some book distributors will post pictures of themselves handing a book to an awkward “deer in the headlights” movie star or politician (though, that’s questionable as well).

I’m talking about how some devotees will get all into celebrities (usually musicians) who appear to take to Krishna consciousness. We practically canonize them. Look at “The Famous Sriman George Harrison,” for example. Though we sainted him, he was hardly a saint.

And neither is “The Famous Sriman Boy George,” who has a long history of drug abuse, violence and, most recently, false imprisonment for chaining a male escort to the wall of his apartment. Bow down, Mister!!

So, let’s set the record straight, Boy George is not a devotee. He really never was. He was attracted to Krishna and wrote a song about it. Sometimes he invites (or tolerates) the devotees to come up on stage with him to help sing his cute little song. And then he chains some dude to the wall of his apartment. Jaya, prabhu!


boy_george_kopie.JPG

We should really be careful about celebrities. I think a lot of discrimination is in order. Celebrities will almost always continue their insanely materialistic lifestyle.

Sure, they have a voice that millions of people listen to, but when they become disenchanted with Krishna consciousness (or certain institutions promoting Krishna consciousness), that voice is just as loud and often much more forceful.

The Bhagavad-gita states: Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues. (Bg 3.21) And this is the verse quoted when handing a Gita to a celebrity or politician. And while what the Gita says is definitely true, celebrities and politicians aren’t great men. They have few exemplary acts and basically no standards.

Celebrities don’t make devotees (and politicians definitely don’t). Sincere, happy and honest devotees make devotees.

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