When the living entity is encircled by wife, children and home, he acts on the mental plane. Sometimes he is very happy, sometimes he is very much satisfied, sometimes he is not satisfied, and sometimes he is bewildered. Bewilderment is called moha, illusion. Illusioned by society, friendship and love, the living entity thinks that his so-called society, friendship and love, nationality, community, etc. will give him protection. He does not know that after death he will be thrown into the hands of a very strong material nature that will force him to accept a certain type of body according to his present work. This body may not even be a human body. Thus the living entity’s feeling of security in this life in the midst of society, wife and friendship is nothing but illusion. All living entities encaged in various material bodies are illusioned by the present activities of material enjoyment. They forget their real business, which is to go back home, back to Godhead.
 (SB 4.25.55)

The other day we somehow got talking about the Golly Wog a soft toy from the past that could also been found on the side of the Robinsons Jam but was dropped for its racist over tones and is now assigned to an era best forgotten.

However I noted that for me the notion of the Golly Wog as racist was puzzling and to date remains so, does this make me racist? Have I learnt nothing from reading the vedic scriptures?

You see as a child I had a very dear friend who had a big influence on me; I knew him as Uncle Morris a Jamaican born individual who’s house I spent a lot of time at. Now for me I remember him giving me a Golly Wog with his wide beaming smile and for me as a child a fascinating Gold Tooth that almost seemed to glisten. I loved the toy not for what it was but for who gave it to me it went every were with me especially if I was scared as in my mind my Jamaican Uncle would somehow be their to protect me, the simple thoughts of a child.

As time moves on I try to understand the struggle he must have had against those who would just see the colour of his skin, to having what back in the 70’s was a dig taboo a white wife. I can remember how he always wanted a Jaguar car and saved so hard; he was so proud of it but in a glance it was gone simply because he was always stopped by the police a coloured man could not own such a car he must have stole it.

We see the imagery of hate for who groups of people based on colour, each identifying with their own national and community identity clashing into violence; a picture we still see today.

We see that within ISKCON many of the spiritual masters also had to battle through racial hatred and suppression what a relief it must have been to take shelter of Krishna and their spiritual master Srila Prabhupada, were the only thing that mattered was being the servant of the servant not colour, nationality or culture.

This again was in many ways revolutionary when we could see that places of worship were divided into that of colour and nationality with very few were encouraged to mix and were hated in some cases was encouraged in the name of God with little real understanding of the message hold within scripture.

Uncle Morris was as far as I can remember was always an Elder within the religious community I grow up in a respected man who’s opinion mattered who protected me from much harm, who gave me a toy that is now a symbol of racism this for me is some what ironic to the reality within my little world; The principles Uncle Morris instilled into me, respect for others, the sanctity of marriage, avoidance of alcohol and love of God remain even after such a long time this I am sure made it easier to take to devotional life; a fine example that all young children should have to follow.

The closing comments I leave to Srila Prabhupada:

So we have to purify our hearts of our dirty desires, which are forcing us to act for sense gratification and suffer. And in this age the purification is very, very easy: Just chant Hare Krsna. That’s all. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s contribution. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. If you chant the Hare Krsna mantra, you will be relieved of the suffering caused by transmigrating perpetually from body to body. Chanting is such a simple thing. There is no question of caste, creed, nationality, color, social position. No. By the grace of God, everyone has a tongue and ears. So everyone can chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Just chant Hare Krsna and be happy.

Thank you very much.
 (The Self and Its Bodies)