On June 27, 2024, world-renown teacher of the Bhakti Yoga tradition and director of Chaitanya Academy, Shri Prem Prayojan was invited to give a seminar by the International Diplomatic Club "Amicability" in partnership with the Foundation for the Development of Russian Culture at an exclusive diplomatic event - "Art and Traditional Values - BRICS Alliance Strategy of Cultural Cooperation" at the Ether Arts Centre, Moscow.

Dignitaries in attendance included the Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad, and deputies of the State Duma (Russian Parliament). Various famous doctors, professors, actors, singers, artists, military officials, entrepreneurs and athletes assembled for a thought-provoking evening of art, music, poetry and philosophy.

Guests were delighted to witness the premiere performance of a mystery drama entitled, "Lake of Death and Ocean of Love." All the roles were played by the actors of the Chaitanya Academy "Veda Renaissance Theatre". This powerful drama depicted the severe test of wisdom and moral fortitude faced by Yudhisthira Maharaja at Dharma Kunda. The audience were moved to tears in an experience that served as a performative for the principle of reformation of character through art and culture described in scientific detail by Shri Prem Prayojan in his masterclass later in the evening.

During this event, Shri Prem Prayojan was awarded the “Peter the Great Medal” for his accomplishment in promoting traditional values by Professor Marina Vladimirovna Sirota, director of the Imperial Heritage Foundation (http://www.imperskiy-fund.com/) on behalf of the pre-revolutionary aristocratic community and the Civil Movement For the Benefit of Russia.

In his colourful and engaging multi-media seminar, Mahatma Shri Prem Prayojan revealed the meaning of the word "culture" in its true sense, as it was understood by the sages of ancient times in terms of three concepts, prakriti, vikriti and samskriti. Our conscious nature, in its pristine purity is called prakrti. Our presently corrupted or fallen nature is called vikriti, distorted consciousness. Samskriti means authentic culture, which facilitates the process of transition from vikriti, a distorted and false perception of reality, to prakriti, our original state of purity and joy. In other words, genuine culture or samskriti is aligned with our intrinsic teleology, the purpose for which we exist. Culture is that which allows us to become complete and to attain our perfect form. Genuine culture, whether expressed in music, literature, art, cinema, architecture, functions to elevate consciousness, inevitably encouraging us to awaken our pure spiritual nature as souls (atma) and servants of God.

Shri Prem Prayojan also described much that passes as art and culture today is actually anti-culture because it promotes hedonistic sentiments leading to obliviousness of our spiritual nature. Studies of over eighty civilizations show that once a civilization embarks on the descent into decadence, the trend has never been reversed at any time throughout recorded history. Therefore, there is no social, financial or political remedy to the present cultural situation.

So, what did Shri Prem Prayojan advise us? With optimism, he turned our attention to the authentic practice of singing the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord, as the miraculous and universal panacea recognized by both the sages of the Vedic civilization, such as Srila Veda Vyasadeva, and Narada Rshi, and also respected Russian Orthodox philosophers and theologians such as Vladimir Solovyov (1853-1900), Sergei Bulgakov (1871-1944), and Pavel Florensky (1882-1937).

In Russia, this phenomenon has been called Imiaslavie, glorification of the Name, or Onomatodoxy, the doctrine that the Name of God is non-different from God Himself.

When a person in a humble mood resorts to a solitary place or joins his religious community to sing the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord, it has an incredibly purifying and uplifting influence on every aspect of his life. In fact, this process is so powerful that the entire trajectory of civilization can be reversed from its impending doom spiral and set on course for the divine atmosphere. Each individual has the opportunity to realize his eternal, loving relationship with his source, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna.

Shri Prem Prayojan also pointed out that the principle of Name Worship was supported by Tsar Nicholas II. The revered Russian Emperor visited the Holy Land of Vrndavana in 1891 and made a study of the Vedic conception of Shri Krishna, as recorded in the historical memoir of his travelling companion, the diplomat and ethnographer, Dr Esper Ukhtomsky.

In this way, Shri Prem Prayojan constructed cultural bridges between the East and West to convey the universality of Vedic culture. Simultaneously, the audience were empowered to assess the true state of affairs by the broad spectral analysis of the decline of art and culture in the modern world and the vector of development through which modern human civilization, which has begun to wither, having lost its proper landmarks, can avoid its final destruction and decomposition.

The power of choral praise of the Holy Name invokes the miracle of divine intervention necessary to redeem and spiritually regenerate the present society by activating the telos of each individual as a beautiful spiritual flower, blooming with pure consciousness, emitting the fine fragrance of love for the Supreme Lord.

Political and artistic leaders who were eager for private interviews with Shri Prem Prayojan after the event expressed that their eyes had been opened to a new vision which would positively inform their future policy-making.

Reporting for Chaitanya Academy Moscow, Lalita Priya Dasi (BA Journalism)