Let's start with a post I was reading on fb from a young devotee. She was under a lot of stress due to a significant problem, and not receiving help via authorities. The topic is not about her problem, that's not mine to share. The topic is how the Movement has changed so much that many new devotees aren't getting what we received. They don't have that spiritual family to count on, don't feel at peace within, and more of them leave than our generation. As I read her post, and all that happened to her, I felt sad. This is yet another reason to start your own at-home spiritual practice.
There are solutions. Take your instructions only from Jagat Guru, Srila Prabhupada. And start a small temple of your own 'safely' within your living quarters or regular meetings at a park in good weather, or etc. This way you surround yourself with safe people who also inspire. And practice peacefully, the bliss that is Krishna katha/ sravanam or hearing which includes reading nectar.
Also, see the links throughout this blog on sidebar or below, regarding "how" to do that.
Managing Director - new title for Temple President.
Why on earth change it? These little shifts are unnecessary, and adding up. While I'm sure they have some philosophical or convincing reason, I don't want to read it. Loaning an ear can be dangerous. Prabhupada instructed, don't change a thing! His instructions override any philosophy or convincing arguments they may create. Prabhupada said it - I therefore believe it. Managing Director has more of a mundane sound vibration to it than Temple President. Is it really turning into corporate Iskcon? Srila Prabhupada did not want that either. Matter of fact, he wanted the exact opposite.
New Sanyasi's and the Sanyasa Ministry.
I admit, I tend to keep my distance and did not know there was such a ministry; especially since I knew Prabhupada said, no more sannyasa. Yet there was a glaring post about it on fb. One devotee spoke of how wonderful the new candidates are, since most are Hindu or with a similar background - pointing out that they will be better than the Westerners who had emotional or mental issues.
My thoughts? How do we know that merely because someone has a good record now, they will not mess it up later? That was the case with many of the Westerners who previously took sanyasa.
Additionally, what makes one assume only Westerners can have emotional or mental issues but not those born in the East? Of course there are many wonderful people born in the East, but that is a digression. For some of them there are mental or emotional issues as well. And some can turn out to be the same as Westerners, just initially covered over by the fortune of being birthed in India.
I also wonder if the standard which even the average devotee accepts, has become: Anyone who is nice, is pukka, is sattvic, is pundita, etc - they are qualified to take sannyasa.
Certainly we want all those qualities; simply it is not to end there. The reality we have seen is that very few make it through life with such extreme sense control. Those who take sanyasa, often later in life do feel urges - leading to a tendency to take it out on others. Mostly women and children, but also men whom they can belittle.
Are sanyasi's still given too many privileges? Fancy prasadam? Are they genuinely living a simple life without many servants, or different special advantages that often belong to the householder? Bank accounts? Cars? In this age Prabhupada has warned that some sanyasi's take these.
If they are living in simplicity - that's great! However, can they maintain that for life? IMHO some applying to take sannyasa look too young. Sannyasa usually is not given until after 50 years of age, and usually after one has been married - thus real life experience.
We learned the hard way. Most of them could not give advice to householders since most had not married, did not have children living at home, no job or bills to pay. Even, often gave bad advice. Spoiling with servants and so forth turned out to be a disservice to many of them.
I do not know nor judge the upcoming. This is more about us.
Devotees have a responsibility to be sufficiently studied to recognize first scripture than kali-yuga experiences that reveal exactly what should be expected for sannyasa initiation. Not mere sentiment of "this is better than that;" rather shastric requirements. Maybe when the power of the people :) kicks in, the Sannyasa Ministry will as well.
Srila Prabhupada put a lot of attention on the irrelevancy of material birth, caste, etc,. We should not think because some have a better background [or so some assume], therefore they won't form another type of fanaticism. Are we becoming Hindu's now? Out of desperation "this/hinduism" becomes better than "that/westerner?" Well, give up desperation and maintain standards Prabhupada gave us, which is off the bodily platform - because Hinduism is not our path.
* More important are Prabhupada's instructions. When he said no more sannyasa, that should have been that. However, one devotee mentioned that the a guru told some to take sanyasa, even selected them. [We see how well that worked in N.V. Not.] My reply here? A real guru never goes against the instructions of jagat guru.
"This should be strictly outlawed, no more sannyasis." Srila Prabhupada Conversation, 7/1/1977
Something Else Semi-Broke My heart.
Only for a moment. I bounce back quickly. :) It's actually not limited to one person, but am often reading: "They were such a lovely devotee, but they left - became very fallen." At this point I figured they lost interest in Bhakti Yoga. But no, keep on reading: "They became a ritvik, we should pray for them." Wow, my heart did a nose dive.
Sure, I get it that there are a lot of angry and uncontrolled ritviks out there. I've even posted around this blog for them to cease and desist such behavior. Simultaneously, there are also a lot of mellow, sweet ones. They should not be lumped in together.
With that said, we are not suppose to judge a philosophy by the people who try to practice it. We are to use our intellect and follow the instructions of the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada.
The word 'ritvik,' came from the lotus lips of Srila Prabhupada. We had not heard of it before! Technically it's in our scripture, but so few knew this, that decades after his departure many claimed it was not. It was not a focal point when he was here. Thus, when he brought it up, it was news to us. Now, I'm not telling anyone what to believe. Just saying, hate for anybody is not very spiritual.
Deity Shoes & Arotika
Were did Prabhupada instruct to place Deity shoes upon the head at the end of arotika? It's not offensive, but not in line with our own Sampradaya. At least, that is what I was told when I researched and asked where this originated. I was informed: "the Ramanuja Sampradaya." Well, we are the "Brhama Sampradaya." To clarify, this is not a criticism of that activity, it's more about sticking with the instructions of jagat guru Srila Prabhupada.
Some claim 'he instructed us to improve deity worship.' My two cents, 'sure, improve, but not to go outside our sampradaya as if what we were given was not enough.' If I am mistaken, all I need is a quote from Prabhupada or some type of proof that it's within the Brahma Sampradaya. Why others don't take up this issue, or find it important, is beyond me.
[From God/Krishna, to Brahma, all the way down to Srila Prabhupada. Our Sampradaya]
Seats or sitting places to give class.
When I joined, it was a small rug on the floor. So simple and blissful. In cold areas some were, well, catching a cold. Therefore, they elevated the seats by building a small box a few inches off the ground, on which they next put the rug on top. I don't mean a fancy box either. Not ugly, but not fancy. Very simple.
Today, classes are given on a large, high seat. Too similar to a vyasana! Do not blame the person giving class. They have to sit somewhere. It is those who create such a standard, then enforce it in our temples word-wide, who need to correct this. Sitting on big seat above everyone else too easily takes away our humbleness. Please change it back to a rug or small box.
[I wanted to find a pic but without someone sitting on it, as that may detract from the real topic. Anyway, if you google a pic on the Vyasana that Srila Prabhupada sat on in the early days - and the so called regular seats used for giving class these days, well, you may be surprised at how similar they are.]
ABORTIONS.
Such a touchy subject. However, saw a post about it so had to blog here, a balanced perspective.
This is not to debate whether it's right or wrong. All religions state that it's wrong. We ourselves agree with Prabhupada's instructions. Those are, the spirit soul is looking for a home - if there is abortion, they were kicked out, horribly.
Now any reader who has had an abortion, if you take to Krishna Consciousness you can free yourself of that karma. [In sync with avoiding the 10 Offenses, especially going forward, one must not sin on the strength of chanting.]
* With that summarized, now on to my point: Stop blaming only the women! We can not unite if total blame is placed upon woman. Fact is, I mostly heard of someone's boyfriend insisting she get an abortion!
Additionally, I knew a girl, 15 years old, who became pregnant. She went alone to a place to eat. A man [her boyfriend's friend] told her to get an abortion. In all fairness I should mention, her boyfriend did not want her to get an abortion. She was very strong and replied 'no' to that man. But most of these young girls are not as strong. They're still growing up, and some adults are just growing. It takes some people more time than others to develop such courage, or gain more insight into all it involves.
Also many years ago :) oh around the 1980's, I saw an advertisement from New Agers giving seminars and get-together circles just for women who had an abortion and could not get over it. They were holding hands in a large circle, doing some therapy and maybe some singing.
One should stop and reflect: "Why would such therapy be given if all women who got an abortion really wanted to so voluntarily, and/or were genuinely informed?"
Parents also force abortions on their daughters. I recall one young woman in a chat room years ago who was mentally challenged, going out of her way to get pregnant. She finally achieved her goal. Her parents forced her to abort the child. To be mentally challenged is not justifiable, they have a right to children too, and those children have a right to life. Anyhow, that is but one example. There are many more where parents forced an abortion, tho the reader may have heard of them as well. [In all fairness, many parents are supportive of keeping the baby, or adoption.]
Sure, women are not off the hook, but they have all ready been taking the blame. That's imbalanced, as there are many who can contribute to someone undergoing an abortion. Including doctors and medical staff, specifically those who tell them there is no life yet. However, that's simply not true.
Therefore, boyfriends, parents, or someone they met out and about, who encouraged or guilted them to get an abortion - play a role as well. Especially those who either have physical control or psychological power over her. There's plenty of blame to go around, not only the female. :)
Let us take the attention away from blame, and place it more on spreading the concept to not do it. Instead, give a baby for adoption, or some other alternative. But let the world know - babies are alive upon conception; and really, before it. That spirit soul was just seeking a home in a mothers womb.
Though if you choose to speak about abortion, do so carefully, because hurting an all ready hurting woman, in most cases does not help her surrender unto you. :) Rather, it results in the opposite.
Therefore, we all know God/Krishna can forgive anyone for anything.
Let us focus on God.
More focus on Krishna, with encouraging such women to hear/read, and chant. Also include any doctors, family, etc who sincerely want to free themselves - they can do the same. Hearing, chanting, transcending. <3
Becoming Free
