http://pada.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.newsDetails&newsID=203565&from=list

Also, do these devotees have an email address?

I have just read your letter to Hansadutta Prabhu. I can empathize with your point of view. When I find myself in the midst of a mundane gathering I find the endless prattle devoid of Krishna Consciousness very difficult to endure.

Maya means, that which is not. And what is that which is not? It is the view of a world which is separate from Krishna. The devotee knows that nothing is separate from Krishna. Because there is nothing in existence except Krishna and Krishna’s energies. Ishopanishad boldly proclaims that even though so many complete units, such as this phenomenal world, emanate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, still He reamins as the complete balance. In other words, even though so many things emanate from Krishna, still there is nothing outside of Krishna. As you are Priya, very dear to Krishna, these statements are not new to you. but let us continue this discussion.

Srila Prabhupada poses the question as to why we are interested in Kurukshetra. What happens at Kurukshetra is the culmination of political treachery, deceit, murder attempts, through poison, through arson, attempt to strip naked in open court the wife of the world’s greatest dignitaries, the unlawful usurping of the kindom of the most saintly king. So many things. But Srila Prabhupada writes that we are interested in Kurukshetra because Krishna was there.

Of course Krishna is everywhere. Everything is in Krishna and Krishna is in everything. This is not simply some dead aphorism. This is a fact.

The word “sadhu” means to cut. To cut through the bondage of ignorance. Our primary business on this tiny planet is to practise the cultivation of Maya. To practise seeing everything as having no connection with Krishna.

In today’s churches, the teachers occupy paid positions. The idea is that, whoever pays the fiddler gets to name the tune. Like a horse, today’s preacher is bridled. If he says things that are not to the liking of the congregation, he looses his facilities for sense gratification. For this reason, the brahmana voluntarily takes the position of poverty. No one can buy him. He is God’s mouthpiece.

Sometimes when Dhritarastha would ask Vidura a question, Vidura’s answers would be very cutting. And when asked why his answers must always be so sharp, Vidura replied that “That is my job.” Because Vidura was a sadhu. And because Vidura was actually unattached to sense gratification, when his words of advice were met with hostility, he quit the palace, his position, and all the perks that came along with it.

So the preacher, the teacher, the advisor, his business is to put it under people’s noses. Srila Prabhupada would say, “It is a thankless task.” Just consider the apparent fate of Jesus. His only business is to show the real loophole in this unfurtunate contract that we have taken on for living in this material world, and we show our appreciation by putting him to death.

But how can we go to such people and begin to preach about Krishna Lila? It is like placing pearls before swine. There is no ability to appreciate. Their intelligence is impure.

Therefore, in bonafide processes there are rules.
Thou shalt”,and “Thou shalt not.” Because the price for impurity is ignorance. They cannot understand. They must be brought to the platform of goodness. Then they can hear.

And this brings us to your point of inquiry. Why speak of this? Why speak of that? Surely we can discuss something more palitable, more spiritual. But the thing is, that the teaching process is two-fold. And when we listen to the lectures of Srila Prabhupada, what do we hear? “This nonsense!” “They are fools – fools and rascals – so-called scientists.” “No, they are demons – saying life is produced from matter!” “Their only business is to kill God – God is dead!” “We should kick on their faces – if he is really in higher consciousness he will not mind. They are Sahajiya, taking things very cheaply, holding Bhagawat Saptaha.” “This is the world of cheaters and cheated, all fools listening, and rascals speaking – that if you vote for me I will give you heaven within 7 days – And then they exploit the state like anything, for their sense gratification.”

So the point is, that people are misled. They are surrounded by so many big rascals who are simply cheating. And as long as people are misled, as long as they place their trust in these big rascals and demons, there is no question of their making spiritual advancement. Yes, demons. Because if there is a chance of saving someone from repeated birth and death, and some big cheater says, “Just follow me, just listen to my godless philosophy, you don’t have to worship God. You are god. Illicit sex life is good for your health. Now you women, you are liberated. I am Sexologist. Go ahead and get sex like anything. Forget about living a simple life. This is the world of finance. Just encumber yourself and become slave to your credit card. You deserve it. Why have only 2 jobs. Now you can work 3, and have no time for these nonsense Krishna people. Real happiness is through sense gratification. Forget living a simple life. Now you can have all sense gratification, and go to hell. Just take this pill. Why suffer with erectile disfunction. Just pay $100 and enjoy. Just sew plastic hair into your head, and women will run after you. Wear these clothes. Wear no clothes. Buy these weights and develop big muscles. Then your real life will begin. Join our church. I am head Mormon and for a fee I will frighten these young mormon girls so that they will marry you as many as you like, so you can exploit them and enjoy. This is the greatest nation. You should be happy to give your life for your country. Allah will be pleased with you. Bush will be pleased with you. Your father lost his leg for the state. Now it is your chance. Go and kill as much as you can. I’ll stay at home and get kick-back from Haliburten. Eat Beef. You need it for your blood type, for your health. Keep the slaughter houses rolling. Cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, fish, goats, turkeys, turtles, snails, frogs legs, lobsters….

Sometimes, Priya, it is said, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” In other words we are so much surrounded by liars and cheaters, all saying the same things that we cannot recognize how we are being cheated and spoiling our lives. All this cheating must be exposed.

All these leaders must be exposed. All these drug companies must be exposed. All these breweries must be exposed. All these war mongers must be exposed. The list is endless. And someone has to do this job. Someone has to do this job. All the people are on a conveyor belt, mass conveyor belt to hell.

Sometimes people say, “Oh, you are being so negative!” but we are not being negative. We are trying to give people a chance to understand things as they are. People are so much enamoured with this slaughterhouse civilization. They do not know what is for their harm and what is for their benefit. That is not our idea. that is Srila Prabhupada’s vision. Expose these rascals. This is real education. Not the education of Dr. Frog, speculator Frog. This is real education. And those who are misguided, if they are seeking a solution, and if they have ears, they will hear.

We are pro-Krishna. This civilization is anti-Krishna. This anti-Krishna hell has to be exposed for what it is. We do not say like some rascals, just take up this process and continue your all nonsense. No. We say avoid this nonsense and take up this chanting. Then your life will be perfect.

I hope that this is helpful. Your servant, Ishan das

I am a Christian once again – for a long time. A Catholic, in fact, just as I was baptized, 53 years ago.

I accepted precepts very uncritically, as a young man sitting in your lectures. Devotees would say, “Who is following Christ?” and I would think, “Yeah. Who is following Christ?”

I should have taken a good look at myself, and answered, for myself: “Certainly not I! I’ve quit going to Holy Mass, quit receiving Holy Communion, I’ve taken to listening to half-truths and out-and-out lies about my Lord, Jesus Christ, and really ought to be ashamed of myself!

I offer you my own apology, Hansadutta. I should have championed the cause of Christ, not folded over and conceded the first time somebody made unflattering references to Christians and handed me a sweetball.

I owed that to Him, who alone can save my soul!

John M. Fewel

Wonderful article addressing HH BC Swami’s points. There is an attack on the rittvik system currently going on in the Sampradaya Sun. The same old mantra seems to be in vogue: rittvik system is not supported by scripture.
Would you please address that also?

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”