Re: Animal Skin in instuments

Dear devotees,

       Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Hadai prabhu has answered the question for me in a private talk. There is nothing wrong in using any animal skin or other materiall in mridangas or other instruments PROVIDED the animal in question died a natural death. The cow is so useful not only in life, but also in death. This does not encourage the slaughter of animals in anyway. Slaughtered animals come with grave karmic reactions and material from killed animals cannot be used in instruments for sankirtana.

       However on no account, slaughter of animals is permitted and cow killing is very highly offensive to Lord Krishna. "namo brahmanya devaya go brahmana hita ya ca...." So devotees can do well to buy only 'ahimsa 'animal products like ahimsa leather which does not come from slaughtered animals. Before buying any instrument, we have to ensure that no animal was killed for it.

       This is similar to how Tulasi wood is used for making japamalas on which we chant our japa rounds. The Tulasi plant must never be killed just because japamala demand may be high as it is the worst Vaisnava aparadha. Instead only those plants which complete their life cycles naturally can be used for japamalas. Using tulasi wood does not encourage or sanction offensive slaughter behaviour in any way. It was a big help for me and I hope it helps you out too.  Thank you Hadai prabhu!

Your servant,

Srinath

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Is impersonal merging temporary or permanent

Respected Guruji and all Vaisnavas,

          Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Please accept my respectful obeisances!

          While I was reading yesterday a strange doubt came to my mind. In Chaitanya Charitamrta Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami said that merging into the impersonal brahman completely destroys individual existence and all love of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada called it spiritual suicide. However Srimad Bhagavatam said in two places that even after entering into the position of brahman realisation, if the soul does not cultivate devotion to the Lord, then the soul will surely fall down from the impersonal brahman. In another book Srila Prabhupada wrote that the impersonalist attains the state of being situated as a spark in the brahmajyoti.

           So I got very confused and I am not able to understand. Is entering into brahmajyoti of one type (iirreversible)only or reversible or are there two types? If the soul is an eternal particle how can its eternal existence be destroyed? Or do the souls go into a hibernation like state in the brahmajyoti? If a soul really has merged into the brahmajyoti can their love of godhead be ever revived?

Respectfully,

Srinath

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