Re: Arguments?

Some more replies from Facebook on these questions. So grateful for all the wonderful inputs by the devotees.

Tarun Gambhir

Dear Maharaj, this is not just western thinking but also many Indians think this way that if someone is engaged in spiritual activities and is obeying celibacy and renunciation from material attachments, this is due to his/her failure in achieving so called Material Success or him/her has chosen this way to satisfy false ego. But I believe that if someone has chosen this way for krishna's love then he/she is least bothered about such comments and concentrate more in spreading krishna consciousness activities.

Prema-Rupa Devi Dasi

1. A few have fallen down, this is true, but there are so many exemplary western devotees, and even if there is some fall down there is no loss or diminution on their path to Krishna, they just pick up again in their next life. It is difficult, yes, but not impossible, and Lord Caitanya recognizes that struggle.

2. for millions of lifetimes you are doing the exact same activities, working at some hopeless job and providing for your family. Maharaj has realized how futile this existence is and has given it up. thinking "oh if I dont do this then how will my family survive? oh how will my neighbors survive? what will happen to my country?" This is called a miserly mentality.

Prema-Rupa Devi Dasi

3. Grihasta means Krishna Conscious householder life. Making money and raising a family without devotion is not called grihasta, it is called grihamedi. You can be a householder and still be Krishna Conscious like Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

4. Again, there are many exemplary western devotees who do live a Vedic lifestyle. It is not a matter of Indian or American, Krishna Consciousness can be applied by anyone at any stage of life.

Gadadhara Das

Vaisnava means trancendental self realised soul. It is possible to be fully absorbed in Bhakti in the west. Obviously there is a big difference between external cultures such as Indian and American etc. But one is missing the point. Krsna consciousness is not external. Although it may help to undertake common external ways. i.e certain recommended sadhana practices, which results in realisations.

It is true also that many devotees try to act in certain ways which are not natural, for example a westerner trying to be Indian, or vise versa, leading to imbalance. Spiritual life means to be oneself, this is the challenge.

Some of Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami's disciples have fallen down, and many haven't. There is a mix of many different people with different adikhar, spiritual qualification. There are some idiots, some 'nice' people and some really advanced souls. We cannot see what level someone is on if they are more advanced than us, so we should be humble and respectful.

Gadadhara Das

We should also associate with like minded souls, and deal appropriately and offer respects to those whom are slightly more advanced and those whom are less, this way there is a smooth transition between different levels. Otherwise there will be a kanishta adikhar (lower level), unkowingly offending the higher souls. This is the worst thing possible.

All comments such as you are practising spiritual life simply because you are not materially successful, can be true for certain people. I am not aware who is involved in these cases. But there are certainly many amazing devotees who are sincerely following and are therefore considered perfect. It is very wrong to say they are not doing the right thing.
There are also many devotees who are conditioned to believe that what they are practising is bhakti, when in reality they are also living on the periphery.

Gadadhara Das

It is true if we are born in west we can act accordingly, rather than following someone else's external culture. Again, this is not pure bhakti, vaisnavism.. But what does it mean to live a devotional style life? It doesn't mean wearing certain clothes and practising certain rituals, meant exclusively for Indians. Vaisnavas can be born into any family, country etc.
There are many self realised souls taking birth in the west now. They should follow their own way sincerely. Each individual is so different.

And if we are not sure about some issue, such as where we should live and how, then we should sincerely ask for guidance from Krsna (supersoul) and from advanced vaisnava's (souls). If something doesn't feel right, we should be honest and adjust. Going towards the truth we become more blissful, not more miserable. We need a natural balance within ourselves, both individually and collectively and within the east and west, spiritual and material. All the best!

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