Lord Krishna Forum - Krishna Talk

BhaktaRay · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

One expects when going to a KC Temple that one will be engaged either physically or mentally is Krsna Consciousness. I have experienced, however, quite the opposite. I have been questioned about my material life and the topic never moves to Krsna. In fact, it's myself, the guest who has to direct the topic to Krsna. If I'm not mistaken, it's every Vaishnavas duty to instruct each soul he/she meets about his/her constitutional position. That is our primary task, dharma. In ISKCON it is accomplished primarily by the sale and distribution of Prabhupada's books. Nevertheless, beside the book bhagavata, there is the devotee, the person bhagavta. When somebody has read a book or magazine they might want to go to a temple and see for themselves, read the person bhagavata. If when they go they are only engaged on material topics. Their age (which seems to be the most important topic in the three worlds) their occupation, their address etc... then I believe it does violence to the spirit soul who has come in search of transcendental instruction.

honeyflowerservant · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 76

Hare Krshna Bhakta Ray,
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga,

i've read what you just said, and.. there's really only one thing i can say.
Srila Prabhupada often said that if you see a need then best not to just find fault, but rather you take up the challenge and fulfill that need. So perhaps if possible, you could give up whatever is holding you in the material world, move into the temple, and you could approach the guests and immediately engage them in spiritual topics. i don't mean to be clever because i don't know your situation.
Perhaps Srila Prabhupada is creating the whole situation because he wants you to take up the challenge.
If i've made any offense i apologise.
i sympathise because i also used to visit the temple and would find that i would be asked where i came from, and that would disturb me because i was not happy to say where i was from, because it would take me back to the bodily platform. now i think back and see that i was already on the bodily platform, or else i wouldn't have been disturbed. they were just being friendly.
anyway, best wishes and good luck in your spiritual progress,
Hari bol!

BhaktaRay · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

I don't know how problems are to be addressed if they can't be communicated, if they're going to be supressed under the cover of fault-finding. There seems to be no problem with temple devotees correcting and finding fault with the guests, however.

Bhakta John · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Michigan

Oh Trust me, they are finding fault with each other too!@!

:twisted:

madhu · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 37 Location: london

Bhakta John wrote: Oh Trust me, they are finding fault with each other too!@!

:twisted:
nice 2 see you're getting in the fault-finding spirit also... :D

madhu · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 37 Location: london

BhaktaRay wrote: . In fact, it's myself, the guest who has to direct the topic to Krsna. .
my,you ARE an ocean of great qualities,thanks 4 pointing them out,what would ISKCON be without you ? and don't get disturbed now
ps Sri Krsna is the big I,we are the little i.

BhaktaRay · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

madhu wrote: BhaktaRay wrote: . In fact, it's myself, the guest who has to direct the topic to Krsna. .
my,you ARE an ocean of great qualities,thanks 4 pointing them out,what would ISKCON be without you ? and don't get disturbed now
ps Sri Krsna is the big I,we are the little i.
Your sarcasm is noted. However I havent' implied anything about my relationship to ISKCON or its relationship to myself, but rather the relative indifference of temple devotees to visitors and manifest non-devotees. That doesn't mean as you sarcastically and defensively infer, that I am an ocean of great qualities. It does mean that the minimum qualification that one has a right to expect from qualified brhamanas seems to be lacking. To retaliate with a 'you too' mentality instead of invetigating the problem is inappropriate and only reaffirms my observation.

BhaktaRay · Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

madhu wrote: Bhakta John wrote: Oh Trust me, they are finding fault with each other too!@!

:twisted:
nice 2 see you're getting in the fault-finding spirit also... :D
A vicious circle. If noting that people are finding fault is fault finding, then so is noting that one is noting that people are finding fault etc...
There is no way to comment on fault-finding without being swallowed by this infinite regress then, except not to.

honeyflowerservant · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 76

BhaktaRay wrote: .... but rather the relative indifference of temple devotees to visitors and manifest non-devotees.

i cannot see how by being friendly towards a visitor to the temple by asking them personal questions can be called indifference, rather, i would see it as kindness and humility, just letting you know that you are welcome there. perhaps you should ask them back the same questions that they ask you? just a suggestion.. ask them about their age, show them some interest in their personal character. its just friendly gesture the way i see it.

madhu · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 37 Location: london

actually, i did investigate the situation,14yrs actually. self-glorifcation,,as in "In fact, it's myself, the guest (material designation) who has to direct the topic to Krsna.".will certainly do you no favours. have you ANYTHING good to say about any of these devotees ?
it's every Vaishnavas duty to instruct each soul he/she meets about his/her constitutional position. ...perhaps you could use ur posts to enlighten us all about our constitutional position,instead of ONLY pointing out the bad you see?
Personally, i took Srila Prabhupada's instruction,and very luckily and of course undeservedly, received Initiation from a Pure Devotee :D
Perhaps the devotees,you mentioned have decided to decline from close association with you,under order from their authorities,i witnessed this on many occasions,to be candid with you, i challenged the "authorities",so i became a bit of a problem. Perhaps this may be the case with you also ?
Also it's better not to do our dirty laundry in public. personally i will admit that i am full of bad qualities,so generally i try 2 keep my mouth shut,but as you noticed i am not very successful,this has caused me no end of misfortune. and as you say even a devotee chanting offensively should be held in the highest esteem,so i fear i have offended you,which i can only beg your pardon. Jai Sri Dayal Nitai