Danda 1995 - Suhotra Maharaja Archives
Danda 1995 - Suhotra Maharaja Archives Danda 1995 - Suhotra Maharaja Archives
MODE OF GOODNESSQuestion from Nanda Kumar dasAugust 3, 1995Some devotees here read Kundali Prabhus book and are gradually becommingconvinced that without comming to the mode of goodness one cannot performdevotional service propperly. What is your opinion about this.Answer by Suhotra SwamiAugust 4, 1995I have only briefly examined his book, *The Nectar of Discrimination*. It wouldnot be proper for me to directly criticize it, since I am not familiar enoughwith the text to make an in-depth analysis. I do know that there are severalGBC men who have read it much more carefully than I. Their comments reflect aconcern about the author's intentions. But I do not wish to enter into adiscussion about these comments either.What I can say is based upon my own experience as GBC. In my zone, I had todeal with a few cases of devotees who, after reading this book or hearing hislectures on the subject of the three modes, became 1) rather mental about theirown devotional service, and 2) became critical of other devotees, includingtheir temple president, because according to their new-found discrimination theycould see that other devotees are under the influence of the modes of nature.They concluded that *N.O. Discrimination* gave them the right to reject theleadership of such devotees. There was one bhakta who, stubbornly defending hiscritical attitude by citing *N.O. Discrimination*, soon left devotional servicealtogether.This small experience of mine leads me to conclude that the assumptions thesedevotees formed after reading *N.O. Discrimination* have more to do with jnanayogathan bhakti-yoga. The jnanis believe that by discrimination they canattain the conception of aham brahmasmi, sešiny themselves as Brahman, andseeing how all other living entities are in Maya. To cultivate such aconception within the ISKCON association is without a doubt a dangerousenterprise. It can easily lead to Vaisnava aparadha.As I said to a temple president who raised this question with me before, to readsuch a book as this without forming wrong assumptions seems to require a levelof discrimination that we do not normally find in bhaktas/bhaktins and youngerinitiated devotees. It is therefore more adviseable that the devotees simplylearn about the three modes from Srila Prabhupada's books under the guidance oftheir spiritual masters.KARMAQuestion from Bhakta Jan MaresAugust 13, 1995Trying to find out who is directly in charge of karma I have found two differentinformation (quoted below). Could you please clarify this apparentcontradiction?SB 1.13.46 p., 1st par.: The highest perfectional project of philanthropicactivities is to engage everyone in the act of preaching bhakti-yoga all overthe world because that alone can save the people from the control of maya, orthe material nature represented by kala, karma and guna, as described above.
SB 6.14.55 p., 1st par.: The subtle laws of karma, which are controlled by theSupreme, cannot be understood by ordinary conditioned souls.Answer by Suhotra SwamiAugust 13, 1995I don't follow the contradiction that you say you have found in these twoquotes. Ultimately everything is under the control of the /lb(Supreme. Thematerial energy is the power of the Supreme. So what is the contradiction?Comment by Bhakta Jan MaresAugust 13, 1995I wanted to know if karma is controlled directly by Krsna or through Dueta asmedium (I don't doubt Krsna's supremacy).Answer by Suhotra SwamiAugust 14, 1995If there is no doubt about Krsna's supremacy, then there is no question ofcontradiction. This is a simple philosophical point of the Lord as the powerfuland His material energy as the power.VASTU PURUSAQuestion from Bhn LisaSeptember 2, 1995Can you please explain what is 'vastu' & who/what is the Vastu Prusa whocontrols it & his origin? What is his particular function & importance of it?Whilst in Mayapura this year, I noticed to one corner of the area where theyajna was being performed for the new temple, a raised area with 64 (I'muncertain) coloured squares. I think I remember that this had something to dowith Vastu Purusa- is this correct & if so, what is the connection?Answer by Suhotra SwamiSeptember 2, 1995Vastu means "substance." Questions about vastu and yajna should be addressedto Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja via the COM account of Govinda Das (SMP).ARE PAINKILLERS DEMONIAC?Question from Kamalavati ddSeptember 2, 1995Somebody recently told me that to take painkillers is demoniac since it showsour tendency to control and avoid the pain we deserve. Moreover the same devoteetold me that it's useless since we will have to suffer the pain we are avoidingwith the painkiller anyway. But I always thought that those who are trying to bedevotees should simply strive to surrender to Krsna and He'll take care of theirkarma - and it's much easier to perform activities in KC if we properly takecare of our headaches and other aches. Can you please comment on this - thankyou.
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- Page 47 and 48: Answer by Suhotra SwamiJune 27, 199
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SB 6.14.55 p., 1st par.: The subtle laws of karma, which are controlled by theSupreme, cannot be understood by ordinary conditioned souls.Answer by <strong>Suhotra</strong> SwamiAugust 13, <strong>1995</strong>I don't follow the contradiction that you say you have found in these twoquotes. Ultimately everything is under the control of the /lb(Supreme. Thematerial energy is the power of the Supreme. So what is the contradiction?Comment by Bhakta Jan MaresAugust 13, <strong>1995</strong>I wanted to know if karma is controlled directly by Krsna or through Dueta asmedium (I don't doubt Krsna's supremacy).Answer by <strong>Suhotra</strong> SwamiAugust 14, <strong>1995</strong>If there is no doubt about Krsna's supremacy, then there is no question ofcontradiction. This is a simple philosophical point of the Lord as the powerfuland His material energy as the power.VASTU PURUSAQuestion from Bhn LisaSeptember 2, <strong>1995</strong>Can you please explain what is 'vastu' & who/what is the Vastu Prusa whocontrols it & his origin? What is his particular function & importance of it?Whilst in Mayapura this year, I noticed to one corner of the area where theyajna was being performed for the new temple, a raised area with 64 (I'muncertain) coloured squares. I think I remember that this had something to dowith Vastu Purusa- is this correct & if so, what is the connection?Answer by <strong>Suhotra</strong> SwamiSeptember 2, <strong>1995</strong>Vastu means "substance." Questions about vastu and yajna should be addressedto Bhakti Vidya Purna <strong>Maharaja</strong> via the COM account of Govinda Das (SMP).ARE PAINKILLERS DEMONIAC?Question from Kamalavati ddSeptember 2, <strong>1995</strong>Somebody recently told me that to take painkillers is demoniac since it showsour tendency to control and avoid the pain we deserve. Moreover the same devoteetold me that it's useless since we will have to suffer the pain we are avoidingwith the painkiller anyway. But I always thought that those who are trying to bedevotees should simply strive to surrender to Krsna and He'll take care of theirkarma - and it's much easier to perform activities in KC if we properly takecare of our headaches and other aches. Can you please comment on this - thankyou.
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