Letters

Where the Journey Began

In Braja Sevaki Devi Dasi’s article (November/December 2004) she used as an illustration the slaughterhouse just off Interstate 5 in California. Nine years ago I passed by the same slaughterhouse and observed hundreds, if not thousands, of cows waiting to die. I was reminded of the Nazi concentration camps. It was then I became a vegetarian. I did not realize it at the time, but Krsna was starting to awaken my heart and soul.

Through my association with one of the author’s Godbrothers, Tribhanga Sundara Dasa, I have grown in Krsna consciousness, highlighted by a visit to Vrndavana, where I attended the dedication of the Puspa Samadhi [memorial] of their spiritual master, His Holiness Tamal Krsna Goswami, at Govardhan Hill.

I am thoroughly grateful to the author for taking me back to where my journey began.

Ron Wrinkle Via the Internet

The Soul and Sin

I have read that qualitatively the soul is like Krsna, just as a small particle of salt is same in quality as a huge chunk of salt. And since the soul is qualitatively like Krsna, it has all the qualities of Krsna. I believe that with Krsna, there is nothing like sin. Why then can the soul sin?

Douglas Bisiw Via the Internet

Our reply: We, the soul, can sin because we have independence. We can choose to act according to our spiritual nature and remain free from sin, or we can act in defiance of our spiritual nature and become entangled in sinful life. This independence, when purified and used to serve Krsna in devotion, gives great pleasure to both Krsna and His devotees. Krsna respects the right of each soul to choose its destiny. This is revealed in Bhagavad-gita (18.63) when, after teaching the whole Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, Krsna tells him, “Do what you wish to do.”

From Pig to Human

Through what deeds can a pig get a human body? Or a dog? Or any other living being?

Ruta Via the Internet

Our reply: Animals do not perform good or bad deeds for which they get karma to determine a future life. They are burning off their bad karma by accepting animal bodies. They gradually are promoted from one animal form to another, being purified of sins, until they rise to the level of a human being. Then they once again get the chance to elevate themselves to higher planets or the kingdom of God, to return to human society after death, or to degrade themselves and go back down to the animal kingdom.

Chanting Verses, Chanting Japa

Is chanting important? Every day I recite verses from Bramha-samhita, Isopanisad, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and Krsna verses recited before lectures in ISKCON. Since chanting these verses is a form of bhakti-yoga, do I need to chant japa of the Hare Krsna mantra? Or can I follow my way of doing bhakti, or devotion?

Veerendra Ekbote Via the Internet

Our reply: Your chanting of verses is very beneficial, and you should keep it up. All the nine limbs of bhakti free us from sins and bring us closer to Krsna.

Lord Caitanya is the yuga-avatara, the incarnation who came to teach the dharma for this age, which is the chanting of God’s holy names. He taught that the chanting of the holy names, as in the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is the best of the nine processes of devotional service. His followers generally would chant the mantra a fixed number of times around their beads.

It is best to accept a spiritual master who is a follower of Lord Caitanya and chant the maha-mantra under his direction rather than to construct your own practice. Srila Prabhupada was such a great devotee that he engaged in deity worship and organized a Rathayatra ceremony even as a child, but still he accepted a spiritual master and chanted the Hare Krsna mantra under his direction. So you also should accept a guru in the line of Lord Caitanya and practice as the guru advises. Since you already have a relationship with ISKCON, it would be wise to find a guru who is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and who can help you to follow Prabhupada’s instructions.

Chanter’s Destination

If someone only chanted the maha-mantra on japa beads, and never read anything on Krsna, Radha, etc., or offered a flower, leaf, or fruit to Krsna—or anything at all that a lay devotee normally does—what would be the outcome in the life after death? Would that person go to a heavenly abode or be reincarnated (through ignorance) as a lower life form?

Nigel Sunderland Via the Internet

Our reply: One whose devotion is incomplete generally takes birth as a human being to get a chance to complete it. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita verses 6.40 through 6.45. If one only chanted the maha-mantra on japa beads, he could become so pure that he would spontaneously follow the other principles as well, assuming he chants without intentionally committing offenses to the holy name.

It is possible that temporarily the person may live in heaven, but ultimately he would take birth here and get another chance.

Beards and Hair

What, according to the sages, is the significance of not cutting the beard and growing one’s hair?

Kevin Elius Via the Internet

Our reply: Generally persons trying to realize their nature as spiritual souls do not want to spend unnecessary time taking care of the body. Regarding the hair and beard, this is done in one of two ways: (1) always shaving off the beard and hair so you do not have to worry about them, or (2) just letting them grow, without taking unnecessary care of them.

Since cleanliness is an important part of spiritual life, Srila Prabhupada preferred the first method for his disciples.

Loose Friends

Some of my friends have totally different morals than me—sleeping around at the age of sixteen, drinking, taking pot, things like that, and it really bothers me, as it goes against Krsna views. I do respect them as people, but the question is, do I still remain friends with them? I think I do, but I’m not too sure.

Carolyn Hightower Via the Internet

Our reply: As devotees we are friends with everyone, but we associate intimately only with other devotees because that reinforces our inclinations toward Krsna. We try not to spend too much time with people who teach by their example that Krsna’s teachings need not be followed, for that can subtly weaken our faith in devotional service.

You can give such people prasadam, and books if they are philosophical or inquisitive, and you can invite them to devotional gatherings. You can be sympathetic to them, but you should be careful about associating closely with them. If you do get together with them, monitor your consciousness to make sure it doesn’t become degraded. You should know that Lord Caitanya advises strongly against such association because the potential for degradation is so great. Try to at least appreciate this point.

Dealing with Anger

Can you please advise me on the best way to deal with anger when someone has done something to you?

Daksha Via the Internet

Our reply: The bad effects of anger can be eliminated if one is fully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. A devotee considers that if someone harms him then he must have harmed the other person in a previous life. He also knows that Krsna reduces the karma of His devotees, so the devotee can remain peaceful, understanding, “Everything is all right. Actually I’m suffering less than I deserve.”

The more we are absorbed in devotional service to the Lord, the less we are affected by anger. So if you do not have a program of chanting Hare Krsna on beads, begin one today and witness the freedom from anger yourself.

Please write to us at: BTG, P. O. Box 430, Alachua, FL 32616, USA. Email: [email protected].

Replies to the letters were written by Krsna-krpa Dasa.