Questioning authorities. Our duty or kali at work?
Philosophy · asked by user [] · 2008-04-23 · 3 answers
You have heard it before: this temple president did this, this gbc that and other things but you didnt do anything because it is offensive, because you are humble or not your business.
Others who act shout at the evil doers, build websites and are called anti-iskcon, terrorists, demons or whatever.
And others can think that this is due to the lower modes and kali doing and succeding at her business.
What are your thoughts on this?
Should we ignore?
Should we act?
Should we "be transcendental"?
Others who act shout at the evil doers, build websites and are called anti-iskcon, terrorists, demons or whatever.
And others can think that this is due to the lower modes and kali doing and succeding at her business.
What are your thoughts on this?
Should we ignore?
Should we act?
Should we "be transcendental"?
user [149] · 2008-04-23
I like to follow this rule: no blind challenging, no blind following.user [279] · 2008-04-25
Seems to me one actually has to BE transcendental to "be transcendental." I did learn a long time ago that expressing my concerns to the powers that be made no or very little difference. But then again, i have no authority even over my dog. <s> That said, i am so grateful to those who do stand up, who do express themselves, who make a stand to protect and restore (for example : those devoted to restoring Srila Prabhupadas translations and purports from change) what is right. That does take a ksatriya spirit.user [284] · 2008-04-26
We may ignore itWe may act
We may be transcendental
All of the above mentioned options are OK depending on our nature and will. BUT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that there is no service proper made without the proper sadacara, that is etiquette.
So sadacara is very important when doing whatever action. Were supposed to be devotees or at least humble aspirant devotees, in either cases whatever we do, whatever we eat, whatever we offer, etc. must be done as an offering to our spiritual master an Krishna. So if we are tempted by ignoring, questioning, act or not become affected, this should be the save spirit, 1- the proper service attitude must be there 2- sadacar must be there 3- not challenging but seeking for the truth with all due respects - applying our research with intelligence being conscious of kala, desa, patra, etc.
We should do it in the mode of goodness; for purifying ourselves, for pleasing Krishna, as a matter of duty and free from the attachment to the result, without expecting nothing in return, (no praising from others, no expecting others to think about me " Oh this boy is really smart", no sense of victory or mental exciting for being victorious, nor being overwhelmed by the result whether good or bad.
So I think is a question more to do with the mental and spiritual attitude than the action in itself.
The action may vary according the nature of the person. But what makes it transcendental is to take shelter, for instance, first we should consult with senior devotees, spiritual master and sastra. Then following the footsteps of successful vaisnavas we should find the most beneficial inspiration for our minds and with purity (mode of goodness or even better visuddha sattva), proceed.
The problem is that many times we are not willing to take the austerity or the effort to be touched by goodness, and we fail. The problem is our bad mental habits, our attachment to ignorance and passion ways of behaving, etc. And this is the position of many of us, learning how to become educated. Its a whole universe, but there in no better struggle to do in this lifetime isnt it?
All glories to the Vaisnavas!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!