Bathroom offenses
Philosophy · asked by user [] · 2009-04-09 · 7 answers
I guess this may seem a little silly, but Ive always had a trouble understanding the various bathroom offenses, so heres a few questions that come to mind at the moment. I dont recall seeing these addressed in NOD.
Ive heard that it is an offense to bring ones japa beads into the bathroom. If Im in a public place and have to use the restroom, it seems irresponsible to leave my japa bag hanging somewhere outside while I go in. If there is another devotee, we would take turns holding each others japa bag outside, but often this is not an option because there are no other devotees around. In those instances, I feel it would be more of an offense to leave the bag unattended where it may be mistaken for a money purse and stolen. Therefore I would bring it in, preferably tucked away in a pocket or other bag for protection. Is that right?
Ive been told it is an offense to bring sastra texts into the bathroom. In this digital age, the limits are not exactly clear. My Blackberry cell phone holds Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Krishna book, and many other books are virtually there on the Internet. Therefore when Im bringing my phone into the restroom, the sastras are coming in too. I dont feel like that is any kind of offense, though Im not sure why.
Similarly, I consider Srila Prabhupadas lectures to be sastra, but I like to listen to these lectures while I take a shower (and of course elsewhere as well). Is that an offense?
Pictures of Krishna shouldnt be brought in the bathroom, but the home screen on my phone is normally some picture of Krishna. Sometimes this picture shows up on the screen when Im getting ready to pick a lecture to hear, etc. Is that an offense? If I think of Krishna, it is like a picture in my mind. What about that?
Do I have to remove the Krishna conscious "materials" from my phone so I can bring it with me when I go into the restroom? That would seem counterproductive to me. Could offenses like these be a reason I cannot make any perceptible advancement in Krishna consciousness? Or it is the attitude that allows me to ask such questions that is responsible for checking my advancement?
If Im out in the woods and have to answer "natures call," how far away to I have to hang my japa bag for it to not be offensive? Or is it that it should be hung on the opposite side of a tree, from any distance, so that it is out of sight?
Heres a related question:
If I have my japa bag and I go to the barn, perhaps to give the animals some hay, is that an offense? The only separation in the barn between where the animals pass stool and urine is a fence, and some turds always manage to get outside that area too. Is one side of the fence OK, and the other side not OK for the japa bag? Can I go into the pasture with it, where the animal droppings are not as close together but still very much present? Is it ony where humans pass waste that counts, or are places where animals drop waste also restricted? If it includes animals, does it also include cows?
I guess thats enough for now.
Hare Krishna.
Ive heard that it is an offense to bring ones japa beads into the bathroom. If Im in a public place and have to use the restroom, it seems irresponsible to leave my japa bag hanging somewhere outside while I go in. If there is another devotee, we would take turns holding each others japa bag outside, but often this is not an option because there are no other devotees around. In those instances, I feel it would be more of an offense to leave the bag unattended where it may be mistaken for a money purse and stolen. Therefore I would bring it in, preferably tucked away in a pocket or other bag for protection. Is that right?
Ive been told it is an offense to bring sastra texts into the bathroom. In this digital age, the limits are not exactly clear. My Blackberry cell phone holds Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Krishna book, and many other books are virtually there on the Internet. Therefore when Im bringing my phone into the restroom, the sastras are coming in too. I dont feel like that is any kind of offense, though Im not sure why.
Similarly, I consider Srila Prabhupadas lectures to be sastra, but I like to listen to these lectures while I take a shower (and of course elsewhere as well). Is that an offense?
Pictures of Krishna shouldnt be brought in the bathroom, but the home screen on my phone is normally some picture of Krishna. Sometimes this picture shows up on the screen when Im getting ready to pick a lecture to hear, etc. Is that an offense? If I think of Krishna, it is like a picture in my mind. What about that?
Do I have to remove the Krishna conscious "materials" from my phone so I can bring it with me when I go into the restroom? That would seem counterproductive to me. Could offenses like these be a reason I cannot make any perceptible advancement in Krishna consciousness? Or it is the attitude that allows me to ask such questions that is responsible for checking my advancement?
If Im out in the woods and have to answer "natures call," how far away to I have to hang my japa bag for it to not be offensive? Or is it that it should be hung on the opposite side of a tree, from any distance, so that it is out of sight?
Heres a related question:
If I have my japa bag and I go to the barn, perhaps to give the animals some hay, is that an offense? The only separation in the barn between where the animals pass stool and urine is a fence, and some turds always manage to get outside that area too. Is one side of the fence OK, and the other side not OK for the japa bag? Can I go into the pasture with it, where the animal droppings are not as close together but still very much present? Is it ony where humans pass waste that counts, or are places where animals drop waste also restricted? If it includes animals, does it also include cows?
I guess thats enough for now.
Hare Krishna.
user [2] · 2009-04-09
My 2 cents: Cows is not a problem, you can rub your japa on their nose....For the rest I would do the best possible according to time and circumstance and seems you are already doing that.
user [38] · 2009-04-10
Cow is a purifying animal and a cowshed is a ritually clean place.user [149] · 2009-04-10
In regards to cow dung, according to the Mahabharata (Anusasana Parva, Section LXXXII) Sri Lakshmiji once begged the cow for a place to reside within its body. The cow told her that she had no need for Lakshmis association but Lakshmi conitinued begging the cow for the chance to stay with her. Eventually the cow cow told Lakshmi that she could reside in her gobar (dung) which Lakshmi happily accepted.user [72] · 2009-04-11
I heard the mouth and the nose of the cow are not pure....user [23] · 2009-04-15
[quote][cite] shina:[/cite]I heard the mouth and the nose of the cow are not pure....[/quote]I read a story once where it was said that a cow drank from a water bucket meant for people, and Srila Prabhupada instructed to cleanse the bucket with cow manure. I presume it would be rinsed after that before using. Sorry I cant give a reference.
user [439] · 2009-09-06
Our entire body is a toilet.If japa beads can be carried by the body-toilet; it can be carried into a real one too.
Krishna says think of Me even during evacuation, so whats the problem at all?
But it all depends on your sense of guilt etc. But I feel always do that which is intelligent, convenient; and not just follow blind conventions.
user [433] · 2009-09-14
Yes chirpycynic, conventions are blind.Why chant on Tulsi at all? Just another blind convention. Why chant,. mnore conventions!
Theyre all just following their guilt, wait till they wake up and realise that theyre god and stop worshipping Krsna!
Really?