Abandon all Religions?

[Guest guest]

The First time I read the Gita in 87,I was

totally<br>taken by the verse where Krishna says "Abandon

all<br>kinds of Religion and just Surrender to me", I

had<br>been in nearly every religion and path known in those

times, I was tired of looking for Him in all<br>books

and churches etc., so I give up all

religions,including Hindu,and just dedicated to learn how to love

him,I had never loved God,even that since a child I

prayed daily ,and knew there was a God,had never really

taken the time to make<br>friends and growed to make a

relationship with him<br>and love him,and I wonder if this is

what Krishna<br>means when he say that Sloka?,what do

really means<br>to Abandon all religions and just

surrender to him?,I will apreciate any comments.<br>in

total humbleness<br>tulsi

[Guest guest]

Dear Tulsi,<br><br>This is a very good question

and a very nice verse from Bhagavad-gita that you are

quoting.<br><br>sarva-dharman parityajya<br>mam ekam saranam vraja<br>aham tvam

sarva-papebhyo<br>moksayisyami ma sucah<br><br>Abandon all varieties of religion

and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from

all sinful reaction. do not fear.<br><br><br>Krsna

does not mean that religion is bad or should be

avoided by saying this. He has used the word vraja in

this verse, which is an indirect reference to his most

confidential servants - the vrajavasis - the residents of

Vrndavana. In the Srimad Bhagavatam we learn that the gopis

of Vrndavana abandoned all religious and social

restrictions by leaving home in the dead of night to meet with

Krsna in the forest of Vrndavana to engage in the rasa

dance. The gopis were married to others and had duties

to perform, yet when they heard the call of Krsna in

the form of the fifth note of his flute - they

immediately went to him - not considering anything but their

love for Krsna.<br><br>So religious and social rules

are there for a reason and should be understood for

what they are and we should understand the spirit of

those rules so that we know when to break them if

necessary. Ultimately, we have to give up everything if we

want to learn to love Krsna. If rules and regulations

get in the way of that love then we should follow our

hearts. But this is a very advanced stage and should

never be imitated. In general we should follow the

rules of moral and social conduct and strive to become

loving, caring members of society. When we reach the

plane of satva guna we can progress further. At a very

high level of spiritual attainment we will externally

follow all the rules and regulations so that we set a

good example, but our inner life will flow beyond the

rules and go spontaneously to the feet of Sri Radha and

Krsna.<br><br>In a general sense as well, Krsna is speaking of the

importance of loving God and coming directly to the path of

Bhakti. When one accepts this instruction he is no longer

bound by family, social and ecclesiastical

considerations. by adopting this path, even though the sadhaka

may make some mistake or apparently transgress the

laws of dharma, Krsna is assuring him that he will

protect him and that no sin will be incurred.<br><br>your

servant<br>Audarya lila dasa