RE: Bhagavad-gita doesn't teach giving relief to the poor

[Guest guest]

Despite the Bhagavad-Gita not specifically teaching giving relief to the

poor, in the Mahabharat, Yuddishtira was always giving charity to the

Brahmins and other castes. In fact, a lot of wealth was required for the

Rajsuya Yagna and also the Ashwamegha Yagya. The reason for that was

because it was to be given in charity. In the Aswamegha Yagna, Yudhisthira,

than the emperor of the entire earth, gifted it to Vyasadeva.

 

 

 

Also, Srila Prabhupada himself said that no one should go hungry within 3

miles of a temple. He had setup huge Sunday feasts so that prasadam could

be freely provided. Expanding on this, the ISKCON food-for-life program

provides charity to all sorts of poor people around the world. They are

doing a fantastic job building schools and providing prasadum to the

villages around Vrindavan (this I have personally seen).

 

 

So, I am a little confused by this excerpt, and it feels like it is being

quoted out of context.

 

 

 

Krishna

 

 

 

_____

 

achintya [achintya] On Behalf

Of Bhakti Vikasa Swami

Saturday, April 23, 2005 5:00 AM

achintya; Atri Muni Prabhu; Balarama LOK; Ganga IDS; Jagat Purush dasa;

Mahesh Pandit Patna; Nitai Pada Kamala (IDS); Samvit Dasi; Vijaya Govinda

(das) BSDS (Chennai - IN); BVKS Sanga; ICC (Indian Continental Committee);

Prabhupada Disciples; Quotes

Bhagavad-gita doesn't teach giving relief to the poor

 

 

 

Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: [bg. 2.11] "Arjuna, you are

talking like a learned man, but you are a fool number one." Gatasün

agatasüms ca nanusocanti panditah. That means "If you had been actually

pandita, learned man, then you would not have lamented for this body."

Gatasün. "The body is neither a subject matter for lamentation, either

living condition or dead condition. It has no value." This is the

instruction, Krsna's word. But the modern civilization, they are giving all

value to this body, all their philanthropic work, hospitalization, and this,

so many things. Just like our Mr. George Harrison, he raised how many

millions dollars for...

Karandhara: Nine million.

Prabhupada: Nine million dollars, and, to the... This is going on. In the

Bhagavad-gita we don't find anywhere a single line that "You raise funds

for," I mean to say, "giving relief to the poor" or "to the suffering." Is

there any instruction in Bhagavad-gita? You have read. Can you find out? But

these people, they have become more learned than Krsna. In our country,

Vivekananda: daridra-narayana-seva. The whole Ramakrishna Mission is

collecting funds only on this rascal plea.

--Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.4 -- Japan, April 22, 1972