Huxley Quote

[Guest guest]

Srila Prabhupada himself both in his spoken preaching and writing sometimes

quoted secular sources. It's true as Giri-nayaka Prabhu correctly points

out, devotees are generally not interested in hearing from such persons

(although as Vraja Kumar Prabhu comments below, sometimes Krishna may

inspire us even through non-devotees). If Vaishnavas sometimes quote such

persons it doesn't mean that they are accepting their words to be on the

same level as guru, sadhu, and sastra. Sometimes our acaryas quote secular

or even critical persons in order to establish a point.

 

In our particular case, Aldous Huxley said some things that are supported by

various sastras including, Mahabharata and Brahma-vaivarta Purana. We are

working on an article that partly addresses the topic of fault-finding and

criticism. We are interested to show how corrupt and duplicitous persons are

found in all institutions and religious organizations in Kali-yuga. And

further we are interested to show how the common response of criticising and

condemning those institutions for the faults of individuals within it is in

itself a major contribution to the problem.

 

It's an interesting subject. (Perhaps I can make a short plug:) This is the

topic of our next Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine entitled:

 

"Putana: False Guru's, Institutions, and the Holy Name"

 

If all goes well this issue should be ready by Kartika.

 

Das anudas, Madhavananda Das

--------------------------------

www.gopaljiu.org

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Madhavananda Das wrote:

 

> I'm trying to find the reference for the following statement accredited to

> Aldous Huxley:

>

> "The effects which follow the constant and intense concentration upon evil

> are always disastrous. Those who crusade, not for God in themselves, but

> against the demons in others, never succeed in making the world better,

> but leave it either as it was, or sometimes even perceptibly worse than it

> was before the crusade began. By thinking primarily of evil we tend,

> however excellent our intentions, to create occasions for evil to manifest

> itself. . . . No man can concentrate his attention upon evil, or even the

> idea of evil, and remain unaffected. To be more against the demon than for

> Godliness is exceedingly dangerous. Every crusader is apt to go mad. He is

> haunted by the wickedness which he attributes to his enemies; it becomes

> sort of a part of him."

>

> If anyone has any idea what book or article this originally appeared in

> please let me know.

 

 

Giri-nayaka Prabhu replied:

 

> > With all due respect, but Aldous Huxley?! Evil, demons? Why would any

> > devotee want to hear his words? I mean, I'm sure he is considered to be

> > quite smart by some, but still.... Why would you want to know the

> > reference for statements of Aldous Huxley? Would you care to explain the

> > purpose for that? I'm really curious. Is there no way to use Srila

> > Prabhupada's statements to prove the same points?

 

Vraja Kumar Prabhu responded:

 

> Although I am just another demonic non-entity, I would like to offer the

> following:

>

> Aldous Huxley produced one literature, The Perennial Philosophy, in which

> he assimilated the various philosophies of the world, including

> Bhagavad-gita, into one, and his book is a series of chapters each

> containing quotes from the various sources on the subject in hand, ie.

> God, love, brahman, atman etc.

>

> I for one found this book very helpful to me when I was hopelessly lost in

> maya and it consolidated many things, introduced me to vedanta philosophy

> - for it is those same conclusions which form the crux of his book - and

> thus prepared me for Srila Prabhupada.

>

> It's a long way up from the bottom of the pit and we need all the help we

> can get. Not everything outside of ISKCON is bad one knows; Krishna works

> in ways far beyond our limited understanding, we just have to be ready to

> receive - tat srinu. As far as I know, that is yoga.

>

> Your servant,

> Vraja-kumara das