BG shows physical presence is required

[Guest guest]

Dear Janesvara Prabhu,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

> > > My opinion is, Deity worship and "diksa" rituals are just so many

> > > oblations into ashes if at the same time the practitioners are

> > > neglecting people and cows.

> >

> > Well thanks for your opinion, but I think that the Northern European BBT

> > has kindly provided this nice email facility to the devotees so that we

> > can understand what is the opinion of guru, sadhu and sastra.

 

> Thanks for YOUR OPINION, Prabhu!

 

> My opinion is based upon what I have learned thus far in my long, long

> journey toward Krsna consciousness. I have a long, long way to go for

> sure. And, therefore my opinion is certainly not close to perfect, but by

> repeating guru, sadhu and sastra my opinion may have some validity, I

> hope.

>

> Verse: "I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone

> neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in

> the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation.

> Purport: In purified consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, one see the

> presence of Krsna everywhere. If, therefore, ome only engages in deity

> worship in the temple and does not consider other living entities, then he

> is in the lowest grade of devotionalservice. One who worships the Deity in

> the temple, and does not show respect to others is a devotee on the

> material platform, in the lowest stage of devotional service." Srimad

> Bhagavatam 3.29.21

>

> Verse: "One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not

> know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramatama, is situated in every living

> entity's heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offeres

> oblations into ashes. Purport: In other words, a devotee should not

> ignore any living entity." Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.22

 

I found your original statement distasteful because it seems to be

forgetting that in spite of all our neglect of Srila Prabhupada's many

instructions on varnasrama and other areas of management, that ISKCON

devotees chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and avoid gross sinful

activities, and there doesn't seem to be any sign that these principles are

changing. And the Hare Krishna Mahamantra is so powerful that it will

eventually overcome all obstacles, provided we don't give it up. Thus you

may be able to say so many things, but you cannot say that our deity worship

and diksa ceremonies are totally useless, which is what "offering oblations

into ashes" means, as they both are saturated with the holy name.

 

We should all pray to Krishna that he will bless us that we will be able to

give up our quarrelling spirit and take shelter of the holy name for the

solution to all of our problems.

 

Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das