Following Krishna's orders

[Guest guest]

Bhakti Vikasa Swami wrote:

 

> "Krishna's plan becomes very easy for us when we follow Krishna's orders,

> otherwise, we are following Maya's plan and become frustrated at every

> step. Following Krishna's orders means chanting daily 16 rounds, following

> the four rules and regulations, rising early, associating with devotees,

> like that. Unless these principles are followed, we cannot expect

> Krishna's protection." Letter to: Jayadeva, Paris, 23 July, 1972

 

I was thinking some time about this text from Prabhupada and how this was

the basic knowledge and understanding we learnt about spiritual life and

practice.

What I sometimes miss in our education in our temples and preaching centers

is the VAD social and practical aspect of teaching our members the right way

of action within the human society.

What I mean by this is the following:

 

What my experience was in our ISKCON society, at least in the past, is that

we convinced someone to join a temple and dedicate his life to spiritual

practice and renounce his conection to the outside world and society.

 

Thus we became known as a sect or destructive cult by the outside society,

because we induced people to renounce the society instead of educating them

to become a mature and self conscious member of it.

 

Of course our intentions where good and Krsna consciouss to give someone the

basic understanding about himself as spirit soul and servant of Krsna, but

still something is missing, in my opinion in our education and policy.

 

The aspect of reintegration in the human society where we live.

Everywhere we read in the vedic literature that a disciple after finishing

his spiritual study at the ashram of the guru, becomes again a full member

of the society he came from, and performes his dutys there in full Krsna

consciousness following Krsnas orders, until he is renouncing it again at

old age, priparing for leaving his body.

 

Krsna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna and convinced Arjuna about the right

way of action in the society and not separate from it, so is ISKCON doing

the same in this regard?

 

Would it not be also Krsna consciouss to act in the present society acording

to Krsnas instructions and transform it thus through our implication in it

instead to remain aloof from it?

Would this not be also a way to follow our varna asrama dharma dutys

acording to the descriptions of the BG.?

 

Could a varnasrama dharma society not manifest also in such a way?

Transformation of the society through implication in it, or would this be

against the Krsna conscious way of action?

 

Like Janesvara prabhu wrote recently:

 

"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said that when devotees are appointed high court

judges that is when he will be convinced that the Krsna consciousness

movement is progressing."

 

 

Your humble servant

Harsi das