Someone else's karma doesn't excuse my failure to act

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"COM: Nitai Candra (das) PDA (Manila - PHI)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2445318 from COM]

>

> >

> > While reading the latest comments in regard to Karma, and hearing from

> >different sources at what extreme reactions and indiference devotees are

> >capable, everything under the slogan "its all your bad karma anyway" I

> >would

> >like to humble add to this discussion:

>

> I would agree with you prabhu.I have heard some horror stories of devotees

> who were very indifferent to others sufferings rationalising that "It's just

> your bad karmic reactions prabhu".And that's why we have to not only

> understand the law of karma and be philosophically adept but be sensitive

> and personal human beings like Prabhupada was.

> He gave us plenty of philosophy,was very demanding of us but he touched our

> hearts with his kindness.

>

> your servant and cousin,

>

> Nitaicandra das.

 

Another point to be considered is that we should follow the example of the

great

devotees of the past. In the fourth canto, there is no mention of any quote by

Prthu Maharaja saying to his citizens, "So you are starving? Well, too bad.

That's just your bad karma."

 

Similarly, there is no quote in the Mahabharata of Bhima saying to Draupadi,

"So

Dushasana tried to tear your sari off? Well, I guess that's just your tough

luck. It's all due to your bad karma from your past offenses." You won't find

a quote like that from Bhima -- quite the opposite!

 

So whether something is someone's bad karma or not, is not for us to judge.

Our

responsibility is to carry out our respective duties to the best of our

ability. Certainly we don't want to be led astray from our spiritual focus by

materialistic charity -- nevertheless, we can also greatly injure the preaching

potency of the Krsna consciousness movement by our indifference to the

sufferings of others, and by neglecting to call for justice and to administer

help to those in our care who need it. This has been sufficiently proven

already.

 

It's up to Krsna to determine what is someone's karma. Our position should be

more like Krsna's devotees who seek to alleviate the sufferings of others,

first

by philosophy, but also by practical means as supported by our philosophy -- as

demonstrated by Prthu, Bhima and many, many other great Vaisnavas of the past.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi