krsna katha

[Guest guest]

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

 

I think it is certainly a valid suggestion that there be a higher percentage

of Krishna katha on this conference. There is a nice quote from Srila

Prabhuapda's purport to Bhagavad-gita 4.26 about the prime duties of a

brahmacari:

 

"Since human life is not meant for our enjoying sense gratification like the

animals, the four orders of human life are so arranged that one may become

perfect in spiritual life. The brahmacaris, or students under the care of a

bona fide spiritual master, control the mind by abstaining from sense

gratification. A brahmacari hears only words concerning Krishna

consciousness; hearing is the basic principle for understanding, and

therefore the pure brahmacari engages fully in harer namanukirtanam—chanting

and hearing the glories of the Lord. He restrains himself from the

vibrations of material sounds, and his hearing is engaged in the

transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna."

 

Statements from the sastra that remind us that excessive attachment to the

opposite sex is a great potential source of infatuation and material

bondage, however, are not out of order. Such statements are made by the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna Himself, out of compassion, and are

meant for our protection.

 

Statements criticizing the character of women, or men for that matter, do

not appear to greatly benefit anyone, while they do appear to upset a lot of

people. I can be more attentive to eliminating them in the future and

apologize for letting the last one squeeze by.

 

One related point is that we can always try to use respectful language when

expressing disagreements with the opinions of others, who after all, are

Vaishnavas and thus are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

I hope this helps.

 

your servant,

Krishna-kripa das

moderator of Brahmacarya