few doubts

[Guest guest]

> My dear Gurudev,

>

> Please accept my respectful obeisances unto Your Lotus Feet. All glories

> to Srila Prabhupada and Your Divine grace. I hope You are keeping good

> health by Lord Nrsnghadev's mercy.

>

> Gurudev I have a few questions that have been nagging my mind. Kindly

> clarify them.

>

> 1. Why is it prohibited to eat betal leaves in ISKCON? I have seen betal

> leaves being offered to Sri Sri Radha Krsna. So in that case can we take

> it as prasadam? I have seen especially in South India, that betal leaves

> are auspicious and are offered to Their Lordships(this is prominent even

> in Madhva Sampradaya). Since I am pregnant, my mother suggests that I may

> have to eat betal leaves after delivery for compensating loss of calcium

> in the body. If it is offensive to eat betal leaves, I definitely do not

> want to eat them. Please clarify regarding this matter.

 

Betel leaves are called PAN leaves in other parts and are not prohibited to

eat. It is the Betel NUT or suphari which is a stimulant, and although the

LORD eats it we are advised not to eat the Betel Nuts as it can be an

obstacle for our sadhana bhakti.

>

> 2. In the first chapter of Bhagavad Gita, verse 1.36, it is said that we

> do not get sins for slaying the 6 types of aggressors. There are various

> people whom we come across in our daily lives who are such agressors in

> one way or the other, who affect us directly or indirectly. Does this mean

> that we can kill these aggressors in the present day and still not get

> sins for this? How should I understand the purport to this verse?

 

If a thief or miscreat attacks you, for instance, with deadly weapons and

you defend yourself and while defending yourself your oponent dies there is

no sin for that. Like that the meaning of Manu Samhita is clear. In

defense against an aggressor then even if he is killed there is no sin.

That doesn't mean that if someone who isn't doing aggression against us, but

is alleged to be an aggressor against someone else it doesn't give us the

right to be the judge, jury and executioner. It is part of the right of

self-defense. Otherwise the police can arrest an alleged aggressor and take

action in the normal course of justice.

>

> Awaiting Your replies for these,

> Your fallen daughter,

> Radha Rati DD.

 

I hope this helps you and answers your questions.

 

Your well wisher always,

 

 

 

Jayapataka Swami