The Need for Manu Samhita

[Guest guest]

Bhadra Govinda Prabhu wrote:

 

>Srila Prabhupada said, just the four books Bg, SB, CC, BRS are sufficient

>for the members of our movement. Even Social interactions and principles

>are found in these books.

 

I think you are quoting Srila Prabhupada out of context here. Yes, to

understand the process of bhakti and to cultivate spiritual life it will

be sufficient. But if you're going to repair your house, you'll

need other books. I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but

devotees are using other books, even (ugh) mundane books of these

low-born karmis. Many devotees seriosly improved their service

by reading and implementing principles, given in books of Stephen Covey,

Edward de Bono, and many others. I will even tell you a secret -

ISKCON Ministry of Congregational Development owes many ideas

of Bhakti Vriksa structure and work to certain christian

congregation project. Because the principle of our acaryas is

yukta-vairajna, we are using everything in the service to Krishna.

 

>The process of Bhakti itself burns all sins. Bhakti Yoga is the whole.

>Moral instructions are a part of Bhakti Yoga. I do not understand why we

>have to see moral instructions separate from Bhakti Yoga. Why should there

>be a separate endeavour for following moral pricnciples. If we can try to

>practise the laws of our ISKCON Law Book Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, then I do

>not see any need of separately following Manu Samhita, other than reading

it

>for academic interest, and to preach to outsiders, who can atleast come up

>to a certain level.

 

Telling briefly - practically all ISKCON members have certain material

propensities and desires, because they are still conditioned by

material bodies. If we will ignore or deny them, then we will develop

duplitious qualities, since bhakti yoga is a Gradual Process and

material desires cannot disappear at once. So Manu smriti teaches

us how to fulfill these material desires in Proper Way, so that

it wouldn't interfere with universal order and the will of Supreme,

and to unite everyone for cooperation in the Krishna worship.

 

>The 26 qualities - Kripalu, Akritadroha, satyasara, sama.....of a

>Vaishnava which a Sadhana Bhakta must practise during sadhana stage

>include everything.

 

But until they will be developed in the mass of devotees, we

have to tolerate the chaos in our society, right? That's what

you are telling.

 

>I did not know that CPO was based on Manu Samhita, or some mundane moral

>principles. I was of the understanding that this office was also devotional

>service like any other ISKCON's office.

 

That's a problem. You see Krishna only in the temple, and everything

outside of the temple you consider mundane.

 

Your servant,

Oleg.