suchandra Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Good point, Tom Jones, additionally, you rarely find present Vaishnava institutions protesting liquor shops, butcher shops, abortion clinics, prostitution pimps, violent drug gangs or any number of other evils in the society. Although we see all kind of other welfare groups protesting, the Vaishnavas have learned to live with it? BOREHAMWOODS TIMES (UK) http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2129363.mostcommented.abortion_is_the_bigger_issue.php?act=login Abortion is the bigger issue Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth on a vist to Bhaktivedanta Manor. I could not avoid a certain feeling of cynicism on reading the latest chapter of the Gangotri saga (Shadow secretary tours Gangotri death sanctuary’, March 14). Indeed the cynicism was coupled with amusement at the Conservative Party’s attempt to leap aboard the politically correct bandwagon. In recent months both television and the press have reported on the efforts of Indian women, in the sub-continent and even here in the UK, to obtain selective abortions, often, it must be said, as a result of extreme family pressures, to ensure the birth of boy babies rather than girls. The practice is illegal in India, but thrives nonetheless. I have not seen any reports from Bhaktivedanta Manor opposing or even deploring this practice. I hope I am wrong and I would like an assurance from Bhaktivedanta Manor that they do, in fact, use any influence they may have to fight this deplorable practice. As far as the Conservatives are concerned, I wonder what Messrs Ainsworth and Vara’s positions are on the Govern-ment’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill? Apparently our Hertsmere MP, James Clappison, sadly supports this dreadful measure. Tom Jones, Tallis Way, Borehamwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theist Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Right on. Brahmanas are supposed to teach society how to regulate itself. Instead of trying to institute a formal varnashrama in society (which is impossible IMO) devotees can speak out on the subjects you mentioned and others to bring about the desire effect (as much as possible). The trick is to put forward the position in the light of spiritual knowledge. When discussing abortion we can mention that the greatest sin is denying another soul a human body, and the karma we accumulate means we will be aborted ourselves in the future. But putting it in these terms we not only make the correct statement against abortion but we bring up reincarnation, the fact that we are not the body, the law of karma. the purpose of human life etc. These social actions when taken up in spirit of Sri Isopanishad are a form of karma/jnana-bhakti yoga. Much more productive then trying to convince people that the moon is farther away then the sun or that Rahu attacking sun is what an eclipse really is. Offering down to earth practical solutions to the worlds problems is a perfect vehicle for disseminating the real solution to all problems ...divine knowledge. I would add that although the article was directed to Iskcon England really this is up to each individual to take up, Iskcon or no Iskcon. The brahmana teaches rather he is hired by a big school or not. Big classroom or under a tree, makes no difference. It his nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchandra Posted March 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2008 Right on. Brahmanas are supposed to teach society how to regulate itself. Instead of trying to institute a formal varnashrama in society (which is impossible IMO) devotees can speak out on the subjects you mentioned and others to bring about the desire effect (as much as possible). The trick is to put forward the position in the light of spiritual knowledge. When discussing abortion we can mention that the greatest sin is denying another soul a human body, and the karma we accumulate means we will be aborted ourselves in the future. But putting it in these terms we not only make the correct statement against abortion but we bring up reincarnation, the fact that we are not the body, the law of karma. the purpose of human life etc. These social actions when taken up in spirit of Sri Isopanishad are a form of karma/jnana-bhakti yoga. Much more productive then trying to convince people that the moon is farther away then the sun or that Rahu attacking sun is what an eclipse really is. Offering down to earth practical solutions to the worlds problems is a perfect vehicle for disseminating the real solution to all problems ...divine knowledge. I would add that although the article was directed to Iskcon England really this is up to each individual to take up, Iskcon or no Iskcon. The brahmana teaches rather he is hired by a big school or not. Big classroom or under a tree, makes no difference. It his nature. Could be that the uproar of the British Hindu community about the cow Gangotri's death and ongoing compensation claims to the British Government are almost forgotten, but to remind us the managers of the Bhaktivedanta Manor posted it at, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangotri_%28cow%29 Justice for Gangotri Homepage: http://www.justiceforgangotri.org/ Hindu Council UK: http://www.hinducounciluk.org/newsite/articledet.asp?rec=196 BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7160055.stm Times Online: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3047068.ece TopNews India: http://www.topnews.in/uk-hindus-express-outrage-over-slaughter-cow-iskcon-temple-29121 Telegraph Britain: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/14/ngangotri114.xml ISKCON News, Gangotri's ashes placed in Ganga and Yamuna River: http://news.iskcon.com/search/node/gangotri <dl class="search-results"><dt class="title">Gangotri's Ashes Placed in Ganga and Yamuna</dt><dd>... red powder (kumkum) to the Ganges and the pot containing Gangotri's ashes. As the crowds and media bustled around us, final prayers were offered and altogether we scattered Gangotri's ashes into the very fast flowing current of the Ganges. As the ... </dd><dt class="title">Gangotri's Killing Protested Outside RSPCA Headquarters</dt><dd>... Manor in Hertfordshire where the cow known as Gangotri was slaughtered by lethal injection. This killing came despite the ... Manor in Hertfordshire where the cow known as Gangotri was slaughtered by lethal injection. This killing came despite the ... said Vinay Tanna a spokesperson for the Temple, “Gangotri was taken care of by two herdsman 24 hours a day and was under the ... </dd><dt class="title">‘Bhumi Puja’ Ceremony Charms UK Hindu Community</dt><dd>... Europe’s largest cow protection farm, built in memory of Gangotri, the temple cow killed by the RSPCA. Plans for building Europe’s ... Enraged after the recent killing of the sacred cow Gangotri and noting the lack of sympathy from the government, many Hindu ... </dd><dt class="title">Work Starts on Europe’s Largest Cow Protection Farm </dt><dd>... Bhaktivedanta Manor, the temple where the RSPCA killed Gangotri the sacred cow and sparked outrage amongst British Hindus, will open ... where a new farm building will be constructed in memory of Gangotri. Bhaktivedanta Manor, the temple where the RSPCA killed ... </dd><dt class="title">Hindus Protest Over Cow Slaughter in London</dt><dd>... the House of Commons to raise awareness over the death of Gangotri, a cow kept at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple at Watford. While ... Dudakia said: "It has been two months since the death of Gangotri and her ashes have now been scattered in the River Ganges by some of ... </dd><dt class="title">British ISKCON Community Betrayed by RSPCA</dt><dd>... Photo Caption: 13 year-old cow Gangotri was unable to walk, but had no disease. Despite protests from the ... while worshipers were at prayer. The cow, named Gangotri, a 13 year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, and much loved by the ... </dd><dt class="title">Ashes of Euthanised UK Temple Cow Immersed in Ganges</dt><dd>... Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Feb.13 (ANI): The ashes of Gangotri, the euthanised sacred cow of the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple in the ... were immersed in the River Ganges on Wednesday. Gangotri was given a lethal injection last December after doctors of the Royal ... </dd><dt class="title">The Madness of Modern Morality</dt><dd>... of her devotee carers and “put down” the ailing Gangotri (a 13 year-old cow living at Bhaktivedanta Manor) they were moved by ... her devotee carers and “put down” the ailing Gangotri (a 13 year-old cow living at Bhaktivedanta Manor) they were moved by ... </dd><dt class="title">Angry Hindu Leaders Condemn Over-zealous RSPCA</dt><dd>... came uniformed into our temple and enforced the killing of Gangotri, a loved and cared for cow with no disease. Her only crime was that ... </dd><dt class="title">British Hindus Mobilize to Change Law</dt><dd>... Photo Caption: 13 year-old cow Gangotri was unable to walk, but had no disease. Despite protests from the ... </dd></dl><dl class="search-results"><dt class="title">20 January 2008</dt><dd> During the last hours of the ride to Gangotri after sunset I dozed off as the bus bumped along in the dark at high ... = "During the last hours of the ride to Gangotri after sunset I dozed off as the bus bumped along in the dark at high ... Thought For The Week </dd></dl> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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