Hari Bolo Prayatosha Prabhu, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! I appreciate your humble “feelings” in regards to debating with the atheists, but would like to suggest that actually the majority of the people on this distribution list, including yourself, are in fact the MOST qualified to stick it to the atheists. This was exactly what Srila Prabhupada trained us for and what he wanted us to do. l am posting this message to you, but actually I am addressing it to everyone who has participated in all the bickering that has characterized the majority of what I have read here over the last year. (And I would not describe those exchanges as being “Humble.”)
It’s relatively easy for Vaishnavas to clobber each other over the head with scripture but to actually go out into the public and challenge the fools and rascals who are promoting all the various forms of speculative nonsense is what I perceive separates the neophyte from the novice. Sure we are bound to make mistakes, but each time we do we get a little bit wiser and better prepared to make our case the next time around.
For 25 years I sat in the back of the bhagavatam class and just listened. Hardly ever was I asked to lead a kirtan or give a class. I never felt musically competent enough to lead a kirtan or erudite enough to give a class. When I did sit on the Vyasasana I did so with notes because I felt it was so important to get it right. However when I moved to Ojai I knew the only way I was going to have daily association with devotees would be if I went out and found them hidden among the daily public. It’s relatively easy to host a Vaishnava event and invite local devotees to come… assuming there are local devotees. But to get NEW people from the public to show interest in coming to a program to talk about God where there will not be meat, loose sex intermingling, intoxication or sports related gambling is a much more difficult task net to impossible.
The reason why I am sharing this with ALL of you is because Srila Prabhupada trained us so well the we ARE QUITE well prepared to take on the impersonlists, voidists, Buddhists, and new age charlatan gurus. Actually all these people represent different types of atheism. When I first started in my attempts to do that I made several mistakes and found myself having to run home to rethink how to handle particular issues that would come up. Krishna would always guide me to the proper understanding, technique, diplomacy etc. to become a more effective communicator of KC just as he promised He would in B.G. This has not only made me more qualified to see the flaws and address them, but it has also allowed my small nama hutta preaching program to grow and attract local people who have a genuine interest in better understanding KC. I still make my share of mistakes… but it’s all part of the process in becoming a more effective devotee.
I now lead kirtan and give class and I am astonished that I am doing it on a regular basis and apparently doing it pretty well. Occasionally visiting devotees have been overly generous in complimenting me for doing both effectively even though I sometimes wonder if they are just being kind. I personally also don’t feel qualified to do what I am doing, but I force myself to push on and become more bold in my stance. I regularly contribute articles to the Local Newspaper and have exposed the nonsense of New Age gurus, sidewalk Advaitist’s, Krishnamurti, the meat industry, Sai Baba, RajaNisha, Guru Mahara Ji, GungaJi & the River Gunga Foundation, and the futility of an unexamined life. Those who are sold out to these bogus things obviously don’t like what I write, but those who have retained the ability to think and reason rationally know that I am offering something that goes way beyond sentiment and rectorial double talk word juggling. In this way my nama hutta program continues to grow bit by bit with new bhaktis anxious to learn more about their lost relationship with Krishna.
So when I saw you approach Richard Dawkins web site I was elated because that is the type of place where all the people who have dominated this forum should set their sights and unleash their debate skills…. NOT AT OTHER DEVOTEES! We each have deep person convictions and are not likely to change them regardless of how many slokas one digs out of the folio and unleashes with vitro and abandon.
The fact is that some people appreciate the traditional melodies Srila Prabhupada gave us for chanting, while others appreciate the flexibility in Lord Caitanya’s statement that there are NO hard or fast rules in relation to chanting Hare Krishna. Yet hundreds of hours of long emails were fired back and forth from both sides pounding each respective point. Meanwhile Richard Dawkins went out and launched a very large scale media declaration that God Is A Delusion. Christopher Higgens, Sam Harris, Julia Sweeney and hundreds of other less well known individuals are right behind him with their equally challenging “In your face” declarations. Kali yuga is raging on while the only people who are actually qualified to stand up to it and prevent the demons from making horrible works meant to destroy the world are playing philosophical badminton to entertain themselves!
It’s much easier to argue about initiation rituals for over 20 years, then it is to carefully read what the new wave of Atheists are saying, formulate arguments, stand up to them and call their bluff. That takes real Brahminical skills and hutzpah. But make no mistake about it we have the tools to do it because Srila Prabhupada trained us much better then anyone from any other so called spiritual system, ashram, or yoga center. If we are willing to take on the challenge we will find the answers we need to win because Krishna and Arjuna are on our side. This is the duty we have as disciples of Srila Prabhupada and we MUST do it if we want to have the privilege to put tilok on our forehead!
In comparison to what some other people are doing my efforts are still small, but my appreciation for KC has grown tremendously and I really feel like I am doing something important and relevant to what Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do the most. There is no controversy in this field. I will be the first to touch the feet of any Vaishnava who stands up to all the cheating that is currently going on in the name of “Spirituality.” If they do that then I don’t care how they think Srila Prabhupada left his body, what their sexual preferences and habits are or who who they got initiated by. If they are spreading the rays of the benediction moon to the darkest regions of pop culture they should be considered saintly because they are properly situated. As the spearhead to deflate the schemes of the most powerful demons of our day they are in fact our spiritual heroes. I am hoping some of those heroes will rise out of this forum and follow with the example you have so nicely set. You are the first to lead the way. Do NOT become discouraged. Press on. You have been blessed with a very astute brain and can decipher all sorts of technical issues. Now apply that brain towards sorting out the flaws in what Richard Dawkins is saying and you can be sure that Srila Prabhupada will be VERY VERY Pleased with your efforts and your life will be glorious.
Again I am addressing this to you because you took the first step… but actually I am asking everyone on this forum to give the content of this email serious consideration then next time you want to pick a fight with another Vaishnava about some minor Smarta-Brahmin like principal.
Hoping this meets you in good health and enthusiastic service to Lord Sri Krishna!
Yours in the service of Lord Jagannatha,
Mayesvara dasa
American Vedic Association
Ojai, California 93023