Who am I? I am a no one, no one important but I do believe in Krishna, Prabhupada and his movement. I am fairly new to Krishna consciousness in this life time its been around three years now I've had the honor of associating with the devotee's. In that time I have notice some things that I feel should not be over looked for a community thats trying to help others find their way back to Godhead.
I have notice that we have four regulation of no eating meat, no gambling, no intoxication and no illicit sex, But every where I see some of these principles being broken right in our community. I understand we are condition souls with many dirty things in our hearts "trust me I know" I am still praying that these impurities are cleansed from my heart, But what I don't get is when or who has decided that its fine to do these things openly in the community like nothing is wrong with it???? I know its hard to meet the standards but why on earth do we proclaim that there's nothing wrong with what I am doing??
Why are we changing the process to meet our needs? this is the first thing that contaminates all the religions of the world, The process says no chocolate so thats the process "NO CHOCOLATE" 
so if we have a chocolate addictions we should say " I am SORRY prabhu I have a problem please I wish to change and become better. I just need some time I know I am wrong, But instead we stand up proud-fully and proclaim I'm doing nothing wrong!!!! when Prabhupada ask about chocolate the devotee's at the time didn't give him the proper facts.Now in the end we have to really ask ourselves is this really for Krishna pleasure or my own, because whether Prabhupada had all the facts or not! we are all addicted to this world and the so called pleasures of maya and thats a fact!!!
Are we really trying to get back to Godhead or just pretending? Do we really want to help people? Do we really want to serve? Or have we all become just another hypocritical religious process that points the finger at the rest of the world but never takes a look at ourselves?? And if that is the case! then as individuals isn't it time we change!! for our Guru for Prabhupada for all the pervious Acaryas for krishna and ultimately don't we owe it to all those lost souls in the world. To set the example, because if we don't then who will if we can't be real with ourselves be honest and admit we have a problem then how on earth are we going to help others???? we are a mess and a mess in denial is even worst then a mess willing to improve,grow and better it self! A mess thats proud to be a mess will only get dirtier but a mess in shame of being messy will eventually become clean.
So please ask your self are you proud and defensive about certain touchy subjects like chocolate and standing up in a roaring voice proclaiming I am right and Prabhupada's facts are wrong (on this matter).
So here is my honesty I eat chocolate once in a blue moon I am also addicted to Maya I am sorry, it is not acceptable and I wish to change please help me!!! "honestly" become a better person and a better devotee! The best I can do for now is keep it outside the community and work on the higher taste and hopefully i will lose taste for the lower ones.
So for the new devotees to come, for my daughter (just born) I ask for us to raise the standard for our community keep the nonsense out. Lets better ourselves lets help each other "please"
Your servant Ryan Lowseck
3 comments:
Thank you Prabhu for sharing this. I couldn't agree more. Its one thing to struggle with following something and admit that this is my weakness, totally not in line with Krishna conscious philosophy and I'm trying to correct it. But its another to wrap the philosophy around one's attachments. This presents the wrong message to everyone and sets our society up for degradation.
In regards to chocolate, why not eat carob instead? I can't tell the difference....which may have resulted in me unintentionally consuming some offered to me by other devotees under the guise of carob but...that's another issue all together.
One thing I would like to point out which is a common misconception in our society that it is "no sex other than for procreation" not "no sex outside of marriage." There is a big difference between the two. The latter is what Christians follow whereas there are innumerable quotes by Srila Prabhupada to support that no illicit sex means no sex other than for procreation.
I'm not saying that to pass judgment or condemn any one just trying to set the records straight.
Here's my confession: I aim to eat two pieces of dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) each day. Studies indicate that it reduces risk of heart disease.
I usually end up eating a little bit once a week, when I remember.
Illicit sex is a relative principle. That's why it's defined as "Illicit sex" and not as something else more concrete and specific.
What is "illicit" is different for different people, and at different stages of their life.
Generally speaking for Vaisnavas it means get a job, get married, have sex, have children (as a natural consequence), and raise them responsibly as devotees.
Prabhupada gives various indications, including that it's the duty of a husband to keep his wife satisfied, that they should/can have sex once a month after her menstruation (which means chances of impregnation are low). Anyway, you have to be sensible, and understand the goal is to be regulated, responsible, and realistic.
Further scriptural injunctions indicate that certain sexual activities are forbidden for brahmanas. No need for me to go into detail here, but some are covered in the Bhagavatam, and others in the Kama-sutra.
Matsya avatara prabhu wrote a good article about it.
I know people who went from being sexually repressed in their marriage to blooping and visiting prostitutes. That's obviously not the idea. Sexual compatibility is an important subject to be discussed before marriage - not because you can come to a final and lasting conclusion at such a personally and relationally immature stage, but because it's important to have dialog and a process for working through it.
Thank you for your correction on sex in marriage i have made the correction. and yes i do eat carob i only have chocolate at times when I've work all day without eating anything and as Im driving home I tend to lack energy and start falling asleep {at the wheel] I have done this a couple of times this year. No excuse though its about being prepared and organize, Sometimes I buy carob and licqarish sticks and that does the job just fine. I hope one day i will never eat chocolate again and do anything thats keeping me away from serving Krishna and his devotees.
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