i've been chanting the mahamantra for five years now and i'm very grateful for opportunity that has been presented to me from His Divine Grace. HOWEVER, i Do think my money would be put to better use if i gave to the poor or an organisation such as the Catholic Worker. all trancendental considerations aside, do we really believe that the Lord would be very pleased that while SOME of His children are allowed this wonderfully elaborate, gold embossed, gem studded temple to chant inside of many, many more are suffering and starving right outside the door. Food For Life aside it is my humble belief, and one that is informed by a direct spiritual experience i don't really need to get into here, that giving in charity, as in the christian sense, is much more productive than building yet another temple that will ultimately collapse when the world comes crashing down. however, in an act of charity the one who gives is elevated to a more sublime position, the fact that one is giving in the first place has transformative properties in that it places the giver outside him/herself and acknowledges another as just as important as oneself.
in life, light and love

Haribol,

I am also rather new to this movement (3months) so please excuse any misunderstandings on my part. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It took some time for me to understand that sentance. It is taking time for me to truely understand the greatness of Prabhupada and his achievements. I am slowly begining to appreciate his legacy. However, I, personally, still find that when I read his translations and purports, I have trouble believing that his word is the direct, unquestionable source. No offense meant. I apologize beforehand. I know this is a touchy subject. Let me elaborate.

Many times Prabhupada talks about women, saying all kinds of things like "women like a man who is very expert at rape" (5th Canto) and "women are less intelligent" (everywhere). Now, I understand from conversations with devotees that he is not refering to devotee women. So, it seems that his translation needs translation. Why is that?

It seems to me, that the best translation of the Bhagadva Gita and the Bhagadvatam would be one which does not need further translation. Also, Srila Prabhupada spent most of his life in India. Many traditional Indian views regarding women, society and social custom are very apparent in his words. Granted, some of these views are Vedic in root, but many stem from social circumstances and accepted thoguht patterns of that society. In the west, things in the material world are a little different. Prabhupada admits himself admits of shortcomings of his own translation in the Bhagadvatam, 1st Canto and also introduction.

So, when it comes to spiritual instruction, I take S Prabhupadas words to be without a second, the divine word on the practice of self realization. however, when it comes to social commentary and discertation on the material world, perhaps he describes India, and some people in the west. I have spoken with many devotees, even a guru, who believe that the message could be easier to understand to us westerners if it were worded in a way more conscious of the culture in which we have been raised.

As for the comment about laughing at the Rainbow girl for her comment about the jewelery of the dieties, please be gentle to us newer devotees, and find it in your heart to understand where we are coming from. Diety worship is very, very difficult to understand. Yes, hemp is adornment, but it is dirty and from the earth. Very different than an ornate spotless palace and gleaming dieties. I came to Krishna through Rainbow myself, and it is quite a change. At first we do not understand that what Krishna enjoys is our love as we serve him, not our offerings, be they palaces, jewelery, or food. He accepts our devotion. That concept, the concept of giving God our love, is easier to understand than giving God jewelery. Perhaps if you had mentioned that the jewelery is simply a represntation of love for God, she might have understood it better. Perhaps. That is my humble suggestion.

Your Servant,

Stacia