Hare krishna to all devotees,Yesterday i went to vaishnodevi temple, ahmedabad with my in-laws, and there, before leaving temple, the priest use to give a small silver like coin to all who came there for worship, saying that the coin will bring them more money(lakshmi) if they keep it in their pocket or wallet. I gave my coin to my brother-in-law saying that i dont believe in this superstition, i tried to explain them that the going and coming of money to them is according to the law of actions(karma). Hearing this my brother-in-law said that why i was wearing tulsi mala(kanthi) on my neck and tilak on my head, its also a superstition. I feel very bad because even after reading bhagwad gita, i was unable to answer his argument.. So i request to all advanced devotees to explain me how to handle or counter answer the questions and arguments of such persons.Hare krishna
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Well it is true that someone is rich or poor due to their past karma. So I would say you have to be very diplomatic with people who don't have a higher understanding of Krishna Conscious and maybe you thought you are in a better position than them, so that was your ego and by hurting their ego they have retaliated in the same way. By wearing kanthi mala is sign that you follow 4 regulative principles and tilak to represent a devotee of Lord Krishna but that is external appearance which anyone can imitate. So being a devotee is not by external appearance but being in the right frame of mind or consciousness that shows peace, humility, kindness, compassion and see the lord in everyone's heart. Finally not everyone is in the same mode of nature so you can't bring everyone to the same understanding.
To answer your larger question, how to handle questions from people - you have to be more firm in your devotion and read more. Start with small books like Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Life Comes from Life, On the Way to Krsna, Chant and Be Happy. Regularly study Gita - every time you read it, you will get a new insight.
If you come across situations where you dont have an answer for the question asked, humbly admit that you dont know the answer, or that you will not be able to explain the answer, but you will revert after asking experts. You can easily admit that you are a beginner (we all are, prabhu - pls dont feel bad about it) and that there are advanced devotees who can solve the question, maybe you can even use this as an opportunity to take them to the local ISKCON temple.
To answer your immediate question, tulsi mala and tilak is part of the vaishnava attire. Like how a postman will wear his uniform to work, defence personnel will wear their respective uniforms from which they can be identified, that same way a vaishnava wears tilak and kanthi mala, so that other devotees can also identify them and associate with them. THis is different from keeping the coin because the coin has been given by the priest to bring in better fortune - that is not the dress of any follower of any demigod.
It is said that whoever wears the kanthi mala, at the end of their life, yamadutas cannot touch them, Vishnudutas will come and take them. Another reason for the kanthi mala is that it differentiates us from the the general public the way a dog with a collar can be differentiated from a stray dog. Like how if we see a dog with a collar on the streets, even if we cannot see the owner of the dog, we know that this dog has an owner and that the behaviour ofthe dog will be different from a stray dog because this dog is regulated. That same way, kanthi mala signifies that we believe in Krsna and that we follow certain rules and regulations. We do not lead an unregulated life. In one lecture of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, he has even said that he is the servant of his spiritual master, HDG Srila Prabhupada and the kanthi mala is his dog collar.
Regardng tilak, the parallel lines on the forehead signify the lotus feet of the lord and the design on the nose signifies a tulsi leaf. Effectively, we have accepted the lotus feet of the lord on our forehead. The reason we put the tilak in 12 places in the body is that apart from purifying us, it also provides cooling. I have even heard that the 12 places are strategic, because if we put chandan on those 12 places, we will not be affected by heat, so important in a tropical country like India. So you can explain the socio- practical aspect of the tilak to him also.
The purifying aspect of tilak and kanthi mala is to be experienced by the wearer, that cannot be explained.
I hope I have answered the questions to your satisfaction.
Lol. Forgive me. I am not going to touch this loaded question. But your right and your brother in law is right. Everyone is a teacher. That was most funny and pleasing to me. I hope u r not in distress over this. If u see how he may be correct and how you may be correct there's gold in this encounter. Lol
adam steinberg > adam steinbergFebruary 19, 2014 at 9:23am
Regardless of what quote comes from the Rita here to still your mind. It's truth will not come from any religious text. :)
Replies
Well it is true that someone is rich or poor due to their past karma. So I would say you have to be very diplomatic with people who don't have a higher understanding of Krishna Conscious and maybe you thought you are in a better position than them, so that was your ego and by hurting their ego they have retaliated in the same way. By wearing kanthi mala is sign that you follow 4 regulative principles and tilak to represent a devotee of Lord Krishna but that is external appearance which anyone can imitate. So being a devotee is not by external appearance but being in the right frame of mind or consciousness that shows peace, humility, kindness, compassion and see the lord in everyone's heart. Finally not everyone is in the same mode of nature so you can't bring everyone to the same understanding.
Hare Krsna PRabhuji,
PAMHO.
To answer your larger question, how to handle questions from people - you have to be more firm in your devotion and read more. Start with small books like Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Life Comes from Life, On the Way to Krsna, Chant and Be Happy. Regularly study Gita - every time you read it, you will get a new insight.
If you come across situations where you dont have an answer for the question asked, humbly admit that you dont know the answer, or that you will not be able to explain the answer, but you will revert after asking experts. You can easily admit that you are a beginner (we all are, prabhu - pls dont feel bad about it) and that there are advanced devotees who can solve the question, maybe you can even use this as an opportunity to take them to the local ISKCON temple.
To answer your immediate question, tulsi mala and tilak is part of the vaishnava attire. Like how a postman will wear his uniform to work, defence personnel will wear their respective uniforms from which they can be identified, that same way a vaishnava wears tilak and kanthi mala, so that other devotees can also identify them and associate with them. THis is different from keeping the coin because the coin has been given by the priest to bring in better fortune - that is not the dress of any follower of any demigod.
It is said that whoever wears the kanthi mala, at the end of their life, yamadutas cannot touch them, Vishnudutas will come and take them. Another reason for the kanthi mala is that it differentiates us from the the general public the way a dog with a collar can be differentiated from a stray dog. Like how if we see a dog with a collar on the streets, even if we cannot see the owner of the dog, we know that this dog has an owner and that the behaviour ofthe dog will be different from a stray dog because this dog is regulated. That same way, kanthi mala signifies that we believe in Krsna and that we follow certain rules and regulations. We do not lead an unregulated life. In one lecture of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, he has even said that he is the servant of his spiritual master, HDG Srila Prabhupada and the kanthi mala is his dog collar.
Regardng tilak, the parallel lines on the forehead signify the lotus feet of the lord and the design on the nose signifies a tulsi leaf. Effectively, we have accepted the lotus feet of the lord on our forehead. The reason we put the tilak in 12 places in the body is that apart from purifying us, it also provides cooling. I have even heard that the 12 places are strategic, because if we put chandan on those 12 places, we will not be affected by heat, so important in a tropical country like India. So you can explain the socio- practical aspect of the tilak to him also.
The purifying aspect of tilak and kanthi mala is to be experienced by the wearer, that cannot be explained.
I hope I have answered the questions to your satisfaction.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Rashmi