Hare Krishna,
The Bhagavad Gita was narrated to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra because there was not much time left before the soldiers on both side fought and killed each other. Krishna had to summarize the vedas, upanishads, and various philosophical theories to form one standard code of conduct for human beings. The introduction of Srimad Bhagavatam asserts that human society is no longer bounded by geographical limitations.
Really, weren't the king during Krishna's era involving in geographical limitations ?
In the Kurukshetra War, many crores of warriors lost their precious lives. It is said that they all gained liberation.
But what about the physical pain they had to suffer ?
What about their families and traditional dynasties after they left their body ?
What happened to their souls ?
During Kurukshetra War, Krishna got so angry to the point that He was about to Kill Bheeshma with the Chariot Wheel but Arjuna begged to give him a chance to fight against Bheeshma without any mercy towards him as grandsire.
How this is to be understood in today's scenario considering today's lifestyle of souls in Kaliyuga ?
In one discussion in Science of Self Realization , Prabhupada says that modern civilization is Godless.
How can this be understood and realized ?
Who are atheists and demons ? How does Krishna advise us to deal with them ?
Perfect Questions Perfect Answers, Prabhupada mentions that even a pigeon is vegetarian.
How can Rajasuya yagya sacrifices be banned completely in Kaliyuga ? Can devotees work towards the cause of saving animals and beg to government all over the planet of earth to ban absolutely any animal killing ? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu embraced animals in Jharkhanda Forest. How can the entire energy of human beings in devotees work towards saving animals and dedicating them towards Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ?
Can neophytes coming to temple be told about the cause of bodybuilding for killing animal butchers ?
Can devotees take out Nagar Sankirtan in butcher's areas and stop animal killing ?
PETA is a society that has passed laws and acts for stopping animal killing.
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Soooo many questions. I will treat each of your sentences as a question and give my comments on them to the extent I know.
The knowledge of the Gita was given in the battlefield, and not on the banks of any holy river, because it signifies that we have to do our sadhana and remember God in the battle of our lives, doing whatever is our prescribed duty. We dont have to renounce the world to learn or understand or remember God. Dont we all think that our life is a battlefield - so many things to do everyday, so many battles to fight in one lifetime? That is what it signifies.
Krishna getting angry and picking up the chariot wheel to attack Bheesma was just a leela. Does it mean that Krsna has no control over His anger? Then, wont that make anger God, because it can conquer God? This pastime was enacted to prove that God loves us so much that the word of His devotee is bigger than His own word. He is willing to break His vow to fulfill the vow of the devotee.
Regarding the pain the warriors had to undergo because of the war, before they got liberated, isnt it small change for liberation? Regarding the families, each to his karma.
Isnt modern society Godless? Do you think to the contrary? Pls elaborate. We as a society believe more in scientists than in scriptures. We dont even bother to find out what is the method of study, what is the sample taken, we simply have to read scientists are saying this..... we dont even read that scientific paper, we happily believe what is mentioned in the article starting with scientists are saying....and this is when scientists version of anything keeps getting updated, whereas I have never heard of updated version of Vedas or Gita.
Regarding atheists and demons, atheist is a person who does not believe in God. Demon is someone who knows and accepts that God exists, but is inimical to God. The 9th offence to the Holy Name is to preach to the atheist.
In PQPA, where Srila Prabhupada mentions that even a pigeon is a vegeterian, he is trying to make a point that we should not be proud of the fact that we are vegeterian. Something more is expected from a vaishnava, that he is Krsnaterian. That he will eat vegeterian food, prepared in the mode of goodness, only after it has first been offered to the lord.
Rajasuya sacrifices require a lot of capital, qualified brahmanas, lot of time, effort and resources. In the absence of all these ingridients, it is not possible to do the sacrifice. If not done properly, it will not give the desired result, that is why it is mentioned that it is not possible to do Rajasuya sacrifice in kaliyuga.
Regarding approaching the Governments of the world to stop animal killing - very good thought prabhu. Pls make a beginning and teach us how to do it. Pls understand one thing - saving an animal is one thing and dedicating them towards Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is a totally different thing. How do you propose to dedicate animals towards Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? We are facing difficulty trying to dedicate our minds and other human beings in the mission of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Can neophytes coming to temple be told about the cause of bodybuilding for killing animal butchers ? Didnt understand, pls explain.
Can devotees take out Nagar Sankirtan in butcher's areas and stop animal killing ? Very good thought, again pls take a lead and do the nagar sankirtan in butcher area and see if the desired result happens - you never know when and where and in what form the mercy will happen.
I hope I have answered all your queries. Pls feel free to ask further if you have any doubts.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD