Blog

Lecture By H.H.Bhakti Vikasa Swami Maharaj

So better to leave it to use on senior devotees, Guru’s and maharaj’s and if you have time use it for reading and distributing srila prahupada’s books.

I myself is not on face book,I decided that not to go in too much,So many people ask me ‘add me as friend’.I believe that it should be used only for preaching purpose.Because of Facebook our senses became impersonal, We are not meeting with people in real. And there is no direct contact. It creates intimacy which is created by being with people rather than digital impression of people on screen or digital sound of impression which is not actual or original.Being with actual people is less unless in modern world So,we became more mechanised.

Those who are leaving please take prasadam and then only go, Otherwise take photo of prasadam and give them on internet or facebook as photo prasadam. (laughter)

You may find many people on this facebook but personal interaction is not possible. So question is, Is it conducive for devotional service to use social network like Facebook etc? can we use it for preaching, sadhu sanga or other devotional interaction how far one should use such site on the name of preaching?

I prefer it should be used only for preaching purpose and on limited way by leading and senior devotees only. Some people they live their whole life around internet and Facebook,I mean apart from eating.So, i also use computer a lot for writing books definitely it is beneficial but don’t be internet or Facebook Junky. Don’t spend your valuable life behind Facebook. Sometime they use funny words like hiiii,,,,,,,,,,, or hello,,,,,,,,,,,and Wishing variety of words for birthday etc,It breaks Vaishnava etiquettes.

There is word like internet friends but only by Facebook how can anyone became friends of others.Friend means different exchanges priti lakshanam like Dadati Prati Gruhnati Guhyam Akhyati Guhyam Puchyati,giving something and receiving something, this is not possible with Facebook friends.Bhungte Bhojyate Chaiva this is also not possible with Facebook,Internet,Twitter or Orcut, how can you send prasadam by Facebook.All this done by personal interaction only.Not by Facebook or any other internet site. Do not use it as a substitute or do not use it for your personal interaction.

May remote people can use it for devotees association but do not live whole life behind this better to live with real people. Srila Prabhupada give us option that is farm community. Farm community means live life as Krishna personally choose to live life on land and with Cow.

Krishna is Vaikunthanath, if Krishna wish Mobile, Internet,Facebook,Twitter account he could have. Don’t think that we are more advance than Krishna. Krishna is in our heart he can hear anything even if we talk secretly with girlfriend, boyfriend or wife husband. Don’t think you two only knows,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, (Devotees laugh and Maharaj said but Krishna knowsssss,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,You can get Punished,Cruel Punishment.) Krishna prefer simple rural Agrarian life where is people are more real and natural in dealing with others.

When I see rural people in India I mark that this are the real human being but in cities they are like ghost or something.(Devotees laughed) really I mean they don’t like or look each other. You are here in city surrounded by many people but you may know very few. In rural life very normal relationship’s are there they know very few people, Help each other and live simple life that’s all. Now you can find some contamination because of TV. Facebook destroy our personal, real, natural dealing and devotional services.

My reply for question is personally I am not favourable in use of Facebook, etc,.It could be used by senior devotees and leading devotees only for preaching purpose do’t use other’s. Already life is too complex why this another complexity?For email i go sometime, I don’t like to use mobile also,Use only if you think real necessity. For my answer I got reply from my disciples and from one of them devotee narrates me the whole issue about the problem of Facebook with devotees in his resident area. Somebody comes in ISKCON and find this and he can use it for Money,Girls etc, using by some relevant name like Das, Dasi or Maharaj and they can cheat us may be Gaudiya Madh and Ritvikvadi can use it. 

According to this Devotee Facebook should be fifth regulative principle. Parent’s don’t have control on this and young people normally use more and more everyday may be two or more hours on facebook. Today’s youth think i am also using Internet, Facebook, OrKut, Twitter etc and feels proud to be modern but it is foolishness.

Years ago i said that do not use TV and don’t wonder around internet (now included with Facebook,Twitter,OrKut) if you have time better to read Srila Prabhupada Books or go for Distribute Books, Memorise verses or do something devotional. Internet and Facebook is useful but there is a lot of chance to be misuse. Facebook is next contribution of Maya.You can use it but tendency comes in mind to misuse it.

So my request and conclusion is better to leave it on Senior Devotees, Guru’s and Maharaj’s to preach by Facebook don’t use other’s. So if you have time go for Preaching, Books Distribution or read Srila Prabhupada’s Books. Facebook make you more and more shallow. So, other’s don’t use it at all

N.B. Please refer here word Facebook included with internet, orkut, twitter etc internet social site.