Museum Pieces

I've been trying to write this blog without any polemics, while it must be clear that I have a point of view. But by simply showing where I've been and where I'm going, something is revealed. No one likes being preached to.

Setting up a shot at Angkor Thom

Bhakti Rakshaka Shridhar dev Goswami

In my past, I was a bit of a fanatic and preached my heartfelt convictions very seriously. I'm sure I lost a lot of friends because of my attitude, but I felt I was in the right and tried to use argument to convince others. In Sanskrit, argument is called "tarka."

In a book that we produced at Guardian of Devotion Press, called Sri Guru and his Grace, my spiritual mentor and guide, B.R. Shridhar once commented on argument. He said as follows:


 "to reach that region is by revealed truth and not by reason (tarkabe pratisthanat). If we apply reason, we shall be nowhere. Among expert arguers, there may always be one more expert--in this way, on and on, no end. Thus, tarka, reason and argument, is inconclusive (apratistha). 

Intellectualism has no standing here, because super-consciousness is beyond our jurisdiction. It cannot be an object of our intellect. By serving, by honoring, by self-giving, by heart-giving, and never otherwise, can we invite that high guest. It is not possible to capture and encage Him by intrigue and conspiracy. Such an attempt will betray Satan in another color."

So I've tried to avoid arguing and debate, which seem to me to be non-productive in real inner truth-seeking. 

Tarka: Argument

I've known a lot of people, however, who seem to take this line exclusively, as if by pushing and arguing we will win something. I know what that is, because I still do it all the time, but I'm trying to purge this from my character. 

Argument and preaching tend to involve us in a kind of "holier than thou," attitude. Self-righteous superiority. Here's an interesting article on self-righteousness and ego: http://www.doyouyoga.com/are-you-yogier-than-thou/

For visual learners, here's a funny video:.How to be Ultra Spiritual

I mention this because, when recently I was asked to speak in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Russia and in Kiev, Ukraine, my first instinct was to preach about Krishna Consciousness. An older wiser teacher took me aside and said,


"Wow. That was brilliant. I feel like I'm back in the 1970s.

 "You preached hell hot and sin black. But don't you think your message would be more effective if you told people that we have something cool and we want to share it, instead of trying to convince everyone that you're right?" He made a good point. Being preached to is no fun. My guru didn't preach so much. When I was with him, I felt that he was someone who had a great treasure.

He didn't argue to us on the meaning of treasure: he would take a jewel from his collection and show it to us. He would tell us how to find the treasure within ourselves, but it was up to us to look.

Sharing treasure

I mention all this because I find that the Hare Krishna People of Russia, specifically at the Vedalife centers in Moscow and Kiev, were serious, nonjudgmental, friendly, and genuine truth-seekers who avoided being sanctimonious.

Vedallife Kiev

 Whether it was listening attentively to a talk on Krishna Consciousness

Temple of Sofia, Kiev

 Visiting interesting cultural places

Nautical Museum in Lahta

 Having a laugh at the Nautical Museum...

Cezanne Still Life, Hermitage Museum Collection

Exploring the Hermitage Museum and looking at art masterpieces....

Moscow Street Kirtan

Or having a raucous street kirtan, the devotees of Russia and Ukraine were mature seekers of truth who knew how to put aside political and sectarian differences and connect with spiritual reality. I admire their joyfulness.

Walking in downtown Moscow with Chintamani, Madhusudana, and friend

Anukrishna at Vedalife

Are we museum pieces?

There's no need for the Krishna Consciousness movement to become a museum piece from the 1970s.  And the enthusiasm and vibrant spirituality of the Russian and Ukrainian devotees I met on my tour to Angkor Wat prove that  the ancient wisdom traditions of India have universal value and can thrive even on foreign soil.