tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post2873615018579832382..comments2023-06-23T07:21:10.343-05:00Comments on jauvana: India Journal, Part 4jauvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12487222708518775987noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post-52272668252620612322008-11-10T16:28:00.000-06:002008-11-10T16:28:00.000-06:00I'm right behind you and Ananda Svarupa on this on...I'm right behind you and Ananda Svarupa on this one. I found that Caitanya das' comment really disturbed my heart. This is a sort of arrogance that Western (talk about your sinful birth!) ISKCON folks are infamous for. I'm sorry to see it persists after so many years.Babhru dashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394886800750624206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post-70512097861670107602008-11-07T21:35:00.000-06:002008-11-07T21:35:00.000-06:00A comment by Srila Prabhupada in a class in Vrinda...A comment by Srila Prabhupada in a class in Vrindavan: <BR/>November 6, 1972, Vrndavana <BR/>Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.26 <BR/>"So our land of Bharatavarsa, it is not ordinary thing to take birth in Bharatavarsa. Just see, practically, how many men, they are automatically circumambulating this temple. Even a common man." <BR/><BR/>So before offending the ricksaw wallas for their "very sinful past life activities," hear the words of a pure devotee. In addition to being born in Bharatvarsa, these humble men live in Vrindavan which makes them Brijbasis. They are poor, but your analysis of them is much more poor and miserly.jauvanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487222708518775987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post-6758871906755573922008-11-07T09:46:00.000-06:002008-11-07T09:46:00.000-06:00We need be be VERY careful how we deal with any Br...We need be be VERY careful how we deal with any Brijbasi, including rickshawallas, beggars, monkeys, dogs and pigs. For them it is their last birth just prior to returning to Lord Krsna's lotus feet and any offense is not tolerated, unlike in Mayapur.<BR/><BR/>The externally materially poor rickshawallas see us westerners as rich wallas who can easily afford to be a little generous. Once in Calcutta, when overcharged by a rickshawalla, I asked him in Bengali why he was charging me more that the usual rate. In a delightful moment of candor he replied, "See, saheb, you are a rich man and it is my duty to charge you more because if I did not my fellow rickshawallas would laugh at me." Paying a little more is part of our cost for the benediction of visiting India. Take it as a built-in blessing.<BR/><BR/>Regarding Caitanya dasa's abysmally ignorant view that Vrindavana's rickshawallas are so because of "their very sinful past activities" and negative comparison of them to devotees, the fact is that the lowest of Vrindavana's rickshawallas is greater than any visiting devotee I know. I should be so lucky next life to be born a rickshawalla in the Holy Dhama of Vrindavana! <BR/><BR/>In fact, I find Caitanya dasa's comments offensive in the extreme and I wonder from whom who he took instructions in Krsna Consciousness. Better he approaches his guru and humbly beg for rectification.Carlo Aanandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12557908547405403176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post-3801963781297176332008-11-07T09:18:00.000-06:002008-11-07T09:18:00.000-06:00You would be lucky to drive a rickshaw in Vrindava...You would be lucky to drive a rickshaw in Vrindavan in your next life. Didn't Sri Uddhava pray to be born as a blade of grass in Vrindavan dham? <BR/><BR/>Is being grass less "sinful" than being a human being who lives in Vrindavan and who works to support himself and his family? <BR/><BR/>Who are you to judge the sinful past life activities of others?<BR/><BR/>And why do you even need a rickshaw if you are such a saint? Your holier-than-thou attitude shows just how much of a neophyte you actually are. Just because you read Bhagavad gita doesn't mean you have real knowledge.jauvanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487222708518775987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129180101130155093.post-31631896700228745062008-11-07T07:55:00.000-06:002008-11-07T07:55:00.000-06:00Your "kindness" to these rickshaw wallas, who are ...Your "kindness" to these rickshaw wallas, who are in their present position because of their very sinful past life activities, will be unkindness to devotees and other westerners who travel in India. Now, the rickshaw wallas will ask triple or even more price to any westerner they meet. There are different levels of charity, for different modes of material nature, if I remember properly...Caitanya dasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556686957733329857noreply@blogger.com