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Srila Prabhupada speaks out -- Christ, Christians, & Krishna (fwd)
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Srila Prabhupada speaks out -- Christ, Christians, & Krishna (fwd)
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From: vijaypai@ece.rice.edu (Vijay Sadananda Pai)
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Date: Wed, 8 Feb 95 11:28:04 CST
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From vijaypai@ece.rice.edu Wed Feb 8 12: 17:53 1995
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In-Reply-To: <3hav0i$3js@larry.rice.edu>
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Newsgroups: alt.religion.vaisnava
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Organization: Rice University
Forwarded from alt.religion.vaisnava
(originally posted by Vijay Pai)
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Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out: On Christ, Christians, and Krsna
(BTG -- Volume 12, No. 12. Dec. 1977)
The Tolerance And Compassion of Christ
The Srimad-Bhagavatam states that any bona fide preacher of God consciousness
must have the qualities of titiksa (tolerance) and karuna (compassion). In the
character of Lord Jesus Christ we find both these qualities. He was so tolerant
that even while he was being crucified, he didn't condemn anyone. And he was so
compassionate that he prayed to God to forgive the very persons who were trying
to kill him. (Of course, they could not actually kill him. But they were
thinking that he could be killed, so they were committing a great offense.) As
Christ was being crucified he prayed, "Father, forgive them. They know not what
they are doing."
Christ, the Friend Of All Living Beings
A preacher of God consciousness is a friend to all living beings. Lord Jesus
Christ exemplified this by teaching, "Thou shalt not kill." But the Christians
like to misinterpret this instruction. They think the animals have no soul, and
therefore they think they can freely kill billions of innocent animals in the
slaughterhouses. So although there are many persons who profess to be
Christians, it would be very difficult to find one who strictly follows the
instructions of Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ Goes On Suffering for Your Sins?
A Vaisnava, a pure devotee of the Lord is unhappy to see the suffering of
others. Therefore, Lord Jesus Christ agreed to be crucified to free others from
their suffering. But his followers are so unfaithful that they have decided,
"Let Christ suffer for us, and we'll go on committing sin." They love Christ so
much that they think, "My dear Christ, we are very weak. We cannot give up our
sinful activities. So you please suffer for us."
Jesus Christ taught, "Thou shalt not kill." But his followers have now decided,
"Let us kill anyway," and they open big, modern, scientific slaughter houses.
If there is any sin, Christ will suffer for us." This is a most abominable
conclusion.
Christ can take the sufferings for the previous sins of his devotees. But first
they have to be sane: "Why should I put Jesus Christ into suffering for my
sins? Let me stop my sinful activities."
Suppose a man -- the favorite son of his father -- commits a murder. And
suppose he thinks, "If there is any punish ment coming, my father can suffer
for me." Will the law allow it? When the murderer is arrested and says, "No,
no. You can release me and arrest my father, I am his pet son," will the police
officials comply with that fool's request? He committed the murder, but he
thinks his father should suffer the punishment! Is that a sane proposal? No.
You have committed the murder, you must be hanged." Similarly, when you commit
sinful activities, you must suffer -- not Jesus Christ. This is God's law.
We Adore Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ was such a great personality -- the son of God, the representative
of God. He had no fault. Still, he was crucified. He wanted to deliver God
consciousness, but in return they crucified him -- they were so thankless. They
could not appreciate his preaching. But we appreciate him and give him all
honor as the representative of God.
Of course, the message that Christ preached was just according to his
particular time, place, and country, and just suited for a particular group of
people. But certainly he is the representative of God. Therefore we adore Lord
Jesus Christ and offer our obeisances to him.
Jesus Is Our Guru
Once, in Melbourne, a group of Chris tian ministers came to visit me. They
asked, "What is your idea of Jesus Christ?" I told them, "He is our guru. He is
preaching God consciousness, so he is our spiritual master." The ministers very
much appreciated that.
Actually, anyone who is preaching God's glories must be accepted as a guru.
Jesus Christ is one such great personality. We should not think of him as an
ordinary human being. The scriptures say that anyone who considers the
spiritual master to be an ordinary man has a hellish mentality. If Jesus Christ
were an ordinary man, then he could not have delivered God consciousness.
Krsna or Christ, The Name Is the Same
Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, and Christos is the Greek version of
the word Krsna. When an Indian person calls on Krsna, he often says "Krsta."
Krsna is a Sanskrit word mean ing the object of attraction." So when we address
God as "Christ," "Krsta," or "Krsna," we indicate the same all-attractive
Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Jesus said, "Our father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be Thy name," that name of God was Krsta or Krsna. "Christ" is
simply another way of saying "Krsta," and "Krsta" is another way of pronouncing
Krsna.
Therefore, the Christian clergymen should cooperate with the Krsna
consciousness movement. They should chant the name Christ or Christos and
should stop condoning the slaughter of animals. This is not some philosophy
that I have fabricated; it is taught in the Bible. If the Christians follow
these principles, the world situation will improve. If they simply stop killing
animals and chant the holy name of Christ, everything will be perfect. The
Bible also demands this. So the Christians should cooperate with us and chant.
Actually, it doesn't matter -- Krsna or Christ -- the name is the same. The
main point is to chant the name of God. The easiest way is to chant the
maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare
Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
