[Prev][Next][Index]
Re: a Post to alt.hindu Why this Ramakrishna- Vivekananda bashing?
-
To: alt-hindu@cis.ohio-state.edu
-
Subject: Re: a Post to alt.hindu Why this Ramakrishna- Vivekananda bashing?
-
From: vijaypai@kachori.rice.edu (Vijay Sadananda Pai)
-
Date: 19 Jan 1995 23:30:17 GMT
-
From news@larry.rice.edu Thu Jan 19 18: 17:48 1995
-
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
-
Organization: Rice University
-
References: <3fk27o$m6h@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
Tom and other RK apologists,
We did not pick this fight. RK did. On the one hand
he told his disciples stories from Caitanya-caritamrta
and other aspects of the Vaisnava devotional tradition
(such as katha about Vitthaladeva), but then he turned
around and criticized Vaisnavas _explicitly_ for having
the brahminical quality of humility, for considering
themselves to be fallen souls.
But Vaisnavas should expect to be attacked; it's been
part of the Bhagavata tradition ever since Narada Muni (who was
despised by one of the Prajapatis for convincing his sons to become
brahmacari devotees) and Prahlad (who stayed chanting om namo
bhagavate vasudevaya while his demoniac father and his minions
constantly tried to kill him). And these events were in
more enlightened ages; how can anyone expect the material world
to be kind to the devotees in this degraded age of Kali?
After all, Vaisnavas who preach pure devotional service
can hardly expect nice treatment from the gross materialists
or even from the mundane welfare workers.
Yours,
Vijay
