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Re: Why thsi Ramakrishan-Vivekanand bashing?
Let us first settle this matter of wether Ramakrishna preached
meat-eating. True, during his practice of Tantra and of Islam he may
have taken meat [I will have to check on this]. But this does not
constitute the preaching of meat-eating. He had disciples [like
Turiyananda] who were orthodox in their ways and RK encouraged them to
keep to their traditions. In fact, he had strict injunctions on the
eating habbits of his closest disciples. [But of these Vivekanand was
an exception: "nothing can effect him"]. If it be RK did not actively
preach vegetarianism to some follower, that only shows his wisdom. If
you have been eating meat since your childhood it must be difficult to
give up at once.
Additionally, many RK admirers (like me) look at RK and Vivekanand
as almost-God. From my point of view, these two are thus allowed
liberties which you or i may not have. Krishna had 16000 wives,
Sri Ram hunted dear (for pleasure!), do we hold that against them?
Vijay Sadananda Pai <vijaypai@kachori.rice.edu> wrote:
>Undoubtedly there are faults that are harder to conquer, but none
^^^^
>could be more damaging (and thus serious) than the flaw of meat-eating.
>What religion can you talk to a meat-eater, one who cuts up dead
>animals to fatten his body?
Meat-eating is not the most damaging flaw. RK would probably
say that it is the ego, "the little I" which is the biggest flaw
or obstacle. Inner purification may be slow and it can take a long
time before a habbitual meat-eater can stop the habbit. If he/she tries
to do so at once, the whole thing may collapse.
And so, in the meantime, you can definitely talk religion to a meat-eater.
>However, it is particularly disappointing to see Hindus, who are
>supposed to know the Vedas and live their lives according to scriptural
>injunction, living like all the other religions and falling down
>ofrom their high principles.
I don't eat meat: but i don't have problems with meat-eaters who
traditionally have been so. As an aside, i find that as a general rule
people who have been veggies since birth seldom make a song and dance
about their vegetarianism.
>We did not pick this fight. RK did.
You indulge in all sorts of name calling. You have always
insulted Ramakrishna and Vivekananda which prompted all this.
You could have voiced your strong misgivings about them without
ridiculing them.
You write so boorishly and crudely that sometimes i think that
it must be some conspiracy to discredit ISCKON. Belive me,
once upon a time I had respect for ISCKON. I respected your single-
minded Nishta towards Krishna and the scriptures. But your attitude
puts me off.
>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?
Don't whine. You give respect, you will get it back.
Vishwanath
-vgr@vuse.vanderbilt.edu
