What is sanga

[Chiranjib Das]

In my past, especially after Srila Prabhupada left my vision and before I met my beloved Shiksha-Guru, Srila Gurudeva I have done many nonsense and rascal things. All the while I was in the association of other devotees who were being nonsense rascals like me. Can I call that devotee association? I think not. Nowadays especially at our weekly home programs, I try my level best to represent Gurudeva and Prabhupada and force myself to conduct myself in a way to honor our Guru-varga. I try not to talk prajalpa at those times even though I still watch TV and videos and do other mundane fun things. mac-citta mad-gata-prana, bodhayantah parasparam, kathayantas ca mam nityam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca "The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me." Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 10.9 Just like at Badger festival and any other Harikatha festival of Gurudeva, I hope to derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Hari, Guru & Vaishnavas. Dandavats to you all!

[Chiranjib Das]

A traveling preacher informed me that all over the world, in our sanga, marijuana use is prevalent. It is discouraging to know this. In Nectar of Devotion, Srila Rupa Gosvami specifically says devotees should not take ganja. Our acaryas have have instructed us not to take intoxication. It is one of the four regulative principles- still we find ways to rationalize using ganja and say others who are against ganja use are overly judgemental and have a superiority complex. So many say that it is not harmful and non-addicting but we see practically that devotees have a very very very hard time giving it up. It is practically impossible to give up! For me, after taking SO many drugs for SO MANY years it occured to me that those drug experiences have not helped my bhakti. Drugs have not helped me avoid committing the 10 nama-aparadhas and have not shown me the path to nama-ruci. Drugs have not helped me surrender to my Sri Gurudevas. Please don't come to kirtans stoned or especially LEAD KIRTAN STONED!!! There is a vast difference between namaparadha and suddhanam......sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratra-vidhim vina, aikantiki harer bhaktir, upatayaiva kalpate "Although engaged in single-minded devotion to Sri Hari, if one transgresses the regulations mentioned in the sruti, smrti,, Puranas and the Narada-pancaratra, undesired qualities (anarthas) are produced. On the other hand, overzealous concern for the rules and regulations of bhakti, which dissregards the mood and injunctions of the scrioptures, simply becomes a disturbance to society." Narada-pancaratra/HBV/BRS1.2.101 etc. Srila Prabhupada was once informed about some devotees in Hawaii who liked to chant Hare Krishna but they only followed 2 of the 4 regulative principles [they engaged in intoxication and illicit sex ] What was their position? Prabhupada said it could take seven hundred lifetimes practicing KC in that way to go back to Godhead. Sorry but I need to avoid the association of the 700 lifetimer's club. I cannot agree with their perverted understanding. Even though I've been guilty of soooo much namaparadha [tried to engage the transcendental potency of Sri Nama in my sinister activities] sooo much intoxication and sooo much illicit sex I am nonetheless trying to turn to the true path of Bhakti under Srila Gurudeva's divine guidance. Please forgive me if I offended anyone Chiranjibdas

[Gadadhara das]

Still, there's plenty devotees I consider my senior who smoke herb. Will I abandon their association? No, 'cause after years of "clean time" I've lost taste and they don't use when around me. They are Srila Prabhupads disciples and their kids are Gurudevs and all are dear to him. It's as Candrakanta didi says "they go away and do it". Is this risky for my bhakti? Should I give up the friendship? No can...!

[Chiranjib Das]

As Candrakanta dasi points out, our association can amplify either our devotional qualities or our bad qualities. I want to be much more careful in the furute especially with Gurudeva's beloved disciples. May he sprinkle his mercy on us all!

[candrakanta dasi]

I think it's important to associate with devotees in a devotional way and avoid associating in a nonsense way. I remember Paramadvaiti maharaj told a disciple of his that if he absolutely could not give up ganja, then he should do it only with himself, not do it with other friends. It shouldn't be glorified and encouraged among devotees- our bad habits, and the things which we do that are against bhakti. Nice post :-)