Hare Krishna, Prabhus.
I would like to ask for your suggestions, personal solutions, insights and advice on a rather delicate topic.
I have been studying modern German literature (of the last 100 years) for a college exam. If you have read Hermann Hesse's "Steppenwolf" - I have to read about 30 books that are more or less like that, and be able to analyze them, along with the biographies and philosophies about the authors and periods.
These books and topics are all just passion and ignorance; atheistic, antitheistic, mayavadi, relativistic; detailed accounts of all forms of sensuality and decadence; mental speculations; the ruminations of depressed, unhappy people.
In short - it is poison.
It is maya, 100% concentrated.
I have actually been avoiding studying for this exam for years, because it literally sucks the life out of me. Sooner or later, after about a week of work, I just don't have the strength to study this any longer.
Not to mention that practicing Krishna consciousness is made much much harder.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and successfully accomplished studying for such an exam (most notably in literature or art)?
What attitudes, activities or reflections proved to be especially helpful?
Thank you.
Hare Krsna
These books and topics are all just passion and ignorance; atheistic, antitheistic, mayavadi, relativistic; detailed accounts of all forms of sensuality and decadence; mental speculations; the ruminations of depressed, unhappy people.
In short - it is poison.
It is maya, 100% concentrated.
You can use your understanding and detailed knowledge of this in teaching and helping others.
bhaktincarol
Please accept my most humble
Please accept my most humble respect,
That's more than great news you are giving to me! Thank you so much. It's really the best help ever given to me in that field.
Thank you Jan,
Jai Sri Krsna
Wear a protective armor...
Hare Krishna
I have heard advanced Devotees saying that whenever we go out into and have to deal with the Material World, our chanting becomes our armor, which protects up from poisonous influences. Also, you could also try reminding yourself that you are doing this reading as part of your studies, as part of your Duty towards Krishna. That will help you study those books and yet remain detached and aloof from the matter therein. You could also begin with a small prayer to Krishna to that effect.
Hope this helps. :)
Your eternal servant
eternal muser
P.S. And once you get your qualification/ degree, you can always chuck all those books out and take up a career more in sync with Krishna Consciousness!
;-)
Wear protective armor
Hare Krsna and my humble respects to all the devotees,
I have a similar question but find myself in a very different situation. For the last 10 years, I was a song-writer and poet. Having always been a spiritual person, my songs and poems were often inspired by my spiritual convictions. I am the first to recognize that there substances are incomplete or imperfect. With my practice, which can be considered to be quite young, I understand that a devotee must at anytime speak and read on subjects related to KC. As I have no Spiritual Master yet, it becomes very difficult for me to make progress in both my practice and my field of activity. What about for authors and song writers?
reading
Hare Krsna Bern,
spiritual reading is done before accepting a guru and after that as well. Read Srila Prabhupada's books and songs of Vaisnava acaryas. They contain summarized Vaisnava teachings.
Hope this helps.
ys Jan
Hare Krsna Jan, Thank you
Hare Krsna Jan,
Thank you again for replying so quick. I read as many books from Srila Prabhupada for the last 3 years. Though, I'm quite conversant with the philosophy, I have difficulties to accomplish my mondane duties as an artist. Actually, song writing and poetry become irrelevant for me, as I feel my creations are incomplete and imperfect. Surely because I know more about Krsna's teachings today. But, being confronted to write songs and poetry, I'm looking for ways and ideas that will permit me to harmonize my creations so that they reflect more Iskcon philosophy. I welcome any suggestion and help.
Many thanks.
Radhe Radhe
Bern
songs
> Actually, song writing and poetry become irrelevant for me, as I feel my creations are incomplete and imperfect. Surely because I know more about Krsna's teachings today.
Yes, this is the result of a spiritual advancement. Distancing oneself from material sphere.
> But, being confronted to write songs and poetry, I'm looking for ways and ideas that will permit me to harmonize my creations so that they reflect more Iskcon philosophy.
Vaisnava acaryas's songs are model examples. You can also contact current Vaisnava poets to churn ideas. There's a Poetry section on these forums. See also Links.
Hari Hari
ys Jan
When things don't work out as one has hoped ...
Thank you, Eternal Muser, for taking the time and effort to reply.
I am already doing what you are suggesting - I chant; I pray before I study and at other times of the day; I have a list of passages next to me about work and duty that I compiled from the Bhagavad-gita, and I go over this list, reminding myself that I am just trying to do my duty to Krishna; I have BG 2.47 in big letters pasted next to my study desk; right in front of me, I have a picture of Krishna that I can look at anytime when studying, especially when the work gets hard.
And it all doesn't help. It doesn't make the work one bit easier. The only thing it perhaps does is that I haven't had a nervous breakdown yet, and haven't completely given up on the work. But I feel awful, and I get depressed at this work as I always did.
IRL, I have spoken to two advanced devotees about this. One could hardly wait to get out of the conversation, and the other one said I should "grit my teeth and bear it".
Reading from parampara
Hare Krishna Tekisui. Yes, it is a big problem you are facing.
Suppose they say you have to slaughter some animals to complete your degree requirements, will we do it? This is on the gross, perceivable platform. The problem you are facing is on the subtle plane which affects our mind and consciousness. By going thru all those books there is a chance that our minds may be affected by poison.
Once a devotee was researching material to understand the Mayavada philosophy to include that in a then upcoming book on KC. He was affected by it but he was guided by his guru to spend an equal amount of time on reading from parampara - SP's books. That is how he could maintain his balance. Srila Prabhupada once suggested a library of books by the different acaryas which included Sankaracarya. When the devotees raised a doubt against this, he said we wont get affected if we read them with proper understanding and added we can read to know what is their philosophy. Obviously this needs a good understanding and practice of our own philosophy.
If there is no way, you can get out of reading those books to complete your education, then do it but try to read an equal amount or more of SP's books. Again associating with advanced devotees is also important because their potency will work to cleanse your heart.
Radhikesh das
A good understanding and practice of our own philosophy ...
Thank you for your reply, Radhikesh das.
You said - "Obviously this needs a good understanding and practice of our own philosophy."
Yes ... I am experiencing the dire need for this every time I sit down to my books, every time I even just think of the exam.
In a way, this exam I am preparing for isn't so much in modern German literature, as it is a test of my convictions, faith and practice. I suppose this is the main reason why it is so hard to study for it.
Hare Krishna.
'inclusive'
Perhaps not directly relevant - but when I first came into contact with ISKON & some monks - I was well impressed at how well versed they are/were on other religions & philosophies ..
I know studying Christianity or Islam or Buddhism (for instance) is not the same as reading dry philosophy or fiction .. but all these books you have to read are obviously revered for some reason or another. Perhaps there is a reason for that .. that isn't necessarily all bad ?
Obviously I dont know .. but I always respected ISKON for being an 'inclusive' organization .. - I'm not saying these texts can even compare or be in the same ball park as the Gita or Swami Prabhupada's writings, of course not - but this is your exam - this is your path .. so try to find a positive reason for seeing it through to the best of your abilities ?
.. and yes of course, keep on with the chanting and holy reading !!
The truth of your faith can not be so weak that you can not read an irreligious book ? (I mean not out of choice - but because it is in your path ..)
Good Luck !
Hare Krishna
:3D)
books and books
> I was well impressed at how well versed they are/were on other religions & philosophies
Me too. Especially since I did some study of other traditions before, it struck me how Prabhupada's books make everything clear, even concepts which are quite vague in other traditions. He calls KC 'the postgraduate study of religion':
Prabhupada: Yes. Now this function is being done. It should not be taken that we are doing something, religious rituals. No. Religious ritual is different thing. This is... Although it appears like rituals, but it is transcendental. It is above all kinds of religion. It is postgraduate study. The process is how to develop love of Godhead. This is above all rel... Religion means, generally, some kind of faith. But it is not the question of faith. It is actually developing, how much you are loving Krsna, or God. So it is above all religions. It is not ordinary religion. Religion means... Suppose you are Christian, I am Hindu. As soon as this body is finished, my Christianism or religion, everything is finished. But this love of God will not finish. It will go with you. Any birth you go, it will develop. If you can finish, then you go directly to Krsna, back to Godhead, and finish your all material connection. Even if you are not able, then it goes with you. Asset. It is... The bank balance will not be diminished. It will increase. Then? (Seattle, Oct 20 1968)
> The truth of your faith can not be so weak that you can not read an irreligious book ?
It depends on the maturity of a devotee. The less mature, the sooner one is influenced by various forms of material consciousness in those books.
I remember one ocassion where Srila Prabhupada gave a personal example about this. Tamal Krsna Maharaj said in one lecture that Srila Prabhupada once picked up Time Magazine and after few minutes put it down, saying: 'Take it away. After reading it for a few minutes all I got is a big headache. It's expertly written so it's hard to put it down but the contents is poison.'
Hari Hari
ys Jan
PS: Please let me know how the cat issue was solved. You can email me, the contact is on our VEDA site linked in my profile.
> The truth of your faith
> The truth of your faith can not be so weak that you can not read an irreligious book ?
- ahh yes - that did read a bit glib didn;t it - wasn;t meant like that - more with a wink & a nudge ! ;D)