Hi Reb: I have read through this thread and have found it interesting. I am a bit confused, whereas you said that you used to be a monk, but it sounds like you are still a Vaishnavite, but perhaps mixed with Christianity in some way. Firstly, I am curious to know if you follow the Yogananda line of thinking wherein Ram, Krishna and Jesus were all Avatars of Vishnu, which means that essentially Jesus and Krishna are different permutations of the same divine Purushottama, secondly I am curious to know why you have decided not to be a monk any longer.
Namaste,
Gary
Yes, I used to be a full-time monk; “right-hand man” (so to speak) to one of ISKCONs leaders. Although that full-time involvement was way back then, still today I pitch my tent within the camp of Chaitanya. And yes, somewhat mixed. OK, normally you won’t find a Catholics (or Christian) reading seriously, books about “Hinduism.” And Vaishnava’s (devotees following in the line of Lord Krsna & Chaitanya) …here, too, you probably don’t find so many reading Catholic books. So I am the exception (lol). About your questions, no, I accept the teaching of the Shrimad-bhagavatam on the position of Ram, Krsna, & Jesus Christ. Lord Chaitanya called the Shrimad-bhagavatam spotless and within it you will read that Krishna is the uncreated God, and that Vishnu is an “incarnation” of Krishna. Rama is Krishna, but He appeared in a different age, and of course His appearance is different. Rama is not an incarnation of Vishnu.
In 1968. attraction to Lord Krishna’s Holy Name eventually led me to Shrila Prabhupada and what is known as the Hare Krishna Movement. Since then I have discovered that in India there are so many “authorities” about Krishna, Vishnu, God, etc. But like Roman Catholics who represent the original church, Prabhupada represents the same kind of long, original history with a lineage that for me, gives me a real sense of belonging to the real deal.
As far as Yogananda and the many other Indian authorities on God, if I were to try to pick and choose with my puny little brain, I would be a wreck. However, after Prabhupada passed away in 1977, an immature power struggle swept thru ISKCON and didn’t sit well with many of us. I was forced to give up the association that had worked for me for 4 years and placed in a position that was very difficult. But what was left behind after Prabhupada’s passing, were his books and the books of our lineage. Call it good fortune or grace, but I love to read. As far as me reading Catholic books, this all happened in a very round-about way. I was never a Catholic. I never had Catholic friends. Growing up as a young boy, I never thought about God but rather enjoyed killing animals. You know, “the big outdoors man.” My dad was an atheist. Having said all of this, somehow about the age of 16, I slowly began to change. My sister helped a lot.
As far as Lord Jesus Christ, I do know that the Hare Krishnas, in general, worship Him as good-as God, so to speak. This past Christmas a large mix of Christians and Krishnas came over and we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Two of the Hare Krishna devotees were Catholics. The have never stopped praying to Jesus. But as for me, I was more like a drifting log out in the ocean who got swept onto the divine shores of a Godly kingdom. That was nearly 40 years ago. However, it has only been these past 3 years that my awareness of the Catholic religion has really expanded.
And again, as far as Jesus (and this is just my opinion), I feel that this “substance” (divine-ness as I call it - see posting from yesterday), that consist of 3 persons only, is totally valid. But I also feel it is just “one side,” (think pyramid) or one “wave” of this divine-ness. The Holy Bible says that with God all things are possible. But where I disagree with Christians, is how only 3 persons are of this “substance.” That says to me that this divine-ness is not unlimited. No, I believe other waves exists. Other sides. This little difference is actually hugely significant. But it certainly doesn’t negate the wave of the Holy Trinity. It just allows for the substance (divine-ness) to be as we all know it to be, unlimited. Jesus said that what we presently know is not clear, like looking through a fogged window. It takes some honesty, does it not? We all look with our consciousness and we all see something as we peer through this spiritual window. Honesty tells us that something is there. The saints are able to see more than we can. Their eyes are anointed with love of God. Of course they can see more. Some of these Saints see different waves. Miracles happen, Jesus is there, Mary is there, Joseph is there, angels are there, Krishna is there, Chaitanya is there, Radha is there, Vishnu is there, etc.
You also ask if essentially Jesus and Krishna are different permutations of the same divine Purushottama. I don’t know if it is such a good idea to mix the two. Sometimes I speculate that Jesus and Nityananda are the same person. After all, they both know the hearts and mind of all souls. But I really leave that alone and simply when I am reading about Jesus, I let myself swim freely within the wave and waters of the Holy Trinity. When I am reading about Krishna, then I let myself freely swim within that wave. When I get out, I turn to both, thankful and full of love, and I worship both.
Thank you for asking.
) still having a beer, but still carrying Christ in our hearts and helping people and trying to send them to him in our way.