Preaching is the essence, not mysticism

Where I use Bhagavan, ex acarya, and Madana Mohana to reinforce my idea that mysticism is easier to practice than the exercise of politics. However, it brings only more confusion and do not address Prabhupada's desire to defeat atheists. 

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"Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the preachers engaged in the service of ISKCON should be very expert in putting forward strong arguments and defeating all types of atheists." SP.

Accepting to be confronted with other philosophical systems is a mark not only of courage, which is the least that can be done for a thought which claims to possess absolute truth and superiority of action, but it is also a mark of scientific reason. Srila Prabhupada was very much concerned by this last quality. In truth, not much has been done in this effect. One may wonder why we, devotees of Krishna, are not at the forefront of all philosophical and scientific debates?

In fact, it's quite the opposite; in order to avoid going for a dip (not to get wet, say the Frenchs), we affirm to be beyond the scrum of secular and worldly practices. For example, we don't indulge in politics, which is the acme of philosophy… I will sustain my allegations with Madana Mohana's poetry and articles of Bhagavan, the ex guru at the end of this pamphlet.

In day to day life, the result is pitiful. When addressing an assembly of devotees, you immediately realize that they live in the fog. Their minds reflect the confusion between reality and imagination that is severely criticized by materialists and "vain scholars" such as Feuerbach, Marx or Engels, just to mention the most vehemently against believers, and whose ideas are very prevalent nowadays in universities.

(I know, I missed to list an Indian philosopher in the picture. I can recall Rabindranath Tagore, but he was not this type of thinker. Usually Prabhupada never mentioned any of them, apart from Sankara. That's too far, anyway. I started with Kant from the 18th century onwards. I imagine that he studied them at the university, since they were popular in his time.)

I resume in a nutshell the problematic. We profess we are not this body and that our senses are imperfect. By this we mean our human incapacity to grasp things by ourselves, therefore we rely entirely on external sources. Materialists and philosophers object to this that our senses and body are the only and first means by which we acquire knowledge. In any case, external sources, they say, are not without imperfections, including the famous scriptures and gurus. In short, all this to emphasize that without debate there is no progress. That is my point. Without confronting ourselves with other thoughts, we live in a closed society, like a cult. My reasoning may be wrong or weak, but in the movement it is not possible to test it; devotees are allergic to such speculative exercises. I just happened to fall on the writings of Madana Mohana and Bhagavan; they are perfect illustrations of this transcendental philosophy. 

Excerpt of Madana Mohana's poetry.

I will now condensed my reading of two articles written by Bhagavan he published on Facebook. Links will follow the text. He voluntarily creates a dichotomy between religion and politics. So doing, he ignores bluntly that domestic politics is part of any community or city fonctionnement. Indeed, good politics allows religion to prosper, otherwise, only sectarianism will result, as a bitter fruit. He writes:

“I read a quote the other day that “every religion begins in mysticism and ends in politics” - then dilution and erosion. 

Although we possess the apex of philosophical thought as shown by Sri Jiva Goswami and all the mystic Acaryas in our line, all this astounding knowledge can be challenged by the misuse of free will. 

If the connection with the parampara is real and clean, it will be manifest, visible and palpable in the inherent beauty the Krsna Consciousness reveals - topmost of which is the power and beauty of resolution, cooperation, respect and kindness between vaishnavas. 

Don’t waste time thinking about solving the problems created by politicians. These are the machinations of the lower modes. You can not change this. It is karmic. But you as a yogi can modify your karma.

If you really want to make a difference in the world of duality, stop talking so much. It’s Maya’s mental quicksand. The more you think you have a handle on it, the more you sink. Don’t waste your philosophical minds on thinking politics can do real good. 

May the next generation of devotees be protected and protect the earth as Vishuduttas.”

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https://www.facebook.com/100000500643803/posts/8903685839658016/?app=fbl

"Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the preachers engaged in the service of ISKCON should be very expert in putting forward strong arguments and defeating all types of atheists." SP.