(Automatically translated from Russian)
Source: http://www.krishna.ru/news/15-news/3962-goswami-about-ukraine.html
Bhakti Vijnana Swami: As Vaishnavas we should try to set an example of peace, integrity and at the same time, the nobility, the highest example of compassion, based on lofty principles of Vedic philosophy”
Watch video (in Russian): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAmpBQnIJ_s&feature=youtu.be
Dear Vaisnavas, please accept my obeisances! Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I would like to say a few words about the situation in Ukraine and in Russia. With great pain, anxiety and excitement I’ve been watching how the situation develops, and feel the need to call upon all the Vaishnavas to ensure that discussing this conflict, we remembered about the basic, fundamental provisions of the Vaishnava philosophy.
We all must keep in mind that all living beings, regardless of nationality are part and parcel of God. Pain of any living being – it is our common pain, we are all connected very strong threads together, and it is impossible to find happiness expense of the pain and suffering of other living beings.
Vedic philosophy initially insisted on the unity of all living beings, unity among themselves, community and unity of living beings before God. Nature of the living entity is to be an eternal servant of God.
Very painful to see when Vaisnavas begin to fight each other in social networks because of their views on the conflict sometimes differ diametrically opposite way.
Of course, it all played out the scenario of Kali. Age of Kali is called in the Vedic scriptures “age of hypocrisy and hatred”, and from all sides of the most important weapons becomes a weapon of propaganda, the media, the Internet now.
We know that the last pillar of religion in our age should be considered truthfulness, which is now trying to undermine. Lies, penetrating into our hearts through the media, in the heart generates hostile feelings, hatred, that is completely opposite to what people should find in this life – the opposite of love. It’s horrible, inexcusable, because sometimes bloodshed of innocent people!
But even more appalling that thousands and thousands, if not millions of people getting involved in this story, start to insult each other, quarrel with each other, thus giving up the war with the age of Kali.
I would like to once again we remembered that we confess. We profess a religion of peace and love. We want to live in the country of love, in the realm of love, and for this we must banish from our hearts envy, hostility, anger. In our heart should be only good feelings that will emerge naturally, if we remember about our community, the higher unity of all living creatures before the Creator. The Upanishads says: “Vasudeva Kutumbakam – the whole world – is one big family.” And we as Vaishnavas especially closely related to each other. Srila Prabhupada made us really one big family, regardless of our beliefs in some secondary areas of this material world, one big family, really cemented the ties of love and spiritual kinship. This – the most precious thing we have: the spirit of service, the spirit of love, the spirit of mutual aid.
Now as Vaishnavas we should try to file another example of peace, integrity and at the same time, the nobility, the highest example of compassion, based on lofty principles of Vedic philosophy.
To share with you all these thoughts, I’m sure, of course, no external events will not prevent us to remain single family, grateful to Srila Prabhupada for what he shared with us these sublime knowledge.
Thank you very much!
Your servant Bhaktivigyana Goswami
Recall that at the present time in Ukraine there are no less than 35 yatr (communities) Vaishnavas. Ever since the Soviet era, when the space was uniform, Ukrainian Vaishnava played a huge role in the development of a single in the former Union of Vaishnava community. For many years in Odessa and Crimea arranged regular spiritual enlightenment Vaishnava festivals, which involved thousands of Hindus from Russia and other countries of the world, including from India. The most popular are such yatra as Kiev, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lugansk, Odessa, Simferopol and others. Ukrainian yatra traditionally respected in the community and actively participate in the cultural life of cities, selfless social service and charity.
Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Your message is certainly to the point under the circumstances. Your message makes absolute sense. In God consciousness, there is absolutely no room for quarreling. Paramo nirmatsaranam satam (SB 1.1.2).
What will happen lies in the hands of political leaders who are above the average common people’s influence. And God’s sanction must be in the background within an inconceivable plan behind it. Nothing happens by chance. Not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Lord.
One thing for sure, on either side we can observe the bodily concept of life in action, which twarths everything in the eyes of most men.
The bodily concept of life is not meant for persons who are conscious of being spirit souls. The mentality based on the bodily concept of life will not, or at least, should not affect persons who are cautious to remain above the swirls of the bodily concept of life. I am this, I am that. I am pro this, I am anti that. In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna says that all living entities are overwhelmed by the dualities of delusion from birth, namely desire and hate. “O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.” -Bg.7.27 Today we see it in practical life, and interestingly with an international flavor. The consequences might prove to be far reaching many populations.
Is there a Kurukshetra cooking up? God knows. In the end some historian could write that the whole thing was sparked for the sake of a peninsula. But the real reasons behind this whole stage play cannot be told to the public. They are not what either side will present them to be. All parties far too much know that they pursue the same objectives of advantageous military power and control, just from a different point of view. Each are as bad, or as good at it as any other country in the past. It is not worth to lose one’s soul over that. Chant Hare Krishna and try to remain undisturbed.
We can learn from the experience of Srila Prabhupad. When he was a young man in college in Calcutta, he like many was sympathizers of Gandhi’s movement to push Britain out of India. When he met His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad, he was convinced that this person had the solutions to the problems of the day and the problems of material existence. He felt that he met someone who truly represented Lord Chaitanya.
Our problems of birth, old age, disease and death will not be solved by a change of the political system. Certainly, the Russian bhaktas have known so much strife from the political environment, and yet they have persevered in their dedication to the Lord.
Krishna knows the future, just as he manifested the outcome of Kuruksetra even before it took place for Arjuna. So, these are times to become deeply faithful devotees. Even this planet has a finite existence, but the soul is eternal.
Pusta Krishna das