epidemic | The Hare Krishna Movement

Epidemic Disease, and Antiseptic Vaccine

17 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Health, Pandemic, Prasadam Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, antiseptic vaccine, bhagavad-gita, conspiracy theories, devbotees, epidemic, epidemic disease, health, Pandemic, political unrest, Prasadam, vaccine

In these troubling times, in the mist of a worldwide pandemic , there is a small glimmer or hope; a vaccine. I know there is much debate over mask wearing, and taking the vaccine, due mostly to political unrest, and conspiracy theories. Even amongst devotees, there is much debate.

However,Srila Prabhupada has given us some instruction in the Bhagavad-gita, chapter 3, text 14, on how we can help protect our health.

…the devotees of the Lord, who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, offer food to Kṛṣṇa and then eat-a process which nourishes the body spiritually. By such action not only are past sinful reactions in the body vanquished, but the body becomes immunized to all contamination of material nature. When there is an epidemic disease, an antiseptic vaccine protects a person from the attack of such an epidemic. Similarly, food offered to Lord Viṣṇu and then taken by us makes us sufficiently resistant to material affection, and one who is accustomed to this practice is called a devotee of the Lord. Therefore, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, who eats only food offered to Kṛṣṇa, can counteract all reactions of past material infections, which are impediments to the progress of self-realization. On the other hand, one who does not do so continues to increase the volume of sinful action, and this prepares the next body to resemble hogs and dogs, to suffer the resultant reactions of all sins. The material world is full of contaminations, and one who is immunized by accepting prasādam of the Lord (food offered to Viṣṇu) is saved from the attack, whereas one who does not do so becomes subjected to contamination. (from purport Bg 3.14)

Full text and purport

Honoring the Pure Devotee

23 Mar 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Padmapani das, Prabhupada Connection Tags: cataclysmic disaster, economic collapse, epidemic, latest headlines, news reports, Padmapani das, Prabhupada Connection, pressing threat of war, Srila Prabhupada

Honoring the Pure Devotee
by Padmapani dasa

Yesterday my good friend and Godbrother Padmapani Prabhu sent me this post, which was his First Editorial (Posted March 22, 2002), from his very successful web page The Prabhupada Connection. Although this editorial was written back in 2002, it is very timely today.

As the latest headlines and news reports from around the world become increasingly disturbing for us all, it’s quite natural to wonder just where the joy of life has gone for so many people. The pressing threat of war, economic collapse or some other cataclysmic disaster hangs ominously above our heads as we go about our daily activities, hoping against hope that somehow everything will work out all right. Yet deep in our hearts, we know that something might happen at a moment’s notice which can potentially destroy everything. Our precious lives—and the lives of our loved ones—hang in the balance. In reality, most of us don’t have much of a safety net except for a vague sense of faith that life will go on. If truth be told, we live on a wing and a prayer.

This constant state of insecurity may appear to be something new as a result of our so-called material advancement, which has ushered in a new era replete with multiple means of mass destruction. But according to the Vedic scriptures, this is an age-old dilemma for humankind. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, spoke the following words 5,000 years ago:

abrahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino’rjuna
mam upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.” (BG 8.16)

In this simple yet potent verse, we are confronted with both the problem and the solution to our material miseries and anxieties. According to Krishna, the Supreme Lord (and therefore the supreme authority), the very nature of this world is insecure because there is no permanent shelter here. Who can deny that life is constantly changing—for better or worse—no matter how much we struggle to make it stand still? As the old saying goes, “Time waits for no man.”

Srila Prabhupada Regarding Epidemics

22 Mar 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Coronavirus, Pandemic Tags: anarchy, calamities, Coronavirus, disease and epidemic, epidemic, nepotism, SB 1.16.5, SB1.10.25, Srimad Bhagavatam. epidemic

It seems that in just a few short weeks the world has changed. We as a people are facing a worldwide Pandemic, which is defined as;

Definition of pandemic:

(1) occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population

(2)an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population : a pandemic outbreak of a disease

There are many references given by Srila Prabhupada in his books and lectures on calamities such as the one we are witnessing today. I have included a few of them in todays post. -Vyasasan das

…By the celestial influence of the stars there are many calamities like excessive heat, cold, rains or no rains, and the after-effects are famine, disease and epidemic. (from purport: Srimad Bhagavatam 1.14.10)

Just try to understand… If there is an epidemic, infection, so in that condition, first of all what is the necessity? First thing is to disinfect the epidemic. (from lecture on [SB 1.16.5])

…But at times, due to the influence of the ignorance mode of material nature (tamo-guṇa), the lowest of the material modes, kings and administrators come into power without knowledge and responsibility, and such foolish administrators live like animals for the sake of their own personal interest. The result is that the whole atmosphere becomes surcharged with anarchy and vicious elements. Nepotism, bribery, cheating, aggression and, therefore, famine, epidemic, war and similar other disturbing features become prominent in human society. (from purport [SB 1.10.25])

Full Lecture and Full Text and Purport follows: More