Food For Life or Food For Death? - Page 2

jagatpurush · 05-19-2005, 05:34 PM

i think jndas Prabhu is right. i had not seen the quotes before that he has provided, such as these and many others:

"Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 25, 1975 and have noted the contents. The Gurukula and poor feeding programs should be developed and it will make us very popular." - Srila Prabhupada

"Everywhere. In the hospitals, charitable societies, Industrial places, everywhere - distribute this prasada and chant this Hare Krishna. Just see what is the result. You want peace? These are the processes of peace." - Srila Prabhupada

"Those who think that devotion to God and kindness to the jivas are mutually different from each other, and perform accordingly in their life, such persons will not be able to follow the devotional culture. Their performance is only a semblance of devotion. Therefore, all the types of beneficence to others, like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, etc. are included in Bhakti. Charity of medicines, clothes, food, water, etc. shelter during adversities, teaching of academic and spiritual education, etc. are the activities included in the devotional culture" - Bhaktivinoda Thakura

in fact, it seems that quotes of this nature outweigh the other few quotes that are selectively quoted. also i think some quotes talking about mundane welfare such as the following have been misconstrued as to be against prasada distribution, which is yajna:

"Because people are without Krsna consciousness, they have become thieves, and consequently they are being punished by the laws of material nature. No one can check this, not even by introducing so many relief funds and humanitarian institutions. Unless the people of the world take to Krsna consciousness, there will be a scarcity of food and much suffering."

in any case, one can find ample justification that Srila Prabhupada did want ISKCON to be involved in helping the poor. not to mention that it is supported by common intuition. thanks Prabhu. Hare Krsna.

05-19-2005, 07:37 PM

am sure there are many people who have come to KC because of FFL.

Myself - i was a crazy drugged out kid living on the streets of melbourne with no home no food.
Someone at the government agency told me to go to Crossways FFL, I didnt have any money but the devotees told me I could have all i could eat and drink if I would wash dishes for 1/2 hour.
What a deal! I thought.

I didn't realise then but of course do know that they were actually engaging me in service as well as feeding my prasadam.

So every day I would go there - wash dishes and eat.
But soon I started not to stay for 1/2 hour but all day from open till close and do nice service for Krishna in the kitchen.

Eventually when I joined the temple moving into the ashrama - this is one service i was given - to conitune my work there because i had developed such love for helping offer prasadam to others.

05-20-2005, 04:00 PM

I cant beleive these temple leaders or who ever they are being taken seriously, for Gods sake these men are clearly twistin the words of Prabhupada, who makes it very clear about feeding the poor. These men cleary have no compassion, which is the foundation for Bhakti. In my veiw compasion for fellow beings is the foundation Krishna bhakti. Simple as -if ur not moved my the pliet of those around u how can u enter vaikuntha!!!!!

personaly i think prasadam disrtibution to the needy is one of the best methods of Bhakthi,the needy who eat get krishn bhakthi via the prasad. the bhakthas doin the distribution aslo doin dirct bhakthi. Also which i think is very important is that charitable works such as Food for life attracts help and interest from non devotees who are genourous but dont really have any Kirshna Bhakthi, thus they get engaged in Bhagavan.

Today when people, particular us in the west, are throwing prasad away because we are so foolish and wastefull, we need to increase our prasad distribution. It will make us more humble and eligible for bhakthi!!!!!!!!!!!!!

07-05-2005, 10:03 AM

"Everywhere. In the hospitals, charitable societies, Industrial places, everywhere - distribute this prasada and chant this Hare Krishna. Just see what is the result. You want peace? These are the processes of peace." - Srila Prabhupada

I'm sure if the two were to go together "chant this Hare Krishna" and "distribute this prasada". but since there is specialisation -- it makes it "look" like Vivekanandas movement, not Prabhupadas movement. Just like something what Prabhupada said about one of his Godbrothers in 1976: "HE'S IN NAME a disciple of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati, BUT HE'S A SERVANT OF Vivekananda".

Its so important to keep the two together. Name and prasadam.

Hare Krishna!