HARE KRSNA HARE RAMA
Regarding the letter BHUL-BHULAIYA … (January 2008) somehow both the question and your reply seem equally convincing to me . In my understanding it appears that Srila Prabhupada's reply is more aimed at disciplining practicing devotees and the question was aimed at glorifying the sheer power of the holy name and creating some kind of ajnatasukrti.
We should heavily discourage devotees from indulging in such movie/ movie songs, which your reply has rightly done, but I think this point should have been explicitly stated. Correct me if I am wrong.
(Prahlada Priya Dasa)
Our Reply: For a person to actually experience transformation of the heart, he has to hear the holy name through the medium of a pure devotee of the Lord. When he hears Hare Krsna Hare Rama in a movie, he misses both the essential factors: The name is not the holy name, but a shadow or sound similar to it, and the speaker is a mundane singer without any spiritual purity. Therefore spiritually the effect carries no potency. It is like firing empty bullets there is a loud sound but no effect.
I again quote Srila Prabhupada: "Srila Sanatana Goswami has forbidden us to hear the holy name of Krsna chanted by non-Vaisnavas, such as professional actors and singers, for it will have no effect ." ( Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Antya lila 1.101, purport) Had there been some ajnata-sukrti coming out of hearing from mundane singers Srila Prabhupada would have clearly mentioned it. After all it is not that if the movie becomes a big hit we find the movie goers turning into pure devotees.
The song may have effect, however, in making an impact in the viewer's heart that may make him more receptive when he later meets a devotee. For example, in the seventies a popular drama in the USA used to play Hare Krsna kirtana in its performance. So the devotees would stand outside the theater and distribute books and do harinama. When the audience came out of the theater after the performance they happily accepted the Hare Krsna devotees.
IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE CAUSE
Regarding 'Who caused the first cause?' (Letters, November 2007), I asked Srila Prabhupada a similar question: "When we say that Krsna is the original cause of all causes, some people question, 'Then who is Krsns cause?' How do we answer them?" Srila Prabhupada replied , "According to our information, Krsna is the first cause. But if you do research and find someone who is the cause of Krsna, we will worship him. But until then, you should worship Krsna . "
(HH Giriraja Swami)
Reply to the letter was written by Murar! Gupta Dasa
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