Is the Hare Krsna movement no better than
"a bird with one wing" in the face of its antagonists?
A letter recently came to us from a subscriber in Libya about the need to protect sanatana-dharma. Here's what he said, with our reply. Because of what must be the delicate position of a Hindu living in a Muslim country, we withhold his name.
KRISHNA (HINDU) philosophy or consciousness was founded in a far distant time when there was no so-called religion other than this. So there was no threat to its existence. Even anti-Krishna people then were not anti-Hinduism.
But now the decline of Hindu dharma, or sanatana-dharma, has been brought about from two sides—Christianity and Islam.
Sanatana-dharma advocates love, tolerance, humility, peacefulness. Such doctrines have been the life-breath of its followers. But these are burnt and buried by hatred, jealousy, fanaticism, and the murderous nature of other faiths.
Who is going to save Krishna philosophy? Sannyasis are not soldiers and do not have bombs and armies.
The Hare Krishna movement is a bird with only one wing—the propagation wing. There is no protective wing, without which its existence is always in danger.
Plans must be devised to keep this ancient wisdom safe. Being wise but witnessing its very destruction would be unbecoming.
How do you plan to protect the Hare Krishna movement?
OUR REPLY: To uphold and protect the principles of sanatana-dharma, or progressive spiritual life, is the duty of ksatriyas (political and military leaders), especially the heads of every nation. This is why the Lord, millions of years ago, spoke Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god, the primeval ksatriya.
Unless sanatana-dharma is protected, a country will never be peaceful or happy. It will soon become a nation of cats and dogs.
Sanatana-dharma, however, is not a sectarian religious principle. It is not that Lord Krsna came to advance the cause of "Hindu dharma," in opposition to "Christian dharma" or "Muslim dharma."
In Bhagavad-gita we never find the word "Hindu," nor do we find it in theVedas, the Puranas, or other sastras. The term "Hindu" is of recent origin. By an altered pronunciation of "Sindhu," the people of Afghanisthan and neighboring places came to speak of those who dwell by the River Indus (Sindhu) as "Hindus."
So in ancient times there were no "anti-Hindus" because there was no such thing as "Hinduism."
But from Bhagavad-gita (16.6) we understand that there are two kinds of people—daiva asura eva ca, the godly and the ungodly. According to the Visnu Purana, visnu-bhakta smrto daiva asuras tad viparyayah: The devotees of the Lord are the godly, and those who are just the opposite, who are against the Lord, are the ungodly.
The principles of godliness are taught in all religious faiths, but people unfortunately do not follow their own religious principles. Lord Jesus Christ taught, "Thou shalt not kill," yet so many so-called Christians are busy killing—killing animals and killing other human beings. Lord Krsna said, "Give up all other occupations and surrender unto Me." But millions of so-called Hindus have some other idea. They care more about politics, moneymaking, sectarian loyalties, mundane welfare work, or other duties, philosophies, "isms," and so on.
Therefore the great need of today is to spread the cultural values and spiritual philosophy of sanatana-dharma, Krsna consciousness.
Sanatana-dharma is not meant only for people of a particular country or religious background. It is meant for all human beings, or even all living entities. Therefore we can honestly ask godly people from whatever background to take part in the Krsna consciousness movement.
If we take to Krsna consciousness sincerely, live by its principles, and spread them for the benefit of others, Lord Krsna will always help us and protect us.
And the people of the world—people of all religions—should demand that theirksatriyas, their political and military leaders, take to the principles of sanatana-dharma and uphold and protect them, as the Lord desires. Then the ksatriyas can attain the perfection of their duty, and godly people of all religious faiths will be safe and secure.
All sections of society—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra—should give up all other so-called dharmas and work together in sanatana-dharma, Krsna consciousness, devotional service to the Lord. To spread this understanding is the purpose of our Krsna consciousness movement.