Texas Faith 13: Do we put too great a premium on our biological lives?

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Despite the cries at town-hall meetings, the House's health care bill contains no "death panels" that would force end-of-life decisions upon elderly Americans. But the protests certainly have revealed a deep anxiety among some voters about the end of their lives.

Part of that is natural. No one wants someone else making decisions for them about how their days come to a close. Yet it also speaks to a heightened fear that many of us have about our mortality.

Texas Faith moderator Rod Dreher explored this subject in a paper he did for his Templeton Cambridge journalism fellowship this summer. He drew upon the writings of Orthodox theologian Jean-Claude Larchet, author of "The Theology of Illness." Here's an excerpt from Rod's work:

Larchet laments the way today's patient has become entirely dependent on physicians for deliverance from physical illness and related maladies. Paradoxically, despite the great advances medical science has made in treating illness, Larchet says patients today have fewer spiritual and psychological resources with which to cope with illness than their ancestors did. He identifies five factors in modern life in the West that put the patient at the mercy of physicians:

1. The overvaluation of biological life.

2. Psychological health conceived as an enjoyment of physical and material well being in the body.

3. Fear of anything that can reduce or eliminate that enjoyment.

4. A refusal of all suffering, and the suppression of pain, as the highest value of civilization.

5.Fear of biological death as the absolute end of human existence.

In Larchet's view, all this leads people to expect salvation from medicine, turning physicians into priests, kings and prophets - a role they did not seek, and which they are utterly unequipped. Orthodox Christianity brings to the holistic treatment of a sick person a philosophically ascetic orientation increasingly alien to the way we live and think in the modern West.

With that in mind, here's this week's question:

In thinking about health care, have we gotten to the point that we put too great a premium on our biological lives? As we have become more secularized, have we lost sight of the transcendent?

In thinking about health care, have we gotten to the point that we put too great a premium on our biological lives? As we have become more secularized, have we lost sight of the transcendent?

See what our panelists have to say:

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

(I was late for my submission so in my haste I wrote these two sentences.)
What is the use of saving only the dress of a drowning man? The soul is different from the body and therefore has its own needs and concerns. Over oiling your car will not rid yourself of an empty stomach, similarly simply taking care of the body but neglecting the soul will not rid one of suffering.
Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

Up To Date?

Krishna.Com has a great directory, http://directory.krishna.com, for all the temples and home programs in the USA and the rest of the world.


If you are visiting another city that does not have a temple you can use this great resource. It also helpful to find multiple programs happening in the same town.

If you are having a semi regular Krishna Conscious home programs at your house and would like to invite others then submit your entry with references.

The two references can be from your nearest temple, or a GBC member. Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das

Texas Faith 12: Why should science talk to religion?

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Scientists Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett and other prominent atheists have spoken out against other scientists participating in dialogue with religious leaders and believers. Their view is that religion has nothing to teach science, and at best would use the credibility and authority of science to legitimize, in some sense, beliefs Dawkins, et al., consider deeply harmful.

So, here's this week's question of the week for our panelists:

How would you make a case for mutual engagement between science and religion?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

Religion without philosophy and logic is sentiment or fanaticism. Philosophy or science, without religion, is mental speculation and therefore cannot reveal metaphysical subjects. Modern science mainly deals with empiric evidence (Pratyakşa) and logic (Anumāna). However metaphysical subjects such as beauty, love, the soul, and God cannot be understood simply empiric and analytical exercises. It is necessary to also access knowledge that is from a metaphysical origin. This knowledge, coming from unadulterated scripture, should be seen in the light of logic and empiric evidence. Scripture should stand the test of logic and reason, otherwise such scripture can be understood to adulterated. For God is the most intelligent being, His words should be the most intelligent and free from philosophical discrepancies. Therefore the scientific method, specifically the involvement of reason, is essential for religion.

Modern science has failed to produce life and gives post-dated checks, stating that they shall create life from dead matter in the future. Intelligence persons should not put their faith in such empty prophecies. Because such subjects cannot be dealt with sufficiently by empiric study and logic, religion, specifically knowledge coming from a metaphysical origin, is essential for science.

Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

Makin' devotees - A baby announcement

Before the grand birthday ceremony tomorrow for our father, mother, support, creator, best friend forever, and mischief maker, Lord Sri Krishna I would like to share one small announcement.


My wife is pregnant with baby number #2.

Please, please, pray that we may have a healthy Vaishnava.
Thank you
Your humble servants,
Nityananda Chandra Das
Krishna Mangala Devi Dasi
Visakha Anjali Devi Dasi

System Requirements

Operating system: BHAKTI 108

System requirements: Dharmic existence

Reference: Bhagavad gita 7.28

Texas Faith 11: Has the God-and-candidates connection gone too far?

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Religious historian Randall Balmer's written a new book, "God in the White House
," in which the Columbia University professor suggests we've moved too far away from John Kennedy's line that his faith would not have the final say in his political decisions. Balmer, who considers himself a liberal evangelical, worries that candidates in both parties are trying too hard to persuade voters that they are people of faith.

We don't need to go into the details of Balmer's book to know that the connection between religion and politics is one of the hottest topics around in American elections. Whether it's Barack Obama and Bill Clinton or George W. Bush and John McCain, candidates regularly trot out their religious credentials.

With that as the new reality, here's this week's question of the week for our panelists:

Has the connection between religion and political candidates gone too far? Or is it appropriate given that most major religions have a strong social component?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

Religion, dharma, means to develop love for God. However a semblance of religion is often portrayed as religion. Such a semblance carries the agendas of various groups; politicians, businesses, political parties, and various churches and other institution.

As the saying goes one can judge a tree by its fruits. The fruit of love of God produces peace, compassion, non-enviousness for all beings, and tolerance, to name but a few of by-products. All these qualities are very important for an individual to have, especially a politician.

When these qualities are lacking we can understand that such a practitioner is not pursuing the fruits of the tree but rather the reflections of such fruits on the water.

Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

Even a Paparazzi

sabe eka doṣa tāra, haya pāpācāra

pāpa-rāśi

dahe nāmābhāsei tomāra

SYNONYMS

sabe — in all; eka — one only; doṣa — fault; tāra — of them; haya — they are; pāpa-ācāra — attached to sinful activities; pāpa-rāśi — volumes of sinful activities; dahe — become burned; nāma-ābhāsei — simply by the dim reflection of chanting the holy name; tomāra — of Your Lordship.

TRANSLATION

"Jagāi and Mādhāi had but one fault — they were addicted to sinful activity. However, volumes of sinful activity can be burned to ashes simply by a dim reflection of the chanting of Your holy name."

to read more of the Caitanya Caritamrta go to http://caitanyacaritamrta.com
Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das

Texas Faith 10: What do your spiritual paths say about the role of play?

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

We live in society where so much attention is devoted to work. But we're headed into August, the vacation month. What do your spiritual paths say about the role of play?
What do your spiritual paths say about the role of play?

Read on, because there are some terrific answers from our panelists:

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

All work becomes leisure and play in the service to God. Just as the hand becomes nourished by feeding the stomach, similarly the soul becomes satisfied in serving God with love. No other means will provide proper nourishment of the body separate than feeding the stomach.

Similarly endeavors for satisfaction that are separate from the practice of connecting to God are useful as much as the rubbing of mashed potatoes on the fingers of a hungry person. Thus service to God is where substantial leisure and play is found, it is called Līlā.

In the Bhagavad Gita chapter 6.19, it is understood that leisure is a part of a balanced life, "He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system."

Arjuna, in the Bhagavad Gita, did not give up his work and recreation to become spiritual but rather he learned the art of offering everything to God with love, Bhakti. Our recreation becomes an offering to God if our thoughts are of God and/or our purpose is His purpose.

Another point is that pure devotional activities are very blissful on their own merit. Such activities include singing the Names of God, eating delicious blessed food, and dancing in glorification of the Lord.

Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here