Dangerous paramours of the mind

 

Police say man stabbed ex’s new boyfriend as they slept in her Fort Worth home

Similarly Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam fifth canto chapter six warns the yogi of the dangerous paramours of the mind.

nityaṁ dadāti kāmasya
cchidraṁ tam anu ye ’rayaḥ
yoginaḥ kṛta-maitrasya
patyur jāyeva puṁścalī

4. An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogī gives his mind a chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger and greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogī.

An uncontrolled mind and an unchaste wife are the same. An unchaste wife can kill her husband at any time, and an uncontrolled mind, followed by (paramours) lust, anger, greed, madness, envy and illusion, can certainly kill the yogī. When the yogī is controlled by the mind, he falls down into the material condition. One should be very careful of the mind, just as a husband should be careful of an unchaste wife. – purport by Srila Prabhupada

5. The mind is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear. Combined, these constitute bondage to fruitive activity. What learned man would put faith in the mind?

Purport:

The mind is the original cause of material bondage. It is followed by many enemies, such as anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear. The best way to control the mind is to engage it always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ). Since the followers of the mind bring about material bondage, we should be very careful not to trust the mind.

TEXAS FAITH 84: The morality of drone warfare

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.

“Drone warfare. It’s become a major new way to fight battles. Except those doing the fighting may be in a cubicle in a town here in the United States. In fact, the chances are they will be working here, far from the battlefield.

Of course, the good news is the soldiers operating the drones are not in harm’s way. Nor are they spending months, if not years, away from their families in a distant country.

But they are using the advances in technology to track and kill people halfway around the world. This new form of warfare has raised a number of moral questions. This collection of posts from Andrew Sullivan on the subject provides an insight into some issues in play. And here is another link worth looking at from the Wall Street Journal.

Also, the Journal reported this week in a front-page article that there is not much international law on this subject. That vacuum matters in numerous ways, but especially when it comes to determining whether we are actually declaring war on nations that only tacitly give us approval to use drones in their countries.

I am not looking for applications of international law here, but I would like to hear how your faith informs your thinking about drone
strikes. So, here’s this week’s question:

What moral issues, if any, give you pause about drone warfare? ”

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

In the ancient Vedic culture, a true soldier is brave. The leader stands in front of the battle. Battles happen on battlegrounds, rather than cities. Generals would fight those of similar abilities. No merchants, laborers, or others could become soldiers, rather only those who have the qualities of a soldier and life- long training of a soldier are allowed to fight.

Thus the fighting does not involve anyone but actual brave warriors. Like the ancient samurai, there was a code of honor. Enemies would even dine together during evening as fighting took place only during the day.

Drone warfare is a sign of the times. In this age there is no sense duty but rather only cowardice. Duty means behavior that benefits all. But as selfishness increases, we abandon duty for immediate personal benefit.

The only way members of society can develop behaviors that are dutiful is by becoming spiritually satisfied. As long as there is no spiritual satisfaction, people will abandon higher principles for fleeting personal benefit.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

TEXAS FAITH 83: Is separation of church and state an idea to keep religious people out of the public arena?

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.

“In a conference call with Christian conservatives, Gov. Rick Perry dismissed the separation of church and state as an idea advanced to drive “people of faith from the public arena.” The governor went on to say Satan is using it to keep Christians from actively engaging in public policy. “The idea that we should be sent to the sidelines I would suggest to you is very driven by those who are not truthful, Satan runs across the world with his doubt and with his untruths and what have you, and one of the untruths out there is driven – is that people of faith should not be involved in the public arena.”

The governor’s take on theology and American history got mixed reviews – at best – from our Texas Faith panel of pastors, teachers, theologians, lay leaders and religious experts. The recent conference call was an effort to motivate conservative Christians to vote their values in November. Perry used language familiar to social conservatives – “spiritual warfare” and “Christian soldiers” and a growing tide of “secularism and atheism” – in warning of those making “efforts to remove any trace of religion from American life.”

The premise of the governor’s comments is that separation of church and state is sometimes invoked simply to discourage people (read it: people whose ideas you don’t like) from getting involved in politics and public policy. Is that true? And, perhaps more to the point, how do we make sure that doesn’t happen? In our political debate this election season, what’s the proper balance between warning against theocracy and encouraging faith in the public square? The Texas Faith panel had some ideas.”

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

I have a musical group and in the past we have been denied venues on the grounds of secularism.  You can sing about anything under the sun.  But you cannot sing about the one who is above the sun.

What is the balance? Religion without philosophy is simply sentiment and sometimes fanaticism, and philosophy and science without religion is simple mental speculation.  Therefore discussions involving religion should be philosophical rather than sensational.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Kalachandji - The Supreme Mad Hatter

Last week I did a tour for a group of Mad Hatters.  They were lots of fun.  They really enjoyed the experience of the temple and we amazed at Kalachandji’s beauty.  They especially loved His indomitable hat. 

During the lunch we all discussed and shared stories of how God protects and reciprocates with those who take shelter of Him. 

Street Kirtans - Dallas

Book Distribution Pics - Dallas

TEXAS FAITH 82: What would you like to hear Obama and Romney say in their convention speeches?

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.

“Okay, we are now officially into our fourth year on Texas Faith! I went back and looked at our August 2008 debut and it was right around the time of the political conventions.

Of course, here we are again with another set of conventions. Republicans are hosting their meeting this week, while Democrats will convene their convention on Labor Day.

That being the case, I thought of the following as a way for you to weigh in on each party’s convention:

After two weeks of non-stop Olympics coverage, politics is now on stage. Over these next two weeks, Americans will have the chance to see and read back-to-back reports from the two major party’s conventions.

Since each of you make your living with words in one way or another, I would like you to craft the speech you would like to hear at either of the major conventions. I’m not looking for an opus, but rather, in a short and concise way, what would you like the candidates to say to Americans.”

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

Since it is duty of a leader to protect those who are innocent and cause no harm, we will now enact laws for the protection of children and animals. Inspired by this God-given duty I will stand, without fear, against abortion and animal slaughter. I will also work to ensure that secularism does not mean an eradication of religion but rather freedom of expression without biased management.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.