Texas Faith 15: Glenn Beck and the culture of fear

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.

Talk show host Glenn Beck landed on the cover of Time Magazine this week, after a powerful start as a Fox News host. Beck is most famous these days for his updated version of American exceptionalism and for promoting a fear that the Constitution is being undermined by a conspiracy.

It's easy for liberals to dismiss such thinking as more nuttiness or groundless anger on the right. But the New York Times' conservative columnist David Brooks also talked about people being afraid because of their economic insecurity, which is very real. And liberal evangelical Jim Wallis put out a letter saying to Beck that progressives share a fear about tomorrow, although he believes hope should overcome fear. Liberal columnist Jim Sleeper issued his own warning to progressives, saying today's anxiety goes far beyond race.

So here's this week question:

What constructive thing would you say to people who are afraid in today's world so they don't fall prey to demagogues?

Read on to see how our panelists respond:

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

A politician, like any other person, can only share what they possess. If someone is in a state of fear and confusion, then they can only provide fear and confusion.

Fear is not the answer and fear with no practical solution can be debilitating. All problems stem from forgetfulness of one's eternal loving relationship with God. Such ignorance or illusion causes one to place many unnatural designations upon himself based on gender, race, wealth, age, species, religion, sexuality and so on.

By engaging in one's natural position (dharma) of Bhakti, loving devotional service unto God, one develops transcendental knowledge (vijnana). From such knowledge one will develop the 26 good qualities that are inherently part of the soul. Such a state is free of fear and full of happiness.

Politicians are generally in the bodily conception of life and thus cannot see that they are only providing material solutions to a spiritual problem.
Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

Katha at Kalachandji's 2: A,B,C,D, & E's of a Krishna Conscious program

8/30/09 Sunday Class by Nityananda Prabhu

The A,B,C,D, & E's of a Krishna Conscious Program

A- Assocation with devotees

B- Books, Srila Prabhupada came from the spiritual world to make these books available. Reading and distributing

C- Chanting, heart of the operation. 8th chapter 7 times writes out the whole mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare . Please pledge for Japathon,

D- Devotional Food, Prasadam. Everything that we eat offer to Krishna. Local vegetables and fruits.

D is also dancing.

E- Encourage others to do the same.

Death punch to materialism, prasadam and kirtan. Like Chanura and Mushtika could not live through the punch of Krishna these two are the deathknoll of materialism.

Texas Faith 14: Is wickedness soluble in good deeds?

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.

Following the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, novelist Joyce Carol Oates reflected on the senator's role in the Chappaquiddick death of Mary Jo Kopechne in the fullness of the his life. Writing in The Guardian, Oates said:

Yet if one weighs the life of a single young woman against the accomplishments of the man President Obama has called the greatest Democratic senator in history, what is one to think?

The poet John Berryman once wondered: "Is wickedness soluble in art?". One might rephrase, in a vocabulary more suitable for our politicized era: "Is wickedness soluble in good deeds?"

This paradox lies at the heart of so much of public life: individuals of dubious character and cruel deeds may redeem themselves in selfless actions. Fidelity to a personal code of morality would seem to fade in significance as the public sphere, like an enormous sun, blinds us to all else.

This week, we ask our panelists to think about the two questions Joyce Carol Oates poses here, both implicitly and explicitly, in the context of Ted Kennedy's life. Namely:

1. Is wickedness soluble in good deeds?; and

2. To what extent should greatness factor into our evaluation of a public person's life?

A note to readers: we asked panelists to refrain from making a political judgment on Sen. Kennedy's life and career -- this is not a political blog, after all -- but rather to use his life and his death as a starting point for reflecting on these themes. Their responses follow the jump below.

See what our panelists have to say:

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

(Again, I am adjusting to my new schedule. In my haste I submitted this one quote from the Srimad Bhagavatam.)

"The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of God."

-- Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.2.8

The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is considered the ripen fruit of the tree of Vedic literature
Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

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