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SP implied that Gandhi felt punishment was a fault

In the evening Prabhupada was invited to speak to the New Delhi Rotary Club at the Imperial Hotel. The meeting was held in a large, stately room where devotees had set up a small stage covered with a white cloth for Prabhupada to sit on. Many important people from New Delhi's social elite, as well as half-dozen GBC members, gathered to hear his powerful lecture from Bhagavad-gita 2.11. 

First he explained the difference between Darwin's idea of evolution and the Vedic concept. He then extensively described the difference between the body, the soul, and Krishna. His presentation was well received, and a couple of thoughtful questions were raised at the end. "Swamiji, in our ancient books Krishna has also been projected as a person who has lived for a certain period of history and who was associated with number of friends and relatives for a temporary time. Our books of literature also projected the Supreme Being as the Perfect One. How do you reconcile the two things? Your teachings are based on the assumption that that person who lived for that period of time is the Perfect Person. But how do you fundamentally assure that what He has said is correct? How do you reconcile the two points?" Prabhupada's reply was lucid and thorough. "That I have already explained, that one has to understand Krishna. I have already explained that if that person, Krishna, whom you think that He lived for a certain period with friends and relatives just like ordinary man, if you simply study what is this person, then you'll be confident. janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah. "To understand Him in fact, it is not so easy. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of many millions of persons, one becomes siddha, perfect. So that perfection is not complete perfection. That perfection means ahambrahmasmi. 'I am not this material body; I am spirit soul.' "So one who understands this position of oneself is calculated as perfect, but in that perfect stage if one endeavors to understand Krishna, out of many such millions of persons who are trying to understand Krishna in perfection, one may understand. So it is not so easy. "That factual understanding is possible. How it is possible? bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah; only through devotion you can understand. So these problems will be solved when you become a devotee. Then Krishna will reveal. You cannot understand Krishna or His name, His form, His pastimes, His activities by your imperfect senses. But when you are engaged in His service, then He reveals Himself, 'Here I am.' So this is the process. If you want to understand that person, Krishna, Who is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then you have to take shelter of bhakti-yoga and associate with bhaktas. Then it is possible. Otherwise not." 

A second man had a question about Hitler and Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. He said that at the time of the Second World War, Gandhi, who was also a great admirer of the Gita, a great scholar and a great commentator on it, wanted not to fight Hitler, but to try to bring about a change of heart in him. He asked if that wouldn't have been more effective than punishment? In other words, he implied that Gandhi felt punishment was a fault. It seemed the man had detected what he thought was a paradox because Krishna instructs Arjuna to fight his enemies in the Gita and Gandhi was for nonviolence. 

SrilaPrabhupada explained that Lord Krishna does not directly punish anyone, but everyone in the material world is subject to the punishment of maya, the material energy. This is insurmountable; no one is excused. In other words, whether Gandhi wanted to fight or not, Hitler would still receive the karmic reactions for his activities. However, if one surrenders to Krishna then one may avoid this punishment. Otherwise there is no other solution. That concluded the evening's proceedings, and after the Rotarians expressed their appreciation, Prabhupada returned to Mr. Agarwal's house. 

Due to the hot weather, Prabhupada had his bed and net set up in the back yard, where he took his rest in the cool night air. Mr. Agarwal took the opportunity to get his association and also had a bed and net set up along side him. They chatted for a while before going to sleep.


Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa





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