Western Realities.

I have been listening to some of the lectures that my Gurumaharaja gave in relation to his style of urban city preaching. One major point that comes up often is just how degraded the lives of the average young adults have become. Quite often, while trying to explain what it's like growing up in the western world to devotees of different cultural backgrounds, I think this point is often misunderstood.

It sometimes seems to come across that the current atmosphere of the western world is one that offers incredible sensual enjoyments all the time. With this in mind, devotees may assume "Oh it is so hard for young people to come to Krsna consciousness, after all, they have so much opportunity for material enjoyment, so many allurements, how can we compete!" The idea is that the allurements of the western world are so sparkling that they constantly fill a person up with hopes of enjoyment, and thus it's impossible for them to escape and come to Krsna consciousness.

Actually, there are several things wrong with this mind set, but I'm just going to mention one. The problem with the current western world, and the situation of young westerners, is not that they are constantly allured by the trappings of the western world, but that they have already been victimized by them from a young age, and thus carry such deep scars that doing anything is actually difficult for them. As my Gurumaharaja explains, it is incredibly common for a young westerner to start a life of illicit sex and intoxication at the ages of 12 and 13. This constant self abuse starts sometimes even before puberty properly kicks in, yet already they are carrying out irrepairable damage to their bodies and minds.

The long term psychological effects of teen promiscuity are well recorded. Sexually active youth have much higher rates of depression in later life, and are much less likely to be able to develop proper relationships as they get older. People's hearts are thrashed at a young age, and as a result, they don't have a clue what real love is, nor are they capable of pursuing it. Drug use carries heavy effects. Use of the drug Ecstasy results in permanent damage to neuro-pathways, in particular to the cells which control release of seritonin, the neuro-chemical which is said to be responsible for ones ability to love and feel loved.

The rise of internet usage amongst the young has given rise to an unexpected phenomenom of porn addiction at young ages. Before even having the mental and emotional capacity to understand the full effects of sexual activity, young kids are fully aware of every physical side of the issue. John Stoltenberg, author of such books as "Refusing to be a Man" makes many solid arguments showcasing the psychological effects of such indecent exposure at such a young age. Such images stay with the youth their entire lives, and transplant themselves into the world of reality, so that never again can a person be seen as much more than a potential object of enjoyment.

These are the anartha's our civilisation has left us with. As Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu points out,'We're messed up. Society, our parents, our upbringing have all done a very thorough job of messing us up.' Thus there is a neccessity in our society for Krsna consciousness. In the words of my Gurumaharaja, on the day of my initiation ceremony, "Without Krsna consciousness there is no hope".

These are major anarthas, our senses have been incredibly contaminated with so many things. But as Sukadeva Goswami points out in the 10th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the senses can be purified by austerity. And believe it or not, but one of the most potent types of austerity one can engage in as a Kali-yuga refugee is sadhu-sanga, devotee association.

I know that not that many people are often willing to admit that devotee association is an austerity, most devotees will keep such sentiments to themselves, thinking that acknowledging it will expose them as envious neophytes. But it's a fact, it's tuff hanging out with devotees, but it is certainly worth it! Austerity means voluntarily accepting difficult things for a higher cause, and this is certainly devotee association. Actually, anything that rips out our anartha's is going to be an austerity, because these things are so cemented in our hearts, it's like ripping off band-aids. It's painful.

But this is what Vallabha Bhatta had to go through. He was starting to find it tuff to hang out with Lord Caitanya's devotees, because he didn't feel they were listening to him. At first he thought they were angels, with shinny faces. Isn't that how it is when we first meet devotees? They seem so pure. Put as time goes on, as our familiarity sets in, and our pride comes back, suddenly the devotees don't look so great anymore. Suddenly we see what we think to be flaws. This is what happened to Vallabha Bhatta.

But still, he kept coming to the devotees, trying to get them to listen to his commentary. And the devotees just kept revealing his anartha's, pointing out that his pride was preventing him from actually understanding Lord Caitanya and devotional service properly. Vallabha Bhatta one day came to the assembly of Lord Caitanya's devotees and said "Hear me! Krsna is the supreme husband, the purusa, and everyone else in relation to him is his wife, prakrti. It is the duty of the wife, according to religious principles, never to say the name of her husband in public. Why then are you all chanting the names of Krsna constantly?"

In this way Vallabha Bhatta was trying to show that his understanding of the scriptures was greater then the other devotees. But Advaita Acarya pointed him in the direction of Lord Caitanya for an answer to his question. Lord Gaurasundara replied "Actually, you don't have a clue what you are taking about. The first religious principle in this matter is that the wife should carry out the orders of the husband, and since Krsna has instructed that everyone chant His name constantly, it is the duty of everyone to do so."

Vallabha Bhatta was humiliated! His anartha of pride was constantly being battled. But it was gone yet. He came back the next day and said "Hear me! I have rejected the commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam by Sridhara Swami. He is always commenting according to the situation, and thus he is never consistent, therefore I have rejected him."

Lord Caitanya simply smiled and said "Whoever rejects the authority of the swami (which also means husband), I consider to be a prostitute." He then became very grave, and all of the devotees were very much pleased by this answer.

Vallabha Bhatta again was totally humiliated. But this time, something was different. This time, he understood what was going on. "Lord Caitanya is showing His mercy upon me, by trying to purify me of this false pride. Although I interpret His actions as an insult, actually He is acting for my benefit." With this realisation, Vallabha Bhatta went back to the Lord in a humble mood, asking forgiveness, and for the opportunity to serve the Lord. Through the austere assocation of the devotees, and their ability to bring to the surface all of our poisonous anarthas, gradually we will be purified by their mercy, and thus be qualified to directly render service to the Lord and His devotees. At which point, all the negative side effects of growing up in this age of Kali will be nullified.