Hare Krishna!

No, I feel that we should all feel angry when things happen that go against our values. If we don’t feel anger, then where is our devotion? If the devotees are being attacked, if the deities are desecrated, or the temple is destroyed, and we don’t feel angry, where is our devotion? Lord Krishna Himself felt anger when Prahlad Maharaj was being threatened.

Now, we may say, “I’m not angry.” Of course, we are not angry in the same way Krishna might have been, but anger can still be a sign of devotion. When do we feel anger? We feel anger when we are deeply invested in something. If someone is completely indifferent, saying, “These things are happening all over the world,” and thinking that certain parts of the world are terrible—this kind of detachment is not healthy. It’s not a sign of spiritual maturity; it’s a form of apathy.

That said, in today’s class, I mentioned that we feel emotions, but do those emotions control us to the point that they determine our actions? No. We feel emotions, but then we take a step back and consider what is the best way we can serve Krishna in this situation. We ask, “What’s the best way to deal with the situation, from a spiritual perspective?”

The Two Dimensions of Vedic Culture: Shastra and Shastra

Broadly speaking, Vedic culture has two dimensions: Shastra and Shastra.

  • Shastra refers to the sacred scriptures and the wisdom contained within them, and is wielded by the Brahmanas. The Brahmanas use Shastra to protect people from misconceptions and to give them the right understanding.

  • Shastra, on the other hand, refers to the physical means of protection, used by the Kshatriyas, who protect society not only from external threats but also through measures of defense and justice. Kshatriyas use force when necessary, but also have a role in diplomacy and dealing with conflicts peacefully.

A healthy society needs both Shastra and Shastra: the spiritual guidance of the Brahmanas and the protective power of the Kshatriyas.

As devotees, we need to be aware of both aspects. We must understand that the Kshatriya aspect is not just about warfare—it’s also about diplomacy, negotiation, and leveraging influence. Right now, our movement has significantly neglected this Kshatriya dimension, and it needs to be developed.

For example, some devotees are being encouraged to consider self-defense training or even acquire some weapons in areas where there are threats. In places like Mayapur, devotees had to be armed for protection in the past. Additionally, there are coordinated efforts underway, including peaceful protests and kirtans, which will be used to create diplomatic pressure, such as marching to the Bangladesh embassy in 20 countries where ISKCON has a significant presence.

We need to channel our energy in a constructive way. The Kshatriya aspect of our movement needs more development to ensure that we can effectively respond to challenges in a diplomatic and protective manner.

Brahmana Response: Philosophical Perspective and Faith

From a Brahmana perspective, we need to approach these situations with wisdom and compassion, keeping our faith intact. When something horrible happens to devotees, we might question, “How could this happen to someone serving Krishna?” But the material world is a place of suffering, and in both the Ramayana and Mahabharata, great souls—such as Jatayu and Abhimanyu—died while on the side of virtue.

In the Ramayana, for example, Lord Ram witnessed the bones of sages who had been devoured by rakshasas. Such tragedies do occur, but Krishna’s protection is not always material—it can also be spiritual. Jatayu died in the Lord’s arms, and Abhimanyu died fighting for a noble cause. They were elevated to an auspicious destination because of their devotion.

So, while we might wish to prevent such things, we must remember that Krishna’s protection may manifest spiritually, rather than materially. Our faith should not be damaged by these events, but rather strengthen as we understand Krishna’s divine will in the bigger picture.

Avoiding Sectarianism: Seeing the Bigger Picture

As devotees, we must also avoid getting caught in sectarian ideas. There is a tendency to label a whole religion or group as “bad” when certain individuals within that group act wrongly. However, we must see beyond the material categories of “good” and “bad” and recognize that people are influenced by the three modes of material nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance.

In any demographic group, there are people who are governed by these modes. Those in the mode of passion and ignorance often resort to violence and aggression. While we may have philosophical differences with certain groups, we must avoid painting everyone with the same brush. Even in difficult times, we should maintain a broad and philosophical vision.

Take the example of Vishnu Acharya Thakur, who wrote commentaries on the Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita during a time of significant oppression. Despite the devastation caused by rulers like Aurangzeb, he never spoke ill of individuals or groups in his writings. His focus remained on the suffering of the material world and the need for Bhakti to transcend it.

Working Together with the Broader Hindu Community

While we as devotees are transcendental, we still live in this material world, and there are times when we need to work with the broader Hindu community. It is not opportunistic to seek protection from Hindu organizations when we need it, as long as we don’t let our transcendental vision be compromised.

Historically, when ISKCON temples were threatened, the wider Hindu community rallied around us. In the case of the Bhagavad Gita being temporarily banned in Russia, the issue was framed as an attack on the sacred text of Hindus, leading to significant diplomatic pressure and the eventual lifting of the ban. These instances show that we can, and should, work together with others, even when we have philosophical differences.

Conclusion: Kshatriya and Brahmana Response Together

The key to moving forward as a community is to combine the Kshatriya and Brahmana responses: the external protection and defense with internal philosophical strength and wisdom. By using both Shastra and Shastra, we can rise above the current challenges and continue our mission with strength and faith.

Hare Krishna!