Open heart surgery without Anesthesia

Talk on Vegetarianism by His Grace Bhakti Brhad Bhagavata Swami Maharaj

8 June 2015 at the Vegetarian Society Kampala, Uganda

Bg 9.26

Patram Puspam Phalam Toyam

Yo me bhakya prayacchati

Tad aham bhakti-uparhtam

Asnami prayatamanah

 

Translation;

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.

Maharaj said that we eat only vegetarian food, and a step ahead that we take is to offer it to Krsna. So many jivas die in meat eating, that its better to eat plants directly. Most people don’t know the cries of the animals in the abattoirs, they just see what is available in the supermarket. You know, refined, refrigerated, so they don’t know what actually happens in those slaugher houses. So they eat meat with forks and knives, thinking they are advanced. In India, instead of saying flesh or meat, they say non-veg, cushioning the actual primitiveness, instead of saying flesh not to offend other people.

To illustrate how to convince people to be vegetarian, maharaj described a beautiful story. One day he was on a plane from Mumbai to Goa, a long flight of 2-3 hours. Seated beside him was this Indian business man, and when he saw the saffron robes, obviously he could realize that he’s a sadhu. As the air hostess approached, he turned and said to swamiji, “Swamiji, please don’t mind if I take non-veg for my meal. I know you don’t take meat.’ 

Maharaj retorted, “So want me to give you permission to eat meat, so that I can suffer for your sinful reactions? Are you are asking me to sanction this?’

This man was shocked and speechless for a while with a puzzled face, obviously after hearing such a reply it was difficult for him to react. Finally he made an excuse, “ Swamiji I know meat is not good but I am a business man and I have to travel to Dubai, Beijing, and it is very difficult to get vegetarian food there. So I just started to eat meat.”

By now the airhostess came with “Hare Krsna”, and asked swamiji  what he would like. But even if there was veg, he didn’t want it and he just asked for water. When the man’s turn came, “Veg or non-veg?” Swamiji promptly waved  his hand for him and said, “Veg please.” I can’t allow you to die in my presence. The man didn’t utter a word but just looked on, puzzled as the airhostess  gave him the meal. Maharaj said, “Oh its fine that I have deprived you of the non veg, but you  could still change your seat if you like”. After he finished his meal, this time a seataway, and since the flight was long, they started to chat again.

“Please convince me so that I don’t eat meat for today.” Says the Indian man. Maharaj - “Do you like chicken?...... When you reach in Goa look for the first chicken you get." 3 passengers in front and 3 behind were also listening in, peeping in between the seats in a comical way. Maharaj was preaching to 6-7 people by now, all listening intently each and every word. Since he was a seat away, he had to talk in a loud voice and he continued," When you see the chicken, move up to it from behind and be careful, with your nails, catch it strongly. Pierce it very hard so that it won't fly out, and with your canines, bite into its neck, and first remove the feathers. Then make sure you puncture the jugular vein.  You will then be free to drink nice fresh red blood.”  By now the man’s face was lined with wrinkles in disghust, and also the other people were wondering, “Oh what is Swamiji saying.” “ After that ,” he continued, “remove the rest of the feathers, and start eating the fresh meat.”

The man, completely at sea said,” but Swamiji, people will think I am and animal if I do that!” As maharaj calls it, he was going to give the man an open heart surgery without anesthesia. “But you are already an animal! You think that with forks and knives you are not an animal, but actually you are just a polished animal.”

“But Swamiji,..”

“Instead of eating meat with millions of bacteria, chemicals and refrigeration, processing, and carcinogens, Iam giving you a first class option to eat the meat directly. Unfortunately you don’t want to do that,......” The man continued chatting, and was also getting convinced.

In the end, he asked to stay in touch, and Maharaj gave him his email . After about some months, the man’s reply came saying how  he visited Iskcon delhi and also received prabhupada’s books. He had become vegetarain too. So he didn't ask for the email out of formality after all.

Maharaj said its not possible to make every one devotees or vegetarians, but as soon as they learn that vegetarians are superior, and accept it, like the Indian man who first asked Maharaj not to mind his eating meat, then it is also enough. Iskcon is a brahminical movement. We just direct the rest of the varnas. Prabhupada said that if only 5% of the population became serious sadhakas, then the spiritual power generated was enough to run the whole world. Not every one can become brahmanas, but as long as they consider Vegetarians superior to them, as being more kind, compassionate,self controlled even to the lower species of life, then it is good.

Question and answer period;

Devotee:  Some times there is a debate that only vaishnavas preach vegetarianism. And demigod worshipers like shiva or duga do not. So how do we go about that?

Maharaj:  In Vedas of karma kanda section, there are various caterings to people depending on their modes of material nature. Those in goodness can eat vegetarian, but those in ignorance and passion are told of sacrifices to kali and so on. Just to lessen the sinful reaction by first offering the meat. Understand not everyone can become vegetarians, but try.

Devotee: Is it in the karma of cows to be killed? Yet Krsna loves them so much

Maharaj:  It is mentioned anyone who transports, purchases meat, slaughters, owns the slaughter house gets heaps of sinful reaction. But a sixth of the sinful reactions of everyone always goes to the owner. Prabhupada said that we don’t want to save the cows, we want to save the cow killer. As many hairs on the hide of the slaughtered cow, that is the number of births that the man will have to take birth as a cow and get slaughtered in a similar way. So we want to just stop the cycle of the slaughtering take birth get slaughtered then again slaughter. Just give bhagavad gita to the owner and automatically millions of cows will be saved simply. That is the process.

Maharaj also blessed the 400 Ugandans who became vegetarians from Jaja ndawula group, through efforts of many devotees.

Hare Krishna

All glories to H.G. Brhad Bhagavata Swami,

All glories to Prabhupada .

All glories to Sri Guru and Gouranga

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