Magazine Interview

On 19 May 2010 I was interviewed by Krasi Prodanvo, the publisher of Sofia's Usuri Magazine, a spiritual alternatives publication. It was a pleasant interview. Mr. Pradanvo is a subscriber to our e-course and was very interested in Vedic culture and how it can have a positive uplifting effect on the modern day civilization. He appreciated the many faceted nature of Vedic culture, and when he inquired about how one can enter into Vedic culture I explained to him that the method is to accept a spiritual master. In the Vedic civilization all of the upper class members of the society accepted a spiritual master for guiding them on the pathway of spiritual perfection.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Interviewed by Sofia's Usuri Magazine
Sofia, Bulgaria--19 May 2010Sankarshan Das Interviewed by Sofia's Usuri Magazine

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Follow Krishna or Be Compassionate?

A devotee is a person who follows and try to implement the orders of Lord Krishna. At times, it may look like as if he is being compassionate, but actually he is just following the orders of Lord Krishna. For example, Arjuna was not compassionate in war. So what is more important: being compassionate or following orders of Lord Krishna?

N. Bansal

Answer: Following Krishna is Supreme Compassion

If one constantly associates with the Supreme Compassionate Personality of Godhead by always following His instructions, by the power of His divine association all compassionate qualities will naturally become fully manifested within one's heart. Thus acting as an agent of the Supreme Compassionate Lord makes one supremely compassionate.

While from the material point of view Arjuna did not appear to be compassionate by killing the enemy soldiers on the battlefield, from the spiritual viewpoint his killing was the greatest compassion because anyone who was killed in the presence of Krishna got instant spiritual liberation. Of course, this does not justify killing someone in the name of God. Arjuna was in the presence of Krishna and was directly ordered by Him to engage in his occupational duty as a warrior.

So the answer to your question is that there is no difference between being compassionate and following the orders of Lord Krishna. There is no one more compassionate than the one who follows the orders of the Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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