When the Going Gets Tough

It is sometimes said that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is especially true in spiritual life, because anyone who tries to become spiritual in a material atmosphere will sometimes face tough obstacles in their path. The key to conquering over them is to always maintain one's determination, enthusiasm, and patience for in all circumstances for awakening one's dormant Krishna consciousness. In this way one will easily or eventually conquer over all the opposing elements and fully relish the sweet nectar of loving devotion to Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Srila Prabhupada Walks With His DisciplesSrila Prabhupada Walks With His Disciples

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Handle Religious Fanaticism?

Hare Krishna.

Please accept my most humble of obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been following Krishna consciousness for 4 years now, and I'm struggling to get my head around some things. I come from a Christian background where fanaticism was a big drive among the followers and no empathy given to any other religious/non-religious person. I sometimes find myself among other devotees that have the same drive and it bothers me very much. Srila Prabhupada had a lot of empathy for others without being fanatical. How does one handle a situation like that, because it usually drives people away when one is too fanatical about one's religion and almost forcing someone to become a part of an organization? I'm sometimes struggling to find a balance between fanaticism and empathy myself.

I thank you in advance for your answer.

Your servant in Krishna,

P.H.

Answer: Non-Fanatically Educate the Fanatics

I very much appreciate your mood. Fanaticism is the result of religion minus philosophy. If we have religion with philosophy, we get the science of God. If we have religion without philosophy, we get fanaticism along with its brother, sectarianism. Anyone who understands God scientifically knows that the symptom of a truly religious person is how much he has developed his feelings of love of God, not which religion he belongs to. Actually the idea of different religions is a manmade concoction. It is not given by God. God has given one religion and one religion only, the religion of purely loving Him. A person who understands God scientifically appreciates the religious sentiments, even of those who have not yet matured beyond the level of fanaticism. He encourages them in their neophyte faith and educates them how to reach a scientific understanding of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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