Vaishnava Redux

Defending one's perspective and beliefs

When one expresses religious sentiments, one may draw criticism about one's religious beliefs and deities.

What is important to understand here is that Krishna is God and as God He is more than capable of taking care of himself. He has no need to be defended against any words or thoughts. Attacking God is like beating your fist against a mountain. The mountain does not even know that you are there. It is your hand that is going to get bruised and bloody, if you actually do not break your bones.

What is important here is to avoid others who may be more interested in God, or may benefit more from attention to God from being swayed away from God. Coming to the defence of God (if that is what it can be called ) is not for His protection or honour, but out of compassion of those who are weak in His knowledge and for those who need Him but don't know that they do.

It is understandable that one seeks to defend God as a result of His goodness, but it is important to realize that sometimes you are simply being provoked into a response that has an adverse effect on the image of God and His devotees, and you must always be on the watch out not to fall into such traps. Defending God or responding to any attacks on God with wrath and harshness is always counterproductive. The love for God always leads one to take attacks on God personally, but the real feeling one should have is the regret and sadness that a person should feel this way towards God.

This is why any kind of harshness, rioting, persecution of others, and vindictiveness in the name of Krishna, Allah, Shiva, Yawheh is to be avoided. Rather than being drawn towards God those who are interested in God are repulsed, saying 'What is the meaning of devotion to God if it always results in conflict and persecution?'

The right way to support God it to be an advocate of God, a model of God's virtue, rather than a defender of God.
What is important if for them to be aware of The Importance of not bearing ill will towards Krishna.

Remember the Vrishni Concept of Compassion.

Defending one's practices

The other aspect of this is the way you handle with criticisms of your devotional approach. In this case the most important thing is whether the criticism or difference of opinion is founded in a genuine goodwill. Some people criticise out of ignorance, others do so out of disrespect or unfounded scornfulness, others do so simply out of a belief in the superiority of their ways, or sheer bad manners.

Others do so out of enmity and ill-will, out of a spiritual motivated desire to divert you away from virtue. These are the most dangerous kind and should be spotted and avoided at all costs.

The real measure of criticism is whether it reflects a genuine concern for one's well being, even in though it may be unfounded.

What matters in all cases is to stick the path, see how well it has improved your person. If someone has a better idea they should be willing to make time to demonstrate it without being sarcastic or ruffling one's feathers. It should be rooted in a genuine desire.

Whatever the case may be, sooner or later, sticking to the path will reveal the inherent wisdom and clear all doubts as to what the truth is.