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EDITORIAL March 26, 1999 VNN3419 Accepting Srila Prabhupada's Words BY MAHALAKSMI DASI EDITORIAL, Mar 26 (VNN) — I offer my humble respects to all the devotees of the Lord, and all aspiring devotees. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to his books which are meant for his disciples to live by. I have been contemplating, for about a month, on writing a short letter to any grhastha devotee, especially those with children or a child, who might be considering divorce. So, I am going to pray o Krsna to say this properly, as I am a great fool. It disturbs me greatly when I hear of godbrothers and godsisters that are planning a divorce. I cannot always voice my sadness directly to the individuals concerned, perhaps due to strained relationships, or maybe not knowing the persons at all, but it is always disheartening. Because I believe that if two devotees who are married together maintain their commitment to each other, and to their children, they will develop very deep insights on how to help younger and older devotees. I believe that by following the order of Srila Prabhupada, which is to stay in married life (executing devotional service) until ready for vanaprastha, then ultimately to take sannyasa, then a man and woman will please Srila Prabhupada greatly. And by divorce, how to reason that Srila Prabhupada becomes pleased? There is no possible rationalization of it. Furthurmore, we find very strong instuctions in the Srimad Bhagavatam purports which Srila Prabhupada has lovingly given us, not in the mood to condemn or criticize us, but to give us the proper standard of human life. In the Third Canto, Ch24, verse 15, Prabhupada says, "It is foretold in the Twelfth Canto of the Bhagavatam that in this age of Kali married life will be accepted on the consideration of sex only; when the boy and girl are pleased in sex, they get married, and when there is deficiency in sex, they separate. That is not actual marriage, but a combination of men and women like cats and dogs. Therefore, the children produced in the modern age are not exactly human beings. Human beings must be twice-born. A child is first born of a good father and mother, and then he is born again of the spiritual master and the Vedas. The first mother and father bring about his birth into the world; then the spiritual master and the Vedas become his second father and mother. According to the Vedic system of marriage for producing children, every man and woman was enlightened in spiritual knowledge, and at the time of their combination to produce a child, everything was scrutinizingly and scientifically done." What would a child whose parents are divorced think when he reads the above purport? He might possbily conclude that since his parents are divorced, and Srila Prabhupada stated that such an affair (which his parents were engaged in) is not actual marriage but a combination of men and women like cats and dogs, therefore, (in the next line of Srila Prabhupada's words) he or she is not exactly a human being.....(Exact quote, "Therefore the children produced in the modern age are not exactly human beings.)If I were a child and read the above purport, I might conclude that I didn't want to read anymore of Srila Prabhupada's books, because the entire issue is so painful, and when a human being cannot have any control of circumstances around him, which are painful and impossible to understand, (especially to a child) the easiest course is to void out. And what would the result be of a child or young adult developing adversity to reading Srila Prabhupada's books? Itwould be that he most likely would not develop his relationship ith Srila Prabhupada. Is this a conclusion that father's and mother's who have considered divorce have also considered? My conclusion is that divorce is most cruel to children, it can ruin their spiritual life.Can any Vaisnava, man or woman, sit back and not try to encourage friends and relatives,REMAIN MARRIED, work out the differences, or at least tolerate the problems, and put Krsna AND YOUR CHILDREN back in the center? The scars on a child's heart are irreversible. I know of some families who are considering divorce; I pray to Srila Prabhupada many times a day that those devotees can realize that a true friend is one who helps them abide by the order of their guru, and Srila Prabhupada's orders are, NO DIVORCE. IT DOES NOT EXIST in a varnashrama culture, and Srila Prabhupada so much wanted varnashrama, or human culture, for his disciples and future generations of devotees. Respectfully submitted, Mahalaksmi dasi About the Author | Other Stories by this Author Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9903/ET26-3419.html
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