Making friends with two Franciscan monks in Italy. A few more minutes and I would have joined up…
Sometimes – but only sometimes – I like to think my interfaith credentials are all in order. I mean, as a Vaishnava I regard all religions as paths towards the same supreme Godhead. Religion is one, but the ways we do it – and the outfits we do it in – are many.
God Himself says this in the Bhagavad-gita. (That’s not the Vaishnava God as distinct from the Christian or Jewish God, but the one and only original creator and supreme person.) God says that “All are on my path, and as they surrender to me, I reward them accordingly.” That always sounded pretty fair to me.
Certainly when we all get to heaven – as we all ultimately will – there won’t be religious ghettos with all the Christians in one district and all the Jews in another. Despite us preferring our neighbourhoods like that here on Earth, we’d better be prepared for social mixing and friend-making at that great eternal party.
While in Italy I did some impromptu friend-making with two Franciscan monks I met in Assisi. They were very likeable and we had a lot in common: we all liked plain robes and sandals for a start.
You know, I have never returned my Sunday School membership card or renounced Christianity. I still have my baptism certificate which, I understand, is still valid until you hand it back to the vicar asking to be ‘unbaptised.’ So that must mean I am still a Christian musn’t it? Just one with a slightly peculiar understanding of Jesus.
Jesus Christ is very important for me, and I would like to think that I understand him slightly better now – and appreciate his sacrifice more – than I ever did before.
You see, you don’t have to not believe in Jesus in order to be a Vaishnava; and you don’t have to wish ill towards Christians or anyone else.
So it came as a real surprise to me when I visited a local Catholic Church near a Krishna temple in Germany earlier this year and saw a painting which demonstrated the direct opposite of my own spirit of understanding.
Its one of a series of additions to the normal Stations of the Cross found in all Catholic churches. The images are quite clear and nicely done in enamels on copper. They are also of a substantial size and have been erected in the last few years. The theme is ‘Jesus carries his cross for the world’ and all the images show Jesus carrying his cross through the street while, on either side of him, are displayed the problems of the age. There is, naturally, abortion, crime, street violence and war, nuclear holocaust – and the Hare Krishna devotees playing music and singing.
Jesus carrying his cross for the sins of the world. Notice the Vaishnavas at bottom left
The robes, the beads, the sikha (tuft of hair) and the cross-legged sitting position: Did Jesus really come to save the world from the Vaishnavas?
Yes, that’s right. In this particular church at least, quite close to a temple of Krishna in the same village, the Hare Krishna devotees are one of the worst manifestations of the Devil’s influence in the world today.
One would think that in a country that has now outlawed any displays of anti-semitism, and where even displaying a Swastika can get you arrested, that such an image of Jesus carrying his cross for the misguided and fallen of the world would ring someone’s alarm bell. Apparently not.
But not all Christians are charitable, friendly, or philosophical enough to comprehend why such a picture would be a problem. Or why using the images to teach children - the next generation – might not be taking into consideration the stark lessons Germany learned from 1933 to 1945.
Its not all doom and gloom though. This time last week, in Trier, the oldest town in Germany, we had a great reception from the locals who enthusiastically joined in our singing and dancing as 150 of us came to their town for harinam-sankirtan for a couple of hours in the sunshine. Hallelujah!
Dear Sri. Desika,
Namaste. Please give the details of where this offensive component is depicted. We will try to petition the German missions here to take some action.
s.aravindan neelakandan
Not surprising. I was told by my Christian neighbour[in India] that to put Kolam[design drawn on the ground after cleaning it] in front of the house is devil’s work and that I am in darkness as I worship plants[Tulasi],and cows, and not Jesus. She could not understand that one can feel God’s presence in everything animate or inanimate, and that He only kept his promise when he came as Jesus, and that His promise was given already in the Gita also. It was an eye opening experience.
I have an evangelical born-again christian friend who finds my faith in Krsna consciousness and Jesus fascinating almost bordering on the bewildering. He knows I can’t get enough of it and he is anxious to understand why. He feels very fallen by his own standards and by Krsna’s mercy one day soon hopefully he will see the light. How can I encourage him a little more?
Maybe seeing the pictures of Hare Krishna devotees in church will be beneficial for the people, even if the artist intended it as a slur.
Christian missionaries in India are often poorly equipped to understand the profound monotheistic message of Bhagavad-Gita. They look at everything through the lens of their mission of cultural imperialism, and naturally there are many faults for them to see, and many other virtues for them to totally miss.
Because of His inconceivable simultaneous oneness and difference with all transformations of His various energies, every sacrifice is really enjoyed by Krishna (“aham hi sarva yajnanam bhokta ca prabhur eva ca”), every person everywhere is really under His control (directly or indirectly). But those who do not know His true transcendental nature fall down. (9.24)
Anyone who worships God is really worshiping Krishna. Even those who worship demigods, the impersonal brahman, or the universal form. (9.15)
However (and this is important), although they are actually worshiping Krishna, the devotees of demigods are doing so in a wrong way (“yajany avidhi-purvakam.”) (9.23) They go to the planets of demigods and then return. (9.25, 9.20-21)
But Jews, Christians and Muslims are at least worshiping Him as the one Supreme Lord (“ekatvena”), although their conceptions of Him are often more or less hazy and impersonal, and they do not well understand His relationship with nature. I have every hope that they will eventually become full-on Vaisnavas and learn to more fully appreciate the transcendental nature of Lord Krishna’s appearance and activities when He descends in various avataras or engages in His srsthi lila of creating the material world.
Otherwise, while maintaining fuzzy and impersonal conceptions, I do not see how they will get to a Vaikuntha planet where the Supreme Personality of Godhead is adored in one of His unlimited spiritual forms.
The Vaisnavas in this church art may have appeared alongside Jesus to show compassion to Jesus’ followers and eventually bring them more fully into the Vaisnava fold.
Just a thought…
If this surprises you, you must not understand Christianity. You don’t have to not believe in Jesus to be a Vaishnava, but you do have to not believe in Krishna or Vishnu or any other god to be a Christian.
Why do you say you do not have to believe in Jesus to become a Vaisnava? Srila Prabhupada clearly talks about Jesus Christ. Only fake Vaisnavas do not believe in Jesus.
Srila Prabhupada talks about Jesus, but it is not mandatory to know anything about him in order to be a Vaishnava. There are many Vaishnavas who know nothing of him at all.