Social involvement

Posted by dinesh

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Social involvement

via KKS Blog by hina on 1/23/13

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2 January 2013, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 12.8.46)

It is an art to have to deal with others. For me too! I could be very peacefully chanting Hare Krsna, doing a little worship, lots of nice kirtans and leave it at that. But then, there are these people that have marriage problems, or devotees that fall down or devotees that want to have a sex change, and you think, 'But wasn't the philosophy that we are not the body!?'

So, the amount of complications that we have to get into by social involvement is overwhelming. It is an art that one has to learn to use anger in a very controlled way; a cool anger not hot anger. When you are a teacher, there is always the issue that the students don't want to be controlled; I was one of those rebellious students. But the fact of the matter is that you have the control but you don't have to assert your authority and if people don't co-operate, then okay. So if anyone doesn't co-operate then it is very simple, 'I'll give you a few chances and then you're out. Go speak to the director and good luck!'

Simple as that. There is no discussion about it. Just a few chances and then out. I'm not going to get upset with you… I just lay down the line… very simple… this is it!

I see it with temple presidents who are trying to assert their authority. There's no need, you already got it. You're the temple president, you're the boss, you have the authority! The problem is that people, out of fear, get out of control and start to try to assert their authority. That is when they get under the modes - dealing with such aggression. So, with the mode of goodness you just realize, 'No, I have the authority, I will just stay calm and I'll establish clearly how it is and if they are not co-operating then they are out, after a few warnings.'

So, in the mode of goodness, one is the tortoise who stays in his own goodness and then puts out the legs but not too much, not where you completely and emotionally throw yourself in a material situation!