“They are thinking to become fearless means to keep gun.”
Garden Discussion on Bhagavad-gita Sixteenth Chapter
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
June 26, 1976, New Vrindaban
httpv://youtu.be/T8SXWvkZeaQ
video: CNN
“A New York newspaper has published a map with gun permit holders’ names and addresses. Brian Todd reports. Check out more videos from CNN at http://www.youtube.com/cnn. Or visit our site at http://www.cnn.com/video/”
A 2010 estimate from the NRA states “Privately owned firearms in the U.S.: Approaching 300 million, including nearly 100 million handguns. The number of firearms rises over 4 million annually.”
source: WikiAnswers
THAT QUOTE WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. SRILA PRABHUPADA’S STATEMENT DIRECTLY AFTERWORDS CHANGES THE ENTIRE SITUATION.
Garden Discussion on Bhagavad-gita Sixteenth Chapter — June 26, 1976, New Vrindaban
Prabhupāda: And who is fearless? Everyone is fearful. And fearlessness is good quality, who understands it? Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca, this is animal life. To eat, sleep, sex and become fearful, that is animal life. And one has to become fearless. So who cares for it? They are thinking to become fearless means to keep gun. THAT IS ALSO ONE WAY.
“THAT IS ALSO ONE WAY” (TO BECOME FEARLESS)
Below are a few more quotes from Srila Prabhupada on the use of guns.
“The deities may be immediately repaired and worshiped. Now we must
take precaution as you have suggested. You may get some guns and some
of the boys may be trained as ksatriyas.”
(Letter to: Kirtanananda — Mayapur 14 June, 1973 )
Prabhupāda: But if the dacoits attack, we used gun, what is wrong?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Self-protection. The question is it may be that the gun
may only be allowed to be used by the licensed holder of the gun.
Prabhupāda: That does not…
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sometimes, you know, when a person is arrested, it
doesn’t mean he’s guilty, but they have to arrest him. Then, later on,
it’s taken up in court whether or not he’s guilty.
Prabhupāda: Gun is kept for protection.
(room conversation, JULY 8,1977)
Below is a letter to Mukunda at Bhaktivedanta Manor, referencing the
practice of having 24 hour armed devotees at the LA temple.
“After the class and breakfast everyone should go to their respective
duties, deity worship, sankirtana, clean-up and so throughout the day
this atmosphere of constant engagement will produce the truly happy
result of transcendental life. So you should set the example and also
see that the others are following. Our buildings are not for our
sleeping in and eating like hotels, but whoever wants to join us
should understand the philosophy of regulated devotional service. Here
in L.A. they have elaborate Sunday festivals and erect a tent on the
front lawn. There are hours of kirtana, a philosophic lecture and lots
of sumptuous prasadam distribution. Another thing is, here they have a
24 hour security guard, with pistol and holster who is in the temple
at all times. So you should do this like this.”
“I am suspicious that the robbery in Mayapur might have been done by
some enemies. Maybe these land-sellers are also in the gunda class.
But if we have there 5 to 10 men, these things will not happen. If you
want to keep gun, I have no objection.”
(Letter to: Jayapataka — Bombay 22 December, 1971)
Prabhupāda: So in this way we have to fight. We should not be afraid
for these rascals. Why you should be afraid? If they take to guṇḍā-
ism, we shall engage fifty guṇḍās. “Come on. Let us see.” We have to
maintain that spirit. Anaye yei kare prabhu anaye yei sahe.(?) The
Rabindranath Tagore’s one poetry: “One who does wrong and suffers
wrong, he is wrong.” One should not do anything wrong; one should not
suffer anything wrong. That is human. If somebody does harm to me,
wrong to me, I cannot suffer it. I shall not do any harm to anyone.
That’s all right. But if you want to give me suffering, I must fight
you. Why shall I suffer it? That is kṣatriya spirit. Yuddhe cāpy
apalayanam. “If you are challenging, ‘All right, come on,’ I accept
this challenge.” We have to do like that. Now, this bāniyā spirit…
Our Bhagatji, he purchased that land, and he’s afraid of him. What is
this? Bāniyā spirit. But you are kṣatriya.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: He has to… I’m not there all the time. They come to
his house to…
Prabhupāda: No, you argue with weapon. Beat them. We shall see. Go to
the police that “This is nonsense.”
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, we’ve done that.
Prabhupāda: So how is that?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: At the present moment he’s okay; he’s quiet.
Prabhupāda: No, we should beat them. If somebody, atatayi…(?) You
unnecessarily attack me; I must first kill you. That is my duty. Just
like you have done here, Setterji. “I’ll bring my revolver.” So that
is argumentum baculum. Here they wanted to put us into trouble, and he
was in great trouble. So he came, he stood: “All right, come on. We
shall fight. Bring my revolver.” He did that. So we have to do like
that. Why shall I tolerate unnecessary injustice. Take that spirit.
(room conversation Jan 3, 1977)
Quotes above are meant for temple devotees not for kali-yuga society.
Conditioned souls act according the modes of material nature like puppet on a string. There is tamasic situation when things get out of control, like car accident when the driver is drunk, things get out of control. Therefore Prabhupada says (see below), “but they may not improperly use them”.
But this is exactly what happens all the time. Improper use of handguns by questionable individuals.
Prabhupada: I am keeping gun, (so) one may not hurt me, or may not attack me. That is called self-preservation. That is the concern. Self-preservation is the first law of nature. So that is in the animal kingdom……These are the concerns. And these concerns are there in the animals. So how human beings becomes better than animals? If the human being has got the same concern as the animals, then how the human being is better than the animals?
(Philosophy discussion with Syamasundara on Marin Heidegger)
Ramesvara: So whenever the Congress tries to pass a law to control the purchasing of guns, it is always defeated. They want the people to be able to have guns. They make a lot of money, also, selling guns.
Prabhupada: The best thing is they should be educated to become gentlemen. Keep guns, but they may not improperly use them.
(July 12, 1976, New York)