Hare Krishna.

My personal opinion: Well, we all carry one type of conditioning or another, but is there really any need to go forming a separate association or group? It tends to make that group stand out more than ever and is a bit of an in-your-face sort of action. I know there are devotees who don't feel comfortable around homosexual or lesbian people, and those who are gay should accept that, as much as those of us who are not inclined that way try to accept those who are.

But should we so readily call such an association "Such and Such Vaisnava Association"? It tends to belittle what a Vaisnava is. After all, how many of us are really Vaisnavas? We can read the article by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati "What (or Who) is a Vaisnava?" (Sorry, I forgot the correct name).

Many of us had many bad habits, which we are trying to give up, and many devotees have been successful by strong Krsna consciousness. Let's drop this apparent and unnecessary segregation. There are many devotees who are tolerant and understanding.

I used to drink alcohol. If I start it again, should I try to stop or just form a Drunkards' Association. So many could spring up because of our conditioning.

I do understand that those who are gay may not practice it. Well in that case, what are they on about? Surely that means they have now transcended such conditioning, in which case all this is much ado about nothing, isn't it?

Let's all try and remember what we have been given. I mean myself as well, obviously, as I fall into past bad habits from time to time. But I don't go around advertising and trying to force devotees to accept me as I am. And if they don't, then I don't gather support from those in the same predicament and form an association, which is a bit of a statement to say the least.

Why not keep it simple and stop complicating matters?

Your servant,
Ananta Purusottama das

© dipika.org August 2, 2003