Text COM:1701224 (35 lines)

From: Kaunteya (das) JPS (Mayapur - IN)

Date: 19-Sep-98 05:14

To: Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA) [1546] (forwarded:

19-Sep-98 05:20)

Cc: Apocalypse 1999? (Are you ready?) [20]

Reference: Text COM:1689189 by Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA)

Subject: Weapons or not weapons?

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Hare Krsna Dasi Prabhu wrote me:

> We had a Y2K discussion on the varnasrama.development conference a couple

> months ago. The topic of security came up. Some people proposed to get

> guns and be ready to shoot it out. But the point was brought up that

> Friendship is the real security.

I fully agree with you on the importance of creating friendship around us,

especially in preparation to a major crisis. I heard that in the Hungarian

ISKCON farm the leaders are planning to store enough food for both the

devotee-community and the local village.

Nevertheless developing friendship *and* getting guns are not mutually

exclusive.

We should try our best to prevent unnecessary violence while at the same

time be ready if active self-defence becomes inevitable.

If people know that devotees have weapons and are ready to use them

discourages attacks and might prove an incentive to friendship.

Here is a letter from Srila Prabhupada to Kirtanananda (22nd June, 1973):

"After the shooting affair what precaution have you taken?

Bharadraja is here and he gave report that the devotees were very

frightened. I further understand that the attack was for the second time. .

Here in Mayapur there are reports of dacoity at least once, twice in a month

surrounding our place. So we have now taken two guns under regular license

from the government. . So when New Vrindaban has been attacked twice,

thrice, why are you not keeping guns? We are not advocates of non-violence

when there is aggression we must kill them. So I think you shall immediately

arrange for guns and at least 10, 12 men should be trained up so when there

is again attack you can properly reply the aggressor."

your servant, Kaunteya das

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