01/29/98 - 1550

To Rock or Not to Rock?

USA (VNN) - Letter from Hansadutta das and Krishnakant das

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I have noted the controversy regarding "Rock and Roll" type music. Since I was perhaps the first devotee to seriously venture into this orbit of activity I thought I would say a few words from an experienced perspective.

I have heard and understand all the arguments for and against this phenomenon of devotees engaging in Rock music for preaching K.C. But they all seem to miss the essential point which is simply this: If someone is a successful professional Rock musician, as was George Harrison in Prabhupada's time, then such a person should be encouraged to use his talent to serve Krishna by employing him to dovetail his musical talent, money, and fame in the service of Krishna. This is what Prabhupada did on many occasions , some of which I was personally present.

So this is PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL ENGAGEMENT and absolutely in keeping with our philosophy of Yukta Vairagya. However if a person who has already embraced the philosophy and life style of Krishna consciousness, initiated by the Spiritual Master, chanting 16 rounds , 4 regulative principles, sankirtan etc., living in the temple with shaved head, dhotie etc., then although such a person (devotee) may be very talented musically, it would be a REGRESSIVE MATERIAL ENGAGEMENT for him. Which would eventually drag such a person more and more into material activity. This is practically what happened to me, even though at one point I had a record in the top ten over in the Philippines. It is not a question of whether Rock music is good or bad, it is a question of PROGRESSIVE OR REGRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION.

Srila Prabhupada engaged and encouraged Allen Ginsburg to lead the chanting of Kirtan wherever he went, not because he thought Allen Ginsburg was good and pure, but because for allen Ginsburg to Chant Hare Krishna and lead his fans and well wishers was 100% PROGRESSIVE not only for him but for his audience also. In private Srila Prabhupada let us know in no uncertain terms that he thought Allen Ginsburg was a debauchee number one.

When Swarup Damodar Swami (Dr.Singh) came to Srila Prabhupada he was engaged in studying for his Phd, doctorate at the UNIVERSITY. Srila Prabhupada encouraged him time and time again to complete his study, because this was PROGRESSIVE forward dovetailing Swarup Damodar's natural talent and inclination and potential credentials as a respectable member of the scientific society. However when Jagadisa Swami (Guru and GBC Sannyas) wrote Srila Prabhupada suggesting strongly that he would be able to preach better if he had a college degree (More respect etc.) and wanted to get Srila Prabhupada's permission to go back to school and get the degree, Srila Prabhupada said that this was maya (I was the secretary at the time, so I remember this well ) and he added "There is absolutely no need for a devotee to learn anything new, if one can engage whatever one has learned to date, then he is perfect. If there is something more that a devotee needs to know, then Krishna will arrange that". For Jagadisa Swami to have gone back to college at that time would have been REGRESSIVE for him, for Swarup Damodar Swami it was PROGRESSIVE to continue his direction under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada and thus be perfectly situated, although engaged in a most mundane affair of so called education.

Another example is Vasudev Prabhu of the Fiji Islands. When he came to Prabhupada he was the owner of a Bar and restaurant, serving meat and liquor. Vasudev suggested to stop these activities, but Srila Prabhupada said no, continue and gradually phase out the meat and liquor.

I think Boy George chanting Hare Krishna is PROGRESSIVE for his Krishna consciousness, and that of his fans. But for a devotee to REGRESS to this platform of activity is a REGRESSION of Krishna consciousness and must necessarily lead to falling away from the standard of Krishna consciousness.

We must go forward from where we stand, and where we stand is known to the Spiritual Master, and under his guidance only can these things be applied practically.

I hope this letter is helpful in understanding the nature of this problem. I hope you are well.

Your humble servant,

Hansadutta das

(Srila Prabhupada letter to Sudama, 72-11-5)

"So far the Road Show and this Yoga Village are concerned, these things should be stopped. Simply perform our kirtana. If we divert our attention in this way, the whole thing will gradually deteriorate. He is going far away. All these things are nonsense inventions. Such inventing spirit will ruin our this movement. People may come to see, some will become devotees, but such devotees will not stay because they are attracted by some show and not by the real thing or spiritual life according to the standard of Lord Caitanya. Our standard is to have kirtana, start temples. What is this "Road Show" and "Yoga Village?" It will be another hippie edition. Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. Simply have kirtana, nothing else. Don't manufacture ideas."

(Srila Prabhupada letter to Sudama, 72-12-23)

"And if you simply keep to our standard programme--don't try to invent anything "Road Show" or "Yoga Village"--that means chanting daily 16 rounds, rising early, attending mangal arati, like that, if this progamme is strictly maintained amongst all the devotees, they will remain pure, and if preaching is pure, automatically leaders, managers, funds, everything will be given profusely by Krishna, without any doubt."

Thus if rock stars are going to ADD krishna to what they are doing anyway, then it can only help. But for devotees to get into to this to 'preach' is something completely different. I think you have explained it really well.

A materialist CAN dovetail his material desire to do some preaching. But a spiritualist in the guise of preaching would simply be dovetailing KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS to fulfill his MATERIAL desires.

Thank you and hare krishna.

Your Servant,

Krishnakant