I follow a guy named Vic DiCara on google reader. He’s the songwriting force of many of my favorite hardcore bands and also a devout follower of Krsna and member of ISKCON (International Society of Krsna Conciousness). In studying world religions, I’ve found so many beautiful parallels between my faith and the faith of those seeking enlightenment through Vedic study.
DiCara writes:
The urge will be there to say, “God, what is wrong with this guy? Why wont he forgive me?” Or, “You know, if she was really all that ‘saintly’ she would not have taken this insult so seriously to begin with.” These thoughts are complete illusions that I must avoid at all costs!
Another doubt, “How can you say he is a ‘saint’? Look what he did!!! How is it an ‘offense’ to point out to you what a cheater this man is!?! If the person was truly a ‘saint’ I would have nothing ill to point out in the first place!”
Thus the important question: Who is “saintly”?
People who behave poorly, who are fallen, deceitful, egotistical, bodily conscious, drunks, cruel, irreligious, uncultured, mean, greedy, attached and illusioned are actually liberated souls if they merely take shelter of Govinda’s feet. [Padma Purana 4.25.9, quoted in Hari Bhakti Vilas 11.655]
If you’re a professed Christian (or even if your not) read the rest of his piece on the offending of Saints and see if you draw the same inspiration from it in terms of inter-relational church functions as I did.
Part of being a Christian is believing that the path to salvation ultimately lies only with Jesus, which I profess. However, I also believe that their is one G-d and that all truth belongs to him. In that, I see a lot of Vic’s blog as teaching me so much about my own faith, though we don’t necessarily share the same theology.
*Note for those that read Vic’s blog:
Bhakti is a yoga (yolk) that basically means humble service. It’s the yoga most often associated with Christ (in my limited expirience).
