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Krishna sect visits University
By Michelle Brence
Of the Emerald
During the past week, a group of short-haired men
in faded orange robes have frequented the corner of
13th Avenue and University Street. They are members
of the Hare Krishna movement, and are traveling up the
coast from San Francisco to Seattle, meeting young
people.
“We feel we have some education to give young
people as far as spiritual knowledge,’’ says Vyasa Pada,
a devotee of the faith.
The Hare Krishnas came through Eugene to inform
the community of their beliefs, and to test people’s
response. Finding little hostile reaction and an in
quisitive Eugene public, the Hare Krishna members
hope to eventually start a yoga club at the University
and establish a center in Eugene for devotees to live and
meet.
Photo by Steven Wall
Vyasa Pada, Tripurari Swami and Loka Saranga are
Hare Krishnas who hope to establish a yoga club at
the University.
The faith originated in India, and claims several
million followers worldwide, Vyasa Pada says. The
Hare Krishna doctrines include up to 80 volumes,
which devotees believe have been inspired by God, or
“Krishna.” The most important of these is the
Bhagavad-Gita, which they say are the words of God
himself, from 5,000 years ago.
Hare Krishna devotees strive to live their lives ac
cording to Krishna’s doctrines. This means a diet
without meat, fish or eggs. In addition, they must
refrain from sex outside of marriage, gambling, and tak
ing intoxicants into the body. Another doctrine in
volves prayer to Krishna through singing and chanting.
In Hare Krishna philosophy, “karma” determines
the destiny of every life form, Vyasa Pada says.
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite
action,” he says of karma. In other words, karma keeps
track of every organism's activities — the good actions
will be rewarded while the bad ones will be punished.
The Hare Krishnas believe in reincarnation.
Vyasa Pada says, “Death is not the end, it’s just the
change of body.” At the time of death, an organism will
progress to a higher life form. For example the soul of
an animal may enter the body of a human, if it has pass
ed its God-given test. However, if the karma has been
negative, the organism may regress to a lower life form.
In addition to moving from organism to organism,
souls may be transported to different planets within the
universe, Vyasa Pada says. Some planets are heavenly,
where inhabitants are rewarded, while other planets are
a punishment to sinful souls.
“If we develop Godly qualities then we take on a
better life,” says Vyasa Pada.
The ulitmate destiny, Vyasa Pada says, is the exit
from the physical body and the entrance into the
spiritual kingdom of God. This can only be achieved by
following Krishna’s doctrines and excelling through
the forms of life.
The men in the faith are at one of four stages.
Brahmacari is the first. Men in this stage, like
Vyasa Pada, are students. They live in temples, preach,
and refrain from any connections with women.
After this, the men may either pass through the se
cond and third stages or go directly to the fourth.
The second stage, Grhastha, involves Hare Krishna
men who are married, work in society, and may have
children.
During the third stage, Vanaprastha, the man may
stay with his wife to give and receive support in
spiritual practice, but must refrain from sex.
The fourth stage, Sannyas, involves the complete
renunciation of the follower’s earthly family in order to
prepare for death.
Women practice similar rituals, but their roles and
stages of progression are less clearly defined.
“I saw that Krishna consciousness was a practical
solution to my questions,” says Vyasa Pada, “It has
helped me to develop better appreciation for the higher
values of life.”
Speakers address
Central America
An American doctor who has practiced
medicine in a guerrilla-occupied area of El
Salvador and a Northwest forester currently
working in Nicaragua will speak on campus this
week.
Dr. Charles Clements, who spent a year in the
Guazapa region of El Salvador treating civilians
affected by the war, will speak in Room 150,
Geology on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Clements is the
author of “Witness to War: An American Doctor
in El Salvador.”
Clements is a former Air Force pilot who flew
more than 50 missions in Vietnam. In 1970, when
he refused to fly further missions, he was commit
ted to a psychiatric hospital and eventually given
a medical discharge.
After attending medical school, Clements
practiced in Salinas, Calif., where he often
treated Salvadoran refugees. In March, 1982,
Clements entered El Salvador clandestinely.
There, Clements says he witnessed a situa
tion quite different from that portrayed by the
State Department. The human rights performance
of the Salvadoran government has not improved,
he says, and he has treated civilians who appear
to be victims of napalm bombing.
Since returning to the United States.
Clements has spoken about El Salvador
throughout the country. He also helped found the
Salvadoran Medical Relief Fund.
Clements’ talk is free and open to the public.
There will also be a reception and book signing at
the Koinonia Center, 1414 Kincaid St., at 5 p.m.
A $2 donation is requested.
Howard Heiner, a Methodist missionary
forester working in Nicaragua, will speak Thurs
day at 7:30 p.m. in EMU Room 167. The talk is
free and open to the public.
Heiner will arrive directly from Nicaragua
where he works with the Nicaraguan Natural
Resource Management Agency. Heiner. a former
forester with the St. Regis Paper Co., has also
done forestry work in Bolivia, Chile and Somalia.
Heiner’s topic will be “Natural Resource
Ecology and Forestry in Nicaragua.” He will also
discuss current events in Nicaragua.
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