Food vs. Prasad Debate
BY: VASUDEVA DAS
Nov 10, 2011 — SRIDHAM MAYAPUR, WEST BENGAL (SUN) — In response to Basu Ghosh prabhu's recent article on food vs prasad, I would like to make two comments/questions:
1. Prabhu, I would share your concern with the midday meal concept if those performing it were doing so at the expense of direct preaching or book distribution. But as the main devotees engaged in midday meal distribution happen to be today's world leaders in Srila Prabhupada book distribution, I cannot possibly fault them for ALSO caring for the destitute, even if what they feed them isn't Deity standard prasadam.
In this context, I find the social welfare argument in danger of being called unfair faultfinding, especially as the persons concerned happen to be top preachers whose personal character and dedication to Srila Prabhupada has been long standing. Don't you find these considerations crucial to the debate?
2. I've always had the understanding that Prasadam, perhaps like the Holy Name, can be of several levels of purity/potency. Preachers, householders, and travellers, sometimes find themselves in situations that force one to quickly or awkwardly offer food that may be "unofferable" to a Temple Deity. The devotee may also not be initiated, but would you say that such food simply remains bhoga? Is it not some sort of prasadam, in proportion perhaps with the sincerity in which it was offered?
