Sports Update
By Madhava Gosh

For the second time in a period of weeks I am writing an article about sports. If this happens too many times, I might start thinking of myself as a sports columnist for Vaishnava publications. Can syndication be far behind? If nothing else, it shows Krishna has a sense of humor, me finding myself in such a position. Personally, I prefer talking about cow protection, or rather, the systematic lack of it in modern Vaishnavism, but it has little interest to most devotees, so I'll stick with sports.

In the article "Sports and Varnashram" Atma - Nivedana speaks of focusing on principle more than detail, so here are a few principles.

1. Accept what is favorable for Krishna Consciousness and reject what is unfavorable. 2. The shoe that fits one person pinches another. 3. Adapt to time and circumstance 4. Balance in all things

If someone was obsessed with sports while growing up, having them as the center of their life, and thinking ill of others who weren't in or good at sports, then for that person to bring balance into their life, it may be better to have nothing to do with sports. That would be balancing. If, however, that person were then to think ill of others who were into sports, or to think them less advanced for playing sports, then although the detail of how that person dealt with sports had changed, the underlying principle of equating whatever they were doing as being the best has not really changed. So no sports would be a step but not the whole journey.

Someone else may have been less gifted at sports or lacked interest in developing their sporting potential. As we all know, high school students, tending to be very much on the bodily platform, can sometimes be a little cruel to someone who is unathletic, so that person may have grown up with an aversion both to sports and people involved with them. . For them, playing some regulated sports may actually be beneficial in overcoming an conditioned aversion. Aversion is the flip side of attraction.

Developing proper consciousness is the important thing. The detail of various rules and regulations are meant to be tools and not an ends in themselves. For one person doing something may be detrimental to development, while for another, the same thing could be instrumental. It is the internal process that is important, not the external.

As a systematic means for promoting the process of elevation, varnashram is recommended. Different shoes for different people. As Atma -Nivedana didn't get into varna, I will also confine myself to discussing ashram.

Grhastra ashram is granted time to develop higher consciousness, so some license is given. Still there are standards. Although some frivolous sports may be tolerated, the best standard is still just regulated sports. Some fallen householders may have interest in following professional sports, but it is not to be equated with active involvement for purposes of preaching or health. Of course, this is even more true for the other ashrams, where frivolous sports are also best avoided, as noted by Atma-Nivedana.

The question then is what would be regulated sports, and that may differ from ashram to ashram, or even in different manifestations of each ashram. For example, we have seen that Srila Prabhupada clearly authorized sports to be played by brahmacaris of gurukula age. But should this be taken that every brahmacari can engage in regulated sports? I think not. In the United States Marine Corp, sports are played and regulated leagues established. However, for recruits undergoing basic training, that is not part of the regulation. Basic training is a period of very intense involvement and of detachment from previous lifestyle patterns. Similarly, there should be a period in every brahmacari's life where they are intensely strict, and it is hard to see even regulated sports as having a place then. Once that period is passed, however, I think it would be a more individual thing as to what would constitute authorized regulated sports. The same principle applies though; if for sense gratification rejects it, but for becoming more fit to serve better and longer, or for the purposes of preaching, accept it.

Srila Prabhupada has had the scriptures translated into the vernacular. Still, without a living person to explain them, they can be difficult to understand. How to explain principles in terms of the local culture? For example, the importance of guru is not to be minimized, but how to explain that to Westerners? For many young people, the best example they have is that of a coach, someone who understands the principles of a game, and can teach them. Sports also require discipline and sacrifice, both of which are nurtured by the coach. Many young people develop respect for their coach and sometimes go to a coach as a counselor. For a brahmacari to coach young people in sports, many of the basic underlying principles of a regulated approach to Krishna Consciousness can be taught, and a rapport can be gained. In this case, it can be seen that involvement in sports by a brahmacari would be favorable for Krishna Consciousness.

Speaking of understanding scriptures in local terms, how about the whole rittvik issue? Although many seemingly good cases have been made against it, still, there are equally as many seemingly good arguments made for it. To an outsider, who doesn't have an extended education in Vaisnava culture in which to frame the issues, it can all seem dense and confusing. Since we are in a culture where sports are more easily understood, how can rittvik be explained? Actually, from the perspective of soccer, or even other sports, it can be easily understood. Although we may read books about soccer, and even watch game tapes of great players, how can the author or the great player be our coach and not be physically present? How could he make substitutions? Or devise specific game plans for a particular opponent? It just isn't possible, no matter how great they are. The need for a living, present coach is obvious. So much for rittvikism.

As for the sannyasa ashram and regulated sports, the same principles apply. Personally I would be more respecting of a sannyasa who could use regulated sports for the purposes of advancing Krishna Consciousness than of one who rejected all sports out of attachment to some mundane conception of an inflexible rules and regulations based approach to Krishna Consciousness. I would rather have the association of a humble swami who played or permitted regulated sports than of a swami proud of being so advanced because he didn't play sports. But I am sure others may feel differently.

© CHAKRA 11-January-2001

Go to the “Letters Page”