Looking at the Cultural Background 93

differences between the personal and impersonal are relatively vague,
but adopting this distinction for simplicity, I expressed surprise at seeing
people who have grown up in a Western culture which stresses the per-
sonal take to an Indian cult which does the same. I am less surprised
when people who are dissatisfied with Western monotheism take to an
Indian philosophy which stresses an impersonal absolute.

Second, I never expressed nor felt disgust at the chanting of the name
of Krsna. I am not only not irritated at it (like some people), but I rather
like it. But it is an indisputable fact that the Bhagavad-gita (not to men-
tion the Vedas) does not require such constant chanting. The Gitd deals
with quite different subjects, which I treat at some length in my courses
on the philosophies of India.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
J.F. Staal
Professor of Philosophy
and of South Asian Languages

January 30, 1970

J.F. Staal
Professor of Philosophy
and of South Asian Languages
University of California
Berkeley, California

My dear Professor Staal:

I thank you very much for your kind letter dated January 23, 1970. In
the last paragraph of your letter you have mentioned that you are not irri-
tated at the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra (like some people), but
rather like it. This has given me much satisfaction, and I am sending
herewith a copy of our magazine, Back to Godhead, issue number 28, in
which you will find how the students [at a program at Ohio State
University] liked this chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, although all of
them were neophytes to this cult of chanting. Actually this chanting is
very pleasing to the heart and is the best means of infusing spiritual con-
sciousness, or Krsna consciousness, into the hearts of people in general.

This is the easiest process of spiritual realization and is recommended
in the Vedas. In the Brhan-naradiya Purana it is clearly stated that it is
