Fw: Is eating cocoa products not breaking regulative principles

[Shandilya Rishi das ( Bangalore-IN)]

 

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From: BVKS Sanga Mail <BVKS.Sa...@pamho.net>
To: BVKS Sanga <BVKS....@pamho.net>
Sent: Friday, 22 June 2012 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: Is eating cocoa products not breaking regulative principles

From:      Internet: "vibhava krsna das"
Date:      21-Jun-12 16:23 +0530
To:        BVKS Sanga Mail [6192]  (received: 21-Jun-12 13:07 +0200)
Subject:  Re: Is eating cocoa products not breaking regulative principles
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Dear  Prabhu,

      Dandavats. AGTSP.

*Some devotees still consider chocolate acceptable for consumption based on
the information that Srila Prabhupada had eaten some. Here is an
interesting anecdote from Hari Sauri das Prabhu about chocolate:*****

****

From Hari Sauri:****

Dear Shyamasundara prabhu,****

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!****

****

Thanks for your enquiry on Dec. 17 about chocolate. As it happens, we did
specifically ask Srila Prabhupada about chocolate. In late October or
November 1976 in Vrindavana, the devotees had opened a snack bar to the
right of the front gate, where the Samadhi exhibition building now stands.
They were  selling hot drinking chocolate. I questioned the wisdom in this
but some said it was OK.  So I took the matter directly to Prabhupada. His
first response was to ask, “Where does chocolate come from?” So we replied
that it was made  from the cocoa bean. As soon as he heard that, he said,
“Oh, then you may not take it. Anything  made from the cocoabean cannot be
taken.” So that was it. The drinking chocolate was taken off the menu.
There was some short discussion about caffeine in the cocoa bean, and it is
probably significant that Prabhupada asked first what chocolate was made
from before he answered. His not knowing this in late 1976 would account
for his taking it in early years. Its likely he just thought it was a
harmless sweet and never  questioned it until we came with the controversy
and when he had to give a definite decision he decided against it. I don’t
think eating chocolate is a major crime but I do recall reading in a health
book, one by a proponent of a strict  vegetarian, non-fat diet and weight
training (I just forgot his name now) that a bar of chocolate has as much
caffeine in it as a cup of coffee. Hope this helps. Yhs, Hsd ISKCON’s
current position on consumption of chocolate is: That, as it contains
various stimulants like caffeine (contained in coffee), theine (contained
in black tea) and theobromine (contained in cacao), chocolate should not be
eaten by ISKCON devotees. (GBC Resolution 31, 1993)

Hope this suffices.

ys,
vkd

> From:      Internet: "Rakesh Joshi"
> Date:      19-Jun-12 15:50 +0530
> To:        BVKS Sanga Mail [6189]  (received: 19-Jun-12 12:29 +0200)
> Subject:  Is eating cocoa products not breaking regulative principles
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Dear Maharaj, prabhus and matajis,
> Please accept my humble obeisances
> All glories to Srila Prabhupada
>
>                      Is cocoa not considered an intoxicant? I was told
> that it is not considered an intoxicant and it can be used. It has some
> mild brain stimulating properties but some sweets are having more brain
> stimulating quality than cocoa. So, it was authorized in ISKCON to use
> cocoa. Are there any references for this incident? Please guide me
> regarding the same.
>
> Your servant,
> Ram Aprameya das

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