Dear Mani - My $0.02.

There is no doubt this list serves many purposes. I was introduced to the
notion of prapatti as a result of this group (way back when the list was
small) in a non sectarian, noninvasive, non-condescending, simple manner. The
knowledge gained from reading material posted here has changed my life. I was
led to my Acharya as a result of associations I developed while participating
in this list. There will be many discussion groups that may emerge as a
result of the increased interest in the subject matter surround the teachings
of our Acharyas - but this list will stand out as serving a very unique
purpose. And Mani, your fingerprints are all over the tremendous impact that
this list has had on me and numerous others. Don't even think about 'ending'
this list. Hey, without His will, you will not be able to end this even if
you try

May Sriman Narayana's blessings shower on you.

Adiyen Vishwanath



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Members,

There hasn't been much activity lately on the Bhakti List.
Presumably this is because of the new guidelines I put in
place earlier this year, and because of the proliferation
of various Sri Vaishnava email discussion groups, each of
which have their own focus.

Given that this is the case, are the Bhakti List and related
groups serving any useful purpose? I mean this as a serious
question and not a rhetorical one. There is no need for this
group to exist if members aren't deriving any benefit from
it. It may be that the other groups are more than
adequately satisfying the needs of Internet-aware people
interested in Sri Vaishnava religion and philosophy.

Or, perhaps the guidelines I put in place are too restrictive?
I may have put the cart before the horse, but I would appreciate
public comment on where members want to take this group and what
they envision as its purpose. Please be open and frank.

Thanks,
Mani

SrImatE rAmAnujAya nama:

Learned members or moderator can initiate topics and questions of
tutorial nature .

Introductory works of Sri Ramanuja could be taken up for discussion
initially and advanced works later.

Discussion could be limited to one topic at a time in order to stay
focussed.

After 'adequate' discussion, we could move on to another topic if a
majority of members agree.

rAmAnuja-dAsa:
//Ramkumar.

Dear members,
Mani's question seems to be leading to some introspection.

Perhaps there are not many learned members who can pour out on aazhvaar's
prabhandhams etc , there by the numbers of articles has reduced of late. So
may be a little relaxation on that could be thought of.

On the proliferation of groups, yes. The number has become many. At times
same mail is received from more than one source, which at times is an
inconvenience, I feel.

Other wise the list is definitely serving the purpose.

Just to say about myself, I became very much exposed to so many interesting
topics which otherwise is not that easy for me.

Dhasan
Vasudevan m.g.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mani Varadarajan [SMTP:mani@...]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 4:31 AM
To: bhakti-list (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Is this list serving any purpose?

Dear Members,
There hasn't been much activity lately on the Bhakti List.
Presumably this is because of the new guidelines I put in place earlier this
year, and because of the proliferation of various Sri Vaishnava email
discussion groups, each of which have their own focus.
Given that this is the case, are the Bhakti List and related groups
serving any useful purpose? I mean this as a serious question and not a
rhetorical one. There is no need for this group to exist if members aren't
deriving any benefit from it. It may be that the other groups are more than
adequately satisfying the needs of Internet-aware people interested in Sri
Vaishnava religion and philosophy.
Or, perhaps the guidelines I put in place are too restrictive? I
may have put the cart before the horse, but I would appreciate public
comment on where members want to take this group and what they envision as
its purpose. Please be open and frank. Thanks, Mani
--------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mani,
I agree that there should be some moderation so that
general topics such as 'vegetarianism' etc. are not
discussed in this group. However, Q&A on topics which
a genuine seeker of truth would like to ask depending
on his/her level of understanding of vedas, upanishads
etc should also be allowed to be discussed as this
will enable a wider perspective to one's understanding
and therefore enriching ones thought.
Regards,
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Ranganathan Sounderrajan.

Dear Sri Mani,

Bhakti list's contribution is immeasurable - no exaggeration. It continues
to do so and there are no qualms about that, at least in my mind. I for one
have gained a great deal of knowledge and comfort just being a "read-only"
member. I am pretty sure that applies to many of the list members.

As you pointed out, new guidelines coupled with the creation of new
groups/sub-groups might've affected recent volumes significantly, but ever
since I joined this list almost 4 years back, I've never been able to keep
up with the rich content and information posted here.

As Sri Ramkumar suggested, to encourage more participation inline with the
new guidelines it may be a good idea to initiate a series of brief, focussed
postings about Sri Vaishnavam / Sri Ramanujar, his works, works of his
contemporaries and followers, along with references for further reading.

This will certainly help raise the level of "authentic" knowledge and enable
all of us participate with more confidence instead of sitting on the
sidelines.

adiyEn,
Sriram

-----Original Message-----
From: Mani Varadarajan [mailto:mani@...]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 7:01 PM
To: bhakti-list (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Is this list serving any purpose?

srimathe ramanujaya namah
namo narayana

dear sri mani,
adiyal would just like to echo what sri vishvanath had stated. this group
has guided me and alot of others as well in our sri sampradhayam. if
anything the posts in this list has changed my whole life. so please
don't entertain thoughts of ending it!

the list is just a little dormant at the moment, swamy, that's all. the
guidelines are not restrictive but precise. so please don't be harsh on
yourself.

for my part i would like to ask a few questions to all bhaagavatas,

1) what is the difference between the monthly ekadesi and annual ekadesi?
2) how does one observe the fast properly?
3) what is the significance of avoiding grains during ekadesi?
4) i heard that if one misses the monthly ekadesi-s then s/he can make up by
observing the annual ekadesi. is this true?

thank you all in advance )
and sri mani, pls do keep doing the wonderful kainkaryam that your doing for
our beloved perumal and piratti ))

lottsa krishna premai
kalaivani
andal thiruvadigale saranam
jai sriman narayana
govinda govinda govinda




>From: Vishinutah@...
>Reply-To: bhakti-list (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>To: bhakti-list (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>Subject: Re: Is this list serving any purpose?
>Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 21:49:29 EDT
>
>Dear Mani - My $0.02.
>
>There is no doubt this list serves many purposes. I was introduced to the
>notion of prapatti as a result of this group (way back when the list was
>small) in a non sectarian, noninvasive, non-condescending, simple manner.
>The
>knowledge gained from reading material posted here has changed my life. I
>was
>led to my Acharya as a result of associations I developed while
>participating
>in this list. There will be many discussion groups that may emerge as a
>result of the increased interest in the subject matter surround the
>teachings
>of our Acharyas - but this list will stand out as serving a very unique
>purpose. And Mani, your fingerprints are all over the tremendous impact
>that
>this list has had on me and numerous others. Don't even think about
>'ending'
>this list. Hey, without His will, you will not be able to end this even if
>you try
>
>May Sriman Narayana's blessings shower on you.
>
>Adiyen Vishwanath
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------
> - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
>To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>Group Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhakti-list
>Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/




radhe krishna!


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SrI:
SrImathE rAmanujaya namah:
Dear Sri Mani,

This list is the forerunner and is the beginning of all of us to get
together; to know each other; to organise NAMA events all over the world; to
get to know more about Ramanuja sampradayam; to revie our younger days when
we had learnt the sthOthramms whose meanings we get to know and how deep
they are when we read Sri SatakOpan mama's translations;- the list and
benefits the list has given us are endless.

It has introduced us the unparalleled Sri vaishnava to many of us, about
which many of us have lost track and forgotten due to running amuck after
material pursuits. The list taught me what is Pancha samskaram (thanks to
Sri Anand Karalapakkam's brilliant write up); the doctrine of Prapatti; the
intense desire to undergo prapatti in the immediate future.

Also the list gave us the dynamic, young Simhapuri Sri MS Hari in Singapore
(it was you who wrote to me about his presence in Singapore) and he has
transformed many Srivaishnavas at Singapore and he continues indefatigably.

We have got to know Sri Anbil Mama and his excellent posts thorugh this list
first. There is now ay you can end it. It is like a good Primary school and
there are many Secondary schools, Colleges, Universities now. That does not
mean the primary school needs to be closed. There are students who joined
the list and are now in Universities. The lecturers who started off in
Primary school find it too preliminary and hence have shifted to Colleges.
There are and will be always new children to learn and learn. We will exist
for them and they will also get promoted to Universities.

Your Ramanuja Primary school should go on. Encourage Bhahawathas of the list
to ask questions; Ask them to send their mite. We can send the respective
kalai's view points without hurting the other so that people get to know the
subtle differences and the great commonalities too.

My two (nay), one cent worth.
Regards
Namo Narayana
aDiyEn


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Sri:
SriRAmAJayam
SrimathE RAmAnujAya Nama:

Dear Mani,
I just wonder what made you to think of putting an end to
this group. Surely you have to give up such an idea! This site is
really good. There is always a "slack" period. At times people are
occupied with mundane things that they forget about the bhakti-list.
You need to sing a "suprabAtham" those times to wake up the jIvAtmAs.

On a different matter,wrt the rules,it's my personal view
(you can always disregard),the rules shouldn't be too stringent. No
two persons think alike(under normal conditions). There is so much
about our sampradAyam and philosophy/works of AchAryAs that we
(atleast I) all need to learn. So,let people express their views but
they should be aware where & when to put a "full stop" (when the
discussion does not lead anywhere to a good understanding). Without
the "freedom of speech" and some heated discussions I don't think
there would be any advancement in any field.

If everybody can accept every other person as he/she is
this world would be like vaikuNTam.

I have so much to ask but I'm a bit scared to put forth my
questions(b'coz of the restrictions and I classify myself as a free
person). A "truly" knowledgeable person would not mind any type of
question. This is again my viewpoint and I don't expect others to
agree with me.

With so many other groups existing,attention will be
divided among the groups. It's quite natural. (It's like the baby
attracted to one particular gift or it will keep shifting its
attention).

Maybe a person who is knowledgeable(atleast to some extent)
in brahma sUtrA should take one sUtrA(I guess there are 545 in no)and
try to elaborate on that. And allow people to clarify their doubts.
As someone already pointed out,even if you try to end this group,you
may not succeed!

Best Regards and a BIG SRIMAN NARAYANA's BLESS on this group(&you)

AzhwAr EmperumAnAr Jeeyar TiruvadigaLE saraNam
Sarvam krSNArpaNam astu
gita

Quote:"All truth passes through three stages. First it's ridiculed.
Second,it's violently opposed. Third,it is accepted as self-evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer