krsna

During May 1974, the noted Irish poet Desmond James Bernard O 'Grady visited Srila Prabhupada at his quarters in Rome: Mr. O'Grady: The problem is to find this spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada: That is not the problem. The problem is whether you are sincere. You have problems, but God is within your heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam. God is not far away. If you are sincere, God sends you a spiritual master. Therefore God is also called caitya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart. God helps from within and from without. Everything is thus described in the Bhagavad-gita. This material body is like a machine, but within the heart is the soul, and with the soul is the Supersoul, Krsna, who gives directions. The Lord says, "You wanted to do this; now here is the chance. Go and do it." If you are sincere, you say, "Now, God, I want You." Then He will give you directions. "Yes, now you come and get Me like this." This is His kindness. However, if we want something else, that is all right. We can have it. God is very kind. When I want something, He is in my heart directing me and telling me how to have it. So why should He not give directions on how to have a spiritual master? First of all we must again be eager to revive our God consciousness. Then God will give us a spiritual master. Mr. O'Grady: Thank you very much.

We try to be part of Krsna Consciousness revival revolutionary spiritual culture. So whatever I do, I do it for Krsna. It is all His. Moreover Krsna is everywhere and everything is in Krsna. This spiritual conciousness is attainable by simply chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra. But sometimes due to weakness of heart or previous bad conditionings this spiritual cultivation of chanting Hare Krsna seems foreign to me(the spirit soul).

k Here is a photo of the Pope at the end of an audience with Patriarch Raphael I of Iraq where "the Pope bowed to the Muslim holy book the Qu'ran presented to him by the delegation, and kissed it as a sign of respect".

DISTRIBUTING SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM When there are too many materialistic activities by the people in general all over the world, there is no wonder that a person or a nation attacks another person or nation on slight provocation. That is the rule of this age of Kali or quarrel. The atmosphere is already polluted with corruption of all description, and everyone knows it well. There are so many unwanted literatures full of materialistic ideas of sense gratification. In many countries there are bodies appointed by the state to detect and censor obscene literature. This means that neither the government nor the responsible leaders of the public want such literature, yet it is in the marketplace because the people want it for sense gratification. The people in general want to read (that is a natural instinct), but because their minds are polluted they want such literatures. Under the circumstances, transcendental literature like Srimad-Bhägavatam will not only diminish the activities of the corrupt mind of the people in general, but also it will supply food for their hankering after reading some interesting literature. Let there be systematic propaganda for popularizing reading of the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhägavatam, which will act like sugar candy for the jaundice-like condition of sense gratification. When men have a taste for this literature, the other literatures, which are catering poison to society, will then automatically cease. Srimad-Bhägavatam is the easiest way of directly approaching Krsna. Diverting even a little of one’s attention toward Krsna and activities in Krsna consciousness immediately enables one to achieve the highest perfection of life. This is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement. The secret of success is unknown to people in general, and therefore Srila Vyäsadeva, being compassionate toward the poor souls in this material world, especially in this age of Kali, has given us the Srimad-Bhägavatam. For Vaisnavas who are somewhat advanced, or who are fully aware of the glories and potencies of the Lord, Srimad-Bhägavatam is a beloved Vedic literature. After all, we have to change this body. If we do not care about Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhägavatam, we do not know what the next body will be. But if one adheres to these two books—Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhägavatam—one is sure to obtain the association of Krsna in the next life. Therefore, distribution of Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world is a great welfare activity for theologians, philosophers, transcendentalists and yogis as well as for people in general. (SB 1:5:11-13; 10:12:11) This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyäsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhägavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart. O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhägavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. (Suta Goswami- SB 1:1:2-3) Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

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This is the real question,after all. The test of one's spiritual practice is that one receives a realization of Sri Krsna. Be it infitesimal, it is nonetheless valuable because it can push one to keep going for more. Krsna is kind and merciful. I offer my most humble obeisances at the dust of His lotus feet.

Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 8.274 TRANSLATION "The maha-bhagavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord."

Question: Why are we not feeling any closeness to Krishna? Srila Bhaktisddhanta: The living entity is constitutionally a servitor of the Supreme Lord. But if we do not always associate with the Lord and his devotees, and do not always serve them, then how can we feel close to the Lord? If we are busy with worldly matters then how can we hear the Lord? At present we are enchanted by false hopes, which have resulted in wrong judgement. Thus we are heavily preoccupied with this world. We have become subject to wrong judgement because we have gone far away from the original fountainhead of our life. One who steps in quicksand will drown very quickly. Similarly, that on which we are depending has a treacherous foundation, and that is why we are drowning in this material ocean. Instead of being on the path to Krishna, we are spending our time in material endeavors, being possessed by wicked desires. Visnu-maya, the illusory energy of the Lord, is imprisoning us by letting us become material enjoyers or fruitive workers. Therefore we should be cautious. We should know that we require guidance at every step. We should be extra careful. We need instruction at every step; we need the guidance of gurudeva at every step. Serving the devotees is more beneficial for us than serving the Lord. The living entity is benefited more by associating with devotees than by associating with the Lord. The abode of a devotee, meaning the abode of gurudeva, is more favorable for pure devotional service than the abode of the Lord. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has said (Kalyana-kalpataru 1.14.4), yathaya vaisnava-gaia sei sthana vrndavana — Where vaisnavas are living, that place is Vrindavan. We have to try to understand the full meaning of these words. But if we become indifferent to the service of gurudeva, then we cannot become servitors. We will remain proud and arrogant. We will remain entangled in external thoughts. There is no higher thought in the theistic world than service at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Therefore we have to constantly hear hari-katha so we will not be deprived from the service of the Lord, who is adhoksaja or beyond the senses; so we will not become dependent on our senses and on the path of false logic. We have to pay great attention to devotional service, because we have spent many lifetimes doing these other things. We have to become very mindful so we can fulfill our greatest necessity in this very life. <font color="blue"> If a devotee always serves guru and Krishna with great care, with great attachment and love, then he will definitely feel Krishna’s association. </font color>

k The Supreme Thief Painting by Gokul Bihari Pattnaik <font color="red"> Out of mercy Lord Hari takes away everything. Hari means, "He who takes away, who steals everything". He even steals the mind and the heart. This is nice stealing, and it is very beautiful. He is known as 'cauragraganya', the best of all thieves, the supreme thief. </font color> Srila Gour Govinda Swami

I married a gay devotee by Iccha dhari d.d. Posted December 22, 2004 I would like to thank HH Hridayananda Maharaja for his objective, human and caring view on gay devotees in our movement. But what will happen next? I can imagine that many of his godbrothers do not agree with it and will criticise him for making such comments. How unfortunate. I am just patiently waiting for the time when we start to care for each other on the human level and when this policy about gay devotees will be clear once and for all -- they have the right to be in the same relationships as heterosexual devotees. They have the same need for affection, love, care and partnership. I was married to a gay devotee 3 years ago. I didn't have a clue about his sexual orientation. Recently we separated. It was very painful and emotionally exhausting for both of us, and the most painful thing about it was that his guru and some of his godbrothers knew about his sexual orientation and didn't tell me anything. I felt very cheated. Somehow, our society is forcing those devotees to act against their nature and thus hurting others as well. It is not fair. Now I see it as Krsna's arrangement, because the whole situation helped me to understand gays and to realize that they are the same spirit souls as all others with the same needs in life. If some devotee feels he doesn't want to follow celibacy anymore, he is suggested to get married -- quite natural -- but, from gays, everybody is expecting that they either marry a member of the opposite sex or stay celibate. That is quite unfair, don't you think?

At the dawn of our spiritual life we sincerely and with complete submission and self-surrender pray to God for receiving the protection of Sri Guru. The Supreme Lord, perceiving our earnestness and devotion with a view to guide us on the true path, will send a real guru to us. Otherwise it is impossible for us to find Sri Guru by our own fallible energy. If we guide ourselves by our own energy we shall come across the pseudo-gurus and being caught hold of by them by their temporary pleasing manners, run to hell. ---Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarawati Harmonist,Vol XXVII,No.5, Oct 1929,p.139.

sadhanera purve keha bhavankura paya na jade sraddha na chadile rati kabhu haya na "No one can ever experience the sprouting of pure ecstatic emotions without first following the regulated injunctions of the scriptures. One who does not give up materialistic faith can never attain the stage of spiritual attachment in devotional service." jata bhava na hiole rasika to haya na jada bhava na chakile rasika to haya na "If divine ecstatic emotions have not yet awakened, there is no possibility of one becoming a rasika, a true relisher of devotional mellows. If materialistic emotions are not entirely rejected, one can never become a true rasika." mula dhana rasa labha rati vina na gache na uthite, kandi crdsa mule paya na "Without first developing pure attachment (rati), the attainment of devotional mellows (the greatest wealth) can never be possible. Without first climbing the branch of a tree, the fruits can never be reached." dadhane anartha ache rasodaya haya na bhava kale nama gane chala rasa haya na "If one still has unwanted material impediments ( anarthas) present in their performance of devotional service (sadhana), then rasa can never truly awaken. When the holy name of the Lord is chanted from the platform of pure ecstatic emotions (bhava), then the cheating mood born of pretentious devotional mellows can never be present." siddhanta vihina hoile krsne citta lage na sambandha hinera kabhyu abhideya haya na "Without knowledge of transcendental truth (siddhanta), no one's heart can ever be spiritually attuned with Lord Krishna. If one lacks knowledge of his relationship with Krishna (sambandha), then proper execution of devotional service in relationship to Him (abidheya) is impossible." sambandha vihina jana prayojana paya na ku siddhante vyasta jana krsna seva kore na "One who lacks knowledge of sambandha, the relationship between Krishna and the living entities, can never attain prayojana, the supreme goal of life [namely pure love of Godhead, Krishna prema.] One who is distracted by bogus philosophical conclusions about devotional service (ku-siddhanta) is not performing actual devotional service to Sri Krishna." siddhanta alasa jana anartha to chade na jade krsna bhrama kori krsna seva kore na "One who is lazy in properly understanding the Vaisnava philosophical conclusions can never become free from anarthas, the unwanted bad habits and philosophical misconceptions what impede devotional service. One who mistakes Krishna as belonging to the material plane can never render actual service to the Lord." anartha na gele name guna bujha jaya na anartha na gele name drsna seva haya na "As long as anarthas remain, then the chanting of the holy name will never produce an understanding of the transcendental qualities of the Lord. As long as anarthas remain, then the chanting of the holy name will never factually engage one in Krishna's service." rupa guna lila sphurti nama chada haya na rupa guna lila hoite krsna nama hay na "Revelations of the Lord's transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes are never manifest in the absence of His holy name. The holy name of Krishna is never separated from His transcendental form, qualities or pastimes." rupa hoite nama sphurti guru kabhu bole na guna hoite nama sphurti guru kabhu bole na "The genuine spiritual master never asserts that the revelation of the Lord's holy name is separate from His form. The genuine spiritual master never claims that the revelation of the Lord's holy name is separate from His qualities." lila hoite nama sphurti rupanuga bole na nama nami dui vastu rupanuga bole na "The true followers of Srila Rupa Goswami (rupanugas) never claim that the revelation of the Lord's holy name is separate from His pastimes. The rupanugas never teach that the holy name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are two separate things." rasa age rati pache rupanuga bole na rasa age sraddha pache guru kabhu bole na "The true followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never say that the stage of realizing transcendental mellows (rasa) precedes the development of loving devotional attachment (rati). The bonafide spiritual master will never profess that the realization of such mellows precedes the development of pure faith (sraddha)." rati age sraddha pache rupanuga bole na krama patha chadi siddhi rupanuga bole na "The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never preach that transcendental attachment is reached before one develops pure faith. The rupanugas never teach that the perfection of devotional (siddhi) can be reached by abandoning the consecutive order of developmental stages on the path." mahajana patha chadi navya pathe dhaya na aparadha saha nama kakhana i haya na "The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never leave they path of the great devotees (mahajanas) and run to pursue a "new" path. One who commits offenses can never realize the holy name of Krishna at any time." name prakrtartha buddhi bhakta kabhu haya na aparadha yukta nama bhakta kabhu laya na "The Lord's devotee never interprets the holy name with any mundane, materialistic conception. The devotee never chants the holy name of the Lord in an offensive manner." namete prakrta buddhi rupanuga kore na krsna rupe jada buddhi rupanuga kore na "The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never ascribe material qualities to the holy name by means of mundane intelligence. The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never consider the Lord's transcendental from as material because they don't possess materialistic mentality." krsna gune jada buddhi rupanuga kore na parikara vaisistyake prakrta to jane na "The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never analyze the Supreme Lord's qualities with material intelligence. The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never consider the characteristics of the Lord's associates and paraphernalia to be mundane." krsna lila jada tulya rupanuga bole na drsnetara bhogya vastu krsna kabhu haya na "The followers of Srila Rupa Goswami never equate the Lord's transcendental pastimes with materialistic activities. Lord Krishna never becomes a mere object of sense gratification that is lower in quality than Himself." jadake anartha chada ara kichu mane na jadasakti base rasa krsna jnana kore na "One should never consider other than the following: Everything made of matter is an anartha and should be rejected. Transcendental knowledge of Lord Krishna can never be obtained through any mellows that is controlled by attachment to matter. " krsna nama krsna rupa kabhu jada bole na drsna guna krsna lila kabhu jada bole na "One should never say that Krishna's holy name or transcendental form are mundane. One should never say that Krishna's divine qualities or sublime pastimes are mundane." jada rupa anarthete krsna bhrama kore na krsna nama rupa gune jada buddhi kore na "One should never become bewildered by the anartha of material bodies and mistake Lord Krishna's form to also be a material body. One should never try to analyze the Lord's divine names, forms, and qualities with materialistic intelligence." nama rupa guna lila jada boli mane na jada nama rupa gune krsna kabhu bole na "One should never consider any of Krishna's transcendental names, forms, qualities or pastimes to be mundane. Similarly, one should never claim that any material names, forms or qualities could be Krishna's." jada sunya aprakrta nama chada bole na jada sunya aprakrta rupa chada dekhe na "Other than the pure transcendental names of Krishna, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be spoken. Other than the pure transcendental forms of Krishna, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be seen." jada sunya aprakrta guna chada sune na jada sunya aprakrta lila chada seve na "Other than the pure transcendental qualities of Krishna, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be heard. Other than pure transcendental pastimes of Krishna, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be served." anartha thakara kale jada rupe maje na anartha thakara kale jada gune mise na "While still contaminated with anarthas, the bad habits and philosophical misconceptions that impede devotion, one should never become charmed by mundane forms. As long as these impediments remain, one should never mix [their devotional service] with the impurity of mundane qualities."

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k prakrta cestate bhai kabhu rasa haya na jadiya prkrta rasa suddha bhakta gaya na "O brothers! No material efforts can ever produce the awakening or rasa, factual transcendental mellows. The pure devotee of the Lord never sings the glories of any mundane mellows that are born of the dull material world." prakrta rasera siksa bhiksa sisye caya na rati bina jei rasa taha guru deya na "The true disciples never desire to ask their spiritual master for instructions regarding material mellows. the genuine spiritual master never gives his disciples any such material mellows, which are devoid of rati, transcendental loving attachment to the Lord." nama rasa dui vastu bhakta kabhu jane na nama rase bheda ache, bhakta kabhu bole na "The Lord's real devotee never knows any difference between the holy name of Krishna and transcendental mellows. Therefore the devotee never says there is a difference between the holy name and the mellows of devotion." aham mama bhava sattve nama kabhu hay na bhoga buddhi na chakile aprakrta haya na "The holy name is never revealed to one who is situated in the bodily concept of life and thinks in terms of "I" and "mine". If one doesn't reject the enjoying mentality, the transcendental platform will never be attained." prakrta jadera bhoge krsna seva haya na jada vastu kona o kale aprakrta haya na "Devotional service unto Lord Krishna can never be performed by engaging in the mundane enjoyment of material sense-objects. Material things can never acquire the attributes of the transcendental at any time." jada satta vartamane cit kabhu hay na jada vastu cit haya bhaket kabhu bole na "The transcendental consciousness of the spiritual world is never manifest in the mundane material condition. The deotee of the Lord never claims that any mundane object in this world is spiritually conscious. " jadiya visaya ghoga bhakta kabhu kore na jada bhoga krsna seva kabhu sama haya na "The true devotee never engages in activities of materialistic sense gratification. Material enjoyment and devotional service to Krsna are never the same under any circumstances." nija bhogya kame bhakta prema kabhu bole na rase dagamaga acho sisye guru bole na "Selfish enjoyment of one's own senses in mundane lust is never called prema (love of Godhead) by the genuine devotee. A bonafide spiritual master never tells his disciple, 'You are absorbed in the mellows of divine rasa.'" "The genuine spiritual master never claims, ' I am absorbed in the mellows of divine rasa.' The guru never talks idly with his disciples on subjects of gross worldly mellows." jada rasa kabhu sreyah keha labhe na krsnake prakrta boli bhakta gaya na "By singing the glories of worldly relationships born of mundane mellows, no one has ever attained benefit in their spiritual life. The genuine devotee never proclaims that Lord Krishna's incarnations is mundane." namake prakrta boli krsne jada jane na krsna nama rase bheda suddha bhakta mane na "The devotee never says that the holy name of Krishna is material, for Krishna cannot be known by means of matter. The pure devotee of the Lord never recognizes any difference between the holy name of Krishna and pure rasa itself." name rase bheda ache guru siksa deya na rasa labha kori sese sadhana to haya na "The bonafide spiritual master never teaches that there is a difference between the holy name of Krishna and rasa. Even after attaining actual rasa, the regulative principles of devotional service are never concluded." drtrima panthaya name rasodaya haya na rasa hoite krsna nama vilomete haya na "By employing pretentious means, no one can ever make transcendental mellows appear in the holy name. The backwards conception that Krishna's name comes from rasa can never be true." rasa hoite rati sraddha kakhana i haya na sraddha hoite rati chada bhagavata gaya na "Rasa, devotional mellow, can never be first present and then develop into rati, transcendental attachment, or sraddha, proper faith. The Srimad-Bhagavatam ( or the realized devotee) never sings any opinion other than - rati develops from sraddha." rati yukta chada suddha bhakta bole na sadhanete tari rasa guru kabhu bole na "The pure devotee of Krishna never speaks of anything other than rasa, transcendental mellows, that is endowed with rati, loving attachment. The guru never claims that rati and rasa are present within the practice of preliminary devotion (sadhana bhakti)." bhava kale je avastha sadhanagre bole na vaidhi sraddha sadhanete raganuga haya na "The awakening of transcendental emotional ecstasies (bhava-bhakti) is never said to occur before the practice of regulated devotional service (sadhana-bhakti). The performance of regulated devotion with faith limited only to such beginning regulations (vaidhi-sraddha) can never give rise to spontaneous devotional service (raganuga-bhakti)." bhavera ankura ho le vidhi ara thake na raganuga sraddha matre jata rati haya na "When bhava, the ecstatic mood of divine love actually sprouts, then the need for following scriptural rules (vidhi) does not remain. Mere faith in spontaneous devotional service, however, does not produce the actual awakening of transcendental loving attachment (rati)." ajata ratite kabhu bhava labdha bole na raganuga sadhakere jata bhava bole na "If transcendental attachment has not yet developed within the heart, a devotee is never said to have attained the stage of ecstatic bhava. The followers of spontaneous devotion (raganugas) never say that neophyte students of devotion (sadhakas) have experienced the awakening of bhava." raganuga sadhakera labdha rasa bole na raganuga sadhya bhava rati chada haya na "Genuine devotees on the level of spontaneous devotional service never say that neophyte students of devotion have attained rasa. The pure emotions characteristic of the goal of spontaneous devotion are never attained without first experiencing the correct progressive development of spiritual attachment (rati)." bhavankura samagame vaidhi bhakti thake na rucike ratira saha kabhu eka jane na "Only when the seed of intense divine emotion sprouts forth pure bhava, then there is no longer any need to adhere to scriptural rules and regulations (vaidhi bhakti). One should never consider ruci (the taste for devotional service) to be the same as rati (transcendental loving attachment in devotional service)." raganuga boile i prapta rasa jane na vidhi sodhya jane jabhu raganuga bole na "Divine rasa can never be factually attained merely by talking of spontaneous devotion [by claiming " I am a raganuga-bhakta."] A beginning student who should still be further purified by following the scriptural injunctions is never said to be on the level of performing spontaneous loving service unto the Lord."

k http://www.prabhupadaconnect.comSrila_Bhaktisiddhanta_Sarasvati_Thakur.JPG Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati (aka Bimala Prasada Dutta)

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Largest Internet Joke Vote LaughLab, an Internet experiment into humor, was conducted by psychologist Richard Wiseman, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK, and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Running from September 2001 to October 2002, the project collected over 40,000 jokes submitted from the worldwide public, and around 2 million votes were cast on what was the funniest. The winning joke, as voted for on www.laughlab.co.uk, was: A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?"

The call of Krishna has many followers in London ANI (India), Dec. 6, 2004 http://www.keralanext.com Anyone who has ever been to London's West End will remember the sounds as well as the sights of Britain's capital city: the piercing drone of pneumatic drills as yet another road is dug up, the cacophony of car horns in the traffic jams caused by such drilling, the clatter of police helicopters monitoring the traffic jams caused by the jams that were caused by the drills, and so on. And one other sound: the gentle rise and fall through the din of chanting; to be specific the sound of the call of Krishna, Hare Krishna. Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the Hare Krishna movement in Britain was derided as a hang out for the drugged out, spaced out hippies. Not any longer, as more and more Indians are joining the movement. Indians like 28-year-old accountant Sumeet Khullar who told Britain's Eastern Eye newspaper:" When I first joined and started going on harinama(the parade) my parents were absolutely adamant that it was all nonsense. But once they saw the level of devotion, they were very impressed. Now, even my mum comes with me." James Edwards, an American whose initiated name is Jay Nitay, is the head of the community development at ISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness's temple in London's West End. He feels that Indians previously considered the Hare Krishna movement to be simply some obscure sect. But all that is changing; "Over time Indians can see that the movement has lasted. This is part of the reason why more and more are joining us". And devotee Vibha Patel, initiated name Varsana Devi-Dasi, agrees; "In the past, it has suffered prejudice from the Indian community, mainly through misunderstanding. But people are now seeing that the philosophy that we follow is rooted in a tradition that dates back thousands of years". The growing number of people joining the Hare Krishna movement in London has meant that enough money has been raised to refurbish the Soho Street temple, and the twice - daily harinama through the streets of London has continued to raise awareness. As one recent Indian adherent said: "People are inspired at the devotion shown by white people to a spiritual belief that stems from India. My friends at university have got into it, and my wife is very devoted as well. It just gives me a deeper sense of identity". And another devotee summed it all up nicely when he observed: "It is a peaceful philosophy that is not associated with the colour of your skin or your background". And that is a pretty good basis for any faith.

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You're Looking for an Easy Fix From Joshua Hawley Posted Dec. 21, 2004 It's not really a solution to give all people who say they are gay some formal recognized status. We're not getting at the core of the issue by giving someone a status. Rather, it seems we are justifying that behavior. According to all scriptural evidence, homosexuality is condemned as being a sinful activity. There is no argument to defy that point. If you are really serious about giving gays a solution in spiritual life, then why not take a look at the factors that lead to homosexuality? There are numerous studies being conducted into just that very matter. Instead of giving someone a title or recognition for what we genuinely know to be against the principles of sastra, why not look for the cause of this type of behavior? More and more evidence is showing that homosexuality is not something that is a genealogical defect. Rather, it is something that develops in early childhood. How about doing some preventative measures, instead of looking for an easy fix? Yeah, everyone wants to be Krishna conscious, so everyone should have that opportunity. But please remember that giving people a recognized formal status of being "gay" would mean that you would have to facilitate them in every way that you would any other recognized social group. In effect you would have to, by your endorsement, give them asrama facilities independent of other asramas and any other requirement they may need. While that is not an entirely objectionable idea, I personally feel that it would have to be done as a sort of rehabilitative process. There are a good many Christian scholars dealing with this very point, and they have come up with some remarkable insights. They are offering many social and welfare programs, and Dr. Dobson has devoted a good amount of time and effort in researching this exact point: that homosexuality is not something one is born with but rather a result of defects in the parenting and other social factors current in modern times that allow for someone to entertain the idea of homosexuality. Thanks and appreciation from dipika.org to our sponsor and host, I have heard from many gays that the only reason they are gay is that the sex is so much better. So in this modern age, where everything is driven by how you feel and not on principle and integrity, that would lead many to believe that homosexuality is a right and natural function of humanity. It's a fault of the modern education and media and ultimately ourselves for not alleviating the causes that lead to these various social abnormalities such as homosexuality. My point is that you're not really offering a solution to this issue. Rather, it's like a little piece of adhesive tape over the wound. The best medicine is prevention, and if we are really serious about tackling this issue, then it would require a much deeper and much more serious look. Finally, I would invite Hridayananda Maharaja to offer some scriptural or scientific evidence support each of his points. Best regards, Joshua Hawley © dipika.org Dec. 21, 2004

A Hundred Warnings Against Mundane Mellows sri sri guru-gauranga-gandharvika-giridharebhyo namah jagate uccatara srenir manava-ganer madhye para laukika visvasa rajye bharmana koribar tinati patha ache, taha karma, jnano o bhakti name prasiddha baddha dasaya jiver anitya bhoga maya phala praptir anusthanake karma margo, nasvarata tyagakoriya pradesika anitya phala tyaga koriya nirbheda brahmanusandhanake jnana marga evam karma jnanatita prakrtir atita sevya vastu krsner anukula anusilana ke bhakti marga bole bhakti marge sadhana o sadhya bhede sadhana bhava o prema bhaktir adhisthana rtaya dekhite paoya jay. sadhya bhava samuha o premake sadhana jatiya anusilana jnana korile je utpata upasthite hoy, sei asuvidhar hasta hoite unmukta haoyar nama anartha nivritti. sri gauranga sundarer apurva parama camatkara mayi lila o sei lilar parikara gosvami ganer anusthandai ei prabandher akara sthana "Amongst the higher classes of people in society, there are three main paths for traveling through the kingdom of various beliefs regarding transcendence, These are known as the paths of karma (performance of materially furtive activity), jnana (cultivation of transcendental knowledge), and bhakti (purely surrendered devotional service. First, the path of karma-marga involves the arrangements for obtaining temporary worldly benefits, which are enjoyed by souls trapped in the bondage of the materially conditioned platform of life. Second, the jnana-marga involves renouncing impermanent material things as well as the impermanent distractions related to patriotic interests and such; one then searches after the undifferentiated spiritual reality of impersonal brahma. And the third path involves positive activity that is transcendental to karma, jnana and matter altogether - it is the way of cultivating actions favorable for serving the object most worthy of service, Sri Krsna. This is called bhakti-marga, the path of pure devotion. "It is seen that there are three distinct developmental stages extending from sadhana (devotional practice) to sadhya ( the goal of such worship); these are first the sadhana itself, then the awakening of bhava (estatic emotion) and finally prema-bhakti (eternal devotional service performed in pure love). While cultivating the aspects of knowledge relating to the goal of worship, as well as the varieties of ecstatic emotions and methods of pure loving service, troubles invariably arise. The process by which these unwanted impediments are removed is called anartha-nivritti. The conceptions expressed in the astonishing pastimes of Sri Gauranga-sundara as well as in the opinions established by the Gosvamis, who are the Lord's eternal associates in these pastimes."

FROM THE PREFACE OF BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS Originally I wrote Bhagavad-gita As It Is in the form in which it is presented now. When this book was first published, the original manuscript was, unfortunately, cut short to less than 400 pages, without illustrations and without explanations for most of the original verses of the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita. But later on, when the demand for Bhagavad-gita As It Is considerably increased, I was requested by many scholars and devotees to present the book in its original form, and Messrs. Macmillan and Co. agreed to publish the complete edition. Thus the present attempt is to offer the original manuscript of this great book of knowledge with full paramparä explanation in order to establish the Krsna consciousness movement more soundly and progressively. If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivräjakäcärya 108 Sri Shrimad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupäda. If personally I have any credit in this matter, it is only that I have tried to present Bhagavad-gita as it is, without adulteration. Before my presentation of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, almost all the English editions of Bhagavad-gita were introduced to fulfill someone’s personal ambition. But our attempt, in presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is to present the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Everyone should know how God or Krsna is great, and everyone should know the factual position of the living entities. Everyone should know that a living entity is eternally a servant and that unless one serves Krsna one has to serve illusion in different varieties of the three modes of material nature, and thus perpetually one has to wander within the cycle of birth and death; even the so-called liberated Mayavadi speculator has to undergo this process. This knowledge constitutes a great science, and each and every living being has to hear it for his own interest. ...You can mention some parallels from Christian literature while explaining Bhagavad-gita, but you cannot find in any other scripture in the world with the full information as given in the Bhagavad-gita. We should not forget that we are preaching science of God from Bhagavad-gita, which contains all spiritual instructions contained in other scriptures...(Letter from Srila Prabhupada 4/13/1968) May the spotless lotus of the Mahabharata that grows on the waters of the words of Vyasa, and of which the Bhagavad Gita is it's irresistibly sweet fragrance, and its tales of heroes the full-blown petals fully opened by the talk of Lord Hari, Who destroys the sins of Kali Yuga, and on which daily light the nectar-seeking souls, as so many bees swarming joyously--- May this lotus of the Mahabharata bestow upon us the highest good. (Shankara- Science of Self Realization p.87) Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Most of the times, the person who posts here, (mostly) tries to prove is point, some way or the other, and feels let down, when his point of view is rejected or contradicted by others. All these are the signs of a tremendous EGO in us. Unless this EGO is eliminated from our minds, there is no hope of getting Self-realisation inspite of several thousands of posts. Whenever I read any part of the BhagavadGita, I immediately feel, that, most of us are unable to bring those words of God into actual practice. Sometimes I feel we have no hope!

Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana, "You become a spiritual master under My order." So if you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, then you become guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana. Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the acaryas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution [Gaudiya Matha] was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master, they manufactured something and the whole thing was lost. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised: amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa (Cc. Madhya 7.128). Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed people to learn from Him and then go teach people within their own villages. One may think, "I am illiterate and have no education. I was not born in a very high family. How can I become a guru?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that it is not very difficult. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa: "Simply speak whatever Krsna speaks. Then you become a guru." Whoever speaks what Krsna has not spoken is not a guru but a rascal. A guru only speaks what Krsna has spoken. This is the sastric injunction. Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It's not very difficult. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana: "You just become guru on My order." You cannot become guru automatically without following the order of jagad-guru. The government servant... Who is government servant? Who is strictly following the government order, that is government servant. Anyone can say, "I am government servant." No. How you can be? Similarly, Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, amara ajnaya guru hana, "You become a spiritual master under My order." So if you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, then you become guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana. Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the acaryas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution [Gaudiya Matha] was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master, they manufactured something and the whole thing was lost. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised: amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa (Cc. Madhya 7.128). Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed people to learn from Him and then go teach people within their own villages. One may think, "I am illiterate and have no education. I was not born in a very high family. How can I become a guru?" Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that it is not very difficult. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa: "Simply speak whatever Krsna speaks. Then you become a guru." Whoever speaks what Krsna has not spoken is not a guru but a rascal. A guru only speaks what Krsna has spoken. This is the sastric injunction. Yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Then you become guru. You simply repeat what Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita, you become guru. To become guru is not... But if you want to be a bluffer, cheater, then you can talk all nonsense. But if you actually talk only Krsna's words, then you become a guru. It's not very difficult. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana: "You just become guru on My order." You cannot become guru automatically without following the order of jagad-guru. The government servant... Who is government servant? Who is strictly following the government order, that is government servant. Anyone can say, "I am government servant." No. How you can be? Similarly, guru means who is following the principles given by the jagad-guru." ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Prabhupada: But the directions should be taken from scriptures. But there are many scriptures. So acarya means, just like Gosvamis, they would read all the scriptures and take the essence of it and give it to his disciples, "You act like this." Because he knows what to give, how to manipulate, so that his ekantatah sreyas will be acheived. Ultimate goal. therefore the acarya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest (?). That is acarya. It is not that the same thing can be applied everywhere. He is eager to engage actually the people in the real benefit of life, but the means may be different. Just like my guru Maharaja. He is the first sannyasi to drive in a motorcar. A sannyasi never drives in a motorcar, you see? But not for sense gratification. Suppose we are going by aeroplane. A sannyasi should walk. The Jain sannyasis they never ride on a car, you know that. You know that. They will never ride in a car. But now they are also riding. But suppose we are preaching now. I came from India. If I were to say,"I am sannyasi, I will not ride in aeroplane, I must walk." Then what kind of preaching would have been? You see? So therefore it depends on the acarya how to adjust things. So, my Guru Mahraraja,"alright go on preaching on a motorcar, it doesn't matter." These Gosvamis, they went to Vrndavana, severest type of austerities. They used to live underneath a tree. Now if in this age I advise that you also live underneath a tree, then it will be difficult to preach. You see? Nobody is accustomed in that way, such severe type of austerity. They must be given, as far as possible, comfortable accomodations otherwise they will not come. They will not take. Now this.....This is adjustment. The acarya knows how to adjust things. The real purpose is how one will take to spiritual consicousness, or Krnsa consciousness. Keepng one's aim to that point some concession may be given."