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LoveroftheBhagavata

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Everything posted by LoveroftheBhagavata

  1. Once more, you evince complete unacquaintance with the extensive literatures penned by a number of other highly respected sadhus from diverse lineages, and in so doing, you confirm my initial conclusion that you're not to be taken seriously, since you have such an enormous amount of homework to do. By so stating, I am not diminishing Prabhupada's significant contribution, merely putting it in perspective.
  2. cbrahma, give it up, man. As someone who relies solely on BBT publications, you're just not up to the task. Then again, such small-mindedness would be expected from a convert like yourself, one hailing from a narrow Biblical background.
  3. cbrahma, unlike you, I'm not going to lay down my academic credentials on Audarya, however, you're the one who is severely lacking in any clue about the unfathomable and endless wisdom of Vedic dharma. You evidently are only acquainted with the few-decades-old ISKCONite take on shastra, when even traditional Gaudiyas dismiss Prabhupada's writings on a host of counts. A typical example is his atrocious Nectar of Devotion, in which he literally murdered Rupa Goswami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, and for a much better and more erudite English rendition of that text, consult Bhanu Swami's translation and commentary. To call you ignorant is actually far too mild a characterisation, since from reading your truly infantile words on this thread, I don't think I would care to engage in a debate with you, for the plain reason that you have just too little knowledge about the Vedic books. Sorry, I cannot stoop so low. Saying this, I bow out of this debasing discussion with persons of a tamasik disposition such as you and the other fanatics here.
  4. I suppose that tackleberry could educate you on the fact that Maadhvas categorically refute the Gaudiya claim that Chaitanya Vaishnavism descends from their line. If not, take a look at their sites and I would especially advise you to go through the Maadhva review of Prabhupada's BG As It Is.
  5. Tackleberry, for a more historically verifiable and rational recounting of the Impersonalist-Personalist discourses that have taken place over the centuries, you could mind taking a trip to Shringeri Matha for a version that lies at 180 degrees from what your fellow beleaguered Maadhvas care to tell. Mark my words, you could be in for a jumpy ride, buddy, and possibly a change of faith, if yours is rather pliable.
  6. Quite typical nursery stuff of the Hare Krishna cult, the Johnny-come-lately of India's panoply of religions. I would advise you to go back to high school in order to brush up on your English reading skills, since what I wrote is a million miles away from what you made of it. And oh, Advaitins lost time and again to the funny Madhvas, eh? I suppose that is what explains why Dvaita never gained a foothold outside of a few marginalised swathes of Kannada-desha, and why Tattvavadis are still dwarfed by Shankarites and Sri Vaishnavas, even though Madhva appeared and preached after Shankara and Ramanuja, which is partly why I counselled you to get a reality check in my message. Give me your email addy and I'll send you dozens of PDF files laying out logically the unquestionable and unimpeachable doctrinal foundations of Advaita. By the way, what kind of an id is that, tackleberry? Any particular reason for such a preposterous nick?
  7. Ganeshprasadji, Thanks for your post. I would tend to chime with you on most of it. You know, I spent years in Gaudiya Vaishnavism before returning to the mainstream Hindu fold, the perennially compelling teachings of which are exemplified by the lives and spiritual careers of many venerable saints (Swami Sivananda, Ramana Maharshi, Chidananda Swami, Samarth Swami, Swami Chidanand Saraswati and a number of other transcendentalists par excellence, including the Vaishnavite Alwars and Shaivite Nayanmars), and whether people like Theistji believe it or not, I still revere Vaishnava dharma, as I do all genuine lineages in the vast lanscape of Indic traditions, including non-Vedic ones like Buddhism (forget Malati's risible downplaying of it) and Jainism. On this forum, I am often forced to adopt a contrarian standpoint because of the insufferable pride and bigotry of some modern Vaishnavas, at least people pretending to speak on behalf of Vaishnavism. Some of my statements can be construed as being anti-Vaishnava, but this is principally for the sake of argument, and deep down, I respect and honour devotion to God Vishnu for the simple reason that I am totally confident of its authenticity and validity, as I am for the truth of Shaivism, Shaktism, Advaita siddhanta and the rest. If only certain sectarians could rid themselves of their tinted lenses and view the reality in front of us with just a tad more nuance! And for the record, we do not insist that ALL PATHS ARE THE SAME. The several means that there are to realise God may be in some respects at variance with one another, but that for sure does not preclude them from being individually just as useful and valuable, and with definite, proven results, in almost every single instance. Hari Om Tat Sat
  8. Malati, just grab a version of the Gita by any non-Gaudiya acharya and you will see how those glosses that you think substantiate your specific position evaporate in thin air. Even Ramanuja, the staunch Vaishnava that he was, would disagree with the Chaitanyaite interpretation on many, many varying points. And if you read an Advaitic exposition of Lord Krishna's teachings, frankly, I doubt whether you will want to remain associated with such a babyish conception of Veda much more. Then again, you're only defending your religion, and I cannot hold that against you. Pranam
  9. Now, you don't expect me to cut and paste the thousands of verses from the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas (including the Bhagavatam), Brahmanas, Aranyakas and numerous bhashyas just to get your jollies, do you? The knowledge is out there, and if you're sufficiently committed to obtaining it, I'll be more than happy to help. However, coming from someone who opined on another thread the scripturally unattested joke that Ashvatthama is an incarnation of Mahadeva (on the "authority" of Madhva, the founder of a most narrow-minded and insignificant cult of Karnataka), I am gobsmacked, to say the least, that you're clueless about the virtually unending number of shlokas that can be adduced in support of Advaita Vedanta. As I said, just say it and I'll furnish to you more material than you're able to digest in this lifetime, and probably the next.
  10. Thank you, Ji. This is a most laudable piece, and it can go a long way in minimising the differences between followers of various paths. Hari Om Tat Sat
  11. And I've got some news for you! Mahaprabhu was himself an Advaitin. Read Ramakrishna Paramhamsa's meditations on Shri Chaitanya and you will be surprised. It's a very good read, trust me.
  12. It can be a massive source of confusion for those who misunderstand it. If you want to know about the greatness of Hindu Dharma, that could be arranged in many ways. Just say the word.
  13. It is most regrettable that you think like this. Still, I would reiterate that your criticisms should be founded and valid, which they certainly are not from what I've read so far.
  14. Except that I'm not one of those devotees. And yes, just do some basic research and it should be plain to you that "demigod" is a poor rendering of the Sanskrit term Deva indeed. Only personalist sects are capable of such errors. I to a decidedly more universalist tradition than yours.
  15. May I ask how much Brahmavada (not Mayavada) you have studied, Theistji? Before denigrating such a lofty spiritual philosophy, at least get your facts right. This simplistic but inaccurate characterisation that you have just indulged in is a common, parochial, mistaken position which Vaishnavas take. If you're interested in the true Vedic religion, get in touch and I shall direct you to places where you can have access to the sublime shiksha of highly evolved Advaitin rishis and swamis. I bet, when you come in contact with such advanced souls, you shall find the behaviour of sectarians most reprehensible and will get down to some real soul-searching of your own.
  16. My shelter is THE largest school of Vedic thought in existence, that founded by Adi Shankaracharya, and in big part relayed by Shaivites, Shaktas and right-hand Tantrik yogis. You're a great sadhu, right? I'd take a dig at you any day. Hari Om Tat Sat
  17. Aha Theist, ask any Advaitin worth his salt whether he considers himself God in a literal sense and you will get your answer. This is in fact a propagandist misrepresentation of Smarta thought in which Vaishnavas love to engage. What you say in your last sentence is correct, however, it also holds true the other way round. Non-Vaishnava Vedantins likewise do not give two hoots about relativisations of the Supreme Truth, Parabrahman.
  18. As for cbrahma's post, I couldn't help giggling when I saw it - just another erroneous rendition and interpretation of scripture. But then, if he had any clue as to what constitutes true religion, he wouldn't be a Hare Krishna. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
  19. Also, the so-called division of the Puranas according to the gunas is almost certainly a Vaishnavite interpolation in scripture, hence the disregarding of it by everyone else. After all, it is purportedly from the Padma Purana, that ever fluid text, which even contains a few shlokas by Rupa Goswami. Nobody in his right mind would accept any absolutist statement from the Padma, for this precise reason.
  20. Still, I would differ with you on this one since, even as an Advaitin, I do recognise the difference between the brahma-swarupa Deities such as Lord Hari, Lord Hara, Mother Shakti and "lesser" celestial beings such as Indra and Varuna, who are definitely jivas and are holding these posts for the duration of a manvantara or kalpa at most. For example, in the present Patriarchate, Purandara is assuming the position of the heavenly ruler, whereas in the next, King Bali will fulfill that role. So, my point is that these elemental controllers cannot be equated with Lord Ganesha, Lord Skanda or Surya-Narayana. I know of no verse which praises Agni as all-pervading but Durga Maa, for example is described as brahma-svarupini in many places, and She can award advaitic moksha to Her bhaktas, which Yamaraja, Shani or Vayu cannot bestow upon persons who pray to them.
  21. Indeed, before the War, Sri Krishna exhorted Arjuna to appeal to Maa Durga for Her blessings, and after the conflict, penance was performed by the five Pandavas to Devadideva Mahadeva in atonement for killing so many of their kinsmen. Not to mention that Lord Pitambara Himself worshipped Lord Digambara in His most popular avataras as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna, and that Rukminidevi used to worship Ambe Mata. Hari Om Tat Sat
  22. Ditto on that, Meenakshiamman. Ganeshprasadji's post largely reflects my own sentiments and experiences, and I have said the same thing in not so many words in my own posts.
  23. Well, Theist, given your dedicated and commendable attachment to Krishna consciousness as taught by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I would unhesitatingly describe you as a votary of it. Small, and occasionally not so minor, differences of opinion are inevitable in religious discourse. Personally, I tend to emphasise the unity of the multitude of philosophies, and ideally, would like to see the discrepancies between them not downplayed, but relegated to a subordinate, relativistic position when encountering people attempting mystical progress and advancement via other routes. Maybe this is my own quixotic naivete, still I estimate that it is a laudable ideal. However, perhaps I should grow more used to what persists in the real world, and desist from throwing in my twopence worth every time I run into a remark that may strike me as unjust or narrow-minded. Trust me, I am working on it. Regards
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