Kyros

(ISKCON does study the Vedas. The Puranas are considered to be a part of the Fifth Vedas.) Sama Veda 7.1.2 "O venerable Sir, I studied the Rg, Yajur, Säma, and Atharva Veda as well as the Itihäsas and Puranas, which are the fifth Veda." Atharva Veda 11.7.24 "The Rg, Säma, Yajur, and Atharvaveda, along with the Puranas, and all the demigods residing in the heavenly planets appeared from the Supreme Lord." Atharva 15.6.10 and 15.6.12 "He moved favorably towards Brhati and thus the Itihäsas, Puranas, Gäthäs, and Näräçaàsé became favorable to him. One who knows this verily becomes the dear abode of the Itihäsas and Puräëas, Gäthas and Näräsaàsé." (As clearly stated by the above verses, the Puranas and epics, like Mahabharata and Ramayana, are clearly Vedic. Indeed they are the Fifth Vedas.) Bhagavad Gita 3.5 na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt kāryate hy avaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair guṇaiḥ Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment. Bhagavad Gita 18.41 brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāḿ śūdrāṇāḿ ca parantapa karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy. (As clearly stated by Lord Krishna. The caste system is based on qualities of the person's nature. To determine the person's nature is to WATCH THEM GROW UP. Conclusion: The Caste System is based on qualities of work, not birth. The only people against this truth are those pathetic people who do not want to let go of their acquired position.)

Rg Veda 1.22.20 tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah diviva caksur atatam visnor yat paramam padam The wise continuously see the highest abode of Visnu. (Paraphrased) (Keyword: Wise) Rigveda 10.82.6 tamid garbham prathamam dadhra apo yatra devahsamagachanta visve ajasya nabhavadhyekamarpitamyasmin visvani bhuvanani tasthuh The waters, they received that germ primeval wherein the gods were gathefed all together. It rested set upon the Unborn's navel, that One wherein abide all things existing. (Another reference to Lord Visnu, who sprouted a lotus from his navel). Rg Veda 1.164.31 apasyam gopam anipadyamana ma ca para ca pathibhis carantam sa sadhricih sa visucir vasana avatirvati bhuvanesv antah I saw a cowherd. He never falls from his position; sometimes he is near, and some times far, wandering on various paths. He is a friend, decorated with a variety of clothes. He comes again and again to the material world. (The cowherd is none other than Lord Krsna). Sama Veda 7.1.2 "O venerable Sir, I studied the Rg, Yajur, Säma, and Atharva Veda as well as the Itihäsas and Puranas, which are the Fifth Veda." Atharva Veda 11.7.24 "The Rg, Säma, Yajur, and Atharvaveda, along with the Puranas, and all the demigods residing in the heavenly planets appeared from the Supreme Lord." Atharva 15.6.10 and 15.6.12 "He moved favorably towards Brhati and thus the Itihäsas, Puranas, Gäthäs, and Näräçaàsé became favorable to him. One who knows this verily becomes the dear abode of the Itihäsas and Puranas, Gäthas and Näräsaàsé." (As clearly stated by the above verses, Lord Visnu is the Supreme, and the Puranas and epics, like Mahabharata and Ramayana, are clearly Vedic. Indeed they are the Fifth Vedas.) Hare Krsna

There can only be one Absolute Truth. The Garuda Purana declares the Bhagavad Purana to be the "King of all Literatures." Garuda Purana 3.1.45 nànàrthamevaü kathayanti vipra nãcoccaråpaü j¤ànamàhurmahàntaþ tenaiva siddhaü pravadanti sarvaü hyataþ paraü bhàgavataü puràõam "The wise declare knowledge to be manifold, consisting of various grades - high, low and middling. All that knowledge is found in the Bhagavata Purana. Hence, Bhagavata is the highest of all Puranas. We all know that Sattwic means good (things), and as far as I know, you can find the Puranas categorized in the Matsya Purana, as well as Padma Purana. By those facts alone we can understand that rajasic and tamasic Puranas, which generally glorify Lord Brahma and Lord Siva respectively, are inferior to Sattwic Puranas, which glorify Lord Visnu. Bhagavad Gita 14.17 sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaḿ rajaso lobha eva ca pramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato 'jñānam eva ca From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed develops; and from the mode of ignorance develop foolishness, madness and illusion. Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda, 236.18–21 According to the Padma Purana, the texts may be classified in accordance with the three gunas or qualities; truth, passion, and ignorance: Sattva ("truth; purity"): Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Naradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana Rajas ("dimness; passion"): Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana Tamas ("darkness; ignorance"): Matsya Purana, Kurma purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana It doesn't get more explicit than this. However, this doesn't mean that information found in the rajasic and tamasic puranas are not true; however, if there is a contradiction in between two Puranas, then the one in a higher position is to be taken as truth. For example, Siva Purana states Lord Siva to be the Supreme Person, but Visnu Purana states Lord Visnu to be the Supreme Person. Both are contradictory, but the Visnu Purana is placed in a higher position, thus Lord Visnu is the Supreme Person. Hare Krsna

Lord Krishna never remotely talks about how he created the universe in the Gita, which is what Einstein's alleged quote is implying. That's in the Srimad Bhagavatam and other Vedic literature. Regardless, that Einstein quote is not authentic. It's best not to bring up that quote or scholars who know Einstein would call that out and it'll just bring us more discredit.

Don't listen to the other guy, he's obviously a mayavadi. Demigods are representatives of the Supreme Lord. They are minute living entities (aka, like ourselves) who have been elevated to exalted material positions because of their past pios activities (good karma). It is not a permanent position and once your karma is over, you come back down to the middle planetary system (aka, where Earth resides). Lord Krsna says in the Bhagavad Gita that demigod worship is for the less intelligent. A clear sign that demigods are not on the same length as Krishna, or any other Visnu-tattva. This is true, as stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam. However, there is another Purana that contradicts this statement, and that is, not surprisingly, the Siva Purana. Bhagavad Purana has Lord Visnu(Krishna) as the Supreme with Shiva as subordinate, and Siva Purana has Lord Siva as Supreme, with Visnu subordinate. Both texts cannot be rejected, so to reconcile this, you go to the other 16 Maha-Puranas. The Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda explains that Lord Visnu is the Supreme and Lord Siva is subordinate. There are other Puranas that also divide the 18 Maha-Puranas into 3 categories: sattwic(goodness), rajasic(passion), tamasic(ignorance). Sattwic: Lord Visnu Rajasic: Lord Brahma Tamasic: Lord Siva Conclusion: Lord Visnu is Supreme. Just as there is one sun in the sky, but different names for it in different languages, so there is only one God, but is called differently in different languages. According to the dictionary, Jehovah and Allah literally translate to God. So there is no problem in calling Krishna Jehovah or Allah. However, Lord Krsna is not a jealous God, and his only law in the universe is karma (cosmic law of balance/cause and effect/action and reaction), which is the source of all other laws. So yes, it's somewhat of a political stunt, but there is some philosophical purpose behind it as well. Hope this clears up some things.

That first one said by Albert Einstein is fake. People have searched all over the web for a reference for that quote, and they can't find it. Not to mention that Lord Krishna doesn't talk about the universe in the Bhagavad Gita. I don't see how Einstein can reflect on the universe, unless maybe when he describes this universe as an upside down tree.

http://www.iskcondesiretree.info/ They claim to have every BtG magazine ever published. Mind telling us which one it was?

"What is the most wonderful thing?" "Every day hundreds of millions of living entities go to the kingdom of death. Still, those who are remaining aspire for a permanent situation.What could be more wonderful than this?"

I thought Gaudiya Math would be more rigid on chanting? Lord Chaitanya wanted people to chant 64 rounds. ISKCON chants only 16 because people early on said that 64 rounds were alot. Prabhupada then dropped it to 32, and then finally 16, but that was his limit. Anyway, best to start chanting the Maha-Mantra, and take your time. Prabhupada met BhaktiSiddhanta Maharaja early on, but didn't surrender to him until several years later.

Anybody know where I can find good ayurvedic books? I have one called Ayurvedic Encyclopedia by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha. Are there any others that people think is worth collecting?

No no, I'm a student in the field of IT, so I know how valuable science is (or at least technology). But A LOT of people don't care about that stuff. It's not hidden that most people aren't interested in science. They only care about how to make more money, and science like astronomy is not where money is. One of my classmates said that going to space was pointless, no one argued that. He's more into sports and women, hence my argument that people just want sex nowadays. There are a lot of dogs in society, with their tongue hanging out and all. These people don't care about science, or religion for that matter; just sex. I like science, it must exist to keep philosophers from going overboard with theories like they did in the medieval times (good God!). But the problem today is that those few who do like science, they take it as the all in all. I remember arguing with one atheistic scientist before, and he made such "absolute" statements that the soul and God doesn't exist. At the end, he said that "their may be a God out there, but no one knows for sure." So you can see why science is sometimes "demonized."

My apologize, but I apparently rushed my post. It doesn't even make sense. But anyway, science and technology, while has made vast contributions to society, is eventually going to crumble. What? No, the Vedas. I'm not an astronomer, nor am I really interested in it. I prefer to put my faith in the Vedas. Call it blind if you want, I'll stick to it's words. By the way, I heard that some distances made by the Surya Siddhanta were fairly accurate with modern scientists. It seems my faith in the Vedas is paying off. Also, there is the whole issue with different coordinate systems. I could put the moon as the center of the universe which would have different distances, and I would be totally right! I would say the Vedas use a different coordinate system than modern scientists. It wouldn't be totally off, but as I said, I'm not an astronmer. I'll leave it to the so-called "simpletons" Danavir Goswami. If this planetarium fails, then the Krsna Conscious movement will end up being the laughing stock in the whole world(not taken seriously). Considering that Lord Chaitanya said this whole world will be inundated in Krsna-Prema (or w/e), I don't think Krsna would allow the planetarium to fall. As he says in the Gita, "I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (BG 15.15).

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/vishnu_mjs/jiva/jiva_4.html Brother, I think you're the one hallucinating. That's why you have to resort to name calling, which is a sign of anger, and we all know what happens to angry people. "From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool." (B.G 2.63)

This is an unbelievable topic. Living entities are always prone to falling down, even if they are liberated. Jaya and Vijaya are eternally liberated souls, but they ended up having to take birth in the material atmosphere and thus, they got severely deluded. That is called being from the Tatastha Sakti. It's not a place, but it's where we came from. The reason why some of the translations call Tatastha Sakti a place (or whatever) is because translating stuff from Sanskrit to English and try to keep the same idea is extremely hard. That's what you get from trying to translate words from a copious language like Sanskrit to Latin based languages.

That was my point. Plenty of bonafide spiritual masters, but ONLY in India. The Brahma and Sri Sampradaya are the only ones I have seen that preach outside of India and have gained lots of followers. I haven't seen much of the Rudra or Kumara Sampradaya have as much influence outside. Let alone all of the other sampradaya's. The Gaudiya Vaishnava's, being the most expansive (international) has the best chance, and they give out Prabhupada's books. Oh, and it requires good intelligence to read Prabhupada's books. If you're closed minded like a lot of people are, then they aren't going to make sense and you'll just end up understanding it differently. That's why Prabhupada stresses finding a guru to learn about this subject. Just like in the real world you have to approach chemists to learn chemistry, or mathematicians to learn math. Your intelligence can only carry you so far before you need some help.

The Ayurvedic textbook I'm referring from is written by a follower of Sripad Sankaracharya. And you can find any Vedic text on the Internet, so if you can read Sanskrit, go for it. Srimad Bhagavatam, Manu-Samhita, it's all there. Prabhupada's books are good enough to follow only if you have a good intelligence. No offense, but it's inevitable that Prabhupada's books are going to be the most popular in the future. That's a sure sign of a God blessed person. Only those who do not know how to follow Prabhupada's books aren't capable of understanding them. Only the Brahma and some Sri Sampradaya followers are preaching vedic philosophies and bhakti yoga outside of India.

1. No Meat Eating 2. No Intoxications <- Click on link 3. No Illicit Sex <- Click on link 4. No Gambling <-Click on link If you want scriptural proofs. The end of the Fifth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam will explain them. The Bhagavad Gita (by Srila Prabhupada) is also another good source. Ayurveda will also explain why people aspiring for spiritual life should not eat meat, indulge in illicit sex, and take intoxications. They are all heavily rajasic/tamasic, and the beginning of spiritual life can start only if one is situated in a sattwic lifestyle. The Manu Samhita also prohibits some of these as well. There are others as well.

Yes, though we aspiring Gaudiya Vaishnava's say that Krishna is the original. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28. No, Narayana does not lack any qualities from his orignal form of Krishna. It's just that Narayana, or Visnu does not show those qualities. 61) the performer of wonderful pastimes (especially his childhood pastimes) Lord Krishna had the best past times with his devotees. No other form, even Lord Ramacandra had past times like Sri Krishna. 62) surrounded by devotees endowed with unsurpassed love of Godhead - The unique thing about Lord Krishna was that none of his devotees knew he was God. Being in God's presence would bring awe and reverence to the devotees, which would get in the way of love, but they didn't know he was God, so they had no awe and reverence. They had pure sweet love for him. 63) the attractor of all living entities in all universes through the expert playing of His flute Just as a snake charmer enchants a snake, Lord Krsna's flute enchants everybodies hearts. It should be noted that Krsna only played his flute in Vrndavana. 64) possessor of unexcelled beauty without rival. Even Lord Visnu wanted to see Lord Krsna's beauty. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.89

You seem to miss the idea he was conveying, let me rephrase it so you can better understand it. "The atomic bomb is very explosive and creates lots of fire and light, just like the brahmastra."

Hello, I am the 8758759695795705975sincetimeimmemorial grandson of Lord Brahma, the direct current link to Lord Visnu.

It would be better for Tulsi to be in a pot in areas where winter presides, and bring her inside. Or you can try building a tent around Tulsi Devi...

Yeah, you just need to get yourself involved in one of the four authorized sampradaya's and you'll be fine. Padma Purana (Kashiraj Publications, 2002 Reprint) sampradāyavihīnā ye mantrāste niṣphalā matāḥ| ataḥ kalau bhaviśyanti catvāraḥ sampradāyinaḥ|| Śrī-brahmā-rudra-sanakā vaiṣṇavā kṣitipāvanāḥ| catvāraste kalau bhāvya hyutkale puruṣottamāt|| rāmānujaṃ śrī svicakre madhvācaryaṃ caturmukhaḥ| śrīviṣṇusvāminaṃ rudro nimbādityaṃ catuḥsanāḥ|| All mantras which have been given (to disciples) not in an authorised Sampradāya are fruitless. Therefore, in Kali Yuga, there will be four bona-fide Sampradāyas. Each of them were inaugurated by Śrī Devī and known as the Śrī Sampradāya, Lord Brahmā and known as the Brahmā Sampradāya, Lord Rudra and known as the Rudra Sampradāya; and the Four Kumāras and known as Sanakādi Sampradāya. Śrī Devī made Rāmānujācārya the head of that lineage. So too Lord Brahmā appointed Madhvācārya, Lord Rudra appointed Viṣṇusvāmī and the four Kumaras chose Nimbāditya (an epithet for Śrī Nimbārkācārya).

Lord Narayana is a plenary portion of Lord Krishna, so names can be used interchangebly. I assume when you mean by other "God's" name you're referring to Rama. Rama also means the source of pleasure. God is the source of pleasure, so we call him Rama. Rama is another name for Krishna since he's God.

The real reason why any Visnu-tattwa prays to Lord Shiva is written in the Padma Purana. Lord Kalki will follow that tradition in approximately 427,000 years. Lord Rama is the Supreme Personality and Lord Shiva is the best of the Vaishnava's.

Modern scientists don't know how the universe looks, and considering the direction civilization seems to be heading we may never (lets face it, people just want sex nowadays, they don't care about science, let alone astronomy.) I'm more likely to put my faith in the Vedas than I will on modern astronomers, especially considering the method they use to determine distance between planets...