Bhakta Shakta

Every jiva has an eternal svarupa (transcendental personality) associated with it. However, I don't see how this places a spiritual-bar on a perfected sadhaka of the spiritual world (Vaikunthaloka) from taking birth for the 'first time' in Gokula. Why wouldn't Krishna allow the jiva to experience liberation (spiritual world, not Brahman) just as Krishna allows jivas to experience maya, with the free-will to serve or not serve Him. This would make sense with an youthful blue boy who expands himself in various infinite forms for the sake of sportive-play. In one of Sanatana Goswami's works, there is a story of how he travels from different spiritual worlds and finally arrives at Vrindaban to meet Gopala his eternal playmate. If someone could post something on this I would appreciate it. -Bhakta Shakta

I fail to see much shocking Vaisnava slander on these forums. I just don't see what viewpoint you are coming from here, Ananga. I just logged back on these forums after some time (couple months about) and I am pleased to see the amount of new topics. There has been honest & steady debate going on regarding sadhu-sanga and diksa-initiation. Some parties may be a little more ecclestiacal, exuberant, and sectarian than the rest but that is completely normal in a tree large as the Gaudiya tree. I hope you don't leave and stay here and participate with us other good natured posters. Thankyou dasanudas for that reply. Cheers.

Previously posted by GC: -- "This is why I will appreciate an institution like Iskcon, or Gaudiya Math, which preach all over the world. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that one day his name would be chanted in every town and village. -- And I look forward to that day.

Forum Leader: Please delete this posting. Thankyou. -bs. [This message has been edited by Bhakta Shakta (edited 05-12-2001).]

^-------------^ Can someone offer detailed explanations on those various bodies for me?

^-------------^ Can someone offer detailed explanations on those various bodies for me?

"The physical body is made of "star stuff" (Dr. Carl Sagan), the material of the physical plane. The astral body is made of astral stuff, material from that realm. The causal body is made of causal stuff, material from that realm. The mental body is made of mental stuff, material from that realm. The etheric body is made of etheric stuff, material from that realm. The soul is pure spirit and is our true indentity, the spart of life"

"The physical body is made of "star stuff" (Dr. Carl Sagan), the material of the physical plane. The astral body is made of astral stuff, material from that realm. The causal body is made of causal stuff, material from that realm. The mental body is made of mental stuff, material from that realm. The etheric body is made of etheric stuff, material from that realm. The soul is pure spirit and is our true indentity, the spart of life"

-- "Uddalaka: So the salt is present even if it is not seen. In the same way, Sat is not seen though it is immanent in everything in the universe." -- I don't understand how this analogy is syllogistic. Salt dissolves witin water therefore it can't be seen. What does Sat dissolve with? The five elements?

I thought this was an interesting question. As far as I know, we fast in order to increase our will-power (volition) and decrease our material attachments.

"Imagination is the power/capacity of the brain to conjure up an image, real or unreal." Imagination is wakeful dreaming.

"Imagination is the power/capacity of the brain to conjure up an image, real or unreal." Imagination is wakeful dreaming.

Hi. I do not know how to calculate Ekadasi or what the regulations are for fasting on Ekadasi. If the swanlike devotees could explain these things to me, I would be able to start fasting on Ekadasi. Thankyou. Jaya Prabhupada.

Dear Devotees, Can we start by defining what exactly the imagination is? -- Animesh: An example of information in subconscious coming to conscious? -- I think that seems correct. Our subconscious fears or desires manifesting itself into our conscious stream of thoughts. I can't think of anything better.

Dear Devotees, Can we start by defining what exactly the imagination is? -- Animesh: An example of information in subconscious coming to conscious? -- I think that seems correct. Our subconscious fears or desires manifesting itself into our conscious stream of thoughts. I can't think of anything better.

Rajesh Prabhuji, Make sure you chant 16 rounds a day + more to guard against Maya. If U didn't know, this is Kali-Yuga and agents of Kali are everywhere trying to take us down. All we can do is take shelter on Sri Sri Nitaicandra and chant the Holy Name. The 4 regs must be strictly followed otherwise there is a risk at every step of falling into Maya's grip. Please do not leave this forum because we are trying to fight Maya like you. Maybe you can share devotional tips with us. Don't worry, Maya might win the battles but we'll win the war. Your eternal well-wisher, Spritual Warrior Bhakta Shakta Das

I thinks these criticisms should be taken with a grain of salt. Anyone as successfuls as Prabhupad is obviously going to be an object of jealousy and envy. Like when Krishna and Balarama descended to this material planes, many many powerful kings tried to kill them. But were they successful? NO. They all die. It was just all part of the manifest lila. That all. Narada Muni glorify Kamsa as a great devotee even! What to say...what to say?

"In fact, given the evidence, it is far more correct to say that Prabhupada's interpretations derive from Shankara's than from Madhva's." Yah it's obvious 'this' guy has a strong bias toward Prabhupad. At least he makes no attempt to conceal his aversion.

---- janardana prabhu: The mystical-experience that you speak of ‘is’ the differentiation itself. ---- Phenomenologically maybe, but not objectively. ---- JP: The only mental purity you need is just enough to humble yourself in front of a bonafied spiritual master. Only Through such contact can the veil of Maya be lifted from your eyes. ---- The veil of Maya is lifted when one surrenders to Krishna. ---- JP: Please try to understand the so-called mystical-experience you speak of IS the experience of the soul. ---- I don't know about that. How do you? ---- JP: If you do not form the required fine brain substance that is needed to engage in such a disciplined and fine pursuit as that of servitude of the servant of the Supreme, JUST ASK(or prey)to be put in-touch with your spiritual guide, everybody has one. ---- I drink 2 glasses of milk a day and haven't eaten meat for the last 15 years of my life. Is that how I build the fine brain substance? ---- JP: JUST ASK(or prey)to be put in-touch with your spiritual guide, everybody has one. ---- By chanting the Holy Name one will be put in-touch with their guru. ---- Otherwise it is completely up to you whether or not you will gain this understanding. ---- It is not completely up to me whether or not I will gain this so-called 'understanding'. Krpa from sadhu or Bhagavan is necessary to get the ball rolling. ---- Until that time, could you refrain from any personal abstractions. ---- Don't take my words personally. I purposely take the contrapositive to learn better. I don't believe in sticking with the party-line and accepting everything 'as it is' without questioning. If I am unable to reconcile something with my logical principles then I reject it. Faith needs doubt. Doubt needs faith. That's why we are here, right?

---- janardana prabhu: The mystical-experience that you speak of ‘is’ the differentiation itself. ---- Phenomenologically maybe, but not objectively. ---- JP: The only mental purity you need is just enough to humble yourself in front of a bonafied spiritual master. Only Through such contact can the veil of Maya be lifted from your eyes. ---- The veil of Maya is lifted when one surrenders to Krishna. ---- JP: Please try to understand the so-called mystical-experience you speak of IS the experience of the soul. ---- I don't know about that. How do you? ---- JP: If you do not form the required fine brain substance that is needed to engage in such a disciplined and fine pursuit as that of servitude of the servant of the Supreme, JUST ASK(or prey)to be put in-touch with your spiritual guide, everybody has one. ---- I drink 2 glasses of milk a day and haven't eaten meat for the last 15 years of my life. Is that how I build the fine brain substance? ---- JP: JUST ASK(or prey)to be put in-touch with your spiritual guide, everybody has one. ---- By chanting the Holy Name one will be put in-touch with their guru. ---- Otherwise it is completely up to you whether or not you will gain this understanding. ---- It is not completely up to me whether or not I will gain this so-called 'understanding'. Krpa from sadhu or Bhagavan is necessary to get the ball rolling. ---- Until that time, could you refrain from any personal abstractions. ---- Don't take my words personally. I purposely take the contrapositive to learn better. I don't believe in sticking with the party-line and accepting everything 'as it is' without questioning. If I am unable to reconcile something with my logical principles then I reject it. Faith needs doubt. Doubt needs faith. That's why we are here, right?

http://www.dvaita.org/shaastra/gita/prabhupada_review.html ..."In addition, Prabhupada's lack of understanding of even the most basic facts of science and astronomy is manifest, so much so that one wonders if he ever passed high school."

"Religion without philosophy is sentiment. Philosophy without religion is dry speculation." And i found this: Visvanatha Cakravartin gave an interesting characterization of the way this offense works in his commentary on the Bhagavata Purana 6.2.9-10. He says: "Some people are always engaging their senses in the sense objects like cows and asses and don't know, even in their dreams, who is God, what is devotion, who is the guru.' Such inoffensive persons are saved even without a guru by repeating the holy name in the manner of semblance of holy name' (namabhasa) like Ajamila and others. p.s. Learn to spell DosaJi.

"Religion without philosophy is sentiment. Philosophy without religion is dry speculation." And i found this: Visvanatha Cakravartin gave an interesting characterization of the way this offense works in his commentary on the Bhagavata Purana 6.2.9-10. He says: "Some people are always engaging their senses in the sense objects like cows and asses and don't know, even in their dreams, who is God, what is devotion, who is the guru.' Such inoffensive persons are saved even without a guru by repeating the holy name in the manner of semblance of holy name' (namabhasa) like Ajamila and others. p.s. Learn to spell DosaJi.

What you say of Bhakti-yoga is certainly true. Obstacles to test ones sincerety and honesty will be put up by Krishna to test ones devotion. As one passes these tests one gets a higher mark with him, or a higher qualification of reciprocation, until at last we finally have darshan. Previously posted by Dasha: "But as soon as the slightest difficulty will come (when God starts to "test" your devotion) you will quikly understand what is "sentimentality" and what is "transcendental-substance"." But i'm more intersted in how to authenticate a mystical experience. When God gives his 'tests', my devotion to him will certainly be tested, but failing these 'tests' doesn't nullify my previous so-called transcendental experiences. Sometimes I think I'm really talking with God and sometimes I know that it is my false-ego or mundane mind or something!, that completely concocted it. I really don't know sometimes. A lot of people think they are talking with God, and most would classify them insane, and I think they are probably right, not in doing so, but that they are actually right in the classification!

What you say of Bhakti-yoga is certainly true. Obstacles to test ones sincerety and honesty will be put up by Krishna to test ones devotion. As one passes these tests one gets a higher mark with him, or a higher qualification of reciprocation, until at last we finally have darshan. Previously posted by Dasha: "But as soon as the slightest difficulty will come (when God starts to "test" your devotion) you will quikly understand what is "sentimentality" and what is "transcendental-substance"." But i'm more intersted in how to authenticate a mystical experience. When God gives his 'tests', my devotion to him will certainly be tested, but failing these 'tests' doesn't nullify my previous so-called transcendental experiences. Sometimes I think I'm really talking with God and sometimes I know that it is my false-ego or mundane mind or something!, that completely concocted it. I really don't know sometimes. A lot of people think they are talking with God, and most would classify them insane, and I think they are probably right, not in doing so, but that they are actually right in the classification!