livingentity

It is getting tiresome dealing with this.

Thank you very much for posting it for me. I have always found this a great comfort and bring it to others attention when they are in similar circumstances.

I am looking for the quote of Srila Prabhupada's where He speaks of how by being a devotee of Lord Krsna we benefit our family for many lifetimes. Can anyone else find it and post it here? I found it a great comfort concerning my own father.

Srimad Bhagavatam; 1.5.10.. Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there. PURPORT Crows and swans are not birds of the same feather because of their different mental attitudes. The fruitive workers or passionate men are compared to the crows, whereas the all-perfect saintly persons are compared to the swans. The crows take pleasure in a place where garbage is thrown out, just as the passionate fruitive workers take pleasure in wine and woman and places for gross sense pleasure. The swans do not take pleasure in the places where crows are assembled for conferences and meetings. They are instead seen in the atmosphere of natural scenic beauty where there are transparent reservoirs of water nicely decorated with stems of lotus flowers in variegated colors of natural beauty. That is the difference between the two classes of birds. Nature has influenced different species of life with different mentalities, and it is not possible to bring them up into the same rank and file. Similarly, there are different kinds of literature for different types of men of different mentality. Mostly the market literatures which attract men of the crow's categories are literatures containing refused remnants of sensuous topics. They are generally known as mundane talks in relation with the gross body and subtle mind. They are full of subject matter described in decorative language full of mundane similes and metaphorical arrangements. Yet with all that, they do not glorify the Lord. Such poetry and prose, on any subject matter, is considered decoration of a dead body. Spiritually advanced men who are compared to the swans do not take pleasure in such dead literatures, which are sources of pleasure for men who are spiritually dead. These literatures in the modes of passion and ignorance are distributed under different labels, but they can hardly help the spiritual urge of the human being, and thus the swanlike spiritually advanced men have nothing to do with them. Such spiritually advanced men are called also mAnasa because they always keep up the standard of transcendental voluntary service to the Lord on the spiritual plane. This completely forbids fruitive activities for gross bodily sense satisfaction or subtle speculation of the material egoistic mind. Social literary men, scientists, mundane poets, theoretical philosophers and politicians who are completely absorbed in the material advancement of sense pleasure are all dolls of the material energy. They take pleasure in a place where rejected subject matters are thrown. According to SvAmI SrIdhara, this is the pleasure of the prostitute-hunters. But literatures which describe the glories of the Lord are enjoyed by the paramahaMsas who have grasped the essence of human activities.

Red, green, yellow, purple, orange?

I agree! I attend now each and every day - otherwise I am not able to do so as I also live very very far from any temples. I really enjoy and look forward to seeing what the deities will be wearing! I am forever snapping pictures and saving them for later viewing. And seeing Tulsi devi worship in the morning is glorious!!

what you are saying, Guruvani. Are you saying that uninitiated devotees should only come in and read what the far more advanced initiated disciples are saying? Can the uninitiated ask questions? If so, after asking the questions, can they respond at all to the answer? Also, for example, if on Thursday a devotee is uninitiated and then on Friday he is - does he suddenly in that 24 hr timeframe have all the right answers and all the knowledge of the vedas and previous acaryas to be able to participate in the forums and answer the questions of the ignorant unintiated ones? Even though, many of the uninitiated ones have perhaps lived in temples for a time, studied Prabhupada's books, lectures, tapes etc for many years longer than the newly initiated ones. This is confusing to me because of some past history of initiated disciples who were supposedly advanced but proved otherwise through their deeds, actions and speech. This is a true story - I met one newly initiated devotee who did not know how many rounds we were to vow to chant upon initiation. Shouldn't at least this basic knowledge have "appeared" in his head when he became initiated? If he did not know this basic thing upon initiation then how would he suddenly be knowledgeable enough to participate in the forums even though he was initiated? Thank you Guruvani for your time. I look forward to your answers.

from Prabhupada Uvaca; Srutakirti dasa April 1973; New York, NY, U.S.A At this time Bali Mardan was talking about getting a new temple facility in New York City and he invited Srila Prabhupada to look at a possible location. The sun was brightly shining as Bali Mardan, Kirtiraja and myself followed Srila Prabhupada into a small foreign car (Toyota). Bali Mardan drove for quite awhile, finally stopping across the street from a large beautiful cathedral. Bali Mardan explained to Srila Prabhupada, "This is the possible temple I told you about Srila Prabhupada. We can't go in because it may not be beneficial if they know we are Hare Krsna's. We can look at it from here." We all got out of the car and were looking at this immense cathedral from across the street. The structure was stately and beautiful. Fortunately, the front doors of the church were open and we could see inside. Srila Prabhupada seemed very impressed with the facility. Looking inside he could see the huge marble pillars and said, "This will make a very nice ISKCON hall. This is beautiful." As we were standing on the sidewalk Srila Prabhupada turned around and saw a small Italian grocery. He turned to Kirtiraja and inquired, "Do you think they have 7-Up?" With a shocked look on his face, Kirtiraja prabhu said, "Well, I can see if they do, Srila Prabhupada. Do you want one?" Srila Prabhupada responded, "Yes, I would like a 7 Up." Kirtiraja went into the store, quickly returning with a can of 7-Up. Srila Prabhupada regally stood with cane in hand and japa bag around his neck looking especially transcendental. Kirtiraj opened the can and Srila Prabhupada took it with his right hand. His cane was in his left hand, securely planted on the concrete sidewalk. He lifted the can to his lotus lips sipping the 7-Up. I was in ecstasy watching the next episode of the 7-Up saga. We could not contain our joyful smiles seeing our Guru Maharaja's aristocratic simplicity. He drank about half the can and said, "All right, now we shall go." After we all got into the car Srila Prabhupada handed the can to Bali Mardan and said, "I've had enough. You can drink." The three of us blissfully passed the maha remnants around until we finished the can of soda. The ride back to the temple was light hearted and carefree. I tried not to spread the news around finally realizing it could create a 7-Up frenzy. A week later when we arrived in Los Angeles it was apparent the news had already reached the New Dwarka community. Karandhara informed Srila Prabhupada that 7-Up could aid in relieving gastro-intestinal digestive discomfort, so Srila Prabhupada occasionally drank a small glass to relieve himself. One day he said, "This is not good. We should not be drinking so much 7-Up. I take it for digestion. Otherwise drinking 7-Up is not necessary." Later when we returned to India many of the devotees were avidly drinking soda., since they heard that Srila Prabhupada condoned such beverages. One day as Srila Prabhupada left his flat in Juhu he noticed the stairway lined with 7-Up and Limca bottles. Disapproving of the juta (contaminated) litter he declared, "What is this? This should not be done! This is not good! This can't be done!" He continued walking to the temple and made no further mention of it. Srila Prabhupada, I never saw you do anything for your own sense gratification. It is my feeling that you engaged in these unique pastimes just to increase the love of your disciples that were fortunate enough to be with you. You are always completely renounced and totally satisfied serving the Supreme Lord. The vision of you on the sidewalk is forever etched upon my heart Thank you for teaching us how to use everything in Krsna's service.

from Prabhupada Uvaca; Srutakirti dasa April 5, 1973 Since Srila Prabhupada is transcendental and completely free to do as he pleases, flying with him was a thrilling experience. You never knew what to expect. Today was no exception. Srila Prabhupada sat in a window seat near the back of the airplane. Shyamasundar and I sat in the next two seats. As is normally the custom on the transcontinental flights the flight attendants frequently offer refreshments to passengers in order to avoid the dehydrating effects of recycled air. So now a flight attendant began walking up the aisle with a tray of drinks in clear plastic cups offering them to the passengers. As she approached our seats Srila Prabhupada said, "What is that?" I replied, "Oh. That's 7 Up Srila Prabhupada. Would you like some?" He said, "Yes. Let me try it." Naturally, I immediately requested 3 cups for all of us. Syamasundara and I waited for Srila Prabhupada to take the first sip. We wanted to be certain the 7-Up would be prasadam. We watched carefully as he put the cup to his lotus like mouth. He drank some and put the cup down on the table and said, "Ahh, this is very refreshing." We finished our drinks within minutes as we were all quite thirsty. During that flight we had 7-Up three or four times. Each time Srila Prabhupada drank one he would say, "Ahh, very refreshing. This is very good." One time the flight attendant put the can down on the table along with the cups filled with ice. Srila Prabhupada picked up the can and asked, "What are the ingredients?" He began reading, "Water, sugar, citric acid, natural lemon lime oil. Oh! This is all right. This is very good. It is all natural ingredients." Srila Prabhupada was marvelous. He could have been doing a commercial for the soda. He was very enthusiastic about his discovery. I excitedly watched him enjoy each moment. After arriving at the temple one of the devotees asked if there was anything that Srila Prabhupada needed. I couldn't think of anything. That was a problem for me. Once, Srila Prabhupada said, "Srutakirti has no imagination." It is very true. I couldn't imagine what the devotee could get for my beloved Spiritual Master. The devotee was determined to offer something to him. Finally I said, "Well, he likes 7 Up. You could get that for him." I convinced him it was a good idea. That day the devotee brought a case of 7-Up and I stored it in Srila Prabhupada's kitchen. I must confess for the first few days I was hesitant and never offered any to Srila Prabhupada. I began drinking it because I was afraid to offer it to him. I couldn't think of the right moment. Remember, I have no imagination. Finally, the occasion arose. One evening a temple president arrived from out of town to see Srila Prabhupada. While His Divine Grace was in his sitting room speaking with this disciple, Srila Prabhupada rang his bell. I started towards Srila Prabhupada's sitting room when this devotee stopped me in the hall and said, "Srila Prabhupada wants some water." I said, "O.K.," but continued walking towards Guru Maharaja's room. The flustered temple president loudly reiterated, "Srila Prabhupada wants water!" Annoyed I tried to keep my composure replying, "Please wait, I want to ask His Divine Grace something." Apparently this disciple was trying to have a private conversation with Srila Prabhupada and I was interrupting. Lacking sensitivity and imagination I didn't immediately understand his need, so I made my way into Srila Prabhupada's sitting room, offered obeisance's and said, "Srila Prabhupada, would you like some 7-Up?Oh yes!" He replied with a smile, "Bring me some 7-Up." I raced back to the kitchen and filled a silver goblet with 7-Up and ice. Hurrying back to his sitting room, I placed the 7-Up on his desk in front of him and offered obeisances. Srila Prabhupada sat back on his asana and began to sip the drink. When he put the glass down on the table he said, "This is very refreshing." He got up from his asana and began to walk around the room enjoying his 7-Up. I remained in the room blissfully watching my spiritual master relish the cold drink. My godbrother was surprised by the entire affair and anxious for me to leave the room. After Srila Prabhupada finished his 7-Up I took the empty cup, offered obeisances and happily left his room feeling that I had pleased my Guru Maharaja by this simple act in spite of inadvertently annoying my godbrother. Srila Prabhupada, I am blessed by your causeless mercy. Thank you for the opportunity to witness your playful pastimes. Observing your confidential lila allowed me to get a tiny glimpse of your association with the Supreme Lord. Your beloved child-like nature contrasted sharply with your lion-like acarya profile. For pushing on Lord Caitanya's movement you forcefully do the needful. As a pure devotee of the Lord you have no attachment to the fame and adoration that was constantly bestowed upon you. For this reason you are worthy of it.

your offer is rather tempting particularly the telemarketer thing but... I dunno...the not being killed at night or day nor by man or beast thing sort of has me scared! Never have to work as a carnie..you say? hmmmm.....

kinda old so my birth certificate might be considered something of a relic (it is officially an antique!) You can tell it was typed with one of those old metal black manual typewriters cause some of the letters are not quite in line with the others. How much would you give me for it?

Sorry but your papers are just copies. I have the real deal here buried in a concrete box in my backyard. Slurp, drool - gulab jamuns! I fall for rose water and cardamon flavored foods big time!!!

I sold it to him. /images/graemlins/grin.gif LE53

When I asked - he told me "your mother."

krpa-sindhu su-sampurnah, sarvva-sattvopakarakah nsiprhah sarvvatah siddhah, sarvva-vidya-visaradah sarvva-samsaya-samchetta, 'nalaso gurur ahrtah "One who is an ocean of mercy, who is fulfilled in all respects, who is possessed of all good qualities, who always works for the benefit of all souls, who is free from lust, who is perfect in all respects, who is well versed in the scriptures and who knows the science of Krishna is known as a Guru."

Ingredient, What It Is and Its Use Albumin - The protein component of egg whites. Albumin is also found in animal blood, milk, plants, and seeds. To thicken or add texture to processed foods. Anchovies - Small, silvery fish of herring family. Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad dressing, pizza topping, Greek salads. Animal shortening - suet, lard (see lard below). Packaged cookies and crackers, refried beans, flour tortillas, ready-made pie crusts. Carmine -(carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid) Red coloring made from a ground-up insect. Bottled juices, colored pasta, some candies, frozen pops, "natural" cosmetics. Calcium stearate - Mineral typically derived from cows or hogs Garlic salt, vanilla, meat tenderizers, salad-dressing mixes. Capric acid (decanoic acid) - Animal fats added to ice cream, candy, baked goods, chewing gum, liquor and often not specified on ingredients lists. Casein (caseinate) A milk protein. - It coagulates with the addition of rennin (see rennin below) and is the foundation of cheese. An additive in dairy products such as cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Also used in adhesives, paints, and plastics. Clarifying agent Derived from any number of animal sources. Used to filter wine, vinegar, beer, fruit juice, soft drinks. Gelatin Protein from bones, cartilage, tendons, and skin of animals, Much of the commercial gelatin is a by-product of pig skin. Marshmallows, yogurt, frosted cereals, gelatin-containing desserts, molded salads.. Glucose (dextrose) Fruits or animal tissues and fluids. Baked goods, soft drinks, candies, frosting. Glycerides (mono-, di-, and triglycerides Glycerol from animal fats or plants. Processed foods, cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, inks, glues, automobile antifreeze. Used as emulsifier. Isinglass Gelatin from air bladder of sturgeon and other freshwater fish. Clarify alcoholic beverages and in some jellied desserts. Rarely used now. Lactic acid Acid formed by bacteria acting on the milk sugar lactose. Imparts a tart flavor. Cheese, yogurt, pickles, olives, sauerkraut, candy, frozen desserts, chewing gum, fruit preserves, dyeing and textile printing. Lactose (saccharum lactin, D-lactose Milk sugar. Culture medium for souring milk and in processed foods such as baby formulas, candies and other sweets, medicinal diuretics, and laxatives. Lactylic stearate Salt of stearic acid (see stearic acid below). Dough conditioner. Lanolin Waxy fat from sheep's wool. Chewing gum, ointments, cosmetics, waterproof coatings. Lard Rendered and clarified pork fat. Often fat from abdomens of pigs or the fat around the animal's kidneys. Baked goods. Lecithin Phospholipids form animal tissues, plants, lentils, and egg yolks used to preserve, emulsify, and moisturize food. Cereal, candy, chocolate, baked goods, margarine, vegetable oil sprays, cosmetics, and ink. Lutein Deep yellow coloring from marigolds or egg yolks. Commercial food coloring. Myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid) Animal fats. Chocolate, ice cream, candy, jelled desserts, baked goods. Natural flavorings Unspecified, could be from meat or other animal products Processed and packaged foods. Oleic acid (oleinic acid) Animal tallow (see tallow below) Synthetic butter, cheese, vegetable fats and oils, spice flavoring for baked goods, candy, ice cream, beverages, condiments, soaps, cosmetics. Palmatic acid Animal or vegetable fats. Baked goods, butter and cheese flavoring. Pancreatin (pancreatic extract) Cows or hogs Digestive aids. Pepsin Enzyme from pigs' stomachs With rennet to make cheese. Propolis Resinous cement collected by bees Food supplement and ingredient in "natural" toothpaste. Rennin (Rennet) A coagulating enzyme obtained from a young animal's stomach, usually a calf's stomach Rennin is used to curdle milk in foods such as cheese and junket--a soft pudding like dessert. Royal jelly Substance produced by glands of bees. "Natural foods" and nutrient supplements. Sodium stearoyl lactylate May be derived from cows, hogs, animal milk, or vegetable-mineral sources. Used in cake, pudding, or pancake mixes, baked goods, margarine. Stearic acid (octadecenoic acid) Tallow, other animal fats and oils Vanilla flavoring, chewing gum, baked goods, beverages, candy, soaps, ointments, candles, cosmetics, suppositories and pill coatings. Suet Hard white fat around kidneys and loins of animals Margarine, mincemeat, pastries, bird feed, tallow. Tallow Solid fat of sheep and cattle separated from the membranous tissues Waxed paper, margarine, soaps, crayons, candles, rubber, cosmetics. Vitamin A (A1, retinol) Vitamin obtained from vegetables, egg yolks, or fish liver oil. Vitamin supplements, fortification of foods, "natural" cosmetics. Vitamin B12 Vitamin produced by microorganisms and found in all animal products; synthetic form (cyanocobalamin or cobalamin on labels) is vegan Supplements or fortified foods. Vitamin D (D1, D2, D3) D1 is produced by humans upon exposure to sunlight; D2 (ergocalciferol) is made from plants or yeast, D3 (cholecalciferol comes from fish liver oils or lanolin Supplements or fortified foods. --- ----------- Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian by Suzanne Havala, M.S., R.D., F.A.D.A., Food Lover's Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst, The Vegan Sourcebook by Joanne Stepaniak, M.S.Ed.

Read the labels on everything you buy. Here are a list of ingredients that are or could be animal products. When in doubt about some item of food, you can call or write to the company that makes it. But be aware that they might not always be totally honest even then. Calcium stearate Emulsifiers Enzymes Fatty acids Gelatin Magnesium stearate Mono and diglycerides Monostearates Oleic acid Olein Palmitin Palmitic acid Pepsin Polysorbates Rennet Stabilizers Stearic acid Stearin Tween

1. Is this person actually qualified to take me back home to Godhead? 2. Am I prepared to be this persons servant? 3. Is this person truly greater than I am? 4. Can I truly totally surrender to this person? 5. Is this person a greatly advanced and pure devotee in Krishna Consciousness? Take it easy and not be in a rush to find a "living guru"(It is an offense to consider guru dead!). The person must be a qualified guru, someone you can completely surrender to. If he is not qualified and if you can not completely surrender to someone it is a great mistake to accept him as your spiritual master.

Har Tzion to be your spiritual master.

I humbly approached the online Swami and asked several questions. 1. Who is God? Certainly not you. /images/graemlins/smile.gif 2. Where is your temple? Boogers, Montana /images/graemlins/confused.gif 3. Where is the best temple? Heaven /images/graemlins/grin.gif 4. Will I ever go to India? No /images/graemlins/mad.gif 5. What will I be in my next life? Who knows! /images/graemlins/blush.gif I was pleased with his answers until I asked him.. 6. Who is Krsna? /images/graemlins/crazy.gif Now I am confused!

unoffered foodstuffs.

unoffered foodstuffs.

The Feminist Case Against Abortion "Anti-abortion laws enacted in the latter half of the 19th century were a result of advocacy efforts by feminists who worked in an uneasy alliance with the male-dominated medical profession and the mainstream media. The early feminists understood that, much like today, women resorted to abortion because they were abandoned or pressured by boyfriends, husbands and parents, and lacked financial resources to have a baby on their own. Betty Friedan, credited with reawakening feminism in the 1960s with her landmark book, The Feminist Mystique, did not even mention abortion in the early edition. It was not until 1966 that NOW included abortion in its list of goals. Even then, abortion was a low priority. It was a man -- abortion rights activist Larry Lader, who remains active today -- who credits himself with guiding a reluctant Friedan to make abortion an issue for NOW. Lader teamed up with a gynecologist, Bernard Nathanson, to co-found the National Alliance to Repeal Abortion Laws, the forerunner of today's National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). Lader suggested to the NOW leadership that all feminist demands (equal education, jobs, pay, etc.) hinged on a woman's ability to control her own body and procreation. Dr. Nathanson, who later became a pro-life activist, states in his book, Abortion in America, that the two were able to convince Friedan than abortion was a civil rights issue. Later he admitted that they simply made up the numbers of women dying from illegal abortions, which had been a major point in their argument. Lader and Nathanson's strategy was highly effective. NOW has made the preservation of legal abortion its number one priority. With this drastic change, a highly visible faction of the women's movement abandoned the vision of the early feminists." (Source: The Commonwealth, 9/99, The Feminist Case Against Abortion.)

Interesting that you posted this today. The other day I was reading about this very thing. Also, I read that the doctors that came up with the death stats of botched illegal abortions in the 70's highly inflated the numbers so as to get the legalization to go through quicker. They had to pressure Betty Freiden (sp) to publish their stats - she was originally against it all. I will try to find the article again because it was very interesting - if I remember correctly one of the doctors tried or is trying to rectify the situation that he created.

geez - this is sick!! And scary! /images/graemlins/ooo.gif Think something and it happens! /images/graemlins/mad.gif Think happy thoughts! /images/graemlins/smile.gif