leyh

Hi Sirona: I'm not too familiar with Islamic history and thus I'm not sure as to why he went to war.Maybe it was for self-defence against "the bad guys" (whoever they are).I will have to do some research about it.

I don't think prophet Muhammad would have approved of suicide bombers...

The following are some utterances attributed to Prophet Muhammad which I got from a book entitled Pearls from the Prophet published by The Muslims Convert’s Association of Singapore. Maybe they will reveal something about genuine Islam: Do you love your Creator? Love your fellow being first. God is not merciful to him who is not so with mankind. The Messenger of Allah said, “Do you think this woman will cast her own child into the fire?” We said, “No.” Then the prophet said, “Verily God is more Compassionate to His creatures than this woman is to her own child.” You will not enter Paradise until you have faith, and you will not complete your faith until you love one another. Wish not for death, any one of you; neither the doer of good works, for some reason he may increase his good deeds nor the offender for perhaps he may obtain the mercy of God by repentance. Wish not, supplicate for death before its time comes; for verily when you die, hope is out and with it the ambition for reward; and verily the increase of a believer’s life increases his good works. The best of alms is that which springs from the heart, and is uttered by the lips to soften the wounds of the injured. The Messenger of Allah said: “Whom do you count to be a martyr among you?” they said, “O Messanger of Allah! Whoever is killed in the way of Allah is a martyr! He said: “In that case the martyrs of my community shall be very few. He who is killed in the way of Allah is a martyr; he who dies a natural death in the way of Allah is a martyr; he who dies of the plague (in the way of Allah) is a martyr; he who dies of cholera (in the way of Allah) is a martyr.” A woman was found among the killed in one of the battles of the prophet. So the Messenger of Allah forbade the killing of women and children. The best Muslim house is that in which an orphan is benefited; and the worse Muslim house is that in which an orphan is ill-treated. God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your mothers, daughters and aunts. One who strives for the widows and the poor is like one who fights in the way of Allah. A Muslim must not hate his wife; and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, then let him be pleased with another which is good. Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive if he be unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Ali Shuraih relates that the Holy prophet said: “By Allah he is not a Believer; By Allah he is not a Believer; By Allah he is not a Believer.” It was asked: “O Prophet of Allah, who is he?” He replied: “The one whose neighbour is not at peace on account of him.” Muhammad once said to Anas, “Son! If you are able, keep your heart, from morning till night and from night till morning, free from malice towards anyone.” Then he said, “O my son! This is one of my commandments and he who loves my commandments verily loves me.” The most excellent Jihad (Holy war) is that for the conquest of self. He is not strong and powerful who throws people down; but he is strong who withholds himself from anger. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 05-06-2002).]

I got this exchange from an episoid of the television series Gilmore Girls.In one scene,Rory Gilmore is at the door of the house where Dean (the guy whom she is trying to patch things up with) stays and she is talking to Dean's kid sister: Rory:How are you today? Kid Sister: Fine. Rory:Good...good Kid Sister:Are you here to see my brother? Rory:Uh...no, no..not at all...I'm um...with the Girl Scouts. Kid Sister:I'm gonna be a Girl Scout some day, I'm a Brownie now. Rory:Oh, good...that's a ...that's an excellent stepping stone. Kid Sister:Um..where's your uniform? Rory:Oh we're not doing uniforms anymore.You know,we're trying to blend in --- relate better to the average person.It was a very successful strategy for the Hare Krishnas, so...

Haribol, Sushil: The Vedas sanction killing as a means of self defence.It does not enjoin killing in the spirit of hate and revenge.So how are you going to "indulge in the killing of Muslims"? Are you going to kill all Muslims indiscriminately? Do you think that all Muslims are demons? If a person kills with hate and violence in one's heart in the name of God,then that person is a demon,regardless of whether he professes to be Christian, Hindu or Muslim or whatever.In the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna enjoins Arjuna to fight in the battle fo Kuruksetra in the spirit of duty.Krsna never instructs Arjuna to work himself into a frenzy of hate and violence and "kill the demons". [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 05-03-2002).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 05-03-2002).]

Sushil: So in order to prevent the Muslims from killing you,you kill them first,and soon they will prevent you from killing them first by killing you first.This is not self-defence.This is MAD --- Mutually Assured Destruction.

Hi Avinash: I don't think my name is relevant to the discussion, but since you've asked, "leyh" is a sort of acronym combining a romanized version of my Chinese name into four english letters.

sushil_kanoria: In the Bhagavad-gita,Krsna states that: sri-bhagavan uvaca tri-vidha bhavati sraddha dehinam sa svabhava-ja sattviki rajasi caiva tamasi ceti tam srnu "The Supreme Lord said, according to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds--goodness, passion or ignorance. Now hear about these." (Bhagavad-gita 17.2) You may claim to be defending a Ram temple or a Krsna temple,but if you really mean what you wrote: Then I can be certain that you are not representing Krsna or Rama.You are merely engaged in some ignorant sectarianism.Rama or Krsna never taught anyone to hate other living entities.It may be one thing to defend one's religion or family from aggressors,but to say:"I am Hindu and they are Muslims.We shall kill them." is foolish.You think that taking out all the Mislims in India or in the world is going to please Rama or Krsna? Didn't Krsna say in the Bhagavad-gita12.13 that one who is a kind friend to all living entities (and yes,that includes Muslims) is very dear to him? What do you think a father would react if his sons start killing each other? I don't live in India.I'm a Chinese male living in Singapore,but just because I don't live in India and don't really understand the situation there doesn't mean I cannot understand evil or ignorance when I see it.It really disturbs me to see people --- Christians,Hindus,Muslims,etc.engaging in violence in the name of religion or God.It gives people who are into God a bad name.If people start killing others in the name of Rama or Krsna, they might start thinking that all Rama or Krsna devotees are fanatics.Do you want that to happen? Only an imaginary Rama or Krsna would be pleased to have devotees that advocate hateful violence and revenge. What's the big deal about how many times one goes to the temple? One may never step foot in the temple and be near to Krsna while another might be the pujari and be far from Krsna.And I'm sorry to say this,as long as you talk of revenge and killing Muslims and Hindus who don't agree with you,you're very far from Krsna.It would be futile if you win all the temples in the world and lose your soul in the process.I am a fallen soul very far away from Krsna myself,but I really have to express my opinions about fanaticism going on in the name of God.It is fanaticism and not persons that I am against. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 05-03-2002).]

Hi Rati: I suppose for the time being the plan is to read Srila Prabhupada's books, endeavour to follow his instructions and associate with devotees. That's true.Any time spent in Krsna Consciousness is never wasted. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-25-2002).]

Hi Rati: I suppose for the time being the plan is to read Srila Prabhupada's books, endeavour to follow his instructions and associate with devotees. That's true.Any time spent in Krsna Consciousness is never wasted. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-25-2002).]

Dear JRdd: I hope you are feeling better.Please be assured that I will keep you in my prayers. May Krsna touch you with His love,and may He bestow upon you spiritual and material health! vidiksu diksurdhvam adhah samantad antar bahir bhagavan narasimhah prahapayal loka bhayam svanena sva tejasa grasta samasta tejah "Prahlad Maharaja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nrsimhadeva. May Lord Nrsimhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahlad Maharaja, protect us from all fear of dangers created by stalwart leaders in all directions through poison, weapons, water, fire, air and so on. May the Lord cover their influence by His own transcendental influence. May Nrsimhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.8.34] May Lord Nrsimhadeva's protection be with you now and forever. Don't lose heart!The Lord is very loyal to His devotees and He will never let them perish. Hoping this finds you in good health. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-25-2002).]

One thing I have noticed about some devotees that I've met is that they are very preoccupied about what "camp" you belong to.I have met some devotees,upon knowing that I worship Krsna,will try to pry about which temple I'm from or who are the devotees that I associate with.These has happened a few times and I feel as if I'm being investigated. I believe that devotees (not just Vaishnavas,but all spiritual seekers) shouldn't be so sectarian.Can't we just accept each other as people first and and foremost? Sectarianism is de-personalizing in the sense that devotees are no longer recognized as people and are instead impersonally perceived as members of this camp or that clique...

Hi Rati: Don't worry about having judged me erroneously.It's no big deal.Apology accepted and I look forward to further exchanges with you. I'm glad you asked.You know,I can't really explain my attraction to Prabhupada's teachings.When I first read Science of Self Realization,I found myself drawn to him.Although during my initial contact with Prabhupada's writings,I thought that maybe he was a bit too harsh and arrogant with his relentless criticisms of atheists,mayavadis and materialists. As I continued to learn more about Prabhupada,it gradually dawned upon me how glorious he is.I use the word "is" because for me,Prabhupada is very much alive.Although,I have never had the chance to meet him physically,he seems more alive to me then many who are living.I think about him every day and although I am still trying to come to terms with some of his utterances,like his stating that women are less intelligent then women,I am utterly convinced that he is no ordinary man,and his instructions have changed the way I see the world. In his huge body of work,the teaching that we are not our bodies but are actually eternal spirit souls is a recurring theme and meditating on this teaching has helped me to see beyond material designations like race and nation.This is just one of the ways in which Prabhupada has enriched my life. Throughout his preaching mission,Prabhupada kept speaking out against the materialistic way of life and reading one of the sharp words about a life centered on sense gratification have promoted a sense of spiritual awareness in me and also a conviction that life is surely much more than a relentless pursuit of prestige and wealth. I do not dare say that I am a devotee of Krsna or Prabhupada,for I am still saturated with so much contamination,but I can't deny my attraction to Prabhupada and my desire to glorify this saintly personality,who has opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge.He lives forever through his divine instructions and one day may I be worthy enough to live with him.

Hi Rati: Don't worry about having judged me erroneously.It's no big deal.Apology accepted and I look forward to further exchanges with you. I'm glad you asked.You know,I can't really explain my attraction to Prabhupada's teachings.When I first read Science of Self Realization,I found myself drawn to him.Although during my initial contact with Prabhupada's writings,I thought that maybe he was a bit too harsh and arrogant with his relentless criticisms of atheists,mayavadis and materialists. As I continued to learn more about Prabhupada,it gradually dawned upon me how glorious he is.I use the word "is" because for me,Prabhupada is very much alive.Although,I have never had the chance to meet him physically,he seems more alive to me then many who are living.I think about him every day and although I am still trying to come to terms with some of his utterances,like his stating that women are less intelligent then women,I am utterly convinced that he is no ordinary man,and his instructions have changed the way I see the world. In his huge body of work,the teaching that we are not our bodies but are actually eternal spirit souls is a recurring theme and meditating on this teaching has helped me to see beyond material designations like race and nation.This is just one of the ways in which Prabhupada has enriched my life. Throughout his preaching mission,Prabhupada kept speaking out against the materialistic way of life and reading one of the sharp words about a life centered on sense gratification have promoted a sense of spiritual awareness in me and also a conviction that life is surely much more than a relentless pursuit of prestige and wealth. I do not dare say that I am a devotee of Krsna or Prabhupada,for I am still saturated with so much contamination,but I can't deny my attraction to Prabhupada and my desire to glorify this saintly personality,who has opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge.He lives forever through his divine instructions and one day may I be worthy enough to live with him.

i Hi Rati: Although I have never met Srila Prabhupada on the physical plane (I was born about half a year after his disapperance),I consider him to be my spiritual guide and I am aspiring,albeit not very successfully,to follow his instructions as far as possible. I am aware that many people access India Divine,and some of these people might have had little or no knowledge of Srila Prabhupada,and if they were to click on this thread out of curosity,they will get to associate with Srila Prabhupada by reading his words and even a moment's association with a pure devotee is tremendously beneficial for one's spiritual life.As far as possible I would like to dedicate this thread to Srila Prabhupada's quotations and occasionally I make some personal statements.If you would like to know the real leyh, you can take a look at my posts in this and other threads where I make these personal statements.Oh and did I not make a recent reply to you in this thread on the subject of scientists? I don't think I'm shy,but sometimes on subjects that someone like Srila Prabhupada can express better,I let him do the talking.On the other hand,I wouldn't mind discussing my insights and this I have done and will certainly continue to do. Thanks for your comments! I will keep them in mind.

i Hi Rati: Although I have never met Srila Prabhupada on the physical plane (I was born about half a year after his disapperance),I consider him to be my spiritual guide and I am aspiring,albeit not very successfully,to follow his instructions as far as possible. I am aware that many people access India Divine,and some of these people might have had little or no knowledge of Srila Prabhupada,and if they were to click on this thread out of curosity,they will get to associate with Srila Prabhupada by reading his words and even a moment's association with a pure devotee is tremendously beneficial for one's spiritual life.As far as possible I would like to dedicate this thread to Srila Prabhupada's quotations and occasionally I make some personal statements.If you would like to know the real leyh, you can take a look at my posts in this and other threads where I make these personal statements.Oh and did I not make a recent reply to you in this thread on the subject of scientists? I don't think I'm shy,but sometimes on subjects that someone like Srila Prabhupada can express better,I let him do the talking.On the other hand,I wouldn't mind discussing my insights and this I have done and will certainly continue to do. Thanks for your comments! I will keep them in mind.

"The appearance of Godhead in this world implies the co-appearance of all His Divine paraphernalia. Godhead must not be conceived as in any way separable from His entourage. Godhead shorn of any of His paraphernalia is a delusion. In the same way the appearance of divine paraphernalia involves the appearance of the divinity. The two are distinct yet inseparable forms of the one Supreme." (His Divine Grace Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada,(Associates Of Sri Caitanya,from Sri Krsna-kathamrta)

"So let us all believe in the words of Krsna and serve Him to our best capacity and thus we will come out victorious in every field of action." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Letter to Sridama Dasa,Los Angeles 14 July, 1970)

"So let us all believe in the words of Krsna and serve Him to our best capacity and thus we will come out victorious in every field of action." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Letter to Sridama Dasa,Los Angeles 14 July, 1970)

“You remain in your position. It doesn't matter what you are. Simply you hear about Krsna. There are so many things about Krsna we can hear. Even if we are not educated we can hear from a person who can speak rightly. But that person must be selected, not ordinary person, not professional person, but here it is said, tattva amnayam. Amnayam means by disciplic succession. We have to accept a positive party.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 3.25.31, Bombay 1st December, 1974)

“You remain in your position. It doesn't matter what you are. Simply you hear about Krsna. There are so many things about Krsna we can hear. Even if we are not educated we can hear from a person who can speak rightly. But that person must be selected, not ordinary person, not professional person, but here it is said, tattva amnayam. Amnayam means by disciplic succession. We have to accept a positive party.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 3.25.31, Bombay 1st December, 1974)

"We are the eternal servants of Godhead. When we decide to lord it over the universe we are allowed these facilities for temporary purposes. They do not serve our eternal purposes. It would be better to seek for a place where we can find the real peace. Here we are always liable to be disturbed. By these disturbances Providence wants to teach us that world is not our eternal habitation, but that all real peace is to be found in Him. Being thus troubled we would naturally like to go back to the original place. Life in this world should be conducted peacefully instead of in the spirit of retaliation. We should learn to suffer all these things by submitting to His Holy Wishes. If we do so we may have that very peace here. It is because we are ambitious to dominate that we are brought here." (His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura,The Correct Angle of Vision,The Harmonist (Vol. XXXI, No.21),27th of June, 1935.)

'When one becomes actually learned,he does not see any enemy or any friend because in actuality "no one is my enemy,no one is my friend,no one is my father,no one is my mother,etc."We are all simply living entities playing on a stage in the dress of father,mother,children,friend,enemy,sinner and saint,etc.It is like a great drama with so many characters playing their parts.However,on the stage a person may be an enemy or whatever,but off the stage all the actors are friends.Similarly,with these bodies we are playing on the stages of material nature,and we attach so many designations to one another.I may be thinking,"This is my son," but in actuality I cannot beget any son.It is not possible.At the utmost I can only beget a body.It is not within a man's power to beget a living entity.Merely by sexual intercourse a living entity cannot be begotten.The living entity must be placed in the emulsification of secretions.This is the verdict of Srimad-Bhagavatam.Thus all the multifarious relationships between bodies are just so much stage play.One who is actually realized and has actually attained yoga no longer sees these bodily designations.'(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,The Perfection of Yoga,Chapter 5)

'When one becomes actually learned,he does not see any enemy or any friend because in actuality "no one is my enemy,no one is my friend,no one is my father,no one is my mother,etc."We are all simply living entities playing on a stage in the dress of father,mother,children,friend,enemy,sinner and saint,etc.It is like a great drama with so many characters playing their parts.However,on the stage a person may be an enemy or whatever,but off the stage all the actors are friends.Similarly,with these bodies we are playing on the stages of material nature,and we attach so many designations to one another.I may be thinking,"This is my son," but in actuality I cannot beget any son.It is not possible.At the utmost I can only beget a body.It is not within a man's power to beget a living entity.Merely by sexual intercourse a living entity cannot be begotten.The living entity must be placed in the emulsification of secretions.This is the verdict of Srimad-Bhagavatam.Thus all the multifarious relationships between bodies are just so much stage play.One who is actually realized and has actually attained yoga no longer sees these bodily designations.'(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,The Perfection of Yoga,Chapter 5)

Young man (2): I'm a Christian. I follow Jesus. What is your spiritual master in relation to Jesus, and do you see Jesus as just another prophet like... Madhudvisa: The question was, this man is a follower of Lord Jesus Christ, and he would like to know what our opinion is of Jesus Christ. Prabhupada: We respect Jesus Christ as you do. Because he is the representative of God, son of God, and we are also speaking of God,so we respect him with our greatest veneration. Young man (2): So you're comparing Krsna, Buddha, Muhammad to Jesus as the same, and Guru Maharaj-ji too, another Jesus. You're saying that. Prabhupada: No. I am not Jesus. I am servant of Jesus. Young man (2): You're a son of Jesus. Prabhupada: Yes. I am servant of Jesus. Young man (2): What does that mean? Prabhupada: I don't say I am Jesus. Young man (2): Do you have the powers of Jesus? Can you say to a person, "Rise up and walk," when they're paralyzed? Prabhupada: What is that? Madhudvisa: He wants to know if you have the powers of Jesus. Prabhupada: Eh? No, I have no power of Jesus. Man: Well, I've got the power of Jesus. (laughter) Cause I'm a Christian. Prabhupada: That's all right. You are Christian, we are Krishnian--practically the same thing. (laughter and applause) Man: And one other question. Prabhupada: Yes. Man: I believe Jesus is coming back and not Krsna. And what are you guys going to do when you see Jesus? (laughter) Prabhupada: What is that? Madhudvisa: Jesus. He believe Jesus is going to come back again. Prabhupada: Well, he is coming, welcome. We shall welcome. It is very good news that Jesus is coming.(La Trobe University Lecture in Melbourne, July 1, 1974.)