leyh

I'm sure many of you here are seasoned devotees and would have no qualms about chanting on the bead-bag in public.I'm still quite hesitant about doing it.In Singapore,people going around chanting with bead bags are very rare,and so far I've only bumped into two (one of whom was the one who presented me with my bead bag). I've chanted in on public transports or in other public places with just a japa mala before...but the bead bag is a little different,I think.People who don't know what's inside might think that I'm wearing a sling and walking around muttering curses to the guy who injured me

I'm sure many of you here are seasoned devotees and would have no qualms about chanting on the bead-bag in public.I'm still quite hesitant about doing it.In Singapore,people going around chanting with bead bags are very rare,and so far I've only bumped into two (one of whom was the one who presented me with my bead bag). I've chanted in on public transports or in other public places with just a japa mala before...but the bead bag is a little different,I think.People who don't know what's inside might think that I'm wearing a sling and walking around muttering curses to the guy who injured me

I love bead bags.My first and only (as of this writing)was actually a gift from a devotee that I met by chance.The wonderful thing was that I was on my way to buy a japa mala that day when I bumped into him.I told him thatI could not be a full-time vegetarian due to my parents' objections.The devotee told me that those who are not following the regulative principles properly should chant on neem beads.He gave me a japa mala with neem beads,a bag with a picture of Lord Jagannatha sewed on it,and a kanti mala made of neem.I was,and still is very grateful to him. I also love the way those pictures of Srila Prabhupada where a bead bag would be hanging around his neck like a transcendental bullet pouch with ammonition for the war against maya...a fitting ornament for the great General of devotees Is there a "colour-code" for bead bags? Are saffron bead bags reserved only for sannyasis and brahmacharis? Also,I've read in Gauri Pandita Prabhu's website that Srila Prabhupada once admonished a devotee not to show his beads.The story can be read by clicking: http://members.aol.com/gauridas/vrindavan.htm# Gauri Pandita Prabhu commented that:"My understanding of it was that when somebody looks at your beads there was some kind of subtle karmic exchange." Did Srila Prabhupada or any Vaishnava acarya ever said anything about this sort of "karmic exchange"? I will be grateful if anyone can answer my questions. Maybe the devotees here would like to have a bead bag "show and tell"? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 11-24-2001).]

I love bead bags.My first and only (as of this writing)was actually a gift from a devotee that I met by chance.The wonderful thing was that I was on my way to buy a japa mala that day when I bumped into him.I told him thatI could not be a full-time vegetarian due to my parents' objections.The devotee told me that those who are not following the regulative principles properly should chant on neem beads.He gave me a japa mala with neem beads,a bag with a picture of Lord Jagannatha sewed on it,and a kanti mala made of neem.I was,and still is very grateful to him. I also love the way those pictures of Srila Prabhupada where a bead bag would be hanging around his neck like a transcendental bullet pouch with ammonition for the war against maya...a fitting ornament for the great General of devotees Is there a "colour-code" for bead bags? Are saffron bead bags reserved only for sannyasis and brahmacharis? Also,I've read in Gauri Pandita Prabhu's website that Srila Prabhupada once admonished a devotee not to show his beads.The story can be read by clicking: http://members.aol.com/gauridas/vrindavan.htm# Gauri Pandita Prabhu commented that:"My understanding of it was that when somebody looks at your beads there was some kind of subtle karmic exchange." Did Srila Prabhupada or any Vaishnava acarya ever said anything about this sort of "karmic exchange"? I will be grateful if anyone can answer my questions. Maybe the devotees here would like to have a bead bag "show and tell"? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 11-24-2001).]

"DAINYA" (HUMILITY) From His Divine Grace Bhaktivinoda Thakura's "SaraNaagati" "I am an impious sinner and have caused others great anxiety and trouble. I have never hesitated to perform sinful acts for my own enjoyment. Devoid of all compassion, concerned only with my own selfish interests, I am remorseful seeing others happy. I am a perpetual liar, and the misery of others is a source of great pleasure for me. The material desires in my heart are unlimited. I am wrathful, devoted to false pride and arrogance, intoxicated by vanity and bewildered by worldly affairs. Envy and egotism are the ornaments I wear. Ruined by laziness and sleep, I resist all pious deeds; yet I am very active and enthusiastic to perform wicked acts. For the worldly fame and reputation I engage in the practice of deceitfulness. Thus I am destroyed by my own greed and am always lustful. A vile, wicked man such as this, rejected by godly people, is a constant offender. I am such a person, devoid of all good works, forever inclined toward evil, worn out and wasted by various miseries. Now in old age, deprived of all means of success, humbled and poor, Bhaktivinoda submits his tale of grief at the feet of the Supreme Lord." Copyright, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 11-23-2001).]

talasiga: The translation of the Narada Bhakti Sutras that I cited is by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and His Disciples.Srila Prabhupada only translated and made purports on the first eight sutras.The rest was completed by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Narada-bhakti-sutra Translation and Editorial Board which consists of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (Commentator and Editor in Chief),Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari (Translator and Sanskrit Editor) and Dravida dasa Brahmacari (English Editor).Which translation are you using and how does it translate Sutra 74?

Gauracandra: I'm glad you liked the quote.George Harrison is one of my spiritual role models and whether he was advanced or not,the fact that he was very near and dear to Srila Prabhupada is enough to earn my respect.

Mahak prabhu: How would you use Vaishnava philosophy to explain the apparently exclusionistic words in the Bible attributed to Jesus Christ like:"I am the way, the truth and the life,no man cometh to the Father except by Me."?

Audarya: Why waste your time with Satyaraja dasa? In the Narada Bhakti Sutras,Narada Muni instructs that:"One should not indulge in argumentative debate." (Sutra 74) It seems clear that Satyaraja dasa is only interested in egoistic arguments.Don't take his bait...

Let's face it.If you're going to have to stand up and be counted,I figured,"I would rather be with these guys than with those other guys over there." I mean I'd rather be one of the devotees of God than one of the straight,so-called sane or normal people who just don't understand that man is a spiritual being,that he has a soul. --- George Harrison (In a 1984 interview) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 11-15-2001).]

Your forum? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 11-12-2001).]

Dear JNDas: I have been posting on an interfaith forum at www.foolmoon.com and when a Christian forum member invited me to test the Vedic scriptures in light of history, archelogy and prophecy right along side the Bible.I don't think I am my understanding of Vedic philosophy and I have taken the liberty of recommending India Divine.com.I told the Christian that I'm sure you will be pleased to answer any questions that he has regarding the Vedic scriptures.I hope that's ok with you...

I'm still curious as to whether the Satyaraja dasa in the above conversation is the same Satyaraja dasa who posts in this forum.Is it you,Satyaraja? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-27-2001).]

You're welcome,Valaya Prabhu...somehow or other let us try to please Srimati Radharani! [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-26-2001).]

You're welcome,Janus prabhu.All Glories to Sri-Sri Radha Krsna!

I like this sort of move. How about other messages. Like have a bunch of bomber planes fly over the cities at night and drop massive paintball bombs. No damage. But spray the entire city red, white, and blue Gauracandra [This message has been edited by Gauracandra (edited 10-21-2001).] How about prasadam bombs?

The very word "Krsna" means all-attractive, but Radharani is so great that she attracts even Krsna.If Krsna is always attractive to everyone,and Radharani is attractive to Krsna,how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try humbly to understand and offer Her our obeisances,saying,"Radharani,you are so dear to Krsna.You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu and You are Krsna's beloved.We offer our respectful obeisances unto You." Radharani is very dear to Krsna and if we approach Krsna through the mercy of Radharani,we can easily attain Him.If Radharani recommends a devotee,Krsna immediately accepts him,however foolish he may be.Consequently in Vrndavana,we find devotees calling, "Jaya Radhe." We should be more interested in worshipping Radharani,for however fallen we may be,if somehow or other we can please Her,we can very easily understand Krsna. (Elevation to Krsna Consciousness by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chapter Five: Knowing Krsna's Energies) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-22-2001).]

Dear M-dd: I don't see how you can say that Valaya has "rejected" Srila Prabhupada."Reject" is a very strong word to use. Also, I have read through most of your posts and have detected a lot of negative emotions and hostility to those who do not share your views.It is quite sad for Krsna Consciousness if people who claim to be defending it are not doing with calm rationality but with unconstructive vehement language.

animesh,I totally understand.Our ego can be so hostile even towards the one who created us. Maybe one day we can get to break Krsna's flutes,but may that be done in the mood of loving fun and not egoistical anger. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-15-2001).]

Hare Krsna, Valaya Prabhu!In The New Testament, it is written:"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."(Hebrews 12:6) Just as the Lord chastises in the spirit of love, so does the Lord's pure devotee chastise in the same spirit.I think it is your good fortune that Srila Prabhupada pointed you for that one moment.I can already imagine how, when you return back to Godhead, Srila Prabhupada might say to you with nostalgia:"I remember you. You were the rascal who didn't sit properly." Would you mind sharing some more details about how Srila Prabhupada came to single you out? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-13-2001).]

Sorry about the repeated edits...I keep ignoring the spell-check and every time i see a typo....

The following is an excerpt from East West dialogues, a collection of conversations between Reverend Alvin Van Pelt Hart, a noted Christian theologian and ordained Episcopal Priest and Satyaraja Dasa (Steven Rosen) an American devotee of Krishna. Satyaraja Dasa is an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Parbhupada, Founder-acarya (Spiritual Master) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Satyaraja Dasa: I have a question for you. Generally, nowadays, Christians feel that there is no need for a spiritual master. I think this is largely attributable to the fact that Christians feel that Jesus is the only guru. You know, Christian exclusivity. Jesus is the only way... Rev.Hart: Yes, I see your point. I would have to say that this is a very narrow-minded conception. Certainly it is not representative of true Christianity. This type of “Christian exclusivity”, as you call it, is of course based on the book of John (14.6),where Jesus says, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Satyaraja Dasa: That's it. That’s the one they always quote. Only through Jesus, they say. We do not need any living spiritual master. Rev.Hart: Yes. This is an unfortunate interpretation --- one that is quite prominent, however.Anyway, the Original Greek has a different story to tell. ego eimi ha hodos kai ha alatheia kai ha zoa;oudeis erketai pros ton patera ei ma di emou. Satyaraja Dasa: Can you translate? Rev. Hart:Well,I've already quoted the verse, but the key word here is erketai.This is an extremely present-tense form of the verb. In other words, a more accurate translation would be as follows: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man can presently come to the Father, except through me.” You see? In Palestine, two thousand years ago, Jesus was the guru. If he wanted to say that he would be the teacher for all time, he would have used a word other than erketai,but he didn't. In one sense, of course, I can empathize with my fellow Christians. I have also accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.But objectively, there is no reason to say that he is the only one, although many do say such a thing. (Steven Rosen, East-West Dialogues, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1989, p.54) BTW,Is the Satyraja Dasa in the conversation by any chance the same Satyaraja Dasa that frequently posts on this forum? (Subsequently edited for spelling and factual mistakes) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-12-2001).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-12-2001).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-12-2001).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-12-2001).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 10-12-2001).]