leyh

Dear Maitreya: Thank you for understanding [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 09-01-2001).]

Dear Jagat: What an insightful analysis!

Dear Maitreya: I don't mean to imply that Srila Prabhupada may have had a racial preference when it came to initiating disciples.That would have been a clear contradiction of his teaching that we are spirit souls and not our bodies.

Dear random axis: No,I wasn't trying to be racist when I asked about the ethnic make-up of Srila Prabhupada's disciples.I was just being curious.Let me be even more specific now: Are most of Srila Prabhupada's disciples "white-skinned" Caucasians? Yesterday,I was telling one of my friends about Srila Prabhupada and I unthinkingly mentioned that most of Srila Prabhupada's disciples were Caucasians.In Singapore, when the word "Caucasian" is used, it is generally understood that it refers to a white man/woman.I just wanted to check whether what I told my friend was accurate.From my impression of the Krsna Consciousness Movement, it seems to me that most of Srila Prabhupada's disciples were "white Caucasians". In a video clip of a 1975 Interview with a San Franciso Television Station, the Interviewer asked Srila Prabhupada:" How amny people are now disciples of the Krsna Consciousness Movement.? And Srila Prabhupada replied:"Dedicated life,about ten thousand in western world." I apologize if you or anyone else is offended by my enquiry.By the way,I'm Chinese.Or rather,I am currently inhabitating a Chinese material body [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 09-01-2001).]

Let me rephrase...Would it be accurate to say that most of Srila Prabhupada's initiated disciples are caucasian? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-31-2001).]

Would it be accurate to say that the initiated disciples of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are mainly westerners? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-31-2001).]

Thanks for the info,vandana

Dear Forum Members: There is a saying: "rakhe Krishna mare ke - mare Krishna rakhe ke" (If Lord Krishna protects a person, who can kill him? And if Krishna desires to kill someone, who can protect him?")Does anyone know the origin of this saying?

Dear Forum Members: I generally find it very peaceful and transcendental when I walk and chant: Hare Krsna,Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare without beads,but sometimes when I use the japa mala to chant,the mind suddenly becomes very easily distracted and sometimes I even find the chanting tedious and I'm glad when I reach the end of the "round".I would be grateful if anyone can offer me suggestions as to how I can improve the quality of my chanting... [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-25-2001).]

Dear Valaya: I've heard that the neem beads are associated with Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,the most magnanimous incarnation.So the neem beads can serve as very nice reminders of Lord Chaitanya. Thank you very much for your encouraging words.A person stumbling around in this material world needs a lot of encouragment...

Dear Forum Members: I have heard from some devotees that those who are vegetarians can chant the holy names of God on japa malas made of tulasi beads while those who are not should chant only on beads made of neem.Why is there this rule about the material of the beads?Didn't Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu say that there were no hard and fast rules to chanting? Maybe Krsna is more concerned with the quality of the devotee's heart rather than the quality of his/her beads.Any comments?

Dear Shvu: I don't remember saying in any of my posts here that I think of ISKCON as an improvment over other religions.What I did say was that I felt that Krsna Consciousness has much to teach the whole human society.But I don't think you will ever agree with me on that since Krsna is a non-person for you.You are free to believe whatever you want and I don't see any point in continued discussion on the issue as we are approaching it from different perspectives. You write that:"Basically no religion/group can be called an improvement over any other religion (except by it's own adherents). It is just like the ads that you see on TV where a new soap comes up and claims to clean better [an improvement] than all other soaps in the market. That is not to say that the new soap is bad; it is just another item to be added to an already long list of soaps and has nothing unique about it as claimed." All I can say is that you are entitled to your own opinions and I am not inclined to engage in argumentative debate over abstract generalizations and poor analogies [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-13-2001).]

I would like a specific example here. Thanx Dear Satyaraja dasa and Shvu: In many of Srila Prabhupada's writings,lectures and informal conversations,we find that His Divine Grace constantly impressed upon his readers/listeners the teaching that we are not our bodies,we are spirit souls,and that we can only be really happy by association with God,who is the Supreme Soul.In my humble opinion, I feel that this is a teaching which all theistic (obviously Buddhism would not be included in this category)religions can learn from. Another example of what Krsna Consciousness can teach the whole human society is the principle of friendliness towards all human beings.This is connected to the idea that we are spirit souls and not our bodies.In this material world,we have been conditioned to think of ourselves along nationalistic or racial lines,but Krsna Consciousness offers human society another alternative: to think of ourselves not as Chinese,American,Indian,Britons etc. but as spirit souls who are all children of the Supreme Lord.Conflict between races and nations have caused so much suffering since time immemorial. Maybe the world would be kinder and gentler if human society took a few lessons in some Krsna Consciousness. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-13-2001).]

Dear amanpeter: You're most welcome...but all credit should go to Shri Rupa Goswami for penning such simple but heartfelt verses---the words of a person who actually saw,associated with and loved Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.All Glories to Lord Chaitanya and His Associates!

Dear Shvu: His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada bothered to "take the trouble of going all the way to the US, starting a new Organization and carrying out intense missionary activities of trying to gather as many people as possible under the umbrella of iskcon?" because it is the duty of the disciple to obey the order of the spiritual master,and in the case of Bhaktivedanta Swami, he came to the west to obey his spiritual master's order to preach Krsna Consciousness in the West. Although religion is essentially one in that its ultimate aim is to facilitate love of God,there are many levels and varieties of religions and there are always new things to learn and discover.There is always room for improvment.Krsna Consciousness has much to teach the whole human society. Maybe all the "intense missionary activities" initiated by Srila Prabhupada is to ensure that humanity can learn more about God and the self. Coincidentally,today (Singapore time) is the 36th anniversary of the day Srila Prabhupada began his journey to the United States of America.All Glories to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who so compassionately introduced the whole world to Krsna! [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-13-2001).]

Dear Forum Members: I found this version of Chaitanyashtakam by Shri Rupa Goswami in The Mystic Saints of India Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by Prem Lata (Sumit Publications): Chaitanyashtakam by Shri Rupa Goswami 1. May I see Shri Chaitanya again, Who is greatly loved By gods who incarnate themselves, Who teaches his bhaktas the nature of devotion. 2. May I see Shri Chaitanya again, The comfort of saints in their distress, Graceful to his devotees, Filled with divine love like that of the maids in Vraja. 3. Who is the support of Damodara Swarupa, Loved by Advaita Prabhu, venerated by Pandita, Who has glorified Paramananda and redeemed Thakura And bestowed his blessings on Gajapati 4. May I see him again who is drunk with Krishna’s love, Of beauty a million times that of Kama, The diadem of saints: clothed like the crimson dawn, Of saffron limbs outvying molten gold. 5. The names of Hari, Krishna and Rama ever on the tongue, His bright left hand holding the rosary dangling to his waist, Long eyes reaching his ears, arms hanging to his knees --- I long to see Sri Chaitanya thus, again 6. May I see him again filled with divine love, Swooning with the remembrance of Vrindavana And of the groves along the riverside, His nimble tongue ever chanting the name of Krishna. 7. Would that I saw Sri Chaitanya again Dancing in ecstasy out of love for Krishna, While, before Lord Jagannatha’s car bound for Sundarachala, The vaishnava throng thrills while chanting Krishna’s name. 8. The stream of whose tears seems to wash away the earth, Overwhelmed with ecstasy in the chanting throng Whose hair stand on end as the stamens of the kadamba Whose limbs glisten with beads of perspiration. May divine love issuing from Shri Chaitanya’s lotus feet Flood in the heart of the fortunate one Who daily recites with constant devotion These bliss-giving eight verses that sings his qualities and deeds.

Dear Sabrina: I think that you might find the following quotes from His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), the Founder-acarya (Spiritual Master) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to be useful in your understanding of Hinduism: Sometimes Indians both inside and outside of India think that we are preaching the Hindu religion, but actually we are not. One will not find the word "Hindu" in the Bhagavad-gita. Indeed, there is no such word as Hindu in the entire Vedic literature. This word has been introduced by the Muslims from provinces next to India, such as Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and Persia. There is a river called Sindhu bordering the north western provinces of India, and since the Muslims there could not pronounce Sindhu properly, they instead called the river Hindu, and the inhabitants of this tract of land they called Hindus. In India, according to the Vedic language, the Europeans are called mlecchas or yavanas. Similarly, Hindu is a name given by the Muslims.(From The Science of Self Realization:Krishna Consciousness--Hindu Cult or Divine Culture?) Nobody can be God. God is one. And religion is also one. If God is one, then how religion can be different? Just like state laws. If the state is one, the law is also, everyone. Now the ordinary law, just like "Keep to the right," if somebody says, "No, this is Christian law. Hindu law, 'Keep to the left,' " will it be accepted? If I say, "I am Hindu, I am coming from India. My law is 'Keep to the left.' " In India, the same thing, "Keep to the left." And many other countries also. So here, because all these laws are made by rascals, in some country you keep to the left, some country you keep to the right. And which is correct, that is unknown. That is unknown. Therefore for the foolish person, "This is Hindu religion,' This is Christian religion," and "This is Muhammadan religion." Religion is one. How it can be Hindu religion, Christian religion? No. Religion is one. God is one. Therefore religion is one. Because religion means the law or the order given by God. That is religion. Simple definition.(Nobody can be God. God is one. And religion is also one. If God is one, then how religion can be different? Just like state laws. If the state is one, the law is also, everyone. Now the ordinary law, just like "Keep to the right," if somebody says, "No, this is Christian law. Hindu law, 'Keep to the left,' " will it be accepted? If I say, "I am Hindu, I am coming from India. My law is 'Keep to the left.' " In India, the same thing, "Keep to the left." And many other countries also. So here, because all these laws are made by rascals, in some country you keep to the left, some country you keep to the right. And which is correct, that is unknown. That is unknown. Therefore for the foolish person, "This is Hindu religion,' This is Christian religion," and "This is Muhammadan religion." Religion is one. How it can be Hindu religion, Christian religion? No. Religion is one. God is one. Therefore religion is one. Because religion means the law or the order given by God. That is religion. Simple definition.(Srimad Bhagvatam 1.16.19 Lecture at Los Angeles, July 9, 1974)

Dear Maitreya: I think I might have misunderstood the spirit of your words.I have heard the word "homo" used in a mocking or derogratory manner before and I assumed you were using it in the same way.I apologize for jumping to conclusions. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-10-2001).]

Dear Maitreya: I agree with what you say about leaving our bad habits at home in the closet when we attend a temple function.I have so many bad habits and I wouldn't dare to make a mockery of the deities by exhibiting these habits in their presence. I also cannot imagine how Srila Prabhupada would ever sanction a homosexual marriage. I don't particularly approve of or condone homosexuality, but I don't think it's very compassionate to give them names like "the homosexual crowd" or "the homos".It seems to me that name-calling is equivalent to seperating them from the "normal people" which doesn't seem very constructive at all.This is just my opinion,and I hope it doesn't offend you.Hare Krishna! [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 08-09-2001).]

Maybe all they want is for people not to judge them.

Thank you very much!I have already added that verse in my private collection of inspirational Vedic verses.

Dear jndas: If the transfering of the soul to sperm cells through karma,then does that mean that a soul only enters the sperm of a man who is destined to become a father,or do souls enter into the sperms of all men even those who do not have the karma to be a father? And if the soul "descends from the heavenly realm through the rain, and enters into the grains" then how about people who do not eat vegetables?

Dear jndas: If the transfering of the soul to sperm cells through karma,then does that mean that a soul only enters the sperm of a man who is destined to become a father,or do souls enter into the sperms of all men even those who do not have the karma to be a father? And if the soul "descends from the heavenly realm through the rain, and enters into the grains" then how about people who do not eat vegetables?

Dear Bhaktavasya: What chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam's Canto 4 is the verse from? Yours Very Sincerely leyh

Dear Forum Members: The purport to Srimad Bhagvatam 3.31.1 says:"In order to give a particular type of human form to a person who has already suffered hellish life, the soul is transferred to the semen of a man who is just suitable to become his father." So does it mean that the Supreme Lord selectively transfers the spirit soul to the semen of a person who is ready to be a father and not otherwise? Would the Lord transfer the soul to a the semen of a celibate sannyasa or priest who had no intention of being a father? Generally,out of millions of semen,only one survives to develop into a foetus,what about the rest? Could it be that only that the one "successful" semen particle carries a soul in it? So basically,I am enquiring whether there is any information,scriptural or otherwise,whether all semen particles contain souls or whether only some semen particles do.I will be grateful if anyone could enlighten me on this matter. Yours in the spirit of enquiry leyh [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 07-08-2001).]