AGTSP

the greastest "tool" devotees have in preaching is the MAHA-MANTRA itself. unless one is properly qualified to preach, inaccuracies may occur in context...but we need no understanding of the language of the maha-mantra to chant and sing the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course once someones hears the mantra they might become inquistive as to what it is, what it means...then this opens the door for further explaniation. Remember people can't walk into Harvard and ask for a diplomia, no, they must attend years of schooling, excel at their grades, apply then commit themselves to vigorious studies to achieve this goal. Self-realization is the same way, you can't understand the nectar right away, you have to start off slow from the beginning and advance from there... and the MAHA-MANTRA is the most beneficial way to start on the path of self realization.

we can understand that things like this are a part of something bigger. just like the hand, it is a part of the body it has meaning it has identification with the body - it gives food to the mouth, the mouth passes to the stomach, the stomach digests and passes to the bloodstream, giving back energy to the hand. now cut the hand off, it will become so dried and whitered that it's unidentifiable and has no meaning. in this way we can see the correlation of all small things and how it relates to a bigger picture.

yes after viewing THE MEATRIX you have to view THE KARMA GHOST cartoon ! http://billyblob.com/cartoons/karma-ghost/index.html

for those interested there is also a movie almost exactly based on the discussion here.. simply titled: PI while attempting to decode the numerical pattern within the ultimate system of chaos-the stock market, a brilliant numerologist becomes pursed by a Kaballah sect intent on unlocking the secrets behind their ancient holy texts. this movie won awards at the sundance film festival a few years ago.

someone who has dedicated their life to teaching and leading by example is available for us all to learn and follow from...Srila Prabhupada... www.asitis.com as for daily communication I'm sure there are many sincere individuals offering service

depending on how long the severity of depression and loneliness you experience there are different approaches to overcome those feelings. temporary feelings of loneliness and depression can be triggered by chemical reactions within our brain and and easy sure fire way to combat it is through regular exercise. exercise stimulates endorphines within our brain which control our mood and energy levels...plus getting out exercising you have the chance to meet others which could help your feeling of loneliness. long term feelings of loneliness and depression could be factors of negative experiences you have gone through in your life which havent been resolved. first you must fiqure out how often and how severe the bouts of depression and loneliness are and decide what approach you need to take to gain back control of your life.

sincerity should be the focal point of chanting, everything else will fall into place eventually by His arrangement. chant, chant, chant...if you feel you must bathe first... then bathe (while chanting /images/graemlins/wink.gif of course) "devotional service is dependent on nothing other than the sentiment or desire for such service...sincerity."

check for alternative footwear also; inquire with management about possible arrangements.

This awakening Sri Caitanya taught could be attained by sankirtana, chanting the Holy names of the Lord, this Hare Krishna mantra.

due to my employment schedule I usually get 6 hours sleep nightly...work until midnight...bed at 2am...arise at 8...(no nap times during the day)...wash, rinse, repeat (meaning start the cycle all over again). as with anything once you get on a schedule your mind and your body can adjust...plus for me this gives me more awake time to remember the sweet image of Krishna playing !

a few years ago I was a nationally ranked swimmer here within the United States...unfortunately it was before I came upon the Krishna Consciousness movement. as with any activity one has to ask "on my way to disease, old age and death and another birth of an undetermined nature, how does this activity best suit to serve God?" therefor if you want to draw the parallel that you need a strong and acitive mind up through your "golden years" then playing chess could be utilized to keep a mind fit and active, which then gives a better capacity to serve Krishna.

it is due to conditioning that those who consume meat keep up the practice and think that they "cannot survive" without meat products. "protein" is basically slang for "amino acids" of which there are 22 known amino acids - 14 are nonessential(our body produces) and 8 essential(must get from outside sources). Of these 8 essential amino acids...vegetables, grains and dairy are VERY sufficent at meeting our daily requirements. now ponder this... the beautiful cow also consumes vegetables, grains and dairy. when humans consume the cow they acquire the amino acids which the cow consumed in the form of vegetables, grains and dairy along with the cows natural amino acids. it's plain to see that the consumption of animals acquires extra amino acids which our bodies already produce (and we dont need the extra)and the useable amino acids humans get in the form of animal flesh can easily be substituted by directly eating the vegetables, grains and dairy and not the unneccessary slaughter of animals for our food.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

The definition of a pure devotee can be summarized thus: Ones service is favorable and is always in relation to Krsna. One must be freed from all material desires and philosophical speculation. (Any desire except for the service of the Lord is called material desire and "philosophical speculation" refers to speculation which ultimates arrives at impersonalism.) The ultimate end of philosophical speculation must be Krsna, with the understanding that Krsna is everything, the cause of all causes, and that one should therefor surrender unto Him.

The emotions you are exhibiting are the characteristics of ecstatic love for Krsna ! (1) He is always anxious to utilize his time in the devotional service of the Lord. (2) He is always reserved and perseverant. (3) He is always detached from all material attraction. (4) He does not long for any material respect in return for his activities. (5) He is always certain that Krsna will bestow His mercy upon him. (6) He is always very eager to serve the Lord faithfully. (7) He is very much attached to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. (8) He is always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord. (9) He is very pleased to live in a place where the Lord's pastimes are performed. chant and do not fear ! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

"due to the qualities of this age (kali-yuga) we have lost our good qualities and are very unqualified...the Lord showing secial mercy has given us the easiest and simplest method for attaining self realization-the chanting of His Holyname." though we live in troubled times, we have the greatest opportunity to advance...what sages spent hundreds of years meditating for, we can attain simply by chanting the Holyname.

"in this age of kali, there is no alternative for spiritual progress other than the chanting of the Holyname. therefore there is no need of mental speculation nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra...ANYONE can take part in this transcendental sound vibration, without previous qualification, and dance in ecstacy. The chanting should be heard, however from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effect can be achieved." Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

materialism slowly and unknowingly drains away the intelligence of an individual, away from our true identity which is spirit souls...this material world is temporary illusion, don't become attracted to all that fades. BHAGAVAD-GITA (as it is) Chapter 2, Verse 62. While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. Chapter 2, Verse 63. From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool.

here's a beautiful passage, when we please Radharani we please Krishna ! As the greatest devotee, She is also the most compassionate. She is unable to bear the suffering of the souls trapped in the material world. The word "aradhaya" (prayers) is derived from "Radha" and means "worshippable". Similarly the word "aparadha" (offenses) means "against Radha". When one performs devotional service, one is pleasing Srimati Radharani and when commits Vaishnava aparadha against Krishna or His devotees, one is offending Radharani. Srimati Radharani is the guardian, the mentor and the benefactor of all aspiring devotees. When a soul starts to inquire about Krishna, Srimati Radharani is most pleased and takes charge of his devotional advancements. As one makes progress, one continues to invoke the mercy of Srimati Radharani and when She is pleased, Krishna is automatically pleased. bhakta mark

it's nice that you've sincerely taken to the 4 regulative principles...as with any "lifestyle" change it may take some time to ween off of things we have taken for granted for so long, so don't be discouraged. sincerely chant and make a promise to yourself to slow adjust and change the direction of your life in a positive spiritual manner. maybe you need more rest if staying awake during the day is a problem. bhakta mark

"All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulse born of the 3 modes of material nature, therefor no-one can refrain from doing something not even for a minute." Mode of goodness conditions one to happiness, mode of passion to the fruits of actions and mode of ignorance towards madness. bhakta mark

"Fame should be according to Lord Caitanya, who said that a man is famous when he is known as a great devotee. That is real fame. If one has become a great man in Krsna Consciousness and it is known, then he is truly famous. One who does not have such fame is infamous."

your questions can/may be found within the BHAGAVAD-GITA themselves: Chapter 18, Verse 67. This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me. Chapter 18, Verse 71. And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains to the planets where the pious dwell. bhakta mark recommended reading: Bhagavad-gita CAN be read in one sitting of a few hours, start from the beginning, don't skip around and read just the VERSE'S first ( to get a ideal for what is being taught to Arjuna) the go back and read the VERSES and PURPORTS for more transcendental knowledge.