Sunandaji

ok ! don't worry, it's great if you are so inspired. I decided i needed a Gurudev to protect me because of certain things happening in my life. i actually chose Him because to me He was the most advanced Guru i could find. If you chant 4 rounds or 6, don't worry, everything will come gradually after initiation. PLease feel free to write me at silvertouch108@.fr , then we can talk more about this subject !! aspiring to serve you: Sunanda dasa

it's not the same for everybody. I'm myself a disciple of Srila Narayana Maharaja. I asked for initiation because i could see He was a really advanced Saddhu, born in the Vedic culture. Now i'm initiated and i can feel His power. He also come in dreams sometimes, and made a lot of things really easier. I couldn't chant more than 4 rounds at my initiation and the week after i was doing 16, now i can even chant 25. He's really powerful and no matter if you are the sctric neophyte or more learned, for me you'll be in good hands. And one more thing: don't ever listen to all the . talking some try to spread around... It's sad they will never understand.

yes, what is this . ? being fallen because you're a householder, of course look for a better association if the devotees you see make you feel like that !! my God, it is fanaticism ! and fanaticism is the root for falling down !

the key is not to think love is just passion and sex. there are several stages in love. anyway everythy situaton is different.

i would say try to find a person you love. i don't believe in arranged marriage anymore at this time. i'm married to a girl who is nota devotee, and we're doing well, so no problem. mariage is important is the way that your union is sanctified and religious.it's a union between souls. you commit your life to bewith one person and noone else. you're regulated. but better find the good person before getting married too quickly. that's my opinion. i saw so many devotee need a gilr and marry the 1st one they found. i think it is not good. you must know and lovethe person you marry. it is important. if you love each other you can understand each other and that's the goal.

Anybody know something about fairies written in the Vedas ? My wife is very fond of them and i think it wold be a great way to introduced her to KC by this medium, as she's not a Krsna devotee (yet !) I'd like to tell her bona fide stories about fairies...

i agree, there's just a attitude to have: communication and empathy. i have suffered a lot because of the attitude of some devotees, and i fight against aggressive behavior.

this is not very helpful for our friend... pretty fanatical and unappropriate in my view... i hope you're joking. Not everybody is ready to renunce this world in two days... I follow ekadasi and other festival fast and i can work ok, so no need to go in such discussions ... not all types of devotees need to be beaten with a stick to understand the philosophy and grow...

Don't worry too much prabhuji, sex life is very difficult to overcome. i'm initiated, and i have sex with my wife, because i wouldn't be able to be continent. She was my girlfriend, and we did a vedic marriage then it is better. a lot of devotees have sex with their girlfriend or wife. i know it's not the best. I have also initiated friends who are gay and have sex too. according to your abilities, do the best you can, just chant, you'll see it will gradually regulate. I'm initiated in the Gaudiya Math, i didn't made a vow of no illicit sex life. of course it is absolutely not recomended, but there's no big feeling of guilt if you still do it. In my opinion it also help a lot to regulate. PLease remember that guilt NEVER help. while you're thinking about your sins, you don't remember Krsna, so forget all your little problems and try to remember God. This problem of no illicit sex is known by all the devotees... non- initiated, harimama, diska initiated. Just chant, things will come gradually.

Thanx to you all, and much love!! i see it's probably part of the process, and that's what i was thinking. i'm gonna start to worship Sri Nrsimha more, then i can get rid of this . soon !! i won't give up, i already had tests that almost put me down, but i remember, don't be weak !!

I would say... do the best you can, if you feel tired of chanting, better change your mind for a while than stopping chanting forever... so do as you prefer, there's no rules to chant the Holy Name, and Krsna loves you, HE's not here to punish you ! It is said that even if someone doesn't attain perfection, it means if he practices for a while and then stop, he will go to the heavenly kingdom and then come back to earth to resume his spiritual path, from the point he was at... better chant, but also better do things gradually.

Haribol ! these weeks i'm increasing my chanting a lot, like 25 to 32 when i used to chant 16 for a year, my initiation day. I'm having some problems now while i'm chanting; like i'm thinking bad words about Sri Radhika, the Gopis..., insulting Them in my mind. i mean, i have no problem loving Them all, i love Them, but my mental is saying stupidities, like a stupid child having fun saying gross stuff. I'm feeling bad, but at the same time i feel like it's just part of the purification process. like some spots appearing on your face when you fast for some time. please tell me about your similar experiences. i hope it will pass soon, it's just i don't feel good about it.

try www.purebhakti.com you'll probalby find some emailsof temples in India where you can ask your question

i'm watching tv almost never... but i think it's great to watch it only a little, when it's not an impediment. Personnaly i prefer the cinema, as at the time i have a student job in one of them, me and my wife are going often, for free ! Also i spend a lot of time on the Web, but i try to make it Krsna Conscious as much as possible ! Don't worry, keep up your sadhana, and sometimes if you have desire to watch tv, do it ! that's what i do: meditating a lot, but when i need it, TV, DVD or loud hardcore music... someday i'll be perfect !! but not now !! Sunanda

also , do you just put fresh water in the cup (as i do) or there's a procedure like offering with mantras or something ??

.... and other drugs helped a lot of people to understand spiritual truths... so there's probably goal... People who are using drugs are searching for a higher taste, as spiritual seekers... and i wish all the junkies to realize that spiritual truths are higher and uncomparable to the drug use... good luck on your path, go ahead.... spiritual realization is greater that all this drugs, but the path is not as easy as taking a pill and forget everything... please chant the maha mantra !! Hare Krsna !! Sunanda dasa

well said !

Prabhuji, i understand you prefer a link that he whole lecture. I have no problem with that. Also, i'm one of this kind of "docile follower" as you call them. I don't ask you to follow our Gurudev, but please don't criticize. It's true that lectures can seem very over your head, and sometimes i feel like i'm not learned enough to understand everything. But also what i experience is true, so please respect our Gurudev. I personally have no problem with the Isckon institution and i have many friends in it, go to Iskcon temples.... I'm sorry if you were offented by some of our Gurudev disciples, but in my view i've never did any aggression against any Iskcon devotee, but many times i've been rejected by some friends i use to love because i chose a different path... You doubt Narayan Maharaj receveid an order from Srila Prabhupad to come in the west... Honestly, do you thinks he came to steal the temples ? do you sincerely think He prefered to come to the West, leaving Krsna and practise less chanting to preach here ? He was chanting 128 rounds before coming to the west. He's eating almost nothing, he has to go for heart operations often... How can you understand His mission, how can you juge Him ? We all chant Hare Krsna, believe in the same things... What is this mess !? Please forgive my harsh words and offenses. All glories to Srila Prabhupada !!

Haribol !! i'd like to know if it'soffensive to keep a acamana cup on the sink in the bathroom to purify the hands after going to the toilet. i have the bathroom and the toilet in the same place. Thanx and sorry for a so practical question /images/graemlins/wink.gif

yeah interesting, i'd like to try this mantra !! Also, as i'm into a hellish condition too, i'd would just like to say that anyone is free to fast according to their abilities. even while working one can fast, i did, of courseit probably also depends of the work you do, if you carry heavy stuff i don't know !! everything is alright, i didn't post the instructions to say you must fast fully but just to help. Personally i sometimes do full fasts,sometimes i eat a big meal with potatoes and dry fruits... sometimes i'm strong sometimes i'm weak !! no harm !! peace !

Here the Gaudiya Math instructions for Ekadasi. soemtimes i fast, sometimes i do full fasts, and it's true you can work hard and fast, some days i remember going to college all day long and in the evening going to my job in a cinema until midnight, and even have some problems with the projections machine, have to run in stairs to fix it,up, down, up down !! returning to the cash register to sell tickets !! it was fun /images/graemlins/wink.gif just eat in teh previous evening, drink a lot and give it a try !! Standard for Ekadasi Break-fasts If you have observed a complete fast (without even water) you do not need to break it with grains. You can break it with caranamrita or fruit. But if you have observed Ekadasi by eating fruit, vegetables, etc., then it should be broken on the following day by taking grains at the times mentioned herein. Maha-dvadasi is observed like Ekadasi Ekadasi The essence is to eat simply, once or twice, so that one can spend as much time as possible hearing, chanting and remembering Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Never eat meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, carrots, red lentils (masur dal), green flat lentils, mushrooms or products thereof. Restricted foods on Ekadasi: —Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell pepper, beets, bitter melon (karela), loki, parmal, toroi, kunli, drumsticks, bindi (lady fingers), banana flower. —Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans [papadams, tofu, tempeh, etc.] —All leafy vegetables: spinach, salads, cabbages, etc., and leafy herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, celery, curry leaves, etc. —Grains: millet, barley, farina, pasta, rice, corn, etc. all types of flour made from grains and beans (like rice flour, chickpea flour, urad dahl flour, etc.) —Starches from corn or grains, and products made from and mixed with these starches like: baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks with corn syrup, custard, certain yogurts, puddings, certain cream & cottage cheeses, certain sweets, candies, tapioca balls, etc. —Oils made from grains: corn oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, etc., and products fried in these oils: nuts, potato chips and other snack foods. —Honey and sweets made with starches. Spices used on Ekadasi: —black pepper, fresh ginger, pure salt and fresh turmeric, all taken from a new and clean package. Spices not used on Ekadasi: hing (asafetida), sesame seeds, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, tamarind, fennel, cardamom, nutmeg, etc. Foods that can be taken all days of the year, including Ekadasi and Caturmasya: —All fruits (fresh and dried), all nuts and oils made from nuts. —Potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash, lemon, avocado, olives, coconut, buckwheat, all sugars. —All pure milk products—(except yogurt during the 2nd month of Caturmasya and milk during the 3rd month). For sannyasis, brahmacaris and vanaprasthas: shaving head and cutting nails is to be done on full moon days.

there re so many authorized food you can eat ! potatoes, fruits, dry fruits.... no problem !! i'm in the same situation !!

thanx ! i don't even talk about it, just a few to my wife!it's difficult here because of social pressure, being lacto vegetarian is accepted with difficulty, but i don't care, i'll do my best !! It will be only me that have to deal with my karma at my death time !

no problem Prabhu ! i think it's important to stay with your family, it's no problem to go to bed at 2 am. i think we devotee can be boring to our family sometimes, and it sucks because it doesn't inspire people. i'm a initiated devotee, i'm married to a non-devotee, and often i feel the same way that you do... PLay your mudane role, while in your heart you surrender, no problem, all this is not important in my view ! juliooooo !! i agree he sucks !! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

i'm doing mostly vegan thesedays, since this conversation... i took my good old habits back of vanilla soy milk , cereals and fake meat (soycisses and so on...) i feel betternow with this issue,not tht i'll be a 100% vegan again, but mostly vegan is my choice.