jayaisvara

Thanks theistji for sharing your experience. Its interesting that you mentioned about not trying to scrutinize our mind and intelligence in trying to see the taste of the infinite. Because I was just reading an article from Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja called "Descent of the Holy Name", you can find it here: http://bvml.org/SBRSM/tdothn.html In that article he says that sometimes scrutinizing our mind and intelligence too much will make the mind explode and leave us not having the ability to understand the infinite. Srila Prabhupada has said to use all the intelligence we have to understand Krsna. This also is quite puzzling because in the end, I end up imagining and speculating. I guess I haven't yet understood the difference between the mind and the intellect. Sometimes when Bhagavatam quotes of Chaitanya Charitamrta quotes are posted here on this board or whenever I see them elsewhere, I try not to read them because I would end up with a wrong conception which, if I try to justify by my own mind without patiently waiting for revelation from God, I would be cheated myself. Even the Bhagavad Gita I hesitated to read but then I had to read because I felt I was waiting too long (I started reading Gita officially after 9 months since I heard about it so I am in Chapter 1 verse 28 as of tomorrow) But sometimes when feeling unable to turn anywhere to, listening to Narottama Dasa Thakur's songs really make me get in touch with my actual self rather than the fake devotional covering I have put over myself. Thanks again for sharing your personal experience Prabhu.

No not at all, I am always scared that I will misunderstand many things as I don't have a guru, because I am not qualified yet. So reading these songs books and also books like Sri Nabadvipa Mahatmya, Jaiva Dharma and such, I am scared I will not understand them. How can I understand acaryas who have came before the recent acarya HDG Swami Prabhupada if I don't understand HDG Swami Prabhupada's teaching? That is a question that boggles me. There are also some disciples of Swami Prabhupada who have wrote books which I am yet to read. Books from Swami Nrsingha Maharaja, Swami Bishnu Maharaja and Swami Tripurari Maharaja etc I still haven't read and I don't know if I will understand even if I read them. Its either less material experience to understand the danger of Maya or either I am too dull headed.

http://www.geocities.com/vedicger108/ If you scroll to the bottom, you can see a link called "Maha-Maha-Songbook" and by clicking that, you will taken to the index of songs. There are a lot of songs there I believe. Hare Krsna.

Thanks prabhu's for answering. I listen to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur's songs like "Emona Durmatti" and also Narottama Das Thakur's songs like "Thakura Vaisnava Gana" and "Ei Baro Karuna Koro". Also, the song by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja called "Bhajahu Re Mana". They are very nice songs. Also, is it alright for a neophyte to read songs from Gitavali, Prarthana and Saranagati and such devotional song books?

How do we develop such desire? In that lecture that Krsna das prabhu posted, I don't see how its possible for a neophyte with so much anarthas to follow the strict rules. Especially when people like myself are coming to KC from a society that is mainly focused in criticizing others by their external appearences. I unfortunately took part in such criticism in my past because the 'cool kids' did it to me and for my own selfish desire to save myself, I also try to become 'cool' and did it to other people. Its not something that I want to do ever again. So how is it that one can fix such already developed bad habit? theistji, Krsna Prabhu, and WyattEarp Prabhu, thanks for your time in replying to my question.

I know I have made a topic in the past about sincerity but I still haven't understood what it means to be sincere. I know in the past I have been crooked and prentious to the extreme, and it has subsided a little after taking to KC. My question to the devotees here is that how does one become eligible to attain sincerity? Sometimes it comes in the most painful times in our lives where we have no place to turn but to Lord Himself. Why is this? Please forgive me if I am disturbing you with my questions.

Thanks for clearing that up guys

Hare Krsna, Are happiness and sadness also forms of the Lord?

I think although donating for humanitarian efforts will not much help those souls in long term, in some cases it might. For example, if we donate to a Vaisnava ashram like Jahnava Nitai Prabhu has advertised, then the Vaisnavas can help those in need. Then those souls will get a nice impression about the Vaisnavas and will be more open towards what the Vaisnavas have to say. Thus, in this way, they can also be saved in short term and also possibly in long term. Just an idea

Everything in vedic literature is transcendental. Its not easy to understand Krsna or His actions. But, there is always a good reason why He did so.

Thats clear now, thanks Prabhu.

What if we have so many anarthas and imperfections? Still we keep chanting? Also, you have said that we have the free will to turn away. Once a soul attains Vaikuntha planets, is it even possible for one to use the free will to make such a bad decision as to turn away again from the Lord?

Thank you for the replies Prabhus. That is a very innocent child /images/graemlins/smile.gif If I may ask one more question, if we chant the mahamantra, are we forever 'hooked' with KC?

krsna, I was about to make a new thread regarding one of the lectures of Swami Prabhupada, and you just made a nice head start to the discussion. The following quote is from a lecture by Swami Prabhupada: krsna, you have said that : Swami Prabhupada has said that if you want to forget Krsna forever, He will give you such intelligence. I am a little scared at this because what if out of ignorance(like I did 5 years ago), decide to forget Krsna forever? Will I forever forget Him? Even after hearing about Him and chanting Hare Krsna?

Thanks for answering prabhus, This is the one I struggle with sometimes. What can you do in such situations? Do we conquer them or by divine grace it happens? If we feel something towards others in certain situations, could it be called genuine compassion? Because so far in my spiritual life, I think I might've blocked out genuine feelings, or I might've not. Isn't compassion also given to us by Krsna? How should we act in some situations where sometimes we need to express feelings eventhough illusory? Will Krsna always take away the knowledge as to be merciful or will He sometimes let us keep it or not be merciful? In the course of this journey, there is bound to be so many temptations. Sometimes this can cause us to turn away from this spiritual journey. Will Krsna come to help us again turb back to Him? Is it true that actual spiritual life is at first most painful and horrible, and thus we are not supposed to be feeling nice and happy in the beginning? Or maybe that happiness is not genuine?

Thanks for answering theistji. You are right by saying that Krsna reveals only to His devotee the knowledge. But, can't He also take away the knowledge? In terms of compassion, as you have said, compassion is a devotees quality, but can Krsna also take away the quality of compassion from His devotee if His devotee still has some demoniac mentality? Also, when one sees truth by revelation, what does one do after that? I mean, assume for instance that you can see God in everything, moving and nonmoving. Then it sort of becomes that everywhere you go, you see God. How do you relate to such a circumstance?

I'd like to ask the Vaisnavas here in this forum this question, what exactly is advancement? For example, if one receives some knowledge by revelation, is that advancement? Or does advancement occur when one feels compassion and such positive emotions towards other living entities who are unaware of KC? Thank you for any answers, Hare Krsna

Thank you prabhu for this nice and easy to access ebook. Its much faster to load this than the pdf version and also, the menu bar is also very helpful. Thanks again. Haribol!

Thanks for so much knowledge that you've posted. krsna, your questions are so true that I think consciously or unconciously, I don't think people like myself have the courage to answer. I think one needs so much courage to humble oneself, its just so very very hard I think. I think the real weightlifters and strong men of this world are the transcendentalists and the true yogis. I can't even imagine how much determination and courage you need to humble yourself, its so out of my conscious ability to even think of such thing. As far I can be honest, I think I was in search of something else, out of this world. Thus this movement attracted me. Also, when I heard about the hells and punishment, I thought maybe the Hare Krsna mantra can save me. Basically, out of fear I came I think. No, I can honestly say I haven't come to serve. I can't even conceive what it means to actually serve with a serving mood. So mundane desires are definitely what I am after, eventhough knowing that they don't last. Such is my fallen condition. It's almost as if Maya wants me to go to hell. I think its only fear. Fear of hell. Anxiety and fear are there for the materialists. Being one myself, I think this is my only fuel for this long long ride. If its like this now, I can't even imagine how life will be as Kali Yuga goes on.

During our introspection of ourselves, we find out that our actual motive is not to go to God, but for some other selfish desire. Then how can we give our motive if its very hard to give up? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

He knows what to do when the time is ripe. Where and how He does it is amazing, perfect. Most of the time why He does something is always a mystery. Finally, the soul whom He enlightens surrenders forever unto Him. Jaya Sri Hari! Jaya Vaisnava! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I would like to ask what everyone is doing tomorrow for Gita Jayanti? Haribol /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think its really great! I especially like the quick drop down menus and also the parampara. I love reading the parampara and the way you designed is very easily navigatable. Haribol Prabhu! /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Only taking fruits, vegetables, milk, nuts and water.

If I were to seriously take up sadhana, should I cook my own food(especially if other family members are not familiar with Gaudiya Vaisnavism) and give it to Lord and then take remnants? I am having a debate about this with my mother and I need to know what to do. There are so many things that she restricts me from doing. On ekadasi's, I can't fast, if its on work days(because I have to go to college) and also even if its ekadasi on weekends or holidays, I can fast only until 12 noon. I don't know if this is the reason why I can't seem to advance any further. I'd love to read your comments, thanks.