Pankaja_Dasa

The offenseless chanting of a pure devotee can purify hundreds and thousands of other people: When someone heard the chanting of the holy name from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and someone else heard this chanting from that second person, and someone again heard this chanting from the third person, everyone in all countries became a Vaisnava through such disciplic succession. Thus everyone chanted the holy name of Krsna and Hari, and they danced, cried and smiled. The transcendental power or potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is herein explained. First, the holy name is vibrated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When someone hears from Him directly, he is purified. When another person hears from that person, he also is purified. In this way the purification process is advanced among pure devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one can claim His potency. Nonetheless, if one is a pure devotee, hundreds and thousands of men can be purified by his vibration. This potency is within every living being, provided he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra offenselessly and without material motives. When a pure devotee chants offenselessly, another person will become a Vaisnava, and from him another Vaisnava will emerge. This is the parampara system. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 17.48-49

Ok now I understand a lot more about this, that piece by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura cleared up my doubts. I was kinda thinking to myself "How can Durga be same as Krishna"? I wasn't willing to believe, but now I know. What you said in your last post. Now I can understand why Yoga-maya appeared as Durga before Kamsa.

In Krishna section in similar thread it says Krsna is same as Durga. {Powerful and the Power} But these are my confusions: Yoga-maya appeared in the house of Nanda Maharaja as Durga. Right? But if you read all the extracts, it says Durga is different from Subhadra {who also appeared as Krishna Sister}. So when Durga appeared before Kamsa in the Jail, where did she disappear to? And when was Subhadra born? I just need it explaining. From somebody who knows. No speculation please. _____________ In this Krishna book it says: The Yogamaya is the principal potency of the Personality of Godhead. In the Vedas it is stated that the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has multipotencies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. All the different potencies are acting externally and internally, and Yogamaya is the chief of all potencies. He ordered the appearance of Yogamaya in the land of Vrajabhumi, in Vrndavana, which is always decorated and full with beautiful cows. __ Krishna Book Chp2 {Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb} Same Chapter: "Since you will appear as My contemporary sister, people within the world will worship you with all kinds of valuable presentations: incense, candles, flowers and offerings of sacrifice. You shall quickly satisfy their desires for sense gratificiation. People who are after materialistic affection will worship you under the different forms of your expansions, which will be named Durga, Bhadrakali, Vijaya, Vaisnavi, Kumuda, Candika, Krsna, Madhavi, Kanyaka, Maya, Narayani, Isani, Sarada and Ambika." Krsna and Yogamaya appeared as brother and sister--the Supreme Powerful and the supreme power. Although there is no clear distinction between the Powerful and the power, power is always subordinate to the Powerful. Those who are materialistic are worshipers of the power, but those who are transcendentalists are worshipers of the Powerful. Krsna is the Supreme Powerful, and Durga is the supreme power within the material world. Actually people in the Vedic culture worship both the Powerful and the power. There are many hundreds of thousands of temples of Visnu and Devi, and sometimes they are worshiped simultaneously. The worshiper of the power, Durga, or the external energy of Krsna, may achieve all kinds of material success very easily, but anyone who wants to be elevated transcendentally must engage in worshiping the Powerful in Krsna consciousness Else where: Subhadra is yogamaya. The spiritual energy is called yogamaya. And she has 16 different expansions. Out of these 16 expansions, Subhadra is one. The mahamaya of the material energy is also expansion of the energy of yogamaya; and both yogamaya and mahamaya are equally important to Krishna as much as any government department is equally important for functioning of the government. The police department may be horrible for the criminals, but to the government it is a department as good as university department. Similarly, mahamaya is horrible to the conditioned soul, but to the liberated soul, there is no fear of mahamaya, because he is protected by yogamaya. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita when Krishna said the following: ``I am not visible to everyone on account of being curtained by yogamaya.'' So when a conditioned soul surrenders unto Krishna, the yogamaya winds up the curtain and Krishna is visible to the devotee. __ Letter to: Madhusudana,, Montreal, 29 July, 1968 And: Regarding your question about Subhadra and Durga, they are not at all the same. Durga's other name is Bhadra, not Subhadra, and Durga's activities are within the material world. Subhadra does not work as Durga. Subhadra is internal energy, and Durga is external energy. As energy, they have a relationship as much as we are energies of Krishna, but the energies are working in different capacities. Although originally the energy is one, by their expansion, the accents of the energies are different, and as we are not impersonalists, this variegatedness of actions are essential for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as much as the government is one but there are multi-departments for management of the government. The education department and the criminal department are all departments of the government. The government is connected with all parts and departments, but the education activities are different from the criminal activities. This is the philosophy of inconceivably simultaneously one and different manifestations of the Absolute Truth. __ Letter to: Manager of Bank of Baroda, , Los Angeles, 1 February, 1969

BR Sridhara Maharaja: Pariprasna means honest, sincere inquiry. We must inquire not with the tendency of discussion or in the mood of argument, but all our efforts should be concentrated in a positive line to understand the truth, without the spirit of doubt and suspicion. With full attention we should try to understand that truth, because it is coming from a higher plane of reality that we have never known.

Now another day, I think I shouldn't tell anybody until I do it. How embarrasing. I'll be back to brag.

just speaking from experience. Thx for the vote of confidence. I am happy to be praised by senior devotee. All glories I put Maharaja book on my site: http://www.geocities.com/br_sridhara_maharaja/SriGuruandHisGrace.htm Signature has the link {The Namamrta site}

Hare Krishna I'm glad somebody read the post in Krsna Section. Even if you have Gurudeva you should read it. You said you wanted practical adive well you asked so I will give. You know when you want something really really bad, then you get it. But you don't appreciate it. This could be said for Guru. So first of all find out from all sources what Guru actaully is. Learn to believe the words about the glories of the Guru. Ask Lord Nityananda that you want a Guru. I think for those who are dumb I'll say it 3 times. Ask Lord Nityananda for Guru, Ask Lord Nityananda for Guru, Ask Lord Nityananda for Guru. Trust Lord Nityananda don't trust anybody else. If you want to me to say this times then ...

One must follow in the footsteps of great authorities like Brahma, Siva, Narada, Manu, the Kumaras, Kapila, Prahlada, Bhishma, Sukadeva Gosvami, Yamaraja, Janaka, and Bali Maharaja. By mental speculation one cannot ascertain what is religion or self-realization. __ http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/4/16/en1 {Purport extract} Demi-God means not Supreme God. Shiva and Krsna are same in the sense they always think of one another, but this is reffering to Sada-siva not Shambu. Sada-siva is in Vaikuntha-loka who is same as Four-handed Vishnu. But Shambu is devotee in this World. I am not quite sure how you can say or make comparrsion because a devotee for us is better than God, because devotee takes you to God. Though Even then becauses devotees are always in love with God you can't think of them as seperate just as: In the Vaikuntha planets the land, the trees, the fruits and flowers and the cows -- everything -- is completely spiritual and personal. The trees are desire trees. On this material planet the trees can produce fruits and flowers according to the order of material energy, but in the Vaikuntha planets the trees, the land, the residents and the animals are all spiritual. There is no difference between the tree and the animal or the animal and the man. Here the word murtimat indicates that everything has a spiritual form. Formlessness, as conceived by the impersonalists, is refuted in this verse; in the Vaikuntha planets, although everything is spiritual, everything has a particular form. The trees and the men have form, and because all of them, although differently formed, are spiritual, there is no difference between them. __ http://srimadbhagavatam.com/3/15/16/en1 {Purport} Form being key word. I hope that answers anything else let me know

<font color="red"> Change the Vision</font color> (from the Chapter Nama-aparadha) Page 40 Implementing these four principles will help overcome the offence of sadhu ninda (offending saintly persons): 1. Cultivate the "finding good" nature-No devotee is absolutely bad. Everyone has some good qualities; so try to see the good in everybody. Develop the mood of sincerely appreciating the value of others. This will act as a powerful antidote against faultfinding. 2. No one is an eternal rogue-Before passing judgment on others, one should always remember that every saint had a past (Valmiki, Mrgari) and every sinner has a future (Ajamila, Jagai & Madhai). Even a first-class rogue is a potential saint of the future. Place a sinner in the company of saints, and his bad nature will change in a moment. Lord Jesus said, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." 3. Try to see Krsna everywhere-The ultimate doer behind all action is Krsna, the cause of all causes. Krsna is within everything and everyone; and everything is within Him. Try to feel Krsna's presence everywhere, and see His divine hand in all events. 4. Change the attitude-Turn the mind from bad to good, negative to positive; and suddenly you will find heaven on earth. What is the use of reading sastra and chanting Hare Krsna if one keeps an evil eye and a foul tongue? Why do you maintain a vision of enemies and speak badly of others? Always remember that the environment around us is positive and favourable. It is helping us. Sri Krsna personally arranges it for our improvement and spiritual elevation. Everyone and everything in the environment is friendly, moving us toward our goal of surrendering to Krsna, taking full shelter only in Him, and loving Him without reservation. Learn to see all with love and you will see love everywhere! <font color="red"> Gauranga Worships the Devotees </font color> In this pastime, Lord Gauranga reveals how to rid the heart of envy, which is the fundamental cause of offending others. Always serve the devotees with humility, and think of yourself as a "servant of the servant of the servants of the Lord". "When Lord Caitanya returned to Mayapur after receiving initiation from Isvara Puri in Gaya. He was a different person. He was no longer arrogant and proud of His learning. Now due to tasting krsna-prema, Lord Caitanya displayed genuine humility and respect for all. Seeing the Lord's transformation, Advaita Acarya, Srivasa Thakura and other senior Vaisnavas were pleased and offered their blessings, "May you attain pure devotion to Krsna". "Lord Caitanya replied, "Because you are Krsna's devotees you have the power to give someone the gift of devotion. Whoever serves you will certainly attain devotion to Krsna, because Krsna is merciful to anyone who serves His devotees.' After saying this, the Lord began to humbly, cheerfully and enthusiastically serve all the devotees. "Lord Caitanya washed their clothes and folded their dhotis. Respectfully folding His hands, Lord Caitanya honoured all the devotees. He was not ashamed to serve. All the Vaisnavas, who were actually His servants, would try to stop the Lord by saying, "Stop what are you doing, what are you doing?" In this way, every day Lord Caitanya acted like a servant of His servants. What will the Supreme Lord not do for His servants? Just to serve them He renounces His own nature. By personally serving the Vaisnavas, Lord Caitanya taught this truth to everybody: 'Whoever desires to worship Lord Krsna must first worship Krsna's dear and saintly servant.'" (Caitanya-bhagavata) From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami

Prabhupada said the same thing nothing to worry over. "The udumbara tree is filled with millions of fruits, and if one falls down and is destroyed, the tree does not even consider the loss. __ http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/madhya/15/173/en1 "In the same way, if one universe is vacated due to the living entities' having been liberated, that is a very little thing for Krishna. He does not take it very seriously. __ http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/madhya/15/174/en1 You'' have to read most of the Chapter too. Good find huh?

I like to agitate my mind sometimes to think to much. Be still Oh Mind in Krishna Feet. Man I am getting ready to do 64 rounds. On Sun. I am bricking it. Hehe what would happen to this forum if I left? Hey it wouldn't be better!

Not that I want to carry on this debate {yeah right} but check this out: A---B---C Point A is in Ki Dimention. Point B is in Ko Dimention. Point C is in Si Dimention. Wouldn't it take different time frames to reach each destination? Ki/Ko/Si are made up terms for this experiment. A-Earth B-Moon C-Sun

Gopijana Dasa on Eminem {and the rest i presume} /images/graemlins/laugh.gif Thats funniest quote I ever heard. This should be a verse in the Gita. To find Guru.

Its for the mind. I found this in a book: Enter into the four states mentioned in the trinad api sahisnuna verse: (Humility, tolerance, pridelessness, respecting all). Visualize and conceptualize your tiny infinitesimal nature through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's graphic examples (straw, tree). - I think you have problem that somebody will say to you to give up Golf sit is a cave and chant all day. I think your less attracted to golf and more inclined to come into Maya to think you like Golf. Maya will catch anything grab hold of it. I think when we have a weakness Maya catches you. Thats especially true if your not chanting. But one thing is good that even if you don't chant and you like to associate with devotees {like I do}, you kinda want to chant. If you want plane hard truth there it is. Sorry Bhaiji.

1 lb. rice flour water sugar ghee Mix rice flour with water to make a stiff dough. Let dough stand long enough to sour (usually one day). Then squeeze dough through a potato ricer into smoking hot ghee. Deep fry until golden brown and drain off excess ghee. Soak in sweet nectar made of 4 cups sugar and 2 cups water. -- Just thought I'd post this recipe, haven't tried it myself. 4 Cups sugar!

But I promised I would chant Om Namah Sivaya as service. So I should finish this. But because I chant Maha-mantra there's actually no need to chant Om Namah Sivaya. Maha-mantra is prayer to Krishna. Om Namah Sivaya is prayer to Lord Shiva. So its a devotee mantra but maybe people do ask for gains {material and spiritual}. Right now goal is to understand Shiva and Krishna. I'd like to warn you while giving up any mantra you mind will react. Maybe do it slow. Pray to Lord Shiva ask that you may gain furtherness in chanting Maha-mantra. {and don't forget the main person Lord Nityananda}. The basic translation of Om Namah Sivaya is 'I offer my respectful obeiences to Shiv'. {very staut devotee}. You can feel what respect he demands. Thats mark of a devotee. Goal is to serve devotees. Then you can get Krishna.

I have some quotes somewhere from Hari-bhakti-vilasa that chanting within the mind is very good. But its very difficult to do it. So Srila Haridasa Thakura taught to chant out loud specifically. Your chanting but if your looking for a cop out to serve Lord Jesus and not do anything then your surely kidding yourself. You know it and I know it.

Devotees is wonderful. Because they bring you closer.. to Japa:)

Prabhu don't know who you are but I could tell you I was in exact same situation. Its like my mind was going in all directions. After a long time I realized {bit hard to put into words for me without expressing myself} anyway.. When I thought Shiva was Supreme I had this kind of hatred for Krishna in my mind. I could feel it coming into my brain. Kind of not liking Vaishnava's. This was after a devotee came to my house from Rudra Sampradaya, he gave me some beads to chant {not diskya}. I realized that people are attracted to Shiva not because of His Supremacy but because of his kindness. So the devotee who came to my house killed this misconception which was going to come into my brain in the future I am sure. Plus I had benefit of eating his Maha-Maha-prasadam. This I do believe brought me to my Diksya Gurudeva. So you see I needed the blessings of a devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is very kind. Lord Shiva I now believe holds special position. Unfortunality people misunderstand His power for Supremacy. He is dear devotee of Krishna. Serve Lord Shiva to serve Krishna, thats best way.

I've got to ask you what you say is indeed true. So does that mean you would eat stool & chips? lol Krishna is everywhere. So doesn't that mean we are eating Krishna? But Krishna asks that we offer Him the food. But doesn't everything belong to Krishna anyway. So whats the point? He can eat Himself but because we require some service Krishna gives. Our position is of service. But of-cource in Krishna-lila. Its kinda the other way around. _ The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]. __ http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/5/18/en1 Not quite sure if the above verse could be applied to food. heh

Isn't that date kinda approx to when Kali-yuga started. Tell them to read canto 5 Bhagavatam thats should keep them occupied.

Please. I am doing 64 Rounds Maha-Mantra I am ready. I need blessings of devotees. Try for Sunday. I'll let you know if it worked. I need to catch up so much. Don't be posting giving me negative advice. I just need blessings!!!!

But you can't do any harm to Vaishanva's. Thankyou for your kind hearted words.

Sridara Dasa's Eight Steps to Better Japa From <font color="orange"> 'The Art of Chanting'</font color> by Mahanidhi Swami A helpful Godbrother once gave us the following eight ways to perfect japa. These suggestions basically coincide with the teachings of Bhativinoda Thakura. 1. Establish a disturbance free environment for intensified chanting, because distraction or inattention leads to all other offences. Earplugs or hearing protector headphones can be used to block out external noise distractions. Such induced silence helps fix the mind and heart on the beautiful names, forms and pastimes of Radha-Syamasundara. 2. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate with a submissive mind and a humble heart full of prayer and petition. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura recommends covering the head with a cloth to prevent the eyes from roaming. 3. Sit firmly and fix the mind by a mechanical process of pranayama. Incidentally, Hari-bhakti-vilasa recommends pranayama before chanting Gayatri. 4. Clearly understand the sense perceptual process, and then learn to negate or turn off all sensory stimuli except the hearing the maha-mantra. 5. Enter into the four states mentioned in the trinad api sahisnuna verse: (Humility, tolerance, pridelessness, respecting all). Visualize and conceptualize your tiny infinitesimal nature through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's graphic examples (straw, tree). 6. While chanting, always remember the mantra is a personal address to Radha and Krsna; not a parrot's vibrato. 7. While chanting, repeatedly fill the mind with the wonderful meanings of the holy name given by the previous acaryas. 8. Expect exhaled experiences and spiritual realizations by this most powerful and sublime sound vibration.

In letters to the Editor has something. Mind reader