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paul108

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Everything posted by paul108

  1. I just wondered how does Guest know what language they speak in McDonalds? I know it's silly, but for all I know they could bark like dogs in McDonalds. Hare Krishna
  2. I saw this message posted on www.dipika.org and www.chakra.org: "Please see http://www.mayapur.info for the latest 2003 GBC resolutions. In addition to these resolutions, the website is being updated daily with news and festivities related to Sri Mayapur Dhama." However, when I go to that web page, I can't find anything regarding this year's resolutions. Can anyone find them? Hare Krishna Paul
  3. I saw this message posted on www.dipika.org and www.chakra.org: "Please see http://www.mayapur.info for the latest 2003 GBC resolutions. In addition to these resolutions, the website is being updated daily with news and festivities related to Sri Mayapur Dhama." However, when I go to that web page, I can't find anything regarding this year's resolutions. Can anyone find them? Hare Krishna Paul
  4. I've definitely met some devotees who've stressed the importance of Harinama initiation, but not recently. Mostly I've thought about the things Srila Prabhupada has said. Also, it was Krishna who enticed me to pursue Krishna consciousness, and He personally told me to accept a spiritual master. I didn't think I could find someone like Srila Prabhupada, so that was a dilemma. At that time my trouble was that I didn't think I could find a qualified guru, but after a few years I realized that I could never be sure of my own qualification. The way I feel now is that the guru may not seem perfect, and I am certainly not perfect, but I have to take the instruction of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada and do my best to satisfy them. Other than that, I don't see any other meaning to spiritual life. I chose Bhaktimarga Swami for a few reasons. He always payed personal attention to my spiritual life, keeping me by his side whenever I visited the Toronto temple. When my wife and I wanted to get married, he personally arranged the wedding at that year's Rathayatra festival. That tells me that he would respect our marriage and not give me any instruction contrary to the health of my family. I have also been very impressed with his sadhana. I remember many times when he would return as late as 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. from home programs, yet he would be awake at 2:00 chanting japa the next morning. One afternoon after a night like that, he asked me to read to him from Srimad Bhagavatam while he had a little nap. He slept for about 10 minutes, and was refreshed. I was amazed that he could function so well on 3 hours sleep. Another time I remember an Indian grihastha devotee approached him and touched his feet. When this happened he offered his humble prayers to Srila Prabhupada, carrying this devotee's worship up the parampara to Krishna. 4 years ago when I first asked Bhaktimarga Swami about Harinama initiation, I was following strictly at that time, but had some philosophical doubt of my own qualification. Bhaktimarga Swami didn't offer me any comprimise or suggest that it would be OK to fail to keep the vows. I think that is also important. Sense gratification and spiritual life are completely opposite, so even if nothing else, if he inspires me to follow the 4 regs and chant 16 rounds every day, then I have nothing to lose except my false conceptions. Hare Krishna p.s. There is no local temple. I'm half-way between the Philadelphia temple and Gita Nagari, 80 miles from each. I've never felt any pressure from either place. Soon we hope to buy a house near Gita Nagari, which is one reason why I felt inclined to discuss the issue my recent messages. Hare Krishna
  5. I hope you're right. Hare Krishna
  6. Well, I guess I'm a little late. I haven't paid much attention to VNN for a while. She told me about these adventures back in '97-98. It was basically identical to what she'd written, except that some stuff was left out of the articles. I think she mentioned that she wasn't disclosing everything. I know she's an unusual character, but I was always impressed with her dedication and sincerity. This is coming up now because my wife and I are looking to buy a house in the vicinity of Gita-nagari. Hare Krishna
  7. Babhru prabhu, I'm reluctant to give much more information about the devotees involved in that dispute, because it would not be difficult to figure out the identity of the sannyasi, who is rather popular, and I don't think it would be wise for me to come out with that now. The female devotee has some behavioral peculiarities resulting at least in part from head injuries she incurred during attacks. (She showed me a letter from her doctor attesting to this.) I don't think she could have concocted the story. Part of what makes it a difficult situation is that I know several of this sannyasi's disciples, and I feel like there's a big hammer pounding in my mind when I see him... Again, I'm feeling awkward about saying too much, which I may have already done. I think the matter was brought to the GBC several years ago, and nothing was done. I think the incidents happened in the early- to mid-80's. I don't see Krishna dasi any more, as she has understandably sought association in the other branches of Lord Caitanya's movement. She was also abused serving under Kirtanananda Swami and suffers from considerable physical and mental handicaps on account of the abuse inflicted by these two sannyasis. Yet she remains as an extrordinary example in my mind of dedication to Srila Prabhupada. The Srimad Bhagavatam set I read was given to me by her, a very nice gift. Probably the only solution will be to write to Bhaktimarga Swami about it, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that yet. That's a lot of karma to unload when I'm not even officially aspiring yet. (Gotta follow them GBC rules...) Anyway, it's late, and I should shut up already. Hare Krishna Paul
  8. Babhru prabhu, It is always good to be reminded of the dangers of criticizing vaishnavas, but the trouble I see is finding oneself in the position of offending one vaishnava or another. I'll give an example. When I fairly new to ISKCON, having read a good number of Srila Prabhupada's books, chanted 16 rounds for about 6 months, etc., but only visited two temples for a total of about 20 visits, I met a certain devotee I'll call Krishna dasi in a nearby neighborhood. My wife, our baby, and I moved to a devotee community shortly thereafter, and Krishna dasi also moved there near that time. (We were both independently planning the move at the same time.) Krishna dasi had served under a certain ISKCON sannyasi for several years, (I'll call him Syama maharaj) in a remote part of the world. Note that these are not their real names. My wife and I gradually got to know Krishna dasi, and I felt that she was very strict with her sadhana and very devoted to Srila Prabhupada. At this time I was very naive about the tribulations that ISKCON had been through (murders, child abuse, etc.), and so she told me (a lot) of her personal experience serving under this sannyasi. She said that while she was serving in a remote country, Syama maharaj broke his sannyasi vow with a female devotee who's name I do not know, and then caused her to be murdered. (I do not remember all of the details.) He also tried to have Krishna dasi murdered on at least two occasions, but was not quite 'successful' at it (she suffered fairly severe injuries). Syama maharaj is a prominent ISKCON guru, and Krishna dasi seems to me to be a faithful disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Assuming that one of them is an honest vaishnava, the other must be a terrible offender. I have to either believe Krishna dasi or disbelieve her story. If I'm wrong, then I'm guilty of an offense, and even if I'm right, then I'm also guilty of a lesser offense because both of them, as far as I know, chant 16 rounds, etc. This is just one example. I could come up with others (though not so much affecting me personally), as I expect could many devotees. It's almost like we're forced to commit offenses. What's an aspiring devotee to do when two vaishnavas or groups of vaishnavas have become enemies, and we're drawn into it, often unwillingly? Hare Krishna
  9. Audarya-lila prabhu, I've seen enough of Sadaputa's work to be impressed, but not enough to quite grasp it. In the case of life on the Moon and Sun, we can say that somehow or other the life is invisible. There's our imperfect senses at work again. It's just as easy to say that the effects of homosexual behavior, which is condemned in the scriptures, are invisible too. Both things have to be taken from the scriptures as is, on account of our faith in the spiritual master. Regarding the culture and historical setting, I would say that not all cultures and times are equal. Part of Srila Prabhupada's goal in spreading Krishna consciousness around the world was also spreading varnashrama dharma, which he sometimes called sanatana dharma. This is eternal culture, a culture based on cooperative devotional service. In one sense everyone is engaged in Krishna's service, down to the demons in Hell punishing wicked men, and a creative imagination might find a way to think of how homosexuality serves Krishna's purpose, but my mind isn't that creative. I prefer not to think of such things. If I were to make the rules, I'm sure I would do it different on account of my incomplete understanding. I would probably let everyone do what they feel like doing and still remember Krishna. However, I didn't make the rules, and it doesn't seem to work like that. I cannot try to enjoy my senses and keep my mind fixed on Krishna. I often feel like Krishna is behind me, projecting my desires in front of me, and in this way I never get to see Him. Rather than giving people what (they think) they want, whether a man wants another man for a companion, or a woman wants the prestige of the sanyassa ashram, we should be teaching them and ourselves to give Krishna His desires. Then everyone can be happy. Hare Krishna
  10. If I were a cow, I would want my milk to go to devotees to offer to Krishna, even if it contributed to my eventual slaughter. I also get milked by (vi)karmi bosses, but I am relieved that the fruits of my labor go to supporting devotees. My employer probably won't slaughter me, but sometimes it seems like that might be better than the work. Hare Krishna
  11. Audarya-lila prabhu, Thank you for your reply and your blessings. As you pointed out, the example I gave was not a very good one. I should have given an actual historical example. Here's one: Srila Prabhupada said that living entities inhabit the Sun and the Moon, yet hardly anyone outside the devotee community would accept those statements as true. So here we have contradiction between the words of the spiritual master and widely accepted empirical knowledge. Of course the easiest thing to do would be to not mention this to people, and to even delete mention of it from recorded conversations, books, etc., but this seems to be an offense. We think we know things better than our spiritual master, and we are embarassed by his teachings. I would consider your example using the Bible to be somewhat different. The problem I see is that the Bible does not appear to be anywhere near the level of purity of scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavatam, nor does it appear to be delivered by pure devotees in any parampara. That the Bible has been changed many times is well known. I am also frustrated when people argue against creationism by pointing to evidence of a relatively ancient Earth, as if there was no other story of creation. However, the problem that taints the Bible is the same strength that supports the Vaishnava scriptures and parampara. Having been given cintamani in the form of pure scriptures delivered by a pure devotee of Krishna, I believe it is our responsibility to carry them to others with the same purity. Hare Krishna Paul
  12. There's a movie called "Kids." Anyone ever seen it? I watched it just before accepting Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The theme is that it's written by kids about kids. The plot is sex, drugs, and violence, extreme. Seeing it, I knew kali-yuga had surely come. Hare Krishna
  13. Audarya-lila prabhu, What is fanatic about taking the spiritual master's words as truth? And what do you mean by "the truth of reason and sense perception?" Do you think we can find out truth by reason (a.k.a. philosophical speculation) or by sense perception (materialism)? According to my understanding, the result of reason is that there is no absolute truth as there appears to be no absolute opinion; and sense perception leads to atheism. It's funny that you mention tattva sandarbha. I was reading it a month ago, but I took a break for some easier reading. Maybe it's time to pick it up again. It's funny because I had been remembering what I read in it when I was composing the message that you apparently replied to with the words "You have to reconcile all truths and, of course, sastric evidence takes precedence - but we are not to deny other valid sources of truth." Right now I'm looking at Anuccheda 10, which is translated here as "Consequently, for us who are inquisitive about that which is beyond everything, yet the support of everything -- which is most inconceivable and wondrous in nature -- direct perception, inference, and so on are not suitable means of gaining knowledge. For this purpose the only suitable means is the _Vedas_, the transcendental words that are existing without beginning. They are the source of all mundane and spiritual knowledge and have been passed down in _parampara_." I don't know how this reads to you, but it appears to me to directly contradict your comment to me. As for reconciling relative truths -- the truths that we see in the material world -- I find mahamaya to be incomprehensibly bewildering and I consider the world as it appears to my senses to be the product of imperfect senses, illusion, mistakes, and cheating. One thing I was taught in my first bhagavad-gita class, which I hope to never forget, was that sense perception and philosophy are of no help whatsoever in arriving at spiritual knowledge. They only perpetuate material life. The only way to learn about actual spiritual life is by Krishna's mercy, which comes in the form of the spiritual master speaking Vedic knowledge. Hare Krishna p.s. Since the topic of the necessity of accepting a spiritual master has come up, I'll volunteer my position. Krishna told me to accept a spiritual master, and I replied that having seen the perfection in Bhagavad-gita As It Is, I was unable to accept anyone other than Srila Prabhupada. However, as he was no longer available for giving diksa, I would not be able to accept anyone. I have since realized that this was immature understanding. Four years ago I asked Bhaktimarga Swami about diksa, and told him that I wanted to receive harinama diksa but I could not understand how a conditioned soul could take the required vows. Philosophically, it seemed to be cheating, because mahamaya is so powerful that anyone can fall from their vows. There are many practical examples. Bhaktimarga Swami recommended that I wait some 25 years before getting diksa, because then I could be more certain. About 7 weeks ago I decided that enough is enough, and if it requires cheating to get Krishna, I am going to cheat. Of course, if I do actually keep the vows (and I will try my best!) then it's almost not cheating. I pray that I can keep the vows, but I do not know. I have been bewildered so many times, but I cannot go on like this. I must remember Krishna. So I wrote to Bhaktimarga Swami, and he replied that we can proceed with the steps to prepare for harinama. All of you, I pray for your blessings. Hare Krishna
  14. "Shall we simply ignore the findings of modern science? Shall we ignore psychologists and psychiatrists? The geneticists?" I don't mind ignoring these so-called authorities. Personally, if Srila Prabhupada were to tell me the sun is green, then I would say it's green. Your "data at hand" is based on the bodily conception, with the four defects. If you consider the mundane scientists worshipable, then you're free to follow them to their destination. As for me, my hopeful destination is the shade of the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada's servants. Hare Krishna
  15. Although I have only a moment now, I just want to say that I believe the truth should be spoken as much as possible. People in general want to remain ignorant, and that is apparently their God-given right. But if someone wants to know what is true, then that is what should be told, for the Supreme Truth is the highest compassion. If we cannot hear the truth from sincere devotees of Lord Caitanya, then we cannot hear it at all. The unadulterated truth is what is meant by "As It Is." Hare Krishna
  16. "Recently on beliefnet I was called a "bible thumper", "fire and brimestone preacher" for posting Prabhupada's quote on homosexuals found in the SB where the demons are born from Brahma's buttocks. " I would take that as a compliment. Hare Krishna
  17. The best way I know to get Krishna's mercy is to seek out His devotees and try to serve them. They will help you. Grammar and spelling aren't that important, but eating meat can be a real obstacle. It's been said that meat eating destroys mercy. I understand that to mean that it prevents the meat-eater from showing mercy, and also prevents the meat-eater from receiving mercy. I'm also struggling to reform my character. It is very difficult, but it has to be done. Everyone has to do it, but most people don't try. What a waste to live like animals. We must remember Krishna. Every step you take trying to please Krishna is for your absolute benefit. Old habits are hard to break, with determination it can be done. Krishna will help, as will His devotees, but you have to make sufficient effort so that failure is impossible. If you succumb to weakness, stop yourself, and double your conviction. Remember Krishna. Always keep Krishna's name on your tongue, and you will lose your taste not only for flesh, but all things material. It may take time, but your determination to please Krishna _is_ Krishna's mercy. I'm praying for you. Hare Krishna
  18. I can only infer that because Srila Prabhupada gave me my brief vision through Bhagavad-gita As It Is, that he is a pure devotee and that he could see Krishna. Personally, I am just trying to gradually purify myself so that I can see Krishna again. Your question is a bit tricky because I received a vision of Krishna, but I am not a pure devotee. Actually mine was nothing but mercy because I was sincerely trying to find out the truth but I had been deceived by mayavadi philosophy. My answer is that pure devotees have a fully conscious eternal relationship with Krishna, sometimes seeing Him, and sometimes not, but never forgetting Him. Hare Krishna
  19. The difference seems to be in the definition of Krishna Consciousness. One may say that everyone who thinks a little about Krishna, has some vague conception of Krishna, chants His names while thinking of something else, etc., is conscious of Him. Like, if someone tells another that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they just made them Krishna Conscious. I was really surprised when I first heard devotees talking about Krishna consciousness so casually. My feeling is that being conscious of Krishna is more than that. The way I think of Krishna consciousness is that it immediately gives Krishna prema. It's not to say that I'm there now (far from it), but Krishna gave me a taste, and having done so, put me back to where I was (ignorant of Him) so that I could gradually remember Him. He left me with two primary instructions as He departed, "Always chant My names, and get some association of devotees." I've often wanted to share what details I can remember of that night, but I've found that devotees have sometimes not appreciated hearing stories about Krishna told by a fool like me. Hare Krishna
  20. Krishna consciousness begins when we finish desiring our own sense gratification, when Krishna sends His pure devotee our way, and when we wholeheartedly surrender to Krishna through His representative. The one way I know to make this happen is to start chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and keep chanting without stopping.
  21. When I can't decide about something relatively trivial, I often flip a coin. If I can't decide about something more important, I still may flip a coin, but with the option of overruling the coin. A non-binding coin toss can easily raise my awareness of the decision I want to make when it's not always clear at first. Hare Krishna
  22. When I can't decide about something relatively trivial, I often flip a coin. If I can't decide about something more important, I still may flip a coin, but with the option of overruling the coin. A non-binding coin toss can easily raise my awareness of the decision I want to make when it's not always clear at first. Hare Krishna
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