gHari

It is there, if you can see far enough, if there are enough stars. Then you can see HUMILITY. Then you can see that you will never understand Krsna with your mind, that you can never know God. And if that devastates you, sends you falling into the bottomless abyss of sorrow, then, then He will have compassion on you and you will find the Kingdom of God, so great that the stars will fall away, the earth will disappear, and you will never be the same again. Ever. So look to the stars, for a man's reach should exceed his grasp. We are tiny but He will make you feel essential. We are coarse but He will make you feel glorious. So very much greater than all the worlds combined is your dearest friend, Sri Krsna. There is heaven; there is the Kingdom. There is home.

SB 4.8.44p: It is here recommended to Dhruva Mahäräja that he meditate on the supreme guru, or supreme spiritual master. The supreme spiritual master is Krsna, who is therefore known as caitya-guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone’s heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad-gita, and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone’s heart.

From the Science of Self-Realization (Chapter 8): Therefore, as far as possible, one has to execute the order of one's spiritual master. That will enable one to progress. That is the essence of the favorable execution of KRSNa consciousness. In my old age, I have come to America, and I am trying to teach KRSNa consciousness, because my spiritual master gave me an order that I must do it. It is my duty. I do not know whether I shall be a success or failure. It doesn't matter; my duty is completed if I can present before you whatever I have heard from my spiritual master. This is called the favorable execution of KRSNa consciousness. Those who are actually serious should take the order of KRSNa through the representative of KRSNa as their entire life and soul. One who sticks to this principle is sure to progress. Caitanya MahAprabhu spoke in that way, and my spiritual master used to say, "The spiritual master is the transparent via medium." For example, I can see the letters of this book very nicely through these transparent eyeglasses, without which I cannot see because my eyes are defective. Similarly, our senses are all defective. We cannot see God with these eyes, we cannot hear Hare KRSNa with these ears, we cannot do anything without the via medium of the spiritual master. Just as a defective eye cannot see without the via medium of spectacles, so one cannot approach the Supreme Lord without the transparent via medium of the spiritual master. "Transparent" means that the via medium must be free of contamination. If it is transparent, one can see through it.

trans·par·ent (trns-pârnt, -pr-) KEY ADJECTIVE: Capable of transmitting light so that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening material. See Synonyms at clear. Permeable to electromagnetic radiation of specified frequencies, as to visible light or radio waves. So fine in texture that it can be seen through; sheer. See Synonyms at airy. Easily seen through or detected; obvious: transparent lies. Free from guile; candid or open: transparent sincerity. [*]Obsolete Shining through; luminous. ERGO, when we see him we see Krsna. When we hear him we hear Krsna. When he's here, Krsna's here.

We see that these dirty things are carried by the modes of nature. The modes guide the jiva into deepest illusion - the illusion of an existence separate from God. To dull the soul this much, millions of incarnations from trees to worms to humans are required. Then periodically our attachment to being lords of the world is augmented as the world disappears for a while and our hankering is perfected in desperate separation. The jiva follows the path down into grossest illusion completely conditioned by the modes of nature, then battles back: falling through ignorance, spinning in passion, then lifting into goodness - eventually back to Godhead. And all in the blink of an eyelid. Open your eyes, and rise above the conditioning of the dreamworld.

The day the earth stood still.

It was asked "How can people chant the name of Krishna all the time "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna etc..." I don't understand (well, sorry I shouldn't say that here maybe)." Try it. You'll like it. There is no experience more enjoyable. Jesus told us not to bother about the things of the world, but just seek the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6). Once there, the world will have no more glitter. Seek the higher existence and live life-everlasting, now. That's what life is about, what chanting Hare Krishna is about, what Jesus is about.

After you chant, can't you see how happy and stately the trees are, the people are? They have no idea why, but they are. And our footdust and their footdust spread around and around - changing the world spinning round and round. After 500 years the dust floated across the oceans, and soon enough the rest of the world will become enchanted. It's in the bag.

"Bhaktivinoda said" held up in the 19th, 20th and into the 21st century. Then there's: SrIdhara SvAmI --the author of the earliest extant VaiSNava commentaries on Bhagavad-gItA and SrImad-BhAgavatam. Though a resident of Benares and a sannyAsI of SaGkara's MAyAvAda school of philosophy, he taught pure VaiSNava philosophy. He was a devotee of Lord NRsiMhadeva, and his works were highly regarded by Lord Caitanya, especially his SrImad-BhAgavatam gloss, BhAvArtha-dIpikA. The Lord commented that anyone who wanted to write a commentary on SrImad-Bhagavatam must follow the commentary of SrIdhara SvAmI. [from Vedabase Glossary]

Here's a bunch including some recommended above: http://vedabase.net/

So does that mean that you are really talking about time here and not just trying to talk about the origin of the soul again? To me it looks like just another origin thread, something our kind host of these forums has directly asked that you avoid.

This isn't about time. Do you think we're morons? Why play us?

It's in the bag. Maximum Max!

Your strength can be his strength, Tirisilex. I know it is a hard time; your saying good-bye to him and his saying goodbye to this world I took my dying grandmother a piece of prasadam sweet (burfi) from the temple with a tulasi leaf on it. You could explain to them at the temple and I'm sure they would arrange a tulasi leaf for you and a nice sweet that anyone would enjoy. I didn't know that would be my last visit, but I am pleased that it was so perfect. I even chanted a little as she watched silently. She LOVED the burfi - that hospital food is all cardboard, you know. I would imagine that with a nice letter and some stamps you could even arrange to have it mailed to you. Let Krsna's mercy make his transition pleasant. As always, if you surrender to Krsna you will have done your best, for all concerned.

I think it was Mahak's song, ALL, that got me in a positive mood. I walked out on the porch in almost freezing weather to find a squirrel at the steps. I said "Hello. Haribol", then "Nitai-Gaura", "Nitai-Gaura" half a dozen times. And he looked at me. He took a few steps and looked again, then sat on the fence and listened. He sat there three metres away for quite a spell watching and listening. I think maybe no one had ever spoken to him before, or maybe he'd yet to hear such sweet words.

If we open this thread in another tab or window then we can read and listen at the same time.

You are told that a Mr. John Baires Fertipton has placed a million dollars in your bank account. He is very aloof and tends to his own business, yet still takes pleasure in watching you discretely as your new life evolves. Who is he? Where is he? All these things remain a mystery to you. Yet still, as life progresses you develop an affection for him, your anonymous benefactor. Eventually when you meet him, you will be filled with love for him. That love for Krsna, it just comes on its own. He is lovable. The more we are conscious of Him - the more we fall in love, until our natural pure love re-awakens in our heart. Just seeing a certain colour of the sky can ignite that love. Soon enough this most precious love is what we will live on. Nothing else will matter; everything else is dull and grey. I have watched you, Redsox. This love will come.

Sounds like a duet - very nice. If the Everly Brothers chanted it would be like this.

You are an agent that can lift from the depth of illusion to the depth of prema in an instant. Those around you are lifted according to Sri Krsna's desire. You are merely the dancing flute. Play on; all is well.

I'm enjoying that now. Can't quite define the instruments, but it is like nothing I've ever heard before. Thanks for venturing to the cutting edge for us, Mahak. That is what friends are for.

Yes, dance on, magical flute!

Yes, your master realized that you were the famous ten-headed Brahma from six cosmic manifestations ago - the one who went mad every time he heard Lord Krsna's enchanting flute. Therefore he chose this name for you now to please the demigods who cherished your exquisite loving service in that role. Now you've been placed in a strategic position to help Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement madden the world with the flute of the Holy Name. Shine on you crazy diamond!

I can remember the beginning, with the Gita, with Srila Prabhupada. I didn't know who Krsna was so I just considered the Person who was the Cause of All Causes and All that Is. It did not take too long before He made me realize that He was God - that the Cause of All Causes and All that Is who I'd known as God all my life was Sri Krsna. He could do that because He is God, who knew my every thought, who knew my best next step, my best next movement. I remember a moment in high school when I addressed God in my mind: "I know You wrote a book two thousand years ago, but I wish You'd come and tell me Yourself." Be careful what you wish for - you may just get your wish. Then what?

One of my gurus was a caterpillar. He was walking around the top edge of a steel pot on my porch. An hour later he was still walking around, not realizing that it would never end, going in circles forever. I tried to use a piece of carpet to lift him off, but each time when I would lift, he would again fall back down because so many of his hind legs were still clasping the pot. I realized that it was me, and even though Krsna had freed my front legs and lifted me up, I still fell back because part of me was still clinging to this world and the attachment of family and fun. I did eventually manage to save the caterpillar. Perhaps one day I too will become a butterfly and fly free.

So like do dudes sleep in Goloka, like after a hard day of chasing cows and stuff? I guess I could go and check for myself but it appears I have some attachment to this place to sort out. Sorry; the sleeper thread turned into a nightmare.