Maitreya

No anger, no sarcasm,no gossip is found in the above.A book to study for sure.

In our discussions of high philosophy and in our ordinary dealings it will be good to remember these simple words of Saint Francis.

"What are God's servants but His minstrels, who must inspire the hearts of men and stir them to spiritual joy." [Mirror of Perfection, 100]

Thanks for your respones.

Vacinnation is probably the big question for me.I have had a mild flu once in past 25 or 30 years and I never get flu shots.

About resteraunts shvu,there are many all around me.Berkeley is so diverse culturally.The problem with all the Indian establishments is that they also serve meat.I won't eat in any place that does, even if they have a nice variety of veggie preps.They will use the same cutting boards and knives etc.Also I don't want them to make profit off me if they are selling slaughtered animals.I am forced to compromise at grocery stores when buying fruits and veggies but what can I do.

I am thinking though the problem is one of organisims entering that my body is not used to rather than cooking styles.I suppose that may be unavoidable, although I will try.

I hope to hear some stories from the pilgrims out there.This is a great idea for a thread.There must be a huge mine of experience from those on these forums.How about you Jagat as well as others?

Here are some simple but profound words from St. Francis of Assisi.Feel free to add simply spoken truths to this thread from any source.

_______

Take pains to refrain from sharp words. Pardon one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The

recollection of an injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sins and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow

and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight.

___________

And a few more:

We can never tell how patient or humble a person is when everything is going well with him.But when those who should co-operate with him do the exact opposite, then we can tell.A man has as much patience and humility as he has then, and no more.[The Admonitions,13]

[This message has been edited by Maitreya (edited 05-15-2001).]

jndas,

Even for malaria?I remember Garamuni getting an attack in Hawaii years after he first contracted it.He was down for days.

I also am wondering about accepting prasad.I don't want to offend anyone but it may not be safe for me to just take all that may be offered.What is the etiquette for such situations?

Jai Krishna

I was just there and spent some time looking around and reading a little.I, like jndas, notice a much different atmosphere. I was looking over my shoulder and just waaiting for the anti-GM rhetoric to come, pleasantly surprised none did as far as I could see.Nice example to follow.

On the teachings section I noticed this section describing the majari identity and some characteristics of the same for several gurus i the line going back.

This was the one describing Krishna dasa Babaji:

Sri Krishna dasa Babaji-Sri Krishna Manjari-colour of body:kunkuma[golden vermillion]; dress;citra vasana[mixed colors silk sari];service:chandana[sandlewood pulp]and pada samvahana[massaging the feet];age: 12 years 6 months and 5 days.

So perhaps someone could explain this a little further.How does the solar time conception of years months and days come about.I mean I can understand a general idea given for the age of manjaris to give us an idea but this is down to how many days.

I was just there and spent some time looking around and reading a little.I, like jndas, notice a much different atmosphere. I was looking over my shoulder and just waaiting for the anti-GM rhetoric to come, pleasantly surprised none did as far as I could see.Nice example to follow.

On the teachings section I noticed this section describing the majari identity and some characteristics of the same for several gurus i the line going back.

This was the one describing Krishna dasa Babaji:

Sri Krishna dasa Babaji-Sri Krishna Manjari-colour of body:kunkuma[golden vermillion]; dress;citra vasana[mixed colors silk sari];service:chandana[sandlewood pulp]and pada samvahana[massaging the feet];age: 12 years 6 months and 5 days.

So perhaps someone could explain this a little further.How does the solar time conception of years months and days come about.I mean I can understand a general idea given for the age of manjaris to give us an idea but this is down to how many days.

Hare Krishna,

In Sept. I will be making my first trip to India.I will be staying for about six months and don't plan on leaving Vraja on this my first trip.My hope is to receive some fresh inspiration towards Krishna.I need some Bhakti juice as I seem to be dehydrated and dried up in my present situation.

Fortunately I will be traveling with someone who goes every year so the how to get there is no problem.

I have however been receiving contradictory advice on health concerns.Basically vaccinations etc.

Any thoughts on this?

Also I would love hearing of others experiences there.Please tell me of this most wonderous land of Krishna.

Maitreya

I hope that our resident scholars here will not neglect to answer Benjamin's thoughtful questions.

I also hope Benjamin comes back as he didn't leave an e-mail address.

Hare Krishna

No thanks jijaji.I don't want to become drawn in to the guru gossip wars.This debate can have no good outcome.

I really know nothing of the individuals involved.Some may believe this side, some may believe that side.One thing is for sure no minds will be changed,some great souls from both"camps" will be slandered, and the general atmoshere here will be downgraded.I affirmed Gaurachandra's observation as I have seen it played out before with no good result.

I'm off to another thread to lurk and learn.

Hare Krishna

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

What I find even more interesting is that several weeks ago, a bunch of outsiders come into these forums and immediately started bashing Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and others. If you want to praise someone go right ahead, but most of what I have seen in the last few weeks has simply been attacks.

 

Gauracandra

Same thing as seen on VNN, same rap.Always they accuse the GM branches of preaching against the poor babjis, when actually they start every converstaion on the subject with an attack against Bhaktisiddhanta.Same routine, same old same old.

Originally posted by shvu:

Vyasa's Guru was his own father Parasara. Vyasa was never Narada's disciple either by Shiksha or Dhiksha. If he were, then Vyasa would have found it appropriate to mention him as such in his magnum opus, the Mahabharata. Thus it is impossible to connect Vyasa to Narayana through Narada.

 

shvu,

 

What about SB 1.5?

 

 

 

Gaurachandra,

That was nice.I felt like I was almost there.I have a certain feel for Buddhist temples.After 1978 I was not so welcomed at iskcon Hawaii.The many Buddhist temples in the same valley there became a kind of refuge for me.I could sit at any number of them and silently chant on my 1/4 mala[ no bag]and felt right at home before Lord Buddha.No one ever bothered me and I hope I never bother anyone else.Some were very small and some somewhat large, but none as large as what you describe.All were very well maintained.

Jaya Lord Buddha

Originally posted by premananda:

I think you are right Jagat Ji. The GM devotees seem to insist that aspiring vaishnavas receive mantras from the GM gurus and not other Gaudiyas. That seems sectarian to me.

So they have created what they accused the "caste-gosvamis" of - a diksha monopoly.

But does that not work both ways premananda?

To attract someone doing a search it should be simple and direct.

Like Spiritual Viewpoints or Spirit Views Exchange something like that.

Spiritual Crossroads maybe.Use the english word spirit.I am sure many already have but it is a word that would be among the first to be used in a search.

SpiritDivine?The word divine has such a nice ring to it.

[This message has been edited by Maitreya (edited 05-11-2001).]

Okay then, Krishna Vada.Keep the name Krishna in whatever you choose jndas.Can't go wrong with Krishna.Krishna Krishna Krishna, always Krishna.

Hare Krishna

I vote for Krishna Talk.

Your efforts are appreciated jndas prabhu, even by those of us that generally just lurk and learn.

shanti,

I can appreciate the spirit of your post.Respect for others is integral to the spiritsoul and naturally crosses lines of belief.

But what to do when you see others being exploited by some while claiming to be Guru or even God?They take their money, use them for their own sexual gratification, enjoy their worship and misdirect them from fulfilling the mission of human life, which of course is God realization.This cheating goes on irregardless of the siddhanta being taught.It has happened in my own school.

If I see someone being assaulted I must render aid up to my capacity.

What do you think?

Maitreya

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>...preserve his indivuality...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well that sound's like a good idea.

quote:

How would Mayavada philosophy then deal with avatars?

And what would motivate Their descent?

And upon descent does that not exhibit separation in oneness?

All the usual explanations, motives apply. One must remember that the world as we

know is totally real until Mukti. That is the point of difference, if one can call it a

point.

Cheers

shvu,

Avatar meaning one who descends from the spiritual world into this one.If after Mukti there is no individual consciousness of this world,what motivates the Brahman to descend?And how can there be any motive for action from that state?

kailasa,

Yes.Like a tree reflecting into a pond.The reflection though lacks in true substance.Trying to pick a mango from the reflected tree results only in frustration.Even though you can see it's shape, color and position on the tree from the reflection it can yield no taste.

The qualities we see here are here only because we are here.We are sustaining this universe and reflecting qualities of life into it.

In otherwords, qualities are visible here because they really exist in the spirtual world first.

Hare Krishna

shvu,you describe the continued activity seen in the body[and I suppose mind]of a jivanmukta as being due to the prarabda-karma.That would be found only in one seeking liberation from a bound state.

How would Mayavada philosophy then deal with avatars?

And what would motivate Their descent?

And upon descent does that not exhibit separation in oneness?

Hare Krishna

This is such a nice debate that I am loath to interrupt.But some debates also include a Q&A period from the audience.

Here is my question:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>from shvu:

Maya does not exist to the realized person.For the Jiva Maya or Duality is very much real.The difference is a key factor.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So my question is;why would the self-realized ,such as Sankaracarya, preach if he had realized that no others exist?

Please consider the audience may pose questions of a less sophisticated nature than the principles.Thank you for your responses.

YS, Maitreya