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skeptic

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Posts posted by skeptic


  1. I found a webpage that has some books that seem pretty interesting. I'm wondering if they're worth it though. They are translations of the original works of Gaudiya Vaisnava Acaryas including the Six Goswamis of Vrndavana edited by Kusakratha. Has anybody here ever heard of him? Does he know what he's writing? Is it worth it to throw some money down for these books or should I just stick to Prabhupada? Thanks for your input. If you want to check them out they're at http://www.rvc.edu/store under the book section.

     

    Skeptic


  2. Originally posted by nachiketa2:

    I have stopped eating meat. Well, somewhat, since I still eat products that contain eggs. Could someone please explain why it is not ok to eat them. I have always understood that they are unfertilzed and contain no chicken embryo. I would think eggs would be the same as drinking milk from a cow. I know it says in the Gita that we should abstain from them, but I would like to know any of your opinions.

    Great question! I wonder why nobody has responded. I was just wondering where in the Gita it says we should refrain from eating eggs. If anybody knows could you please tell me the chapter and verse. And what is so bad about onions and garlic. The dietary restrictions don't make a whole lot of sense to me. I can certainly understand refraing from meat eating though. Thanks.


  3. Hi. Can anybody suggest a nice book by Swami B. V. Tripurari? I'm looking at purchasing one now but I'm not sure which one to get. I'm very interested in his point of view and I've heard many nice things about him but I think that many of his books are rather exorbitantly priced. So if you could suggest one on the cheaper side that would be great. thanks.

     

     


  4. Prabhupada has definitely got to be one of the most influential persons of the 20th century. His accomplishments were outstanding and remarkable. I wonder if it's all going to get bigger or his popularity will diminish over time. Is he truly one of the Greats? I tend to think so. But time will tell. Funny thing is, the inportant thing isn't supposed to be Prabhupada. It's supposed to be Krishna.


  5. He was a little old man with a great big heart. He was a visionary. He was a businessman. He was a man on a mission to spread the word of Krsna. He was somebody's father. He was somebody's husband. He was somebody's little boy. He was extremely successful. He was a great translator of the Bhagavadgita and Srimad Bhagavatam. He brought Krishna to the West on his own golden chariot. He was a man who may have not known exactly what he was starting when he started it. He was perhaps too kind to those wretched few who stained and tarnished the name of everything he had worked for. I wonder if he died with a broken heart and a feeling of betrayal. I hope he didn't. He was just a great man who will be remembered for a very long time.


  6. Originally posted by abhi_the_great:

    According to him, both are ways to attain mukti finally. So, my question to you is what is your final aim? Is it bhakti or mukthi?

     

    I'm not sure I understand the question. My understanding is that mukthi means liberation. If that's the case then isn't mukthi my final aim, as is everybody's?


  7. Originally posted by gHari:

    Attracted to both? Then you need the philosophy of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the fifteenth century (sometimes spelled Chaitanya). His idea was that God is simultaneously one and different from all that is.

    Don't you have a website devoted to Caitanya Mahaprabhu? If so, what's the URL?


  8. Originally posted by abhi_the_great:

    If you feel an attraction for understanding the impersonal feature of the Lord thru Sanatana dharma, I encourage you to read more and research more deeply. The books from Ramakrishna, Chinmaya and others can guide you in that direction. But for getting pure bhakti read Srila Prabhupad's book, there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative. Especially Srimad Bhagavatham will be most helpful in developing bhakti.

     

    Actually, I'm attracted to both. That's why I was wondering whether or not there is some "school of thought", so to speak, out there that follows and/or combines both. I think the closest I've found yet has been Sri Ramakrishna.

     

    And you're definitely right about the Srimad Bhagavatam's power to develop bhakti. I have a version other than the one Srila Prabhupada translated which is very inspirational. I'd like to get my hands on some of the volumes Srila Prabhupada translated too, especially the fifth canto.

     

     


  9. Dear All,

     

    Thank you for replying to my question about impersonal bhakti yoga. I have been studying many different ways to reach God through the Indian tradition of Sanatana Dharma and sometimes I find many conflicting views. That's why I asked the question about impersonal bhakti yoga. It seemed to make some sense to me but apparently I have a lot to learn.

     

    Bhaktajoy, you made a very good point when you wrote:

     

    <blockquote>The truth is - Hinduism is monotheistic (Believes in One God). However, Hinduism believes not only in One God, but also in His Supreme Personality. This personality of the Supreme Being is manifested in different forms around us and within us perpetually. To meditate on the Supreme Being, man would have to absorb all these infinite manifestations (which are continually taking place without a starting point or an end) with his finite or limited capabilities. Clearly, this is not possible.</blockquote>

     

    To meditate on the supreme being knowing that He is an infinite manifestation is definitely something that apperas to be impossible to humans based on our finite capabilities and understandings. That is something I must surely contemplate more.

     

    Instead of furthering this discussion right now I think I'll instead think about and meditate on the answers that you gave me. I sure hope I didn't offend anybody by asking this. I know how sensitive these issues can be to some people.


  10. Originally posted by ram:

    Bhakti is always towards a personal God. Even Sankara Bhagavadpada taught us to practise bhakti only to peronal feature with form and not to brahman. The "advaitins" like Thyagayarajar who realized Rama is said to have ekaatmika devotion to Rama.

     

     

    That's not the information I'm getting. Here's something I found that relates....

     

    <blockquote>Bhakti - Surrender

     

    From The Narada Sutras (The philosophy of Love)

    Translations by

    Swami Prabhavananda

    Sri Ramakrishna Math

     

    Narada gives these as the signs of Bhakti (devotion): When all thoughts, all words, and all deeds are given up to the Lord, and when the least forgetfulness of God makes one intensely miserable, then love has begun.

    -Aphorism 19.

     

    Bhakti is intense love for God.

    -Aphorism 2.

     

    In its intrinsic nature this divine love is immortal bliss.

    -Aphorism 3.

     

    By attaining It, a man becomes perfect, immortal, and satisfied forever.

    -Aphorism 4.

     

    On attaining That a man does not desire anything else; he grieves no more, he is free from hatred or jealousy; he does not take pleasure in the vanities of life; and he loses all eagerness to gain anything for himself.

    -Aphorism 5.

     

    The devotee may first become intoxicated with bliss. Then, having realized That, he becomes inert and silent and takes his delight in the Atman (Self).

    -Aphorism 6.

     

    Bhakti (devotion) cannot be used to fulfil any desire, being itself the check to all desires.

    -Aphorism 7.

     

    (Supreme love is attained) by uninterrupted and constant worship of God.

    -Aphorism 36.

     

    By hearing of and singing the glory of the Lord, even while engaged in the ordinary activities of life.

    -Aphorism 37.

     

    There is no difference between God and His devotees.

    -Aphorism 41.

     

    When a man attains this supreme love, he sees his Beloved everywhere, he hears of Him everywhere, he talks only of Him, and he thinks of Him only.

    -Aphorism 55.

     

    The devotee does not grieve at any personal loss, for he has surrendered himself, everything he has, and even the rites and ceremonies which are enjoined by the scriptures.

    -Aphorism 61.

     

    Even though the devotee may have surrendered himself utterly to the Lord, he must not renounce action in the world but continue to perform it, giving up the fruits of action to the Lord.

    -Aphorism 62.

     

    Dedicate all your actions to God and direct all your passions, such as lust, anger, pride, and so forth, toward God.

    -Aphorism 65.

     

    When such lovers of God dwell on earth, their forefathers rejoice, the gods dance in joy, this earth becomes sanctified.

    -Aphorism 71.

     

    Among them there are no distinctions based on caste, learning, beauty of form, birth in a high or low family, wealth, possessions, and the like.

    -Aphorism 72.

     

    Arguments are to be avoided.

    -Aphorism 74.

     

    Because there is no end to them and they lead to no

    satisfactory result.

    -Aphorism 75.

     

    The Bhakta should cultivate harmlessness, truthfulness, purity, compassion, faith and other such virtues.

    -Aphorism 78.

     

    To love the eternal Truth- this indeed is the greatest love.

    -Aphorism 82.

     

    Whoever believes in this auspicious description of divine love by Narada, and has faith in these teachings, becomes a lover of God, attains the highest beatitude, and reaches the supreme goal of life.

    -Aphorism 84.

    </blockquote>

     

     

    [This message has been edited by skeptic (edited 03-17-2002).]


  11. But isn't Krsna just a path to God in the same way that Jesus, Rama, Siva, and Muhammed, not to mention countless others, are? And if he is a path to God then isn't it possible for someone to devote themselves entirely to him as a means to achieve God? Krsna isn't really God, right? He's the embodiment of God. He's an incarnation of Vishnu. At least that's what I've read.

     

    [This message has been edited by skeptic (edited 03-16-2002).]


  12. Might sound like a stupid question but....

     

    Is it possible to practice bhakti yoga to an impersonal God? I mean, are there any sects of Hinduism which partake in this type of worship. On first impression it might seem like an oxymoron (some people say that about me, without the "oxy" part though). But it does seem feasable that one could worship Krishna or Rama or Shiva, etc as an avatar of an impersonal God while upholding the virtues of bhakti.

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