sha

Peace be with you. Some letter's & words... {Qur'anic Wisdom } The Most Selfish One-Letter Word "I" Avoid It (Surah Al Kahf 18:34) The Most Satisfying Two-Letter Word "WE" Use It Surah Al An'am 6:71-72 The Most Poisonous Three-Letter Word "EGO" Kill It Surah Al Qasas 28:78 The Most Used Four-Letter Word "LOVE" Value It (Surah Al Rum 30:21) The Most Pleasing Five Letter Word "SMILE" Keep It (Surah Al Najm 53:43) The Fastest Spreading Six-Letter Word "RUMOUR" Ignore It (Surah Al Hujurat 49:12) The Hardest Working Seven Letter Word "SUCCESS" Achieve It (Surah Al Nur 24:37-38) The Most Enviable Eight-Letter Word "JEALOUSY" Distance It (Surah Yusuf 12:8-9) The Most Powerful Nine-Letter Word "KNOWLEDGE" Acquire It (of Allah & the Holy Qu'ran) Surah Ya Sin 36:2 Surah Yusuf 12:2 The Most Essential Ten-Letter Word "CONFIDENCE" Trust It (Trust in Allah's Guidance) Surah Yunus 10: 9 Surah Al Tawbah 9:51 source: http://forums.delphiforums.com/islamispeace/messages?msg=216.1 <center>

Gita 2.64 "The self-controlled man, by percieving objects with the organs <big>that are free from attraction and repulsion</big> and are under his own control, attains serenity, purity of mind, fitness for realizing the Supreme Self." vihAya kAmAn yaH sarvAn pumAMzcarati niHspRhaH nirmamo nirahaGkAraH sa zAMtim adhigacchati Gita 2.71 "One whose mind is not attached to any material object and<big> freed from all desires and without the feeling of 'I' and 'mine' alone</big> deserves to attain Supreme Peace."

B.Gita 2.55 Translation: The Blessed Lord said: "O Partha, when one fully renounces all the desires belonging to the mind and remains contented in the <big>Self alone</big> through the self, then he is called a man of steady Wisdom." (Gudaartha Dipika of Sri Madhusudana Sarasvati) There is a Sruti saying, "When all desires clinging to one's heart fall off; then a mortal becomes immortal and attains Brahman here." Kathopanishad 2.3.14 sa yo ha vai tat paramaM brahma veda brahmaiva bhavati nAsyA brahma vitkule bhavati, tarati zokaM tarati pApmAnaM guhAgranthibhyo vimukto 'mRto bhavati (Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.9) 'Anyone who realizes that Supreme Brahman becomes Brahman indeed. Anyone who does not realize Brahman does not exist in his spiritual Line. He overcomes grief, and raises above aberrations ; and becoming freed from the deep knots of the heart (created by Maya), he attains<big> immortality.</big>'

"Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings." Psalm 17:8

http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/07.21B.dean.scandals.htm# Predicting Presidential Scandals: Looking at Bush's New Vulnerability By John W. Dean

<center>Subhashita - Wise Sayings kAkaH Ahkwayate kAkAn yAcako natu yAcakAn kAkaha yAcakore madhye varam kAko na yAcakAn <font color="blue">When a crow finds food it calls for the other crows to join in. But when a beggar gets food he will remain silent till he finishes off his food. So if you want to choose between the life of a crow or a beggar, you are better off being a crow than a beggar</font> satyam mAtA pitA jnAnam dharmo bhrAta dayA sakhA zAnti patni kSamA putra SaDaite mama bAndhavAH <font color="red">Truth as one's mother, knowledge as one's father, righteousness as one's brother, kindness as one's friend, peace as one's wife, forgiveness as one's son, these six are considered as one's closest relatives.</font> paropakArArtham phalanti vRkSaH paropakArArtham vahanti nadyaH paropakArArtham dugdhanti gAvaH paropakArArtham idam zarIram <font color="blue">For others' benefit, the trees do bear fruits. For the welfare of others, the rivers keep on flowing. For the nourishment of others, cows pour out their milk. So also, this human body is meant for the service of others.</font>

Please get more information from these websites and book. HINDUISM, THE WORLD'S OLDEST RELIGION A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO A COMPLEX RELIGION http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/9410/hindu1.html http://www.amiahindu.com/

1275.1 99 Names of Allah 1. Allah The One Who has the Godhood, which is the power to create the entities. 2. Ar-Rahman The One Who has an abundance of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and exclusively for the believers in the Hereafter. 3. Ar-Rahim The One Who has an abundance of mercy for the believers. 4. Al-Malik The One with absolute Dominion, and the One Whose Dominion is clear of imperfection. 5. Al-Quddus The One Who is pure from any imperfection and clear of children and adversaries. 6. As-Salam The One Who is clear of every imperfection. 7. Al-Mu'min The One Who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him; and Who witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him. 8. Al-Muhaymin The One Who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures. 9. Al-^Aziz The Defeater Who is not defeated. 10. Al-Jabbar The One for Whom nothing happens in His dominion except what He willed. 11. Al-Mutakabbir The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creatures and of resembling them. 12. Al- Khaliq The One Who brings everything from non-existence to existence. 13. Al-Bari' The Creator Who has the Power to turn the entities from one state to another. 14. Al-Musawwir The One Who forms His creatures in different pictures. 15. Al-Ghaffar The One Who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again. 16. Al-Qahhar The Subduer Who has the perfect Power and is not powerless over anything. 17. Al-Wahhab The One Who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. 18. Ar-Razzaq The One Who makes the Sustenance reach His slaves. Sustenance is everything that benefits, whether halal or haram. 19. Al-Fattah The One Who opens for His slaves the closed worldly and religious matters. 20. Al-^Alim The Knowledgeable; the One for Whom nothing is hidden from His Knowledge. 21-22. Al-Qabid, Al-Basit The One Who constricts the sustenance by His Wisdom and expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy. 23-24. Al-Khafid, Ar-Rafi^ The One Who lowers whomever He willed by His Destruction and raises whomever He willed by His Endowment. 25-26. Al-Mu^izz, Al-Mudhill The One Who gives esteem to whomever He willed; hence there is no one to degrade him. The One Who degrades whomever He willed; hence there is no one to give him esteem. 27. As-Sami^ The One Who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument, or organ. 28. Al-Basir The One Who Sees all things that are seen by His eternal Sight without a pupil or any other instrument. 29. Al-Hakam He is the Ruler, and His judgment is His Word. 30. Al-^Adl The One Who is entitled to do what He does. 31. Al-Latif The One Who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them. 32. Al-Khabir The One Who knows the truth of things. 33. Al-Halim The One Who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them. 34. Al-^Adhim The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement, and Purity from all imperfection. 35. Al-Ghafur The One Who forgives a lot. 36. Ash-Shakur The One Who gives ample reward for a little obedience. 37. Al-^Aliyy The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creatures. 38. Al-Kabir The One Who is greater in status than everything. 39. Al-Hafidh The One Who protects whatever and whomever He willed to protect. 40. Al-Muqit The One Who has the Power. 41. Al-Hasib The One Who gives the satisfaction. 42. Al-Jalil The One Who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status. 43. Al-Karim The One Who is clear of abjectness. 44. Ar-Raqib The One from Whom nothing is absent. Hence its meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge. 45. Al-Mujib The One Who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him. 46. Al-Wasi^ The Knowledgeable. 47. Al-Hakim The One Who is correct in His doings. 48. Al-Wadud The One Who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them: Hence its meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and with which He spoke to Muhammad and Musa. It is not a sound, nor a language, nor a letter.) 49. Al-Majid The One Who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity, and Kindness. 50. Al-Ba^ith The One Who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment. 51. Ash-Shahid The One from Whom nothing is absent. 52. Al-Haqq The One Who truly exists, i.e., the One Whose Existence is confirmed. 53. Al-Wakil The One Who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon. 54. Al-Qawiyy The One with the complete Power. 55. Al-Matin The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted, and Who does not get tired. 56. Al-Waliyy The Supporter. 57. Al-Hamid The praised One Who deserves to be praised. 58. Al-Muhsi The One Who knows the count of things. 59. Al-Mubdi' The One Who started the human being, that is, He created him. 60. Al-Mu^id The One Who brings back the creatures after death. 61. Al-Muhyi The One Who took out a living human from seminal fluid that does not have a soul. He quickens the dead by giving the souls back to the decayed bodies on the Resurrection Day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge. 62. Al-Mumit The One Who renders the living dead. 63. Al-Hayy The One Who is attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh, and blood. 64. Al-Qayyum The One Who remains and does not end. 65. Al-Wajid The Rich Who is never poor. AlWajd is Richness. 66. Al-Majid The One Who is Majid. 67. Al-Wahid The One without a partner. 68. As-Samad The Master Who is relied upon in matters and is resorted to in one's needs. 69. Al-Qadir The One Who is attributed with Power. 70. Al-Muqtadir The One with the perfect Power from Whom nothing is withheld. 71-72. Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu'akhkhir The One Who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead whatever He wills and delays whatever He wills. 73. Al-'Awwal The One whose Existence is without a beginning. 74. Al-'Akhir The One whose Existence is without an end. 75-76. Adh-Dhahir, Al-Batin The One above Whom nothing exists and underneath Whom nothing exists; hence He exists without a place. His Existence is obvious by proofs. He is clear of the delusions of bodily attributes. 77. Al-Wali The One Who owns things and manages them. 78. Al-Muta^ali The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creation. 79. Al-Barr The One Who is kind to His creatures, Who covered them with His sustenance and specified whomever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy. 80. At-Tawwab The One Who grants repentance to whomever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance. 81. Al-Muntaqim The One Who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It may mean the One Who destroys them. 82. Al-^Afuww The One with wide forgiveness. 83. Ar-Ra'uf The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His Will to endow upon whomever He willed among His creatures. 84. Malikul-Mulk The One Who controls the dominion and gives dominion to whomever He willed. 85. Dhul-Jalal Wal-'Ikram The One Who deserves to be Exalted and not denied. 86. Al-Muqsit The One Who is Just in His judgment. 87. Al-Jami^ The One Who gathers the creatures on a day there is no doubt about, that is, the Day of Judgment. 88. Al-Ghaniyy The One Who does not need the creation. 89. Al-Mughni The One Who satisfies the necessities of the creatures. 90. Al-Mani^ The Supporter Who protects and gives victory to His pious believers. 91-92. Ad -Darr, An-Nafi^ The One Who makes harm reach to whomever He willed and benefit to whomever He willed. 93. An-Nur The One Who guides. 94. Al-Hadi The One with Whose Guidance His believers were guided, and with Whose Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them. 95. Al-Badi^ The One Who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example. 96. Al-Baqi The One for Whom the state of non-existence is impossible. 97. Al-Warith The One Whose Existence remains. 98. Ar-Rashid The One Who guides. 99. As-Sabur The One Who does not quickly punish the sinners. and Allah knows best. Source - http://forums.delphiforums.com/Islamic1/messages?msg=1275.1

<font color="red">'jnAna yajnena cA 'pyanye yajanto mAm upAsate, yekatvena pRthaktvena bahudhA vizvato mukham'</font> (Gita 9.15) 'Yet others sacrifice with the Yagna of Knowledge and worship Me in various ways as the One, as the Distinct and as the All-faced.' Worshipping Lord as the One, Undivided Pure Consciousness is the 'Advaita' or Non-Dualism. Adoring the Almighty as the Distinct is the way of Dvaita or Dualism. He is held as Distint from the 'Jagat' and the 'Jivatma' - the universe and the beings, both these categories dependent on Him. Invoking 'Iswara' Lord as the All-Faced is the way of Visishtadvaita or Qualified Non-Dualism. The universe and the beings in it are all the insentient and sentient aspects of the Body of the Lord. It is for this reason He is called the All-Faced. In whatever way the Lord is worshipped, it is acceptable to Him. These several ways of understanding the Lord by the devotees are ALL their respective 'Jnana-Yajnas' or Sacrifices of Knowledge. -Swami Chidbhavananda <font color="blue">"Whatever be your concept of God, be it with Form or Formless, hold fast to it and ardently worship Him. <big>But be not conceited that your concept alone of Him is the finale.</big> In the course of your Sadhana you will come to KNOW by His Grace that His Attributes and Forms are Inexhaustible.</big></font> -Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa <center></center>

SECRECY AND PUBLICITY THE Buddha said: "Three things, O disciples, are characterized by secrecy: love affairs, priestly wisdom, and all aberrations from the path of truth. Women who are in love, O disciples seek secrecy and shun publicity; priests who claim to be in possession of special revelation, O disciples, seek secrecy and shun publicity; all those who stray from the path of truth, O disciples, seek secrecy and shun publicity. "Three things, O disciples, shine before the world and cannot be hidden. What are the three? The moon, O disciples, illumines the world and cannot be hidden; the sun, O disciples, illumines the world and cannot be hidden; and the truth proclaimed by the Tathagata illumines the world and cannot be hidden. These three things, O disciples, illumine the world and cannot be hidden. There is no secrecy about them." http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg45.htm

THE LIE WON’T STAND Bush Administration Explanations for Pre-9-11 Warnings Fail the Smell Test Warnings Received From Heads of State, Allied Intelligence Services Specifically Warned of Attacks by Hijackers Insider Trading Also Clearly Warned of Attacks by Michael C. Ruppert http://www.fromthewilderness.com/cgi-bin/MasterPFP.cgi?doc=http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/051602_liewontstand.html

Women and Scriptures The following selection of verses are from Laksmi Tantra, Chapter 43, on the subject of women and their status in the Pancaratra tradition. <center></center> na samret kamini nindam karmana manasa gira yatraham tatra tattvani tatraham tatra devatah (62) A yogin should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I (Lakshmi) am, the realities are where ever I am the gods too are. yo bhinindati tam narim laksmima bhinindati yo bhinindati tam laksmi trailokyama bhinindati (64) He who abuses women abuses Laksmi herself; He who abuses Laksmi abuses the entire three worlds. jyotsnam iva striyam drstva yasya cittam prasidati napadhyayati yatkincit sa me priyatmano matah (66) He whose heart is gladdened by the sight of women, like moonlight, and who never entertains evil thoughts about them, he is most dear to Me. aruna hyapaga yadvattatha simantini vara yadasmi janani nama trayanam jagatamaham (69) As also the Aruna river, so too are all women revered as being sinless. mattanurvanita saksad yogi kasmanna pujayet na kuryad vrjinam naryah kuvrttam na smaret striyah (71) Knowing women as my direct manifestation, how can a yogi refrain from revering them? Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection. <center></center> The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section XLVI Bhishma said: "Respect, kind treatment and everything else that is agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage. Her sire and brothers and father-in law and husband's brothers should show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments. If they be desirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct on their part always leads to considerable happiness and advantage. "Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection. There where women are treated with respect, the very deities are said to be filled with joy. There where women are not worshipped, all acts become fruitless. If the women of a family, in consequence of the treatment they receive, grieve and shed tears, that family soon becomes extinct. Those houses that are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched by some Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendor. Their growth and prosperity cease. Women are disposed to accept the love that is offered to them, and devoted to truth. Women deserve to be honored. "Do ye men show them honor. The righteousness of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoyments also completely depend upon them. Do ye serve them and worship them. Do ye bend your wills before them. The begetting of offspring, the nursing of children already born, and the accomplishment of all acts necessary for the needs of society, behold, all these have women for their cause. <center></center> "By honoring women, ye are sure to attain to the fruition of all objects. Deities of prosperity are women. The persons that desire prosperity should honor them. By cherishing women, one cherishes the goddess of prosperity herself, and by afflicting her, one is said to afflict the goddess of prosperity."<small><font color="cfcfcf"> [This message has been edited by sha (edited 07-06-2002).]

AMERICAN JIHAD: Tue Jul 2, 9:02 PM ET By Ted Rall The Triumph of American Theocracy SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA-When someone tells you they're fighting for freedom of religion, there's a good chance they're really fighting for their freedom to make you follow their religion. Muslims, repeatedly accused of religious intolerance by American Christians since The Thing That Happened Last Fall, divined the intent behind Bush's statement, never retracted, that the United States' drive to topple the governments of Afghanistan ( news - web sites) and Iraq was a righteous "crusade." Indeed, the administration's "war on terror" has since involved a medieval- flavored assault on Islamic countries and groups. This holy war includes a military invasion-more than 100,000 U.S. troops have been stationed at new permanent bases in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan-all Muslim countries. And in on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Bush sided decisively withon Israel's vile Ariel Sharon ( news - web sites) by calling for Yassir Arafat's ouster. Anyone who hates Arabs is an ally when you're waging redneck jihad. Post 9-11 the Bushies rightly decried Taliban fanaticism (after sucking up to them, after funding them), but Mullah Omar looks nearly enlightened in light of the recent paroxysm of Bible-thumping among American leaders. The United States is substantially more religiously diverse than Afghanistan, not that you could tell by watching Bush, his Cabinet, the Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court ( news - web sites). First came a U.S. 9th circuit Court of Appeals ruling on June 26th, overturning a California law that requires public schools to lead students in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance-which includes the phrase "one nation, under God." This law is plainly inappropriate in a country that prides itself on free speech and free will. Forcing anyone to say anything, much less making children pledge loyalty, would be far more appropriate under a totalitarian dictatorship. This is America. My right to say my country sucks when I think it does is what truly makes America great. "Under God" was only inserted into the Pledge in 1954, at the height of McCarthyism. In a vote straight out of Politburo democracy, Congress passed the amendment unanimously, without debate, after a campaign by the right-wing Knights of Columbus. It's self-evident that a state-led pledge instituted at the behest of a Christian organization to acknowledge the existence of God violates the Constitution's First Amendment ban against the state sanctioning religion. "The recitation that ours is a nation `under God' is not a mere acknowledgement that many Americans believe in a deity," correctly wrote Judge Alfred T. Goodwin. "Nor is it merely descriptive of the undeniable historical significance of religion in the founding of the republic. Rather, the phrase `one nation under God' in the context of the pledge is normative." A Judeo-Christian God isn't "normative" in a country that's home to millions of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists. Our remarkable diversity precludes identifying any particular belief as the norm. But many so-called Christians obviously don't trust God to understand this, and feel compelled to shove Him down nonbelievers' throats in a most un-Christian manner. Those who consider God too wimpy to win His own converts include the members of Congress who passed resolutions condemning Judge Goodwin for respecting the Constitution they swore to uphold. Bush's press secretary, Ari Fleischer ( news - web sites), issued a tacit presidential invitation to California schoolchildren to disobey the court's ruling. And Attorney General John Ashcroft ( news - web sites) teamed up with California governor Gray Davis to help the school system appeal. Democrats Robert Byrd and Tom Daschle joined a chorus of aggro- Christians who are hell-bent on forcing the daughter of an atheist to say she believes in "God" whether she does or not, goddammit. Byrd called the court "stupid.Just nuts," Daschle added. Some are worried that other church-state linejumpers-the "In God We Trust" motto on our currency, requiring officials and court witnesses to swear on a King James Bible, politicians saying "God bless America" after speaking-may be threatened by the "one nation under God" decision. We should be so lucky. Bowing to a wave of distinctly un-Christian death threats, Goodwin issued a 60-day stay of his own ruling. Experts expect the right-wing Renhquist court to reverse the 9th circuit's decision-and the Supremes gave them plenty of reason for this belief on June 27th. That's when the same 5-4 majority that gave us the Bush interregnum endorsed Cleveland's patently unconstitutional school voucher program. It's pretty hard to separate church and state when state is funding church, but that's what happens in Cleveland's voucher system: 96.6 percent of taxpayer money originally collected for public schools goes directly to religious schools. But America's Christian jihadis are willing to trash the First Amendment-the very protection that allows them to worship freely-because controlling young minds means owning the future. Islamic extremists learned this back in the `80s when guys like Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites) laid out millions of dollars to found madrassas throughout war-torn areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Those religious schools were often the only place a young boy could go for shelter and food; as young men they emerged from years of indoctrination as hardened jihadis ready to die for Allah. These are the fanatics now out to destroy the United States and other Western nations. To be fair, however, there is a huge difference between those extremist Islamic nations and our own American theocracy. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the government would never ask taxpayers to pay for religious schools. (Ted Rall's new book, a graphic travelogue about his recent coverage of the Afghan war titled "To Afghanistan and Back," is out now. Ordering and review-copy information are available at nbmpub.com.) http://story.news./news?tmpl=story&u=/020703/7/1seou.html

Love will arise in your heart when you have no barrier between yourself and another, when you meet and observe people without judging them, when you just see the sailboat on the river and enjoy the beauty of it. ~ Krishnamurti

<font color="red">bhagavad bhakti hInasya jAtiH zAstraM japas tapaH aprANasya iva dehasya maNDanaM loka raJjanaM</font> (Hari Bhakti Sudhodayam 3.11) C. C. 2. 19. 75- Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: "<font color="blue">For a person<big> devoid of Bhakti</big> (Divine Love), birth in a high CASTE family, knowledge of many scriptures, performance of austerities (VAD) and penance, and vocal repeat of mantras are like<big> ornaments on a dead body</big>. Such ornaments simply serve the mundane pleasures of the general populace."</font><small><font color="cfcfcf"> [This message has been edited by sha (edited 06-30-2002).]

<font color="red">vasudeva sutaM devaM kamsa cANUra mardanamdevakI paramAnandaM kRSNaM vande jagad guruM </font> I humbly prostrate to the Spiritual Master of the universe, Lord Krishna, Who is the darling Son of King Vasudeva, Who destroyed the evil Kamsa and Canura demons, and Who is the Supreme Joy of Mother Devaki devi. The world Teacher, Lord Krishna was instructing the seekers in the verse- 18.66 of Gita, "give up all dharmas (Varna Ashrama Dharma)" and embrace "bhagavata dharma" - i.e. "mAm ekam zaraNam vraja" (EXCLUSIVE SURRENDER to Lord Himself) which is Prema Bhakti, Selfless Divine Love. After Gita ends giving the final verdict, Bhagavatam (Parama hamsyaam Samhitaayaam) begins. The first verses of Srimad Bhagavatam (Parama hamsyaam Samhitaayaam) proclaim: dharmaH projjhita kaitavo 'tra paramo... and goes beyond the Dharma (VAD) and liberation mentioned in the verse 18. 66. of Gita. <font color="blue">tyaktvA svadharma caraNAmbujaM harer bhajan napakvo 'tha patet tato yadi yatra kva vAbhadram abhUdamuSya kiM ko vArtha Apto 'bhajatAM svadharmataH</font> (Srimad Bhagavatam 1. 5. 17) Has evil ever befallen him anywhere in any womb or birth, who adores the lotus feet of Sri Hari neglecting his own 'dharma' (religious order and social duty), even if he dies at a stage when he is yet unripe in his devotion, or falls from his 'sadhana' (preparation)? On the other hand, what purpose has been achieved by those who fail to worship God, through devotion to their socalled own 'dharma' (VAD)? <font color="red">sa vai puMsAM paro dharmotato bhaktir adhokSaje ahaituky apratihatA yayA' 'tmA samprasIdati dharmA svanuSThitaH puMsAM viSvaksena kathAsu yaH notpAdayed yadi ratiM zrama eva hi kevalam</font> (Bhagavatam 1. 2. 6, 8) That alone is the highest Dharma of men, from which follows devotion to Sri Krishna,- a devotion which is absolutely motiveless and knows no obstruction, and as a result of which the soul realizes the All Blissful God and thus attains His Grace. A Dharma well performed is but labour lost, if it<u> fails to generate Love</u> for the stories of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. <font color="blue">AJjAya ivaM guNAn doSAn mayA ' 'diSTAnapi svakAn dharmAn saMtyajyaH sarvAn mAM bhajet sa ca sattamaH dharmaH satya dayopeto vidyA vA tapasAnvitA madbhaktyApetam AtmAnaM na samyak prapunAti hi</font> (Bhagavatam 11. 11. 32 and 11. 14. 22) He who knowing the merits and demerits of VAD - (religious duty and its opposite) gives up ALL Dharma even as sanctioned by Me, and WORSHIPS Me in Love, is the BEST among sages. Dharma (VAD) joined to truthfulness and compassion or learning coupled with austerity, never WHOLLY purifies the heart and mind which is DEVOID of Devotion to Me (Lord Krishna). <font color="red">mannimittaM kRtaM pApaM maddharmAya ca kalpate mAmanAdRtya dharmo 'pi pApaM syAn matprabhAvataH</font> In Padma Purana Lord says- The SIN that is performed for MY sake is NOT sin, it is 'Dharma'. But the 'Dharma' that is PERFORMED without surrendering to Me is sin. That is why Saint Sri Tulasidasji said - <font color="blue">'tajyo pitA prahlAda vibhISaNa bandhu bharata mahatArI bali guru tajyo kAnta brajavantani bhe saba mangala kArI</font> Prahlada Maharaj left his father, prince Bharata gave up his mother, Vibhishana escaped from his brother, Ravana, Bali Maharaj ignored his guru and Gopis renounced their own husbands and family. All these Saints had become great due to their EXCLUSIVE LOVING SURRENDER to their Lord but not through VAD.

I do not have the exact number and the Sanskrit text but it is a well known fact and can be found in many English translations of Mahabharata including the one by Dr. Kamala Subramaniam. That was the reason for Queen Kunti devi's invoking the gods of heaven to impregnate her with their divine power to continue the Kuru dynasty. Thus the Pandu sons were born to Kunti devi: Yudhishtara - by Lord Yama, Bhima- by Wind god, Arjuna- by King Indra of heaven. And the twins, Nakula & Sahadeva- by Ashvini devatas, were born to Madri. Due to the 5 boons received by Kuntidevi, the Kuru dynasty was saved. The first one was used to invoke sun god and Karna was born before her wedding, whom she disowned. At the time of funeral, only queen Maadri accompanied her husband in 'sati' as she was the cause for the downfall and death of her husband, Pandu who was cursed not to engage in sexual intercourse with his wives. Queen Kunti had to continue on with her life for the welfare of the five young sons (3 of her own and two of Madri's) until they were ready to rule the kingdom.<small><font color="cfcfcf"> [This message has been edited by sha (edited 06-29-2002).]

<font color="red">"Let me (if need be) be born as man or celestial, as wild beast or mosquito, as animal or worm, as bird or any other creature. What harm can accrue from these embodiments, if in every such birth my heart always feels inclined to disport in the waves of Supreme Bliss consisting in the REMEMBRANCE of Thy lotus feet ?"</font> <font color="blue">"O Lord! What does it avail a man to be a student brahmacari, a householder, an anchorite, a mendicant or one outside these four orders? O Master of all beings! Bestower of all good! He whose heart-lotus comes in Thy possession - to him Thou becomest his 'Own', and Thyself bearest his worldly burdens."</font> (Sivanandalahari. 10, 11- Jagadguru Sri Sankaracarya)

<font color="red">bhagavad bhakti hInasya jAtiH zAstraM japas tapaH aprANasya iva dehasya maNDanaM loka ranjanaM</font> (Hari Bhakti Sudhodayam 3.11)

In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, verse 2.147, Srila Sanatana Goswami quotes Sammohana-tantra: <font color="red">gopayed devatam istam gopayed gurum atmanah gopayed ca nijam mantram gopayen nija-malikam</font> <font color="blue">“One should hide one’s ishta-deva, one should hide one’s guru, one should hide one’s mantra, and one should hide one’s japa-mala.”

Here is an excerpt from the article written by Sri R.K.Tripathi, published in the English and Hindi translation of Sri Tulasdasa's 'Sri Rama Carita Manasa' by Professor R. C. Prasad. <font color="blue">" So far as the poet (Saint Tulasi dasa) himself is concerned, he seems to consider 'nama-japa', i.e. repetition of name, to be the BEST means of Bhakti. He has devoted many pages in Balakanda to explain the importance of Nama - Name, especially of the name of Rama. Firstly because the name and the named are one, secondly because it is the name which makes the named intelligible and is, therefore, even superior to 'Rupa' - Form. <big>The Name is superior even to Rama. It is the mediator between the abstract Absolute and the Personified Absolute.</big></font> Through 'Nama-japa' Hanuman was able to have a control over Rama. <font color="red">In the Kaliyuga especially, 'Nama-Sankirtana' is most effective. The name of Rama is effective whether it is uttered with love or with spite, in anger or even in moments of boredom and laziness. The importance of 'name' is so great that even Rama CANNOT describe it FULLY!</font> When the climax of Bhakti is reached, the devotee leaves every thing to God, does not ask for any thing and accepts only that which the Lord considers best for him. When the Lord is pleased to appear before the devotee, He offers to grant him whatever he wants and does not impose His will on him. This is because He wants that the devotee should first be free from all desires and then be granted Bhakti. <font color="blue">When the Bhakta has NO personal desires, he begs ONLY Bhakti of the Lord."</font>

Check out the link I posted above and also http://www.san.beck.org/GoodMessage/Gospels-Index.html It is given under 'Thomas 2'. These are the secret words which the living Jesus spoke, and which Didymos Thomas wrote. You may also get a thorough explanation from Bible scholors and monks as the quote does seem to have a deeper spiritual meaning. Another quote from: Thomas 3 Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'Look, the sovereignty is in heaven," then the birds of heaven will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. But the sovereignty is within you and outside you. "When you know yourselves, then you will be known and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty." Thomas 5 Jesus said, "Know what is before your face, and what is hidden from you will be revealed to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not be manifest."

<font color="blue">Jesus said, "Let one who searches, not cease searching until one finds; and when one finds, one will be troubled, and when one has been troubled, one will marvel, and one will reign over the All."</font> Thomas 2 "Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and the one searching finds, and to the one knocking it will be opened. "Or what person is there among you, if his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake? If, then, you who are bad know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. "Thus everything which you wish that people should do to you, you should do so to them also; for this is the law and the prophets. "Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the road that leads away into destruction, and there are many entering through it; but narrow is the gate and hard the road that leads away into life, and there are few finding it. <font color="red">"Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. From their fruit you will recognize them. Does anyone pick grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? "Thus every good tree produces beautiful fruit, but the rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear beautiful fruit. Every tree not producing beautiful fruit is cut down and thrown into fire. So from their fruit you will recognize them.</font> "Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the sovereignty of heaven, but the one doing the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day: 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name expel demons, and in your name perform many powerful things?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me workers of lawlessness.' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and practices them, will be like a sensible man, who built his house on the rock. And everyone hearing these words of mine and not practicing them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and pounded against that house, and it fell, and its fall was great." Matthew 7:7-27 <font color="blue">"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and whoever searches finds, and to the one knocking it will be opened. "What father among you whose son asks for a fish, would instead of a fish give him a snake? or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? Therefore if you being bad know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."</font> Luke 11:9-13 http://www.san.beck.org/GoodMessage/Jesus-Har-30.html#2

Here are more excerpts from another board for better understanding :

Too Stupid To be President http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/index.htm