Yashoda_dd

Just yesterday I have met a lady that used to be a full-time temple devotee. She approached me in the middle of the street, calling my karmi name. I did not remember her. She was wearing two sets of neck beads, wearing tilaka on her neck too, big kavacha... still I could not recognize her. Maybe it was because of cigarette in her mouth. But, then she gave me her photo from temple days and then I could remember her. Just because her guru left spiritual path, and because she wanted time-off (she married and I saw her small daughter with her), for some very short period of time, we fall from spiritual path. Her faith in institution is stronger then her faith in herself or in the truth. I realized that all the signes from outside can not help her, all tilak and mala, all kavachas of this world will not help her, if she does not approach a realized sadhu.

Dear Sirona, it is very nice to hear that you are worshiping Lord Krishna on the altar, together with Arjuna. "an animal presumablely dead" does not have to be truth, because those beautiful creatures leave their feathers around all the time, while they are still living. Lord Krishna is always decorated with peacock feathers on his head, on his crown. Those feathers are always in the directon of Srimati Radharani. You can find your inspiration in Delhi deities Sri Sri RAdha Partha Sarathi (Sri Krishna, the driver with his beloved Srimati Radhika).

Personal experience is always more powerful when it comes to thinking about the reality and about God's place in our lives. Your mother is lucky, actually. She knows she has very short time to stay with us. She has time to prepare everybody, including herself (as much as that is possible, because we do not want to die). I am sure you will use all the knowledge, all the sastra verses, all your experience so your family can go through this hell easily. My mother did not have this kind of mercy: she died on her birthday, with heart attack, she fell down on street, without knowing she HAD a heart situation. I wish I could be there with her (I was in Bombay at that time), I wish I could feed her and wash her, and stay with her untill the last tick of her heart.

Thank you for your good wishes "dasa", "Gauracandra" and "Tarun". I am not so young any more (I turned into 37), but since I have no family on my own and only few godbrothers and godsister around me, I welcome your greetings from the core of my heart. My name Yashoda devi dasi comes from my ex-guru Iskcon Sridhar Swami (he is still initating), but in 1999 when I received reinitation from Srila Narayana Maharaja, he did not change it. I live in Croatia (crying in Vrindavana) and at this point I am trying to help Syamarani devi to publish book on Jaiva Dharma lectures by Gurudev, from this Winter tour. Your postings are sadhu-sanga for me. I learn a lot from your postings and I can not start a day without Audarya Fellowship. Your servant, Yashoda dd

I agree it is a good day (it is my birthday).

Yet, Pita prabhu, well said. We all agree it is not important what dress we wear, or what religion we believe in. It is all only from outside. After meeting Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Kazi understood a lot about a vaisnava culture and soul, but he did not stop being a Muslim. If "Hindus" do not care very much for their own people and educate them more into their own Vedas, teach them about the eternity of soul and their relationship with God, then I agree it is better at least to take their babies from the streets, together with hungry widows and aids seek people and give them at least human meal, which "hindus" forgot to.

I am really surprised how quick some person can be when they want to mark someone as criminal. Srila Prabhupada never said anything wrong about Mother Theresa, only that she was a relief worker. I think that says enough. In 1973 someone mentioned Mother Theresa to Srila Prabhupada. At that time he heard about her for the first time. In January 1977 Srila Prabhupada mentioned Mother Theresa in conversation, when someone mentioned a relief worker. It would be very interested to know if Srila Prabhupada met personally with Mother Theresa. Not only vaisnava devotees are bhaktas. There are millions of bhakta around us, in all the religions in the world. Anyone who chants the name of God is a devotee.

From a web page: "Mother Teresa has dedicated her life to helping the poor, the sick, and the dying around the world, particularly those in India." We should not forget about the first out of ten rules: not to blander any devotees who dedicated their life to serve God. Imagine people say that about Srila Prabhupada: did Srila Prabhupada rape small children? Did Srila Prabhupada distribute drugs to maintain temples like his disciples did in USA? Firstly, we have to be sure if accusation is true, and then prove it. Not to blunder any saintly person. Mother Theresa did not just make a lot of prasadam and come to the major squre in the city to distribute it. No. She took dying people and MAINTAIN them. Give them clothes, food and keep them warm in cold Calcutta winters. She payed for their funurals. She took babies and maintained them. It takes a little bit more money then just make some prasadam and distribute it. I was personally in Mayapur, when an old lady in white sari came to take prasadam inside the temple compound. She was refused, because she was coming for a second time that day. Devotees were scared they would spend more money if she would start coming regulary. How many devotees would join Srila Prabhupada, if Srila Prabhupada would initiate the fifth command - "eternaly to be poor, without a personal possesion"? It means no silk, no servants, no golden cups, no opulent maha prasadam?

In 1995 and in 1996, I was serving in Calcutta temple. Once, I went with another lady devotee, to meet Mother Theresa. We stayed for a praying ceremony, I saw her chanting her beads, I talked a little bit with her, I saw her giving bananas and cheese sandwiches to poor people. I saw nothing wrong. When I looked into her eyes, I saw nothing but a desire to help others. I am sorry to dissapoint some who says she did not help. She was a very, very short old nun. She does not say she is a saintly person, but if one goes to Calcutta slams and live with those people a little bit, then one can see what she did and why. I was involved with selling very expencive prasadam burgers for Indian standard, very costly pizzas and cakes. When we wanted to garland her with maha garland from Sri Sri Radha Govinda, she said, "I will give it to Mother Mary" in the cortyard (there was a live size statue of Mother Mary).

No reason for doubts. Jains were there. I did not see them, because Christians took almost all the video recordings. Pope was sitting in the middle, on high vyasasan, lik a guru to all of them. And all other representatives were sitting around him left and right in few rolls, so jains were sitting somewhere behind, but I heard speaker mentioning them. The lady Hindu was speaking, I do not know who was she, about love and peace and understanding. She was dressed in sari with no other marks. Again, vaisnavas could chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra, then it would be world-religion gathering. My opinion is, their gathering was not fully succesfull without vaisnavas. I wait for another chance.

About blue eyes: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada also had blue eyes: there is one very special song written by Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja, "Sri Sri Dayita-dasa-dasakam". This is an English translation of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's ten prayers offered in the mood of separation, reflecting on the disappearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarswati Thakura. 8. I am possessed with the desire that you reveal your all-auspicious divine form to this world. The unparalleled charm of your long, narrow, bright, blue eyes simply mock the beauty of the crescent moon. Your teeth possess an indescribable luster. You are gentleness personified. Your fine countenance resembles a lotus flower decked with hundreds of petals. The divine strength of your long graceful arms is matchless. Oh! With no further delay, kindly accept this fallen soul as your servant. Oh Dayita das, I am hoping against hope to be embraced within the fold of your divine company.

"Sri Radha-Krpa-Kataksa-Stava-Raja", verse 7 (song spoken by Lord Siva in a conversation with Gauri in the Urdhvamnaya-tantra) mrnala-vala-vallari taranga-ranga-dor-late latagra-lasya-lola-nila-locanavalokane lalal-lulan-milan-manojna mugdha-mohanasrite kada karisyasiha mam krpa-kataksa-bhajanam? Your soft arms are like fresh, delicate lotus stems elegantly swaying in the waves. Just as a creeper dances in a gust of wind, Your restless bluish eyes flash an enthralling glance. Your charm entices Madana Mohana Himself to follow after You, and when meeting, You steal away his mind and then give him shelter in his spellbound condition - O Srimati Radhike, when, oh when will You bestow upon me Your merciful sidelong glance?

I have been watching it for few minutes. Unfortunately, I have not seen any vaisnavas there. At one point, all different religion groups started their peace praying (ceremonies). I wish vaisnavas were there with Hare Krishna maha-mantra.