talasiga

August 9, 2001

Originally posted by shvu:

I used to be a big fan of Krishnamurti[JK] until 2 years back, when I read UG. Now I am a bigtime fan of UG, although I wouldn't agree with everything he says. My search was destined to end with UG. Thanks to UG, I have nothing to seek anymore.

Cheers

Whenever I see the word "fan" the semantics of "groupie" arises in the Mind.

Noti Noti !

August 9, 2001

Satyaraja "It has already been said that duality vanishes when the ultimate reality is known.." (MK 4.73)

talasiga This is Shankara commentary. I think Satyaraja is cryptically suggesting that although Shankara considers scripture illusory its illusory nature dissolves when the Ultimate is reached.

This suggestion may also be applied to Tantra which Satyaraja decries. That is, the illusory nature of Tantra disappears when the Ultimate is reached.

Some even say that "Art is the Lie that reveals the Truth".

On the subject of art and Tantra, I note that one of the great aesthetic scriptures is the Saundarya Lahiri, a Tantric poetic dedication to the Devi. Who wrote it?

SHANKARA.

So much for the so-called ipso facto dichotomy between Vedaanta and Tantra.

Satyaraja Sankara's thesis is that this Ultimate Reality has to be ascertained with the help of the scriptures alone.

talasiga My reading shows that he said scripture is illusory and serves only as A means to the realisation of Reality.

(there is a significant difference between "a" and "the")

Satyaraja This Ultimate Reality is an Absolute non-dual substance.

talasiga You are limiting the Absolute to a singular (non-dual) status. This is your problem.

The Absolute is Unlimited. Therefore I can accept the saint who says "It is Absolute in its Singularity" one day and the next day says "It is Absolute in its Multiplicity".

Satyaraja Hari is an Absolute reality.

talasiga I dont think Vallabha would have said this. He would have said "Hari is THE Absolute Reality". Satyaraja seems to be having a problem with "a" vis a vis "the".

references:

Saundarya Lahiri of Shree Shankara Bhagavatpaad

Advaita Ved[aa]nta, A Philosophical Reconstruction Professor Eliot Deutsch, University of Hawaii Press,ISBN 0-8248-0271-3

talasiga@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by talasiga (edited 08-09-2001).]

August 8, 2001

so far this little SS lovefest has provided these two references

ref 1 - Satyaraja dasa:

Sankara's thesis is that this Ultimate Reality has to be ascertained with the help of the scriptures alone.

ref 2 - shvu:

Shankara's bhAshya ..... says [not in full],

"Scriptures, Guru, teaching, etc are all unreal and have no real existence..........."

Shvu asks, "Now reviewing SD's statement in the light of this bhAshya, what is the inference and what is the connection?"

Talasiga says, "Let the spark plug make its own connections".

Nieti nieti

August 8, 2001

Originally posted by Satyaraja dasa:

Sankara's thesis is that this Ultimate Reality has to be ascertained with the help of the scriptures alone.

This assertion needs to be reviewed in the light of Shankaracharya's own statement in his Maandookya Kaarikaa commentary 4:73 which please see.

August 8, 2001

Originally posted by Bhakta Shakta:

if it is so enjoyable but not laughing material why is it in the joke area?

huh huh huh?

Animesh has been always making me to laugh Posted Image

August 8, 2001

Originally posted by rand0M aXiS:

WHY IS THE BRUNETTE CONSIDERED AN EVIL COLOR?

When was the last time you saw a blonde witch?

Fay Dunaway in Superman (1980's)

August 7, 2001

August 7, 2001

Becoming a Real Woman

First Year

Autumn Schedule

FEM 101 Stupid Combat Techniques

FEM 102 You, Too, Can Build a House

FEM 103 Learn to Keep an Open Heart without Crying

FEM 104 Christmas Stockings are not Santa's Condoms

Winter Schedule

FEM 110 Changing the Laundry Tap Washers

FEM 111 Changing the Early Morning Response.

FEM 112 Parenting Misconceptions

EAT 100 Learn to Live, Get a Cook

EAT 101 Marry a Cook

ECON 001 Hiding whats yours without acting secretive

Second Year

Autumn Schedule

SEX 101 how to fake orgasms without sex

SEX 102 Morning Dilemma: if you wake up happy, dont panic!

SEX 103 How To Stay Awake Before Sex

FEM 201 How to Put the Toilet Seat Down Yourself

Winter Schedule

FEM 210 Remoteness: The Control Factor

FEM 211 Children Are not your Security Blankets

FEM 212 Enjoying Driving

FEM 213 Cleaning the Mirror without Depression

FEM 230A The Importance of Being Earnest

Spring Schedule

FEM 220 Swearing Without Guilt (Australian Lecturer)

FEM 221 Fluffing Feathers after Laying an Egg

FEM 222 Real Women Give Clear Directions

FEM 223 Thirty Minutes of Silence is NOT

Enough Time to Read Your Mind

FEM 230B The Importance of Seduction

Course Electives

EAT 101 Cooking withOUT Tofu

EAT 102 Zen of Less Eating Utensils

EAT 103 The Joy of Burping and Belching

FEM 231 Integrative Listening

FEM 232 Saying Something as You Speak

FEM 233 How to handle a compliment

ECON 001C Sharing Souls

All in fun.

Not meant to HERt anyone Posted Image

August 7, 2001

Vallabha's "Shoodh (pure)" Advaita is really the classical Advaita of Shankara/Gaudapad minus the later "advaita" accretions such as Prakashananda's drishtishisti vaad, and couched in the theistic terminology of Ramanuja's Vishishta Advaita.

All of which please see.

[This message has been edited by talasiga (edited 08-07-2001).]

August 7, 2001

Originally posted by suryaz:

Yes, I was using temple lingo and at the same time repeating the use of language (by someone) in the relative context at the give period in history. I do not really know what the correct punctuation format is in this situation. On the one hand 'Vedic' is correct and on the other hand I was repeating Madhu's said word. (Anybody know?)

Humm! The "Great Dividing Range"; that spans a huge distance. I am in Victoria. Do I know you? I am interested to talk with you. If you want to write to me I am suryaz@hotmail.com

I was not attacking your language. Rather I was promoting the humble, glorious tambourine which is seen on ancient pre-christian era frescoes and sculptures in India along with the sacred six holed bamboo flute.

________

The Great Dividing Range, one of the longest ranges in the world - what a span - Bartle Frere, Mount Tambourine, Mount Warning, Mount Banks, Cathedral Mountains.....

Shivaaya Namah Aum Shivaaya Namah Aum Shivaaya Namah Aummmmm Namah Shivaaya

Dha - Thina Naga Dhina / Dha a a Thin Naga Dhin - /Dha a a Thin Naga Dhin - / Dha - Thina Naga Dhin -

So, how could you know me?

I am lost in the highlands.

Drowning out the pain of separation.

Your unknown friend

talasiga@hotmail.com

August 7, 2001

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

You know, I've heard that the rosary has 54 beads + a cross (similar to the Krsna bead on japa mala). Can anyone confirm this? It would be very interesting that this just so happened to be half 108.

Yes thats right 54 beads within the mala but with a further large bead (or, sometimes, an "iconic button") for the Fatima prayer and also a further 5 on the extended strand for the Crucifix. My spouse tells me that these "extras" are for the preliminary prayers before the recitation of each round of 54.

For more info see www.theholyrosary.org

______________

Just like 108 which numerologically arrives at 9, the Catholics have this thing about 9 also, like there is the Novena - mass each day for 9 days as a particular practice - and there is also the 54 (5+4=9), as already mentioned and a 54 day rosary practice.

But getting back to the topic of left vs right, the Catholic chaplet [japa mala practice] uses both the left and right hands as if to indicate unity in diversity - just like the Hindu greeting "namaskar" two hands joined together or MuraliManohar playing the flute with BOTH HANDS Posted Image

heathen talasiga@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by talasiga (edited 08-07-2001).]

August 6, 2001

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

I find Catholics interesting because I find them to have the only remaining elements of mystic Christianity.

I was discussing about Ramanuja with my wife (of Irish Catholic ancestry) and she was struck by the similarity between Ramanuja's epistemology and certain facets of Catholic epistemology.

_____________

"[Lord] why hast thou forsaken me?", (Jesus or Radha)?

_____________

Personally I dont use mala when chanting but the rosary that my wife's aunt got for her from Spain/Portugal made out of pressed rose petals is quite a temptation. I keep suggesting to her to leave the Buddhism and go back to her Catholic roots Posted Image just to see that rosary honoured.

______________

But, Gauracandra, what about the orthodox denominations, dont you see the Christian Mysteries in them also?

lonely talasiga@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by talasiga (edited 08-06-2001).]

August 6, 2001

Originally posted by Bhaktavasya:

While loathe to bring up the 'M' word, isn't core Mayavad way of thinking that everything is Maya; sex is maya, family life is maya, the entire world is maya or illusion. On the other hand, a personalist sees everything as an extension of God's energy and this world not as false, but as real although temporary. Love is the transforming element. Sex without love and respect is mundane and empty, even if you're just doing it for reasons of procreation.

It is an amazing phenomenon, that after almost 40 years of glaring examples during iskcon rocky renunciates history, there are sannyasis still obsessed over the evils of sex life. I say "if it's not your ashram, butt out of it".

Yes you have taken the point right out of my mouth and thus saved this forum from another smug Talasiga haiku.

Thank you Bhaktavasya.

Brava !

Down with Mayavada !

August 6, 2001

Originally posted by suryaz:

Certainly guitars and tambourines, as with mrdangas and kartals were used in kirtan (both in the temple and on Hari-nam) in Australian up until 1975. Then Madhudvisa changed the focus and emphasised more "Vedic" musical instruments for temple programs, although occasionally guitars were used for Hari-nam. In the1980-90’s however, travelling ‘sankirtan’ bus-parties headed by Ramai Swami were equipped with electric guitars and all the typical Jazz, Rock and modern instruments. Again chanting, English lyrics and Indian bhajans were engaged.

Tambourine is a most "vedic" instrument.

August 2, 2001

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

(a)I was wondering what people would think about temple singing that was done in English,

(b) and with western tunes?

© some people don't even like modern musical instrumentation in the kirtans ,

(d) what do you guys think

(a) Fine ! After all Bengali, Hindi etc are vernaculars just like English. As long as the names Radha, Krishna and so on are untouched (as far as possible within the idiosyncrasies of speakers of various languages including the variety within India itself).

(b) "western tunes" - what are these? Most traditional folk music throughout the world tend to be based on ancient airs as is the Raag based music of the indian sub continent. Sometimes when I have taken a friend, who might do Celtic or Irish singing, to my parents' house, my father, on hearing a song for the first time, will immediately render it on his beat up harmonium and sing a bhajan in Hindi to the "new" melody. The Celtic mode may carry the yearning of the song just as well as an Indian mode.

Personally I dont see a great divide between

east west melodies per se. (The division tends to be reinforced more by attitude, style and approach to the music.) If the focus is soulful, one may find passage along any of the various streams blissful.

According to some traditions the lineage of all instruments can ultimately be traced back to the human voice. The voice - the most traditional and yet the most universal!

In the early days in Melbourne there was singing with just bongos, guitars and Upendra with his violin. Kirtans were ecstatic.

(d) "Guys"? what about the "gals"? They have made some of the most significant contribution to bhajans in the "west".

July 31, 2001

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare