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raga

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Everything posted by raga

  1. I'm assuming this discovery is born of search for the "three thakurs" philosophy. Did you ever manage to track it down to any older sources?
  2. raga

    dogma

    A devotee well engaged in bhajan is surcharged with svarupa-sakti. His mere presence transforms others. Look at Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pilgrimage in South India. Read about his devotees, the mere scent of whom, when caught by the wind, would transform people's hearts. The transforming power of such devotional presence is not, however, a matter of mere arguments - it is a matter of being experienced. You can claim that tasting an apple is a hoax, and that the real nectar is in reading books about apple trees and in campaigning for apple prosperity, and that the alleged taste of apples is just the propaganda of apple merchants. The man who has tasted an apple will only laugh at you. There are, of course, unfortunate people who miss out the experience of transformation via personal presence. Even in Krishna's presence, some just wanted to kill him. The fresh-hearted and the sincere, the fortunate souls with fit devotional samskaras, will however be quickly uplifted in the saint's divine halo.
  3. Bugs die everywhere. That's not an uniformly applied standard and therefore doesn't contribute to taking or not taking cocoa. It is, however, slightly stimulating (and people get frequently "hooked" on chocolate), so better use carob.
  4. raga

    dogma

    Yes, with personally I meant physically. Written and recorded media are nowhere as fit carriers of spiritual impact as personal meeting. To be in the proximity of a devotee filled with svarupa-sakti on virtue of his practice is powerful indeed, it is hard to escape the halo.
  5. raga

    dogma

    Unregistered or anonymous users badmouthing others is a common internet phenomenom. They are known as trolls. You can only really draw conclusions about religious denominations or any other groups on the basis of people who are forthcoming in identifying themselves. I personally believe that many trolls are as much victims as they are guilty; the Internet has offered their minds an outlet previously unseen, captivated them. Aside that, particular atmospheres attract particular kinds of people. If one is to assess the efficacy of Gaudiya Vaisnavism as a faith, one would do well to spend time personally with committed practitioners, observe their lives, attitudes and religious practices. Now, of course many don't do this, but judge on the basis of internet presence. That is unfortunate, and I believe a lot of it has to do with the immaturity of the medium itself.
  6. I would assume that to be well known in Gaudiya Mission.
  7. As noted in the quoted passage itself, based on the words of Jyotisekhar Das, disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I believe Jyotisekhar was / is from Gaudiya Mission.
  8. I am assuming that goes without saying. I also cannot think of any other practicing "trad." Gaudiya who would to his views on sex and sexuality -- sahajiyas aside, but they are pretty much universally recognized as such, regardless of on which side of the Gaudiya Math fence you are. Should it be of interest, my views on the topic are available here.
  9. Okay, so who else are you talking about except Jagat?
  10. raga

    dogma

    That certainly is a global phenomenom, but you cannot deny that it isn't particularly pointed in the rather exclusive and confrontational style of the Gaudiya Math ("war against illusion and all forms of false religion", "we are born haters of the sahajiyas" etc.). If we are looking at this in the specific context of Gaudiya Vaisnavism (as I understood the earlier poster wished to), I cannot see how one could escape this.
  11. raga

    dogma

    I realize that, but the principle seems to be deeply engrained in the back-bone of the Gaudiya Math. Then, "compromising" with "heritics" is frequently seen as "watering down" or "faithlessness".
  12. "Some ignorant people say that there is no siddha-pranali in the Gaudiya Matha. This vicious propaganda is erroneous in all respects. In the authentic literature written by Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami entitled Sat-kriya-sara-dipika and Samskara-dipika, which is a supplement to Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, there is an account of the tridandi-sannyasa samskara. . . . In this sannyasa samskara, dor-kaupina, bahir-vasa and the sannyasamantra for taking shelter of gopi-bhava are also given. The eka-dasa-bhava (eleven aspects of gopi-bhava), namely sambandha, vayah, nama, rupa, yutha, vesa, ajna, vasa, seva, parakashta-svasa and palya-dasi-bhava, are contained within this gopibhava. The identity of the siddha-deha is determined by the instructions of Sri Guru in accordance with the ruci of the sadhaka. One’s own nama, rupa, vayasa, vesa, sambandha, yutha, ajna, vasa, parakashta-svasa and palya-dasi bhava given by guru is called siddha-pranali." -- B.V. Narayana Maharaja in the 4th chapter of Prabandha-pancakam An interesting related note is to be found in Bhakti Vikasa Swami's upcoming title on the life of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati: Out of around ten thousand initiated disciples, he gave thirteen babaji initiations. Jyotisekhara recalls some of their names: Bhaktisvarupa Puri Goswami; Tirtha Goswami; Bhaktisaranga Maharaja, etc. They were so absorbed in bhajan that even when it was time for eating they were unaware. ... Sarasvati Thakur gave trija (third birth), or manjari-svarupa (siddha-svarupa), to thirteen of his disciples; not all at once, but at different times, according to the rules given in Sat Kriya Sara Dipika - a book by Gopal Bhatta Goswami, which describes the different rituals for Vaishnava rites. Their samadhis were also made according to Sat Kriya Sara Dipika. Some of the samadhis are at Mayapur, and some at the Radha Damodar temple in Vrndavan. Some were grhasthas and some were tyagis. Since that time, in our line (Sarasvati Thakura's line), no one has given this trija. . . . He warned his babaji disciples not to tell their manjari svarup to others. They would stay in the Mathas, in the three dhamas of Vrndavan, Navadvip, and Puri, and attend all the temple functions, such as lectures and kirtans, but they themselves would not give lectures in the temple. They would go for bhiksa (begging for alms) and go outside for nagar sankirtan. They wouldn't go for preaching and most of their time would be spent in bhajan. Sometimes they would help with the Deity worship, or arcana. Perhaps Sridhar Maharaj wasn't among them -- I couldn't say. Of interest is also the fact that... Srila Govinda Maharaj received "siddha-pranali" from his father, Sri Nitaipada Dasadhikari, a Guru in the "Nityananda Vamsa". -- Muralidhar Das @ 04/15/05 07:34 PM, Audarya-Fellowship
  13. raga

    dogma

    "Fire at will" is the principle for all, young and old alike.
  14. raga

    dogma

    Harshness and lack of love arise when there is strictness and orthodoxy without realization -- it lacks life, and hearts are not touched. Broad-mindedness, liberality and an outer abundance of love, while pleasant, do not stand to benefit the sadhaka in want of orthodoxy and strictness. When orthodoxy and strictness are combined with diligent devotional practice and the good wishes of the saints, all sincere aspirants stand to be benefited in such company.
  15. Oh, Tapas! I know him from some years back, I am from Helsinki myself. What is troubling him, do tell? Even in the photo on the site, he looks a bit exhausted -- he doesn't have the same vitality on his face he had some five or six years back when we last met. He certainly has all my good wishes for a swift recovery.
  16. Would help people in directing their prayers if you mentioned who he is.
  17. Niyama-seva kirtana - Songs in the temples #2 (Video: 2005) The sacred month of Niyama-seva, occuring annually in October-November, is brimming with devotional festivity. In the village of Radha-kunda, the devotees circumambulate the village to the accompaniment of kirtan, stopping at different temples to relish songs authored by the blessed poets of the Gaudiya Vaishnava heritage. This is the second of a series of four compilations of songs. Kirtaniyas: Sanatana Das Babaji, Visvambhara Das Babaji. Part 2: In Praise of Gaura 1. Goracanda Piritaho (VDB) • 2. Nitai Guna Mani • 3. Marame Legeche Gaura (SD) • 4. Dadhi Mangal at Raghunatha Das Gosvami's samadhi Total running time: 28:50 min http://www.lakeofflowers.com/entry/niyama-seva ============ Nityananda Trayodasi - 2006 Nityananda Trayodasi, the appearance day of the eccentric saint Nityananda, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dear companion, is one of the popular celebrations of the spring, occuring on the light fortnight of the month of Magh. This is a recording of the kirtana at 2006's festival. Total running time: 61:56 min http://www.lakeofflowers.com/entry/nityananda-trayodasi-2006
  18. Haridas is one of my great heros. He indeed embodied the best of both worlds. Just see, even in the forests of Benapole, in solitude, he converted a wicked prostitute into a great paramahamsa! I need to collect a proper record of his life-story into one place with due references. The story of the Muslims' mistreating him is one of my favorites, it both embodies his great nistha in the name and the love Gauranga had for him. Allow me to quote a touching passage from Caitanya-bhagavata. The full episode is narrated in Chaitanya Bhagavat 1.16, and Mahaprabhu narrates it as follows (2.10.35-50): ---- Then, Sri Chaitanya bestowed his mercy to Haridas. “Look at me, Haridas!” he called out. “Your body is better than mine, your birth is more exalted than mine. My heart was broken in thinking how the sinful Muslims tortured you. Listen, listen, O Haridas! When the Muslims beat you village after village, and I saw your suffering, I took my chakra and descended from Vaikuntha to sever their necks. Despite their beating you to the verge of death, in your heart you thought of their welfare. “You didn’t think that they were trying to kill you. In your heart, you only saw them as good people. Due to your seeing them as good, I was powerless to act against them; my chakra became bereft of power. Due to your desire, I couldn’t kill them. Seeing them ferociously beating you, I fell on your back. The blows meant for you I took on my own body. The marks are still there, I do not lie! Whatever other reasons made me come to this world, I swiftly came as I couldn’t tolerate your suffering. Advaita always sings of my glory. My Nara knew the truth about you.” The Lord knows how to glorify his devotees. What will he not say, and what will he not do for their sake? For his devotees’ sake, the Lord will swallow a blazing fire. The Lord yearns to become the servant of his devotees. Sri Krishna doesn’t know anything but his devotees. He doesn’t consider even the infinite universes as equal to one of his devotees. Anyone who isn’t pleased with Krishna’s devotees is a wretched sinner – his past must be full of sins.
  19. Some may be suffering from the bodhisattva syndrome. Others have more on their lips than in their hearts. We do have the precedent of Haridas Thakur, for example, who was most certainly filled with the ambrosial tastes of the Name, but regardless reached out to the world and also participated in assemblies where nama-tattva was discussed, voicing his objections over the views of those who failed to understand the Name's glory and might.
  20. I do have a very vivid memory of the fourteen assertions on raga-bhakti you made at Gaudiya Discussions, assertions that you miserably failed to prove. I am not interested in entertaining you, please save yourself the trouble. I have more important things to do than unraveling wannabe-siddhanta with wannabe-gopis.
  21. We've been over this a dozen times with Kripabuddhi over at Gaudiya Discussions - in all his different avatars. Much of the time he has no consistent philosophy, but rather just makes it up as he goes. Consider, then, how much energy you want to spend addressing the issue with him. There are more worthy ways of spending one's time.
  22. Good interviews (and a good project) -- Congratulations. A curious accent you've picked up, is that intentionally develop or has it come about of its own accord?
  23. It's a bit hard to follow the discussion when there's just one guest after another. Could you please at least type in some nick in place of "Guest" even if you post without registering?
  24. While the thread is here, let me post my thoughts as sent to a friend who asked for some via e-mail. -- I also noted Sudhir's editorial at Sun. While I have become increasingly disinterested in addressing the Gaudiya Math rhetoric where preachers seek to assert their own position by disparaging largely unrelated third parties, I believe that checking facts, names and the such, would be the responsible thing to do. The current editorial features a "Ramdas Babaji", who is labeled as a kanistha-adhikari. First of all, is this the heritage of discord the Gaudiya Math seeks to propagate? Is it any wonder if such statements solicit a negative response from the Gaudiya world out there? Regardless, it is known from B.R. Sridhar's other works that the person whom he went to meet was Pandit Ramakrishna Das Babaji. Ramdas Babaji, disciple of Radharaman Caran Das Babaji, a renown preacher in his own right, is a very different individual from Pandit Baba. The responsibility of a follower is to, even if he chooses to publish such statements from his predecessors, to know what he presents. Otherwise, the burble in all its verbosity becomes a mere laughing-stock, and the preacher in his frenzy also risks putting others in harm's way via eliciting Vaisnava-aparadha towards unrelated parties. Now, of course one may then say that all Vaisnavas aside Sarasvati Thakur (and his eminent followers) are categorically kanistha-adhikaris, three-shell Gosais and three-lakh-chanting mahatmas all alike – perhaps even unoffendable. I would find such an attitude very sad indeed. That would effectively devaluate the airing of lofty concepts, "subjective nature of divine revelation" et al, to fanciful word-mongering. --
  25. Does having the now mercy-filled Ksamabuddhi on Sridhara's and Sudhir's side even it out at all?
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