theist

I don't have a camera that can capture a photo of the atma. But i know what you mean and the answer is never. Someone may want to put a hit out on me. Anonymity is my best defense.

This should be clear in our consciousness as we chant Hare Krsna. Hare is a call to Mother Hara or Radharani to please show us mercy and engage us in the devotional service of Krsna. We don't worship Krsna separate from Radharani or Her separate from Him.

This gets to the heart of it. What is the difference between a humble man in India (a Hindu) on his knees, bowing to the Supremecy of the Lord and offering a prayer to Him and another man (a Christian or Muslim or even a member of no religion doing the same in Palestine, Europe or the USA? Does God only hear prayers that are in sanskrit or Bengali? Or Hebrew,Greek and English. Prayer is prayer. And it is prayer that is a Vaisnava practice. It is the dovetailing of one's consciousness to line up with the will of the Lord that makes one a Vaisnava. It doesn't matter if one lives in a little Christian sectarian box or a Hindu sectarian one. It is a painful waste of time to talk to such small minded fools wherever they are found.

Yes that is Alfred in his geek expansion. All praise to the computer and internet which allows frustrated geeky hermits like myself and many others to have a voice. Hilarious Sarvah but kinda scarey also in that is not far off from how I really look.

Here Here!! I remember some conversation from why back when where Srila Prabhupada was either at a Buddhist temple in Japan or just speaking about one and said the same thing, how their method of worship was exactly the same. Atheists should become Buddhists. All respects to the shaktyavesa avatar known as Lord Buddha.

Haven't met the Grays yet huh? They are real and quite nice folk.

A Hindu Temple? BY: MAHAVIDYA DASA (ACBSP) Jan 18, UK (SUN) — I'm interested to know why my local temple, Bhaktivedanta Manor, is constantly being presented to the public as a Hindu temple. After all, Bhaktivedanta Manor is one of Srila Prabhupada's many ISKCON temples. Can anyone remember when Srila Prabhupada tirelessly campaigned to promote His ISKCON as a Hindu organisation? Having said that, There is no doubt in my mind that Srila Prabhupada sought to engage Hindus in His ISKCON. There is also no doubt in my mind that, more importantly, Srila Prabhupada sought to engage EVERYONE in His ISKCON. Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jews, even the atheists. Srila Prabhupada did teach us about Hinduism, that's for sure, as much as he taught us about other religions, about impersonalism, about everything. We may consider ourselves "experts" on the subject of Hinduism. We may even consider ourselves "experts" on the subject of impersonalism. But.. When ISKCON is constantly being presented as a Hindu society, I consider this a gross misrepresentation of the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Are we to convince Muslims, Christians, Jews or atheists to become Hindus? Certainly not. Srila Prabhupada constantly stressed the non-sectarian nature of Krishna consciousness. I have never read in any of Srila Prabhupada"s books or heard Him ever instruct us to become Hindus. He taught us the science of Krishna consciousness, the science of self-realisation. So why is ISKCON being misrepresented as a Hindu society? Why do my local temple managers (this includes Kripamoya das) continue to promote Srila Prabhupada's temple, His institution, as Hindu? One answer that comes to my mind is the financial benefits. And just who profits from those? The "leaders" who promote grossly or subtly this misrepresentation. Let's look at who those "leaders" are. Kripamoya das is only one example. He is considered a senior devotee and disciple of Srila Prabhupada here in the UK. He is involved in the congregational development. He is considered a leader, Yet... I have yet to hear him speak up against the present situation at Bhaktivedanta Manor. I have yet to hear him speak up against the misrepresentation of his Guru's society. Why is that? Well... His family are some of the principal financial beneficiaries. Enough of Mahavidya dasa, Let's hear what Srila Prabhupada has to say. I am only providing a sample representation of Srila Prabhupada's teaching. All the following quotes may be found in Siksamrta . A compilation of Srila Prabhupada's letters. On Hinduism - Volume 2, Preaching to the Indian Community: "I am trying to implement the truth in this part of the world and it is the duty of the Hindus and Indians to help me in all respects." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sri Krishnaji, March 25, 1967 "Of course, there are many Indians who may be delighted to have a Hindu temple there, but we are especially interested in something else. Our plan is not to sponsor the Hindus or any other individual group. Our real purpose is to spread Krishna consciousness." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Yamuna, May 27, 1969 "I am not very interested to establish a Hindu temple. Perhaps you know from the very beginning I never described my movement as Hindu religion." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969 "We should not anymore think in terms of Hindu society. If we limit ourselves to Hindus then there will be many competitors like Christians, Mohammedans, Buddhists and so on. But if we preach the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in right earnest, it will be accepted throughout the whole world." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sriman Bankaji, March 13, 1970 "Regarding the Hindu centres in the foreign countries, none of them are bona fide. There is similar hodge podge center in London. Actually, Hindus and non-Hindus, everyone is at the present moment out of touch of the real science of spiritual knowledge." And... "The difficulty has become more acute on account of Rama-Krishna Mission's preaching that any opinion about religion is all right." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jayapataka, April 17, 1970 "We must avoid the risk of a separatist movement, unity is our purpose; just like in London where the Indians are starting their own Radha-Krishna temple. We want to avoid skin disease and the Indian people are like the tannery expert." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sriman Hariprasad Badruka, March 5, 1973 Kripamoya and his wife are both receiving independent salaries. He is a manager. His good wife teaches in the school. (She has been offered a position in the new Hindu school. Ref: Racism in ISKCON .) The Manor management refuses to disclose any information on who gets what. Here is what Srila Prabhupada said on the subject of financial remuneration.... "Any householder devotee who is working full time ( with his wife ) as a sankirtana book distributor, or temple managerial duties, artist, cook etc, shall be provided food shelter, and other bare minimum necessities by the temple itself. They should not cook their own meals separate from the temple meals. If they have children, then some minimal allowance may be given according to the number of children. If they want anything extra or over and above what the temple president sees as absolute necessity, then they should work outside--the temple cannot pay for anything beyond the bare necessities. And definitely, the BBT cannot pay any salary to anybody. Our philosophy is "simple living and high thinking"---not sense gratification. The temple president and leaders (elder students) must show this by example. Temple or ashrama means for renunciation and renounced persons. If one is engaged in self-realisation process, then his material necessities become almost nil. Persons who do not like this can work outside." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtiraja 12 01 1975 And on the subject of weddings... "We should not allow anyone to hold any function in our temple, otherwise than Vaisnava principle." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Hamsaduta, October 10, 1968 "Uninitiated couples cannot be married by us. We shall not take the responsibility of ordinary marriage maker. Our practise is to help devotees for advancing in Krishna consciousness ." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jaya Gopal, January 11, 1970 "Regarding using our temple for Marriage ceremonies for the Hindu community, if they contribute something to the temple they can use the temple and perform the marriage with their own priest, but we cannot take responsibility for marrying others who are not initiated by us." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Upendra, May 25, 1970 "You can allow the sacrifice in the Manor for Mrs. Mehta, but as with the weddings they must pay for the room.( Don't have it in the temple room.) She can bring her own brahmanas. Srila Prabhupada Letter to Patita Uddarana das, February 3, 1975 "Concerning marriages in the Bombay center as a means of income, if it does not disturb the daily routine then it can be done. However, the marriages cannot take place before the deity in the temple." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Surabhi, May 20, 1976

From Lama Yeshe (14th Dalai Lama) I never knew there was this most fundamental dissagreement between Buddhist schools on the nature of the self. Hopeful.

Hmmmm.... Never heard that interpretation before. Interesting insight.

Yes he uses that psuedo-bhakti talk of mimicing personalism to try to merge his thought with a Christian country. He says He instead of It but in truth means It. People are easily swayed.

Sri Yukteswar and his disciple, Paramahansa Yogananda

It is very confusing trying to understand what the Buddhists mean by reincarnation since they deny the existence of the self beyond the subtle material platform. Since they deny the existence of the self what could possibly reincarnate?

I think Paramahamsa Yogananda's Guru was Sri Yuktesvar. Impersonalist also but I never heard their was some connection to Ramakrsna.

This is supposed to prove what exactly in terms of Jesus Christ? Seems like you are still hung up on God only having sanskrit names which is beyond childish. Are you saying that Jesus Christ did not worship the Supreme Lord or something. Did Hiranyakasipu have Prahlada Maharaja initiated into a vaisnava mantra? So was he then not a vaisnava? How about Prithu Maharaja? Parasurama? You have to learn to judge by the qualities and not think you can tell who is a vaisnava by trying to check out the initiation ceremony pedigrees. Anyway I have nothing further to say to you that isn't in my previous posts. I find Hindu fanatics to be more interesting in such disagreements then Christian fanatics but ultimately both are the same waste of time. Chant the names of God. According to Lord Caitanya He has hundreds and millions of names. Pick your favorite and reconnect with Him.

No one is a hindu or christian or is;amist. Such are sectarian designations that only divide people into warring camps. We are all spiritsoul. Yes you are more generous that I. A temendous amount of goof influence is there. But on this board when someone speaks of jesus some nutjob will always pop up and talk about the Crusades or some other atrocity as if Jesus was there leading the charge.It was to them that I directed my remarks.

And later in John He says the Father is greater than I. Simultaneous oneness and difference. Wanna try again?

Oh thanks. That should have been obvious. You weren't offensive bro. I have never read anything you wrote that was offensive to anyone even in the heat of theological battle.

I am willing to say that anyone, on any planet, in any universe, and uaing whatever language they use to utter His name and who bows before the One Supreme Personality of Godhead is a Vaisnava. Guess what little boy...the world is bigger than the yard around your house and the Supreme Lord is Lord of everyone and not just Hindus.

You state the same thing. But when will you back up your claim and show EXACTLY where Jesus is opposed to Krishna?

The voice of another spiritsoul that is convinced he is a Hindu. You choose to ignore the statements of SP and SBST. That is your business. But by ignoring them no one here will accept that you are competent to speak on Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

I am convinced that if one cannot see that Jesus, or as Srila Prabhupada would always say, Lord Jesus Christ,is a Vaisnava then they have no understanding of what a Vaisnava is. The above poster thinks Vishnu is a god for those that live in India and read sanskrit instead of the One unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead that pervades all existence. This is tantamount to having placed one toe into the shallow wading end of the pool and thinking he is now swimming in the deep end. First get all the way into the water matarisvan, then learn to swim and then Krsna will lead you from the heart into the deep end of the pool. We are all wadders here for sure but you have only one wet toe at this point so you are the beginner of the wadders.

No perhaps about it. The Lord does enjoy the actions of His pure devotees because everything they do is offered with LOVE to Him.Yes He enjoys their offerings. But this gets PERVERTED when one thinks the Lord is enjoying the movement of his penis inside some female disciple while having intercourse and thinking he is Krsna and the woman is some gopi. Why in God's name would Krsna be attracted to participate in that scenario? It boggles the mind. And add further to the offense he uses Srila Prabhupada's name into the example.

May favorite Christian song.

Cool. When I read that sentence it was though someone else at written it. It has been a long standing habit of mine (one I am still trying to break) to speak in extremes but I had never heard you do so. BTW what does GSS mean?