theist

Sridhar Maharaja implied this. Bhakti Sundar Govinda M. told me this directly. (although I am not really his follower) And I asked Narayana M. the same question and got the same exact answer, (likewise - although I am not really his follower). Then I told Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan M. what Narayana M. said about ABC's for beginning students and he thoroughly agreed.(likewise - although I am not really his follower). So for me case closed.

So then quote them. Until you hear from Srila Prabhupada directly then I suggest you stop putting his name on your beliefs.

TRANSLATION SB 3.29.10

When a devotee worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offers the results of his activities in order to free himself from the inebrieties of fruitive activities, his devotion is in the mode of goodness.

PURPORT

The brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, along with the brahmacaris, grihasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis, are the members of the eight divisions of varnas and asramas, and they have their respective duties to perform for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When such activities are performed and the results are offered to the Supreme Lord, they are called karmarpanam, duties performed for the satisfaction of the Lord. If there is any inebriety or fault, it is atoned for by this offering process. But if this offering process is in the mode of goodness rather than in pure devotion, then the interest is different. The four asramas and the four varnas act for some benefit in accordance with their personal interests. Therefore such activities are in the mode of goodness; they cannot be counted in the category of pure devotion. Pure devotional service as described by Rupa Gosvami is free from all material desires. Anyabhilashita-sunyam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. There can be no excuse for personal or material interest. Devotional activities should be transcendental to fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation. Pure devotional service is transcendental to all material qualities.

Devotional service in the modes of ignorance, passion and goodness can be divided into eighty-one categories. There are different devotional activities, such as hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, offering prayer, rendering service and surrendering everything, and each of them can be divided into three qualitative categories. There is hearing in the mode of passion, in the mode of ignorance and in the mode of goodness. Similarly, there is chanting in the mode of ignorance, passion and goodness, etc. Three multiplied by nine equals twenty-seven, and when again multiplied by three it becomes eighty-one. One has to transcend all such mixed materialistic devotional service in order to reach the standard of pure devotional service, as explained in the next verses.

TRANSLATION 3,29,9

The worship of Deities in the temple by a separatist, with a motive for material enjoyment, fame and opulence, is devotion in the mode of passion.

PURPORT

The word "separatist" must be understood carefully. The Sanskrit words in this connection are bhinna-drik and prithag-bhavah. A separatist is one who sees his interest as separate from that of the Supreme Lord. Mixed devotees, or devotees in the modes of passion and ignorance, think that the interest of the Supreme Lord is supplying the orders of the devotee; the interest of such devotees is to draw from the Lord as much as possible for their sense gratification. This is the separatist mentality. Actually, pure devotion is explained in the previous chapter: the mind of the Supreme Lord and the mind of the devotee should be dovetailed. A devotee should not wish anything but to execute the desire of the Supreme. That is oneness. When the devotee has an interest or will different from the interest of the Supreme Lord, his mentality is that of a separatist. When the so-called devotee desires material enjoyment, without reference to the interest of the Supreme Lord, or he wants to become famous or opulent by utilizing the mercy or grace of the Supreme Lord, he is in the mode of passion.

Mayavadis, however, interpret this word "separatist" in a different way. They say that while worshiping the Lord, one should think himself one with the Supreme Lord. This is another adulterated form of devotion within the modes of material nature. The conception that the living entity is one with the Supreme is in the mode of ignorance. Oneness is actually based on oneness of interest. A pure devotee has no interest but to act on behalf of the Supreme Lord. When one has even a tinge of personal interest, his devotion is mixed with the three modes of material nature.

Tamas

Kaplia to Devahuti:

TRANSLATION SB 3.29.8

Devotional service executed by a person who is envious, proud, violent and angry, and who is a separatist, is considered to be in the mode of darkness.

PURPORT

It has already been stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Second Chapter, that the highest, most glorious religion is the attainment of causeless, unmotivated devotional service. In pure devotional service, the only motive should be to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is not actually a motive; that is the pure condition of the living entity. In the conditioned stage, when one engages in devotional service, he should follow the instruction of the bona fide spiritual master in full surrender. The spiritual master is the manifested representation of the Supreme Lord because he receives and presents the instructions of the Lord, as they are, by disciplic succession. It is described in Bhagavad-gita that the teachings therein should be received by disciplic succession, otherwise there is adulteration. To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure devotional service. But if one has a motive for personal sense gratification, his devotional service is manifested differently. Such a man may be violent, proud, envious and angry, and his interests are separate from the Lord's.

One who approaches the Supreme Lord to render devotional service, but who is proud of his personality, envious of others or vengeful, is in the mode of anger. He thinks that he is the best devotee. Devotional service executed in this way is not pure; it is mixed and is of the lowest grade, tamasah. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura advises that a Vaishnava who is not of good character should be avoided. A Vaishnava is one who has taken the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the ultimate goal of life, but if one is not pure and still has motives, then he is not a Vaishnava of the first order of good character. One may offer his respects to such a Vaishnava because he has accepted the Supreme Lord as the ultimate goal of life, but one should not keep company with a Vaishnava who is in the mode of ignorance.

Yeah! Tell it like it is Mahak.

I should like to disagree with beggar and his analysis of Srila Prabhupada's motives. Do you have some proof to back up your speculation as to why Srila Prabhupada did this or said that? Hot line in to his mind maybe? Beware of such speculative tendancies.

Tal fruit settled the question for me until I am fit to enter that realm and see first hand.

This is a fruitless quibble.

Hello guys,

 

I've recently got into hinduism and there is a concept i can not get my head round. This concept is of 'Brahman'. Is Brahman another name for Krsna? Is it another name for nature? Is it the formless aspect of GOD (Krsna)? Is it some energy that we think of as GOD? Are any of the above correct?

 

Could someone please help me understand this.

 

Thanks.

Brahman is a subordinate aspect of Krsna in the same way that the sunlight is subordinate to the sun. Krsna is the energetic and Brahman is his energy. Brahman comes from Krsna, Krsna does not come from Brahman. Everyone knows that sunlight comes from the sun and not the other way around. Same difference between Krsna and the Brahman.That sequence is very important to remember.

Brahman is sometimes a name for Krsna as in "the Supreme Brahman." But you and I are also Brahman. Because we come from Krsna we share His nature in minute degrees. Just like the photon of sunlight has the same qualities as the sun but minutely. We are photons of Krsna, minute Brahman's, whereas Krsna is the Supreme Brahman. Brahman or spirit is our substance as well as Krsna's. In this we find our oneness with Krsna.

By nature I think you mean material nature. Material nature comes from Brahman due to Krsna's agitation of Brahman. Like the potter who makes a clay pot. The potter takes some formless substance called clay and molds it to form a pot. Then he may paint that pot some combination of red, yellow and blue. When he is finished the pot looks nothing like the clay from which it was formed. This is a basic example.

Yes, you are correct, it is the formless aspect of Krsna. The Brahman effulgence is the aura of Krsna. And because He is unlimited naturally His aura is also without limit. Because he is pure goodness his aura is also pure goodness.

Yes we can think of this energy as God but a higher conception includes realization of the person behind his aura. We should never think of the energy without also thinking of the energetic source of that energy. Just like we realize that when we experience the sunlight we know it comes from the sun globe.

All of the above are correct but now we need to refine the understanding of each.

By reading the books of Srila Prabhupada this will all become more and more clear to us.

Hare Krsna

A side benefit of studying sastra daily.

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> Active Minds May Keep Alzheimer's at Bay

01.23.07, 12:00 AM ET TUESDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time, scientists have shown that learning slows the build-up in the brain of protein plaques and tangles that are the signature of Alzheimer's disease. Although the study was conducted in mice, it does reinforce the idea that, in humans, maintaining an active mind may help delay or even prevent Alzheimer's disease.

"This has shown for the first time that using your brain can protect you physically," said Kim Green, co-lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Irvine. "We show that when you do this, it causes changes in the brain, and these changes are protective."

"It's an interesting study, and part of what it does is advance the notion that mental exercise has a protective effect against Alzheimer's," said Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 4.5 million Americans have the brain-robbing disorder, a number that has more than doubled since 1980. Many more suffer from cognitive impairment, which could be a harbinger of Alzheimer's.

Many experts believe that Alzheimer's is caused by a steady accumulation of amyloid plaque proteins in the brain.

Previous studies had shown that "mental exercise" could delay the onset of the disease, but the proof came only in the form of memory and other cognitive testing measures.

[...]

krsna how could you? Do I detect some impishness?

For me, it doesn't come naturally. God is not something I see, and no matter how many appeals I have made to Him, no matter how much time I spend meditating on Him, it seems it does no good. Especially in the West, immersed in a sea of information and technology, the presence of God seems like an impossibility.

Please don't feel that God ignores you. It just is not true. He has been with us for all our births and deaths in this material world just waiting for us to turn to Him all the while even as we ignore Him and try our best to forget Him. he never abandons us. Who could ask for a more loving friend? "Us" includes you.

Yet I still struggle to make a connection with Him, and I go to the temple at least once a week, no matter how much I feel He is ignoring me. I meditate on him often, and I've set aside a few hours of everyday to chant.

This proves your sincerity. Why would God ignore a sincere seeker. "Seek and thee shall find". It's a guaruntee. The Lord loves you. He knows who you really are, His very child, how could He ever abandon a being of His own making? Not possible.

If you accept this then that means there must be something else at work here.

Most if not all aspiring devotees pass through phases like this and more than once. The beginnings of separation can manifest as a sense of hoplessness. "Why would He abandon me." And from this feeling an intesifying of our desire to unite with Krsna grows. Krsna holds Himself back and then makes His presence known once again.

The danger is that in our present state of being under the influence of the material mind we may give up and seek some immediate gratification. Then when that fails again as it always does we will try again to find Him. The union with Krsna and then separation and again union are spiritual reality. But as conditioned souls the mind interfers.

When that happens we need to take the aid of spiritual intelligence. Intellecually we know God's nature is not to abandon us. Intellectually we know He will always rescue the seeking soul. Intellectually we know there is NO chance for happiness in the material world and so what intelligent choice do we have other than to keep seeking God?

However, my doubts about God are only increasing and I feel a growing sense of emptiness and discontent as the days go by.

I have experienced this and came to realize that my doubts were not really growing, i was just becoming aware of doubts I had been carrying for a long time. In the cleansing process of Krsna consciousness a lot of old dust is raised.

My reluctance to meditate is growing, and so is my despair, as I don't know what more I can do to make a connection with God.

That is a very advanced realization that there is nothing more you can do. And it is a fact that there is really nothing any of us can do to cause Krsna to reveal Himself to us. He reveals Himself by His own causless mercy. We are helpless in this sense.

All we can do is to prepare ourselves to be fulling accepting of that mercy when it comes.

So keep doing as you are and be patient if the results you think should be there don't arrive exactly according to your schedule. Thiese things happen on Krsna time.

Please accept my respects.

When i take quotes using diacritics, then it pastes in a scrambled way, i know Balarama font changes it back but its not listed in the fonts here. How do you take quotes from veda base? I also see devotees have the reference at the bottom, is there some way of bringing that up automatically too when you quote? pls help,

Funny... I had the problem of posting here from vedabase and it showing with Balarama font which is unreadable to most including myself. And since the idea of offering a post is to make it as readable as possible to the readers I sought for a way to get rid of the Balarama font. I like toit post exactly as Srila Prabhupada had it printed... without such fonts.

Fortunately the kind souls at Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library have provided a very easy and fast converter box so what ever I post here from vedabase I run first through there.

Anyone interested here is the link.

http://www.bvml.org/books/fonts/convertor.html

Interesting, intriquing actually.

These may have to be funded by charities, universities and governments: pharmaceutical companies are unlikely to pay because they can’t make money on unpatented medicines. The pay-off is that if DCA does work, it will be easy to manufacture and dirt cheap.

This is why healthcare should not be viewed as a captalist venture. No harm in making some money but it should never be the dominant factor.

Cipla maybe? They stepped up with AIDS drugs in Africa showing some heart.

Another consideration that might act as a block is the fact that cancer research is a very big time industry. At some point a cynic like me will ask if these researchers really want to find a cure or just keep the "searching" going on.

TRANSLATION SB 3.29.22

One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramatma, is situated in every living entity's heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes.

PURPORT

It is stated clearly herein that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His plenary expansion of Supersoul, is present in all living entities. The living entities have 8,400,000 different kinds of bodies, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living in every body both as the individual soul and as the Supersoul. Since the individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, in that sense the Lord is living in every body, and, as Supersoul, the Lord is also present as a witness. In both cases the presence of God in every living entity is essential. Therefore persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance.

If, without this preliminary knowledge of the Lord's omnipresence, one simply attaches himself to the rituals in a temple, church or mosque, it is as if he were offering butter into ashes rather than into the fire. One offers sacrifices by pouring clarified butter into a fire and chanting Vedic mantras, but even if there are Vedic mantras and all conditions are favorable, if the clarified butter is poured on ashes, then such a sacrifice will be useless. In other words, a devotee should not ignore any living entity. The devotee must know that in every living entity, however insignificant he may be, even in an ant, God is present, and therefore every living entity should be kindly treated and should not be subjected to any violence. In modern civilized society, slaughterhouses are regularly maintained and supported by a certain type of religious principle. But without knowledge of the presence of God in every living entity, any so-called advancement of human civilization, either spiritual or material, is to be understood as being in the mode of ignorance.

---

"Therefore persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance."

Why do I refuse to enter into this realization of purified goodness?

Why am I seemingly satisified to attach myself to this religious sect or that and remain a separtist, estranged from the Lord and all others?

Why have I built this box of petty hatred and envy to live in as if to protect myself, cutting myself off from Krsna and all His parts and parcels, my very eternal Friend & brothers and sisters?

TRANSLATION 3.29.21

I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation.

PURPORT

In purified consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, one sees the presence of Krishna everywhere. If, therefore, one only engages in Deity worship in the temple and does not consider other living entities, then he is in the lowest grade of devotional service. One who worships the Deity in the temple and does not show respect to others is a devotee on the material platform, in the lowest stage of devotional service. A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Krishna and try to serve everything in that spirit. To serve everything means to engage everything in the service of Krishna. If a person is innocent and does not know his relationship with Krishna, an advanced devotee should try to engage him in the service of Krishna. One who is advanced in Krishna consciousness can engage not only the living being but everything in the service of Krishna.

---

From this I take it that we are expected to graduate to the level of seeing the Paramatma everywhere and within everyone and not just be satisified with the routine temple worship.

Eventually we will develop the understanding that every living being is actually a living temple of the Lord and the Lord is standing there on the altar of everyone's heart.

Nah on the Bramajyoti. Booorring...No fun there. Let's find the desire to play with Krsna.

SB 3.29.21: I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation.

SB 3.29.22: One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramatma, is situated in every living entity's heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes.

SB 3.29.23: One who offers Me respect but is envious of the bodies of others and is therefore a separatist never attains peace of mind, because of his inimical behavior towards other living entities.

SB 3.29.24: My dear Mother, even if he worships with proper rituals and paraphernalia, a person who is ignorant of My presence in all living entities never pleases Me by the worship of My Deities in the temple.

SB 3.29.25: Performing his prescribed duties, one should worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until one realizes My presence in his own heart and in the hearts of other living entities as well.

SB 3.29.26: As the blazing fire of death, I cause great fear to whoever makes the least discrimination between himself and other living entities because of a differential outlook.

SB 3.29.27: Therefore, through charitable gifts and attention, as well as through friendly behavior and by viewing all to be alike, one should propitiate Me, who abide in all creatures as their very Self.

Good to hear from you again Pankaja. Dealing with the material mind is really a b**** for all of us. You are not alone in that. Sounds like you are coming into a good space now.

Always remember Krsna and never forget Krsna.

The right proportion of omegas 3 to 6 is found in naturally in all hemp seed products such as hemp seed protein powder [best: lowest in fat], hemp seed meal, hemp seed butter, hemp seeds.

 

For flax seed it is absorbed the best in flax seed meal. The tastiest is organic golden flax seed - sweet and nutty, somewhat like wheat germ. The brown flax seed meal is more bitter.

 

Other sources of omegas are: nuts such as almonds, Brazil nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, and walnuts; sea vegetables such as arame, kombu, nori, and wakame; seeds such as pumpkin and sunflower; plus avocados and acai.

 

 

I have never tried hemp before but I think I will order some protein powder and give it a go.

I have been using the brownflax seeds. because they were cheaper but now I will try the golden. Is the difference in the processing or are they distinct strains of flax.? Which has higher nutritional value Guest?

Since socialism is strongly against the caste system and strives to dismantle any hierarchical social strucure, what is the Vaishnava view here on the caste system? Is it hereditary or based ones gunas? Strictly speaking it can't be both since no two brothers are the same, yet have the same parents.

 

I've spoken to Vasihnavas from different sects about their view on the caste system and some say it is birth based while others say it is gunas and action based.

According to the TV series on Ramayana and Mahabharata caste is determined by action only, but why is there those vasihnavas who ignore this and say it is by birth-family only?

By gunas as I understand it. Like a child born in a the family of a doctors he has an extra advantage of learning the science of medicine and becoming a doctor himself. But until he himself completes medical school and passes all qualifications he cannot practice medicine as a Dr. We see that two brothers born in the family of Dr.s turn out differently. One may complete the process and become a Dr. also while the other may turn out to be a drug dealer.

Birth has it's advantages but gunas rule in the end.

Basically all are born sudras and gro from there. In this kali-yuga that growth is severly stunted. basically 99% remain sudras some with vaisya or ksatriya or even brahmana tendancies but usually the sudra aspect remains fairly dominant.

Best not to bother with the idea of caste as the dominant active gunas become obvious in a person as he lives their life. Other than that is is impossible to tell who is btahmana or sudra,

Another and even better reason to lay caste considerations aside is that suc are based solely on material criteria. Real vision is to see everyone equally as spiritual parts of Krsna and relate to them as such.

This vision not only takes us beyond the caste system but even beyond all other forms of material vision impairments.

Unlike the gross atheist communism of recent experience ,theistic communism based on Krsna consciousness so all species of life are also seen as citizens with rights to life being respected.

This means no animal slaughter is allowed. Trees are respected and deforestation is prohibited. The environment is kept clean because it is a God-given duty for man to be the caretaker of the Earth and all it's inhabitants.

When compared point for point with anything the atheistic communists have to offer Krsna consciousness is far and away the better choice. Even accepting the good and valuable points the atheistic communist may sometimes offer those very points find their perfection only when dovetailed to Krsna concious understanding.

I don't have a copy of the Vedabase but there is a question I would love to get an answer to.

 

Could someone check and see if there are any references at all in the Prabhupada Vedabase where Srila Prabhupada quotes these books:

 

Sri Krishna Samhita

Chaitanya Siksamrtam

Kalyana Kalpataru

Saranagati

Jaiva Dharma

Bhagavat Lecture

 

If the books are not mentioned then we may certainly wonder whether he had ever read them.

Sounds like a formula for some needless speculation to me. What if there is no mention of these books in particular? That would not prove rather he had read them or not only that he did not refer to them in his books.

A vaisnava acarya can do whatever is necessary because he hasw everyone's best interests at heart. What I am speaking of is the rampant speculation, pretense that one knows the mindset of the acarya. Read the posts, this "maybe he meant to do this" or he "must have made this statement to patronize believers of another religion". This is what made me speak up, not the transcendental trickery which is what Krsna does all the time. I never tire of hearing of actual events like Krsna as Rancor or other events which may tax mundane morality. What I do tire of is the constant second guessing of the acarya, saying he ":really did not mean this literally" or "he was saying this to appease". When one pretends to adop[t the mindset of the acaryas, this is dangerous and not acceptable under any circumstance.

 

In ChCh there is a dispute between gaura ganodesa dapika, saying Prahlada came as such and such vaisnava saint in Chaitanya pastimes. Another latewr acarya dispute4d this, but srils prabhupada sets the example by not questioning the motive nor the meaning of either source. Our position is to just absorb the nectaqr, and not question the motives of the mahabhagavata.

 

haribol, ys, mahaksadasa.

 

Haribol, babhru, hope all is well with ya

Don't misunderstand me mahaksa I have spoken up on the same issue as you did a couple posts back and unfortuntately it will arise again I am sure. I am with you on challenging this c***. It has to stop. The devotee belongs to Krsna and we have no right trying to use him or his words in the service of our preconceived mis-conceptions. This is Ravanna in action not Hanuman.

It blows my mind how anyone can make such strong professions on how they are a "Prabhupada man" and yet totally ignore Prabhpada when he clearly states the opposite of what they say he said or meant. It is sooo bogus.

Better we don't profess so strongly with our words and let our deeds do the talking instead.

Transcendental trickery from Srila Prabhuapada's perspective would be to say, "this Krsna Conciousness Movement is so nice, there is simply chanting, dancing and feasting". Meanwhile the kitchen crew stayed up all night preparing the feast for the large group of devotees and guests. Another example would be where he would say, "the process of Krsna Consciousness is very easy". In both of these cases he's encouraging newcomers. Then sometimes he would say, "actually to become Krsna Conscious is not so easy". This would encourage the devotees who had been around for a while with there struggle to remember Krsna and control their senses. He told the book distributors, "Work very hard for Krsna one life. ..." Sometimes he would give a more complex instruction such as, "Krsna Consciousness is easy for the simple and difficult for the crooked."

Nice examples Shakti-Fan. Another thing he would hold back was that beyond the kitchen work there were the often agganizing internal changes one could expect when confronting his own mind and the deep rooted (to the core level) enviousness of Krsna.

Which brings us to the point of following in his footsetps and doing likewise when talking to folks. Emphasize the party portion and avoid anything that might be a strong point of conflict for them to where they become inclined to ignore the chanting itself by thinking they have to swallow other things they can't do. The chanting is the key. I have an example of what I mean and is a part of why I think we need to air all this out in a thread like this. From the Berkeley temple in the early ninties one small group of bhaktas went through a phase of going up to the UC @ Berkeley campus and debating(arguing) with the students there on their idea of the cosmology presented in the SB vs. modern science with special emphasis on the whole Mooon thing. This was not the folks from Bhativedanta Institute and happened before they came to share the temple there. I can only imagine how many people came to think of the Hare Krsna conscious movement as being based on fairy tales and fables and just laughed the whole thing off, while viewing the "debates" as some cheap entertainment between classes.

Our great strength lies in the knowledge the SB gives on first the nature of the self as being disctinct from matter, we are not these bodies. That itself is mind boggling and throws all modern science into a tailspin so I believe this should be our point of attacking atheism in science form. Many of us are not educated enough to try to talk with their terminology and address the concepts that most excercise them. But we can make them come to us just by demanding they identify which part of the body or brain is the actual conscious living being. Forget the fantastic stories be they literal or allegorical. taking a firm position on either one is not enough to bring us into knowledge of the self nor came we benefit anyone else we try to convince on this level.

First we need to learn and become established in sambandha-jnana. Who am I? Who is God? What is the nature of this universe and how do I relate to all of the above. And that is the first thing the people we met in everyday life need to learn. To go off onto other valueless tangents is just ego-tripping and if it serves to turn off people to krsna consciousness inquiry then it can also be seen as the greatest violence.

Anyway it's time to party! "Let's get it started.... Ho"

"Chant and be happy!"

ps we need a little dancing bhakta icon. Do they make them? Or better yet dancing Gaura Nitai's ,smilie size.

For alcohol, it is red wine that has the most health benefits.

 

I was unaware about the benefits of Flax Seed oil. I believe garlic is also good for the heart. Indians and westerners need to take care of their heart as heart disease it is the biggest health killer in their comminties.

For wine run a google on 'resveratrol wine grapes 'and you will see that you needn't drink wine to get the benefits. The benefits are in the grapes. You can even buy concentrated extracts of resveratrol.

The final question which was asked by Tosana about the validity of the story of the sparrow and the ocean, you should know that everything that is found in these scriptures is factual. There is nothing allegory. But you must not depend upon your own limited experience. What happens in different corners of the Lord's Creation no one can say. But we can hear from the authentic Vedic sources such as the Puranas. This story of the sparrow is found in the Puranas.---letter to Harer Nama LA 1968

Hear it seems Srila Prabhupada makes it clear in no uncertain terms that such stories are not allegories. Yet he says the opposite in a letter to Krsnadasa in 1972.

So what to do.We can't use one statement as authoritative because it came from Srila Prabhupada and ignore the opposite opinion from the same source.

Yet another reason not to worry over it and wait for the caitya-guru to fill in the details as He sees fit.

haribol everybody, what is the substitute for omega-3 fatty acid found in fish for the vegetarians? also how to counter points like "little alcohol is good for health as they reduce the risk of heart diseases"? thx in advance. ys, Sridama das

Flax seed will give you the same benefits as it is as high or higher than fish oil in Omega 3's. Sometime fish is said to be superior because fatty ocean fish also dha whichis important for the brain. But all humans have an enzyme that converts something in flax seed oil to dha inside the human body.

Maybe try a google on vegan sources omega 3. There are other sources also. I use the oil 2 tbs. daily but I also use a lot of of flax seed meal as a as a protein source and get more oil that way as well.

Vegans and veggies should take note of flax seed as a protein food. Over 100 gms of protein in each pound of protein mean. And it's cheap. Good in smoothies, as cereals or as toppings for other dishes or even spread out over a salad.