theist

Speechless.

It was not meant to be racist; it was meant to glorify God.

 

BTW: The article was written by an Indian, in Pune, India. So you'd have to say he is racist against his own race.

Here comes the PC (politically correct) crowd, ever waiting to pounce. Srila Prabhupada was trying to help this gentleman realize Krsna is a Spiritual Form and not part of our conception of black as it pertains to any one race. He was a black African and Srila Prabhupada wanted to make sure the man did not lump Krsna in with a particular material racial designation.

Try it this way.

Q. An Irish man asks: "I hear Gaura refers to the fact that Mahaprabhu was extremely light skinned."

A. "Yes. But not like you."

Only a crazy fellow would think that to be a racist statement against against the White race.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>GURU—ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE

Devotee: Can you explain this concept of the absolute

and relative position of the spiritual master?

Srila Sridhar Maharaja: By the special will of Krishna,

gurudeva is a delegated power. If we look closely within

the spiritual master, we will see the delegation of

Krishna, and accordingly we should accept him in that

way. The spiritual master is a devotee of Krishna and,

at the same time, the inspiration of Krishna is within

him. These are the two aspects of gurudeva. He has his

aspect as a Vaishnava, and the inspired side of the

Vaishnava is guru. On a fast day like ekadasi, he himself

does not take any grains. He conducts himself as a

Vaisnava, but his disciples offer grains to the picture of

their guru on the altar. The disciples offer their spiritual

master grains even on a fast day.

The disciple is concerned with the delegation of

the Lord, the guru’s inner self, his inspired side. The

inspired side of a Vaisnava is ÅchÅrya, or guru. The disciple

marks only the special, inspired portion within the

guru. He is more concerned with that part of his character.

But gurudeva himself generally poses as a Vaisnava.

So, his dealings towards his disciples and his dealings

with other Vaisnavas will be different. This is acintyabhedÅbheda,

inconceivable unity in diversity.

There may be imitation, and there may be deviation.

Both are possible. For ulterior motives one may make a

INITIATION INTO TRANSCENDENTAL SCIENCE 43

trade of guruship, just as in the case of the caste goswamis

and the sahajÈya imitationists. For some reason or other,

one may pose as a guru, but the symptoms of a real

guru are given in the scriptures:

sÅbde pare ca nisnÅta˜

brahmanya upasamÅsrayam"

“A bona fide spiritual master must be conversant

with the conclusions of the Vedic literature, fixed in

realization of the Supreme Truth (Srimad-BhÅgavatam

11.3.21). </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

"The spiritual master is a devotee of Krishna and,

at the same time, the inspiration of Krishna is within

him. These are the two aspects of gurudeva. He has his

aspect as a Vaishnava, and the inspired side of the

Vaishnava is guru. "

This quote inspires many more questions. For starters, what is the distinction between Vaisnava(as it is used here) and the inspired side, the guru side?<!-- END TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote -->

Can you please show me anywhere I have criticised doctors?

LOL This challenge from someone who only signs in as Guest.

Hold on Guest while I run a search of all your posts to see if I can give an example.

The sankirtana party was a little whacked out however, since you hear them chant "Hare Hare, Hare Hare". But they were the only colour in the whole flick.

 

To me it represents the reason atheism exists: because just like the rage of the replicant, if we really believe that we die, then we must hate God the creator for making us so temporary. It is easier to believe that there is no God, rather than believe in one we would have to hate so.

Nice insight gHari. More then the script writers saw I think but maybe not.

So Roy is our alter false ego. Now I know why I could feel his pain so accutely when watching the film. I understand his rage and despair from within myself.

I think it's time to rent Blade Runner again.

Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti Yoga is the practice of devotional disciplines. It is union through devotion.

 

source: yogaexpo.com/glossary.htm

Perfect instructions Bhakti-devi.

how prabhupada's japa walks tradition began

Whoa! Now that was a gem! If Srila Prabhupada can accept good instruction from a materialistic "karmi" then so should everyone else. Give everyone their due, not more than that or less. What harm can it be to accept knowledge from someone?

One with that type of vision truly sees and hears. Caitya-guru speaking to us from every possible angle,"friend and foe" alike carry His instructions for us in some form.

<HR style="COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1>

Thank you for the quotation Guest.

I am not so sure that guestimating and paraphrasing is a good idea when dealing with the instructions of great acharyas.

 

Hows about you do a little more research and report back with something a little more authoritative?

 

don't be so hasty.

just do a little more homework before you submit your ideas to the world.

I mentioned it was a paraphrase. The request was for someone who had knowledge on that particular topic and could share with us. I am not submiting "my ideas to the world" I am opening a topic for discussion.

This IS my research on the topic. Q&A remember.

Prabhupada didn't seem to like Indira Gandhi very much so then the reporter

asked him where did he learn that women's brains are a smaller size? He replied, "From Dr. Uruquat at Scottish Rites College."

And where did Dr. Uruquat get his knowledge on the subject? From the Bhagavatam or from a scientist?

When the Moon hits your eye like a big Pizza pie, that's amore!

 

Since the Sun is the eye of God, then an eclipse is when God winks at Earth!

Conspiricy theories abound. Others will see a conspiracy on the UFO front. Many of those pictures supposedly showed extra-terrestial craft watching what they were doing on the moon as well as "alien" pictures of structures on the Moon itself.

Curious happenings. But we needn't be surprised or alarmed. Afterall it's just a dream.

I have often seen where students and disciples of B.R. Sridhar Maharaja have quoted him as above. (I don't remember the exact quote so I had to paraphrase a bit).

I believe I have a vague glimpse of what this means but would love to hear it explained by others so I can get a clearer picture.

Thoughts on this please.

Praise the Lord for making us so tiny and minute. Knowing smallness, maybe our position is not to 'know' everything. Thank God for that...I'll leave omniscience to Him.

Me too bija

who told you it wasn't and were these people suddha-bhaktas?

will paying attention to what they say help you in your faith in the acharya?

 

scientific talk is a place of pilgrimage for crows.

 

where did you hear such things?

 

Did you make a pilgrimage to the crow convention?

 

Are you going to let the talks of the crow convention convince you that the pure devotee was stupid and naive?

 

What the crows say at their convention has no place in a Vaishnava discussion.

 

If you want to bring this crow katha into the Vaishnava forum, then that is your own problem and there is certainly nothing anyone here can do to help you.

 

Scientific knowledge is a rubbish heap and garbage dump.

 

If you want to partake of that feast then go ahead, but I hope you don't mind if I opt out of that convention.

As usual you quote the question but gave no answer.

"Scientific knowledge is a rubbish heap and garbage dump." I want to distance myself as much as possible from this brainless idea. You flat earth people are as embarassing to theism as the Christian 'Young Creationists'.

Is there a shred of spiritual benefit in believing the scientists?

What does it prove?

What is the spiritual benefit?

I get much benefit listening to the scientists discuss their latest discoveries. Hearing such things simply expand my puny conception of God's glories. I am not in the least concerned with their theories on what they have observed. Do you see the difference.

If a devotee of Krsna reads a mundane biology textbook he will see Krsna's hand through ever process described. It will only increase his faith in the Lord.

Remeber there is a distinction between what is observed and one's own theories on what he has observed.

Presently there is a growing debate on the "planet" Pluto. Some say it is not a real planet and should be cross of the list of the nine known planets in our solar system. Others become enraged at the thought as a type of heresy "How dare we question such long established facts as Pluto being a planet?"

Now they are talking of compromising and calling it a semi-planet or something. LOL

Devotees should not care a bit about their nonsense squabble over classifications. Devotees are satisfied enough to know it's there as a part of God's material manifestation.

Praise the Lord for His greatness and wonderous ways.

Can anyone explain what benefit is derived in putting our faith in scientists and finding fault in Srila Prabhupada?

Will believing in scientists help one advance spiritually and develop suddha-bhakti?

Will believing in the scientists help one to develop vraja-bhakti?

Will believing the universe is only 4 billion miles in diameter, or the moon is further from the sun, help you develop Vraja-bhakti?

I accept that Krsna is the light in all luminous objects including the Moon. I accept the moon as well as every other object in the universe floats in space under the inconceivable energy of Krsna. That is all I need to know about the Moon.

Yeah that is how I think also generaly. Not sure about the Sikhs though in particular but you explaination makes sense.

ps please differentiate yourself from other guests so conversations can run more smoothly.

"Spotless Purana" I believe refers to fact that Krsna lila in Vrndavan is included.

Open to correction if I am wrong. I believe I read this in the introduction to Srimad Bhagavatam.

Agreed. But what about this idea of a personal God who is formless. It certainly is due to a incomplete information but yet people that hold that view aren't really impersonalists either. It appears to me to be a very shaky unstable position from which one could fall into full fledged impersonalism very easily.

Is the Guru all-knowing? If my Spiritual Master tells me the moon is closer, and your Spiritual Master tells you the moon is farther, who is right? and does this mean one of them is not a true Spiritual Master, since they contradicted each other on the moon distance?

Couldn't help but notice how this question was so easily ignored. It is a perfect question for this debate and should be dealt with head on.

My opinon is they could both by fully Spiritual Masters in Krsna consciousness and hold different opinions on the moon distance from earth.

True anti-matter would have to be spirit by definition.

Matter is dull, inert, lacks consciousness.

Spirit is defined by consciousness, is sentient and can even increase it's knowing base. Chit

Matter is ever changing with elements merging in and out of each other constantly.

Spirit is eternally unchanged. SAT

Matter cannot experience joy or even sorrow.

Spirit can experience joy and sorrow as well as unlimited spiritual bliss. ANANDA

Without these attributes of spirit whatever the scientists find and label as anti-matter is really just another form of matter. My speculation is that they may be sensing and theorizung on some type of astral matter which appears as anti-matter to them.

This is an interesting topic I will be interested to see how it turns out. There are those that claim God is formless ultimately but that His avatars are fully transcendental. Opposite of what we have learned about the Brahmajyoti being the effulgence of the Lord's transcendental form.

If someone believes in the formless as ultimate and who also believes that formless is a distinct unlimited being (God) how would we classify them?

There are sever flaws in this theory that readily show themselves. For instance if God is ultimately formless and distinct from the eternal jivas at the same time what happens to the jivas when they transcend the need for further births in this world?

Appears to me personalism without an acceptance of Vaikuntha can't hold water for long.

Well, Believer in God (theist), if you dont care ("Nor do I care"), why take so much devoted care to overhasty comment "Prabhupada may have been just wrong"? If this is your level of understanding then you clearly cement that if this is wrong other things might very likely be also wrong. If other statements Prabhupada made could be also wrong then why dont you reject Prabhupada's literature alltogether and draw a clear conclusion? Isnt it exhausting to judge upon every statement Prabhupada made, this is ok, oh wait, this sounds strange?

IMO actually you dont need a spiritual master, why bother?

You need to reread my post, carefully this time with an attitude of actually wanting to hear what it says instead of looking to make a counter argument.

As far as your opinion of my needing a spiritual master of not, do you really think your opinion matters to me in the slightest?

The other possibility is that Srila Prabhupada may have been just wrong. I have no idea myself on what is or isn't a yaksha. Nor do I care. He is right on the transcendental knowledge of the self and Superself so I can accept that from him without worry about being mislead. Next to that what else matters?

It is not just knowledge that makes one a vaisnava guru. It is specifically transcendental knowledge. And not eveK that alone. What we can and should pick up from Srila Prabhupada is a divine drop of his absolutely pure and ever increasing love for Sri krsna which includes all other living entities. It is that oceanic love and compassion for the fallen (us) and his tirelessly effort to spread the chanting to whole world that makes him really stand out among all other teachers. He was especially empowered in this way and we need to open up to that as well as opening his books.