theist

No they are not American spy planes. If you saw the film you could see that. If I come across a picture I'll link it up. Abductions? I don't know and the abductees probably wouldn't remember anyway. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Why inexplicable? Probably wasn't very clear in my question. Can the jiva also experience separation from Krsna? It is accepted that that separation would have it's orgination in Radha. What will"just happen." Please explain a little more."

I saw a film someone there had made of this event. It is very clear it is a round craft. I am hoping for a complete invasion as an intervention to set the Earth back on some sane track. ps They are grey not green ___________________________ UFO fever grips Iran. 29/04/2004. ABC News Online [This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1097950.htm] Last Update: Thursday, April 29, 2004. 6:35pm (AEST) UFO fever grips Iran Is Iran about to be invaded by little green men or are the Americans racing through the night sky in spaceships to spy on the Islamic Republic? Flying saucer fever has gripped Iran after dozens of sightings in the past few days. Fanciful cartoons of alien spacecraft have adorned the front pages of local newspapers. State television has shown a sparkling white disc it says was filmed over Tehran on Tuesday night. More colourful Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) have been spotted beaming out green, red, blue and purple rays over the northern cities of Tabriz and Ardebil and in the Caspian Sea province of Golestan. Newspapers and agencies reported people rushing out into the streets in eight towns on Tuesday night to watch a bright extraterrestrial light dipping in and out of the clouds. --Reuters

the GBC members can see another pure devotee then why seek a consenus? Either as "he is a guru" or "we have no objection." One voice should be enough. How could there be dissent since they are all on the same realized plane? They are in a hard place it seems to me. If they don't excercise some form of control then there would be wannabe gurus poping up within their organization every other day causing great confusion. It seems they recognize this and are trying this "no objection" idea as an attempt to deal with it. The problem is "no objection" is taken as an affirmation that the candidate is bona fide. Surely there would be objections if any of us were proposed. I wouldn't know what the solution is but the words that come into my mind are 'decentralize the instituitonal power'. This would take great faith that Krishna would act to expand the chanting movement. But then what is wrong with great faith?

Does Radha share some of Her feelings of separation also with the jivas, or one could say inspire those inherent sentiments within the depths of the soul to raise up and become dominat?

Are ther different varieties of basil plants? Are they all considered as Tulasi-devi?

Sorry, I was unclear. I was meaning to say this. --------------------------- From Perfect Questions Perfect Answers Syämasundara: One time you said that sometimes you feel sickness or pain due to the sinful activities of your devotees. Can sometimes disease be due to that? Caused by that? Srila Prabhupäda: You see, Krsna says: [bg. 18.66] “I will deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” So Krsna is so powerful that He can immediately take up all the sins of others and immediately make them right. But when a living entity plays the part on behalf of Krsna, he also takes the responsibility for the sinful activities of his devotees. Therefore to become a guru is not an easy task. You see? He has to take all the poisons and absorb them. So sometimes—because he is not Krsna—sometimes there is some trouble. Therefore Caitanya Mahäprabhu has forbidden, “Don’t make many sisyas, many disciples.” But for preaching work we have to accept many disciples—for expanding preaching—even if we suffer. That’s a fact. The spiritual master has to take the responsibility for all the sinful activities of his disciples. Therefore to make many disciples is a risky job unless one is able to assimilate all the sins. [“I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.”] He takes responsibility for all the fallen souls. That idea is also in the Bible. Jesus Christ took all the sinful reactions of the people and sacrificed his life. That is the responsibility of a spiritual master. Because Krsna is Krsna, He is apapa-viddha—He cannot be attacked by sinful reactions. But a living entity is sometimes subjected to their influence because he is so small. Big fire, small fire. If you put some big thing in a small fire, the fire itself may be extinguished. But in a big fire, whatever you put in is all right. The big fire can consume anything. Bob: Christ’s suffering was of that nature? Srila Prabhupäda: Mm-m? Bob: Was Christ’s suffering— Srila Prabhupäda: That I have already explained. He took the sinful reactions of all the people. Therefore he suffered. Bob: I see. Srila Prabhupäda: He said—that is in the Bible—that he took all the sinful reactions of the people and sacrificed his life. But these Christian people have made it a law for Christ to suffer while they do all nonsense. [bob gives a short laugh.] Such great fools they are! They have let Jesus Christ make a contract for taking all their sinful reactions so they can go on with all nonsense. That is their religion. Christ was so magnanimous that he took all their sins and suffered, but that does not induce them to stop all these sins. They have not come to that sense. They have taken it very easily. “Let Lord Jesus Christ suffer, and we’ll do all nonsense.” Is it not? Bob: It is so. Srila Prabhupäda: They should have been ashamed: “Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us, but we are continuing the sinful activities.” He told everyone, “Thou shalt not kill,” but they are indulging in killing, thinking, “Lord Jesus Christ will excuse us and take all the sinful reactions.” This is going on. We should be very much cautious: “For my sinful actions my spiritual master will suffer, so I’ll not commit even a pinch of sinful activities.” That is the duty of the disciple. After initiation, all sinful reaction is finished. Now if he again commits sinful activities, his spiritual master has to suffer. A disciple should be sympathetic and consider this. “For my sinful activities, my spiritual master will suffer.” If the spiritual master is attacked by some disease, it is due to the sinful activities of others. “Don’t make many disciples.” But we do it because we are preaching. Never mind—let us suffer—still we shall accept them. Therefore your question was—when I suffer is it due to my past misdeeds? Was it not? That is my misdeed—that I accepted some disciples who are nonsense. That is my misdeed. Bob: This happens on occasions? Srila Prabhupäda: Yes. This is sure to happen because we are accepting so many men. It is the duty of the disciples to be cautious. “My spiritual master has saved me. I should not put him again into suffering.” When the spiritual master is in suffering, Krsna saves him. Krsna thinks, “Oh, he has taken so much responsibility for delivering a fallen person.” So Krsna is there. [bg. 9.31] [“O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”] Because the spiritual master takes the risk on account of Krsna. Bob: Your suffering is not the same kind of pain... Srila Prabhupäda: No, it is not due to karma. The pain is there sometimes, so that the disciples may know, “Due to our sinful activities, our spiritual master is suffering.” Bob: You look very well now. Srila Prabhupäda: I am always well... in the sense that even if there is suffering, I know Krsna will protect me. But this suffering is not due to my sinful activities.

Not quite what I was saying.

Communion strikes me as somewhat like taking prasad. One place I have trouble with the present conception of Christ's sacrifice is in the basic idea of God demanding someother living being being killed and his blood shed to cleanse someone else. Like the Jewish practice of sacrificing an animal to cover over my sin. Or the vedic version of the same up to the sacrifcing of man/animals. Indeed Christ sacrificed and suffered for the world. The guru will take on the past sins of the disciple. He may suffer illness or nightmares. My view is Christ agreed to take that responsibity in advance and for the entire world he is so great. But that doesn't replace the necessity of each individual "picking up their own cross and following" Jesus. At some point we have to learn to crucify our own flesh on behalf of others for fulfilling the will of the Father. Christ carried His cross, Arjun entered the battlefield, Theirs is the example of the way the truth and the life. But we still have our own cross to bear and our own battle to fight. Please don't trip on my speculations.

TRANSLATION He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes. PURPORT This should not be misunderstood. In the Seventh Chapter the Lord says that one who is engaged in mischievous activities cannot become a devotee of the Lord. One who is not a devotee of the Lord has no good qualifications whatsoever. The question remains, then, How can a person engaged in abominable activities — either by accident or by intention — be a pure devotee? This question may justly be raised. The miscreants, as stated in the Seventh Chapter, who never come to the devotional service of the Lord, have no good qualifications, as is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Generally, a devotee who is engaged in the nine kinds of devotional activities is engaged in the process of cleansing all material contamination from the heart. He puts the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart, and all sinful contaminations are naturally washed away. Continuous thinking of the Supreme Lord makes him pure by nature. According to the Vedas, there is a certain regulation that if one falls down from his exalted position he has to undergo certain ritualistic processes to purify himself. But here there is no such condition, because the purifying process is already there in the heart of the devotee, due to his remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly. Therefore, the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental falldowns. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations.

TRANSLATION Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination. PURPORT The word su-durah used in this verse is very significant, and we should understand it properly. When a living entity is conditioned, he has two kinds of activities: one is conditional, and the other is constitutional. As for protecting the body or abiding by the rules of society and state, certainly there are different activities, even for the devotees, in connection with the conditional life, and such activities are called conditional. Besides these, the living entity who is fully conscious of his spiritual nature and is engaged in Krsna consciousness, or the devotional service of the Lord, has activities which are called transcendental. Such activities are performed in his constitutional position, and they are technically called devotional service. Now, in the conditioned state, sometimes devotional service and the conditional service in relation to the body will parallel one another. But then again, sometimes these activities become opposed to one another. As far as possible, a devotee is very cautious so that he does not do anything that could disrupt his wholesome condition. He knows that perfection in his activities depends on his progressive realization of Krsna consciousness. Sometimes, however, it may be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if a person falls down but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, purifies him and excuses him from that abomination. The material contamination is so strong that even a yogi fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared; but Krsna consciousness is so strong that such an occasional falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is always a success. No one should deride a devotee for some accidental falldown from the ideal path, for, as explained in the next verse, such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is completely situated in Krsna consciousness. Therefore a person who is situated in Krsna consciousness and is engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words sadhur eva, "he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has accidentally fallen down. And the word mantavyah is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service. In the Nrisimha Purana the following statement is given: bhagavati ca harananya-cet The meaning is that even if one fully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord is sometimes found engaged in abominable activities, these activities should be considered to be like the spots that resemble the mark of a rabbit on the moon. Such spots do not become an impediment to the diffusion of moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of saintly character does not make him abominable. On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.

This makes no sense and is divisive only. In this I see promise but wonder if it doesn't fall a little short. For we have an eternal connectedness or oneness with the sinner as well as the saint.

Planting bombs around the world, striking fear into the hearts of ordinary folks is quite another. If there are simple honest Muslims they better start preachinbg to their radical brethren instead of arguing with those of other religions.

http://vedabase.net/sb/10/31/ then here http://vedabase.net/sb/10/32/

From Song of Songs ch. 4 Beloved 2 I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." 3 I have taken off my robe- must I put it on again? I have washed my feet- must I soil them again? 4 My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. 5 I arose to open for my lover, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock. 6 I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. 7 The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls! 8 O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you- if you find my lover, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.

The plight of the Palestinian maiden. Lying in bed expecting her lover. He comes right to her door and when she opens it He has gone. She becomes maddedned and her anxious longing heart has her running bewildered in street looking for Him, not carrying for looks of those around her as she searches for Him. A little taste then nothing. Increases the longing. Even at our pitiful state we tend to take Krishna for granted.

Like a backhanded clause just in case the guy screws up, or one of his disciples. They can then claim "hey we never said he was God-realized. don't blame us." They are also admiting they lack the spiritual vision to say with certainty one way or the other. That may cause some to ask,"Well if you can't say for sure then why don't you just keep quiet and direct newbies to the Lord in the heart, and stay out of it completely?" Don't know?, then don't talk.

Vaisnavism is monotheism. Prabhupada taught monotheism. He called present Hinduism a hodge podge. It is very disturbing to see the highest revelation of monotheism which is the Vaisnavism delivered to the Indian saints lumped in with with this "all is one, so worship whatever" confusing hodge podge of polytheism. Hare Krishna's are monotheists.

Madhudviña: He is asking if they were actually covered in the spiritual world as well. Prabhupäda: Not in the spiritual world. There that is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Kåñëa as flower; they become flower there. If I want that “As a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Kåñëa,” he becomes flower, voluntarily. And he can change his..., from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Kåñëa as cow, he serves Kåñëa as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. Ye yathä mäm prapadyante täàs tathaiva bhajämy aham [bg. 4.11]. That is Kåñëa’s all-powerfulness, spiritual life.

to remember that you are not the conditioned mind. Radha/Krishna know that. Of course you want to control it. Ask the Lord in heart to kindly intervene and fill your mind with sweet thoughts of the Divine Couple.

Holy Site Razed in Iran, Baha'is Say Baha'i World News Service New York, Apr. 22--(Baha'i World News Service)--Government authorities in Iran have destroyed a Baha'i holy site, the Baha'i International Community has learned. The gravesite of Quddus, a prominent figure in early Baha'i history, has been razed to the ground, despite protests from Baha'is at the local, national, and international levels. "The destruction and desecration of this holy place was carried out with the knowledge of the national government to which appeals had been made beforehand," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "This act represents yet another example of the ongoing persecution against Iran's 300,000 member Baha'i community, utterly contradicting the government's claim that the human rights situation in Iran is improving," said Ms. Dugal. Destruction of the gravesite began in February but was temporarily halted after local Baha'is demanded to see a legal permit for the demolition work. The Baha'is were referred to national authorities and for a time it appeared that the desecration had been halted. More recently, it was discovered that the dismantling of the gravesite had continued surreptitiously over a period of days until the structure was entirely demolished. The house-like structure marked the resting place of Mulla Muhammad-'Ali Barfurushi, known as Quddus (The Most Holy). Quddus was the foremost disciple of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith. "It would be the least that the Government could do at this point to return to the Baha'i community his sacred remains," said Ms. Dugal. "We ask for the international community's support in this goal." Ms. Dugal added that the destruction of the gravesite came soon after the international community failed this year to offer a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded in 1979, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed by the Government. Hundreds more have spent time in prison and thousands have been deprived of education, property, and employment, solely because of their religious belief. The killings and imprisonments of Baha'is have abated in recent years in the face of increasing international outcry, such as a series of resolutions in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressing concern over the treatment of Baha'is. Over the last two years, however, the CHR has failed to pass such resolutions owing to efforts by Iran to pursue a "dialogue" with Western nations. "Unfortunately," said Ms. Dugal, "the Baha'is of Iran still face, day after day, systematic deprivation of their rights as Iranian citizens -- not only in terms of their civil and political rights, but also in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights."

But then I still have an eighth grade sense of humor. Yes humans can produce ashes and stool but Krishna manifests universes without effort.

Sorry but that sounds rather offensive. I know you didn't mean it as such. This is personalism. Christ is a person.

TRANSLATION 1.1.2 Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyasadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart. PURPORT ... He(Vyasadeva) is the author of all other Vedic literatures, yet he recommends the study of Srimad-Bhagavatam above all others..... The purport is very long and should be read in its entirety. Hare Krsna

My main man, William Hung. I saw him the other day. I should have got his autograph. Maybe get $10 on eBay