theist

Not a senior or devotee anything but gHari is correct. Like in Berkeley years back there was this one guy who would force people into washing pots for their lunch. First someone on sankirtan would innocently invite them for lunch and then he would shame them by "subtley" accusing them of trying to get free food. I remember many many such incidents with different devotees. I think they are just trying to avoid that mistake as all service should be voluntary. Actually they are showing you respect. It may seem a little 'arms length' at this point but as you continue to do service you will become more familiar and then closer frendships will develop and they will feel they can be less formal without alieniating you. But no matter what you should keep offering service. Hare Krsna

yasodhanandana, many of these Christians object to Mary for some reason and the Catholic trasdition does not attract them. Why you use the word fictious I don't know. There was another recent thread where I posted a quote from Prabhupada on Mary's position as being a representative of Radharani but I can't seem to find it now.

lots of good tips to investigate. I was just kinking this around in mind. We tell Christians to chant God's names but there are few examples for them to follow. "dive-bomber japa" lol Anyone remember the squirt gun phase when devotees who "dive-bombed" During japa or SB class would get a squirt of cold water in the face to revive them? lol

you seriously would like to help me I would really appreciate it. To get an idea where I am coming from on this you can read the third post of this thread. Thanks Hare Krsna

It was just a thought. Myself I am very ignorant of languages.

Any suggestions on a simple Christian orientated mantra?

I always thought it was the Krsna bead. Oh well, I am the guy who has been chanting backwards on his beads for years anyway...

devotee lawyers? Don't be sentimental and just get the best one you can find.

Thank you very much. In some older Christian traditions, like Russian Orthodoax I think, they would knot a cloth or leather strip called a chotki into around 100 knots and then chant what they called the Jesus Prayer which translates to Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me. Their idea was to learn to chant from the inner meaning or the soul and the chant itself was said to bring one to this inner level. I am thinking of what may be a version of this that would be proper and acceptable to present day Christians. Something simpler than the Catholic rosary. It should contain a call for mercy along with a name of Christ and a name from their tradition for the Father. Also a nice flowing rythem. Very simple. What would the head bead refer to? I would like the regular 108+head model to be usede if possible and proper. Anyone have an idea or two?

What is the significance of the number 108. Is this a common number between various Indian tradions? Do Buddhists also choose this number for some reason. 108 gopis 108 Upanishads 108 ?

what is that supposed to mean?

I guess I just don't get it. What's new. Yes I have seen Prabhupadas words used as a weapon quite often. Although I have never met someone enter the vedabase with Mahaprabhu's attitude. Anyway, sorry to misdirect the thread

I hope my consciousness is firmly esdtablished in the vedabase someday, and especially at the time of death. You guys must be referring to someone elses besides Prabhupada's.

Well, its a common problem for us all. Maybe we have to learn to accept those bullies as Krsna's teaching tools that He uses to drive home the lesson that this world of the exploiter and exploited is not our real home. And then we must move our consciousness from this world of exploitation to the world of loving service. I am tired of it too and this is the only solution that makes sense to me. A friend once asked me "Do you want to know the truth?yes" I replied. He answered."Then stop lying." Hmmmm...

akra, I just read the article on designer dreams through yoga. Interesting. I will have a few questions later today when I return and have more time. But for now I can say they will relate to the idea that there is no sense of I (as in false ego) in the dreaming state. I feel that the false identification of I is simply redirected as in I am a king or I am a pauper etc. according to the subject of the dream. Wouldn't it be more accurate to attribute a lack of the sense of I to the deep sleep or dreamless state? Till later, Hare Krsna

your service sistersoul. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

We have you all so totally confused that we can reveal ourselves as the real plotters and no one will take us seriously. When THE day arrives you will all see it was really a Scot/Irish, Native American, German/Jew, Grey Alien conspiracy. But by then it will be too late, and we will then openly rule with our iron fists!!! We plan to take your women and eat your lunches with gusto!

That is an important subject and deserves it's own thread. That way we can leave this one dedicated to Pritha and her friend. Please move your post to a new thread and we can chat.

Babhru and Dan, After reading your posts this morning I am left with the sense that the Bhagavad-gita contains both and broadview or what I would call a Santa-rasa viewpoint of Godhead as well as one of Vraja-bhakti simultaneously and existing without conflict. Dasa-rasa also I can see. Sakya-rasa also I think I see. It is obviously written with we the beginners in mind but how could one who has the Vraja vision see anything including the Gita from the beginners platform? I remember somewhere Srila Prabhupada saying something about a realized devotee being able to show one Radha Krsna within a stone (paraphrased)so why not the Gita? But what of other's who do not accept this Madhurya-rasa? Are we to say that the Gita is not for them? I think it is everysoul. So at this point I am left thinking the Gita must contain all these revelations simultaneously but harmoniously, and perhaps in the same shloka. I am also thinking that if I,a beginner, just try to jump to seeing Vraja bhakti artifically I could be revealing myself as a sahajiya even though Vraja bhakti may be there. Any of this make sense? Corrections desired and appreciated. Hare Krsna

Well maybe somebody could be more specific in their criticism of some of Danavir's points. If he said something incorrect please let me know. I don't know the book he is speaking of exactly and if it is Tripurari's I wouldn't know as I have not read it. Danavir claims this approach is rasabhasa. Is this true do you think?

I experience that alot. It is right there just a sliver below the surface, but it doesn't quite register and surface until I hear someone else say it.

is a compiliation of Prabhupada's books, lectures, letters and conversations plus other books. It is produced by the BBT. Very helpful for me because it has a wonderful search engine. So one not familar with it may see me pull up many quotes and think I have them in my head. Not so. I have only vague ideas on what I read at some time or other. So I can search out the exact statements and I most often find that I have misremebered the actual statements. There is a web site dedicated to it. I don't have the URL but if you try google on vedabase it should come up. Or maybe someone will post it.

there are people here who are well studied in vedanta and vaisnava siddhanta. That is why we all come. As for me I have no memory to let me become so learned. But I do have a vedabase. That is my memory. /images/graemlins/smile.gif I thank God one need not be a scholar to know God. As long as we don't pretend to be we will be OK.

Priitaa, Along the lines of advice already given about going easy etc. I think you already know that and that is why you are asking here out of an abundance of caution over alienating her. Maybe consider a very oblique approach in refering to the ultimate desire being one of servanthood to Radharani as mentioned above. Just always work this understanding into your communications with her. Supersoul will help her see the distinction as you make them. I think sometimes we try to over-explain. While the motive is good people take it as coming from a superiority complex or overly aggressive etc.,along those lines. I also think you really know within yourself the best way to proceed. If you didn't you would have just responded right of with some heavy "But vaisnava shastra says...blah blah blah" line. But you didn't because you know better. Good luck Hare Krsna