theist

Somesh:"Is it not enough to appreciate and wonder at Krishna's "svabhavika jnana bala kriya!" and leave the matter to rest?"

I could answer better if I knew what svabhavika jnana bala kriya meant.Help me here.

Are you suggesting that we shouldn't try to understand these fundemental things that relate to our present life experience?

I just went through the list of yellow bulbs and decided I do care afterall.

I like that a newcomer can post right off.That may bring more voices in in the long run.But maybe they should have to register before starting a new topic.Not sure that would make a difference though, but it might.

The order IS to love Krsna."Just love Krsna."

I really don't care too much about this myself.I was struck that guest would take the time to make a threat about going to channel x,but not take the time to register a phony name like many of us.

You are anonymous either way.

the first thing I thought of was red hammer.then I changed it to black hammer because I thought red was too weird.

Alright what's up with this atma?It's freakin' me out here.

Are you sure you want to go there?

It takes what, two minutes to register?

A lot to chew on.Thanks murli.I'll check the link.

"We also recommend that further research be done to study the instances, causes, effects and resolutions for the prejudice in the study of Hinduism in America."

What falls under Hinduism is so vast.Advaita or dvaita?Worship of Ganesha or pick a form, any form, they all lead to the same placeism.If they consult expert academics in Hinduism they may get many different answers.

Not all Hindus accept all of what other Hindus accept.

Prejudice or failed attempt to understand?

Rare is the soul free from both.I'm for abandoning designations like Christian, Hindu etc. in favor of Vaisnavism.

Of course we have to understand that that refers to the natural activity of the soul,in relation to the Supreme Lord,and not make it just another designation.

So I'm for a separate chapter for Vaisnavism.

Were shudras paid for their labor,or just given the necessities of life in lieu of cash that would have been spent unwisely.

karthik,

You did apologize and I respond accepting it and confessing my own offensive nature.Then later you posted some very vile name calling directly at Lord Jesus Christ,not the church.

I won't repeat what you said and it was deleted to spare the congregation from absorbing Vaisnava aparadha.

Okay let me rephrase it a bit.I was trying to start an exploration of memory,it seems so mysterious to me.

Scientists can prove that neurotransmitters such as acetycholine are instrumental in improving memory.

Or from the negative,they can show that when the hormone vasopressin is depleted in the brain,short term memory is impaired.

We say that memory is a constituent of the subtle body,part of intelligence.

Now I accept that the brain is being used as a tool of the memory.But I can't seem to come up with an example to help illustrate this in an intelligent way.I am not satified with just telling someone that I believe it and that is that.

There must be a way that this works out that is explainable.

So what is the metaphysical link between the brain and memory?

The other question is: What is the subtle bodies memory connection to the soul?

shiva Paramatma is controlling,sure.But my question is a little different as I am interested in learning about the structure of memory itself.

shvu:"I understand, you have a dislike for Afro-americans. Now you are using statements by others to justify your attitude. If you will excuse me for saying this, such an attitude is not becoming of a devotee."

shvu, I started this thread to explore the idea of "slavery" being a constituent of varnashram-dharma.karthik had suggested that Jesus Christ denounced varnashram and approved of slavery.That is incorrect as he was implying it.As I have NO desire to speak directly to karthik concerning Christ I choose an oblique approach to the subject.Hence this thread.

I do have a dislike for what most of Afro-american culture.In general I consider it to be a major drain on society and rather disgusting.I don't like Euro-american culture much either.But I will tell you I have no problem whatsoever in touching my head to the feet of a devotee in a black body, and have done so often and will again.

I started a thread not too long ago as an avenue for devotees to express themselves on this issue but not much response came.

With due respect, this is the kind of attitude that breeds racism.

>>.Nonsense.It is just an observation.<<<

Who has decided the set of rules that will determine which culture is tamasic and which isn't?

>>>Again, it's not rules made up by us that really determines anything.The modes of nature have certain characteristics.Gita ch. 14<<<

During 09/11, there was a lot of help rendered by people of Western countries to people who were total strangers. On the other hand, during the earthquake fiasco of Gujarat, many Indians on the pretext of collecting donations, made a lot of money. Which culture was being tamasic here?

>>>The modes are always mixed to varying degrees.We see this from individualy as well as collectively in the form of communities, nations, planets etc.<<<

The native americans have produced no literature and have developed nothing. By your logic, they are also tamasic and deserve to be enslaved by "non-tamasic" cultures.

I don't know much about them except they had many different types of tribes.Some more peaceful,some very warlike.Some were more nomadic then others etc.They did remain in very harsh living conditions which caused their lifespan to be extremely short.Perhaps they should have produced better shelter.Apparently they produced no literature, but they had oral traditions that caused them to respect the Great Spirit within everything, or so it is said.That is sattvik.Their foodstuff was largely based on animal flesh,which is tamasik.I believe a plant based diet is more in the mode of goodness.So some modes were dominant.You can analyze it for yourself if you want to.

Do I think they should be enslaved?

I imagine if one was to closely look at their social structure you would find some in group more inclined to inner pursuits,medicine men.Some administrative and able and willing to protect the tribe, the cheifs and braves.Some would be more inclined to trading amongst themselves and outside groups, wampam wallas,and others who would work to assist the above.These types are just different combinations of the three gunas.

On the whole one would have to say that the whites were more intelligent when it came to production.The white race is very good at these things but they usually don't know when to stp and maintain it, which I believe to be a sattvik defeciency.<<<

Now it gets more interesting...what literature have you produced? What development have you made? If the answer is nothing, does this make you tamasic?

>>>I have a strong tendancy to dream of things which I never do,that's tamasic.I have had my own businesses which is rajarsic I guess but tamas always keeps me from developing them;mixed tamas and rajas.I eat a mode of goodness diet.I also like elevating subjects and association.But I'm basically uneducated and lazy(tamasic)so I have produced no literature or anything else of finer merit.But to end on a positive note despite the predominace of tamas in my constitution,I am trying to develop and understanding of who I am in relation to God,sattvik.<<<

I understand, you have a dislike for Afro-americans. Now you are using statements by others to justify your attitude. If you will excuse me for saying this, such an attitude is not becoming of a devotee.

>>>Well that is a bit assumptive of you since I do not know you.From that I could assume you regularly read a lot of pop pyschology,but of course I don't really know that.

In any case it is true I am not a devotee.<<<

Widening our perspective to see everyone on the same level, helps a lot.

>>>Yes, and that means seeing everyone as spiritsoul, rather that trying to manufacture artifical equality on the basis of bodily designations.No two people are on the same level bodily.<<<<

Cheerio

Yeah, we are all slaves.

karthik:Where is this Sanskrit quote from? I don't even see the word Arya in the verse.

It's a conversation.Try to see it from that perspective.A free flowing conversation between teacher and students as they walk and chant japa.

These conversations are available on mp3 in which you can get the feel of the scene and setting.That will help alot here.Better than just reading the transcripts.

karthik:"Has the African culture, today or before, been any more tamasic than the western or Islamic culture?"

I know this wasn't addressed to me but just one comment.

African culture is almost all tamasic.What has been developed there?What literature has been produced?

The West has been very rajarsic.Madly producing, attempting to acquire etc.Tamasic also as well as sattvic to some degree.More mixed, but very passionate. Mostly passion and ignorance as I see it.

Thanks jndas.

Guest, how is his statement wrong?How about offering something on the topic other than the one word 'wrong',which tells us nothing except that you disagree?

Prabhupäda: Yes. Kiräta-hüëändhra-pulinda-pulkaçä äbhéra-çumbhä yavanäù khasädayaù. So the Kirätas, they were always slaves of the Äryans. The Äryan people used to keep slaves, but they were treating slaves very nicely. Later on it degraded. Otherwise, slaves were kept just like family members.

This is from a morning walk conversation.That means what it says Prabhupada would take a daily walk in the morning with some disciples.He would chant japa,walk and talk philosophy with his students.

The place in the conversation that is pertinent to our discussion begins as they walk pass some famous grand church that the Romans built.That is where my post starts.

After the clipped part he explains how Marxism is also requiring slaves, even though the decry the concept.No need to post it all to keep the context.

I have a question.Who are the kiratas that were always slaves of the Aryans?

I had to turn it off and pick up a book.Now there is a novel idea.

Also Monday night football,I confess.I think they will try to drag this out until Friday unless a war breaks out.

Actually the media are the biggest abusers going.

I have always had the impression that they were happy to find a temple in their new locale so far from India.

I doubt that they are very interested in the internal intriques of the institution for the most part.Some are I'm sure, but most just want to join together and worship Radha Krsna.

Do you ever talk to them on Sunday?They are very sweet people.

"Even if this bridge isnt the original bridge from previous yugas, it is still important, as it shows the level of advancement the civilization had attained thousands of years ago."

This is why I am curious about the size of the stones.My imagination is picturing these massive stones like those used to build the pyramids.

I just love anything that confounds those that hold to the present paradigm.

Didn't His Holiness Bhakti Prajna Kesava Maharaja write a book on this subject?I was told he disputed that the Buddha mentioned in SB was Siddhartha.

But the SB also mentioned the province of His birth as well as His mothers name.

But does anyone maintain that He taught following the vedas?

chain of shoals.What does that mean?How big are each individual stones?It would seem that they would have to be huge to remain in place over that period of time.

I wonder how deep the water is there?

Is there some kind of picture that we can see?

Is 17,50,000 the same as 1,750,000?