amanpeter

The above was taken from another thread. Leyh, I don't know if you remember the Viet-nam war or knew anyone that was fighting there. During the war and even afterwards, those soldiers were given a very hard time by so-called pacifist objectors. It had an immense effect on many individuals that remains until the present day in some cases. As you know, America came out the loser in that conflict. I was in the Canadian military at the time and was myself influenced adversely by `friends`, causing me to make decisions that have unfortunately affected my entire life. This is a war all of us, the whole world, must win!. Whatever it takes to inspire sustained determined resolve and strong united morale in the general populace must be done! Devotees certainly have a deep influence on everyone and if I can help focus that force as one, I surely will, by any means. Also, when I encounter what I see as demoralizing negativity in friends and neighbours, I'll speak to them , too. This is Can'tada, so there's lot's of that going around, you can be sure. If you want to fight for Krsna while other's may be fighting for their homeland, families, or the just the right to visit Disneyland safely fine! Just fight! In other words, prabhu, become strong rather than allowing your mind to find excuses for personal weakness and lack of committment. We won't be able to help you there, neither will misuse of the philosophy of Krsna-conciousness, in an unrealized attempt to convince others as rationalization for your(false)self. Now is definitely not the time for vacillating!!! Peter/valaya [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-17-2001).]

Dear Paramaradhya, Thanks for trying to help, but something called ACDsee (spelling?) comes up and I can't go any further. This is really bothering me. I didn't try to contact you or get other help because I get so totally frustrated. Sometimes I feel completely condemned due to my offensive fallen condition. Tonight I went to a program with such nice people. Makes me so aware of how I've thoroughly wasted this life. Anyway, hope you are well. Did you ever get that laptop computer you wanted? Please let me know if you return to Toronto, prabhu, or if I can be of any service here. Forget about my problems with the CD. It'll work out eventually. For now I just don't want to think about all this anymore. Peter/valaya p.s. I like Paramaradhya 'cuz it's connected to Radha! ------------------ amanpeter@hotmail.com [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-17-2001).]

quote: Originally posted by leyh: Recently,I had a very frightening dream in which I screamed at someone (I don't know who):"I DON'T CARE FOR KRSNA OR FOR HIS ASSOCIATES!" I woke up feeling worried by this dream.Why would I scream such blasphemy in my dreams? The only reason I can think of is that its because I am a fallen soul. May Krsna and His associates have mercy on me... ***************************************** ********************************************* Truth is, we all share these feelings, prabhus. Truly admitting it makes us evermore eligible for, and appreciative of, His causeless mercy in the form of Divine Grace. As Gaudiya's, we consider the personification and source of such unconditional Love to be none other than Srimati Radharani. Knowing this, we can take full shelter in Her, and that includes dovetailing emotions such as these with Her's. Krsna often infuriates Radha and Her loyal friends! In fact, they gang up on Him and His friends, always emerging victorious in the end. This is what bhakti is all about! The only problem, from our perspective, is the lack of purity in our expression of what Prabhupada called "spontaneous eternal feelings", due to our immersion in material conciousness. `Purification` is brought about by conciously associating with the Internal Potency (Sri Radha and Her girlfriends). Krsna conciousness is both the means and the end, but it is not possible without connecting with Sri Radhika, personally and/or impersonally, since we are the parts of Her whole. Of course, personally is always best, and that opportunity is ever available to us if we simply accept Her as our dearmost confidential friend and share all our innermost thoughts, feelings, etc. with Her. No formality or even `Godness` required, in fact it can interfere with much needed emotional honesty. Believe me, She can handle anything and will accept anyone-- REGARDLESS! She is the key to all of this and thus She can make the impossible happen in an instant! When Radharani accepts someone as a friend, She will never neglect or abandon them! Krsna is quite different and way more than we can possibly handle at our present level. Please turn to Swamini-Kisori and surrender everything to Her--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Only Radhika is the essence, and thus essential. She alone is enough, but without Her nothing else will prove effective for very long. If we try to pursue Krsna He will run us all ragged, eventually leaving each of us lost, alone, and bewildered. Learn how to cling to Srimati like a little girl might attach herself to an older sister. Look up to Her with admiration, as if She were your whole world, celebrating Her superiority and victories over Krsna. Join in the glorious chorus of Her girlfriends!!! That will be most pleasing to Krsna! Though He will surely test your fidelity for awhile, eventually He will accept you as Her's. Then, as you'll see, it's a `whole different ballgame`! JAI JAI SRI RADHE! valaya ------------------ amanpeter@hotmail.com [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-16-2001).] [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-18-2001).]

Don't forget `The Three Stooges`! "C'mon, we got terrorists to fight!" nyuck nyuck nyuck

Dear Tarun Krsna prabhu, Glad to hear you're returning to NYC. PLease report back to us after witnessing `ground zero`!

Prabhus, this was a reply from me to Tarun in the World Review section, but I thought it relevant to this discussion also: War has been declared and that demands a certain united focus. When those very freedoms that allow us to think, feel and express our individual views are threatened as they are now, we must voluntarily set aside that individuality and unite as one concerted force on all levels. This struggle will undoubtedly require spiritual, mental and physical discipline from all of us for what may be an extended time to come. Make no mistake, although all this might seem somewhat surreal for many, we are fighting for our very lives, now and in the future. It will inevitably become much worse, I'm afraid. Best to face this ugly reality, bring ourselves together in every sense of the word, and get it over with as quickly as possible. War brings it's own set of rules that must be understood and respected by all. valaya

Maybe borrowed...

Later... [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-16-2001).]

Haribol, leyh! In the beginning, we tend to think that our Krsna conciousness depends on us, as if it were some mental exercise. Actually, it is more of an awakening through the agency of His Divine Grace. Believing we are in control leads us to view both ourselves and others in a critical light, since we're thinking how much better we could all do. There is a great need at this time to unite for the coming battles and this means forging a strong sense of common identity as us vs. them; not the way most of us, as devotees, would prefer to see things. Please do not think that those such as Bhuta-bhavana das are not devotees or acting in anything other than Krsna conciousness. They are simply doing the needful. That is our duty and it must be done right now! No time for questioning our motives or contemplating philosophical points. Soldiers train for these times and are ready to take charge. While we still have the luxury of communicating together here on these forums, it would be good to bear that in mind and try to understand the seriousness of all this. Firm resolve will be necessary and faith in ourselves as well as each other must be strongly fixed. If that requires vilifying the `enemy`, so be it. Try to imagine the quality of faith and surrender, however misguided, that those terrorist `martyrs` must have---we must have more! Please know prabhus, though this probably appears overdramatic, that you are my only family at this time and my heart is with you, whatever happens. valaya ------------------ amanpeter@hotmail.com [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-16-2001).]

Tarun prabhu, you seem unable to grasp our situation here. There is a proper time and place to address these issues you speak of, or perhaps not. In any case, this is neither. War has been declared and that demands a certain united focus. When those very freedoms that allow us to think, feel and express our individual views are threatened as they are now, we must voluntarily set aside that individuality and unite as one concerted force on all levels. This struggle will undoubtedly require spiritual, mental and physical discipline from all of us for what may be an extended time to come. Make no mistake, although all this might seem somewhat surreal for many, we are fighting for our very lives, now and in the future. It will inevitably become much worse, I'm afraid. Best to face this ugly reality, bring ourselves together in every sense of the word, and get it over with as quickly as possible. War brings it's own set of rules that must be understood and respected by all. Peter/valaya ------------------ amanpeter@hotmail.com

Yes, where is our friend Pita das???

Yes, where is our friend Pita das???

> From The Concise Yoga Vasishtha: > > "That Self is empty like space; but it is not nothingness, since it > is consciousness. It is: yet because it cannot be experienced by the > mind and senses, it is not. It being the Self of all, it is not > experienced (as the object of experience) by anyone. Though one, it > is reflected in the infinite atoms of existence and hence appears to > be many. This appearance is however unreal... But the self is not > unreal. It is not a void or nothingness: for it is the Self of all... > > That Self or infinite consciousness is, from the ordinary point of > view, the creator, the protector and the overlord of all; and yet > from the absolute point of view, in reality, being the Self of all, > it has no such limited roles." (p. 101-102) > > "It does nothing, yet It has fashioned the universe. Sustaining the > entire universe, It does nothing at all. All substances are non- > different from It, yet It is not a substance; though It is non- > substantial It pervades all substances. The cosmos is It's body, yet > it has no body... that infinite consciousness is and is not. It is > even what it is not. All these statements about what is and what is > not are based on logic, and the infinite consciousness goes beyond > truth, beyond logic." (p. 377-378) > > "In my vision, It is pure and supreme peace. In this there are > infinite potentialities like figures in an uncut marble. Thus the > supreme self is at the same time diverse and non-diverse. It is when > you do not have direct self-knowledge that there arises in you doubt > concerning this." (p. 540) > > "The whole universe is filled with this infinite and undivided > consciousness." (p. 494) > > "Even as in a collection of a thousand pots there is space within and > outside of all the pots, undivided and indivisible, even so the self > exists pervading all beings in the three worlds." (p. 400) > > "Because the substratum (the infinite consciousness) is real, all > that is based on it acquires reality, though the reality is of the > substratum alone... To me you are real, and to you I am real; even so > the others are real to you or to me. And, this relative reality is > like the reality of dream-objects." (p. 71) > > "He sees the truth who sees that he is the omnipresent infinite > consciousness which encompasses within itself all that takes place > everywhere at all times. He sees the truth who knows that the Self, > which is as subtle as the millionth part of the tip of a hair divided > a million times, pervades everything. He sees the truth who sees that > there is no division at all between the self and the other, and that > the one infinite light of consciousness exists as the sole reality. > He sees the truth who sees that the non-dual consciousness which > indwells all beings is omnipotent and omnipresent." (p. 163) > > "Spreading the net of worldly objects of pleasure, it is this egotism > that traps living beings. Indeed, all the terrible calamities in this > world are born of egotism... When I am under the influence of > egotism, I am unhappy; when I am free from egotism I am happy. > Egotism promotes cravings; without it they perish." (p. 10) > > "Regard your body and senses as instruments for experiencing, not as > Self." (p. 474) > > "The self is neither this nor that; it transcends whatever is the > object of experiencing here. In the unlimited and unconditioned > vision ... all this is but the one Self, the infinite consciousness, > and there is nothing which can be regarded as the not-Self. The > substantiality of all substance is none other than the Self or the > infinite consciousness." (p. 295) > > "Consciousness becomes embodied though it is truly like space, > incapable of being contained." (p. 561) > > "O Rama, you are not born when the body is born, nor do you die when > it dies. To think that the space within the jar came into being when > it was made and the space perishes with the jar is sheer > foolishness..." (p. 294) > > "... when the inner light, kindled by a proper study of the > scriptures and inquiry into their truth, illumines both knowledge and > the experience of it, their total identity is realized. This inner > light itself is regarded as self-knowledge by the holy ones: and the > experience of it is an integral part of self-knowledge and non- > different from it. He who has self-knowledge is for ever immersed in > the experience of it." (p. 321) > > "... abandon the false and fanciful notion of the ego-sense within > your own heart. When this ego-sense is dispelled the supreme light of > self-knowledge will surely shine in your heart." (p. 211) > > "He who sees the Lord, the sun, in one's heart, sees the truth." (p. > 357) > > > Rama: "Lord, what is the heart that is spoken of by you?" > > Guru Vasishtha: "O Rama, two aspects of the "heart" are spoken of > here: one is acceptable and the other is to be ignored. The heart > that is part of this physical body and is located in one part of the > body may be ignored! The heart which is acceptable is of the nature > of pure consciousness. It is both inside and outside and it is > neither inside nor outside. This is the principal heart and in it is > reflected everything which is in the universe, and it is the treasure- > house of all wealth. Consciousness alone is the heart of all beings, > not the piece of flesh which people call the heart!" (p. 302) > > "He who sees the universe, without the intervention of the mind and > therefore without the notion of a universe, he alone sees the truth. > Such a vision is known as nirvana." (p. 455-456) > > > "Liberation is but a synonym for pure mind, correct self- knowledge > and a truly awakened state. The complete absence of all desires and > hopes is liberation. Until one reaches this true inner awakening or > self-knowledge, one considers oneself bound and strives for > liberation. Abandon these wrong notions of bondage and liberation and > become a man of supreme renunciation." (p. 296) > > "The knowers of truth rest in the infinite consciousness alone: but > that is indescribable and indefinable. Even expressions like "that > alone is" are inadequate and misleading... For one who rests in his > own Self and rejoices in the Self, in whom cravings have ceased and > egosense is absent, life becomes non-volitional and there is perfect > purity. One in millions, however, is able to reach this unconditioned > state of pure being." (p. 705) > > "Liberation is to realize that all this is pure consciousness." (p. > 61) > > "The enlightened one lives a non-volitional life engaging himself > spontaneously in appropriate action... He lives for the sake of > others, with a heart full of compassion for all beings." (p. 597-598) > > "The enlightened sage lives in a state of realization of the truth > even while he engages himself in diverse activities. In diversity he > experiences unity; he rejoices even in unpleasant situations. Though > he lives in the world he is really not in it. What more does an > enlightened person have to gain? Just as ice is ever cool, the sage > lives a natural life, doing what is natural to him, without aspiring > {to} or abandoning anything. The characteristic of the ignorant man > is that he strives to be other than what he is." (p. 671) > > "He is silent in useless arguments, he is deaf to useless talk, he is > a corpse in relation to unrighteous actions, he is very much alive in > righteous actions, he is brilliant in exposing what is auspicious and > in a moment he reveals the greatest truth. All this is natural to the > wise man. He does not have to strive to acquire these qualities." (p. > 669) > > "As long as there is the body, so long shall pain be painful, and > pleasure pleasant: but the wise are not attached to either." (p. 155)

All true, prabhu, but `I am not this body!` Devotional service is not material, nor is it related to our gross or subtle physical forms. These bodies must be fed, clothed, protected and otherwise provided for. We cannot evade such responsibilities under the guise of devotion. When we are completely situated in our spiritual identities, through self-realization by His Divine Grace, and no longer bound by this world in any way, since we are wholly engaged in pure devotional service, our natural allegiance will be elsewhere. Meanwhile, we have debts to consider here. While our hearts pine for our real home, we must continue to fulfil our responsibities in this world as best we can. That remains our duty, as explained by Krsna in Srimad Bhagavad-gita. Haribol! valaya ------------------ amanpeter@hotmail.com

A woman secretly carries on an intrigue with her lover. Live in the > world like that woman, doing your many duties, with your soul > secretly yearning for the Lord. She thinks of her lover all the time > that she does her household duties. (Sri Ramakrishna 1836 - 1886)

From The Gospel Of Sri Ramakrishna: > "It is the unwavering conviction of the Jnani (one of knowledge and > understanding) that Brahman alone is real and the world illusory. All > these names and forms are illusory, like a dream. What Brahman is > cannot be described. One cannot even say that Brahman is a Person. > This is the opinion of the Jnanis, the followers of Vedanta > philosophy. > > But the Bhaktas (those on the path of devotion and worship) accept > all the sates of consciousness. They take the waking state to be real > also. They don't think the world to be illusory, like a dream. They > say that the universe is a manifestation of God's power and glory. > God has created all these -- sky, stars, moon, sun, mountains, ocean, > men, animals. They constitute His glory. He is within us, in our > hearts. Again, He is outside. The most advanced devotees say that He > Himself has become all this -- the twenty-four cosmic principles, the > universe, and all living beings. The devotee of God wants to eat the > sugar, and not to become the sugar. (All laugh). > > The yogi seeks to realize the Paramatman, the Supreme Soul. His ideal > is the union of the embodied soul and the Supreme Soul. He withdraws > his mind from sense-objects and tried to concentrate on the > Paramatman... > > But the Reality is one and the same; the difference is only in name. > He who is Brahman is verily Atman, and again, He is the Bhagavan. He > is Brahman to the followers of the path of knowledge, Paramatman to > the yogis, and the Bhagavan to the lovers of God." (p. 191- 192) > > > "Think of Brahman, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, as a shoreless > ocean. Through the cooling influence, as it were, of the Bhakta's > love, the water is frozen at places into blocks of ice. In other > words, God now and then assumes various forms for His lovers and > reveals Himself to them as a Person. But with the rising of the Sun > of Knowledge, the blocks of ice melt. Then one doesn't feel any more > that God is a Person, nor does one see God's forms. What He is cannot > be described. Who will describe Him? He who would do so disappears. > He cannot find his I any more." (p. 209) > > "Brahman (god) with attributes is meant for the Bhaktas (those on the > path of love and devotion). In other words, a bhakta believes that > God has attributes and reveals Himself to men as a Person, assuming > forms. It is He who listens to our prayers. The prayers that you > utter are directed to Him alone. It doesn't matter whether you accept > God with form or not. It is enough to feel that God is a Person who > listens to our prayers, who creates, preserves, and destroys the > universe, and who is endowed with infinite power. It is easier to > attain God by following the path of devotion." (p. 209-210) > > "He who is attributeless also has attributes. He who is Brahman is > also Shakti (active energy/life force). When thought of as inactive, > He is called Brahman, and when thought of as the Creator, Preserver, > and Destroyer, He is called the Primordial Energy, Kali. Brahman and > Shakti are identical, like fire and its power to burn. When we talk > of fire, we automatically mean also its power to burn. Again, the > fire's power to burn implies the fire itself. If you accept the one > you must accept the other." (p. 161) > > "As Consciousness, (God) pervades the entire universe of the living > and the non-living." (p. 272) > > "In the Vedas creation is likened to the spider's web. The spider > brings the web out of itself and then remains in it. God is the > container of the universe and also what is contained in it." (p. 194) > > "God dwells in all beings. But you may be intimate only with good > people; you must keep away from the evil-minded. God is even in the > tiger; but you cannot embrace the tiger on that account (Laughter.) > You may say, "Why run away from a tiger, which is also a > manifestation of God? The answer to that is: Those who tell you to > run away are also manifestations of God; why shouldn't you listen to > them?" (p. 131-132) > > "A man cannot live on the roof a long time. He comes down again. > Those who realize Brahman in samadhi (state of meditation) come down > also and find that it is Brahman that has become the universe and its > living beings... The ego does not vanish altogether. The man coming > down from samadhi (union with God during meditation) perceives that > it is Brahman (God) that has become the ego, the universe, and all > living beings. This is known as Vijnana." (p. 156) > > "There are three classes of devotees. The lowest one says, "God is up > there," and he points to heaven. The mediocre devotee says that God > dwells in the heart as the "Inner Controller." But the highest > devotee says: "God alone has become everything. All things that we > perceive are so many forms of God." (p. 292-293) > > > (From The Gospel Of Sri Ramakrishna)

Japa beads.

http://www.clarus.com [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-15-2001).]

Don't worry, Suryaz prabhu. That ain't our destination!

Not now, talasiga, we have a heartache...go play elsewhere.

Yeh, and it smells bad, too!

It has to do with the lack of seratonin, the same thing that Prozac type drugs affect and also the herb St.John's wort. Full-spectrum lights are available in both florescent and incandescent bulbs. Sometimes they're called Gro-lights as plants benefit, too. There are several ways to neutralize EMF, including a locket called Q-Link which I wear around my neck. It amplifies one's personal electrical fequency, measurably increasing the aura or chi forcefield, to provide a protective bubble for the wearer. The same company makes electrically powered devices which can cover entire rooms or cars. Some natural substances, like tourmaline (I think), achieve a somewhat similar effect by absorbing EMF, but they must be replaced after awhile.

Param is the name she used on the forums and what she said I should call her when I asked her personally face-to-face. I've given up on the CD ROM as well as everything else, except for Email and these forums. Might bring this computer to the temple tomorrow so the devotee who sent me the support file can try to set it up properly. Just got Norton Works which magically fixed some of the problems, so at least my internet connection seems to be happening reasonably well.

I believe that the attack on NYC was a direct result of the conference on racism recently held in South Africa, which singled out Israel and labelled it as a racist aggressor. Although this act of terrorism had obviously been planned for some time, the right trigger was needed. The `international` condemnation of Israel just might have provided the impression that somehow world opinion may actually be favourable at this time. Whoops! [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-15-2001).]

Param told me she was `licensing` others to copy and distribute, possibly through ISKCON temples. She would provide a master copy, I think. valaya