amanpeter

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Author Topic: Devotion shvu posted 12-06-2000 07:37 PM PT (US) Here are two of the best verses from Bhagavatam, --- He on whom I am going to bestow my grace, I slowly deprive him of all his wealth. When his wealth is gone, his friends, kith and kin desert him, making him sink into utmost sorrow and despair. - The Bhagavatam 10.88.8 When his further efforts to gain wealth also fail, thanks to my will, he becomes filled with dispassion and gets associated with my devotees. On such a one I bestow my grace. - The Bhagavatam 10.88.9<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Actually, this has been the story of my life, since first encountering ISKCON in 1971. They kept telling me how fortunate I was to be the recipient of `special mercy`, before heading back to their homes and families. Now I'm utterly alone on meager government disability without a spiritual OR material life watching this wretched body quickly approach 60 years of age. Now I'm told, "It could be worse!" Great! If I could, I'd wipe it all away at any cost. That's what I think of Sri Krsna and His `special mercy` right now. Of course, things could change. Sure, they'll most probably get worse! Peter

I stayed for a few days with someone in LOs Angeles who claimed to have personally visited the grave of Lord Jesus Christ in Kashmir, India. Also, I have a book called "Jesus Lived In India" which includes many pictures.

As a concept attempting communication with another concept, it's no wonder the whole concept is beyond conception.

So let me know when you're going to lift Govardan Hill, shvu, I could use a little shelter from the storm. Also, there are a few demons around here that could use a good whacking, just drop on over anytime.

Does anyone have any personal experience with this. Please Email: amanpeter@hotmail.com if you'd prefer. Thank you.

Shvu states that becoming realized, one sees that Brahman is all there is. Gaudiyas experience a personal reality as the basis of Brahman. Neither can claim final knowledge of the unlimited Absolute which we call God. Brahman realization without the personal conception ends there, while those that have a personal connection with the Supreme Personal continue to grow in their relationship since intimacy is ever increasing. As part of God's energies we can either merge into our own energy, becoming one with it, or choose to relate with the source of all energies person-to-person. Most would admit that interpersonal interaction provides more pleasure and ultimate satisfaction than trying to amuse oneself all alone (you ARE still here, aren't you Shvu, in spite of many good-byes). Sometimes we find ourselves unwilling or unable to relate with each other because we want to define the relationship only on our own terms and refuse to participate unless we can have everything our way. Of course this is childish and seen as immature by most adults. Attempting to destroy one's personality by merging into the impersonal energy of the Divine rather than grow into a vital, living and deeply personal relationship, which continues to become more and more rewarding, is like a child holding it's breath because it's parents won't comply with it's every wish. One way leads to death and one to everlasting life without the very problems we all face here in this world, that might make us want to choose death as the only perceived solution to a seemingly hopeless situation. Stubborness is simply willful ignorance and therefore an indication of the most basic stupidity. No one can define with absolute certainty the final limits of reality. We can always find a dark corner to hide in though, along with the `evidence` needed to convince us that we've reached the ultimate conclusion and everything outside of our obviously self-defined limited viewpoint is false or non-existent. A philosophical discussion between fanatics may provide some amusement for a time, but in the end they are only talking to themselves as there is no real intercommunication. My point is that God has given us all we need to believe whatever we want in this world and back it up with vast evidence as well, scientific and/or scriptural. However, if we truly want out of this insane asylum we're going to have to face the one who is in control and at least muster up enough sanity to admit to ourselves that we are not in control, individually or collectively. Unfortunately, many apparently prefer to argue with themselves adinfinitum. Best not to be drawn into such madness unless we come armed with anti-psychotic medication and are qualified in it's use. Satyaraj prabhu, it should be obvious by now that you are not empowered in the way you may have believed you were, so better to get back to the beads as opposed to the books. Shvu, I do not know you and do not want to insult or offend, but there must be some other way you that brahman realized souls amuse themselves than verbal word jugglery and mundane wrangling. My suggestion is to try some physical service by helping the less fortunate in the forms of the homeless and poor among us. Maybe by God's Divine Grace you will experience what you need to break free of the mental loop you seem to be stuck in. Best wishes to all concerned and my prayers are with you.

Religion or Relationship? Awe and reverence or Intimacy? One is detrimental to the other. The choice is ours alone!

What now? Realize our ABSOLUTE dependence on Divine Grace. Cry out for that same Divine Grace like a drowning child. Don't stop until you personally perceive that Divine Grace in the most tangible way. Cling to that Divine Grace continuously, somehow or other. Tears help...

The end and the means are one--loving devotion. First we must recognize ourselves as eternal within these temporary bodies in an everchanging world. Then we can focus on our eternal beloved in our heart of hearts, rather than on family and friends. According to the strength of our longing, all will be revealed, sooner or later. For the sincere lover the way is straightforward, though never easy. For the deceitful, there are endless complications and confusion. Still that deep desire must eventually be fulfilled, so long as we hold out for the ultimate perfection and refuse to be satisfied with anything or anyone less. My highest goal is `love for the sake of love` as expressed by the manjari maidservants of Srimati Radharani, who have renounced even their own personal relationships with Sri Krsna in loyalty to their Divine Mistress. Theirs' is considered to be most intimate connection with God, according to my understanding and limited experience. JAI JAI SRI RADHE!

Don't know if this is relevant to the discussion on scriptural evidence of Lord Caitanya, but my understanding is that He does not appear in every Kali-yuga.

Krsna received his blackish colouring from the goddess Kali, who in turn is an aspect of Srimati Radharani. Sometimes His complexion changes, again due to His involvement with Her. The most amazing example of this is Mahaprabhu Sri Krsna Caitanya whose golden (Gauranga) colour indicates that Krsna has appeared in the mood of Sri Radha (Gaurangi). He is called Mahaprabhu due to Her mahabhava, thus He is the most merciful and munificent avatar solely because Her love is absolutely unconditional and unlimited. All the various names of Sri Krsna such as Gopinath, Govinda, Damodar, etc. are always prefaced by the one name Radha. Even Sri means Radha. Actually everything Krsna is or has is enabled by Radha who is His innermost potency and the very source of all other potencies. She even taught Him to dance! The highest level of Gaudiya vaisnava bhakti holds Radhika as the all-in-all and aspires only for Her service exclusively. Krsna Himself sees Her as His heart-and-soul and admits that He is nothing without Her. JAI JAI SRI RADHE!

JAI JAI SRI RADHE!!! yours in Her service, Peter