amanpeter

Originally posted by melvin:

Truthfully, my day begins when I`m

off to work in the hospital, where

I treat the insane, the hysterical,

the bruised, the hypertensives, the

diabetics, the astmatics, those

with erectile dysfunctions, deliver

those who are in labor a full term

baby, refers those who are stabbed,

shot, bumped, battered by the hus-

band, answers calls from those with

stomach pain, counsels those who

are suicidal after taking a dose of

organophospate, have an animated

discussion with the nurses on duty,

declares someone dead on arrival,

resuscitates a limp, cyanotic baby,

reads the laboratory tests done and

chest x-rays taken from patients

with tuberculosis. So, what else is

new?

Thus, when I go home after the mor-

ning duty( from 8A.M. to 8P.M.)I

have to contend with talking to the

children or wife. That is if they

are still awake when I arrive home

usually at 11 P.M. And there are

nights you have to wake at dawn be-

cause the missus wants you to do

something exclusively for her,SEX.

So, you manage to leave your home

at 7 A.M., where I have to commute

to the hospital riding on a public

utility vehicle(Jeepney) which

takes me about an hour and a half

to reach my working station. Then

the next day, I go on the grave

yard shift(8P.M. to 8 A.M.)where

you are the only doctor available

to do the work at the ward, emer-

gency room, delivery room, etc.

Then you go home the next day to

find out that you still have to

post this message somewhere inside

a net cafe, since I don`t own a

personal computer, nor will I ever

be able to possess, such luxuries

in life due to poverty. Imagine I

earn only $450/month. Your wife

is not working. You have two kids

taking up electronic and civil en-

gineering, and a girl on her 4th

grade. So where will I get the mo-

ney to give you the prize for ans-

wering my question of where does

the day begin?

For me, the day begins with me and

ends with me. And the prize I have

to pay is being able to talk with

guys, even If I have to pay twenty

pesos/hour to send you this brief

message. Why, it`s worth IT!

Dear Dr. Melvin, I really don't know what to say, but this revealing post has hung here long enough and deserves some response, however feeble. Thank you for sharing all this with us. For myself, I find it most humbling, considering my own useless lazy situation financially supported by the government. Your spirit is obviously strong. I hope that your physical health remains good, as well. That job must provide a lot of personal satisfaction, knowing how much others depend on you, even if the monetary rewards are few. Perhaps we could speak by telephone sometime. Feel free to Email me, if you like. Best wishes, prabhu. HARIBOL! Peter/valaya

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amanpeter@hotmail.com

Nov. 12, 1974 Srila Prabhupada writes to H.H. Swami Tripurari,

"Organize freely. You are the incarnation of book distribution. So

take the leadership and do the needful."

 

Are we to take these words of Srila Prabhupada as mere encouragement or literally verbatim, the way we choose to accept so many other things he said? Similar words were said to other devotees and `gurus` who subsequently `fell down`, is it not true? What should we make of all this?

Here's how I see it, prabhus. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Sankirtan Movement has barely just begun. Prabhupada has captured and will continue to capture so many troops worldwide, to be used in this divine mission. Isn't it possible that he actually saw/sees our real identities and roles? It may take many more generations and individual rebirths for all the forces to assemble fully and our roles to become perfected, but the process has clearly begun!

Now is the time to keep and build faith in our true identities, individually and collectively. Anyone who is attracted in any way has been sent to us. All are of some potential benefit. It is our responsibility to sort everything out and somehow UNIFY! I'm sure that each of us can try a little harder in that regard/respect...valaya

Originally posted by livingentity:

I just checked in before signing off for the evening. I will get back to you tomorrow evening on this problem and try to help you out. By the way, which windows program are you using?

 

Winzip with windows 98SE? I can't even understand the questions, let alone answer them! Arghh!!!

Originally posted by Maitreya:

No, read the article.Any Afghan that converts to another religion is subject to death.Who the hell do these jerks think they are?People should be able to change their minds as they wish, back and forth, right or wrong.

They are putting foreign Christian aid workers on trial. My source is the Toronto Star, this city's main newspaper.

Originally posted by animesh:

Dr. Melvin,

Just give me the prize. Otherwise, I will put a gun against your head and snatch the prize from you. There are lots of criminal records against me. My photograph is often published in newspapers under "most wanted".

That's nothing, prabhu! My photo is often posted in ISKCON temples as least wanted!

Originally posted by Maitreya:

Contact?This out to be interesting?More new inventions?

Give us the gist peter.

What continues to astound me is how every little thing, that would appear to me common sense for a devotee, must apparently be spelled out in detail. Then `devotees` have to be reminded, cajoled, and/or paid to perform bhakti!

Bhakti-marg Swami often seems thoroughly disgusted and I can only sympathize, while the constant struggle goes on. Really, you have to see to believe, prabhu.

I have a friend there, an old Indian man 86 years of age, who ends up doing heavy work neglected by others whose job it is to do!

*******************************************

Just edited here since I want to make it clear that I'm not speaking in this post about eastern European or any other particular group.

[This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-11-2001).]

Condescension and patronizing will never satisfy, nor will the pretense of normalcy, particularly when differences are considered a source of pride. Political representation is one thing, but I don't think anyone would want to enter into a `gay` partnership just so their program might become more acceptable.

The best thing we can possibly do for anyone is to be truthful and that begins with telling them that they are not their body, along with all that entails. Deception and duplicity in the name of spreading Lord Caitanya's movement is what got ISKCON in such a mess to begin with. Or am I wrong, prabhus? valaya

Originally posted by amanpeter:

Thanks prabhu! Met a devotee at the temple tonight who says he'll Email what I need. Apparently Mediaplayer is not enough without additional software. Will let you all know tomorrow.

 

 

Well, he sent me an attachment which I unzipped into as a file on C drive, now what? Maybe Radharani won't even let me visit Vrndavan by video CD...woe is I!

p.s. he says he can't help me by Email any further. Dumb is me!

Does anyone recollect Prabhupada encouraging us to dovetail our emotions towards Radha-Krsna and away from mundane relationships, such as family? Or how about telling us that we have no friends in this world? Didn't he say that sex, gross and subtle, is what binds us to material conciousness?

Guess we all have our own ways to rationalize personal attachments, still I'd appreciate further clarification of these points, prabhus. Thank you. valaya

------------------

amanpeter@hotmail.com

One point worth noting, perhaps, is the `muslims'` objection to the `christians` glorifying Lord Jesus (guru) as greater than God...

A thread I am reluctant to let go...

Radha-Krsna=Light in Dark...JAI RADHE!

Peter/valaya to Kailasa (from another thread):

Have you thought about coming to the west? Many devotees from Eastern Europe, including Russia, have stayed at the ISKCON Toronto temple. They certainly could use the help and you could perfect your English.

 

Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you here. I've known Bhakti-marg Swami, the resident sanyassi, for many years and he is quite accomodating. I believe he is presently on the GBC, also.

Bad news, prabhu. I spoke to Bhakti-marg Swami yesterday and he told me that there have been many problems in ISKCON with eastern European devotees who came to temples in the west. Apparently they tend to lose their original committment and cause some difficulties. I'm starting a separate thread here, because this might be worthy of discussion within our world-wide virtual assembly of devotees.

ISKCON Toronto now requires devotees that live in the temple to sign a contract (I'll try to find a scanner), but without the devotional spirit, what can be done? I have much more to say about all of this, however will wait to see if others are interested and if so, what direction the discussion takes.

[This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-10-2001).]

Re: Sadhu: all 28, more like 27, really 26...

Mon, Sep 10 2001 13:56

valaya

Keywords: ROFLOL!

Haribol Tarun! That is just TOO funny, prabhu! Hope you don't mind my posting this on Good Clean Jokes at indiadivine.

> From Tarun on Dharma-mela forum:

Hey, I can't believe it! All those qualities listed below: I have all 28!

> Amazing! Fantastic! I'm so advanced!

> Well, okay, 27. More like 26. Actually... 25. You could say 24. Strictly speaking 23. Most likely 22.

> At times 21. Most assuredly 20. Would you believe 19? How about 18? Shades of 17? Glimpses of 16? Shadows of 15?

> Working on 14? Thinking about 13. An even dozen would do. Elevate me to 11. Tell me I've 10. Denying 9? Estimating only 8?

> Not even 7?? Then 6. Jive 5? Hardly 4? Grant me 3. At least a pair! Hardly one?

> Well it's not my fault. It's not my fault at all, I tell you. It's theirs!

> It's Their adhidaivik mixed with other's adhibhautik that's always increasing my adhyAtmik.

> It's other people's tamogun and rajogun that's upsetting my sattvagun nature.

> Yeah, that's right. That's it. I'm tellin' you. Those 28, all of them are in there, in me somewhere.

> I'll find'em. I'll show'em to the world! You wait and see! Free from pride of course. (don't hold ya breath)

>

> > Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!!

> >

> > The Supreme Lord ZrI KRSNa tells Uddhava about the qualities of SAdhus 11/11/29-31:

> >

> > "The following are the twenty eight qualities of SAdhus:

> > (1) compassionate and merciful (2) spite-less (3) truthful (4) dispassionate (5) clean externally and within (6) charitable (7) gentle (8) pure (9) akincana (has nothing to call his own except his devotion for Shri Hari, Gurudev and Vaishnavas) (10) universal benefactor (11) self-controlled (12) has absolute reliance on ZrI KRSNa - the essence of all qualities (13) free from selfish desire (14) harmless (15) firm in his faith in for ZrI Hari, Gurudeva and Vaishnavas (16) conqueror of sixfold miseries (hunger, thirst, misfortune, illusion, infirmity and death) (17) temperate in diet (18) watchful and cautious (19) respectful of others (20) without ego (21) wise (22) soft-hearted (23) grave (24) friendly to all (25) Intelligent (26) dexterous (27) intent in singing and dancing (in HarinAm SankIrtan) (28) not given to idle gossip

> >

[This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 09-10-2001).]

Originally posted by Audarya lila:

Thank you for the kick Valaya, you are certainly most correct in your assessment of my fallen nature.

 

You should note, just for reference sake, that I was paraphrasing what Srila Prabhupada has said regarding humility and also what other great vaishnava's have said. We should be humble ourselves and not be disturbed by those who speak ill of us, but we should always speak out against villification of other devotees, regardless of our fallen nature.

 

Your servant,

Audarya lila dasa

Prabhu, please don't feel that it was you being addressed! It's not so much a question of whether one speaks out as how. Our tempers must be tempered with self-reflection.

Certainly these situations bring pain to the heart, but such pain can also be a great impetus for the sincere disciple to surrender himself/herself more deeply, knowing that blasphemers are better saved than `destroyed`. JAI SRI RADHE! valaya

From the latest official "Contract Between ISKCON Toronto and a Devotee Wishing to Live in the Temple":

"Fraternizing with the members of the opposite sex is strictly forbidden."

This does seem to create opportunities for homosexuals that are not available to heterosexuals. Witness certain late night `pizza parties` in one of the cook's rooms which continued until his advances towards young bhakta's became too obvious to ignore.

Any atmosphere of enforced celibacy can become a `breeding` ground for homosexual liasons when the sexes are separated yet still present together. In that sense, those who are pre-disposed to those activities could be considered advantagedand not disadvantaged...

Unfortunately, many(most?) are using ISKCON temples for anything but the cultivation of Krsna conciousness and thus interfering unnecessarily with the few sincere souls, whatever their sexual orientation, that come seeking exactly that.

Originally posted by Tarun:

False pride or ahankara is most difficult, most subtle.

Zrila Zridhardev stated something which still makes me chill after 20 yrs:

"One layer of false ego may consume many births..."

Don't you just hate those stubborn stains?!!

Taking offense on behalf of others, who may never have taken offense themselves, as an excuse to exercise our false ego's fighting propensity in the name of truth, justice and even love does not a pure devotee make.

To `defend`, `glorify`, `praise` the acharya's is not the same as actually following them, nor can Sri Guru and Gauranga be deceived by such a show of cheap deception.

Often, knowing from whom/whence it comes, even the casual observer can understand that it is only a hollow mockery of true devotion.

Originally posted by Maitreya:

Transcendental literature that strictly follows the Vedic principles and the conclusion of the Puränas and päncarätrika-vidhi can be written only by a pure devotee. It is not possible for a common man to write books on bhakti, for his writings will not be effective. He may be a very great scholar and may be expert in presenting literature in flowery language, but this is not at all helpful in understanding transcendental literature. Even if transcendental literature is written in faulty language, it is acceptable if it is written by a devotee, whereas so-called transcendental literature written by a mundane scholar, even if it is a very highly polished literary presentation, cannot be accepted. The secret in a devotee?s writing is that when he writes about the pastimes of the Lord, the Lord helps him; he does not write alone. As stated in the Bhagavad-gitä (10.10), dadämi buddhi-yogaà taà yena mäm upayänti te. Since a devotee writes in service to the Lord, the Lord from within gives him so much intelligence that he sits down near the Lord and goes on writing books.From purport CC Adi 8.39

 

Our debt is to you Srila Prahupada.

 

Hare Krishna

Ananga:

I would recommend for any seekers of knowledge to shop around and to try at all costs to avoid texts that contain slander of Vaishnavas in them.

From the above quote by Ananga it would appear that he/she is not seeking pure bhakti so much as an objective philosophical understanding of it. Anyone reading Srila Prabhupada's books will become a Krsna bhakta eventually, somehow or other, by the potency therein. His are not ordinary books as he was not an ordinary person.

Actions speak far louder than words and when both are powerfully in unison along with the Grace of God, miracles must happen. Those not looking for such in their lives may be best to avoid the books written by our acharya Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

"When you are slandered, and therefore grow disturbed and

sick at heart, it

shows that pride is in you, and that it must be wounded and

driven out

by

outward dishonor. Therefore do not be irritated by derision,

and do not

bear

malice against those who hate you and slander you, but love

them as your

physicians, whom God has sent you to instruct you and to

teach you

humility,

and pray to God for them."

St. John of Kronstadt.

Originally posted by livingentity:

This was on another forum site and thought it should also be posted here.

 

Srila Prabhupada asked the devotee, 'can you quote the verse?' They could

not. Srila Prabhupada said, "Just see - you are not reading my books. You

have to read my books and you have to study and learn my books just like a

lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything chapter and verse.

If you do not know, how will you teach these men unless you know my books.

Every day you have to read my books. Do you know that every day even I read

my own books? Do you know why I read my books? I read my books everyday

because even I learn something new when I read them. Do you know why I

learn something new when I read my books? Because these books are not my

books - I do not write these books. Every morning when I sit here to write

my books Krsna comes personally and he dictates to me what to write, so I

simply take dictation from Krsna and I write these books. Therefore when I

read them even I learn something."

WOW!

jndas prabhu, please clarify whether guru conciousness and God conciousness are identical according to your understanding, from the perspective of an ordinary jiva soul. In other words, are Prabhupada conciousness and Krsna conciousness the same and leading to the same end or possibly an end in themselves? Would Prabhupada katha be equivalent to Radha-Krsna katha? Sorry for my inability to express these questions better.

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

Originally posted by livingentity:

Here is the link to Paramaradhya devi dasi's website which includes info on the video.

 

<A HREF=http://paramaradhya.netfirms.com/index.htm>A Guide to the Spiritual World</a>

Thanks prabhu! Met a devotee at the temple tonight who says he'll Email what I need. Apparently Mediaplayer is not enough without additional software. Will let you all know tomorrow.

Thank you very much, Atma prabhu!

Originally posted by Maitreya:

Why isn't all this tech stuff easy?I just want to push the on button and go!!!

Better yet, I want to push the off button and STOP!!!

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