Sridas

sri siddhanta-sarasvatiti viditau gaudiya-gurv-anvaye bhato bhanur iva prabhata-gagane yo gaura-sankirtanaih mayavada-timingilodara-gatan uddhrtya jivaniman krsna-prema-sudhabdhi gahana sukham pradat prabhum tam bhaje "In the great Gaudiya Vaishnava teachers' line, as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati he is renowned. Like the radiant sun in the morning sky, he appeared to rescue all souls swallowed by the all-devouring impersonal philosophy. By spreading the teaching of Lord Gauranga to sing the holy name of Lord Krishna, he gave all the chance to dive in the ocean of love for Sri Krishna, the Supreme Person. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta, my lord, divine master, at his feet do I pray to serve him forever." [srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj] Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur Ki Jaya

It's a subtle science Pankaja, and why we are instructed to spread the Holy names and pastimes to all we meet. As Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati has said "the only lack in this world is that of Krsna Consciousness". Everyone is dropping down dead all around us at every moment with various misconceptions and so it is advised to give that which gives joy to our hearts and what the saints recommend to give the best feeling possible to the soul proper is Krsna Katha. Transendental sound vibration will act as the panacea for all ills and ignorance, whether conscious or unconconscious. And if we are humbly endeavouring to come in the name of Krsna's devotion then others might just appreciate your sharing, yet nothing is guaranteed in this world, it is possible the environment may turn around and insult you for your effort making you feel like a worm. The power of the word can make or marr our relationships in this world and it is why it is also recommended to give affectionate honor in our dealings not superficially, but it goes a long way to creating an auspicious environment for ourself and others around us.

:puke: :puke:

This sure seems to be the predominant question that keeps coming up over and over again in these forums, so just thinking and hearing about it constantly has got to assist us from backsliding. If we didn't even ask these questions I'd say you'd be definately missing something special, but doomed might be a little severe wording. You see even those of us who are formerly connected to guru can still displease guru, whereas there are some forever aspiring to take that step sometime in their life. And the aspiration is all preparation and very essential. Still we can never be the loser by having a pure siksa or diksa guru who knows us and prays for our well being, protection, progress and destiny, having personally taken the responsibility to deliver us basket cases. And we should never lose sight of the fact that the work is up to us, not our guru. We don't approach guru to be saved rather to serve and we can lack that with or without a formal connection. We only ever have guru when we are pleasing with our service and then we have all the gurus of the spiritual world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUrF1g1IChU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXuuacO3NJQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03-mH7kEBBU For those who like dance with their music it don't come much better or opulent than this choreography in the film Devdas. Many of these bollywood epics can be laborious but this one held me entranced from start to finish. I can only imagine what our Nataraj Sri Gaurasundara's dance is like. It's worth hiring the flick.

Also if anyone likes or has heard the versatility of Nitin Sawhney check this out he has some deep Indian groove in there mixed in our times, this fusion really touches me. There's a bit more of him at this link but not enough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8pCGsFtKYo Mahaak, The Bangles huh! Interesting! preferr Loreena Mc kennett an even Buffy tho, I gotta ditto on the Big O.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba6qOsmjqpY How bout Deep Forest mahaksa. i've really come to appreciate musos who can capture the indiginous spirit of a place or culture. These guys like many world minstrels, I feel as Ole Tim Leary would say "play on the ancient genetic strings of the cerebral code" or somethin like that, it's bin a long time. sorry can't help ya with the lyrics, they talkin' in tongues. I think that is what I like about a lot of world music is they talk with feelings, not so much lyric. but, Somewhere.... deep in the Jungle..... are living some little men and women. They are our past.... and maybe...they are our future. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWqt23kQzxk It must be the tribal instinct in us all. I'm sure there's a native somewhere deep in the 21st century homogenous melting pot of us all, just busting to dance with the elephants and orangutangs. I also thought you might a' heard their musical journey of the Pacific being a water man, I've got some sentimental attraction to these beautiful scattered tribes.

I thought Jaya and Vijaya's real offence was against the Lords devotees not so much directly to the Lord. He can forgive offence to himself but doesn't forgive aparadhe towards His surrendered servitors and can't allow such an attitude anywhere near the atmosphere in the Kingdom He has created, even though He has his Asura mohan lila. So the bros took the rap to show the example of what gets up the Lords nose, so don't go there.

Agreed Theist, I was just perhaps trying to do that, to understand not just the various creations in this section of existence which in itself is a cause for great wonder, but to actually consider the extra ordinary beauty of our very selves, that is the makeup of personality, the fruit of thinking, willing and feeling. How we are told that the leader of our highest aspiration Srimati Thakurani is the personification of pure sentiment, and the leader of Her opposition party Srimati Candravalli has more intelligence, also I've heard Srila Sridhar Maharaj comicly explain how Sri Balaram personifies this sumedhasar... spiritual intelligence, maybe that is why the Gopis get a little intimidated by those sakya bullies that think the girls are just a bunch of tree huggers. But at the end of the day we all know the design Krsna loves most, which does bring me back to the miracle of love and it's various developments. This is what brought me to make my comment, as i was still thinking simultaneously on Guruvani 's witty remark about eyelashes and their drawbacks, but lets face it Father knows best, even if His creation and expansions differ with Him at moments, when their union is temporarily thwarted, be it for a second or a whole adolescence, absense makes the heart grow fonder as we can understand even from our level, vipralamba is higher, what to speak of those natures who endlessly live and die in every moment, with and without Him. The real wonder I find is the way He has created us with these feelings that can erupt, swell or contract according to a whole range of tangibles, and there He is in the engine room of every jiva fine tuning those programs to look for Him. Talk about playing a flute and chewin' gum at the same time. No doubt he is always intelligently designing ever-new lilas of exchange with his intimate parasadas, and i was thinking how this is the Supreme alchemy that all clever thinking conniseurs of existence like Srila Rupa Goswami with his Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, should cast their meditation and engage their energy towards, it's an art, it is a science, and I suppose in the final annalysis it's the greatest gift He could bestow.. Srila Sridhara Maharaj has talked about Swami Maharaj Prabhupad as having an inclination towards both sakya and and madhura rasa, and we understand his instruction of finding a balance in this world of sentiment and knowledge, heart and mind, other wise we may just be taken as a bunch of fundermental luna tics or dry philosophical control freaks maniplulating the material energy. But ultimately Mahaprabhu exemplefied the Luna tic dynasty as he kissed goodbye to his childhood panditry to share His inconceivable sentiments with His closest servitors in Sri Gambhira.

"And the Pure of heart will see G:eek:d!"

Ok now y got the colour down all yu need is the form. But do you think He goes purple when he's embarrassed? I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up an down and still some how It's clouds illusions I recall I really don't know clouds at all:rofl:

Perhaps we could call him the 'sentiment designer'!

He's only blue to some, to others He's golden. i reckon He's blue because we're all so far away from Him:crying2: Because the world is Bloooo it makes me tooo!

Blessed are those with a choice!

Leave Al and their mates to their sectarian fruit salad. It's better to get on with the life of Bhakti. Why bother to join their disturbance It's like a family dispute. You enter into it to mediate and they'll turn their fire on you.

While we are here I hope no one would object to me offering a few words of praise to his Divine Grace before I take off for the Sri Vyasa Puja celebrations. Karuna Sagara<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> (To the ocean of compassion)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya caksur-unmilitam yena tasmai sri-guruve namah vancha-kalpatarubyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Dear Srila Guru dev,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You extend your mercy and kindness to this patita jiva<o:p></o:p> Ever nourishing and sustaining our hope<o:p></o:p> Bestowing soothing relief like some divine mystical diva<o:p></o:p> Inspiring a purpose to live for, and the way to cope<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tomara hrdoya sada govinda-visram<o:p></o:p> Govinda kohena-mama vaisnava <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>parana</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In your heart Sri Govinda takes rest<o:p></o:p> Transmitting life to the hearts of the blest<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Ye tu dharmamrtam idam yathoktam paryupasate<o:p></o:p> Saddhadhana mat-parama, bhaktaste ‘tiva me priyah<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Among the fortunate souls adored by Him as his very own<o:p></o:p> You shine resplendent, guiding the honest back to their home sweet home<o:p></o:p> Bestowing His refuge through your faith sublime<o:p></o:p> Worshiping the path of devotion, Oh so divine<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Acharyam mam vijaniyam nava manyeta karhicit<o:p></o:p> He lives and gives through you, showing us His grace<o:p></o:p> Exemplifying love and devotion to the whole human race<o:p></o:p> It’s told where would we be without Sri Mahaprabhu<o:p></o:p> But equally how could we live without the mercy of you<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Yogyata-vicare, kitchu nahi pai<o:p></o:p> Tomara karuna sara<o:p></o:p> For your mercy truly puts animation in our heart<o:p></o:p> And without it, we ever remain worlds apart<o:p></o:p> from any good quality, company or cause<o:p></o:p> Subject to the material worlds merciless laws<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> arcayitva tu govindam tadiyam narcayet tu yah<o:p></o:p> na sa bhagavato jeyah kevalam dambhikah smrtah<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Professing to worship Sri Govinda will do us little good<o:p></o:p> Without service to the servants of Sri Govinda's servant you make clearly understood<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> srila govinda sundara-pada sada koro asa<o:p></o:p> Ever aspiring to serve an atomic particle of dust that takes shelter under the jewelled toenails of your lovely lotus feet, where all auspiciousness congregates<o:p></o:p> Where the fulfillment of life’s purpose is found.<o:p></o:p> Where the beelike devotees gather and share with the Earth the nectar of their divine fortune.<o:p></o:p> Where revelations abound<o:p></o:p> Prema bhakti yaha hoite avidya vinasa yati You defeat illusion with the power of devotion and love<o:p></o:p> By distributing the grace of guru and govinda sent from above<o:p></o:p> Spreading the glories of the Holy Names to one and all<o:p></o:p> Like a tidal wave of bhakti destoying the mayavad wall<o:p></o:p> Upholding the dignity of the Gaudiya conception<o:p></o:p> Thru example of humility, tolerance, honor and affection <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p>Ye chayaya jagata juday<o:p></o:p> And the whole world can find soothing relief there<o:p></o:p> rakho ranga caranera pasa<o:p></o:p> So kindly caste your gracious glance upon my painfully separated existence<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Endeavoring to be yours in whatever capacity you see fit.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> By your affection I offer my koti dandavat pranams to this the blessed occasion of your appearance. Also to time and Srila Guru Maharaj for giving us these moments in eternity that you came into our life thereby extending his love to us all.<o:p></o:p> Yours<o:p></o:p> The aspiring dasanudas <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>

I hear you guest, and i guess that's why many devotees like to be in his presence, for just being there takes all the worries and stress of this material world away from the conditioned souls. It's just not possible to explain the experience of being wrapped in his lotus like embrace, as every atom of your existence dances to the tune of that original primordial vibration that projects from his heart, to the heart's of his company. What to speak of hearing Sri Sri Radha-Govinda katha that gives revelation form and substance to ones feelings. Just like being there. What a wonderful gift to the baddha jivas of this world. Gaura Hari bol.

Old people need the love of young people, it brings out the covered 16 year old in them.

Dandavats Shakti fan, These are nice sentiments prabhu, I can appreciate your feeling. Although I may just be one insignificant patita jiva aspiring for a drop of the mercy flowing from His Grace, like a cataka in the desert. Still by the grace of Govinda we have the divya darsan of Srila Govinda Maharaj and by the Grace of Srila Govinda Maharaj we can feel the Grace of Sri Govinda, and see the living practical application of all that Srila Sridhara Maharaj spoke of and poured into our beloved well wishing guardian..... Heart and Halo. Vapu and vani, form and substance. ki jaya

I can't say for certain what the answer is here other than both can be simultaieousely acomodated, as i've heard Srila Sridhara Maharaj say " The Absolute has room for the accomodation of anything and everything, if something is outside that, then He can't be Absolute" Yet we have the different aspects where Sri Swayam Bhagavam is simply enjoying Himself in His favourite pastimes, and even His focus on those is divided into sweet, sweeter, and sweetest attraction. Srila Rupa Goswami has given us an example of the gradation of service. When Krishna is at the summit of Govardhan hill and he sees Balaram and his sakhya friends playing in the pasturing ground below, He also sees Yasoda with all her helpers busily preparing His meal. All the dasya servitors are seen to be engaged in some arrangement under the direction of Yasoda. Chandravali, with her group, is approaching a particular meeting place, while His beloved Srimate Radharani is coming with her friends to an appointed place to be united with Krishna., All the different groups represented together around Govardhan are assembling there - santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya - all are in His sight. He is overseeing everything,. So very many affectionate servitors are all vying for His attention. But His eyes are always drawn to Srimate Radharani and her group. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> Even Laksmi devi, the goddess of fortune and wife of Lord Vishnu wanted to participate in the rasa lila of those simple cowherd girls in Vrindavan, the gopis, but she could not enter. For that market place of the rasa-lila pastime is so very exclusive. <o:p></o:p> Although she has all the wealth and grandeur of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha still, unsatisfied, she is running to join in that great dance in which Krishna is at the centre. No capitalist can enter that market and open a shop there for He has the full monopoly. There is only one commodity in the market and that commodity is Krishna consciousness. SSM. So although his gaze may see the various devotional sentiments, his attention is always drawn towards the highest sacrifice of unconditional loving surrender of the trillions of perfected souls. That's one consideration. Then simultaneously in a lesser expansion of exstatic potency He is reciprocating with the servitors of Dwaraka, Ayodya and further down Vaikuntha with some lesser rasa of anandam. But for all the spun out jivas outside viraja on the other side of the Bramhajhoti effulgence a certain monitoring process of surveilance is in place to keep tabs on the independent rebellious crew not with an eye to view their sordid activity but mostly to make sure they don't get overly out of control with power lust and maddness, and cause more trouble for the others, as they play out their fantasies of being God or Gods. Yet again Srila Sridhara Maharaj says, Krsna's vision only sees every jiva as a slave-or servitor of Him.That is it's all more than good, and that is a Maha Bhagavat's vision also, nothing but God everywhere, there is nowhere He isn't, but that doesn't mean they are attracted to look at nonsense or Maya no....their attraction is always to the sweetest form of devotion in our case that is Radha dasyam. So what to speak of Krsna's vision, it is acintya to understand beyond pure good and pure evil. But let me ask are we something more than Him because we have access to evil. He is the cause of all causes and He is a very naughty boy but he doesn't see His actions or others the way they do, nor do His devotees. He can do no wrong most of the time let's say. And if we receive that gracious gift of a glance from the Sweet Absolute to see that way, we'll be very compassionate to the worst of sinners. Like, "father forgive them they know not what they do." So the bottom line is we have to continually surrender our selves to Krsna's Conciousness, and live in that. Meanwhile He'll be maintaining all the rest of it. <o:p></o:p>

Granted abuse is everywhere, but it's laughable to think sanyassis can just go down to the local travel agent and beg for a ticket to other countries, if that is their calling. I don't think anyone is professing to be Goswami living under trees. Even if they were it would probably be imitation. Which is the xtreme other end of the spectrum Srila Bhaktisiddanta warned us against, false renunciation. At the same time we should'nt loose sight of the Goswamis example. There were many traditionalists that criticised SBSST even using the motor car and printing press, so he inaugarated yukta vairagya, because so many hypocritical saharjiyas in India were claiming to represent Krsna consciouness in the guise of mendicants, whilst doing all kinds of nefarious activity.. Also it's no teddy bears picnic travelling on planes these days thru different time zones, climates, changes of food, customs hassles, terror precautions, especially as the body ages and gets more infirm, it's quite an austerity, and in some front line countries it's a nightmare. Who is going to go to the far corners of the earth doing this relief work? I don't think we can even imagine what it is like just wearing the cloth of sanyass, it's a heavy sacrifice, if we were to just stay glued to our computer every day and broadcast to the world it may help in some ways but people still need these envoys to visit their houses and areas.. I know a few outside Iskcon who still do madhukari just to get by, but for reaching out to every town and village they take the donations of the grhastras, to preach to a wider audience, still every individual has to find their own personal balance and regularly check their motives. I don't think you can tarr everyone with the same brush. The babaji path is there for those who don't wish to preach so much but that is even more of a razors edge when it comes to example. and there are even fewer of those real Vamsi das Babajis or Gaur Kishores.

The problem isn't the dress or the Ideal, rather the persons motives in the dress!

We don't want to do away with temples and congregational centres all together, so we also need some sincere sweepers of the Lords Temples. King Prataparudra is the perfect example even the present day King is a very honorable vaisnava. Deity worship and sanyas may not be recommended so much in Kali yuga yet still Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakure did establish it thruout his temples and mission. The genuine sanyassis that visit us are a lifeline in troubled times. Always remember the example of the ones you trust.

To the Appearence day celebrations of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundara Govinda Dev Goswami Maharaj. http://www.scsmath.com/events/0611bsgm_vpuja_invt.html Or anywhere in the world where there is an affiliated centre or temple For Australia see attachmentl