cbrahma

It seems the whole business is one of culture and language. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source rape1 /reɪp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[reyp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, raped, rap·ing. –noun 1. the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. 2. any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person. 3. statutory rape. 4. an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: the rape of the countryside. 5. Archaic. the act of seizing and carrying off by force. –verb (used with object) 6. to force to have sexual intercourse. 7. to plunder (a place); despoil. 8. to seize, take, or carry off by force. –verb (used without object) 9. to commit rape. The archaic definiton (5) seems to be the intended one. Not being a woman of the time of Krsna and Arjuna I cannot speak with authority about their fantasies. The word 'rapture' has the same root I believe. rap·ture (rāp'chər) Pronunciation Key <!--BOF_HEAD-->n. <!--EOF_HEAD--><!--BOF_DEF--> The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy. An expression of ecstatic feeling. Often used in the plural. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven. <!--EOF_DEF--><!--BOF_HEAD-->tr.v. <!--EOF_HEAD--><!--BOF_SUBHEAD-->rap·tured, rap·tur·ing, rap·tures <!--EOF_SUBHEAD--><!--BOF_DEF-->To enrapture. <!--EOF_DEF--> <!--BOF_DEF--> [Obsolete French, abduction, carrying off, from <TT>rapt</TT>, carried away, from Old French <TT>rat</TT>, from Latin <TT>raptus</TT>; see rapt.] <!--EOF_DEF--> See defiinition 3 The Latin <TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="20%" bgColor=#f7dca6>present rapiō </TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="20%" bgColor=#f7dca6>infinitive rapere </TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="20%" bgColor=#f7dca6>perfect rapuī </TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="20%" bgColor=#f7dca6>supine raptum </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> snatch, grab, carry off It appears that the word over time has taken on more and more violent connotations. Time again being the culprit.

Though other religious systems are considered to be the products of time, circumstance and the people amongst whom they were instituted, devotional service to Krsna even when executed by an imperfect practitioner is considered by Prabhupada, in keeping with the Caitanya-caritamrta, to be transcendental: When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions-Hinduism, Christianity, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and so on. These are instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person. Consequently there are differences. Christian principles are different from Hindu principles, and Hindu principles are different from Mohammedan and Buddhist principles. These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considerations. The transcendental service of the Lord (sadhana-bhakti) is above these principles. The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be achieved in transcendental devotional service. This is the verdict of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When one becomes a Vaisnava, he becomes transcendental to all these limited considerations (CC Madhya 25.121P). http://www.iskcon.com/icj/6_2/62jagat.html

As far as I know the Buddhist does not understand persons to be absolute truth. There is no jiva-tattva as such. Nirvana With and Without "Remainder" Nirvana is neither a place nor a mental state. It is a fact about us. A nirvana is the absence of afflictions in someone whose cultivation of wisdom has resulted in the destruction of ignorance, desire, hatred, etc. That mere absence is the nirvana. On that, all Buddhist schools agree. However, they disagree over the use of the term "remainder" used in conjunction with nirvana. Other than Prasangika, it is said that after a person attains nirvana, he or she subsequently can be said to have a "nirvana with remainder," the "remainder" being the body and mind. Death cuts the remainder. However, the nirvana without remainder is a single moment, occurring just at the time of death but not after. After death there is no person to whom the nirvana can belong! http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N64_8.php

I would never be so bold as to blaspheme such an advanced personality as His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada whose intelligence and knowledge is evidenced by the library of books he translated and purported. He is so obviously an erudite scholar with a full grasp of the English language. So I understand your indignation. I just never know how to deal with what is called 'apharada'.

How quickly these 'spiritual' discussions degrade into personal flaming.

nirvara is primarily a Buddhist concept. The closest idea in the 'Hindu' Gita, is moksa which means liberation. It is an impersonal state. The individual jiva 'merges' with the impersonal brahmajyoti which is pure spirit. This 'white light' is said to be radiating from the body of Visnu. Although I am not an expert on Buddhism, I know Buddhism is essentially atheist and believes that the Absolute is void (no thing). Nirvana is a state of complete emptying 'sunyata' where all suffering is anihilated. So there is quite a diversity of views regarding Oneness. Personalist vaisnavas understand the existence of spiritual qualities or form 'vigraha'. The soul is called sat-cit-ananda vigraha or eternity-knowledge-bliss. All consciousness is such. But the individual remains even as part and parcel of the Absolute, which is Bhagavan Krsna. That is a philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference.

How do we know somebody is a sadhu? Because of how they're dressed? Because they claim to be?

Bhagavad Gita lecture in Hawaii, February 3rd, 1975 .. To understand Brahman is not the business of tiny brain. Alpha-medhasan. There are two Sanskrit words, alpa-medhasa and sumedhasa. Alpa-medhasa means having little brain substance. Physiologically, within the brain there are brain substance. It is found that the brain substance in man is found up to 64 ounce. They are very highly intellectual persons. And in woman the brain substance is not found more than 34 ounce. You’ll find, therefore, that there is no very great scientist, mathematician, philosopher, among women. You’ll never find because their brain substance cannot go. Artificially do not try to become equal with men. That is not allowed in the Vedic sastra. Na striyam svatantratam arhati. That is called sastra. You have to understand that woman is never given to be independence. Independence means just like child has to be taken care, similarly, woman has to be taken care. You cannot get your child go in the street alone. There will be danger. Similarly, according to Vedic civilization, Manu-samhita, woman should be given protection. In this way, acara, this is called acara. So the demons, they do not know. The demons, they do not know what is what, how one thing should be treated, how... They do not know. In the Western countries there is no such distinction between man and woman. But there is. We have to accept it and construct this social institution in that way. Then it will be perfect. So everything should be learned from the standard Vedic literature, and society and other things, economic development, everything... So that is here in the Bhagavad-gita. All problems, whatever you want, you consult Bhagavad-gita—you’ll have perfect answer. That is called Vedic literature. Perfect without any flaw you’ll get.

It's nice to be able to settle issues by claiming authority over them. Jesus answered the Pharisees questions on several occasions even when they were setting traps. Where there is no desire to learn the truth, when the truth is suppressed for political reasons , or because it is unpalatable it is 'casting pearls before swine.' Jesus directs the disciples in a new place "to make a careful search" (10) for a worthy host household, to accept its hospitality without subsequently shopping around for more favorable accommodations (10:11), and after entering the dwelling to pronounce God's peace on the selected household unless it later proves unworthy (10:12-13). Jesus concludes this set of instructions with a directive to perform a ritual of judgment outside any household or town unreceptive to the disciples' message ("shake off the dust from your feet," 10:14) and with a final sobering comparison of the fate of that place to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (10:15). Rejection of the kingdom message can have devastating consequences. This however is a discussion group, to all appearances, not a preaching forum.

I am a lacto-vegetarian. It is difficult to avoid eggs, but I try. I am a little confused about the ethics of vegans who say that getting commercial milk is enabling calf slaughter.

How can any sincere person argue with these contents. God/Krsna bless you.

Good luck with your hostile campaign. You obviously have a personal problem. Your excuse didnt' require much thinking. It is quite arrogant to presume that disagreement has to be in 'bad faith'.

The thread is mine. I continued the topic very consistently. It was everything I could do to prevent personal attacks and readdress issues. That is a very feeble excuse.

I need desperately to chant. I feel like I'm in a spiritual desert without the precious Holy Name. Sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating and oxygen is the Mahamantra. Thank you prabhuji for the encouragement. [ quote=Bhakta Don Muntean]I told you what to do - forget gurus and forget chanting if you like - pray and study - sincerely - and you'll find your way - just know that God is not limited to the Christian tradition and know the truth an facts about Jesus and you'll be fine - if you don't wish to sort out the messiah issues then your simply embracing blindly - because if you really believe in God - you'll go where that may take you - even if it's in a place where such things are at question. Good luck!

There must be direct experience. The final authority must be internal otherwise cheaters are empowered.

What is the answer? Which is diksa? Does the fact that Srila Sridar 're-initiated' somebody authorize the process?

Who said I was IN ISKCON? Why don't you have the courage to identify yourself? Sniping personal attacks behind an anonynous login is cowardice. Are you apsycholgist? A psychic or clairvoyant maybe. You are in denial about the public documented atrocities spawned by religion. Very sane and healthy persons have noted this. Do you need some references?

Patriotism is the close cousin of religion. "God and country" are often sounded together.

Is this diksa? I know in ISKCON there are two initiations one for hare-nama and one for gayatri. Are these both diksa? Why is there a need for two diksa initiations. I thought the diska guru had to be one person.

I didn't know who it was from but here is the quote again since it is so relevant to my point. There is no mood but trying to support a point with evidence, a point that keeps getting denied as bogus, bunk...etc as though its just a product of my defiant imagination. There is so much evidence out there.

I've studied hard copies of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The absolute obedience of the disciple is NOT bogus. I even produced a link from this very site to prove it. <TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt1 width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD width="100%">Audarya Fellowship <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Email Discussion Lists <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Shakti Sadhana <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->Fwd: Re: Need of a Guru, diksha and rosary for mantra japa</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

You have not declared your login as I have. You can see all my posts simply by clicking on my login link. Go to the very first post and you will find my initial motive. My idea BTW is not pre-conceived as I have found proof of it on this very site as you may read in the previous posts. <TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt1 width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD width="100%">Audarya Fellowship <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Email Discussion Lists <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Shakti Sadhana <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->Fwd: Re: Need of a Guru, diksha and rosary for mantra japa <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I Googled for slave of guru and got returned to this site with the following quote from the <TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt1 width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD width="100%">Audarya Fellowship <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Email Discussion Lists <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> Shakti Sadhana <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->> <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: navbar_link -->Fwd: Re: Need of a Guru, diksha and rosary for mantra japa <!-- END TEMPLATE: navbar_link --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

This is a very important question to which I doubt you will receive an answer from any of the authorities in the ISCKON hierarchy. I know one thing for sure. Prabhupada never agreed to have gurus appointed by a committee.

In my association with vaisnavas I have found offenses to be numerous. What is supposed to happen as a result? Are these people supposed to stop in their path? Leave the temple? I have seen no observable results. The most offensive often maintain high positions.