Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

brajeshwara das

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    641

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by brajeshwara das

  1. Posted · Report reply

     

    Prabhupada: No, no, unless our men are trained up, why you should allow to stay here and to wife. We want trained up men, not third-class picked-up. We want men who will follow the rules and regulations and fully trained up. Otherwise we don’t want. We don’t want ordinary karmis and... And if he agrees to be trained up, then we’ll take. Otherwise what is the use of bringing some useless men? He must agree to produce his own food, and work. Our rules and regulations, he must follow. Then it will be ideal community. Otherwise, if you bring from here and there some men and fill up, that is not good thing. This is a training institution, to become devotee.

    (END)

     

    CBR

     

    What is the context of this quote?

  2. Posted · Report reply

     

    Hari Bol Shriman Brajeshwar das ji!

     

    I could write something but it may not be acceptable to your line of philosophy as it is more in line with advaita philosophy and also hails Lord SadaShiva as the supreme. Will it be still okay for you to read it?

     

    Regards,

     

    YK

     

    As long as it is about Sada Siva, it is fine. This is in the Spiritual Discussions forum (not Krishna Talk) so you are totally free to express your understandings, no problem :) I wouldn't expect anything else.

  5. Posted · Report reply

     

    Somehow this looks like that devotees within ISKCON are in the situation to arrange for their marriage on their own - the internet access in the brahmacari ashram being used to post marriage ads? Since the rate of divorces within ISKCON is even higher than in the materialist society may be something should be added to get a better quality of relationship among Vaishnava couples.

     

    I think any marriage should be based on affection. My understanding is service is also dependent on affection, so unless this exists between the couple how can they successfully serve together? Somtimes maybe this is the missing element.

  7. Posted · Report reply

     

    I'm just saying that there is some precedent for the English word "erotic" to be used in place of "conjugal" or other similar English words. The problem is that the word "erotic" is often used in contemporary parlance and for most of us in connotes mundane sexuality. But for others in different circumstances and subcultures, the word "conjugal" will connote mundane sexuality. I just think that we should suspend judgement and not be attached to the form of the words but the substance of the conception.

     

    Sure, suspending judgment and not being attached to the mundane is the whole point, huh? But we are and that's why we should be careful. I dunno.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Conjugal as used by Srila Sridhar Maharaj means Union. I understand what you say above no problem, it can be seen as improper if you think of marriage. But to say erotic I don't feel is proper in our situations because the purity to understand the difference isn't present, at least within me and in a public forum with other neophytes wandering around. These confidential pastimes should be addressed carefully, and you have selectively bolded 'erotic' which is your own emphasis and in your own words. I do not believe I have heard 'erotic' used by my Guru varga, though I am not as well read as you. I also like Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada's use of 'amourous'. That seems fitting and respectful to me.

     

    I am also not of the stamp of those that wish to impose 'mundane morality' onto the Divine lilas, I just wish to treat Them with respect and acknowledge my own position as impure to the point I may gravely misunderstand if I take them the wrong way. The right dose of medicine taken under the supervision of a qualified doctor will cure you, the wrong dose self-prescribed and misused can be your demise. And even if a qualified doctor prescribes, but you misuse, you can be greatly harmed.

  10. Posted · Report reply

     

    Quote--HerServant:

     

    Now this tells us a great deal about the reasoning behind getting/giving initiated names. Prior to our own self realization, our initiation name is something like a promised identity. We receive this identity along with the hope, faith and prayers of our spiritual masters and in some cases our parents, that we can realize our true self and our true purpose (to know, to love and to serve God).

     

    That's an insight I've neither had nor heard...very nice, thanks HS!

     

    Yes, who is this Christian Vaisnava that has so mercifully entered into our association? Jaya Gurudeva!

     

    HerServant, do you go to mass regularly and if so where? Do you know many Christians that share your insights? I very much appreciate your realizations and I wish my parents had your type of association. What a great mercy that would be. They are good and open minded for the most part but you are giving something I never found in their church.

  11. Posted · Report reply

     

    I feel the same way. Tripurari Maharaja refers quite often to Radha Krsna's "erotic" pastimes and when I read it I just cringe. But I wonder if we are just being prejudiced and stuck in our ways. If we were conditioned to the term "erotic" being applied to the lila of the divine couple then perhaps we would cringe upon hearing the term, "conjugal".

     

    Yes, but the very definition or erotic involves sex:

     

     

    1. Of or concerning sexual love and desire; amatory.
    2. Tending to arouse sexual desire.
    3. Dominated by sexual love or desire.
    Madhurya is nectarine. I prefer that term. Anyway, not everyone here is so highly developed (me especially) and specifically the newcomers here may get fully the wrong idea if we use terms that can be so easily misinterpreted.

  12. Posted · Report reply

     

    H.H. Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Maharaja

     

    http://nitai.in

     

     

     

    <table id="rotate_table" style="padding: 0px; width: 218px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="3">tc_white_tl.gif

    </td><td class="td_note_white">

    392533208_c0f62bff5a.jpg?v=0 </td><td width="3">tc_white_tr.gif

    </td></tr><tr><td class="td_note_white">

    </td><td class="td_note_white" style="padding: 0px; height: 155px;">

    </td><td class="td_note_white">

    </td></tr><tr><td>

    </td><td class="td_note_white">

    </td><td>tc_white_br.gif

    </td></tr></tbody></table>

     

    Ah, he must be an exalted Vaisnava, you are such a sweet devotee and there must be a cause :) All Glories to your spiritual master! Funny thing is now I am finding there are Gurus younger than me! Of course I'm not this body etc...... ;)

  13. Posted · Report reply

    I know this is semantics, but can we forgo calling Radha-Krishna lila 'erotic'? This is a very high thing and I don't think the term is appropriate. Srila Sridhar Maharaj used the the term 'conjugal', to join. Union. 'Erotic' has overtones that can be severly misunderstood and is a dangerous way to talk about Srimati Radharani and Krishna's intimate pastimes.

     

    Sorry if I'm full of nonsense.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I personally think it unwise to post about madhurya rasa on the internet among neophytes. I can only assume you are also a neophyte too since you are even posting this, so please stop and be careful going forward. Most of our understandings of erotic sentiments are purely mundane and offensive to try and discuss or think about in regards to the Lord. I would dig up the appropriate shastric reference but I don't believe there is a need. It should be common sense.

     

    No offense intended anadi, I'm not against you and it is said in a sincere attempt to be helpful.

  19. Posted · Report reply

     

    So its best to go to Krsnaloka, but I dont know if thats a possibility in my current incarnation, chanting hare krsna is the method to attain the eternal abode, but what if I dont the heavenly planets may be a good place for me to meditate before coming to earth and reaching the true spiritual sky.

     

    Best to just try and be engaged in service and go wherever the Lord wants you to go IMO.

  21. Posted · Report reply

     

    The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.-- BG 9:1

     

    Purport (excerpt)

    ""Knowledge (idam jnanam) refers to pure devotional service, which consists of nine different activities: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, obeying, maintaining friendship and surrendering everything.""

     

    Bible says why man is in his condition of darkness:

     

    For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods.."-- Genesis 3:5

     

    Envy of God, the desire to be a god independent of the Supreme Lord, is the original sin described in Genesis.

     

    Jesus gives the sloka for realizing the most confidential knowledge:

     

    "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God." - Matt 5:8

     

     

    Peace.

     

    Hari Hari!

  22. Posted · Report reply

    It is all very well and good to try and institute daiva-varnashrama dharma as Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupada has said, but this insistence on eating meat I feel is a huge leap. Why is the necessity? Srila Swami Maharaj also said 6 months before taking 1st initiation, 6 more months before 2nd. The meat eating may have been for that duration, until they get the intelligence to give it up, take initiation. There just simply isn't any proof that Srila Swami Maharaj authorized meat eating for initiated disciples. I cannot accept someone in the first wave and a preacher of the movement that eats meat. I cannot take them seriously with that perspective. If this concession is for people lacking in intelligence then how can I listen to your preaching?

     

     

    I was just on another thread and saw someone say 'I believe' I though about that and have to say I only believe what Prabhupada has said. If I have a thing wrong then I change that belief to suit what is/has been revealed to me a new. I personally have nothing of my own, it is all Srila Prabhupada's. If I have a thing wrong, it can only be understood that way by comparison to vani, not speculation. I want hard evidence from all the vani of Guru. If you say a thing and can not back it up why would I surrender to you? No, only Srila Prabhupada can correct me.

     

    The thing is you trust your understanding of Srila Swami Maharaj's instructions. What if you misunderstand? ultimately you are trusting your own mind. This is true for all of us. We should be careful when saying' all I have is coming from my guru' until we have no anarthas that color our vision and our understanding of Guru's orders. Personally I find this kind of statement that of a rascal. Own your own misunderstanding, assume you have misunderstandings, don't pin them on Guru. We should always seek the council of higher Vaisnavas, have you done this on this point?

     

    You say that you look for hard evidence but I disagree that the evidence is hard enough to take such a leap to eating meat. Everything else about daiva-varnashrama dharma I can support, but this is a deal-breaker for me. I sincerely feel you don't have permission to do so. You have one quote mentioning meat eating, and one that supports different rules for different varnas. But nothing that says an initiated disciple has different regulations. In a larger krishna-conscious society not everyone may take initiation, at least not immediately. Look at the Indian community's participation in our movement. This is certainly true. Faith needs time to develop and people need to be ready to make that commitment. More evidence exists for my position that initiates follow the four regs and uninitiated community members (not yet officially devotees so truly sudras etc) have some leeway until initiation.

     

    Anyhow, if you don't eat meat and don't preach eating meat you are in a safe position and not at risk of misconstruing Srila Swami Maharaj's orders. Go ahead and preach daiva-varnashrama dharma, along with uninitiated sudras eating meat on every dark-moon night, as long as it was hunted by them among a population of animals causing mischief (that's the rules, right?) I have no issue with that. If you are successful and can get former Burger King customers to accept some higher position then how could that not be a good thing?

     

    If you do preach initiated disciples can eat meat and you are wrong, then not only your spiritual life has been harmed but also those that follow you will be affected. Are you absolutely, completely sure that you understand Srila Swami Maharaj's will on this? Are you sure you are sure?

  25. Posted · Report reply

     

    Pradyumna Prabhu, Prabhupada's main translator for texts, was supposed to finish the Bhagavatam. He was to do this in consultation with Srila Sridhar Maharaja who Srila Prabhupada once said was the only other person who was qualified to translate the Bhagavatam. Amongst Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples, Pradyumna was one the very first to speak out against the Magnificent Eleven (Zonal Acarya) plan and was driven out of ISKCON.

     

    Ah, ok, so how should we take the subsequent translations? Or even for that matter should we?

×
×
  • Create New...