Priitaa

Actually prabhu, with all due respect, that would be impersonalism or mayavadi philosophy. Prabhupada explains that this world IS real. It's MahaVishnu's dream and not ours, so as a creation of Krishna's its very real BUT it is temporary. Though we do fall under the illusion of maya, maybe that is what you meant -- that we don't know how to overcome maya or have not the strength to overcome her powers right here and now. Prabhupada has given us everything we need to know to do that tho, and all we need is to keep at it.

Dear Krsna das prabhu, Thank you. I'm glad you like my newsletter. /images/graemlins/smile.gif By the way, until the next issue is released, you may want to check out the archives or the sidebar 'links.' Maybe they will inspire you during these down moments. I think we are all feeling the desire for Krishna Bhakti yet are not pure devotees so do not have sufficient attraction for chanting, or do not have full realiation of the Deity, and so on. What I dont understand is why you are so hard on yourself about it. I tend to agree with Govindaram. You sound like you are depressed. IMHO, that can effect spiriutal life. Try to make a change in consciousness, an attutude shift, let yourself feel happiness! /images/graemlins/smile.gif We are all in the fire getting purified and until we achive the goal, we will have one foot in each world. As long as you keep chanting, keep trying, the rest will follow. Though if you are keeping the association of devotees who gossip, or gossip a lot, you may need to get out of that assocation. But really prabhu, we are all experiencing such things, so I suspect something more is going on. Maybe you just need to tell yourself its ok to be happy while in the material world aspiring to achieve the spiriutal world. I dont know what you're specific needs are, but its a start. Whatever we are doing, even if its less than first class, somehow or other we can find some connection to Krishna. Remembering Krishna should not make us feel sad or bad, but joy! After all, He is our eternal well wisher. As a parent, I know I want my children to feel good about themselves. I also know that on every level this is required to succeed in much of anything in life. Do you really think Krishna wants us to suffer? He is benevolent. He wants us to be happy. Maybe you never thought about it from that perspective - I dont know, but I do feel Krishna, the God of love, the One Supreme God, is all about good feelings, not bad. If you feel down due to any guilt from previous sinful activities, just chant! Chant them away and do them no more, and even if you slip but its accidental, just chant more and keep on trying. As long as we are not sinning on the strength of the holy name but sincerely endeavoring, then chanting them away is ok to do. As George Harrison said "Chant and BE HAPPY." /images/graemlins/smile.gif Hey, the guy went back to Godhead. He lead a less then perfect life but still chanted at the time of death, therefore still went to Krishna. You can do it too. And its ok to smile about it. ha

Jesus may not have much to do with Hinduism. However Krishna consciousness is not Hinduism and Srila Prabhupada repeatedly states Jesus is shaktyavesh avatara. So we are at least supportive of Jesus, not to be confused with the modern religion known as Christianity.

Thanks prabhu, I should have thought to look there, as its probably where I first read it, as I was posting a bit on that thread. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Still, that does not appear to be the original newspaper article, but oh well, its good.

My understanding is that by chanting on beads, it helps to engage more of the senses so the mind doesn't wander, the sense of touch is involved too, etc. And yes, the previous acarays recommended it, so they know what they are doing. hehe

Please tell me the specific cause of your suffering, and what we can do to help alieviate it? I know what it means to suffer, so please reveal to us what is causing you so much pain. I am sure we can come up with a variety of ideas to help you, if only you will give the specifics of the problem. Even if we can't resolve it all, I know from personal experience, that devotee association can at least help open doors or windows I never saw that changed things for the better, so pelase give us a chance. What is causing you so much pain?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. That's all ya need. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Of course, you can add anything to that. Create your own, personalized prayer, but the Maha Mantra is so potent no ghost or disembodied entity can stand to hear it and they flee, its so poweruful that there is no offense a human being can commit that this Maha Mantra can't purify us of - none, zip, nada! And since its called "maha" this word means the greatest, so there is no other mantra needed, nothing can be greater than this one. Again, you can add others or add prayers, but this is all that's actually needed.

What do you want to know specifically? Is this for a school paper or your personal interests?

My FIRST post is all you can see? And you're just *now* commenting on it? Where were you on the 9th when it was originally put up? Anyhow, I take nothing back I said in my first post. When anyone writes the words God (Krsna) in the same sentence with "bs" they are going to get that type of reply from me. Some people need a wake up call, and for that matter, I felt if he got one he WOULD change his attitude. Now, another poster said worse than I did - to just return to drugs. Nor am I criticizing that (& not agreeing). But then the rest of the posts are different, once the path had been cleared. Seems to me you are seeing anything less than perfect, or according to your perception. If what you are speaking is your mehtod, where are 'your' encouraging words? All I hear is chastizement. It's not like you're practicing what you're preaching. You who are so wise that you can't sign your name, who do you consider to fit in the category of a 'professional?' You? So who is your guru - the parampara your knowledge is coming from? And your training - how did you aquire your spiriutal training? Did you move into the asrhama to get it and therefore can judge me and tell me how to preach or not preach? What are your qualifications. Please tell me. To the first poster only: Please dont take anything I have said here personally. It is not to you, but to "guest." I feel you are very sincere and just had a down day, or week, or even month, but pulled yourself out of it. For that you deserve much credit! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Yes, that sounds like it. Thank you! I wonder if the actual newspaper article is online?

Picking on him? Did you NOT read my last post? Or everyone elses posts? No one is picking on him. Quite the opposite! My goodness, I just told him congratulations for coming out of denial and that everyone has gone thru hard times. Maybe you need to reread the posts to properly understand.

Not sure if I read it here or on another one of these forums, but there was a great story about a man who died, but due to falling into a Tulasi leaf, the Yamaduttas could ont touch him. He was destined to go to hell, but since he fell in this particular way, he got the mercy and was saved. Does anyone know where that full story is located? Its much more detaild than that, with visions I think, and the whole nine yards. /images/graemlins/smile.gif And I'd like to tell it to a friend who has a hard time keeping Tulasi beads on their neck.

Hey, you deserve a good pat on the back for the courage to admit that. AND for coming out of the fog. As you have seen by the various posts, many have gone thru such a fog! You are not alone. Just hang in there. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Love is a verb. It's not for lazy persons. Love includes serving: rising early, preaching /sharing, japa, Deity worship, taking the time out to actually read Prabhupada's books, etc. And it works both ways. Devotional Service requires love.

I can! You sure you don't have it too good? lol /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm surprised more did not reply to this topic. I find it fascinating! It would be interesting to hear what others have to say about it. Thanks for posting this.

Well, I felt sorry for the guy - or gal. When people stop doing drugs, then all the reasons they started doing them in the first place, start to flood them. The drugs were numbing them out, often to the point where they forget why they started. Or the drugs take on such a life of their own the person forgets they had other problems too, UNTIL they get clean. So I thought maybe a rude awakening might help. Or not. And the whole concept of stopping going after their desires, where the heck did they get the idea THAT is Krishna consciousness? It sounds more like Impersonalism or even Mayavadi. We can't become desireless, we can only develop the 'right' desires. Therefore I pointed out the importance of reading Prabhupada's books daily.

Thank you for saying its objective! I got an email last night 'politely' blasting me for it. I was trying my best to be objective while holding true to my personal understandings of Prabhupada's instructions, and we all have to stick with our individual understandings. P.S. Just realized -- I don't want this thread to turn into a controversy over that topic, so PLEASE let it go folks. I'm not up for it.

For the guru to be a guru, he must be more advanced than the disciple.

I think I figured it out! I have FrontPage so usually ya just work directly on the site you are making. But then I clicked on the html button, and I see what you are talking about. Such a relief. Thanks. Now, I just hope the webring doesn't put it back on when they notice its missing.

gH, Thank you! Since its not on my hard drive, how do I get this stuff off? Am glad someone else said it was pushy. Thats how I've been feeling and thought someone would acuse me of religious intollerance or something. But heck, to have the highest knoweldge of Krishna, and be polite to the webring owner, I feel I did all I could do.

Kulapavana prabhu, I didn't feel anyone was trying to hide or ignore past abuses or problems, simply that was not the inquiry. After all, ask a devotee about abuse and they will be quick to tell! So I honestly don't feel anybody was trying to present only one side, but rather the transcendental percpetive. We all ready know about the garbage, whereas there is not enough factual info about the spiriutal experiences. Even, many of us have wished a book filled with the experiences of the old devotees would be printed. Also, I understand your point about still coming together to make good kirtans, etc; I feel we can't make good kirtana's or good anything in the present and future, if we don't taste the good kirtana's, etc. of the past. I suspect tho, one reason some view memories as mere 'nostalgia' (which it is not, as that's a material designation) is because they feel since they were unable to be there at the time they missed it, cannot experience it, thus fear they were left out. Therefore I wish to clarify that it is not limited to the past. Time is not linear. Whatever was experienced back then, IMHO can be experienced now. I will agree it may take more work, there is less association of that nature too (but they can be found), and other obstacles may present themselves, but they can be overcome if we want to overcome them. So my understanding of all this is: that which was experienced in the past, can be experienced now. All we have to do is want it, read Prabhuapda's books, and also we need to know what we are looking for - thus the memories. /images/graemlins/smile.gif When we read about anyones past experiences with Prabhupada or the early Movement, we too are experiencing that! As we read, we get spiriutal feelings, and we are there.

Ancient Patriot, Thank you for that story! That was an excellent example of what it was like. You probably don't remember his name, but would be cool if you could. That way we could contact him and ask what he was thinking at the time. Tho I bet I know - about Prabhupada! /images/graemlins/smile.gif And so often, we had such experiences! When you wrote "glowing like a god," it triggered a thought. I remembered that once Prabhupada's commented Narada Muni had joined our Sankirtana Party. Also in England that Lord Shiva was attending the aroti's, therefore he had us build for him (Shiva) a vyasana! Kulapavana, "some were downright scarry, such as videspread devotee manipulation, abuse of power (and devotees!) by authorities and general "brainwashing" passing as Vaishnava philosophy." You mean that has stopped? /images/graemlins/grin.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif "You have to remember it all." I think the unsaid point is (and so now I will say it) these other things that were not nice, not good, not right, they were also not Krishna consciousness. "Past is only relevant if you want to learn from it. It has no "romantic" value. " I dont consider anything transcendal from the past to be in the category of romantic. Otherwise, so would be the reading of Sukadeva Goswami, etc. Prabhupada as pure devotee always offers transcendental feelings which we can advance from, even in this time and space.

Such good news Haridham! You came here with many difficulties, and now just look - so much has improved! You can be a testament to this web site. haha Glad to hear things are looking up. Keep on chanting. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Govindaram prabhu, I can't speak for others, but I myself most definitely feel the movement aint what it use to be. There are various things one could use as a barometer to test it. An important one is how the temple room was so filled back then during Mongala Aroti that sometimes there wasn't much room! Whereas these days, plenty of room, not everyone attends, and the Evening Program is more likely to get a higher attendance then the Morning program! That is just one example. Then there is the vast degree that book distribution dropped. Even when it gradually began to increase, it came nowhere near what it use to be. Prabhupada's presence charged the atmosphere with spiriutal eneryg! Things were different back than. But I really don't want to change the mood of the thread. Matter of fact, with all I feel on this topic, I simultaneously believe anything can be turned around. We can experience that again! /images/graemlins/smile.gif Therefore yes, I do believe the new devotees, etc., can still feel the bliss.