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Svarupa

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  1. <CENTER style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex">Can you see the Flag on the Moon with a Telescope?</CENTER>

     

     

    <CENTER style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex">fmoonalt.jpg</CENTER>

     

    The answer is basically "not a chance". No Earthbound telescope can see the flag on the Moon. Why not? For openers, the Earth's atmosphere is never steady enough to allow resolution below about one arc second for most locations. Beyond that, the telescope required to "see" the flag would need to be absolutely huge! Here is some basic analysis to show what would be needed:

     

    Method 1

     

    Method 1 will use simple proportions to show what would be needed. The Moon's diameter is approximately 2160 miles. The Moon is nominally about 245,000 miles from Earth, and at this distance it subtends a diameter of about 30 arc minutes in the sky as seen from Earth.

     

    There are 60 arc seconds per arc minute, so the Moon is about 1800 arc seconds across. Let's figure out how many arc seconds represent one mile. The calculation is straightforward: if 1800 seconds = 2160 miles, then 1 mile = .83 arc seconds (basically just divide 1800 by 2160).

     

    So, now we know that 1 mile is about .83 arc seconds. How big is the flag? I do not know for sure but let's assume it is 3 feet long on the long side. How many arc seconds is this? We know that 1 mile = .83 arc seconds; the flag is 3/5280 miles wide (or about 5.682e-4 miles).

     

    To find out the arc seconds, we simply multiply this value by .83 to get 4.716e-4 arc seconds. A long time ago someone named Dawes determined that the resolution of an optical telescope is basically 4.5 divided by the telescope's diameter (in inches). So, from that we can rearrange the equation to say that the diameter of the telescope needed (in inches) is 4.5 divided by the resolution required (arc seconds).

     

    Dividing 4.5 by4.716e-4 comes out to be 9542 inches. Converting this to feet yields about 795 FEET! And this would be the required telescope diameter to JUST BARELY see the flag at all! And, it would only be just visible as a small dot, it would not "look" like a flag at all. Let's say we really want to see the flag and have it look like a flag. We'll have to make some assumptions again. Let's assume that the stripes on the flag are 2 inches wide and we want to just be able to see them.

     

    Using the same method as above we can come up with an answer. In this case we need to be able to see something that is 2/12/5280 miles wide, or 3.157e-5 miles. We multiply this by .83 to get the resolution (2.62e-5). Dividing 4.5 by this number yields 171759 inches, or about 14300 FEET! This value is also about 2.7 miles. Clearly it is not possible to build an optical telescope of this size. So, basically the Flag on the Moon remains "invisible" to us here on Earth.

     

    Method 2

     

    Method 2 will use trigonometry to show the same basic result as above (to be added).

     

     

     

     

    What about the Hubble Space Telescope?

     

     

    As powerful as Hubble is (above the limits of the Earth's atmosphere), it has no chance of seeing the Flag on the Moon. What could it see? Well, Hubble has a mirror that is 98 inches in diameter. That gives it a resolution of 4.5/98 or about 0.046 arc seconds.

     

    If one does the math, this translates to a resolution of about 292 feet. So, Hubble could just detect an object that was 292 feet across on the Moon. To see any detail on an object, it would have to be somewhat larger.

     

    To put this in perspective, if a typical pro football stadium was located on the Moon Hubble could make out some basic details (the field could just barely be made out in the center of a very small oval).

     

    Conclusion - you can't prove man went to the moon from telescopes on earth. However, like many others, I now am convienced the American did go to the moon.

     

    ISKCON shouldn't worry, the Catholic Church survived their belief that the world was created in six days, althoufh the Pope did work very hard to defeat and even imprision or kill the philosophers and scientists of the day (14th and 15th Century) yjat spoke of such things

     

     

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  2. <CENTER>Can you see the Flag on the Moon with a Telescope?</CENTER>

     

     

    <CENTER>fmoonalt.jpg</CENTER>

     

    The answer is basically "not a chance". No Earthbound telescope can see the flag on the Moon. Why not? For openers, the Earth's atmosphere is never steady enough to allow resolution below about one arc second for most locations. Beyond that, the telescope required to "see" the flag would need to be absolutely huge! Here is some basic analysis to show what would be needed:

     

    Method 1

     

    Method 1 will use simple proportions to show what would be needed. The Moon's diameter is approximately 2160 miles. The Moon is nominally about 245,000 miles from Earth, and at this distance it subtends a diameter of about 30 arc minutes in the sky as seen from Earth.

     

    There are 60 arc seconds per arc minute, so the Moon is about 1800 arc seconds across. Let's figure out how many arc seconds represent one mile. The calculation is straightforward: if 1800 seconds = 2160 miles, then 1 mile = .83 arc seconds (basically just divide 1800 by 2160).

     

    So, now we know that 1 mile is about .83 arc seconds. How big is the flag? I do not know for sure but let's assume it is 3 feet long on the long side. How many arc seconds is this? We know that 1 mile = .83 arc seconds; the flag is 3/5280 miles wide (or about 5.682e-4 miles).

     

    To find out the arc seconds, we simply multiply this value by .83 to get 4.716e-4 arc seconds. A long time ago someone named Dawes determined that the resolution of an optical telescope is basically 4.5 divided by the telescope's diameter (in inches). So, from that we can rearrange the equation to say that the diameter of the telescope needed (in inches) is 4.5 divided by the resolution required (arc seconds).

     

    Dividing 4.5 by4.716e-4 comes out to be 9542 inches. Converting this to feet yields about 795 FEET! And this would be the required telescope diameter to JUST BARELY see the flag at all! And, it would only be just visible as a small dot, it would not "look" like a flag at all. Let's say we really want to see the flag and have it look like a flag. We'll have to make some assumptions again. Let's assume that the stripes on the flag are 2 inches wide and we want to just be able to see them.

     

    Using the same method as above we can come up with an answer. In this case we need to be able to see something that is 2/12/5280 miles wide, or 3.157e-5 miles. We multiply this by .83 to get the resolution (2.62e-5). Dividing 4.5 by this number yields 171759 inches, or about 14300 FEET! This value is also about 2.7 miles. Clearly it is not possible to build an optical telescope of this size. So, basically the Flag on the Moon remains "invisible" to us here on Earth.

     

    Method 2

     

    Method 2 will use trigonometry to show the same basic result as above (to be added).

     

     

     

    What about the Hubble Space Telescope?

     

     

    As powerful as Hubble is (above the limits of the Earth's atmosphere), it has no chance of seeing the Flag on the Moon. What could it see? Well, Hubble has a mirror that is 98 inches in diameter. That gives it a resolution of 4.5/98 or about 0.046 arc seconds.

     

    If one does the math, this translates to a resolution of about 292 feet. So, Hubble could just detect an object that was 292 feet across on the Moon. To see any detail on an object, it would have to be somewhat larger.

     

    To put this in perspective, if a typical pro football stadium was located on the Moon Hubble could make out some basic details (the field could just barely be made out in the center of a very small oval).

     

    Conclusion - you can't prove man went to the moon from telescopes on earth. However, like many others, I now am convienced the American did go to the moon.

     

    ISKCON shouldn't worry, the Catholic Church survived their belief that the world was created in six days, althoufh the Pope did work very hard to defeat and even imprision or kill the philosophers and scientists of the day (14th and 15th Century) yjat spoke of such things


  3. India plants flag on Moon!!

    "Impact probe" crashlands to 'material mundane temporary' glory

     

    14th November 2008 16:55 GMT

     

    India has become the fourth nation to join the stuff-on-the-Moon club, after the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in lunar orbit successfully launched an impact probe at the lunar surface this afternoon. The 35-kg impactor was blazoned with the Indian flag.

     

    "It will signify the entry of India on Moon," an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official said, quoted by the Times of India. The probe drop was described as a "perfect operation".

     

    The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) module was primarily intended "to demonstrate the technologies required for landing the probe at a desired location on the Moon", according to ISRO.

     

    It consisted of a "honeycomb structure" and carried a video camera and a mass spectrometer for examination of the tenuous lunar atmosphere during descent.

     

    Indian TV reported the story under the headers "Indian flag lands on lunar surface" and "Tricolour on Moon".

     

    Chandrayaan-1 will remain in orbit above the Moon for two years, carrying out scientific research. Apart from the MIP it carries a further ten experiments and instruments.

     

    It's all a dream of the baddha-jiva anyway which is also ultimately the DREAM of Maha-Vishnu, so who gives a rats a*** :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep:

     

    In a million years everything will be forgotten and be as if it never existed or never even happened, like all dreams, they fade and be as if they never were

     

    MAYA - That which is not!!

     

     

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=990 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=990 border=0><TBODY><TR><!--[sTART] This is For Left Panel --><TD vAlign=top width=438><TABLE cellPadding=0 width="99%"><TBODY><TR><TD height=5>

     

    This is from the Idian media

     

     

     

    </TD></TR><TR><TD style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(images/tab1.gif); COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; HEIGHT: 24px" align=left>Beyond

     

    </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 8px" vAlign=top align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="10%" align=left border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">no-img-small.gif </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Moon, the symbol of culture and religion

     

    Moin Khadri, Radhika Bordia

    Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:43 PM (New Delhi)

     

    It's one of ]India's biggest scientific missions -- the mission to the moon. But for the people of India, there is so much Vedic tradition of real historic events in another time and place attached to the moon. And today is Sharad Purnima which according to our poets, ]painters,, dancers and singers serves as a huge inspiration. Many scientists also follow the teachings of Guru A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

     

    It's a night like no other, sung and celebrated in Raga Kedar.

     

    Pundit Chandra Prakash from Ajmer comes from the Haveli Sangeet tradition -- a form of devotional music sung in the Vaishnava temples. Its compositions are rich in the imagery of Krishna and the full moon night of Sharad.

     

    Tonight, Krishna dances the rasa with the gopis. It's the ultimate dance of bliss, passion and ecstasy.

     

    But the night doesn't belong to religion. It belongs to a culture which blends devotion with music, the change of seasons with romance and dance with the meaning of life.

     

    "The full moon night marks the change of season. Lord Krishna's dance with the gopis marks a move towards the onset of winter. To dance tonight is to purify the earth in its 4 directions, the echoes of the music bring celestial magic down to earth," said Chandra Prakash.

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  4. India plants flag on Moon!!

     

     

    "Impact probe" crashlands to 'material mundane' glory

     

    14th November 2008 16:55 GMT

     

    India has become the fourth nation to join the stuff-on-the-Moon club, after the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in lunar orbit successfully launched an impact probe at the lunar surface this afternoon. The 35-kg impactor was blazoned with the Indian flag.

     

    "It will signify the entry of India on Moon," an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official said, quoted by the Times of India. The probe drop was described as a "perfect operation".

     

    The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) module was primarily intended "to demonstrate the technologies required for landing the probe at a desired location on the Moon", according to ISRO.

     

    It consisted of a "honeycomb structure" and carried a video camera and a mass spectrometer for examination of the tenuous lunar atmosphere during descent.

     

    Indian TV reported the story under the headers "Indian flag lands on lunar surface" and "Tricolour on Moon".

     

    Chandrayaan-1 will remain in orbit above the Moon for two years, carrying out scientific research. Apart from the MIP it carries a further ten experiments and instruments.

     

    It's all a dream of the baddha-jiva anyway which is also ultimately the DREAM of Maha-Vishnu, so who gives a rats a*** :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep:

     

    In a million years everything will be forgotten and be as if it never existed or never even happened, like all dreams, they fade and be as if they never were

     

    MAYA - That which is not!!


  5. A realistic question, how long can this go on for?

    The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had a significant stroke in 2006, nearly three years ago and is still in hospital.

    This means that there has been extensive damage done to the brain. However, this does not necessarily mean that there will be this lasting effect on Jayapataka Maharaj although it is not uncommon for stroke victims to be in a vegetative state for years after their stroke.

    These are the straight forward facts and intense prayer to Krsna is so important to plead our case to Krsna that for ISKCON to survive as the bonafide leader of the Gaudiya tradition, we need REAL mercifil caring Vaishnava examples in this world.

     

    We all need great devotees like Jayapataka Maharaj to preach amonst us, who is never judgemental, self righteous, arrogant, puffed-up and demanding respect, instead of commanding respect with his sweet loving humility


  6. HARE KRISHNA Sambya

     

    First of all it is important for you to understand that Krishna is the cause of all the Vishnu avtars. He has confirmed in the Bhagavad-Gita that there is no truth superior to him.

     

    This means that He does not have a origin and is the Absolute Truth. All the three Vishnu incarnations; Maha-Vishnu, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu and Ksirodaksayi Vishnu come from Krishna.

     

    Even the Narayana expansion etc all of them also come from Krishna. In other words they are the same as Krishna but yet their origin is from Krishna.

     

    When you are a devotee of Krishna and offer obeisance to Krishna then you have already worshiped all the incarnations as Krishna is the origin of all the avtars. The Srimad Bhagavatam states all the pastimes of the incarnations of Krishna.

     

    The book also talks about Lord Buddha whom the Buddhists worship. It also talks about the Jain God Lord Rishabhdeva which is mentioned in Canto 5 Chapter 6.

     

    All these are mentioned as the incarnations of Krishna.

    Devotees of Krishna derive transcendental pleasure, not only by reading His pastimes but also by reading the pastimes of all his incarnations such as Lord Buddha and Lord Rishabhdeva in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

     

    It is also important to note that Krishna has said, whatever we think at the time of death we will achieve. If we are fortunate enough to think of Krishna at the time of death then we are transferred to Krishna’s planet Goloka Vrindavan to live eternally with Krishna.

     

    If we think of Krishna’s other incarnations such as Narayan, then we are transferred to the planet where Narayan lives.

     

    Similarly all different incarnations live in different spiritual planets of which the chief is Goloka Vrindavan, where exchange of love is the highest.

     

    Due to this reason devotees of Krishna think of Krishna 24 hours so that they can also think of Him at the time of death and go back home to be in the eternal association of their father, Krishna.


  7. Krsna is and always has been the Supreme Personality of Godhead and from Him emanates ALL other Vishnu forms

    <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 530px">

    vaikuntha1.jpg?t=1226433839

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    manifestations.gif?t=1226432514

     

    Below is Maha Vishnu who creates the material creation or mahat-tattva

     

     

    <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 530px">GarbaVishnu-2.jpg?t=1226433156

     

     

    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD style="WIDTH: 530px">

     

    .

    haridhama.jpg?t=1226434010

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  8. How do you trust so-called devotees who have no idea they are NOT their material body that makes them so ignorantly judgemental and see and believe only what they want to see??

     

    Such BLIND so called 'devotees' of Krsna actually stagnate true religion of Lord Caitanya and make it materialist and political.

     

    The mundaners of in some Temple I know, are not the kind of Vaishnavas found in a bonafide Gauidya order. A self interested business yes, real caring humble devotee, NO.

     

    Such 'people' even dresses like a karmi most of the time and frankly live like them too. Just being a ‘nice’ guy living in a Temple or up on near the farm, certainly does not make one a good selfless prideless devotee noe does it.

     

    The Karmi qualities of these materialist Kali-yuga devotees, makes them so judgemental, they only see other for what they ignorantly believes they are, instead of what one really are deep in their hearts.

     

    It is dangerous to judge people they doesn't know or hasn't seen for 16 or 20 years

     

    Such fools and their juvenile immature Temple leaders, sanuasus and even 'gurus' 'visualizes’ what others may be based on their limited knowledge ignorantly based on rumour, hearsay, and resentment.

     

     

    This is due to being so arrogantly self-opinionated. Frankly, ISKCON is nothing like the preaching movement was when Prabhupada was here and the Gaudiya math :rolleyes: well sadly most of them in Western Countries and especially Australia don't even make the grade of what a genuin caring devotee humbly really is at present

     

     

     

    14uklqc.jpg

    "Judge not, that you be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? HYPOCRITE AND CAMILLION! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7 : 1-3, 5

     

     

     

     


  9.  

    Biggest mistake is done when you enter in a material world S_G,Krsna will like those things which he did when he took birth on this mother earth,he lived with shepherds,cows and general public,he ate butter and butter milk,no way he was gloryfied in his outlook,king Krishna appeared only in Dwarika,his best ever friend Sudama got everything from the Lord Krishna...why?Coz he was so simple and down to earth,S_G better you read and try to understand the character of great great Krishna first,bold letters and underlined lines may not able to help you - my friendly advise,take or throw it out.

     

    Yes and Radha and Krishna came as Lord Caitanya to save everyone, your missing the point of what Sarva is saying

     

    Better we all go out and preach to others even if he isn't perfect. Have you given a book to a Prime Minister? Have you put a Radha Krishna garland around the Popes neck? Have you come up with an idea that saw one and a half million Hare Krishna magazines be inserted in every major Newspaper in Australia?

     

    A disciple of Prabhupada is a preacher, its in their blood, Why? Because that's how the spiritual master taught them. Even Prabhupada wrote letters to the U.S. President because he wanted to help by trying.


  10.  

    It's NOT Obama I'm on about, but rather the implications of cultural barriers coming futher down

     

    Your not understanding what is really going on that CAN give opportunity for a Spiritual awakening, NOT by Obama, but by the new cultural and religious openness going on arround him.

     

    Martin Luther King also was all those things you mentioned but it's what he did that was important that indirectly helped Prabhupada. You have to see the bigger picture outside our pioneering immature fanaticism. If Prabhupada came to America in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, no-one would of taken him seriously.

     

    Prabhupada came at the right time when America was going through big changes and they INDIRECTLY helped bring attention to his ISKCON Movement and further, even assisting to expand his ISKCON movement due to the new tolerance created by the Civil Rights Movement.

     

    Everyone involved in the Civil rights movement new that Ghandhi inspired Martin Luther King in America and that he was Hindhu, this indirectly helped Prabhupada

     

    Similarly, we are again experiences great changes. It's NOT the meat eating pro-obortionist Obama I'm on about, but rather the implications of cultural barriers coming futher down.

     

    We (in my case and what I believe in, Prabhupada's ISKCON) could be at the beginning of a mid-sixties style economic and cultural revolution again that leads to more openness, acceptance and ultimately more devotees from ALL nationalities.

     

    Again, it's NOT the meat eating pro-obortionist Obama I'm on about, nor his hero Martin Luther King, or his hero Mahatma Gandhi, but rather the implications of cultural barriers coming futher down.

     

    Historically this is very important because it shows how races and cultures can come together and see above the concept of race and colour

     

    Now can this progress on to religion and Spirituality?

     

    Unfortunately where I am, yes, we DO attract hundreds of people every week but the majority of society, who are Indian Hindus, still see 'KRSNA' as Indian and Hindu. Even the majority of Indian guests see KRSNA as their Hindu and Indian religion and hardly ever preach to the 'white Christian backgrond majorityy'.

     

    It shouldn't be that way because Krsna is for everyone regardless of race or colour.

     

    You should know that when Prabhupada came to America in 1965, the States were going through a Civil rights revolution. Coloured people all over America were standing up for their rights and Prabhupada, who was also coloured. benifited from this Cultural revolution.

     

    Obama. a black man elected as President, can lead to so many barriers being broken down, INCLUDING SPIRITUAL BARRIERS that say Krsna and His many manifestations are 'ONLY HINDU OR INDIAN'

     

    My point is Obama will be the President of the United States of America, yet his father comes fron Sudan - do you see my point?

     

    His achievement can HOPEFULLY lead to even higher breaks downs of relgious, spirtual and cultural differences in this global village we now live in, so that it is easier to see the Vedas for all the world and not just Indians and Hindus!

     

    You have to have a sense of History to appreciate this

     

    Very good understanding, your ahead of your time Baba thats why they cannot see the significance of what goes on in Amerca, the melting pot of all cultures, thank God Krishna is not only Hindu.

     

    Hare Krishna


  11. Quote: suchandra

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>Does A Hindu Preach?</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    Well, not that much in Melbourne, in fact even when they do, it is only to other Indians. I have to say that ISKCON is 'surviving' under a false sense of expansionism, a big lie. I was at the Sunday feast today at Melbourne Temple and if no Indians were there, there would have been eight of us (out of 250 people)

     

    Thei llusion of ISKCON getting bigger put forward by even many of my friends, is actually not true, it's a lie. Westerners are just not interested anymore and frankly either are most of the Indians who just treat ISKCON as a Sunday Church

     

    But I supose there is nothing wrong with that.

     

    Regardless of all ISKCON's past problems,the movement was far better off and way more genuine 35 years ago - It is not the same ISKCON today, not even close!! Not the one Prabhupada started


  12. Hare Krsna Association, Hindu-ization and Other Things

     

     

    BY: KURMA DASA

     

     

    Oct 18, AUSTRALIA (SUN) —
    When I write my articles for the Sampradaya Sun, I write with hope -- hope for a better ISKCON, an ISKCON that gives everyone an opportunity to participate and serve Srila Prabhupada somehow or other.

     

     

     

    Srila Prabhupada was not impartial and did not go about His Society kicking people out. His purports are His realizations, and how could we deny His realizations are for a better world, a better quality of human being, and a brother and sisterhood of association? Surely association cannot be based on the premise that we must accept manufactured conclusions? This is the case with today's ISKCON.

     

     

     

    No reasonable attempt is ever made to discuss deviations, such as the 2/3rd majority voting system that stamps a person as a maha-bhagavat within ISKCON. You must accept this conclusion to participate or your participation is thwarted. This is the basis of association within ISKCON today! Of course, it has been the rudiment of association since Srila Prabhupada left us physically in 1977.

     

     

     

    So many members disenfranchised, lives broken and schism, because (on a world scale) a handful of selfish and foolish imposters want to play Jesus. ISKCON is in great chaos due to the selfishness of this handful of men and their sycophant supporters.

     

     

     

    Only yesterday, one Indian gentlemen came by my place of work. I don't know this man. I have never met him before. He saw that I was a Hare Krishna, and was quite surprised. He asked me a few questions about myself, and then began to pour out his heart regarding his experiences at ISKCON's Melbourne Temple. He showed me a copy of a restraining order which prevented both he and some other members coming within five meters of each other.

     

     

     

    He also showed other documentation regarding his success in the court. He
    successfully
    challenged ISKCON regarding his attendance at the temple. In other words, the court ruled that on the basis of evidence provided from Srila Prabhupada's teachings, the temple authorities had no right whatsoever to kick him out, hence the laughable 5 meter distance of restraint at the temple.

     

     

     

    Anyhow, it seems if you're a Vaisnava, then legally you cannot be refused entry to ISKCON temples. Of course, if I was to hear the other side of the story, I would likely be told he is a demon, or a snake, or other --- wouldn't I?

     

     

     

    He also told me that some Hindu devotees within ISKCON practice black magic, and that they curse people who don't adhere to their bogus philosophy. This is not the first time I have heard this either, so there is probably some truth in it. By the way, it is against the law to practice black magic in Australia, and the police take it very seriously!

     

     

     

    Is there no one within ISKCON's leadership today who wants to be peacemakers? Are they really so disgustingly arrogant that they would rather Srila Prabhupada's Society crumble, for the sake of their own selfish ambition? Their philosophy regarding guru, management of the Society, etc. is finished and gone. The saner members will never accept it!

     

     

    Why continue down such a road?

     

     

    Kurma (the inspiring writer)

     

     

     


  13. The Lord spoke, "Get up, My dear Mukunda. All your offenses have been exonerated. You lost your wealth of devotion by wrong association, but now again by your loving devotion, you have conquered and indebted Me. I said to you that after ten million births you will have your desire to see Me fulfilled. You immediately pushed away all previous doubts and offenses. You had full faith in the infallibility of My words. Thus You have bound Me eternally in your heart with the bonds of loving devotion".

     

     


  14. default.jpg pixel-vfl73.gifA floating Dutchman in DC

     

    Now this is how yogis in India have been doing it for thousands of years

     

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=j><TABLE style="WIDTH: auto" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 7px" vAlign=top>2.jpg</TD><TD vAlign=top>YouTube - secret of levitation in india

     

     

    YOGI Sumit Saadhak Practicing Pranayama and Nauli kriya ...

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  15.  

    so the jiva is created with no end in the spiritual world or not?

    The jiva in its natural state serves in the ‘eternal present’ in Goloka Vrndavana or Vaikuntha worlds that, not only have no past or future as we trapped in the material world experience, but also has no beginning or end, birth or death, decay, pain or suffering. The eternal presents of Goloka with Krishna and His living entities is imperishable and therefore has always existed. The jivas were never created, we have always been.

     

    The Vedas mention creation because they are refering to the mahat tattva that is created and eventually destroyed. The Vaikunthas on the other hand, were NEVER created because the Kingdom of God has always been as you have mentioned in your quote of the Brahma samhita

     

    It is very hard trying to understand no beginning nor end then hear the paradox that Krishna created everything.

     

    There is no creation except for the mahat tattva or material 'creation' Vaikuntha has always been, will always be, and will never cease to be.

     

    Its all coming from within your heart, pray to Krishna and Guru to guide you, only then will you understand<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->


  16.  

     

    The great depression of 2008 – the mother of all depressions

     

    Can 'Hare Krishna' chant cure depression?:D

     

    The Times of India/March 30, 2004

     

     

    Kolkata -- The global Hare Krishna sect has floated a new wing to counsel students who are depressed, demoralised and even addicted to drugs.

    The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) sect, headquartered in West Bengal's Mayapur town, says distressed students are getting back their zest for life by chanting "Hare Krishna" and listening to regular religious discourses.

    The sect's counseling centre, called the Youth Forum, is run at its premises in the city. "We started the forum a couple of months ago and the response has been tremendous," said ISKCON official Ananga Mohan Das.

    The forum is now visited by about 176 students "and the number is growing by the day".

    At these sessions, held every Sunday, students listen to discourses by ISKCON monks, chant hymns, meditate and discuss their problems with the monks.

    "The students come from the best of colleges and universities and also from very reputed families," Das said.

    Besides its endeavour with students, ISKCON is planning programmes for reformation in the state's jails.

    The sect wants to conduct regular religious sessions in jails in the hope that it would awaken spirituality in convicts and make them better human beings.

    The proposal, already submitted to the state government, is that ISKCON volunteers would introduce convicts to meditation and religious discourses.

    ISKCON monks want to distribute Hindu religious texts such as the Bhagwad Gita and hold its readings regularly. They also want convicts to chant "Hare Krishna". ISKCON philosophy says a convict is not to be blamed for his crime, but it is society that is responsible because it could not impart the right lessons to the sinner.

    <CENTER>

    To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here</CENTER>

    The following is an article by Pascal Molliere on the other depression the Krishnas can cure crashing all the stock markets around the world now in Oct 2008

    Saturday 17th November 2007, 01:46

    <!-- Ad ........ language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src="http://allgood.me.uk/adserver/adx.js">.........> ........ language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'> if (!document.phpAds_used) document.phpAds_used = ','; phpAds_random = new String (Math.random()); phpAds_random = phpAds_random.substring(2,11); document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src=""); document.write ("http://allgood.me.uk/adserver/adjs.php?n=" + phpAds_random); document.write ("&what=zone:"); document.write ("&exclude=" + document.phpAds_used); if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); document.write (""><" + "/script>"); .........>..........>adview.php?what=zone:&n=a592061a</noscript> Ad

     

     

    -->

     

    Corporations, tell Functionpix about your event or product launch – all articles released on
    are optimised for high search engine rank results and we distribute news to the worlds media and throughout our online community of readers, pr agencies and industry professionals

    2008 is set to be the darkest ever year in financial history according to Goldman Sachs – a new report claims.

    The Times reports that the credit crunch is so serious that it may force the <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> banking system to cut lending by as much as $4,000 billion, prompting a “substantial recession” in the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE>.

     

    As much as $400 billion could be wiped out from the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> banking system prompting fears that the knock-on effect could spell an economic catastrophe on both sides of the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Atlantic</ST1:PLACE>.

     

    The mass of defaults on high-risk home loans in America has emerged in greater detail over the last 3-4 months but more and more banks and lending institutions are having to own up to the full extent of their losses as the financial world is being rocked to it’s core with the sheer scale of the financial melt-down.

     

    Mr Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs estimates that with every $1 dollar in losses, equates to the inability of highly leveraged Wall Street lending by $10, as they typically aim for a so-called capital ratio of 10 per cent.

     

    “If leveraged investors see $200 billion of the $400 billion aggregate credit loss, they might need to scale back their lending by $2 trillion,” Mr Hatzius said.

     

    Mr Hatzius’s actual prediction of a $400 billion write-off would reduce lending by $4,000 billion.

     

    “The likely mortgage credit losses pose a significantly bigger macroeconomic risk than generally recognised. It is easy to see how such a shock could produce a substantial recession,” Mr Hatzius said.

     

    “While the uncertainty is huge, the associated downward pressure on lending raises the risk of significant weakness in economic activity.”

     

    Goldman’s forecast predicts further disastrous consequences for global economy, sighting numerous factors such as the cost of the war in <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">Iraq</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE>, record oil prices, sub-prime defaults and growing unemployment.

     

    “The potential for an economic implosion and subsequent world recession is huge and could surpass the biggest financial crash in history of that of the Great Depression”.

     

    Billions were wiped off the world financial system in the 1920’s / 30’s. This period was known as ‘The Great Depression’ (also known in the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">U.K.</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> as the Great Slump). This was the most dramatic of worldwide economic downturns in history.

     

    It all started with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. The depression had devastating effects in both the industrialised countries and those which exported raw materials.

     

    With similar beginnings to the current crisis, the Great Depression was not a sudden total collapse but more of a slow burning fuse that sparked a sequence of major financial catastrophes across the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> and subsequently around the globe.

     

    The stock market had suffered losses due to the October 1929 crash – not too dissimilar to the Northern Rock and the Sub-Prime mortgage crisis of today.

     

    Having faced severe losses from the initial crash, consumerism plunged dramatically and a severe drought ravaged the agricultural heartland of the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">USA</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> beginning in the summer of 1930.

     

    Credit was ample and available to sub-prime borrowers at low rates and few were reluctant to avoid borrowing. By May 1930, vehicle sales had declined to below the levels of 1928. Oil prices had risen sharply while retail values in general began to decline.

     

    Wages began to drop in 1931. Conditions were worst in farming areas where commodity prices plunged, and in mining and logging areas where unemployment was high and there were few other jobs. The decline in the American economy was the motor that pulled down most other countries at first, then internal weaknesses or strengths in each country made conditions worse or better. By late in 1930, a steady decline set in which reached bottom by March 1933.

     

    Many experts and scholars believe that it was the fault of governments and the banking institutions who were to blame for the great depression. It was said that the problems began with excessive lending and a blatant disregard for cheap loans.

     

    Massive bank failures were largely to blame for the great depression and the stock market crash of the 1930’s, huge layoffs occurred, resulting in unemployment rates of over 25%. Banks which had financed a lot of bad debt began to fail as debtors defaulted on debt and bank depositors became worried about their deposits and began massive withdrawals.

     

    Government guarantees and Federal Reserve banking regulations to prevent these types of panics were ineffective or not used. Bank failures led to the evaporation of billions of dollars in assets. Up to 40% of the available money supply normally used for purchases and bank payments was destroyed by all these bank failures.

     

    By 1933, depositors saw $140 billion of their deposits disappear due to uninsured bank failures. Bank failures snowballed as desperate bankers tried calling in loans which the borrowers did not have time or money to repay. With future profits looking poor, capital investment and construction slowed or completely ceased. In the face of bad loans and worsening future prospects, the surviving banks became even more conservative in their lending. Banks built up their capital reserves, which intensified deflationary pressures. The vicious cycle developed and the downward spiral accelerated. This kind of self-aggravating process may have turned a 1930 recession into a 1933 great depression.

     

    There are frightening similarities in the current situation in the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> and in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Britain</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>. Once again, a banking crisis is threatening to undermine a global economy. Banks are too late in tightening the credit purse strings. There will be no more easy money, on the contrary, there will be very little money at all – and even the regular credit cards, bank overdrafts and small loans will be harder to get hold of as there simply is no money to lend out.

     

    In addition to making it much harder to secure a mortgage or loan, such a dramatic decline in lending would hamper the ability of consumers to borrow money to finance smaller purchases such as cars, televisions and washing machines.

     

    Since two-thirds of the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">US</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> economy is driven by consumer spending, this will hit retailers and other companies particularly hard. Businesses will also be deterred from borrowing money to invest and will be less able to stave off looming redundancies, putting further pressure on the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">US</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> economy.

     

    Goldman’s prediction comes after Wall Street firms such as Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley have collectively reported more than $50 billion in losses on investments related to sub-prime mortgages.

     

    It follows the US Federal Reserve’s second cash infusion of the month on Thursday, when it injected $47.25 billion into the financial system, the largest since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 .

     

    The latest injection was administered two weeks after the Fed injected $41 billion, as the fallout from the housing crisis gathered momentum.

     

    There is no end in sight and with other countries economies clearly suffering in tandem with the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">US</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>, there is growing fear that this could be the mother of all recessions.


  17. India's Chandrayaan-2 soon goes to the Moon. ISKCON have to face these facts!! india1_411288a.jpg

    </I>

    <!-- Remove following <div> to not show photographer information -->(Jagadeesh NV/EPA)

    <!-- Remove following <div> to not show image description -->The Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe

    <!-- Print Author name associated with the article --><!-- Print Author name from By Line associated with the article -->Jeremy Page in Delhi

    <!-- END: Module - M24 Article Headline with landscape image (d) --><!-- Article Copy module --><!-- BEGIN: Module - Main Article --><!-- Check the Article Type and display accordingly--><!-- Print Author image associated with the Author--><!-- Print the body of the article-->

    India is to launch its first unmanned mission to the Moon this month as it struggles to catch up with China in a 21st-century Asian version of the space race between the United States and Soviet Union.

     

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced yesterday that it would fire a locally made rocket bearing the lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 from a launchpad in southeastern India on October 22, weather permitting.

     

    The launch could be delayed until October 26 if conditions are not right over the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, 63 miles (125km) from the city of Madras. It was planned originally for April, but was postponed repeatedly because of technical problems with the £47 million project, which involves several foreign countries, including the United States.

     

    The 1.38tonne spacecraft will take approximately eight days to travel about 240,000 miles before reaching its final orbit 60 miles above the surface of the Moon, ISRO officials say. <!--#include file="m63-article-related-attachements.html"--><!-- BEGIN: Module - M63 - Article Related Attachements --><!-- BEGIN: Comment Teaser Module -->

     

    <FORM name=relatedLinksform action="" method=post></FORM>

     

    It will then orbit for almost two years, using high-resolution remote sensing to compile a three-dimensional atlas of the Moon and analyse the composition of its surface, among other things.

     

    It will also send a small impact probe to the surface.

    Chandrayaan-1 will carry 11 payloads; five pieces of equipment from ISRO and six from foreign agencies, including Nasa and the European Space Agency. ISRO technicians will track the mission from a deep space network station in the village of Byalalu, about 25 miles from the southern city of Bangalore.

     

    Critics say it is a waste of money for a country where 800 million out of a population of 1.1 billion live on less than $2 a day and where child malnutrition is on a par with that of sub-Saharan Africa. Advocates of India’s space programme, however, argue that ISRO makes money from commercial satellite launches and its scientific benefits have played a key role in the development of the country’s information technology industry.

     

    They say that India is lagging far behind China, which completed its first manned space flight in 2003 and launched a lunar satellite in October last year. Last month a Chinese astronaut completed a 15-minute space walk for the first time.

     

    ISRO, founded in 1969, is now aiming to put the first Indian into space by 2014 and to launch a manned lunar mission by 2020 – four years ahead of China’s target date. The Indian agency’s next step is to launch a second unmanned lunar mission – Chandrayaan-2 – in 2011, comprising an orbiting spacecraft, a lander and a Moon rover.

     

    Gopal Raj, the author of a history of the Indian space programme, said ISRO’s timeframe was unrealistic, but hailed this month’s launch as a breakthrough, nonetheless. “For India, this is an important milestone,” he said. “If you want to do space exploration, the Moon is where you have to start.”


  18.  

    Original unedited version -

     

    Hate the Sin
    BY: GAURAGOPALA DASA

     

     

     

     

    Oct 06, USA (SUN) —
    Hate the sin, not the sinner. Is that the Krsna Conscious thing to do, or a cop out? If not, how can we say Lord Caitanya is Patita-pavana? Are these angry words of Matsya das just a 'witch hunt' by those who are not spiritually advanced? Or is he right?

     

     

     

    Is the following the right way to treat fallen souls? Who really are the most fallen?

     

    • To Hell with the Child Molesters
    • Oct 05, INDIA (SUN)
      - One thing I will agree with you all on, I do not understand why someone like Bhavananda is still allowed in ISKCON. He not only beat kids but had sex with them, too.



     

     

    Or should we learn to Hate the sin, not the sinner?

     

     

    The following was written by Charles Lewis in an issue of
    America Magazine
    , a Catholic weekly published by the Jesuits, who interviewed Sister Camille D’Arienzo:


    • "Sister Camille D’Arienzo has written a compelling and courageous piece called Mercy Toward Our Fathers. It opens up the highly controversial subject of offering forgiveness to priests who abused children.



      In 2002, massive allegations came to the surface of abuse by Catholic priests, especially in the Los Angeles and Boston areas. In Los Angeles, for example, the Church paid out US$100-million to compensate 87 sex abuse victims. And then spent millions more to compensate scores of further victims across the country. It remains an especially painful issue, given that many abusers were shuttled from parish to parish in the hopes they would vanish quietly into the system.



      This is not an issue that will dissipate any time soon. Last week, for instance, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati published new guidelines for what priests could do with children. It prohibits big hugs, lap-sitting and putting children on one’s shoulder or back, as well as bans on kissing, tickling or wrestling.



      Sister D’Arienzo, a nun for 57 years and a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Brooklyn, N.Y., has worked with men on death row as well as the families of murder victims. That experience led her to the idea of looking at the possibility of reconciliation with fallen priests. As she states in the America article, “Holding onto anger has been likened to taking a sip of poison every day - not enough to kill, but more than enough to debilitate.”



      She takes care to point out that her first concern is for the victims and their loved ones. And that anyone trying to bring the message of forgiveness and reconciliation - a core part of the Christian faith - must do so delicately. “Words that are meant to comfort and console can further aggravate and ignite.” She also adds one point that is more important: forgiveness does not mean forgetting or letting the perpetrator escape punishment.



      I spoke to Sister Camille on Tuesday to try to try to get a better understanding of her views.



      Q.
      How did you come to this idea of seeking some kind of reconciliation with sexual abusers?



      A.
      I worked as a spiritual advisor for a man on death row in Indiana. After a couple of years of doing that I thought, I should really be doing something for victims. Eight years ago, I started having annual services for families of murder victims at our Mother House. Last year we had about 80 people come, most of whom who had lost a son to gunshots. For all the people who have been coming all these years, only two called for the death penalty for their sons’ murderers. Because I have been involved with the death penalty, I have this sense that all murderers are not the same. There are some that are pathologically insane and others who commit in a time of passion. That sparked my belief that those who have been accused of sexual molestation are not all on the same plane.



      Q.
      Do you envision a priest guilty of abuse ever being brought back into the service of the Church?



      A.
      It depends. Did leadership know and did nothing?
      Was he a many-time offender because of that blunder by the Church Leaders? Or was it something no-one new about that happened during one short time in his life and he never did it again and has an unblemished record of 20 years since. There’s no one-size-fits-all in any situation. It is obvious that some have also not been given the right help by the Church and their disease ignored and never delt with medically.
      That has to be taken into consideration
      . Proper medical care can cure this disease. Perhaps that priest could be brought back in some capacity. Never around children but maybe in a retirement home or a monastery. I don’t have the answer. What I have is great sadness with what is now: that these priests are living with a spiritual death sentence.



      Q.
      You say you feel a tremendous sadness over this. Many people are not going to understand that.



      A.
      My first sadness is for the victim and for those who love the victim and feel betrayed. That is paramount. I have another sadness, though. There seems to be neither the wisdom nor the courage in the leadership of the Church to encourage compassion for the sinner, for the one who has done this horrible thing. And of course, I am as sorry for the predator who has a sexual addiction, as I would be for an alcoholic or a dope addict. Because there is an illness. There’s a whole swath of abusers who are sick. That’s one kind of concern for people who are ill. And another concern for those who had brief encounters in which they perpetrated evil on an innocent victim and who recognize that sinfulness and have repented and amended their ways and have done the best that they can to live good moral lives after the fall. What more can we ask of a human being?



      My primary concern is that no child should suffer what the other children have suffered. That is one of my concerns with the priests who are abandoned, who are in disgrace - the very misery and shame that they feel might move them to do more of the same evil. Because no one has any hope for them. Or any encouragement for them. It seems to me you allow the evil to further fester if a person thinks that he is not capable of living a better life because that’s what society has told them.



      Q.
      Can a mere mortal forgive this kind sin?



      A.
      My hope is that someone reading the article will have the grace and the wisdom to know when and with whom to broach the topic of forgiveness. I know that words meant to console and comfort can further ignite and aggravate victims. You can make a case for slience in every horror the world has ever known. We have histories of silence. Those who speak out are really setting themselves up for misunderstanding and anger. And that’s not at all what one wants.


      Q.
      Can you talk about the notion of forgiveness? Many say the ability to forgive, even in extreme situations, is fundamental to the gospel message.



      A.
      [Forgiveness] is in my spirituality. People hear God’s teaching in different ways. There is the scriptural mandate that “to whom much is forgiven of that one much is required.” Some of us had a deeper and broader experience of religion and its impact: the good and not-so-good of it. For me to be silent was not appropriate. One of the most important things is that not everyone heals at the same rate or that everybody is ready for whatever medicine is available. To go too soon into someone who is hurting is to inflict greater suffering. And that’s one of my concerns. But is there a way for a caring community to help the person who needs healing?



      Q.
      What do you hope to accomplish by talking about this?


      A.
      It’s a twin hope. I cannot separate these hopes. One is that the person who has been hurt will consider extending forgiveness or at least to pray for the grace to want to forgive. And the one who has caused the pain will also experience forgiveness."



     

     


  19. Are these angry words of Matsya das just a 'witch hunt' from those who are not spiritually advanced? Or is he right?

    Some say we should hate the sin, not the sinner. Is that the Krsna Conscious thing to do, or is it a cop out?

     

    If not, how can we say Lord Caitanya is Patita-pavana (the deliverer of the most fallen)??

    Is the following the right way to treat fallen souls? (Who really are the most fallen) - To Hell with the Child Molesters Oct 05, INDIA (SUN) — One thing I will agree with you all on, I do not understand why someone like Bhavananda is still allowed in ISKCON. He not only beat kids but had sex with them, too. FULL STORY

     

    <CENTER></CENTER><CENTER></CENTER><CENTER></CENTER><CENTER>Or should we learn to Hate the sin, not the sinner? </CENTER>

     

     

    The following was written by Charles Lewis in an issue of America Magazine, a Catholic weekly published by the Jesuits who interviews Sister Camille D’Arienzo

     

     

    In the most recent issue of America Magazine, a Catholic weekly published by the Jesuits, Sister Camille D’Arienzo has written a compelling and courageous piece called Mercy Toward Our Fathers. It opens up the highly controversial subject of offering forgiveness to priests who abused children.

    In 2002, massive allegations came to the surface of abuse by Catholic priests, especially in the Los Angeles and Boston areas. In Los Angeles, for example, the Church paid out US$100-million to compensate 87 sex abuse victims. And then spent millions more to compensate scores of further victims across the country. It remains an especially painful issue, given that many abusers were shuttled from parish to parish in the hopes they would vanish quietly into the system.

    This is not an issue that will dissipate any time soon. Last week, for instance, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati published new guidelines for what priests could do with children. It prohibits big hugs, lap-sitting and putting children on one’s shoulder or back, as well as bans on kissing, tickling or wrestling.

    Sister D’Arienzo, a nun for 57 years and a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Brooklyn, N.Y., has worked with men on death row as well as the families of murder victims. That experience led her to the idea of looking at the possibility of reconciliation with fallen priests. As she states in the America article, “Holding onto anger has been likened to taking a sip of poison every day — not enough to kill, but more than enough to debilitate.”

    She takes care to point out that her first concern is for the victims and their loved ones. And that anyone trying to bring the message of forgiveness and reconciliation — a core part of the Christian faith — must do so delicately. “Words that are meant to comfort and console can further aggravate and ignite.” She also adds one point that is more important: forgiveness does not mean forgetting or letting the perpetrator escape punishment.

    I spoke to Sister Camille on Tuesday to try to try to get a better understanding of her views.

    Q. How did you come to this idea of seeking some kind of reconciliation with sexual abusers?

    A. I worked as a spiritual advisor for a man on death row in Indiana. After a couple of years of doing that I thought, I should really be doing something for victims. Eight years ago, I started having annual services for families of murder victims at our Mother House. Last year we had about 80 people come, most of whom who had lost a son to gunshots. For all the people who have been coming all these years, only two called for the death penalty for their sons’ murderers. Because I have been involved with the death penalty, I have this sense that all murderers are not the same. There are some that are pathologically insane and others who commit in a time of passion. That sparked my belief that those who have been accused of sexual molestation are not all on the same plane.

    Q. Do you envision a priest guilty of abuse ever being brought back into the service of the Church?

    A. It depends. Was he a many-time offender or was it something that happened during one short time in his life and he never did it again and has an unblemished record of 20 years since. There’s no one-size-fits-all in any situation. Perhaps that priest could be brought back in some capacity. Never around children but maybe in a retirement home or a monastery. I don’t have the answer. What I have is great sadness with what is now: that these priests are living with a spiritual death sentence.

    Q. You say you feel a tremendous sadness over this. Many people are not going to understand that.

    A. My first sadness is for the victim and for those who love the victim and feel betrayed. That is paramount. I have another sadness, though. There seems to be neither the wisdom nor the courage in the leadership of the Church to encourage compassion for the sinner, for the one who has done this horrible thing. And of course, I am as sorry for the predator who has a sexual addiction, as I would be for an alcoholic or a dope addict. Because there is an illness. There’s a whole swath of abusers who are sick. That’s one kind of concern for people who are ill. And another concern for those who had brief encounters in which they perpetrated evil on an innocent victim and who recognize that sinfulness and have repented and amended their ways and have done the best that they can to live good moral lives after the fall. What more can we ask of a human being?

    My primary concern is that no child should suffer what the other children have suffered. That is one of my concerns with the priests who are abandoned, who are in disgrace — the very misery and shame that they feel might move them to do more of the same evil. Because no one has any hope for them. Or any encouragement for them. It seems to me you allow the evil to further fester if a person thinks that he is not capable of living a better life because that’s what society has told them.

    Q. Can a mere mortal forgive this kind sin?

    A. My hope is that someone reading the article will have the grace and the wisdom to know when and with whom to broach the topic of forgiveness. I know that words meant to console and comfort can further ignite and aggravate victims. You can make a case for slience in every horror the world has ever known. We have histories of silence. Those who speak out are really setting themselves up for misunderstanding and anger. And that’s not at all what one wants.

    Q. Can you talk about the notion of forgiveness? Many say the ability to forgive, even in extreme situations, is fundamental to the gospel message.

    A. [Forgiveness] is in my spirituality. People hear God’s teaching in different ways. There is the scriptural mandate that “to whom much is forgiven of that one much is required.” Some of us had a deeper and broader experience of religion and its impact: the good and not-so-good of it. For me to be silent was not appropriate. One of the most important things is that not everyone heals at the same rate or that everybody is ready for whatever medicine is available. To go too soon into someone who is hurting is to inflict greater suffering. And that’s one of my concerns. But is there a way for a caring community to help the person who needs healing?

    Q. What do you hope to accomplish by talking about this?

    A. It’s a twin hope. I cannot separate these hopes. One is that the person who has been hurt will consider extending forgiveness or at least to pray for the grace to want to forgive. And the one who has caused the pain will also experience forgiveness.

    Charles Lewis writes about religious issues for the National Post


  20.  

    Many foolishly believe the jiva originates from the impersonal Brahmajyoti or keeps appearing from the body of Maha Vishnu every time He recreates the mahat tattva because Maha Vishnu's body is the origin of the soul however, that is incorrect

    The entire creation of Lord Krsna is simultaneously one and different as taught by Lord Caitanya.

    Every living entity that is a so-called ‘spark in the effulgence of the Brahmajyoti’, actually has an interminable and timeless Svarupa body within the ‘eternal present’, even though it may appear the living entity is in or even originates from the impersonal aspect of the Brahmajyoti.

    Actually for those who can comprehend, this IS the humble answer to the 'origin of the jiva' as told by Srila Prabhupada, also explained above in a very simple and clear way, beyond any fancy poetic word jugglery and pages and pages of philosophy.

    The answer is simply given in a few short sentences as explained above however, the dust on the mirror of the heart must be cleared away by chanting Hare Krsna and selfless service to the devotees so one can see this truth of who they really are.

    Srila Prabhupada – “Existence in the impersonal Brahman (the bright light) is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the Brahman effulgence (bright light), they are also in the fallen condition. So there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition”. - Letter, June 13, 1970.

    Srila Prabhupada – “"Because he falls down from Brahma-sayujya (impersonal liberated condition in the Brahmajyoti also known as the 'bright light'), he thinks that may be his origin, but he does not remember that long, long, long, long ago before that even, he was with Krishna". Letter to Australian devotees 1972 under Madhudvisa Swami

    Srila Prabhupada – “The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world.” 4.28.54

    Srila Prabhupada – "In the spiritual world both, the Lord and the living entities live together very peacefully. Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world". (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.54, purport)

    Srila Prabhupada – "However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.54, purport)

    Srila Prabhupada – “Every living being, out of many, many billions and trillions of living beings has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally. That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi–perfection of one’s constitutional position’. Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita as it is

    Srila Prabhupada – “We are also expansions of Krishna’s form. These jivas, the living entities… Krishna is expanding in two ways, svamsa and vibhinnamsa. Svamsa means Vishnu. One extension, expansion, is just directly He Himself. And another expansion is separated from Him. That separated from Him (marginal) we are’. Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture 1.3.1-3 — San Francisco, March 28, 1968

    Srila Prabhupada – “Anyone, even in this world or spiritual world, he has got the propensity of coming down from Vaikuntha by misusing his little independence. .., that if you become president, you are secure”. (Lecture, Atlanta, March 2, 1975)

    Srila Prabhupada – “Similarly, we have got an eternal relationship with Krishna, either as father or as lover or as servant, like that. So that is self-realisation. When you will be perfect in love, in loving Krishna, then in what status of life you will love, that you will under–…That will be revealed. That is called svarupa-siddhi”. (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture, December 7, 1974, Bombay)

    Srila Prabhupada – “You have got original relationship with Krishna. Nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti. . (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture, December 7, 1974, Bombay)

    Srila Prabhupada - “The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world both, the Lord and the living entities live together very peacefully. Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world.

    Srila Prabhupada – “However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.54, purport)

    Srila Prabhupada – “Everyone has dormant Krishna-bhakti — love for Krishna — and in the association of good devotees, that love is revealed. As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.107)

    All descriptions of the marginal living entity as spiritual spark, atoms, molecules, or rays of sunshine in the 'bright light' or Brahmajyoti are also further clarified by Srila Prabhupada.

    Here he explains that originally (And in a permanant state of originality)all living entities have a constitutional bodily source as clearly described below -

    Srila Prabhupada – “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Krsna, the impersonal Brahman is the expansive effulgence (bright light) of His transcendental body, or that Paramatma is His all-pervading plenary expansion as the Supersoul". Sri Isopanisad Mantra Twelve

    Srila Prabhupada – “They cannot understand that Krsna has an eternal form of perfect bliss and knowledge and that they also have an eternal spiritual identity” Srila Prabhupada’s Sri Isopanisad Mantra Twelve

    Srila Prabhupada – “Within this effulgence (bright light) there are innumerable spiritual planets, and they are known as the Vaikuntha planets. Each and every Vaikuntha planet is many, many times bigger than the biggest universe within the material world, and in each of them there are innumerable inhabitants who look exactly like Lord Visnu.” (Bhag. 1.14.36)

    Srila Prabhupada – “These inhabitants are known as the Maha-paurusikas, or persons directly engaged in the service of the Lord. They are happy in those planets and are without any kind of misery, and they live perpetually in full youthfulness, enjoying life in full bliss and knowledge without fear of birth, death, old age or disease, and without the influence of kala, eternal time.” (Bhag. 1.14.36)

    Srila Prabhupada – “We can again revive our brightness and shine with the Supreme Person. As the sun and the sunshine, they are together shining, there is light, similarly, when we are again posted in our own constitutional position, Krsna (Vigraha) is LIKE the sun and we are shining particles, (Also vigraha which means eternal form) then our life is successful. ” Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.35 – Hawaii, January 28, 1974

    Srila Prabhupada – “This is confirmed in all Vedic literature. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. So, as we are also persons, individual living beings, we are persons, we have got our individuality, we are all individual, similarly the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Absolute, He is also, at the ultimate issue He is a person. But realization of the Personality of Godhead is realization of all the transcendental features like sat, cit, and ananda, in complete vigraha Gitopanisad by Srila Prabhupada Part Two

    Srila Prabhupada – “The living entities are not without spiritual senses. Every living being in his original, spiritual form has all the senses, which are now material, being covered by the body and mind. Activities of the material senses are perverted reflections of spiritual pastimes.” Sri Ishopanishad, Verse 11

    Srila Prabhupada – “These are the secrets of the Acharyas. Sometimes, they conceal the real purpose of the Vedas–explain the Vedas in a different way. Sometimes, they enunciate a different theory just to bring the atheists under their control.” Cc. Madhya, 25.42

    Srila Prabhupada – “The word varnam refers to the luster of one’s original identity. The original luster of gold or silver is brilliant. Similarly, the original luster of the living being, who is part of the sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha [bs. 5.1], is the luster of ānanda, or pleasure. Ānandamayo bhyāsāt. Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.48

    Srila Prabhupada – “Every living entity has the right to become ānandamaya, joyful, because he is part of the sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha [bs. 5.1], Krishna. Why should the living being be put into tribulation because of dirty contamination by the material modes of nature? The living entity should become purified and regain his svarūpa, his original identity” Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.48

    Srila Prabhupada – “So when someone asks, when did we come into contact with the material nature?” The answer is that we have not come into contact. By the influence of the material energy we THINK that we are in contact”. Tokyo in 1972 Srila Prabhupada

    Srila Prabhupada – “Actually we are not fallen. We cannot be fallen. We have simply created a situation. Rather, we have not created a situation; Krishna has given us a situation. Because we wanted to imitate Krishna, Krishna has given an opportunity: “All right. You want to imitate? You want to be an imitation king on the stage’- Tokyo in 1972 Srila Prabhupada

    Srila Prabhupada – “In the Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta the nitya-baddha condition of the marginal living entity is clearly described. In the following quotes - ”

     

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My dear Rūpa, please listen to Me. It is not possible to describe devotional service completely; therefore I am just trying to give you a synopsis of the symptoms of devotional service” Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 19.137

     

    <CENTER>

     

    We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago, try and understand.

     

    </CENTER>

     

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “We have also come down from Vaikuntha
    some millions and millions of years ago." -
    Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973

     

     

     

    In the Spiritual Sky exists Krsna’s Supreme Planet Goloka Vrndavana surrounded by the Vaikuntha Planets established in the ‘eternal present’ where there is no past or future that has the side effect of permeance and eternal youth where nothing perishes and reality is permanent

     

     

     

     

    <CENTER>
    vaikuntha3.jpg

     

    c.gif
    Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
    </CENTER>

     

    Actually for those who can comprehend, this
    IS
    the humble answer to the 'origin of the jiva' as told by Srila Prabhupada, also explained above
    in a very simple and clear way
    , beyond any fancy poetic word jugglery and pages and pages of philosophy.

     

     

    The answer is simply given in a few short sentences as explained above
    however, the dust on the mirror of the heart must be cleared away by chanting Hare Krsna and selfless service to the devotees so one can see this truth of who they really are.

     

    The nitya-siddha-svarupa body is locked and secured perpetually within the 'eternal present, which is an eternal state of originality' that has no past and future. This means when one finishes their dreams within the material world and again become 'aware' of their full potential 'svarupa body, it is like waking up from a dream and finding themselves as the body they always were and always have been.

     

    Srila Prabhupada - "We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago." Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973

     

    Srila Prabhupada explains it this way: "There is nothing to be gained in Goloka, only regained". "Originally everyone is nitya-siddha. nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti 'sadhya' kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya Every living entity originally nitya-siddha". Srimad-Bhagavatam Class 7.9.4- Mayapur, February 18, 1977


  21. Great read -

     

    “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago

     

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago." - Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973

     

    scripturalessence.jpg

     

     

    In the Spiritual Sky exists Krsna’s Supreme Planet Goloka Vrndavana surrounded by the Vaikuntha Planets established in the ‘eternal present’ where there is no past or future that has the side effect of permeance and eternal youth where nothing perishes and reality is permanent

    dream.jpg

     

     

     

    Also existing sometimes in the Spiritual Sky, taking up 25% of ‘eternity’ is the mahat tattva or material creation where there is no ‘present’, only past and future that has the side effect of decay and impermanent where ‘reality’ is only temporary.

     

    The following book gives details and the final proof, as clearly explained by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that all jiva/souls or marginal living entities are originally (Which means eternally when referring to the Kingdom of God), are actually serving Krishna perpetually, as their full devotional bodily form, right at this very moment.

     

    However, presently, due to the free will and choice all marginal living entities have, some have chosen to forget their real eternal vigraha (form) svarupa (devotional body) that is always present in Krsnaloka, just like one forgets their present biological body while dreaming.

     

    This means all living entities have an imperishable bodily form called ‘svarupa’ which is the full potential and expression of their character eternal present in Goloka even if they are ‘dreaming or thinking’ they are in the material creation (mahat tattva).

     

    Many have laughed when told their existence in the material world is just the dream state they have created.

     

    However, if they care to read Prabhupada’s books, they will find it is ALL their dream ONLY EXPERIENCED by 'entering' unlimited dream identities or vessels within the dreams of Maha Vishnu –

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “This material creation is the spirit soul's dream. Actually all existence in the material world is a dream of Mahā-Viṣṇu, as the Brahma-saḿhitā describes –

     

    Srila Bhaktisiddhanta - “This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Viṣṇu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation”.

    4.29.83.http://vedabase.net/sb/4/29/83/en

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “Everything happening within time, which consists of past, present and future, is merely a dream. This is the secret in understanding in all the Vedic literature.” SB. 4.29.2b.

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “Of course, everyone has a particular relationship with the Lord, and that relationship is evoked by the perfection of devotional service. But in the present status of our life, we have not only forgotten the Supreme Lord, but we have forgotten our eternal relationship with the Lord”. Bhagavad-Gita, Introduction

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “Every living being. has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally, That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi—perfection of one’s constitutional position. Bhagavad-Gita, Introduction. .”

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “We have an intimate relationship with the Lord, and because we are all qualitatively one . . . the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanatana occupation, or sanatana dharma, which is the eternal occupation of the living entity “. Bhagavad-gita, Introduction. .

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “The Lord descends to reclaim all of these fallen, conditioned souls to call them back to the sanatana eternal sky so that the sanatana living entities may regain their eternal sanatana positions of eternal association with the Lord.” Bhagavad-gita, Introduction.

    Srila Prabhupada – “In his original state, there is no doubt of enjoyment; therefore, that is his real state.” Bhagavad-gita, 13.21, purport.

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “Originally everyone (all marginal living entities) is nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) Srimad-Bhagavatam Class 7.9.4– Mayapur, February 18, 1977

     

    Srila Prabhupada - “Originally everyone is nitya-siddha. nitya-siddha krsna-bhakti ’sadhya’ kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya. Every living entity originally nitya-siddha, ". Srimad-Bhagavatam Class 7.9.4– Mayapur, February 18, 1977

     

    Srila Prabhupada - "So to go to Krishna means you will have to acquire your original, spiritual body. The spiritual body is already there, but we are now covered by this material body". by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Germany, June 22, 1974

     

    Srila Prabhupada - "As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness has now become polluted by the material atmosphere." (Original Hare Krsna album)

     

    Srila Bhaktivinoda Takura - “However, because of contact with matter, the imprisoned soul loses the memory of his original spiritual form in Vaikuntha. . . material rasas are perverted reflections of the soul's original spiritual rasas.” Prema-pradipa, p. 83

     

    Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada - “It is the jivas who are the attendants in His Sports. They become attached to matter, having deviated from their own essential nature as the result of their desire for enjoyment. But when again the soul . . . gains true wisdom of the transcendental region of God . . . he begins to get back his pure essential nature” Sri Caitanya's Teachings, p. 323.

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago." - Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “This material creation is the spirit soul's dream. Actually all existence in the material world is a dream of Mahā-Viṣṇu, as the Brahma-saḿhitā describes –

     

    · “This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Viṣṇu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation”. 4.29.83.http://vedabase.net/sb/4/29/83/en

     

    Srila Prabhupada – “Existence in the impersonal Brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the Brahman effulgence, they are also in the fallen condition. So there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition”. - Letter, June 13, 1970.

     

    Srila Prabhupada said to me in the Sydney Temple room in early 1973, when he came in while I was cleaning. Srila Prabhupada had started ecstatically laughing when he saw I had put paintings of the Pancha tattva and Krsna and Balarama on the step of his Vyasa chair – “That’s not where the Lord goes”.

     

    Then after a short silence he added,

     

    “Soon you will understand, try to understand also YOUR real bodily form is ALWAYS in Vaikuntha” then continued laughing at where I put these paintings while I cleaned the walls. At the time I realized the importance at what he said. It was many, many years later when the ‘origin of the jiva’ debate AGAIN started (Actually that debate started in 1972 and ended with Prabhupada’s words to me, at least as far as I was concerned on this subject, in 1973).

    During the 1990s, I wondered what everyone was arguing about because Prabhupada has made it very clear that ALL marginal living entities have come down from Vaikuntha to the material world, not as their Svarupa body, but rather as a jiva baddha dream protrusion. The misleading book ‘Not even the leaves fall from Vaikuntha’ plus the teachings of both Srila Narayana Maharaj and Srila Sridar Maharaj, who I have heard both speak on this subject, are, with all due respect, NOT the teachings that Srila Prabhupada gave us on this subject.


  22.  

     

    This is a great site that encourages Jappa or the chanting of Hare Krishna on 108 Tulsi Beads.

     

     

    Click here and listen to Prabhupada chant

    ttp://japagroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/japa-prayers_4051.html

     

    All our spiritual problems in life comes down to the fact of Sadhana or how serious and dedicate we are in our worship and selfless devotion to God (Krishna).

     

    If we are NOT chanting 16 rounds at least a day, then how do we expect to have any spiritual strength to understand we are not this material body, and most importantly, we are NOT the mind we foolishly think we are??

     

    Sadhana gives us the strength to see that others are not their material vessels as well and helps us see the living entity and Krishna in the region of the heart.

     

    Poor Sadhana leads to listening to the mind, thinking you are the body, and exploiting others around you for your own profit, aderation and power.

     

     

     

    <!-- Begin #content - Centers all content and provides edges for floated columns --><!-- Blog Header -->

    Japa Group

     

    Open discussions on chanting Hare Krsna

     

     

    <!-- Begin #main - Contains main-column blog content -->

     

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    German | Portuguese | Italian | Spanish | French | Russian | Chinese

    6th September 2008

     

    <!-- Begin .post -->Japa Prayers

    Neem+beads+in+hand+chanting.jpg

     

    This is a rather long post - and for that I apologise. However it has helped so much with my japa. It is taken from Mahanidhi Swami's book, entitled 'The Art of Chanting Hare Krishna.' There are prayers for before, during and after japa (although honestly I've thought of the prayers during japa of more of a mood). It helps keep me focussed and makes my japa more meaningful. I hope it will inspire and help others with their japa.

     

    BEFORE JAPA:

    "The beauty of bhakti-yoga, unlike other yoga systems, is that all progress depends more or less on the mercy of Guru and Krsna. In other yoga paths, one attains success by his personal prowess, austerity and endeavor. On the bhakti-marga, however, attaining the goal oiprema does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting; it depends solely on Krsna's causeless mercy.

     

     

    Lord Gauranga says, guru-krsna-krpaya: by the mercy of guru and Krsna. When Sri Guru and Krsna are fully satisfied with one's sincere efforts, one may be blessed with divine wisdom and spiritual perfection. It is simply a question of mercy and nothing else. The path of devotion (bhakti-marga) depends completely on the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, one must seek the mercy-beg for it, hope for it and pray for it.

     

    Gaudiya Vaisnavas understand this principle, so they always pray to Sri Guru and the merciful Vaisnavas past and present for mercy, blessings and guidance. This especially applies to chanting the holy name for which we have little or no taste or attraction. Heartfelt prayers will draw the attention of Krsna and His devotees. By their causeless mercy one will attain the power to chant and the taste to sustain it.

     

    ekaki amdra, nahi pay a bala, hari-nama-sahkirtane

    tumi krpd kori', sraddha-bindu diyd, deho' krsna-nama-dhane

     

    "On my own, I have absolutely no strength to chant the holy name ** Please, O Vaisnava Thakura! Be merciful by giving nd grant me the great treasure of the holy name of lord hari. Please, O vaisnava Thakur! Be merciful by giving me one drop faith, and grant me the great treasure of the holy name of krishna (saranagati)

     

    One will quickly attain spiritual perfection by selflessly worshiping the six G's: Guru, Gosvamis, Gauranga, Giriraja and Gandharvika-Giridhari. Realizing this, Krsna dasa Kaviraja prayed to the six Gosvamis to remove all impediments to his writing of Caitanya-caritamrta.

     

    In the following purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how the six Gosvamis assist devotees by protecting them, destroying obstacles, and arranging for their service to Krsna."If a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, the merciful Gosvamis will certainly give the Lord's servitor all protection.

     

    It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled." (Cc. Antya 1.3-4 p.)

     

    Devotees who understand the great power of the six Gosvamis will always pray for their mercy. Ours is the path of mercy, the path of grace, and there are no more merciful devotees than the six Gosvamis. May everyone receive the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis, and go back home, back to Godhead.

     

    In order to chant without offenses, subdue impediments, and progress steadily on the path oiprema, acaryas advocate reciting the following prayer to the six Gosvamis ten times every morning before chanting japa:

     

     

     

    sri-rupa sanatoria bhatta-raghundtha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasaraghundtha

    ei chay gosdir kori carana vandan, jaha hoite bighna-nas abhistapuran

     

     

    By the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha dasa and Gopala Bhatta-the obstacles to devotion can be removed, the service of Radha-Govinda Yugala can be attained, and all one's personal desires for Service can be fulfilled. (Nama-sankirtana, Narottama dasa Thakura)

     

    One can also pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart. The auspicious and most merciful Lord Nrsirhha has unlimited power to purify the heart, destroy obstacles to devotion, and bestow attraction for chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura shows the relationship between Nrsimhadeva's mercy and Radha-Govindaprema:

     

    In Navadvipa-dhama, at the abode of Lord Nrsirhha known as Nrsirmha Puri or Devapalli, I will roll on the ground in ecstatic love, begging for unalloyed love of Krsna. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness (kama, krodha, lobha, matsarya, moha, mada).

     

    I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimha, therefore, to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Radha-Govinda in Navadvipa, free from all obstacles. When will that Lord Hari, who strikes fear in fear personified, be pleased and bestow His mercy on me?

     

    Although this form of the Lord is terrible for the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlada. When will Nrsimhadeva become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove my fears?

     

    "Lord Nrsirhha will say, 'Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura-dhama. Worship Radha-Govinda and develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees all obstacles will be transcended. With a purified heart just worship Radha-Govinda-the abodes of sweet nectar After speaking in this way, when will Lord Nrsirhha joyfully place His feet upon my head? At that moment, by the Lord's mercy,

     

     

     

    I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha-Govinda, and roll on the ground before the door of His temple." (Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

     

    After praising Sri Guru, the Gosvamis and Lord Nrsirhha one should pray to Gaura-Nitai and the Panca-tattva for the ability to chant suddha-nama. Krsna dasa Kaviraja says the holy names Caitanya and Nityananda will quickly remove nama-aparadhas from faithful chanters:

     

    caitanya-nitydnande nahi esaba vicara

    natna laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

     

    "One will be cleansed of all offenses very quickly just by chanting the holy names of Caitanya and Nityananda with a little faith. Then as soon as one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he will attain prema and tears will flow from his eyes."(cc. Adi 8.31)

     

    Every night during the Kartika month, a kirtana party walks around Radha-kunda. With wompers, mrdangas and contagious enthusiasm they wildly sing, "Jai Caitanya! Nitai-Caitanya! Jai Caitanya-Nitaiii!" When one hears this kirtana, he instantly feels lighthearted and flushed with joy.

     

    Without thinking, one starts singing responsively. By the influence of Caitanya-Nitai, the maha-mantra soon pours out in waves of sweetness. All glories to the causeless mercy of Caitanya-Nitai!

     

    sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nitydnanda sri-advaita

    gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

     

    "There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord.

     

    But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the interactions of his offenses." (ccAdi 8.31 p.) It is difficult to keep the rascal mind fixed on the sound of Krsna's holy name while chanting;'apa. And remembering Krsna's pastimes while chanting is even more difficult.

     

    Therefore, one may feel discouraged in his attempts to rise to the platform of pure chanting in the face of so many anarthas and aparadhas. Fortunately, however, one can call upon "five friends" for help in chanting.

     

    By receiving the causeless mercy of Lord Gauranga and His associates a blind chanter can see the Lord in the heart, a lame offender can scale a mountain of aparadhas, and a foul-mouthed fool can recite the honey sweet words of madhura-nama.

     

    Reciting the following prayers before chanting japa will purify the mind, create a feeling of humility, and establish the mood of service (seva-bhava) in the heart. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these important prayers and try to memorize them. One can maintain the proper mood of humility during japa by remembering the meaning of these prayers while chanting Hare Krsna.

     

    naharh vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro

    ndharh varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va

    kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramdnanda-purnamrtabdher

    gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasdnudasah

     

    I am a pure spirit soul. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa. I am nothing more than a servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. Krsna is an ocean of nectar and the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He always exists with brilliance, (cc. Madhya 13.80)

     

    I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Krsna from time immemorial. Identifying with my body, I have been continuously wandering in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning three-fold miseries.

     

    As a result of some unimaginable good fortune I have attained the mercy of my spiritual master, and now I know that I am Krsna's eternal servant. I am an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. I have obtained the good fortune of serving the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Under his order,

     

    I am following in his footsteps to serve the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika-Giridhari [or the names of the your personal Deities],

     

    O Radha-Govinda! I will adorn my neck with the incomparably beautiful garland of Your holy names. Please make tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes. Please once and for all free me from illusion and submerge me repeatedly in the waves of the nectar ocean of Your holy names.

     

    Please protect me and give me unflinching devotion to Your lotus feet. I offer my continual obeisances Unto You. (paura Govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)

     

    Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Only you have the power to conquer lust, hatred and all other vices. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Make me forget the dualities of material existence arising from this material body. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Help me to forget the material world and reveal to me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world.

     

    Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Please take me to a secluded grove in Vrndavana wherein the fair and dark complexioned lovers are manifesting Their wonderful pastimes."(yadavana-mahimamrta, Sataka 7.40)

     

    tvarh gopika vrsaraves tanayantike 'si

    sevadhikarini guro nija-pdda-padme

    dasyarh praddya kuru mam vraja-kanane sri-

    rddhanghri-sevana-rase sukhiriim sukhdbdhau

     

    O beloved spiritual master! You are always serving the lotus feet of the splendid gopika named Radha, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Please give me the qualification to serve your lotus feet, which are the abodes of pure devotional service.

     

    By your mercy I will attain the eternal service of Sri Radha in the beautiful groves of Vraja-dhama. While serving the lotus feet of Radha I will taste a variety of blissful mellows (seva-rasa), and thereby drown in an ocean Of joy. (Pancaratra Pradipa)

     

    DURING JAPA:

    In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Ramananda Raya states that the names of Radha-Krsna (yugala-nama), or the Hare Krsna mantra are the topmost objects of worship:

     

    'updsyera madhye kon upasya pradhdna?'

    srestha upasya—yugala 'radha-krsna' nama'

     

    Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, 'Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?' Ramananda Raya replied, 'The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha-Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.' (cc. Madhya 8.256)

     

    In this regard, Sanat-kumara-samhita states that recitation of the following five prayers quickly awards one the direct service of Radha-Krsna. Since the Hare Kimamaha-mantra is ayugala-man-tra, non-different from Radha-Krsna, one can also offer these prayers to the maha-mantra.

     

    In this japa meditation technique, one should mentally repeat these prayers while simultaneously chanting japa.

     

    ttp://japagroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/japa-prayers_4051.html

     

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