Smiley

Why are you trying to push the Bible on Hindus? Who I studied the Bible under is simply a red herring. What is relevant is this idea that you seem to have that the adherents of Santana Dharma are missing something by not studying the Bible. Great teachers like Sri Adi Shankara (who many believe is Lord Shiva Himself) and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (who many believe is Sri Krishna Himself) appeared in India after the time of Jesus of Nazareth. They saw no need to mention him at all. How did they miss these 'great' insights that you have? The Dharma is fine without Moses, Jesus or Mohammed. That is not a criticism of Jews, Christians or Muslims (my father is a devout Christian who I love and respect very much), it is just a statement of confidence in the sufficiency of the Dharma as it was delivered by the great acharyas of the past. Is there anything wrong with that?

I agree with you that we should be careful not to take things out of context. However as someone who was raised studying the Bible, I can assure you that the excerpt given is not out of context, but represents a consistent theme throughout the Jewish Bible. Jehovah gave specific instructions on how to treat slaves, how to 'purify' the land of Canaan of the indigenous peoples, etc. The point here is not to criticize Jewish and Christian people, only to highlight the differences between their ancient texts and the Vedas. In regards to the quote you referenced, "robbers" deciding to sacrifice a human being is not comparable with the worshiped deity of Jews and Christians demanding that people kill old men, women and their infant sons. I see a difference between an account of the actions of criminals and a 'divine' command. The treatment of the Canaanites was mandated to Moses directly from Jehovah, using very specific language.

I don't observe that ritual, neither do I compare the sacrifice of horses with the slaughter of male infants and the sexual slavery of their older sisters.

Numbers 31 (NIV) 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho. 13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. 15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. _____ "One who knows the principles of religion never kills ... children, women ..." Sri Krishna | Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 1 - Chapter 7 - Sloka 36

Thank you for sharing that. It was great!

As someone who was raised studying the Bible, I do not see how you can harmonize its teachings with the Vedas. Please reference skepticsannotatedbible dot com Also, Numbers 31 will incite horror in normally dispassionate men.

I wonder, does the Supreme really want us to debate this or concentrate on teaching those that have NO knowledge of Veda? I think it can be safely be said that Vaishnavs see Sri Vishnu/Rama/Krishna as supreme, Shaivas see Sri Shiva as supreme and Shaktas see Sri Mata Devi as supreme.

As someone who was raised studying the Bible, I do not see how you can harmonize its teachings with the Vedas. For instance, Numbers 31 will incite horror in normally dispassionate men.

Haribol! A friend of mine, Gunga Narayan Das is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He has explained to me that a pure devotee (like Srila Prabhupada) is not subject to error which is a symptom of the conditioned living being. I am very interested in this teaching - 1. Was it always a part of Vaishnavism? If not, when and with whom did it develop? 2. Is this to be understood as simply an attitude of respect, i.e. "my guru can do no wrong" or is it to be taken literally? 3. What if two pure devotees ever disagree with one another? I have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam of Lord Shiva and Sri Narada debating about something - are they not both pure? 4. Finally, how is the discrepancy resolved when a pure devotee disagrees with observational astronomy data? Thank you for your time. Mark

In the delightful treasure of all the three realms, in the supreme effulgence which wipes away all taints, in the savior who is the resort of the helpless and worthy of surrender, in Him who is unborn and immutable, in the Lord who is Hari I take refuge. In Him, whose color resembles that of the heap of blue lilies, who is as pure as the vast summer sky, whose black eyelids resemble the dark bees, who wields the lotus, chakra and gadha in His hands I take refuge. In Him, whose body has the luster of the bees, who has the conch similar to the white lotus bud, whose lotus-like form has the bee of Brahma, the creator of Vedas, humming around, who is like the water that supports the lotus of my heart I take refuge. In Him, whose nails look like stars strewn around, whose smiling face resembles the whiteness of the radiant full moon, whose chest creates the illusory notion of the flow of Ganga, who is like the vast summer sky I take refuge. In Him, whose chest is adorned by lotus-born Lakshmi, who is as white as the pollen dust of the lotus that has just blossomed, whose limbs are red like the declining sun and who is beautiful like the sky of golden color I take refuge. In Him, who is constantly engaged in the play of creation, who is unborn, immutable and all-pervasive, whose body, despite its existence for a countless number of yugas, looks like one just born; who, as a child is reclining in the banyan leaf I take refuge. In Him, who is like mist to the lotus of daityas, who is eternal sun to the lotus of the devas, who is like the sustaining water of the lotus-born Brahma, who abides in this lotus-like heart of mine I take refuge. * _____ "Even if I have to come out of thousands of wombs in the future and have to be born again and again; in all those lives, my Lord, may my mind be firmly anchored in Thee for ever and ever. May I long for You, my Lord, without a break, and as intensely and eagerly as the ignorant are drawn to the pleasure of their senses. May that longing never disappear from my heart while my mind always dwells in Thee." Sri Maharishi Prahlada ** * The Yoga Vasishta (Abhinanda Panditas Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta); translated by K.N. Subramanian; Sura Books (Pvt) Ltd.; 1620, Block, 16th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040 Phones: 044-26162173, 26161099 email: surabooks@eth.net ** re-edited excerpts from Srimad Bhagavata and Sri Vishnu Purana; translated by V. Krishnaswami Aiyar; 2000 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kulapati K.M. Mumshi Marg; Mumbai - 400 007

In the delightful treasure of all the three realms, in the supreme effulgence which wipes away all taints, in the savior who is the resort of the helpless and worthy of surrender, in Him who is unborn and immutable, in the Lord who is Hari I take refuge. In Him, whose color resembles that of the heap of blue lilies, who is as pure as the vast summer sky, whose black eyelids resemble the dark bees, who wields the lotus, chakra and gadha in His hands I take refuge. In Him, whose body has the luster of the bees, who has the conch similar to the white lotus bud, whose lotus-like form has the bee of Brahma, the creator of Vedas, humming around, who is like the water that supports the lotus of my heart I take refuge. In Him, whose nails look like stars strewn around, whose smiling face resembles the whiteness of the radiant full moon, whose chest creates the illusory notion of the flow of Ganga, who is like the vast summer sky I take refuge. In Him, whose chest is adorned by lotus-born Lakshmi, who is as white as the pollen dust of the lotus that has just blossomed, whose limbs are red like the declining sun and who is beautiful like the sky of golden color I take refuge. In Him, who is constantly engaged in the play of creation, who is unborn, immutable and all-pervasive, whose body, despite its existence for a countless number of yugas, looks like one just born; who, as a child is reclining in the banyan leaf I take refuge. In Him, who is like mist to the lotus of daityas, who is eternal sun to the lotus of the devas, who is like the sustaining water of the lotus-born Brahma, who abides in this lotus-like heart of mine I take refuge. * _____ "Even if I have to come out of thousands of wombs in the future and have to be born again and again; in all those lives, my Lord, may my mind be firmly anchored in Thee for ever and ever. May I long for You, my Lord, without a break, and as intensely and eagerly as the ignorant are drawn to the pleasure of their senses. May that longing never disappear from my heart while my mind always dwells in Thee." Sri Maharishi Prahlada ** * The Yoga Vasishta (Abhinanda Panditas Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta); translated by K.N. Subramanian; Sura Books (Pvt) Ltd.; 1620, Block, 16th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040 Phones: 044-26162173, 26161099 email: surabooks@eth.net ** re-edited excerpts from Srimad Bhagavata and Sri Vishnu Purana; translated by V. Krishnaswami Aiyar; 2000 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kulapati K.M. Mumshi Marg; Mumbai - 400 007

In the delightful treasure of all the three realms, in the supreme effulgence which wipes away all taints, in the savior who is the resort of the helpless and worthy of surrender, in Him who is unborn and immutable, in the Lord who is Hari I take refuge. In Him, whose color resembles that of the heap of blue lilies, who is as pure as the vast summer sky, whose black eyelids resemble the dark bees, who wields the lotus, chakra and gadha in His hands I take refuge. In Him, whose body has the luster of the bees, who has the conch similar to the white lotus bud, whose lotus-like form has the bee of Brahma, the creator of Vedas, humming around, who is like the water that supports the lotus of my heart I take refuge. In Him, whose nails look like stars strewn around, whose smiling face resembles the whiteness of the radiant full moon, whose chest creates the illusory notion of the flow of Ganga, who is like the vast summer sky I take refuge. In Him, whose chest is adorned by lotus-born Lakshmi, who is as white as the pollen dust of the lotus that has just blossomed, whose limbs are red like the declining sun and who is beautiful like the sky of golden color I take refuge. In Him, who is constantly engaged in the play of creation, who is unborn, immutable and all-pervasive, whose body, despite its existence for a countless number of yugas, looks like one just born; who, as a child is reclining in the banyan leaf I take refuge. In Him, who is like mist to the lotus of daityas, who is eternal sun to the lotus of the devas, who is like the sustaining water of the lotus-born Brahma, who abides in this lotus-like heart of mine I take refuge. * _____ "Even if I have to come out of thousands of wombs in the future and have to be born again and again; in all those lives, my Lord, may my mind be firmly anchored in Thee for ever and ever. May I long for You, my Lord, without a break, and as intensely and eagerly as the ignorant are drawn to the pleasure of their senses. May that longing never disappear from my heart while my mind always dwells in Thee." Sri Maharishi Prahlada ** * The Yoga Vasishta (Abhinanda Panditas Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta); translated by K.N. Subramanian; Sura Books (Pvt) Ltd.; 1620, Block, 16th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040 Phones: 044-26162173, 26161099 email: surabooks@eth.net ** re-edited excerpts from Srimad Bhagavata and Sri Vishnu Purana; translated by V. Krishnaswami Aiyar; 2000 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kulapati K.M. Mumshi Marg; Mumbai - 400 007

Haribol! A friend of mine, Gunga Narayan Das is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He has explained to me that a pure devotee (like Srila Prabhupada) is not subject to error which is a symptom of the conditioned living being. I am very interested in this teaching - 1. Was it always a part of Vaishnavism? If not, when and with whom did it develop? 2. Is this to be understood as simply an attitude of respect, i.e. "my guru can do no wrong" or is it to be taken literally? 3. What if two pure devotees ever disagree with one another? I have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam of Lord Shiva and Sri Narada debating about something - are they not both pure? 4. Finally, how is the discrepancy resolved when a pure devotee disagrees with observational astronomy data? Thank you for your time. Mark

Haribol! A friend of mine, Gunga Narayan Das is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He has explained to me that a pure devotee (like Srila Prabhupada) is not subject to error which is a symptom of the conditioned living being. I am very interested in this teaching - 1. Was it always a part of Vaishnavism? If not, when and with whom did it develop? 2. Is this to be understood as simply an attitude of respect, i.e. "my guru can do no wrong" or is it to be taken literally? 3. What if two pure devotees ever disagree with one another? I have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam of Lord Shiva and Sri Narada debating about something - are they not both pure? 4. Finally, how is the discrepancy resolved when a pure devotee disagrees with observational astronomy data? Thank you for your time. Mark

I think it is affiliate marketing. This is ideal for anyone who likes to spend time on the internet. A good example is this blog (one of mine) which is affiliated with 3 different corporations: HardSmacks. com Also by focusing your business efforts through the internet, you can easily get your spiritual message accross in a subtle way. For instance if you use a blog or a website to market companies that you are affiliated with, then you can simply add a link to your site or blog entitled something intriguing like 'self-realization', 'meditation', 'Eastern Spirituality', 'Yoga', etc. I have several spiritual clubs/groups that I promote but it is not obvious at first. Mark

I would like to know if anyone knows of a complete list of Ammachi clubs/groups that are on the internet and if so which are the official ones and which ones are just tolerated. Thanks!