bhaktajan

"debatable whether the presence of demigods qualifies as polytheism" --what happened here? Evidently you left your comment truncated. How do we discuss 'polytheism' with out there being 'the presence of demigods' --I assure you, we don't. Happy Birthday refers to all the devas who were born and now live and will pass --they have all taken birth from their demigod mother and fathers. Next question at your convenience, Bhaktajan

Such, sentimental self-righteous imaginative flowery words !!!! The mind is entangled so describe it as sublime? There are more ex-convicts and present prison convicts denizens in prison and in the news headlines who don't know anything about the soul --and they have all followed their 'nature' only to be arrested by the "long arm of the law". What ever spiritual maxim you'd like to discuss must be backed up by your own scholarly research replete with Scriptual reference(s) or else just settle for stating that it is simply your "educated-opinion" and is all you know--in your opinion. When I post something I will say, 'it is my opinion that . . .' or I will say, "Scripture enjoins . . ." Also, when I post something my writtings are comprised & express scriptural maxims that support my 'artistic license to be snide'. by your leave, Bhaktajan Your sentimental opinions of your choice of under-dog to cheer for are OK. But, If you could be truely objective then you'd sincerely understand me too.

Happy Birthdays to: There are at least 563 Slokas in the Srimad Bhagavatam that enumerates a family tree of approx. 2, 500 persons and their wives from Soma and Surya Paramparas. Both lineages start with Brahma, who is the "First Born Person in this Brahmanda", the "Engineer of the Planetary Systems", and, the "Progenitor and Great-Grand-Father of the Devas" — thus all the demigods descend from Brahma. These persons are considered "Demigods" (ergo: Polytheism) in the same way that mundane powerful people are in-accessible and possess the insider knowledge of how to get things done and can arrange favors for those who could lobby their requests. Demigods exist and thus polytheism is a reality that refers to real-life celestial personalities. These Demigod-personalities are supremely pious souls who have been entrusted with the Cosmo's universal management —just as every Civic enterprise is supervised by a living person. If I may adapt a verse from the Gita (Bg2.29): Some look on the soul [the Demigods] as amazing, some describe him [the Demigods] as amazing, and some hear of him [the Demigods] as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him [the Demigods], cannot understand him [the Demigods] at all. Remember that Juvenile Delinquents neglect the idea that their graffiti and vandalism and public littering will be remedied with others expense & time —and such youthful indiscretions are actually considered by them to be their privilege and an asset to their civic sanga —yet the Juvenile Delinquent is under the supervision of higher authorities to whom they are beholding. And with good parenting such Delinquents may be reformed and arise to the status of "A pillar of Society".

Q. Why do Hare Krishna do the things they do? A. Because they seek Krishna, submerged in sublime joy. I thought recently, 'Well why does Krishna just simply appear before me or to the world?' He hasn't appeared yet--so I wondered what do I have to fall back on? Then your post forced me to admit that I do live fearlessly content and submerged in sublime joy --but I shall not advertise this again . . .

Originally Posted by radheyradhey108 I think part of the reason that some people are gay is b/c they were the opposite gender in a past life, and they just haven't adjusted yet. ...................................................................................................................................................................... My 2 cents: I think part of the reason that some people are gay is b/c they are [unconsciousously] enraged to the core of their psychi at their own same gender parent. Yet, the gay person is nonetheless a moral & law abiding conscientious person --who expresses their "love" in a way that others consider an affront to human elevolution, etc. ie: The vernacular of common speech. Common vulgarity often refers to sexual compromises that allude to 'victory' or 'robbery'. A gay man express his love the same way that a buisness man decribes the situation of losing his wealth to a bad deal. I got F--ked! Stick this up your a--! Why is there a converse analogy? Here's the irony of civic-homphobia: Most people think gay men are fabulous and fun ---and yet all people seek our own agendas without hinderences from naysayers of any group. "You don't know me" is the watch word of those with an agenda that is not the norm, and we can't argue with those who are already engaged in their pursuit of the Great American dream [or whatever great whatever one one is searching for].

Originally Posted by cbrahma Before responding to whether God is a person, the issue of who is god and how many are there, must be settled. That is, the question of polytheism. ................................................................................................ WHAT does polytheism have to do with an almighty God? It's the other way around: because there is a "persona", ergo, there are "personae". Weather Deva, King, boss, landlord, ant, night-cleaning staff or rikshaw-walla. They are seperate entities [take note of the simular word: demagouge as used amongst materialist politicos]. The term 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead' is the very term that caused my instant surrender to Vaisnavism --because the intellectual concept that it describes, is supported by the collective conclusions of all world scritures, and I agreed with the term. Absolute [vs. relative, temporary, subjective] is real and unchanging. Just as "Zero" or the "the void" are absolute at it base state, so simularly the dual principle of "duality" allows for thee "Absolute God-head" at the opposite end of the same sectrum. Study the nature of Absolute. Study the nature of Absolute. Study the nature of Absolute. Absolute is the opposite(inverse) of material time and structure --so sastra has been witholding the concept of "what is absolute" Krishna's pastimes are not relative --the pastimes as found in scritures all have benefits for multi-purposes affecting multitudes of people who are making mistaken choices that propell them away from the Supreme Person, who by definition is Godhead, who by definition is the one above all who possessess all opulences unlimitedly in full. The number "1" amongst the countless combinations and formulas is the only one that forms the top peak of any pyramid of thought.

Jai, Srimati Sarasvati Devi has certainly bestowed you with so much. Might you formulate teaching curriculum for Home Schooling --this is so important for child-devotee education, no? Funny, I have thought that every devotee should acquire a "Teacher's Certification" --only as a base for any type of future employment/higher degree. There is a want of "parochial schools" whose standard is unreproachable. Building a model of the future of schools actually is quite a lucrative and enlivening proposal. The logistics of franchising a schooling-enitity is less cumbersome than most business-models. I'm sure you will make a mark, with or with out world-reknown. All wellwishes to our 14 year old Srimati Bhaktivendanta Induleka-dasi! Ki Jai!

12,000 children in China now have deadly virus Most of those with hand, foot and mouth disease are under age 2 Associate Press updated 1 hour, 22 minutes ago BEIJING - China reported a jump Monday in the number of children sickened with hand, foot and mouth disease, saying more than 11,900 cases have been reported. At least 24 deaths in the central <ST1:PAnhui </ST1:Pand <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1:place w:st=" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Guangdong</st1:place></st1:State> province in the south have been blamed on enterovirus 71, one of several viruses that cause the disease, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Two other children — one in Guangdong and another in the coastal province of Zhejiang — have also died of hand, foot and mouth disease but it wasn't immediately clear which strain of virus killed them, it said. Xinhua said 10,212 children had been reported infected in the hardest-hit areas, including the provinces of <st1:State w:st="on">Anhui</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Guangdong</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Zhejiang</st1:State>, and the capital <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:City>. All were below the age of 6 and the majority were under the age of 2, it said. The total number of infections reported nationwide by Monday was 11,905, Xinhua said, with smaller outbreaks in <st1:State w:st="on">Hebei</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Jiangsu</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Hunan</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Hubei</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Shaanxi</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Jiangxi</st1:State> and <st1:State w:st="on">Henan</st1:State> provinces and in the city of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chongqing</st1:place></st1:City>. Though nearly all the deaths have been blamed on enterovirus 71, also known as EV-71, it was not immediately clear how many of the overall infections were traced to the virus. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zhejiang</st1:place></st1:State>'s provincial health bureau said on its Web site that only nine of its 1,198 cases had tested positive for EV-71. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chongqing</st1:place></st1:City> said none of its 42 infections have been confirmed to be cause by EV-71. Xinhua said the jump in cases was due in part to a new regulation from the Ministry of Health classifying hand, foot and mouth disease among those that have to be reported to the central government. The agency said a majority of the cases were reported in <st1:State w:st="on">Anhui</st1:State> province, where 5,840 cases were reported, nearly all of them in the fast-growing city of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Fuyang</st1:place></st1:City>. On Monday, the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anhui</st1:place></st1:State> government punished 10 people, including five officials and four doctors, in the province for failing to properly tackle the disease, Xinhua said. The Taihe county officials had not helped spread knowledge about the disease, it said. The report said two doctors had made money by selling injections of an immune globulin, made up of antibodies from blood, that they said could cure enterovirus 71. One of the doctors in Taihe county had injected it into 17 children, Xinhua said. Two doctors in Fuyang, were given demerits for failing to properly examine a patient after the patient came in with a fever and vomiting, Xinhua said. The patient was given an intravenous drip and not transferred to another hospital. Enterovirus causes a severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease with symptoms including fever, mouth sores and rashes with blisters. It is easily spread by sneezing or coughing. The viruses mainly strike children ages 10 and younger. Some cases can lead to fatal swelling of the brain. The illness is not related to foot and mouth disease, which afflicts livestock. There is no vaccine or specific treatment, but most children affected by mild forms of the disease typically recover quickly without problems. The World Health Organization says the virus normally peaks in June and July so there could still be an increase in infections as the weather warms. The outbreak is another headache for <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>'s Communist government as it prepares to host this summer's Olympic Games, already tarnished by unrest among Tibetans in western <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> and an international torch relay disrupted by protests. WHO's <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> representative, Hans Troedsson, said the disease was not a threat to the Beijing Olympics because the disease mostly sickens young children. <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>'s Health Ministry has sent teams to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anhui</st1:place></st1:State> to coordinate treatment of the disease and prevent its spread. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Who has suffered more than I because of ISKCON's [1978 to 1987] short comings? Have you lost any thing other then your delicate dignity? Lost your comradeships? Lost your Guru shipmast? Lost your bank account? Lost a limb? Glorify who, what, where & how to know Krishna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [the majority of discussions (kathas) on the site are degrading to our spiritual intuition it should be composed of enlivening and thus, enlightening information that expands knowledge of "Who is Krishna"] While universities are recruiting people to learn arabic and study the Koran ---for real-life academic reasons [while war wages and further eco-catastrophies head our way and the price of rice in China is too expensive for sundry factory goods workers] ---We shall debate away our life-times' life-force. I have to look the other way in all spheres of life inorder to for me to function at basic duties. I have to endure the nonsense of every person I encounter --from telephone solictors to the tax man, the are thieves at every step in the material world --when did I think that I was joining a cult, when I joined ISKCON? Never! I knew what to watch out for. I knew that the status quo in ISKCON was "every man for himself, all together as independent contractors for a common goal". ISKCON devotees always learnt that the next devotee would be the next one to leave the nest--so we were leary of all pacts with each other. No one could ever vouch for a new comers' motivation or perseverence, and that is still the case. Brahma-bhuta realized status? Now, this is the standard of measurment? Go check the tire pressure on the vehical next time you get onto an airplane --or ask your godsent guru to assure you. I am a devotee of ISKCON --irregardless of who come and goes. I know how to recognize bogus-ness in almost any circumstance yet I am responsible alone to act accordingly --everyone of us will fall by the way side in time, none-the-less.

The Bhagavatam describes "Weak-willed" persons who can become possessed by a ghost [a ghost is a soul embodied only in a 'subtle body' (mind, intelligence & false ego) --a ghost has lost the 'gross body' (earth, water, fire, air, either)]: Deep intoxication will expose one to being possessed by a roaming spirit seeking a body to live out pleasures attainable only via a gross body. Suicide kills the gross body while keeping the subtle-body intact and still conscious after death of the gross body. Suicide is an action that interupts the performance of one's alloted dharma. Death at the hands of destiny affords the soul to acknowledge the lessons of one's own life at it own organic pace --while in the pursuence of one's own fate at one's own level of acculturated karma.

You go Sarva gattah maha-muni rsi ji! :namaskar: :namaskar: Aaaah, if I may add my own 2 cents into the mix: To read what Srila Prabhupada & Lord Krishna & the Bhagavatam said about bringing advanced souls to be born here on this terrestrial planet earth via good parenting (garbho-samskara) see the thread: "What Srila Prabhupada said about sex" --posted under 'Vedic Verses' on the main forum.

Yet again the whole debate is superfulous and supercilious to the utmost. You must stop covering for each others insecurities and admit the truth when it passes before our collective eyes--the baby is ugly, very, very, disturbingly ugly --not that there's anything wrong with that, but, a sign of brahminical training is to tell the truth [Yes I know, and to tell it without disturbing others peace of mind]--but I can't stop my self! Help! --that is an ugly baby. It sad and pathetic but he's probably a happy go-lucky bebe destined for a life of high taxes and tazmanian devils. Let us wish this ugly ugly baby --who may grow out of it, unlike our karmi middle aged fissue-ladden relatives --let us wish wellness and happiness. Yes, happiness for all ugly babies everywhere not just those far east of the Ural mountains and the Gopi desert. If we preform our obliged duties in this life time we can avoid being born as such a god-forsaken ugly baby destined for nerd-hood or politics. Amen. Forgive me if this is your ugly baby or your chip-off-the-ole-block-of-a-uglier parent. I speak here only academically, of course. long live the babies and the ugly babies and especially the cute smart advanced godsend incarnations of advanced souls to save our pathetic selves in our old age when kali yuga really gets cooking . . .

MEAT EATING = WAR! [if not now then later for our grandchildren] Of course you know this, Right, RadheyRadhey108 ????? This is about Buddhism, Right? Please don't take what I post personally--I speak academically about this subject. I have stated many things in my above post that MUST be understood for the reasons I stated for the purpose I stated. Are these non-homosexual topics less enticing to the intellect? I will respond to your request asap. Hare Krishna and happy austereties, Bhaktajan

1) the Brahmana Class had disappeared after Krishna left the earth--this is why Buddha appeared to stop animal sacrifices. Animal Sacrifices was done in all parts of the mid-east and western countries. Bhumi-devi appealed to stop the sacrificial killings. Thus Buddha advent, etc. 2)The Rig Veda translation is bogus, bad english, non-authoritative and without any significance. You should know better than to post third-rate renderings of the Vedas [esp. the long known obscure verses of the Rig-veda]. 3) Nevertheless, one MUST have an absolute & definitive understanding of the workings of: A--karma [action/re-action] B--kala [time] C--prakriti [physics & meta-physics] D--jiva [the science of the soul's constitution] E--Ishvara [God as controller and thus, the Origin of personal traits and the cosmic manifestation] when one indeed understands these catagorical topics & how these things operate, via the Vedas --by way of a Bonefide representative, --THEN THE IDEA OF MEAT EATING, DEBAUCHERY, ANAL SEX AND SAME SEX MARRAGE is anathama to the advancement and peace of society. MEAT EATING = WAR! [if not now then later for our grandchildren] Of course you know this, Right, RadheyRadhey108 ????? A brahmin is a brahmin is a brahmin by any other word ---except those who do not observe Brahminical Laws! 4) The basis of Brahminical Laws is happiness and contentment and societal order--your off-base in your postulations because you are actively beholding to your self-selected Gurus, councilors, mentors and confidants who are gay. When one sheds tears or whells up with emotion during a moment of private reflection it is a sign of a "past-unresolved-conflict". Read The Vedas, as presented to us fallen dolts such as ourselves, by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami--what more do you want? His renderings of sanskrit is sublime and fabulously erudite. Learn from the masters or learn by the stick. best hopes, Bhaktajan PS: please recognize that my writings are derived from Sastra as expressed here by my, still limited, intelligence.

1) What I heard was that Srila Prabhupada also said that it is not possible to escape from the earth's gravitational field--that nothing could pull nor propell itself past the inward forses of the earth's gravity. 2) Yes, "it doesn't prove the Bhagavatam correct" -- but of course you'll admit that [while presently Barack Obama's Rev Wright states that white american CIA scientists have invented AIDS to kill off the black race] most prapaganda & advertisement claims & Super-models' allurements will and cannot be verified by us common folks who have no means to verify almost every daily transaction with out being taxed into returning our noses to the grind stone of life's small duties.

[Kulapavana posted: "The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode. ..."(Bhag. 3.16.26, purp.) ] Bhag. 3.16.26: "The Lord replied: O brähmaëas, know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family. But they will be firmly united with Me in thought through mental concentration intensified by anger, and they will return to My presence shortly." PURPORT The Lord stated that the punishment inflicted by the sages upon the doorkeepers Jaya and Vijaya was conceived by the Lord Himself. Without the Lord’s sanction, nothing can happen. It is to be understood that there was a plan in the cursing of the Lord’s devotees in Vaikuëöha, and His plan is explained by many stalwart authorities. The Lord sometimes desires to fight. The fighting spirit also exists in the Supreme Lord, otherwise how could fighting be manifested at all? Because the Lord is the source of everything, anger and fighting are also inherent in His personality. When He desires to fight with someone, He has to find an enemy, but in the Vaikuëöha world there is no enemy because everyone is engaged fully in His service. Therefore He sometimes comes to the material world as an incarnation in order to manifest His fighting spirit. In Bhagavad-gétä (4.8) also it is said that the Lord appears just to give protection to the devotees and to annihilate the nondevotees. The nondevotees are found in the material world, not in the spiritual world; therefore, when the Lord wants to fight, He has to come to this world. But who will fight with the Supreme Lord? No one is able to fight with Him! Therefore, because the Lord’s pastimes in the material world are always performed with His associates, not with others, He has to find some devotee who will play the part of an enemy. In Bhagavad-gétä the Lord says to Arjuna, “My dear Arjuna, both you and I have appeared many, many times in this material world, but you have forgotten, whereas I remember.” Thus Jaya and Vijaya were selected by the Lord to fight with Him in the material world, and that was the reason the sages came to see Him and accidentally the doorkeepers were cursed. It was the Lord’s desire to send them to the material world, not perpetually, but for some time. Therefore, just as on a theatrical stage someone takes the part of enemy to the proprietor of the stage, although the play is for a short time and there is no permanent enmity between the servant and the proprietor, so the sura janas (devotees) were cursed by the sages to go to the asura jana, or atheistic families. That a devotee should come into an atheistic family is surprising, but it is simply a show. After finishing their mock fighting, both the devotee and the Lord are again associated in the spiritual planets. That is very explicitly explained here. The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuëöha planet, for it is the eternal abode. But sometimes, as the Lord desires, devotees come into this material world as preachers or as atheists. In each case we must understand that there is a plan of the Lord. Lord Buddha, for example, was an incarnation, yet he preached atheism: “There is no God.” But actually there was a plan behind this, as explained in the Bhägavatam. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Notes by Bhaktajan in support of the opinion that the Jiva originates as a person in Vaikuntha, before falling into the material world: There are two classes of humans: suras & asuras. Note the use of the terms, "it can be discerned that associates of Lord Viñëu who descend [who fall] from Vaikuëöha do not actually fall [don't fall]" "no one falls from Vaikuëöha" —[yet these verses are about two guys who where cursed to fall, irregardless of who-what-why, these guys were sent on combat missions]. "Jaya and Vijaya, descended . . . to fight" ". . . as Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira says, . . . that a servant of the Lord could fall from Vaikuëöha seems unbelievable" —but Kulavana and Associates can explain the unbelievable for us! " . . . Even if sometimes cursed or blessed, they are always liberated . . . " "Without the Lord’s sanction, nothing can happen" —[except you could leave the party and claim that you have forgotten who the host was or how gracious he was] ". . . Lord Kåñëa destroyed whatever sinful reactions were left in them because of the curse of the brähmaëas . . . " —[sin? I thought it was just a pastime?] "nondevotees are found in the material world, not in the spiritual world" —[what about suras, sages, Brahmas, Bhagavatas, Christ?] " . . . He has to find some devotee who will play the part of an enemy . . . " —[is this anybody's idea of bliss, nectar and eternal life in heaven? Would anyone hope for such service?] ". . . not perpetually, but for some time . . ." "so the sura janas (devotees) were cursed by the sages to go to the asura jana, or atheistic families" —[after eons of repeated births in the material world no NEW COMER to vaikuntha is going to volunteer for this duty! Don't you agree? God would have to "curse" me if he thinks I am going back to the material world! Don't you agree?] ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. So, again, let us not forget, The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuëöha planet, for it is the eternal abode. —especially Jaya & Vijaya, who presumably would deny they wanted to go to the material world. I'm sure that, during his stay, Ravana did his yoga in the morning and ate only veggies and was celibate too! ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. At this point let me remind the reader of the time line of Jaya & Vijaya's repeated births & stay in the material world: Hiraëyäkña fought with Viraha-avatara during the devastation before the 7<SUP>th</SUP> Manu's reign. Hiranyakasipur was son of Diti and Kasyapa-muni and step-brother of Vivasvan [Vivasvan is the present Manu ---the #7 of 14 Manus in this day of Brahma]. Kasyapa-muni was son of Marici-prajapati. Marici-prajapati was Lord Brahma's son. So, Hiranyakasipur's son Prahlada was born to his father Hiranyakasipur approx. 120 Million earth years ago (120,000,000 B.C.) or 10,800 years of the Devatas. Rävaëa and Kumbhakarëa appeared during Lord Ramacandra's pastimes approx 10,000 earth years before Dwapara-yuga began—approx 869,000 earth years ago (867,000 B.C.) or 2,400 years of the Devatas. Çiçupäla and Dantavakra appeared during Lord Krishna's pastimes approx 5,000 earth years ago (3,000 B.C.). Sooooo, Jaya & Vijaya's repeated births & stay in the material world lasted only 115 Million year. (120 Million minus 5,000 equals 119,995,000 Million year surjorn in the material world! —all without having "fallen" into the material world). It should now seem clear how Nuns and Monks were easily encouraged to stay on task, right! They fell into the material world but they did not fall into the material world. Maybe we need the BBT editors to give it another look? Maybe Srila Prabhupada just lacks insight? My last word: Just as we have all consciously made bad mistakes in life—we have always had the free-will to be naively make the wrong choice to enter the material world—do we think that it is not possible to perform just one of the four defects of a conditioned soul when one is a spiritual resident of Vaikuntha? Also, again, the time factor is the pacifying understanding of such a long stay in the material world—Time is one of the 5 subjects discussed in the Gita by Krishna! When the long lost soul returns to Vaikuntha it is like he was gone for only time equal to the 'blink of an eye'!

. . . as Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira says, açraddheya iväbhäti: the statement that a servant of the Lord could fall from Vaikuëöha seems unbelievable . . . …………………………………………………………………………………………. [Kulapavana posted: "... It is a fact that no one falls from Vaikuntha. ..." (Bhag. 7.1.35, purp. by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)] Note that these cited verses by Kulapavana are verses discussing Jaya and Vijaya—thus, candidates for descent to material world. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Here is the verse: SB 7.1.35 "The bodies of the inhabitants of Vaikuëöha are completely spiritual, having nothing to do with the material body, senses or life air. Therefore, kindly explain how associates of the Personality of Godhead were cursed to descend in material bodies like ordinary persons." [condensed by Bhaktajan & underlines by Bhaktajan] PURPORT This very significant question would be difficult for an ordinary person to answer, but Närada Muni, being an authority, could answer it. Therefore Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira inquired from him, saying, etad äkhyätum arhasi: “only you can explain the reason.” From authoritative sources it can be discerned that associates of Lord Viñëu who descend from Vaikuëöha do not actually fall. They come with the purpose of fulfilling the desire of the Lord, and their descent to this material world is comparable to that of the Lord. The Lord comes to this material world through the agency of His internal potency, and similarly, when a devotee or associate of the Lord descends to this material world, he does so through the action of the spiritual energy. Any pastime conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is an arrangement by yogamäyä, not mahämäyä. Therefore it is to be understood that when Jaya and Vijaya descended to this material world, they came because there was something to be done for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Otherwise it is a fact that no one falls from Vaikuëöha. Of course, a living entity who desires säyujya-mukti remains in Kåñëa’s Brahman effulgence, which is dependent on Kåñëa’s body (brahmaëo hi pratiñöhäham [bg. 14.27]). Such an impersonalist who takes shelter of the Brahman effulgence must surely fall down. This is stated in the çästra (Bhäg. 10.2.32): “O Lord, the intelligence of those who think themselves liberated but who have no devotion is impure. Even though they rise to the highest point of liberation by dint of severe penances and austerities, they are sure to fall down again into material existence, for they do not take shelter at Your lotus feet.” The impersonalists cannot reach the Vaikuëöha planets to become associates of the Lord, and therefore, according to their desires, Kåñëa gives them säyujya-mukti. However, since säyujya-mukti is partial mukti, they must fall again to this material world. When it is said that the individual soul falls from Brahmaloka, this applies to the impersonalist. From authoritative sources it is learned that Jaya and Vijaya were sent to this material world to fulfill the Lord’s desire to fight. The Lord also sometimes wants to fight, but who can fight with the Lord but a very confidential devotee of the Lord? Jaya and Vijaya descended to this world to fulfill the Lord’s desire. Therefore in each of their three births: first as Hiraëyäkña and Hiraëyakaçipu, second as Rävaëa and Kumbhakarëa, and third as Çiçupäla and Dantavakra—the Lord personally killed them. In other words, these associates of the Lord, Jaya and Vijaya, descended to the material world to serve the Lord by fulfilling His desire to fight. Otherwise, as Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira says, açraddheya iväbhäti: the statement that a servant of the Lord could fall from Vaikuëöha seems unbelievable. How Jaya and Vijaya came to this material world is explained by Närada Muni as follows. [The following Verses are as follows]: TEXT 37 "Although these four great sages were older than Brahmä’s other sons like Maréci, they appeared like small naked children only five or six years old. When Jaya and Vijaya saw them trying to enter Vaikuëöhaloka, these two gatekeepers, thinking them ordinary children, forbade them to enter." PURPORT In this regard, Çréla Madhväcärya says in his Tantra-sära: dväù-sthäv ity anenädhikära-sthatvam uktam adhikära-sthitäç caiva vimuktäç ca dvidhä janäù viñëu-loka-sthitäs teñäà vara-çäpädi-yoginaù adhikära-sthitäà muktià niyataà präpnuvanti ca vimukty-anantaraà teñäà vara-çäpädayo nanu dehendriyäsu-yuktaç ca pürvaà paçcän na tair yutäù apy abhimänibhis teñäà devaiù svätmottamair yutäù The purport is that the personal associates of Lord Viñëu in Vaikuëöhaloka are always liberated souls. Even if sometimes cursed or blessed, they are always liberated and never contaminated by the material modes of nature. Before their liberation to Vaikuëöhaloka they possessed material bodies, but once they come to Vaikuëöha they no longer have them. Therefore even if the associates of Lord Viñëu sometimes descend as if cursed, they are always liberated. SB 7.1.38 "Thus checked by the doorkeepers Jaya and Vijaya, Sanandana and the other great sages very angrily cursed them. “You two foolish doorkeepers,” they said. “Being agitated by the material qualities of passion and ignorance, you are unfit to live at the shelter of Madhudviña’s lotus feet, which are free from such modes. It would be better for you to go immediately to the material world and take your birth in a family of most sinful asuras.” " SB 7.1.39 "While Jaya and Vijaya, thus cursed by the sages, were falling to the material world, they were addressed as follows by the same sages, who were very kind to them. “O doorkeepers, after three births you will be able to return to your positions in Vaikuëöha, for then the duration of the curse will have ended.” " SB 7.1.40 "These two associates of the Lord—Jaya and Vijaya—later descended to the material world, taking birth as the two sons of Diti, Hiraëyakaçipu being the elder and Hiraëyäkña the younger. They were very much respected by the Daityas and Dänavas [demoniac species]." SB 7.1.41 "Appearing as Nåsiàhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Hari, killed Hiraëyakaçipu. When the Lord delivered the planet earth, which had fallen in the ffice:smarttags" />laceName w:st="on">Garbhodaka</ST1:PlaceName> <ST1:PlaceType w:st="on">Ocean</ST1:PlaceType>, Hiraëyäkña tried to hinder Him, and then the Lord, as Varäha, killed Hiraëyäkña." SB 7.1.42 "Desiring to kill his son Prahläda, who was a great devotee of Lord Viñëu, Hiraëyakaçipu tortured him in many ways." SB 7.1.43 "The Lord, the Supersoul of all living entities, is sober, peaceful and equal to everyone. Since the great devotee Prahläda was protected by the Lord’s potency, Hiraëyakaçipu was unable to kill him, in spite of endeavoring to do so in various ways." PURPORT In this verse the word sarva-bhütätma-bhütam is very significant. Éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäà håd-deçe ’rjuna tiñöhati: [bg. 18.61] the Lord is equally situated in the core of everyone’s heart. Thus He cannot be envious of anyone or friendly to anyone; for Him everyone is the same. Although He is sometimes seen to punish someone, this is exactly like a father’s punishing his child for the child’s welfare. The Supreme Lord’s punishment is also a manifestation of the Lord’s equality. Therefore the Lord is described as praçäntaà sama-darçanam. Although the Lord has to execute His will properly, He is equipoised in all circumstances. He is equally disposed toward everyone. SB 7.1.44 "Thereafter the same Jaya and Vijaya, the two doorkeepers of Lord Viñëu, took birth as Rävaëa and Kumbhakarëa, begotten by Viçravä in the womb of Keçiné. They were extremely troublesome to all the people of the universe." SB 7.1.45 "Närada Muni continued: My dear King, just to relieve Jaya and Vijaya of the brähmaëas’ curse, Lord Rämacandra appeared in order to kill Rävaëa and Kumbhakarëa. It will be better for you to hear narrations about Lord Rämacandra’s activities from Märkaëòeya." SB 7.1.46 "In their third birth, the same Jaya and Vijaya appeared in a family of kñatriyas as your cousins, the sons of your aunt. Because Lord Kåñëa has struck them with His disc, all their sinful reactions have been destroyed, and now they are free from the curse." PURPORT In their last birth, Jaya and Vijaya did not become demons or Räkñasas. Instead they took birth in a very exalted kñatriya family related to Kåñëa’s family. They became first cousins of Lord Kåñëa and were practically on an equal footing with Him. By personally killing them with His own disc, Lord Kåñëa destroyed whatever sinful reactions were left in them because of the curse of the brähmaëas. Närada Muni explained to Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira that by entering Kåñëa’s body, Çiçupäla reentered Vaikuëöhaloka as the Lord’s associate. Everyone had seen this incident. SB 7.1.47 "These two associates of Lord Viñëu—Jaya and Vijaya—maintained a feeling of enmity for a very long time. Because of always thinking of Kåñëa in this way, they regained the shelter of the Lord, having returned home, back to Godhead." SB 7.1.48 "Mahäräja Yudhiñöhira inquired: O my lord, Närada Muni, why was there such enmity between Hiraëyakaçipu and his beloved son Prahläda Mahäräja? How did Prahläda Mahäräja become such a great devotee of Lord Kåñëa? Kindly explain this to me." PURPORT All the devotees of Lord Kåñëa are called acyutätmä because they follow in the footsteps of Prahläda Mahäräja. Acyuta refers to the infallible Lord Viñëu, whose heart is always infallible. Because the devotees are attached to the infallible, they are called acyutätmä. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, First Chapter, of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, entitled “The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone.”

If you visit the temple do not expect everyone to wonder who-what-where-when-how-why you are there? When attending the temple you should act like the majority of Indians visiting —they enter, stay, donate and leave. You may want the same camaraderie as temple devotees share among themselves. And if so, it will come to you. When I go to the temple the place is filled with 100's of people all over the place single-mindedly doing different services, like the cup-cake sales, baby sitting, pot washing, and other esoteric mystic stuff—it's a party to practice one's behavior when we do get the audience of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comKrishna</st1:place> and his associates. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Temple</st1:City></st1:place> etiquette is what you must learn—this is very esoteric and beneficial—it will make a gentleman out of you. My advise: ask for "maha-sweets" from some one and they will be enlivened to get some for you to eat. Bring a camera to make a keep-sake --you'll never have a more unique visit as the first time there. Bhaktajan

SB 3.25.32 Purport: . . . Bhakti, the inclination to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is in a transcendental position far better than mukti, or liberation. Thus bhakti is the stage after liberation. Unless one is liberated one cannot engage the senses in the service of the Lord. When the senses are engaged either in material activities of sense gratification or in the activities of the Vedic injunctions, there is some motive, but when the same senses are engaged in the service of the Lord and there is no motive, that is called animittä and is the natural inclination of the mind. The conclusion is that when the mind, without being deviated either by Vedic injunctions or by material activities, is fully engaged in Kåñëa consciousness, or devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is far better than the most aspired-for liberation from material entanglement. SB 3.25.39-40 Purport: . . . For a devotee there is no concern for this life or the next life because in any life he does not desire elevation in material prosperity or a high-grade or low-grade life. He prays to the Lord, “My dear Lord, it does not matter where I am born, but let me be born, even as an ant, in the house of a devotee.” A pure devotee does not pray to the Lord for liberation from this material bondage. Actually, the pure devotee never thinks that he is fit for liberation. Considering his past life and his mischievous activities, he thinks that he is fit to be sent to the lowest region of hell. If in this life I am trying to become a devotee, this does not mean that in my many past lives I was one-hundred-percent pious. That is not possible. A devotee, therefore, is always conscious of his real position. Only by his full surrender to the Lord, by the Lord’s grace, are his sufferings made shorter. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä, “Surrender unto Me, and I will give you protection from all kinds of sinful reaction.” That is His mercy. But this does not mean that one who has surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord has committed no misdeeds in his past life. A devotee always prays, “For my misdeeds, may I be born again and again, but my only prayer is that I may not forget Your service.” The devotee has that much mental strength, and he prays to the Lord: “May I be born again and again, but let me be born in the home of Your pure devotee so that I may again get a chance to develop myself.” SB 4.8.61 Purport: . . . The path of apavarga, or liberation, begins from the stage called mokña. ln this verse the word vimuktaye, “for liberation,” is especially mentioned. If one wants to he happy within this material world, he may aspire to go to the different material planetary systems where there is a higher standard of sense gratification, but real mokña, or liberation, is performed without any such desire. This is explained in the Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu by the term anyäbhiläñitä-çünyam [Madhya 19.167], “without desire for material sense gratification.” For persons who are still inclined to enjoy material life in different stages or on different planets, the stage of liberation in bhakti-yoga is not recommended. Only persons who are completely free from the contamination of sense gratification can execute bhakti-yoga, or the process of devotional service, very purely. The activities on the path of apavarga up to the stages of dharma, artha and käma are meant for sense gratification, but when one comes to the stage of mokña, the impersonalist liberation, the practitioner wants to merge into the existence of the Supreme. But that is also sense gratification. When one goes above the stage of liberation, however, he at once becomes one of the associates of the Lord to render transcendental loving service. That is technically called vimukti. For this specific vimukti liberation, Närada Muni recommends that one directly engage himself in devotional service. SB 4.12.9 Purport: . . . A Vaiñëava is not interested in asking any benediction from the demigods, nor is he interested in asking benedictions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said in the Bhägavatam that liberation can be offered by the Supreme Person, but even if a pure devotee is offered liberation by the Supreme Lord, he refuses to accept it. Dhruva Mahäräja did not ask Kuvera for transference to the spiritual world, which is called liberation; he simply asked that wherever he would remain—whether in the spiritual or material world—he would always remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB 11.20.30 Purport: . . . Advanced devotional service automatically awards one liberation from material bondage, as confirmed by Lord Kapila: jarayaty äçu yä koçaà nigérëam analo yathä. “Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity without separate effort, just as fire in the stomach digests all that we eat.” (Bhäg. 3.25.33) Çréla Prabhupäda states in his purport to this verse, “A devotee does not have to try separately to attain liberation. That very service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the process of liberation, because to engage oneself in the service of the Lord is to liberate oneself from material entanglement. Çré Bilvamaìgala Öhäkura explained this position very nicely. He said, ‘If I have unflinching devotion unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, then mukti, or liberation, serves me as my maidservant. Mukti the maidservant is always ready to do whatever I ask.’ For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. Liberation takes place without separate endeavor.” Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta, Ädi 4.204: "Furthermore, pure devotees never forsake the loving service of Lord Kåñëa to aspire for their own personal pleasure through the five kinds of liberation." PURPORT A pure devotee of Kåñëa who loves Him exclusively will flatly refuse to accept any sort of liberation, beginning from merging with the body of the Lord and extending to the other varieties of liberation, such as equality of form, opulence or abode and the opulence of living near the Lord. Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 8.19 Purport:. . . in bhakti-yoga there is a relationship established between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotee. Such a relationship is established in the transcendental mellows known as däsya, sakhya, vätsalya and mädhurya. If a devotee wants simple liberation, he gets it very easily from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by Bilvamaìgala Öhäkura. Muktiù svayaà mukulitäïjali sevate ’smän: for a devotee, mukti is not very important because mukti is always standing on his doorstep waiting to serve him in some way. A devotee, therefore, must be attracted by the behavior of the inhabitants of Våndävana, who live in a relationship with Kåñëa. The land, water, cows, trees and flowers serve Kåñëa in çänta-rasa, His servants serve Him in däsya-rasa, and His cowherd friends serve Him in sakhya-rasa. Similarly, the elder gopés and gopas serve Kåñëa as father and mother, uncle and other relatives, and the young gopés, the cowherd girls, serve Kåñëa in conjugal love. . . . Vaiñëavas never accept säyujya-mukti, although sometimes they accept the other forms of liberation, namely särüpya, sälokya, sämépya and särñöi. A pure devotee, however, does not accept any kind of mukti. He wants only to serve Kåñëa in a transcendental relationship. This is the perfectional stage of spiritual life. Mäyävädé philosophers desire to merge into the existence of the Brahman effulgence, although this aspect of liberation is always neglected by devotees. Çréla Prabodhänanda Sarasvaté Öhäkura, describing this kind of mukti, which is called kaivalya, or becoming one with the Supreme, has said, kaivalyaà narakäyate: “Becoming one with the Supreme is as good as going to hell.” Therefore the ideal of Mäyäväda philosophy, becoming one with the Supreme, is hellish for a devotee; he never accepts it. Mäyävädé philosophers do not know that even if they merge into the effulgence of the Supreme, this will not give them ultimate rest. An individual soul cannot live in the Brahman effulgence in a state of inactivity; after some time, he must desire to be active. However, since he is not aware of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and therefore has no spiritual activity, he must come down for further activities in this material world. This is confirmed in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.2.32): äruhya kåcchreëa paraà padaà tataù patanty adho ’nädåta-yuñmad-aìghrayaù Because Mäyävädé philosophers have no information regarding the transcendental service of the Lord, even after attaining liberation from material activities and merging into the Brahman effulgence, they must come down again to this material world to open hospitals or schools or perform similar philanthropic activities. Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta, Madya-lila 1.43 Purport:. . . through love of Godhead, one becomes perfectly liberated and attains the highest goal of life. A distinction is made between the liberated condition of a personalist and that of an impersonalist, and there is a discussion of liberation during one’s lifetime as distinguished from liberation from material bondage. Of all kinds of liberation, liberation in loving service to the Lord is described as the most exalted, and meeting the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face is shown to be the highest perfection of life. Immediate liberation is contrasted with liberation by a gradual process. Both realization of Brahman and meeting with the Supreme Personality of Godhead are described as liberation within one’s lifetime, but meeting with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, both internally and externally, is shown to be superexcellent, above the transcendental realization of the Brahman effulgence. There is a comparative study of liberation as sälokya, sämépya and särüpya. Sämépya is better than sälokya. Devotional service is considered to be liberation with greater facilities, and there is a discussion of how to obtain it. There are also discussions of the transcendental state one achieves after attaining the devotional platform, which is the exact position of love of Godhead; the marginal symptoms of transcendental love, and how it is awakened; the distinction between so-called love and transcendental love on the platform of love of Godhead; and different types of humors and mellows enjoyed in relishing the lusty affairs of the gopés, which are different from mundane affairs, which in turn are symbolical representations of pure love for Kåñëa. There are also discussions of bhakti mixed with philosophical speculation, the superexcellence of the love of the gopés, the difference between opulent devotional service and loving devotional service, the exalted position of the residents of Gokula, the progressively exalted position of the friends of Kåñëa, the gopas and the gopés in parental love with Kåñëa, and finally the superexcellence of the love of the gopés and that of Çrématé Rädhäräëé. There is also a discussion of how spiritual feelings can be present when one simply imitates them and of how such mellows are far superior to the ordinary mellows of mundane love, and there are descriptions of different ecstasies, the awakening of ecstasy, transcendental qualities, the distinction of dhérodätta, the utmost attractiveness of conjugal love, the ecstatic features, the permanent ecstatic features, the mellows divided in five transcendental features of direct loving service, and indirect loving service, considered in seven divisions. Finally there is a discussion of overlapping of different rasas, and there are discussions of çänta (neutrality), servitorship, taking shelter, parental love, conjugal love, direct transcendental enjoyment and enjoyment in separation, previous attraction and the glories of Çrématé Rädhäräëé. Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta, Madya-lila 6.268: “A pure devotee does not like even to hear about säyujya-mukti, which inspires him with fear and hatred. Indeed, the pure devotee would rather go to hell than merge into the effulgence of the Lord.” PURPORT Çréla Prabodhänanda Sarasvaté has sung, kaivalyaà narakäyate. The impersonalist’s conception of becoming one with the effulgence of the Lord is exactly like hell. Therefore, of the five types of liberation, the first four (sälokya, sämépya, särüpya and särñöi) are not so undesirable because they can be avenues of service to the Lord. Nonetheless, a pure devotee of Lord Kåñëa rejects even these types of liberation; he aspires only to serve Kåñëa birth after birth. He is not very interested in stopping the repetition of birth, for he simply desires to serve the Lord, even in hellish circumstances. Consequently the pure devotee hates and fears säyujya-mukti, merging into the effulgence of the Lord. This merging is due to an offense committed against the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and therefore it is not at all desirable for a pure devotee.

I am most confident to tell you that "Lactic Acid" is not an additive but a natural result of aenerobic exercise that forms lactic acid in the blood stream within muscles--[the mention above as occuring in muscle tissue is not an additive derived and thus added to other processed foodstuffs] That is my own some-what informed opinion. Bhaktajan

There are many words that, since being a child, I can remember when & where I learnt a word/Phrase for the first time. I remember hearing senior devotees say, "Oh, Krishna!" --and I pined that: "when will I be so fortunate, when I meet with some woe or delight, as to unconsciously & spontaneously exclaim 'Oh, Krishna!' ?" There is not vernacular tradition in the 'East' to invoke nor connect God's Name to the wish to denegrate/insult/condemn a foe or woe. [so I think in my experiences] --There does seem to be a self-perserving defense pathos in western religious texts, no? "Hollowed be thy name ..."

A)--SB 2.2.30 Purport: . . . Five thousand years ago, when the social status of human society was in perfect Vedic order, the yoga process mentioned herein was a common affair for everyone because everyone, and especially the brähmaëa and kñatriya, was trained in the transcendental art under the care of the spiritual master far away from home, in the status of brahmacarya. Modern man, however, is incompetent to understand it perfectly. SB 2.7.6 Purport: . . . Great vows of austerity are undertaken by sages to achieve success in self-realization. Human life is meant for such tapasya, with the great vow of celibacy, or brahmacarya. In the rigid life of tapasya, there is no place for the association of women. And because human life is meant for tapasya, for self-realization, factual human civilization, as conceived by the system of sanätana-dharma or the school of four castes and four orders of life, prescribes rigid dissociation from woman in three stages of life. In the order of gradual cultural development, one’s life may be divided into four divisions: celibacy, household life, retirement, and renunciation. During the first stage of life, up to twenty-five years of age, a man may be trained as a brahmacäré under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master just to understand that woman is the real binding force in material existence. If one wants to get freedom from the material bondage of conditional life, he must get free from the attraction for the form of woman. Woman, or the fair sex, is the enchanting principle for the living entities, and the male form, especially in the human being, is meant for self-realization. SB 3.21.4 Purport: . . . Here Vidura inquired about Kardama Muni and his wife, Devahüti, and about their children. It is described here that Devahüti was very much advanced in the performance of eightfold yoga. The eight divisions of yoga performance are described as (1) control of the senses, (2) strict following of the rules and regulations, (3) practice of the different sitting postures, (4) control of the breath, (5) withdrawing the senses from sense objects, (6) concentration of the mind, (7) meditation and (8) self-realization. After self-realization there are eight further perfectional stages, which are called yoga-siddhis. The husband and wife, Kardama and Devahüti, were advanced in yoga practice; the husband was a mahä-yogé, great mystic, and the wife was a yoga-lakñaëa, or one advanced in yoga. They united and produced children. Formerly, after making their lives perfect, great sages and saintly persons used to beget children, otherwise they strictly observed the rules and regulations of celibacy. Brahmacarya (following the rules and regulations of celibacy) is required for perfection of self-realization and mystic power. There is no recommendation in the Vedic scriptures that one can go on enjoying material sense gratification at one’s whims, as one likes, and at the same time become a great meditator by paying a rascal some money. SB 4.22.12 "Mahäräja Påthu offered his welcome to the four Kumäras, addressing them as the best of the brähmaëas. He welcomed them, saying: From the beginning of your birth you strictly observed the vows of celibacy, and although you are experienced in the path of liberation, you are keeping yourselves just like small children." PURPORT The specific importance of the Kumäras is that they were brahmacärés, living the life of celibacy from birth. They kept themselves as small children about four or five years old because by growing into youth one’s senses sometimes become disturbed and celibacy becomes difficult. The Kumäras therefore purposefully remained children because in a child’s life the senses are never disturbed by sex. This is the significance of the life of the Kumäras, and as such Mahäräja Påthu addressed them as the best of the brähmaëas. Not only were the Kumäras born of the best brähmaëa (Lord Brahmä), but they are addressed herein as dvija-çreñöhäù (“the best of the brähmaëas”) on account of their being Vaiñëavas also. As we have already explained, they have their sampradäya (disciplic succession), and even to date the sampradäya is being maintained and is known as the Nimbärka-sampradäya. Out of the four sampradäyas of the Vaiñëava äcäryas, the Nimbärka-sampradäya is one. Mahäräja Påthu specifically appreciated the position of the Kumäras because they maintained the brahmacarya vow from the very beginning of their birth. Mahäräja Påthu, however, expressed his great appreciation of Vaiñëavism by addressing the Kumäras as vaiñëava-çreñöhäù. In other words, everyone should offer respect to a Vaiñëava without considering his source of birth. Vaiñëave jäti-buddhiù. No one should consider a Vaiñëava in terms of birth. The Vaiñëava is always the best of the brähmaëas, and as such one should offer all respects to a Vaiñëava, not only as a brähmaëa but as the best of the brähmaëas. SB 5.5.10-13 Purport: . . . By associating with the devotee, a spiritual standard is maintained . . . There are many so-called religions devoted to the worship of various demigods, but here good association means association with one who simply accepts Kåñëa as his worshipable Deity. . . . As long as one is situated in the material world, there must be pleasure and pain arising from the material body. As Kåñëa advises in Bhagavad-gétä, täàs titikñasva bhärata. One has to learn how to tolerate the temporary pains and pleasures of this material world. One must also be detached from his family and practice celibacy. Sex with one’s wife according to the scriptural injunctions is also accepted as brahmacarya (celibacy), but illicit sex is opposed to religious principles, and it hampers advancement in spiritual consciousness. Another important word is vijïäna-viräjita. Everything should be done very scientifically and consciously. One should be a realized soul. In this way, one can give up the entanglement of material bondage. SB 5.5.31 "A brother aware of the principles of religion follows in the footsteps of his elder brothers. Because of being highly elevated, such a pious brother gets the opportunity to associate and enjoy with demigods like the Maruts, who are all affectionate to their brothers." PURPORT According to their belief in various material relationships, people are promoted to various planets. Here it is said that one who is very faithful to his brothers should follow a path similar to theirs and get the opportunity for promotion to Marudloka. Närada Muni advised Prajäpati Dakña’s second group of sons to follow their elder brothers and be promoted to the spiritual world. SB 6.5.32 "Çukadeva Gosvämé continued: O best of the advanced Äryans, after saying this much to the sons of Prajäpati Dakña, Närada Muni, whose merciful glance never goes in vain, left as he had planned. The sons of Dakña followed their elder brothers. Not attempting to produce children, they engaged themselves in Kåñëa consciousness." SB 6.5.33 "The Savaläçvas took to the correct path, which is obtainable by a mode of life meant to achieve devotional service, or the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Like nights that have gone to the west, they have not returned even until now." SB 6.5.34 "At this time, Prajäpati Dakña observed many inauspicious signs, and he heard from various sources that his second group of sons, the Savaläçvas, had followed the path of their elder brothers in accordance with the instructions of Närada." SB 6.5.35 "When he heard that the Savaläçvas had also left this world to engage in devotional service, Dakña was angry at Närada, and he almost fainted due to lamentation. When Dakña met Närada, Dakña’s lips began trembling in anger, and he spoke as follows." PURPORT Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura comments that Närada Muni had delivered the entire family of Sväyambhuva Manu, beginning with Priyavrata and Uttänapäda. He had delivered Uttänapäda’s son Dhruva and had even delivered Präcénabarhi, who was engaged in fruitive activities. Nevertheless, he could not deliver Prajäpati Dakña. Prajäpati Dakña saw Närada before him because Närada had personally come to deliver him. Närada Muni took the opportunity to approach Prajäpati Dakña in his bereavement because the time of bereavement is a suitable time for appreciating bhakti-yoga. …………………………………………………………. Actually, you probably are referring to "Paramahansa" or "Bhagavata" as most exalted titles. But by my reckoning I am stating in my opinion [which is based on authorized translations of the Vedas] is that: "There is no higher status in all the three planetary systems and no higher status in all the fourteen worlds than to be a bonefide Vaisnava Brahmacarya." This is a statement of 'My Opinion' —I advise everyone to feel rest-assured that I am to be trusted with such advise. I trust that you understand perfectly what I am attempting to relate to you. .................................................................................................................................................................. B)-- Before enlightenment 'Chop wood and carry water' for oneselfafter enlightenment 'Chop wood and carry water' for God, the entire scenario changes. Well said. What does it mean? Or what do you think you're trying to say? I understand your prose, but I do not find the your point to be definitive nor universal nor scriptually backed-up. [The saying is a classic Buddhist aphorism for and by monks (or is it Lao Tsu?)] .......................................................................................................................................................................... C)-- PS: My dear sir, The intensity of love for God does not depend on the external paraphernalia of the Devotee but on Love itself "There is no love in the material world--only give and take" (as stated by Sastra & A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami) Love itself is a "fairy-tale-myth" --there is 'dharma' and 'more dharma' --if you can perform your own dharma then such actions can be poetically called out as "LOVE". Otherwise, it is only miserly self-interest. ie: The King loved his people so much--but the people hated him because he taxed the people and yet he never did a darn thing other that speak of how he loved his tax payer citizens. So, the people said, "Show us the love don't just tell us about it." .................................................................................................................... Bhaktajan

1) Vigraha is correct 2) Kula is ________. [deleted by Bhaktajan for brevity]. 3) You guys just can't read thoroughly anyone's posting, without missing the main point! 4) And because guys just can't read thoroughly you miss what Srila Prabhupada has said on the topic---it's all over the Gita as-it-is without need of word jugglery! Read Srila Prabhupada's Gita and you'll find this point [as Vigraha has posted many times] will be found repeatedly! 5) (7) entries: Returning to original State. Vs. (3) names for additional member to join the Party You left Me return to Me. again come back to Me His long lost servant Newcomer living away from home for so long return to Me come back to Me Newcomer new recruit NOTE: To me, the use of the name "newcomer" signifies that the shared rules for hanging out with the boys of Vrindavana must be re-learnt. NOTE: To me, the use of the name "new recruit" signifies there are rules to be imparted and followed —that may or may not be known to the "new recruit" who was recruited by an outside agent. And, this last term, "new recruit" seems to be a reiterated segue description used by the translator in this prose text [rather than the rendering of a Sanskrit shloka's word—I may be wrong here] 6) Just kidding about the Leonardo Man--Don't touch it, it's a classic meant for display and contemplation of the greater world below our feet.

I actually don't believe it is possible to re-call past lives. But on the other hand I believe it is discernable through great mystic abilities—which few people process. Yet, I have been a fan of Caroline Myss, who is an "intuitive healer" who [when 'intuitively' diagnosing a person's source of illness] references a person's social "archetype(s)" and, she also references a person's bodily "chakra" points. She surmises that unresolved past birth "issues", are still latent [in energy form, prana] within one of the 7 chakras that specifically corresponds to that sphere of influence for the said "issues" —thus, illness is an imbalance of pranic flow that is impeded/inflamed by a chakra that can not function due to conflicted past actions. Your "past-life recall" may be a conflation of many factors or it may be a real-time "Remote-Viewing" of hell conflated with real-present-life concerns. I found a picture from the movie of what you must be referring to [i have heard that some mis-guided yogis/souls merge into the Garbho ocean, at the bottom of the Brahmanda]: But, I do have pre-birth memories, some what like what you described from above movie, but much more sublime: The memory is of the impression of my face facing-up within a blue sky—I was thinking of what my up-coming new birth would be like, good or bad. The image that this came back to my mind years later in a scene from a British Television show ("The Prisoner") about an aggrieved government secret-agent who pre-maturely quits his job—but then is kidnapped inorder for the captors to determine why the master spy has abandoned his post. In this TV series there is an escape-deterrent in the form of a Sci-Fi 'Spherical Globe' that traps escapees—this is reminiscent of what you spoke of in the movie, and, is exactly what I recall:

Dear Mr or Mrs. LoveroftheBhagavata, With all due respect for our beloved Leonardo and his achievements --there is a wee imperceptable peepee in your avatara [don't remove it, don't touch it up] just know that it is there--and we will politely ignore its presence. your servant, Bhaktajan Doing my best to bring a little happiness into the world.