sopatel

greatly, greatly appreciate this suchandraji, I thank you. The following paragraph really hit home... [“O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”] Because the spiritual master takes the risk on account of Kṛṣṇa. Bob: Your suffering is not the same kind of pain… Śrīla Prabhupāda: No, it is not due to karma. The pain is there sometimes, so that the disciples may know, “Due to our sinful activities, our spiritual master is suffering.” Bob: You look very well now. Śrīla Prabhupāda: I am always well… in the sense that even if there is suffering, I know Kṛṣṇa will protect me. But this suffering is not due to my sinful activities. Bob: But let us say when I—in the town I live in, I take boiled water because some of the water has disease in it. Now, why should I drink boiled water if I have been good enough not to get a disease? Then I may drink any water. And if I have been not acting properly. then I shall get disease anyway. Śrīla Prabhupāda: So long as you are in the material world, you cannot neglect physical laws. Suppose you go to a jungle and there is a tiger. It is known that it will attack you, so why should you voluntarily go and be attacked? It is not that a devotee should take physical risk so long as he has a physical body. It is not a challenge to the physical laws: “I have become a devotee. I challenge everything.” That is foolishness. I like how he explained that we are not exempt from physical laws and shoudl care for our well being but the perfect devotee really hasn't a care for the world and in fact he has to suffer for the sins we commit. In the end, if you believe you are beyond the physical body, then no disease or illness really makes difference. Thanks once again. Jai Shri Krishna

Queen Kunti a book by the BBT is an in depth explanation of the prayers to Lord Krishna by Kuntidevi. When you look at her life you see the power she carried as a wife, mother mother-in-law, and queen...going through obstacles and asking for more because she knew that it gave her the chance to stay close to Krishna. Its something we should incorporate into our lives. As a woman I always see many other women quarreling and crying about the minor discomforts of life. Its pretty sad how a old car, old sari, or not enough privacy are a matter of concern...We should look for role models in personalities like Kuntidevi and Ghandaridevi who stood up for the truth. A wonderful post by you krsna...thank you Jai Shri Krishna

Do you live in Indiana Indulekhadasji, I am in Indiana for school...that would be so cool! Jai Shri Krishna

simply and nicely put redsoxji Jai Shri Krishna

anyone live in the midwest...its basically the Bible belt and so many people come from all denominations of Christianity to tell you what there church has to offer...as theistji said...Jehovah's witnesses had a nice conversation with us and sat down and had a cup of chai...lol...my father made a similar arguement about the soul and eating meat. But all in all they are nice and were family people so it was just a nice hour of controlled discussions abour Hinduism and Christianity...which I think they had a better understanding for many of our practices and I am glad about that because not many people can tolerate the Hindu religion in smaller midwest American towns. Jai Shri Krishna

But the question is, if you are spititually advanced, does it matter what your physical body state is...I wonder how advanced souls actually feel about our types saying that they are suffering. Maybe they don't really care and feel that the current state of their being is just a way to pay for past karmas and wipe there karmic chalkboard clean so they may go home. Just wondering, I think it is very interesting to finally be able to reach that point. Jai Shri Krishna

This is probably not the answer you want to hear but I thought I should tell you anyway. This baby is your daughter and who she becomes has a lot to do with how you and your husband will raise her. Birth and death are predestined and there isn't much you can do about that except watch your health and stress levels. She is so young, I would concentrate on what you feed her and the amount of play time and parent time she gets. As far as you and your husband are concerened, its very normal to have issues after having a child. Why? Well babies require a lot of attention and that means that your attention towards your husband is probably not 100%. This doesn't mean that it is your fault but this is the fact. In addition, even your husband is constantly worried about the baby's welfare and will have arguements with you if he feels something is not right. Usually 99% of arguements end up on a different topic than what they start on. Yours and your husbands health are something she can not control..."native not having parental support" may also mean you might not approve of the life path she chooses and may have nothing to do with your or your husbands health. Finally about her career...she is so little, first let her go to school and see what it is her strong points are and then you can guide her career wise. So many parents want doctors without realising that there child may be 100 times better at a field they enjoy. So the purpose of this long lecture was, love your child and stop worrying about her future...You are unable to live your future today, so why bother...instill good religous values in her and teach her how to be a positve member of society and your job is done. I hope this brings some ease to your concerns Jai Shri Krishna

what a beautiful slideshow suchandraji...thank u for your effort. Jai Shri Krishna

dear sadafji I totally second theistji, for the good of your child please go to an accreditied physician...if there is any homeopathic or even ayurvedic remedy available, it would not be safe to depend on internet suggestions. Doesn't matter where you live, there are both neurologists and homeopathic physicians with 8 years of school and many more years of actual practice. This is for your child so please take him to a doctor. We will pray that you find an answer and that your boy grows up to be a healthy one. Jai Shri Krishna

Its not like we want to say all priests are bad but then when enough people are scammed, then they get a steroetype...I have one concern only...When I am around the actual ground where my madhav had his pastimes, I want to take in the spiritual experience and not worry about con artists. As osiris has said some institutions are very genuine and we should give but it would be hurtful if charity meant for social and spiritual welfare becomes pocket change for scammers. Jai Shri Krishna

Unfortunately even persons of our vedic culture are utilising "religious" ways to justify animal slaughter...I understand that each person has there reason but I don't see where sacrificing animals can make a god/goddess happy. The rationale doesn't click at all. This era is ridiculous, we humans don't even care about other human life...what kind of sympathy can we expect for other living creatures. Its so sick...its things like this that make it hard to find the good in people. Jai Shri Krishna

great advice you guys, I will definitly put them into use...I also start mentally chanting and making positive affirmations and things get better but when I learn from everyone I realise that I don't have to be perfect but must keep on trying. Jai Shri Krishna

omg... i got chills after watching this video...though fully vegetarian I never tried to talk to anyone about the health and moral reasoning for my choice...I make a vow from today to educate myself about vegetarianism and anyone who asks, give them a factual and meaningful answer. No creature deserves this at all. Your right theistji...it takes a shock Man I am literally crying after seeing this...Its going to take a while to get over that scene. Jai Shri Krishna P.S. We really need to spread the word...please!

though we should feel the pangs of seperation from krishna and want to go back to him to serve kirhsna and radharani do you guys feel that sometimes you get so caught up in material problems that you forget that you have to go back. Even if radharani showed us that this is important, man does life have a solid hold on you. How do you guys cope with "return to material life" because rarely do I care but sometimes I really get pulled back by one situation or another. I guess you can call it a test but would like you know you opinion on it. Jai Shri Krishna

I'm all for the advancement of science but this is too weird for my liking. If you read a post in health and wellbeing about Garbhadan sanskara, I took from it that children are created as God conciousness citizens and its things like this that make unwanted population. Not to say that its the kids fault but we are trying to manipulate nature a bit too much don't you think. I actually believe that same sex couples and couples going through infertility issues should highly think about adoption...so many children go hungry and grow up without a strong family background. These children deserve homes and God made families that can accept such children. But what to say of people who can't even stand there own parents and siblings in the house, how can we even think they will love and nourish a child unrelated to them. however, this was a very imformative thread...thank you suchandraji. Jai Shri Krishna

no no Indulekhaji, I take more inspiration from you and your deep thoughts. I thank you for being such a positive motivation and I thank radhe radhe for opening this thread. Jai Shri Krishna

So unfortunate to hear such things...May Krishna have mercy on her and take her home. I hope her pain is minimal also. Jai Shri Krishna

the more psychos in your life, the more you should pine to get outta here. Well then again just reading the post title, the first thing that came to my mind is that if I am surrounded by people who seem crazy for Krishna then I should join them and all of us "crazies" can go back to him...as bhaktajan said "dichotomy between the opposites" there are crazy people who go in circles and can't seem to catch there tails in the material world and then others that are carzy about Krishna and know one day eventually we get to go back home. Jai Shri Krishna

After reading this thread I have only one thing to say.... If religion cannot unite one human being with another (as we see sometimes here), how do you expect to be united with God!!! Think about it guys...discussions are great, we learn so many new things from everybody on the board but many times I feel a tinge of ego and false pride in your posts. I am sorry if I may have hurt anyone. Jai Shri Krishna

I wonder how many more lifetimes it will take before we are blessed to serve Shrimati Radharani and Lord Krishna. You know I have always thought of this seperation pastimes of Shrimati Radharani as an example to us because until we don't feel the pangs of seperation and anxiety of not having our giridar with us, we are not good enough to go back home. Home to our Lord. Jai Shri Krishna

How nicely bhaktajan has summarised all for us. Arjuna for us is the symbolic represntation of the atman. Standing in the midst of a battlefield ( where there is the pull and tug of the spirtual aspect with the material aspect), Arjuna is every person represented as the following: Our body is a chariot, senses are horses, mind the rein, intellect the charioteer, and soul that rides the chariot. If we make Lord Krishna our charioteer, we have no reason to control our intellect, Krishna will direct the horses(senses) with the reins(mind) in the right direction. So Arjuna teaches us a lesson in renunciation and bhakti. Why is Arjuna important? During the coronation of Lord Krishna on earth, Indra took a promise from Krishna to take care of Arjuna. But above that, he trusted Krishna wholeheartedly and loved him Jai Shri Krishna

I have no clue, they are just being plain stupid, God opens his door to all so there is no reason why some people are allowed and others aren't. I think as long as they follow the rules of no shoes, washing hands and feet, remaining vegetarian while in temple, etc then it should be ok. Jai Shri Krishna

Since the question was why we were created... There are many different opinions about the creation of the universe. Shunyavad, Aarambhavaad, etc. According to Vaishnavism and Srimad Bhagwat in the beginning there was only one Brahman and no other entitiy. It wished to become many, "Ekoham bahusyaam." I am one, let me be many. Brahman took up many forms, which we know today as this universe. Thus by God's will alone, this universe is created, sustained, and dissolved in the end. "Yato vaa imani bhutani jaayante Yena jaataani jeevanti, Yat prayantyabhisamvishanti Tat vijigyasasva Tad Bramha." That, by which all these creatures and inanimate objects are created, by whom all living creatures are created, all beings sustained and in whom everything gets dissolved, develop a wish to know that. That alone is Brahma. Plato too says, "Before an object is created, its thought is born." Before a table is made, its thought or idea takes shape in the carpenters mind. Hence, the universe begins with its thoughts. It also means that with the end of thought the universe also ends. Hence, if you attain a state of thoughtlessness, or Samaadhi, you world gets dissolved or submerged. Hence in our scriptures, this state of thoughtlessness or samaadhi is described as being a kind of Pralaya. Pujya Baishri Rameshbhai Oza, Jigyasa on atma and paramatma So all in all, we were created from the original and we need to go back to the original. This is what this life is for and we should feel extremely blessed that we realise this truth. Jai Shri Krishna

what a beautiful story...these are truly inspiring. As Indulekhadasji said, I will try and bring these into my life. Jai Shri Krishna

No I live in the United States and the closest Vaishnav temple to me is a good 300 miles away. However I did check out the link you sent and have been google searching Kurmadas and found valuable information. I was just asking because we kind of have to ration pure vegetarian foods like dals, atta and subzi because the vegetable choices are so limited and the Indian stores are a good 300 miles away too. Thank you for your help I appreciate it very much. Jai Shri Krishna