sopatel

theist, I definitly agree with you, my problem is that I am not sure about how all this works. Meaning, doesn't each individual have a transition according to there karmas. It would be worth investigating. Lets look into this. Jais Shri Krishna

maybe you may go straight to another womb, or attain a higher planet for good deeds and then come back to the material world, or go to a lower planet for being bad and come back to the material world, or you could be thinking about an animal and attain the body of that particular animal your thinking about. Its a good question...no one can really answer it though can they? Jai Shri Krishna

i honestly think that both ayurveda and homeopathy is a lifestyle change. Homeopathy: This system is based on the workings of the energy mediums in your body. The treatment process includes everything from plant/animal extracts and some minerals as well. This being said homeopathy is very strict in that it may be antidoted with caffeine, menthol and even mint. This medicine actually works off the four humours of the body (or so thats what it is called) and it focuses primarily on gentle, easy to use medicine. The plus point of this that the medicine is purely based on enhancing your bodies natural defenses and therefore there usually isn't side effects of the treatments liek in traditional allopathic medicine. If it doesn't work just stop. Ayurveda: (excuse my bias) but it is literally the Science of Life and this is what this medicine accomplishes. Ayurveda uses food and the correct combinations of the food to cure. In addition there is the sciences of yoga, pranayam, system cleansing, mental stability and a total lifestyle change. Those who choose to take the ayurveda route ( and those doing so correctly) will change there way of living. The concept includes "junk in, junk out" so it really concentrates on your entire being Whats better or worse, both have there place in medicine but homeopathy is easier to learn for home treatment but ayurveda is something that should be taken from an experienced person. I hope this helps, both systems are marvelous and really prooves the healing power of the mind and body and prooves the connection of nature with self. Jai Shri Krishna

I would say that our lives are to an extent predetermined by our karmas. In this life we were born with a clean slate for our current image but what about the centuries of crap we probably pulled. I understand what your trying to ask because some people say that life is predetermined and then there is the law of karma. As far as how you will die and who you will run into is destiny but the destiny made by your own past deeds. In this life you do have a choice. Some persons, event, and problems are unavoidable because God wants you to pay for them and go back to him. But tomorrows destiny is written by you. We use the Bhagvad Gita as many of the examples on this board, it is said that all those who took part in that war had death predestined but thats not the important part. It was where there mind and soul was. For example we have Bishmapitah who was obligated to fight the oposition but in the end attained liberation simply because he accepted the glory of the Lord and his mind and blessing followed the path of truth. This question is a catch 22 type of inquiry, its hard for our beginners minds to comprehend. Hope this helps a bit. Jai Shri Krishna

even our own homes central point is a flat panel. How sad? But I guess it depends on what you watch on the tv. You know, bhajans, kathas and then the religious serials we have. Its unavoidable, especially in this consumer culture to not have certain things...i.e. a computer but I guess it depend on what you use it for. As far as books are concerned, I think they need a place of there own cause no way can you concetrate on your reading with tv, computer and so on. Maya is good and bad depending on what you want to take from it. Jai Shri Krishna

Didn't know it was this serious. My problem is that people like that do not keep such spiritual places pure thats all. If I go to temples I want my mind to be peaceful and not on constant alert. Jai Shri Krishna

Dear Redsox, In no way are we trying to put you down from attaining siddhis but it is a very sensistive subject. As it is the mind is not pure in kaliyug and I would not want to see you hurt on the spiritual platform. Though since you asked meditation, pranayam and the help of a bona fida guru are the only ways but remember that Ravana was a medicant and had attained various siddhis and powers from Lord Shiv and Lord Bhrama and you probably know what happened to him. When you want siddhis for material benefits it may lead to ahakankar ultimately destroying you. In addition, if you are trying to use siddhis for spiritual elevation then chant the Lord's name, he will make you the most powerful person but keep your ego in check as well. We do not know you personally but this is shere concern of history and even our own personal inabilities.May you gain success in whatever you chooseJai Shri Krishna

Hare Krishna, the family will be in my prayers. May Lord Krishna give them the strength to accept whatever comes there way.

I must agree that cleaning your mind is a very tedious process, as you mentioned there are times when I pass judgement on people based on a 15 second interaction. As I learned more and more about being a true viashnav, things are getting clearer for me and I do try to see the Lord in everyone but I admit there are still times when I judge and get angry. About the monk story...how true our minds are crazy...just the other day I had this awful confrontation with a person who said I was not Indian because I didn't live on the subcontinent. Well that made me angry and I thought of the person for almost two day, trying to think of a come back. Finally, you tell yourself that its not worth it and just forget about it. The mind is crazy.... Jai Shri Krishna

Let your abilities speak for themselves, do not use these mantras to try and get people. Why do we cross all barriers to get material things but refuse to fight for what is eternal. Life is too short...why not cross all barriers to be with the Lord...its a relationship that will last an eternity. These other relationships only last until you change costumes. May Lord Krishna guide you to do what is proper. Jai Shri Krishna

what a wakeup call to the ego. Very nice story. Jai Shri Krishna

yes the Saranpur Hanuman temple is extremely helpful, bought my mom back from jaws of death when giving birth to my brother. The thing is continue doing Hanuman Chalisa and if you can't go immediately, make a sankalp but remember to fulfill it. It has to be from your heart. You can say anything from "Oh Hanumanji Maharaj, we are going through troubled times, just as you helped Lord Rama, please help this son of yours from the dillema. As soon as my wife gets better, we vow to do darshan at the temple and donate..." Then please do not forget to go and seva can be anything from feeding a preschool to helping out a poor person. In the end, everything depends on your faith, no one is above or better than the Lord and if you call him with a pure heart, he will come running. No ghost, tantra or black magic can challenge the power of God. I wish and pray that life get better for you... Jai Shri Krishna

bhaktajan, you really defined the "modern" person I like this, if you don't mind, can I borrow this passage and keep it on my desktop so I can remind myself NOT to be stupid/foolish. Jai Shri Krishna

is there any way we can contact you privately. If so please email me your contact email at soppatel@gmail.com

hey this is very imformative...if i may request can we share some recipes that are purely vegetarian so it will help reduce the need for going to restaurants. I admit, in college I relied on Subway alot for dinner and I got the vegetarian sub with cheese. I thought subway was the safest option because you know whats going in but after reading this, i have second thoughts. So please share some recipes that are student friendly and quick to make. Jai shri krishna

Dear kamlesh, Don't feel yourself being cursed, everyone goes through a bad time phase and good time phase and you are only paying for the karma of your past life. Be the goodperson you are and things will get much better as the effects of the old are slowly gone. As far as marriage is concerned, patience brings great results. Maybe something awesome is waiting for you in the place you are...just keep hope and faith. A jyotish will guide you but it is you who needs to be optimistic about life. With best wishes and good luck Jai Shri Krishna

Thank you for these...I think this is such a good way to introduce krishna to our children...will use this with my little niece and nephew. Jai Shri Krishna

I don't think that it is ok to marry your cousin from the father's sister side because I know in our particular culture, we avoid arranged marriages amonsgt families of the same village even. The only exceptions I have heard of were like a brother's wife's sister-in-laws masi's daughter or something very far like that in which case your not even remotely related to the person but I think the instant of Arujuna/Subhadradevi was political and crucial to the events to take place. Jai Shri Krishna

I agree with Inedible ... we stopped talkign about God and prefer proof and arguement and refuse to leave our self righteousness, this includes myself though I am working hard at improving this. Jai Shri Krishna

In my home my grandfather always told us bedtime and naptime stories of Krishna leela. He would tell us a story and then answer our very naive questions. All I remember, "Lord is the Lord, there is no reason or explanation why he does things, he is great and he is with us. He is listening to our story right now!" My cousin and I were only three or four so we believed him and said goodnight to Krishna (a really small murti in our room) and fell a sleep. Then over time we played with the murti by putting him on a seat and recreating the storied our grandfather told us of bal Krishna. I guess that feelign of him being there with us never left. As I grew up, I know I lost the innocence and true love because of all the opinions and such I keep on hearing from others but I still love Krishna and will continue to. I don't have a guru nor did a satsang increase my experiences, so as many others I am waiting for the Lord to command me to do his will. Jai Shri Krishna

I had the same question, the way I was explained was that Krishna supported this union because being the everseeing Lord, he knew that the union of Subhadra and Arjuna would result in Abhimanyu a very integral part of his kurukshetra lila. It was because of this knowlege that Abhmanyu would be so important in the war, Lord Krishna never even taught him the retreat from the chakravue even if Abhminayu asked multiple times. In addition, I think that because Arjuna had different paternal blood (because Kunitdevi was Vasudev's sister) than I think thats why it was ok. Thats the only explanation I got. Jai Shri Krishna

Its so true what everyone has said...Love I think is the only emotion that makes us good people because we never hurt the ones we love. I don't believe that you have to give up humna emotion to be with God but taking human emotion and transferring it to become one with the Lord is the ultimate goal in life. As you even mentioned you are waiting for a person to heal you, I also wish that the person that enters my life will be a man that will be my partner in Krishna consiousness and not an obstacle. Well with that said I thought this was a good thread to put a Narsin Mehta, a krishna devotee from Gujarat, poem that most of us are very familiar with...it shows us the qualities a Vaishnav should have and it points out that one of those qualities is love for all...enjoy. Vaishnav Jan to tene kahiye Jay peerh paraaye janneyray Par dukkhey upkar karey teeyey, man abhiman na anney ray Sakal lokma Sahuney bandhey, Ninda Na karye kainee ray Baach kaachh, Man nischal Raakhey, dhan-dhan jananee tainee ray Samdrishi nay trishna tyagee, par-stree jaynay mat ray Vivihva thaki asatya na bolay, par-dhan nav jhaley haath ray Moh maaya vyaayey nahin Jeynay, dridth vairagya jana manma ray Ram-nam-shoom taalee laagee, Sakal teerth seyna tanma ray Vanloohee nay kapat rahit chhay, Kaam, Krodh nivarya ray Bhane Narsinhyo tainoo darshan karta kul ekotair taarya re. Translation: Speak only as godlike of the man who feels another's pain Who shares another's sorrow and pride does disdain Who regards himself lowliest of the low Speaks not a word of evil against anyone Blessed is the mother who gave birth to such a son Who looks upon everyone as his equal, Lust he has renounced Who honours women like he honours his mother Whose tongue knows not the taste of falsehood Nor covets another's worldly goods Who longs not for worldly wealth (or fame) For he treads the path of renunciation Ever on his lips is Ram's holy name All places of pilgrimage are within him He has conquered greed, is free of deceit, lust and anger Through him Narsinh has godly vision And his generation to come will attain salvation. Jai Shri Krishna

Wasn't Vivekanand, one of the pioneers in introducing sanatan dharma to the West. I think during his time to the West we were all sacrificing animals and were pagan worshippers and people considered our dharma inferior and tribal. Vivekanand was one of the first people to give our religion a platform on a global level. I don't know the full history...its not about a person being wrong or right...if someone can please enlighten me to the story and what the controversy is about, I would greatly appreciate it. Jai Shri Krishna

Thats funny, no I am a female but even we have problems at time. Over time because of stress, chemical shampoos, lack of sleep, etc.etc. I shed but I think it should work for men too! Jai Shri Krishna

I have heard that coconut oil and eating a lot of coconut will give your hair strength and fullness. Oh also black sesame seeds taken three spoons a day are very very helpful. Black sesame seeds are high in fiber, protein and vitamin e. The lattar provides for clear and younger skin, stronger hair, and a nice shiny coat. I'm actually trying the sesame seed thing for a month now because school stress is causing hair loss...so heard this suggestion from an elderly aunty and an trying it. Will let you know in three months if it works lol Jai Shri Krishna