Krsnanatha

The total insanity of using the names of famous spiritual personalities to promote the most repugnant of behaviors is beyond my ability to even try to reason out. Yesterday a friend who is going to the whirlpool of hell known as Las Vegas was looking for vegetarian restaurants there on the internet. One rung up on a search and she was happy to see it was Indian...named after Gandhi... A man of peace...a hindu... a vegetarian, surely she had found a decent place to eat while she was there, right? Buzzzzzzz.....Wrong! Apparently the Mahatma Gandhi these folks know of is merely an identifiable name serving to lure people to their meat (with some vegetarian items) restaurant. They must be relatives of the same Bastards who feel no hesitation to exploit the name of Prabhupada in a similar manner. What's next, Bhagavan Sri Krsna's lap dance palace? Better I shut up, such bottom feeders my be trolling about looking for fresh ideas.

Our fine Government is currently spending around one billion dollars ($1.000.000.000.00) a week to save the people of Iraq. One of our governments stated goal is to rescue them from a murderous despot. We are having fine success rescuing these poor folks. (With a small exception for the six to seven thousand civilians our armed forces have managed to smoke. And the many thousands of others who are being afforded the opportunity to see what it's like to spend the rest of their lives missing limbs, eyes, ect...) If somehow some person recieved one billion dollars and that person decided to count their money at a rate of one dollar per second, 12 hours per day, it would take just short of 64 years to finish counting. It's truly amazing so many people could be killed or maimed...Oh, I'm sorry...I mean, could be saved for a mere $1,000,000,000.00 per week. Where are such bargains when I go shopping!

Once long ago in a small village in Israel a humble Jewish farmer was approached by his oldest son. The son announced that he was leaving the farm with the intention to travel to a near by city to convert to Christianity. No amount of begging and theistic argument could change the young mans mind, so off he went his broken hearted father left behind. The father, at a loss, went to his local Rabbi for advice. After explaining his situation to the Rabbi, to the amazement of the father the Rabbi said; "What a coincident MY son has also become a Christian!" They sat for a while consoling one another but after some time they agreed they needed guidance from another source for dealing with their shared predicament. They set off together for a large city in search of a particularly famous Rabbi. This man was known for his wisdom and keen knowledge of Talmudic detail. When they explained their unfortunate circumstance to this senior Rabbi he suprised them both by confiding; "What a coincident MY son has also become a Christian!" The three of them decided that only the ultimate authority, God himself could sort out this disorder within their families so they prayed "Dearest heavenly Father our sons have all become Christians!" There was the cliched parting of the clouds. A blinding effulgence streamed down upon them and a thunderous and frightening voice spoke.... "What a coincident..... MY son has also....become a Christian!"

I appreciate the adjustment in the identity column, specifically the never before seen Pet Peeve department. I agree, if someone thinks that by no one knowing who they are they are not affected by the apparadhas they may have committed, it's time to read up on what happened to Durvasa Muni. As a friend of mine in the hood is fond of saying on the subject of anonymous postings on vaisnava forums: "If you gonna say it, tell who played it."

My old girlfriend is still lookin' mighty cute. Just may have to take a trip back the old hometown! /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have read that in old english, the word "reverence" was a synonym for the word "attention". Example; Standing in reverence before the magistrate. Thus "Impious reverence"="Profane attention." May the devotees have mercy upon those inclined to direct such profane attention upon them!

Mark Twain once offered the opinion, "The easiest way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up". Kind of accounts for the bliss preaching brings to the preacher. I always liked that. From a humor point of view I always liked the one about "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Fransico." And analyzing human social behavior "A lie can get half way around the world before the truth even gets it's shoes on.

Nothing will take a devotee out faster and more thoroughly than attacking the Lords servitors. I have seen personally, up close one such circumstance. A person I was very close to adopted a very cruel mood of fault finding. Unfortunately this person found cause to apply the strictest standard they could find to assessing every behavior of every devotee they came in contact with (except of course themselves.) When this mood of critic began to be applied to their Guru it was not long before this person left the company of devotees and reported finding Christianity to be a "More comforting approach to God". Just recently I found that this individual is now also finding "comfort" in the eating of Krsna's helpless animals. Please Prabhu's, forgive any offenses I have committed to you in this forum environment or in any other interactions.

Some pschologist did a study of what people worry about. The researcher found that over ninety percent of what we worry or distract ourselves with either never comes to happen or already has happened and we continue to dwell upon it as if it is still looming. I read this and did a personal inventory of what I was worrying about at the time and found the researchers findings to be quite accurate. Having said this I do not suppose to minimize the details which force trepidation upon you at this time but as recommending a medicine which worked, I found this accessment process valuable and peace giving. Of course as in my case the worry which torments most often is that my japa is poorly executed or veiled in a haze of inattention and in this situation what I am worrying about has both already happened and likely to happen again. That being the case I have resolved to just keep on going knowing that someday by the intervention of the pure undeserved Grace of Sri Guru and Krsna I will find myself properly commiting to this process of Krsna consciousness and find that my life has become what the Saints identify as devotional service.

I figured since the subject is raised we should have the specific concerns in front of us. OFFENSES AGAINST THE HOLY NAME 1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. 2) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Siva or Lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Visnu. 3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master. 4) To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version. 5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krsna as imagination. 6) To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord. 7) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name of the Lord. 8) To consider the chanting of Hare Krsna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda). 9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name. 10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.

Going to do book distribution at Rock shows. There would often be these so-called Christians with large banners and bullhorns chastising the concert goers. They would shout through their bullhorns things like "You're all going to Hell...repent sinners... you don't want to go to Hell... Hell's hot... you know fire, flames." Obviously aside from the comical nature of what they were saying as far as their very poor presentation of spiritual theory, I always wondered how they could not figure out how ineffective this method of approaching people was. I am very doubtful anyone on their way to see Rolling Stones was convinced to ditch the show and hand their lives over to Jesus as a result of such ridiculous theatrics. When I see a similar method of preaching from devotees I become sad. We have all the tools at our disposal for gentle and thoughtful discussion. From there it is up to the individual and Krsna to make the arrangements as stated by His Divine Grace in the quoted purport. No amount of "You're going to hell unless" katha is going to do anything but make an intelligent person run away as fast as their feet will carry them.

"Krsna is situated in everyone's heart, and if one desires something, Krsna fulfills one's desire. If the living entity by chance or fortune comes in contact with the Krsna Consciouness movement, and wishes to associate with that movement, Krsna who is situated in everyone's heart, gives him the chance to meet a bonifide spiritual master. This is called guru-krsna-prasada. Krsna is prepared to bestow His mercy upon all living entities, and as soon as a living entity desires the Lord's mercy, the Lord immediately gives him the opportunity to meet a bonifide spiriual master. Such a person is fortified by both Krsna and the spiritual master. He is helped from within by Krsna and without by the spiritual master. Both are prepared to help the sincere living being become free from material bondage." (Quoted from Bhaktivedanta Purport, Cc. Madya 19.151) Ekadasi Vrata Ki Jaya!

The tapes of this person's "miracles" are hilarious. I think a broken down clown at a little kid's birthday party could perform a higher grade of slight of hand tricks than the fellow. Prabhupada said it, the cheater and the cheated, and you can see it playing out by going to the http://home.hetnet.nl/~ex-baba/engels/directlytonews.html link recomemended in the previous post and checking out video. The cheater and the cheated are truly a match made in Heaven...ah or in hell, depending.

With the elements of conspiracy, the cheating gambling match, the stealing of the kingdom, the attempts to resolve through diplomacy which disintergrated into a war of unequalled measure, both in terms of what was at stake and the personalities composing the drama, only Oliver Stone the King of war and conspiracy films could properly bring forth the motion pictured story of Maha Bharata. And, oh yeah, I can see the Rock carrying the whole family around on his back and eating everything in sight!

Your good self is a perfect example that we have joined the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. Not the International Society for Rules and Regulations. Krsna is the ultimate autocrat and no box anyone can construct no matter how seemingly well composed of the elements of perfect argument, can confine him. Sincerity of purpose and dedication is the currency which will pay our way toward the Supreme. A bit of history from my side. I originally took Diksha in 1982 from a dedicated (but ultimately immature for such a post) disciple of Prabhupada. At some point years later he was forced to go away for a variety of causes both obvious and concealed. Orphaned I prayed like this; "Srila Prabhupada I know that I am not your direct diksha disciple but some how I have been left alone here so I am taking shelter of you. You, Srila Prabhupada once told your students that the Grandfather Guru the Param Guru is even more merciful than the Guru himself. So please be so kind upon me and make some new arrangement for me. Please Srila Prabhupada help me out of this dreadful circumstance." I prayed like this every day and night for sometime. Not that very much long after I began this plea I came in contact with an old dear friend who had a great appreciation for the sweetness that was known as Srila Sridhar dev-Goswami. I will not rail on about Srila Sridhar Maharaja, his qualities are self evident to those who desire to see. I will say unfortunately I had been trained from my earliest days as a Bhakta to be an aparadhe towards him. Not indifferent or disinterested, but actually enimical. In retrospect a very scary thing. After hearing some nice compliments paid by Srila Prabhupada to Srila Sridhar Maharaja which had to that point been totally concealed from me I had the embarrassing realization. Like an old sixties commercial......From the makers of So and So, the fallen yet, somehow or other qualified Guru comes Sridhar the envious God brother. I realized I had been severely misguided by those I had trusted to tell me what were the rights and wrongs in Vaisnava life. I don't mean to gratuitiously speak bad about the institution but this is sad, factual history. I love ISKCON, I love the devotees and the Dieties that are ISKCON. But it can't be ignored mistakes were made by the administrative element. I have never not been allowed to visit an ISKCON temple. I am low key and not antagonistic on this subject. I am of the ilk, "What is the use for stirring up unresolvable fights." But I do know I would not be allowed to live and serve there, merely because of my initiation from Sridhar Maharaja. And as a footnote, when Sridhar Maharaja initially gave diksha to some ISKCON devotees it was understood they would serve in ISKCON. He said, paraphrasing, you are my disciple serving in the mission of Srila Swami Maharaja (Prabhupada). I have always maintained this mood, Srila Sridhar Maharaja sisha, serving in the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I look to the future when we all realize we're all playing for the same team and gang up on maya instead of one another.

We are personalists and what subject and decision beside accepting a guide who is to have eternal ramifications on ones spiritual development, could be of a more personal nature. I have seen in my few years around this Vaisnava culture an encouragement and concommitant tendency on the part of young Bhaktas (Myself, once included, but since reversed by undeserved, uncalled for grace) to jump at the first possibility, often with unhappy results for all involved. The "It could be my last day on Earth" premise is there, but it should not be impetus for making poorly thought out choices regarding such a serious resolution as who one will surrender the complete welfare and well being of spiritual life to. I have seen the desire to "get a new name" as paramount to joining the club, getting in the door, ect...as opposed to the most sober plan a human can execute in this life. Diksha is the equivalent to shoving off on the boldest journey the soul, surrounded by Maya can try to engineer. Sadly I can recall hearing (fortunately some years past) this sober execution reduced to the deplorable triteness of; "So and So Swami says he gives first initiation to fire 'em and second to get 'em to stay." I think I must have missed the class that covered that verse.

"I've was mistaken before once. I thought I was wrong." And similarly, "It is my humility which makes me the truly great person that I am." More seriously, good advice is given in the original posting. As much as we resolve not to be the source of anxiety and trouble for other living entities, big and small we will find reciprocation coming back in a similar way. Thank you for the wise words Prabhu.

I know some folks who have become attracted to Krsna Consciousness but are realistic about where they are at. They have seen how many people maintain the strict vows of initiation and are not ready to sit in a fire sacrifice and swear in front of the Dieties and devotees to never stray into material life again. From this position such persons take shelter of the books Prabhupada (and in some cases the siksha of other Paramahamsas as well) with no immediate concern for who will be their diksha connection. It is not the recommended path from a sastric view, life can be finished at any second and such delay in making a decisive move could be a source of regret. This reality taken into account such individuals seem to generally agree that as their bodies age and the level of passion which youth produces subsides they will contemplate making the serious vows and heavy commitments Diksha demands and hopefully be in a position to properly honor such convictions. I am not promoting or excepting such a stance, merely offering to the discussion that this catagory of Krsna Bhaktas are also there. I have always been taught and also personally experienced on some level, if one sincerely prays and petitions for real thing in spiritual life whatever the issue at hand may be, real thing Krsna will eventually send. (Of course sometimes a bit more circuitous then for our liking but He will send.)

For small dose of clever parody go to www.Google.com and type in, 'weapons of mass destruction', (all lower case letters) and hit "I'm feeling lucky".

Where or how did you find this? It's really well done!

But a half witted cow killer could we want to have his fingers on the buttons of our nuclear arsenal! I for one rest well at night knowing he's got Kali Yuga under such taut control.

When I heard on the news, Bush's latest "Bring 'em on" comment with regards Iraqi resistance I thought I was watching the promotion hype for some fake wreastling event. Yeah "Bring 'em on"... while I hide here in the White House surrounded by Secret Service and Marines. Yeah "Bring 'em on".... and let those nice eighteen year olds boys get smoked by the people we're "saving". Bush'll be sure and send a nice letter tellin' how important it was that their son gave his life when them evil doers took up his offer and "Brought it on". Hell, Bush'll even personally sign that letter, (with a real signature) when he ships what's left of that eighteen year old back to his family. "Bring em on." President Bush, truly a statesman extraordinaire.

Mostly there is the complaint that underneath it almost always says; "No winner, play again next life."

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply to my inquiries. Hare Krsna!

Our Srila Prabhupada was refered to as an Acharya. One who teaches by example. We may not yet qualify to have that title printed in front of our names but we can still strive to teach in this capacity. Guruvani Prabhu has offered fine advise. "If you can just be an example of the power and beauty of chanting Hare Krishna they might be won over by your example". I have found that merely executing the path of Bhakti many times is as strong as suggesting, hinting, begging, preaching or demanding others do the same. The other side of this situation is not unlike a drama playing out for your benefit. Some how Krsna is putting you in this situation. You see first hand the hell the mode of ignorance causes. If by some trick of Maya in the future there is even a hint of interest on your side for these types of activities Krsna has kindly given you a front row seat in this play of degradation and pathos to reflect upon. I have a similar situation. I was trained very nicely how to be a parent by my Mother who was about the worst parent one could imagine. (Abuse, no proper clothes, no proper food ect ...you pretty much name it.) When I had my children all I had to do was run the tape in my head of how she reacted in various situations and do the opposite. As aspiring devotees if we look closely we can always detect Krsna's hand molding our circumstance no matter how bleak we may calculate the situation to be. Nitia Gaura Haribol!