karthik_v 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 A few months ago H H Bhakti Swarup Tirtha Maharaj was giving 12 days of lecture on SB in Seattle.During the course of lectures he happened to touch upon the idea of fasting. Let me try to get out the gist of what he said: "On days like Ekadasi, we should fast..but what is even more important is to have satsanga. Satsanga itself means sadhu+sanga or association with devotees of the Lord. Days like Ekadasi are oppurtunities for all, including grahasthas, to gain such association which will keep the devotional fire in us alive. Similarly, when people go on yatras to a dham, they should eat only once a day, chant atleast 6 hours and read scriptures like SB for 6 hours. And all this to be preferably done in satsanga. All these occasions like Ekadasi or yatra to a dham are occasions to remind us that eating, sleeping, mating and defending are not the purposes of our life." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by karthik_v: A few months ago H H Bhakti Swarup Tirtha Maharaj was giving 12 days of lecture on SB in Seattle.During the course of lectures he happened to touch upon the idea of fasting. Let me try to get out the gist of what he said: "On days like Ekadasi, we should fast..but what is even more important is to have satsanga. Satsanga itself means sadhu+sanga or association with devotees of the Lord. Days like Ekadasi are oppurtunities for all, including grahasthas, to gain such association which will keep the devotional fire in us alive. Similarly, when people go on yatras to a dham, they should eat only once a day, chant atleast 6 hours and read scriptures like SB for 6 hours. And all this to be preferably done in satsanga. All these occasions like Ekadasi or yatra to a dham are occasions to remind us that eating, sleeping, mating and defending are not the purposes of our life." Good points, prabhu! The real fast is not simply cleansing so we can feast again, but consciously extricating ourselves from any identification with the material energy. Thus chanting of the Holy Names is the only recommended sacrifice for Kali Yuga and it should be performed constantly, preferably in the personal association of His Divine Grace embodied as Sri Guru and sadhus. HARIBOL! HARIBOL! RR [This message has been edited by valaya (edited 09-21-2001).] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRdd 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 That wasn't the complete email, my dear poet, but you are right, I shouldn't have mentioned it but I will not breach by elaborating as you have done. I would have preferred deleting the post about the nectar... Anyway, if you see fit to throw nectar my way, I will keep my mouth open but silent. Like a baby bird. JR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mahak 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Haribol, JR, I think I knew another Jesus (AKA Las Vegas Richard). He was also a very nice person, but had se4rious issues, not the least was a horrible Vietnam experiance coupled with the fact that he joined the marines two weeks after he killed his best friend while "playing" with the father's rifle. He got out of Nam in '68, got into the veggie/surfin world (and did live in Aptos, which is not that different than Soquiel). He had quite a following in '70, but I had heard that he left voluntarily sometime in '71 as described above. Unfortunately, his path crossed with the Manson clan that was spread out thru SC area back then, and his troubles were mixed with a marvelous concoction from Vegas called "Psychic Energized", part PCP, part MDA, part drano, and I guess I just explained his suicide. It was ironic. I went to Idaho to live in the Sawtooth wilderness after a two-year stint with the Navy spies and a year with the yachtmakers from costa mesa. I stayed there from april to october, 1971. I left the Las Vegas homies in Long beach, and everything was peace and love, psychic energizer was a new thing, but the "Krsna" hippies did not want to go there, we stayed with the Afghans and their hash oil. Six months later, as we returned for our surfboards and big wave tickets away from Kaliforniacate forever, the Las Vegas posse was brain dead, playin with guns and thinking everyone was enemy. The Jesus I knew could not transcend the devil's promises, and paid the piper. The time I speak of was very early seventies, my SC experiance was 69ish while I still was a civilian working on Navy Antenna systems. I did know many devotees who called Santa Cruz home, I knew well the original folks who started the health food co-op, but I met them all in Hawaii, not SC. Early SF disciples and family members, Jivananda and his sister and friends as well as others, etc. haribol, ys, mahaksadasa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
talasiga 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by JRdd: Anyway, if you see fit to throw nectar my way, I will keep my mouth open but silent. Like a baby bird. How can the exiled mean dwarf throw nectar to a distant Snow White ? BTW, my breakFAST this morning was snow peas from my garden. Now I am going "bush" for some days to fast and pray If anyone is sending me a friendly message I will not be able to reply for quite some days Not that I'm expecting any ....... My kindest and most loving regards to all my friends (even those who dont like me !) ------------------ talasiga@hotmail.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dasanudas 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 We look forward to your return from the 'burning bush', and sharing with us what it tells you. What if it asks you to stay for a month? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Does anyone remember the Christian guy who was bicycling with his girlfriend, then suddenly left her to head out into the desert with just his bible for 40 days. God showed him where to dig for water, I think, though he was not always successful. Finally he had `a vision of God's love for all of mankind` and he left the bible, because he felt it was no longer necessary. Don't remember how he left the desert, but he married his girlfriend and is now happily married, still appreciating God's love for all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by dasanudas: We look forward to your return from the 'burning bush', and sharing with us what it tells you. What if it asks you to stay for a month? Was that really a `burning bush` or all that poetry that his wife forced him to toss out 'cuz it was cluttering up the house? (chuckle!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dasanudas 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Question: Does the burning bush talk thru the prophet or the prophet talk thru the burning bush? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by dasanudas: Question: Does the burning bush talk thru the prophet or the prophet talk thru the burning bush? Only the genuine prophet knows...or does he? Now you're getting me confused! Could Talisiga be haunting us with some strange Aussie bush-magic? Do you think he's preparing himself for an all-out poetic assault when he returns? Should I be studying the Theasaurus and my Oxford Book of Quotations? Nah, japa will have to do! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atma 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by Gauracandra: I think you have to be real careful with the fasting. The longest I've ever fasted was for 3 days. One devotee I know went through a major fast. But he consumed one thing. Basically it was maple syrup with lemon juice and water (I think, if I remember correctly). He said that combination helped keep the energy level up, but still purge the system, without it getting overloaded with food. Any recommendations on how to approach a safe, sensible fast? I'm not about to go 40 days without my pasta Gauracandra You sound like you're a good cook, talking about saffron pudding and now pasta. Do you have any good recipe for tomato sauce? Another day with more time I'll tell you when I did a complete fast for 9 days. Only water. [This message has been edited by atma (edited 09-21-2001).] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dasanudas 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by valaya: Only the genuine prophet knows...or does he? Now you're getting me confused! Could Talisiga be haunting us with some strange Aussie bush-magic? Do you think he's preparing himself for an all-out poetic assault when he returns? Should I be studying the Theasaurus and my Oxford Book of Quotations? Nah, japa will have to do! Your words have just inspired a vision of a starving mystic dancing around a fire in the Aussie red heart to the pulse of the digeridoo. Chanting "make my koans koanea" We know you have your laptop with you Tal. We'd never talk behind your back mate it's unCanadian, can't speak for the Aussies tho! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRdd 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by talasiga: How can the exiled mean dwarf throw nectar to a distant Snow White ? Distant only to some. Those whose dealings aren't respectful. yourself. My friends don't find me distant. They find me very near. BTW, my breakFAST this morning was snow peas from my garden. Mine was cold leftover porridge with maple syrup. Had to feed the bear in me. Grrreeat! Now I am going "bush" for some days to fast and pray If anyone is sending me a friendly message I will not be able to reply for quite some days Not that I'm expecting any ....... My kindest and most loving regards to all my friends (even those who dont like me !) Jury's still out. But my soul namastes yours. JR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRdd 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Originally posted by atma: You sound like you're a good cook, talking about saffron pudding and now pasta. Do you have any good recipe for tomato sauce? Anyone can throw pasta in a pot of boiling water, carefful or he might answer that last one with "ketchup". I know someone who eats raw tofu with "sauces" as he puts it. Including ketchup. Kinda cute but.... Now but one qualification of a good cook is that he or she is a good eater. So there is a good chance that Gaurachandra is a good cook. Another sign is, he is a Vaisnava. Another day with more time I'll tell you when I did a complete fast for 9 days. Only water. Same as me! Nine days too, just little water. Ok make it soon then will ya? JR sis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 I'm sure Talasiga doesn't always intend to be disrespectful, methinks he's just got a shoulder under his chip... [This message has been edited by valaya (edited 09-21-2001).] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRdd 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2001 Well then better than a fish under it. Still, there IS something fishy goin' on, but you don't know what it is, do you, Mystery? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
talasiga 0 Report post Posted September 25, 2001 Originally posted by JRdd: My friends don't find me distant. Have you heard that there are some who keep their enemies closer than their friends ? . . . Closet Friend ------------------ talasiga@hotmail.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
talasiga 0 Report post Posted September 25, 2001 Originally posted by atma: Another day with more time I'll tell you when I did a complete fast for 9 days. Only water. I have heard of one who ate fish for nine days and then went out and WALKED on water ! (But, then, no-one seems to have time for such stories these days.....) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
