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Post by meeno8 on Dec 15, 2019 7:50:50 GMT -6
Looks like holiday cheer is in the air here in Christendom. I am looking forward to some extra days off from my day job, although I like my day job. I would rather be back to working on my translation of Sundarananda Vidyavinode's book on the guru, but nobody is going to pay me that kind of money for that sort of work and I do still have a mortgage among other monthly bills. But, hey no car payments since we settled my father's estate after about 6 years in probate court, and I was able to pay that car loan off with a portion of the modest inheritance. Then then is always the chance I could win one of those mega jackpots on Powerball or Megamillions! Here's hoping. That is in Radharani's hands at this point. You can all submit to her some request if you want to see that translation published in the English language! If I don't see you in cyberspace, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I remember walking down the street in Vrindavan in 1982 on Christmas day and everyone was shouting at me, "Merry Christmas!".
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Post by Nitaidas on Dec 20, 2019 10:09:20 GMT -6
Greetings All,
We are back from Crestone and getting ready for the Christmas gathering at our house in Kirksville. I just want to share a thought with y'all on this thread. That thought is this: bhakti competition is not at all like mundane competition. I was reading Sanatana Goswami's Brhad-bhagavatamrta, First Part, Chapter Six, in which Narada goes to Dvaraka to meet Uddhava. He has just heard about the greatness of Krsna's grace upon him and he is in complete ecstasy. So intense are his ecstatic states that it surprises even Uddhava and Balarama and the many other bhaktas who are gathered there in Krsna's rooms. Krsna himself is sleeping when Narada arrives. Imagine that! Hearing of the great fortune of another bhakta and not feeling envy! In fact, one feels the opposite. So if Nilamadhava develops a more powerful bhakti than me and draws R & K to New Jersey it is a cause for celebration, not envy or unhappiness. It is really a win/win situation and a cause for nothing other than joy.
As for those who think that the idea of stealing Radha and Krsna away from India is an impossible goal and that the Indians are in a far better position than we Westerners to attract Krsna to our side, let me quote the great Prabhupada Kanupriya Goswami in a passage that Eduardo reminded me of (in his essay to be published in the Journal of Vaisnava Studies next issue):
… Now, since the people of Bhārata have been specially infected with offenses to the
holy name under the influence of the Age of Kali, the holy name, being displeased, has
nearly stopped manifesting its power in the enormous and open-handed way (i.e.,
without regard for worthiness) it did before … since that sort of causation does not
exist for people of other countries, who are indifferent, it is hoped that it is possible to
notice the influence of the holy name among them … (p. 76)
This is the very point I was trying make about the advantage of non-Indians over Indians these days and perhaps always. We come to it fresh, without the disadvantage of smarta ways of thinking, without the curse of complacency and self-esteem generated by the false belief that we are special because we were born in this or that family of multi-generational Vaisnavas. We have never heard of the Vedas or the Smrtis before our contact with Caitanya Vaisnavism and don't really care what those goofy old texts tell us we should or should not do. Those texts themselves are contradictory anyway. We are drawn not by rules but by the beauty of Krsna and his supreme lover Radhika (not Radharani- Queen Radha - her beautiful image covered and fouled by awe and reverence -nobody in their right mind wants kings or queens anymore). We are naturally raganuga bhaktas. It is only contact with Indian bhaktas that corrupts that sweet, innocent purity. My advice for the new year: steer clear of them, the Subratos of India, small men who think they are big. They will spread their namaparadha to you. Sanga can uplift, but it can also corrupt.
May the next year bring you all the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the lips to speak the real truth of CV (myself included).
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Post by meeno8 on Dec 20, 2019 22:28:12 GMT -6
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Take a big draft of that ambrosia of prem in the holy grail of harinam, one and all.
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 21, 2019 1:57:02 GMT -6
I do not in the high heaven abide, Nor in the yogin's heart do I reside, But where my devotees gather to sing, There, O Narad, I make my fond dwelling. Something like that.  or the first line might read, 'I do not in the Vaikuntha abide...' |
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Post by meeno8 on Dec 22, 2019 14:18:14 GMT -6
I do not in the luxurious heaven abide,
Nor in the yogin's heart do I reside,
But where saints gather my name to sing,
There, O Narad, I make my fond dwelling.
So, if they sing out my name loudly,
I must go there and consider them proudly.
For they have greater power than even my own,
When it comes to seeds of devotion that are sown.
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Post by Nitaidas on Jan 4, 2020 11:58:13 GMT -6
Greetings all. I am sorry for my absence here over the last few weeks. We were busy with family during the holiday season and did some traveling to visit family members who were unable to join us in Kirksville. It is never easy while traveling and staying with friends and family to keep up a presence here. Anyway, I am back and glad to see that discussions have been going on in my absence. Thanks to all of you who participated and hopefully will continue to participate in the coming days.
Happy New Year to you all and may the bird of paradise (a peacock, no doubt) fly up your noses!
I am still adamant about stealing Radha and Krsna from India. I know the theologically sophisticated among you will (have) say (said) that they are already here. But, theology lacks the beating heart of bhakti. I want to see them, smell them, hear them, touch them, speak to them. None of this invisibility stuff for me. The only way for this to happen is by cultivating bhakti, a bhakti so strong that they are sucked right out of their homes (be those homes in India or Goloka) and brought to us by force. I have been guilty of assuming that they are in India. They might not be there at all considering the high degree of kanistha-adhikaris who currently run things there. Nevertheless, it does not matter. Wherever they are, we will draw them here. Right? Are you all with me on this?
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jiva
Full Member
Posts: 143
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Post by jiva on Jan 20, 2020 2:44:47 GMT -6
It has started! Radha Krishna went from Udupi Krishna Temple towards me.
It's not like stealing because They themselves have decided to come.
Currently are in Abu Dhabi. linkThey just arrived!
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Post by meeno8 on Jan 21, 2020 16:45:18 GMT -6
Draw a huge magic mandala on the ground with blue and red chalk and put a Tulasi plant inside of it and shout in Sanskrit for them to come hither, is my advice.
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Post by Nitaidas on Jan 21, 2020 20:54:33 GMT -6
Draw a huge magic mandala on the ground with blue and red chalk and put a Tulasi plant inside of it and shout in Sanskrit for them to come hither, is my advice. Nah. We can't make them do anything, much less shout at them. Only bhakti moves them. |
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Post by meeno8 on Jan 25, 2020 10:53:38 GMT -6
Since they are in their names, then chanting the mahamantra out loud or mentally should invoke their presence.
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Post by Nitaidas on Jan 25, 2020 11:58:11 GMT -6
Since they are in their names, then chanting the mahamantra out loud or mentally should invoke their presence. Yes, but I want them here even when we don't say their names. I'm a greedy SOB! If we really had bhakti they would not be able to stay away. Bhakti is the power to control the Lord and Lady ( sorry for the awe and reverence in those names). And besides, a question has been posed to me about Radhika's names. Is she non-different from her names like Krsna is? What think you all? I will give my thoughts on this later. Hint: it is not as easy as you think. |
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Post by Ldd on Jan 25, 2020 20:40:18 GMT -6
Since they are in their names, then chanting the mahamantra out loud or mentally should invoke their presence. Yes, but I want them here even when we don't say their names. I'm a greedy SOB! If we really had bhakti they would not be able to stay away. Bhakti is the power to control the Lord and Lady ( sorry for the awe and reverence in those names). And besides, a question has been posed to me about Radhika's names. Is she non-different from her names like Krsna is? What think you all? I will give my thoughts on this later. Hint: it is not as easy as you think. I guess you're like Adwaita-Acharya - praying for Krishna to come to the West... and he hears. The state of things in India I agree is deplorable. Even: in the holy dham for eg. people go because of tourism. Long ago when they had to go by foot, very few were going. Now they are going for bus and car tourism ( to see all big new temples) Richer temples make lot of money (whole of India) and don't do anything about conditions, poor and cows. Beggars and businesses come from everywhere seeking something, and clog the place. The Bengalis that go during kartik for seva - they are good.. It's dangerous walking the street one can die anytime. At my ashram after Diwali you heard disco-music blasting till 2:AM (and don't expect anyone to complain cause nothing will be done.) Many leaders are corrupt and buy out smaller devotees..Book knowledge is not taught. ( there is lot of singing and katha at night attraction.) What to speak of neglect of sadhu. Cows (few left) are scared and tremble on the street - traffic is lawless. In general terms, aparadh towards all the things Krishna holds dear. It has become a dangerous place. There are very good sadhus mingling about still.... but very challenged. |
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jiva
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Posts: 143
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Post by jiva on Jan 27, 2020 0:07:09 GMT -6
I guess you're like Adwaita-Acharya - praying for Krishna to come to the West... and he hears. Nitai ji is Ananta Vasudeva (Puri das) of our time. If not his incarnation. |
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Post by Ldd on Jan 27, 2020 6:19:03 GMT -6
We need more people to bravely share un-influenced wisdom. A brahmana (vaishnava same) must not get comfortable with people's wealth (and things like charity organisations that blinds eyesight), must compare events with what sastra lays down. And keep providing light.
There are very very few left who put themselves at risk for truth.
Even The Sanskriti news webpage has writers from Iskcon.
A recent transgression against practice is : Jayapataka initiated nine hundred and fifty people in one shot on a trip to Bangladesh. Jan 20 2020, in medical mask and tubes full of germs. If there is not one (sadhu) to ask where he learned this from ( for the public good) I don't know what will happen.
But it wont happen in India (due to fear as also) Some of the Shankarites are brave. But we saw Peshawar swami giving full access to Radhanath, and the rest of brahmanas will not want to go against him.
That leaves westerners the ones to be the voice of truth. Don't be obsessed, but remain like a lighthouse: like Sri Nitai das Mahasai Mahajan and Sri Ramdas baba.
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Post by meeno8 on Jan 27, 2020 21:33:47 GMT -6
Caitanyaism for us Westerners has absolutely nothing to do with varnashram and brahmin caste. We were not born into that system, so it is irrelevant. We are outcastes according to that system. For those born into that system, that is their own affair, just as US citizenship for people born in the USA is our own affair. If one is baptized as a Christian, then they have to remain a baptized Christian, even if becoming also a Caitanyite. Since baptism is basically a samskara, then it is not like it can be reversed somehow. It is a right of passage, just like mantra diksha or marriage.
Truth to power may seem like some fantastic platitude, but I think we have to be practical. There is little point in storming the ramparts of the IGM institution with siege engines and catapults. Some will continue to stay behind its walls and moats full of alligators, because they find safety in that from the world of 'karmis', and others will find their way out somehow. I don't see critical thinking as some act of bravery, quite frankly. And that is really all that is required to reject apasiddhanta and leave any institution that fosters it. Nitai led the rest of us out of IGM with the torch of knowledge either directly or indirectly, however, so we are indebted to him for that and not being shy about sharing his findings.
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