SINCERE QUESTIONS

[Deleted]

Jay Nitai,

We already met ( ) Nitai das ji and will be meeting more before I leave. That is one of the reason he asking questions to hear from senior devotee like you and JD.

Jay Nitai

[Nitaidas]

Great! I am glad to hear that, subrataji. I didn't know you guys were meeting. I'm glad to field any questions sb has as long as they are not beyond me.

[spiritualbhakti]

I have done alot of reading and i come across the word Sphurti alot, and I wondered:
1) Did the six Goswamis do sadhana to get those visions or were they spontaneously revealed to them in there hearts through kripa?
2)If sadhana can give a sadhaka a glimpse of the darshan of RadhaKrsna, is it only after the heart has been purified of anarthas?How to get that vision?
4)I hear alot about anarthas but are they defined or is there a list given of anarthas to become free of?
5) How rare is a siddha saint in this tradition?And how to know when and who to take diksha from; since it is an eternal relationship?

Thanks,
i hope these questions are answerable or at least can make us ponder a little.

Also i made some audio recitations but unfortunately im having troube converting to mp3

[JD33]

Oct 15, 2010 15:06:27 GMT -6 spiritualbhakti said:

I have done alot of reading and i come across the word Sphurti alot, and I wondered:

These are great questions and since no one has offered any answers, I will attempt to offer some responses below:

1) Did the six Goswamis do sadhana to get those visions or were they spontaneously revealed to them in there hearts through kripa?

It is the latter half that is true, but it is through our Bahajan Sadhana that we focus our desires and ablities. We do not do sadhana for visions - We do sadhana for purification and the cultivation/development of prem, so that we can directly serve in a most pleasing way the Divine Youthful Couple in the wonderful inconceivable Divine Play in Vraja. (Along with this can be a keen desire to help one's Blessed Gurudev and Guru line as they serve the Divine Couple).

2)If sadhana can give a sadhaka a glimpse of the darshan of RadhaKrsna, is it only after the heart has been purified of anarthas?How to get that vision?

Although, it can happen before the removal or dissolving of anarthas, it is after that process that the Darshan can be regular..... I only know this from witnessing my Blessed Teacher. Part 2 = Do intense study, sadhu-sanga and Nama Kirtan and Japa with honesty and humility and enthusiasm.

4)I hear alot about anarthas but are they defined or is there a list given of anarthas to become free of?

I do not have a list - perhaps Subrataji and or Nitai Dassji can arrange this? If not I will see about it in time.

5) How rare is a siddha saint in this tradition?And how to know when and who to take diksha from; since it is an eternal relationship?

There are very few Siddhas around now... This is also the case in at least one other great Tradition...... very sad reality for us now. Part 2 = Who to take from: A qualified Sadhu of the Tradition. How to know if they are qualified... They are steady in Bhajan Sadhana, they are honest and kind and compassionate to others, That they have some true spiritual attainment is desired, so that they can help move you, the student, beyond any places one may get stuck or confused. Also although not necessary, one can consider weather the Sadhu is self-proclaimed or that their Blessed Gurudev mentioned that they have the ability and proclivity to give Diksa and gave them the blessings to do so.

Hope this helps.

[spiritualbhakti]

Wonderful answers, they gave me a jolt of enthusiasm.

[JD33]

Bahajn of Sri Harinam is very powerful as Harinam IS Sri Hari Himself - Everything comes from this - all inspiration - all knowledge and revelation. It is extremely exciting! What we really need to understand is how not to offend It and others and how to Love It and others. How to cherish Sri Harinam in our Hearts and Minds without feeling arrogant or that we are better than others.

[spiritualbhakti]

I have been trying to make sri harinam bhajan my life and soul, and with the fortunate unfortunate loss of job hours I have more time;but I still find it difficult to chant.
I have to stay positive and eager

[JD33]

Yes, how to do this....... be easy with it. Enjoy that you have no rules yet to follow with doing Japa..... except to not offend others or think down of anyone. Also to not get frustrated remember what Nitai said - to do some breath control to calm your mind before sitting for your Japa and focus on your photos of RK, NG 6 Gosvamis and Saints of the CV Tradition will help. Read Bhagavat regularly.

[spiritualbhakti]

for some reason when i see pictures of saints in the cv tradition, they define the word SAINT to me in the truest sense.

[maasikdharma]

I hear alot about anarthas but are they defined or is there a list given of anarthas to become free of?

This question, as well as your question about sphurti, can be answered in Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur's book that dileneates the various stages of bhakti up until prem entitled Madhurya Kadambini.

That book, along with Raga Vartma Chandrika are two very important books to read in the beginning of one's sadhan life.

Sri Upadeshamrita by Sri Rupa Goswamipada and Manah Siksha by Sri Raghunath Das Goswami are also recommended.

Pundit Ananta Das Baba has published Bengla versions of those books that have been translated into English, as well BV Narayana Maharaja. I've read both and both are good.

I believe all are available online to order or to download as e-books, perhaps even some free of cost.

[spiritualbhakti]

My internet has been down for a couple of days and it is very very slow
but anyway i had a quick question:

Who is Jagadbhandu Sundar and how does his teachings and tradition differ and relate to CV?
Are than any other pictures of him besides the one popular one?

[spiritualbhakti]

My internet has been down for a couple of days and it is very very slow
but anyway i had a quick question:

Who is Jagadbhandu Sundar and how does his teachings and tradition differ and relate to CV?
Are than any other pictures of him besides the one popular one?

[maasikdharma]

A website for Jagadbandhuji
mahanam.org/

[sita]

Jai Gauranga,
I have been following the posts between Nitai prabhu and Malati devi, and in general reading here and there to understand the mood of this site, which is mostly sweet and sincere. Having said that there are few areas which I don't understand so well and that could just be down to my lack of background knowledge and or inability to comprehend the underlying passions and concerns of the topics.

What I am struggling with most, and I am admitting here that I have a conditioned frame of mind, is what appears to be a lack of respect for some of the Guru's of the Gauydia tradition. We may not agree with them, nor appreciate their styles of service, but some how I feel it would be better not to be rude when discussing them in the forum. After all even Mahatmas make mistakes due to being in human form what to speak of normal people in general.

I Know it is hard to forgive and forget, when feelings run deep, and people get hurt from no fault of their own, at the same time it may be better all round to find away to overcome that. Like I have said before I am no expert and I have been a casuality of iskcon my self. I have also had to deal with some simple souls and some highly complexed and evolved soul in processing the wickedness and confusion in the fallout and aftermath, which as we are seeing here goes on for years and maybe even life times if we let it.

What has just taken place in the last 500 years regarding the advent of Mahaprabhu is beyond most of our conceptions, at the least a new world religion, in that advent their has been so many components, we don't have the over view as we are still to close to the Divine Advent. There has been a lot of churning and not much stability, it is early days and so many of us have been given a little part to play, and in a some cases a big part to play in bringing stability amist the waves of love of God. They keep on coming, and their is so much diversity with those waves. Of course there has been wrongs do, each will have to own their own,but equally there has to come a time when we have the greatness of spirit to rise above pain and insult.

I didn't come here to preach on the contrary I came here to learn, and to some extent I am doing that very nicely, so I am thankful for that. No matter what we beleive or think is right or wrong, if we can find it with in our hearts to be kind and at peace with all others on this path then it will be so much better for us and every one else trying to comprehend this divine loving network of Gauranga Mahaprabhu's causeless mercy. That does not mean that I think we should be sticking our heads in the sand, not that there is much chance of that here, just to give a little credit if that is all we can muster, and try not to be rude even though we feel it justified.

[Nitaidas]

Jan 23, 2011 7:02:22 GMT -6 sita said:

Jai Gauranga,
I have been following the posts between Nitai prabhu and Malati devi, and in general reading here and there to understand the mood of this site, which is mostly sweet and sincere. Having said that there are few areas which I don't understand so well and that could just be down to my lack of background knowledge and or inability to comprehend the underlying passions and concerns of the topics.

What I am struggling with most, and I am admitting here that I have a conditioned frame of mind, is what appears to be a lack of respect for some of the Guru's of the Gauydia tradition. We may not agree with them, nor appreciate their styles of service, but some how I feel it would be better not to be rude when discussing them in the forum. After all even Mahatmas make mistakes due to being in human form what to speak of normal people in general.

I Know it is hard to forgive and forget, when feelings run deep, and people get hurt from no fault of their own, at the same time it may be better all round to find away to overcome that. Like I have said before I am no expert and I have been a casuality of iskcon my self. I have also had to deal with some simple souls and some highly complexed and evolved soul in processing the wickedness and confusion in the fallout and aftermath, which as we are seeing here goes on for years and maybe even life times if we let it.

What has just taken place in the last 500 years regarding the advent of Mahaprabhu is beyond most of our conceptions, at the least a new world religion, in that advent their has been so many components, we don't have the over view as we are still to close to the Divine Advent. There has been a lot of churning and not much stability, it is early days and so many of us have been given a little part to play, and in a some cases a big part to play in bringing stability amist the waves of love of God. They keep on coming, and their is so much diversity with those waves. Of course there has been wrongs do, each will have to own their own,but equally there has to come a time when we have the greatness of spirit to rise above pain and insult.

I didn't come here to preach on the contrary I came here to learn, and to some extent I am doing that very nicely, so I am thankful for that. No matter what we beleive or think is right or wrong, if we can find it with in our hearts to be kind and at peace with all others on this path then it will be so much better for us and every one else trying to comprehend this divine loving network of Gauranga Mahaprabhu's causeless mercy. That does not mean that I think we should be sticking our heads in the sand, not that there is much chance of that here, just to give a little credit if that is all we can muster, and try not to be rude even though we feel it justified.

Yes, sitadi, I understand your concern. I am not ordinarily a rude person. I am polite to all Caitanya Vaisnavas and I am polite to all who are not Caitanya Vaisnavas, too. When I come upon someone who is not a Caitanya Vaisnava but who is posing as one, then I become rude.

Look, it is not just a matter of my hurt feelings and disappointment with Bhaktivedanta. The persons you refer to as Gaudiya gurus are not really Gaudiya gurus. Maybe I need to lay this out more clearly.

Bhaktisiddhanta, Bhaktivedanta, Shridhar Maharaj, Narayan Maharaj and all of the others who belong to IGM (ISKCON and Gaudiya Math) are not really initiated into any lineage that goes back to Mahaprabhu or any of his close companions. This is a fact, not an opinion. Therefore they have no right to claim that they belong to or represent the tradition of Mahaprabhu. Plus there is a kind of power that comes with an authentic initiation. One becomes empowered by being initiated in an authentic lineage. My gurudev compared it to plugging oneself into a live electrical outlet that is connected by live circuit to a live power plant. The power plant in this case is Mahaprabhu or one of his empowered companions (Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara Pandit, Lokanath Prabhu, etc). There have been times when I did not believe this, but now I think this is quite possibly true. The mantras bear with them a power when properly received that they don't have when one just gets them out of a book. This power controls one, guides one; it is the caittya guru or inner guide that is extolled in the first mantra, the guru mantra. The door to the spiritual realm is unlocked and open for you. The paths of communication are open. too. It is now up to you to pass through it and progress along the path through sadhana. That door is still locked for the people in IGM.

The second fact I want to familiarize you with is that each of those "acaryas" (Bhaktisiddhanta, et al) has engaged in Vaisnava aparadha. Is there anyone here who doubts this? Do we have to drag up those horrid passages again for all to see? Should we establish a hall of shame somewhere on this site so that any who have short memories or who want to deny the truth can see what each of these "acaryas" have said about genuine Vaisnavas who are duly initiated into one of the authentic lineages? The fact of Vaisnava aparadha makes the imitation Vaisnavas especially pernicious and closes off the one avenue they still had for spiritual advancement, the inoffensive chanting of the holy names. If that avenue had remained open, there might have accrued some real spiritual benefit for them. Instead they are stuck with building temples, amassing money and followers, and publishing books none of which is capable of making one real Vaisnava.