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Post by fiorafemere on Aug 16, 2009 10:57:46 GMT -6
I would also like to add onto the first question spiritualbhakti asked: how can we offer beautiful flowers we grow or nice vegetarian meals we make if we are not initiated?
Thank you all in advance
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Post by Ekantin on Aug 17, 2009 9:22:27 GMT -6
I'm not initiated, but I find the idea ludicrous that one needs to be initiated to do anything remotely puja-like. Seriously, millions of Hindus around the world may be uninitiated and engage in worship, simple stuff like cook prasad and offer flowers/incense in their own homes, God doesn't accept their worship?
It's all about love. Offer your flowers, cook your prasad. If you believe he'll accept it, he will.
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Post by Sakhicharan Das on Aug 20, 2009 22:42:35 GMT -6
Jai Nitai!
Sorry, looks like no one really attempted to answer your questions, spiritualbhaktiji.
Even if initiated I wouldn't recommend deity seva to anyone unless they are really, really into it. This is my personal opinion and a practical one. It is a great deal of responsibility and especially difficult if you have to travel, etc. Worship pictures of Panch Tattva and Radhey Shyam. Also put up the picture of at least one Vaisnava Mahatma that you have a great deal of faith in and keep his picture there on your altar as well.
As far as your question about Vyas in a trance and parallel universes, I really don't understand what you are asking.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2009 15:01:50 GMT -6
jai nitai,
You can't discourage a person from worshipping a deity of krishna, for krishna trades in love only, and does not banish people to hell for little mistakes.. What is the "great responsiblity" about offering some little tidbits to a deity? It sounds like laziness to me. When someone wishes to worship krishna in a personal way, He appears as a deity. Worship is not hard labor, its an act of love. There is no harm, and is not the cause of falldown as people commonly think. its about personal direct reciprocation and love,.. not black and white laws based on fear.
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Post by malati on Aug 22, 2009 4:04:49 GMT -6
Hare Krishna Spiritual Bhakti
I remember that our Baba said that pictures of Krishna and gurus/acharyas in the line we are most inclined to are alright to use to set up an altar.
The simple it is the better in a way, because we can have more time and focus to connect to them. The important thing is our sincerity to use the altar as a time to remember them and offer your affection and your practical service to them.
In my case my practical services are: offering foodstuff, flowers, incense, singing to them, fanning them in summer, and in the evening , in winter when I've put the cover of my little altar which is contained in a big box , I also cover the whole altar with a flannel blanket to keep them warm. I sometimes make sure that the door where the altar is located is open to let the air from the gas heater warm them up too. There is no hard and fast rule in service to them. Do it when you think it's pleasing to them.
These activities are not like ritual to me ; I do it when I think it's the right thing to do for the moment/season.
Treat the altar as your Vraja, I guess.
Also everyday after waking up in the morning the first thing I do is bow down to my guru and at the altar.
When I offer prasad I say this sweet and simple mantra.
First offer food and drinks to Krishna For food say 'etat sa tulasI naivedyam sri krsnAya nivedayAmi namah
For drinks say 'etat sa tulasI pAnIyam gangodakam sri krsnAya nivedayAmi namah'
2nd part of the offering is to Radha and sakhis say 'Sri RAdhikAdi sakhI-ganebhyo namah' 3rd part of the offering is to Sri Gurudeva say 'Sri GurudevAya namah'
To give you an idea how my altar looks:
Facing the altar, my deity Krishna is on the left side of Radha. My dear Sadhu Baba on the right side of Radha. My guru's parent (my param gurus): Ananda Gopal Goswami and his wife Goswamini are on the left side of Krishna. Sri Advaita Acharya on the left side of my param gurus.
Spiritual Bhakti you asked: Srimad bhagavatam is the topmost scriptual authority; and in my specualation i imagine that there is historical truth as well as symbolic teachings.Ultimately i beleive in the existence of a personal god ;Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar as well as higher dimensional spiritual beings,why not . Anyway my question is when Srila Vyasdeva went into trance is it possible what he recorded was in a similar but parrallel universe?
I'm not so sure about this but I think Srila Vyasadev might be in a parallel universe, not this universe.
Happy Radhastami!
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Post by spiritualbhakti on Aug 23, 2009 18:45:05 GMT -6
jai nitai, You can't discourage a person from worshipping a deity of krishna, for krishna trades in love only, and does not banish people to hell for little mistakes.. What is the "great responsiblity" about offering some little tidbits to a deity? It sounds like laziness to me. When someone wishes to worship krishna in a personal way, He appears as a deity. Worship is not hard labor, its an act of love. There is no harm, and is not the cause of falldown as people commonly think. its about personal direct reciprocation and love,.. not black and white laws based on fear. I am in no way discouraged . I am looking for practical advice and was leaning more towards puja to a picture i feel connected with and not the Murti form, i dont feel close to ready and just wanted something easy,practical and simple. Oh yeah i agree when you said "its about personal direct reciprocation and love"thanks for you intrest
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Post by spiritualbhakti on Aug 23, 2009 18:48:17 GMT -6
Hare Krishna Spiritual Bhakti I remember that our Baba said that pictures of Krishna and gurus/acharyas in the line we are most inclined to are alright to use to set up an altar. The simple it is the better in a way, because we can have more time and focus to connect to them. The important thing is our sincerity to use the altar as a time to remember them and offer your affection and your practical service to them. In my case my practical services are: offering foodstuff, flowers, incense, singing to them, fanning them in summer, and in the evening , in winter when I've put the cover of my little altar which is contained in a big box , I also cover the whole altar with a flannel blanket to keep them warm. I sometimes make sure that the door where the altar is located is open to let the air from the gas heater warm them up too. There is no hard and fast rule in service to them. Do it when you think it's pleasing to them. These activities are not like ritual to me ; I do it when I think it's the right thing to do for the moment/season. Treat the altar as your Vraja, I guess. Also everyday after waking up in the morning the first thing I do is bow down to my guru and at the altar. When I offer prasad I say this sweet and simple mantra. First offer food and drinks to Krishna For food say 'etat sa tulasI naivedyam sri krsnAya nivedayAmi namah
For drinks say 'etat sa tulasI pAnIyam gangodakam sri krsnAya nivedayAmi namah'
2nd part of the offering is to Radha and sakhis say 'Sri RAdhikAdi sakhI-ganebhyo namah' 3rd part of the offering is to Sri Gurudeva say 'Sri GurudevAya namah'To give you an idea how my altar looks: Facing the altar, my deity Krishna is on the left side of Radha. My dear Sadhu Baba on the right side of Radha. My guru's parent (my param gurus): Ananda Gopal Goswami and his wife Goswamini are on the left side of Krishna. Sri Advaita Acharya on the left side of my param gurus. Spiritual Bhakti you asked: Srimad bhagavatam is the topmost scriptual authority; and in my specualation i imagine that there is historical truth as well as symbolic teachings.Ultimately i beleive in the existence of a personal god ;Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar as well as higher dimensional spiritual beings,why not . Anyway my question is when Srila Vyasdeva went into trance is it possible what he recorded was in a similar but parrallel universe? I'm not so sure about this but I think Srila Vyasadev might be in a parallel universe, not this universe.Happy Radhastami! Thanks this was really helpful and to the point. please excuse my 2nd question because i was just confused
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Post by Sakhicharan Das on Aug 23, 2009 23:28:55 GMT -6
I'm not so sure about this but I think Srila Vyasadev might be in a parallel universe, not this universe.But he is in this Universe Malati. He is one of the chiranjivans as is Markendeya Rsi and a handful of others. They will be here until the dissolution of this Universe.
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Post by spiritualbhakti on Aug 25, 2009 18:52:28 GMT -6
two more questions
1)Is there a sadhana in Caitanya Vaishnav' that is about gopa bhav? 2)was there ever a point in history of a gopa lineage from Mahaprabhu's associates?
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Post by Nitaidas on Sept 3, 2009 5:11:28 GMT -6
two more questions 1)Is there a sadhana in Caitanya Vaishnav' that is about gopa bhav? 2)was there ever a point in history of a gopa lineage from Mahaprabhu's associates? Yes. I've known a number of Sakhya-bhava bhaktas in my time, including the great Vanamali Das Sastri. The modern manifestation of that kind of bhakti seems to come from Prabhupada Prangopal Goswami, a great acarya from the early 20th century. There are not many older works written on it, but there are a few. I will find you some names of texts later. Haridas Das has published at least one and there may be more.
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Post by spiritualbhakti on Sept 16, 2009 5:50:13 GMT -6
[/quote] Yes. I've known a number of Sakhya-bhava bhaktas in my time, including the great Vanamali Das Sastri. The modern manifestation of that kind of bhakti seems to come from Prabhupada Prangopal Goswami, a great acarya from the early 20th century. There are not many older works written on it, but there are a few. I will find you some names of texts later. Haridas Das has published at least one and there may be more.[/quote][/color] Ah, that would be great if you found some time to check out those names. I would just like to know something about sakhya bhav from a acarya who mood it is. I really got interested after learning the summary of the Brhad Bhag. of the story of Gopa Kumar and his traveling to the highest plane of existence. I am not knowledgeable at all, so i get confused if attaining another rasa besides Manjari bhav is Rupanuga or not. any more contribution in helping me understand this would be great ;D
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Post by avadhuta on Sept 18, 2009 15:46:54 GMT -6
Appreciating the helpful mood of most answers here, still real help is in giving the facts. The truth is, this tradition is a bit more sophisticated than remaining sentimental. There is a reason for intitiation. There is a fundational difference between practice without diksha, and practice after receiving diksha. In fact, the tradition does not conceive of worship without initiation. Obviously this tradition is not the same as Hinduism. One who takes up this practice starts from taking diksha. Gurutattva is the pivotal concept to grasp in this practice. And no accident, apparently the most difficult concept to master as well.
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Post by spiritualbhakti on Sept 18, 2009 22:02:36 GMT -6
Thanks for the staight facts, i cant help but say you encouraged me to receive diksha immediately. but you also discouraged me in a way now it feels like my practice is meaningless.even though i know Sri Hari knows my heart i would feel so much better if i was initiated.
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Post by avadhuta on Sept 19, 2009 13:13:33 GMT -6
Spiritual bhakti, please don't feel discouraged, you are still very young, you have the protection of innocense and of time. You're ok still. But if you develop desire for diksha, that will be a greater step even.
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