hare krishna

ISKCON have rules, which many of their own so-called 'spiritual masters' have flaunted, some in the most despicable ways.

But this is about Krishna, not one limited sect who believe in Him.
If you read the Gita, you will find that nowhere does Krishna say that eating meat is forbidden. He simply give the classification of various foods according to which of the gunas they come under.
Few truly spiritual people of whatever path or belief would reccommend intoxication. Some might recommend some drugs such as psychedelics, but these are not really 'intoxicants'.
As for killing - Krishna makes it abundantly clear that on occaision, killing may be necessary, although it should be avioded if possible.
When you say pleasure is bad according to these teachings, I wonder if you've heard that Krishna is the source of all pleasure?

The Bhagavad Gita does not promote 'bigotry' - I just don't know what you mean by that.
The word 'Jihad' occurs only in relation to Islam, and also comes up in the novel 'Dune' - it has nothing to do with Indian philosophy in any of it's manifestations. The battle described in the Gita was not a 'holy war' in the sense of Jihad, but the outcome of a complex political situation, as related in the Mahabharata. Both sides in that war had the same belief system, so 'conversion' by force, which is the function of Jihad doesn't enter into it.

 

Thanks Andrew for explaining it a lot better than I did...

Also, yes, you are right...I suppose Krishna does decide if this thread goes on.... lol...

Hare Krishna!

 

Dear Nicole -

it's the same way with everything really. The idea that we posses some real will independent of the Divine is an illusion of the ego consciousness. The more we come to realize the Divine is in control, that we are only instruments, the closer we move to God, the more we partake in the Divine nature.

 

A story that I heard recently...



There was a boy whose father left him and he wanted to take revenge on him for that. He asked his mother where he could find God for help. His mother told him: "there's some Babaji's out there in the woods, maybe you should try over there". So he went to the yogi's and started to focus on the supreme lord and went to very extreme austerities.

So he was there, sitting very angry and ready for revenge: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya". (in the meanwhile also thinking "get my father get my father, I hate him I hate him). He was so focused on the supreme lord that even the demi gods were disturbed and so Sri Krishna came down and met him.

He said "oh, THERE you are" (in a very arrogant way). On that very moment he realised that Sri Krishna was standing before him. He suddenly realised he was getting so much mercy from the Lord that he knew getting revenge on his father wasn't necessary. He already reached the highest you could reach at this point: seeing Krishna. He stopped his plans for taking revenge on his father and and lived his life in Service of Krishna.

 

hehe nice

 

Dear Nicole,

Nice story, thanks.

That is how everything including one's ownself get dissolved into Him by taking His holy names.

Love,

Kumar.

 

Dear GD Kumar,


Good to see you back on the forums again you have been missed.

Om Shanti!

 

Ditto.

 

Jai Sri Krishna!!!

 

Hare Krishna!

Jai Sri Krishna!

Thank you Jedi.

Love and prayers,

Kumar.

 

.

 

"ISKCON have rules, which many of their own so-called 'spiritual masters' have flaunted, some in the most despicable ways.

But this is about Krishna, not one limited sect who believe in Him.
If you read the Gita, you will find that nowhere does Krishna say that eating meat is forbidden. He simply give the classification of various foods according to which of the gunas they come under.
Few truly spiritual people of whatever path or belief would reccommend intoxication. Some might recommend some drugs such as psychedelics, but these are not really 'intoxicants'.
As for killing - Krishna makes it abundantly clear that on occaision, killing may be necessary, although it should be avioded if possible.
When you say pleasure is bad according to these teachings, I wonder if you've heard that Krishna is the source of all pleasure?

The Bhagavad Gita does not promote 'bigotry' - I just don't know what you mean by that.
The word 'Jihad' occurs only in relation to Islam, and also comes up in the novel 'Dune' - it has nothing to do with Indian philosophy in any of it's manifestations. The battle described in the Gita was not a 'holy war' in the sense of Jihad, but the outcome of a complex political situation, as related in the Mahabharata. Both sides in that war had the same belief system, so 'conversion' by force, which is the function of Jihad doesn't enter into it."
.....From BBB

Hare Krishna !

Dear BBB,
Thank you for the clear and simple explanation without any ambiguity. Whatever you have said is so very true. Only if all of us could understand the same way about food and other matters, things would have been much better.

With love,
Kumar.

 

"i love krishna- but there ARE some rules. no meat for instance! no intoxication. no killing and i read somewhere that sex-for-pleasure was bad according to it.

also it is a lot happier than you are making it saound.

i tried it but it wasnt for me (the meat thing) so im lloking at other religions that promot love and not bigotry and jihads".......From Amanda's Shadow

Hare Krishna!

Dear Amanda's Shadow,

It was nice to read your views and to know that you love Krishna. I am afraid you are under wrong informations and impression. There are absolutely no rules to love Krishna. The way we want love from all around us, He also wants that He is loved by us. He does not bother whether the lover has eaten meat or taken a peg of whiskey. Glory to him who can love God after drinking liquor and eating meat. There is no rule as to how to love him there are only paths and endless paths to love and reach Him. And the best of all is to remeber Him in everything you do at all times. Once you love Him the questions of eating, drinking, intoxication etc become very meaningless. Because you find Him to be the greatest and only source of all.

His name and thought becomes the best thought, the best food, the best pleasure(More than the sexual pleasure), the best drink and intoxication. He is the eternal source of all.

Most of us have the problem with the name, Krishna. Well, let us take any name that we can easily accept and love Him. Once the love for Him comes truly inside us then the difficulty of acceptance will go away and merger of everything into Krishna or seeing Krishna in everything else will take place.

With love and prayers,

Kumar.

 

"Prabhujee Dayaa Karo
Maname Aana Bao

Tuma Bina Laage Soonaa
Khaali Ghatame Prema Bharo

Tantra Mantra Poojaa Nahi Jaanu
Mai To Kevala Tumako Hi Maanu
Sare Jaga Me Dhundaa Tumako
Aba To Aakara Baahan Dharo

Oh Master, show some compassion on me
Please come and dwell in my heart

Because without you, it is painfully lonely
Fill this empty pot with the nectar of love

I do not know any Tantram Mantra, or ritualistic worship
I know and believe only in you!
I have been searching for you all over the world
Please come and hold my hand now"........From SvgGrdnBeauty

Hare Krishna !

Dear SGB,

That's wonderful ! That is the right way of thinking and praying. That is the true child -father relationship. The simplicity of a child is the best quality to have or grow, if possible.

Thank you.

With love,
Kumar.

 

"Never! This thread is satsang. Why allow a discussion of bhagawan's glories to come to end? As the gopikas put it in their beautiful gopika geet in bhagavatam, tava kathamritam tapta jeevanam... the nectar of your stories gives life to those who are tortured (by this world)..."
..........From Bhaskar

Hare Krishna !

Dear Bhaskar,

It could not be better said, thank you. You have hit the bull's eye. The very purpose of this thread is "Satsang". Glory to all who have contributed here, CCP,BBB,SGB,SJ,Yoga Lady, Jedi,Jagannatha Dasa, Bhaskar....so many names. All did one job only, glorifying the Lord and reiterating the words of hope for all of us. Any seeker, anybody who wants to know about God and His devotees and how one can inch forward towards God, will immensely benefit by reading this thread.

All will benefit from this thread(Book ?) only if they read the pages without any religious bias. Let the Christians read it as Hare Christ, the Muslims as Hare Allah and the Buddhists as Hare Buddha and so on. Well, no debate please. We have done enough and have only gone backwards. Seldom we are willing to do or practise as advised and learn the thruth ourselves. We are little learners and we indulge into indecent arguements with little knowledge acquired from the books.

Everything is in transition, permanency is only in Him and in His name. It does not matter if this thread comes to an end but for sure He and His name will be there everywhere.

With love,

Kumar.

 

Dearest Kumar,


It is wonderful to have your presence on this thread again! Thank you for sharing with us all

*Peace and Love*
Nicole

 

I found another translation of the Bhagavad-Gita that is very good...its by Spiritual Sky publications...it has all different quotes and explainations by the many great teachers who have translated the work over the years including Srilla Prabhupada, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Ramakrishna, and others... I just though you all might be interested...its a little easier (for me) to understand than just reading Bhagavad Gita As It Is...but then again...I've learned many things since I have read that book almost a year ago (wow...I can't believe its been that long)...

 

I may have mentioned this before, but another very good english version of the Gita is the translation by Christopher Isherwood and Swami Prabhavananda.

Here is a brief extract from ch. VII -Knowledge and Experience.

Sri Krishna: Devote your whole mind to me, and practice yoga. Take Me for your only refuge. I will tell you how. by doing this, you can know me in my total reality, without any shadow of doubt. I will give you all this knowledge, and direct spiritual experience, besides. When a man has that, nothing else in this world remains to be known.

Who cares to seek
For that perfect freedom?
One man perhaps
In many thousands.
Then tell me how many
Of those who seek freedom
Shall know the total
Truth of My Being?
Perhaps one only.

My Prakriti is of eightfold composition: earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and ego. You must understand that behind this, and distinct from it, is That which is the principle of consciousness in all beings, and the source of life in all. It sustains the universe.

Know this my Prakriti
United with me:
The womb of all beings.

I am the birth of the cosmos
And its dissolution too.
I am He who causes;
No other beside me.

Upon Me, these worlds are held
Like pearls strung on a thread................

 

"Who cares to seek
For that perfect freedom?
One man perhaps
In many thousands.
Then tell me how many
Of those who seek freedom
Shall know the total
Truth of My Being?
Perhaps one only.

My Prakriti is of eightfold composition: earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and ego. You must understand that behind this, and distinct from it, is That which is the principle of consciousness in all beings, and the source of life in all. It sustains the universe.

Know this my Prakriti
United with me:
The womb of all beings.

I am the birth of the cosmos
And its dissolution too.
I am He who causes;
No other beside me.

Upon Me, these worlds are held
Like pearls strung on a thread................"
.........From BBB(Quoted from The Gita)

Hare Krishna !

Dear BBB,

That is beautiful and that's a great job done, thank you.
It is in very simple and easy words of English to understand. We find little time these days to read much, so it will be a gret job done if we,the devotees, contribute here such beautiful pieces, in easy language, from the Gita, the Bible and other holy books.

Love and best wishes,

Kumar.

 

"I found another translation of the Bhagavad-Gita that is very good...its by Spiritual Sky publications...it has all different quotes and explainations by the many great teachers who have translated the work over the years including Srilla Prabhupada, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Ramakrishna, and others... I just though you all might be interested...its a little easier (for me) to understand than just reading Bhagavad Gita As It Is...but then again...I've learned many things since I have read that book almost a year ago (wow...I can't believe its been that long)..."
.......From SvgGrdnBeauty.
Hare Krishna !

Dear SGB,

That piece of very good information must be very much useful for many of us, thank you. Reading any book is a matter of great art and skill. It is difficult to explain but three different people arrive at three totally different meaning after reading the same book, we are aware of that. So, definitely it becomes much easier to read the holy books written in much simpler way. However, still the fact remains that we need to read them over and over again. Because understanding them depends mainly on your mental make-up. As you read them again and again, his compassion comes and you understand even the most difficult part and also you get new meaning of the apparently understood thing.

Love ,

Kumar.