skeptic

I found a webpage that has some books that seem pretty interesting. I'm wondering if they're worth it though. They are translations of the original works of Gaudiya Vaisnava Acaryas including the Six Goswamis of Vrndavana edited by Kusakratha. Has anybody here ever heard of him? Does he know what he's writing? Is it worth it to throw some money down for these books or should I just stick to Prabhupada? Thanks for your input. If you want to check them out they're at http://www.rvc.edu/store under the book section. Skeptic

yes i agree. it's like they just vanished. apparently others have tried contacting them but they don't respond. oh well. at least there is still this place

Yep. I think the Mela is dead. Have been going there to see if there are any conversations going on and nothing. Strange.

Hey thanks, gHari! It looks very quiet over there. That's probably what the guys who put it up wanted. I'm gonna mosey on over now and read the posts! Hare Krsna.

Does anybody know what happened to the Dharma Mela? Was it taken down for good? Thanks.

Great question! I wonder why nobody has responded. I was just wondering where in the Gita it says we should refrain from eating eggs. If anybody knows could you please tell me the chapter and verse. And what is so bad about onions and garlic. The dietary restrictions don't make a whole lot of sense to me. I can certainly understand refraing from meat eating though. Thanks.

Hi. Can anybody suggest a nice book by Swami B. V. Tripurari? I'm looking at purchasing one now but I'm not sure which one to get. I'm very interested in his point of view and I've heard many nice things about him but I think that many of his books are rather exorbitantly priced. So if you could suggest one on the cheaper side that would be great. thanks.

Prabhupada has definitely got to be one of the most influential persons of the 20th century. His accomplishments were outstanding and remarkable. I wonder if it's all going to get bigger or his popularity will diminish over time. Is he truly one of the Greats? I tend to think so. But time will tell. Funny thing is, the inportant thing isn't supposed to be Prabhupada. It's supposed to be Krishna.

He was a little old man with a great big heart. He was a visionary. He was a businessman. He was a man on a mission to spread the word of Krsna. He was somebody's father. He was somebody's husband. He was somebody's little boy. He was extremely successful. He was a great translator of the Bhagavadgita and Srimad Bhagavatam. He brought Krishna to the West on his own golden chariot. He was a man who may have not known exactly what he was starting when he started it. He was perhaps too kind to those wretched few who stained and tarnished the name of everything he had worked for. I wonder if he died with a broken heart and a feeling of betrayal. I hope he didn't. He was just a great man who will be remembered for a very long time.

Is God Krishna....or is Krishna God? What I mean is, did God (Visnu) assume a material form in Krsna as He did with Rama? Or is God already Krishna? I've read both theories, so to speak, and I just wanted to know what you guys thought. Thanks.

Nice job, gHari. That quote fits right into what we were discussing. I now understand more what Abhi meant when he asked me whether it would be bhakti or mukti. Thanks.

I'm not sure I understand the question. My understanding is that mukthi means liberation. If that's the case then isn't mukthi my final aim, as is everybody's?

Don't you have a website devoted to Caitanya Mahaprabhu? If so, what's the URL?

Actually, I'm attracted to both. That's why I was wondering whether or not there is some "school of thought", so to speak, out there that follows and/or combines both. I think the closest I've found yet has been Sri Ramakrishna. And you're definitely right about the Srimad Bhagavatam's power to develop bhakti. I have a version other than the one Srila Prabhupada translated which is very inspirational. I'd like to get my hands on some of the volumes Srila Prabhupada translated too, especially the fifth canto.

Dear All, Thank you for replying to my question about impersonal bhakti yoga. I have been studying many different ways to reach God through the Indian tradition of Sanatana Dharma and sometimes I find many conflicting views. That's why I asked the question about impersonal bhakti yoga. It seemed to make some sense to me but apparently I have a lot to learn. Bhaktajoy, you made a very good point when you wrote: <blockquote>The truth is - Hinduism is monotheistic (Believes in One God). However, Hinduism believes not only in One God, but also in His Supreme Personality. This personality of the Supreme Being is manifested in different forms around us and within us perpetually. To meditate on the Supreme Being, man would have to absorb all these infinite manifestations (which are continually taking place without a starting point or an end) with his finite or limited capabilities. Clearly, this is not possible.</blockquote> To meditate on the supreme being knowing that He is an infinite manifestation is definitely something that apperas to be impossible to humans based on our finite capabilities and understandings. That is something I must surely contemplate more. Instead of furthering this discussion right now I think I'll instead think about and meditate on the answers that you gave me. I sure hope I didn't offend anybody by asking this. I know how sensitive these issues can be to some people.