D B Cooper Jr

The way it is looking in America it isn't going to take any sort of Iranian invasion or nuclear strike to bring America to its knees. The massive immigration looks like it is going to be the end of America as people know it. Wether the new America will be better than the old America remains to be seen but it looks more and more like the new America is going to be a massive social welfare state.

Definetly a lot of truth to what you just said Mahak in my opinion. I tried all those ascending paths and all they do is get you frustrated then once you get thouroughly frustrated then a copy of Bhagavad Gita practically falls right into your lap.

Yep, That Clinton kool aid is poweful stuff. Now people wonder why Fox News has taken over CNN and MSNBC and all that because of all of the cover ups of the Clinton scandals.

Hare Krishna BDM, I have heard many Vaisnavas that are mad at America because they say we have become a Christian Imperialistic force. I have heard Vaisnavas say who cares if Muslims and Christians kill each other, things like that. I don't necessarily agree with them but I can understand their frustration because there is a lot of dupilicity and materialism in America but like I say Prabhupada is the ultimate authority and Prabhupada said he didn't come here to convert people to Hinduism but to encourage them to follow their own religous principles and provide people with a further understanding of God if they were interested. So meditating on anger at Christians doesn't seem to be in the same mood that Srila Prabhupada was in based on what I have studied about him.

Christianity is Vaisnavism <!-- the main section of the post goes here --> Bhakti-yoga means connecting ourselves with Krsna, God, and becoming His eternal associates. Bhakti-yoga cannot be applied to any other objective; therefore in Buddhism, for instance, there is no bhakti-yoga, because they do not recognize the Supreme Lord existing as the supreme objective. Christians, however, practice bhakti-yoga when they worship Jesus Christ, because they are accepting him as the son of God and are therefore accepting God. Unless one accepts God, there is no question of bhakti-yoga. Christianity, therefore, is also a form of Vaisnavism, because God is recognized. Nonetheless, there are different stages of God realization. Mainly, Christianity says, “God is great,” and that is a very good assertion, but the actual greatness of God can be understood from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Accepting the greatness of God is the beginning of bhakti. Bhakti-yoga also exists among the Muhammadans, because God is the target in the Muslim religion. >>> Ref. VedaBase => PoP 8: Failure and Success in Yoga Prabhupada: No, no. Christianity is Vaisnavism. Dr. Patel: Vaisnavism? Absolutely Vaisnavism. Prabhupada: Anyone who… Mohammedan is also Vaisnavism. Dr. Patel: Mohammedanism is not Vaisnavism. Prabhupada: No, no. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had talk with the Pathanas. He proved that “Your religion is Vaisnavism.” Dr. Patel: Christianity is Vaisnavism 100%. Prabhupada: Therefore in Caitanya-caritamrta there is. I have already explained that. Dr. Patel: No, Christianity is 100% Vaisnavism. I have studied Christianity very well. Prabhupada: Not hundred percent, but… Dr. Patel: More or less. Prabhupada: Yes. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — February 17, 1974, Bombay Dr. Patel: Christianity it is really Vaisnavism, but they, unfortunately… The church… Prabhupada: Mohamedanism… Mohammedanism… Dr. Patel: The church has spoiled it. Prabhupada: Eh? Dr. Patel: Church has defaced it. Prabhupada: Yes. Everywhere. Dr. Patel: It is the church, Christian church, which has defaced Christism. Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Everywhere the followers make the whole thing bungled. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk Excerpts — May 1, 1974, Bombay Got that from www.prabhupada.org

Hare Krishna theist, That is the way I look at it too. Love of God is in the Christian religion if that is what you are looking for. The key is getting that love for God then you don't have to bound by a bunch of ritualism etc. Krsna Consciousness literature hasn't lessened my love for Jesus in anyway, it has just expanded my view of God. I view that as a beautiful thing and I am still eager to hear or even relearn beautiful truths from both religions. Or like you say even if science is revealing Gods truth I like to learn from that or any other form of knowledge that reveals the wonders of God. They are like you say different sets of codes.

Hare Krishna Guest, I agree with a lot of what you are saying and clearly you are a much more intelligent biblical scholar then I will ever be. I also agree with BDM that Krishna is unlimited so it is possible that He is even the Christian God. Maybe some cleric comes up with fanatic statements about exclusivity or maybe Moses had some moments when he was off his rocker or something but I believe the essence of Christianity is very similar to the essence of Krsna Consciousness. Whenever I commune with the supersoul I always have warm feelings towards Jesus because it is my belief that he was willing to give up his physical body in trying to encourage people to have faith in God and not many people are willing to go that far.

Hare Krishna bija, Yours is a great story and nothing offensive about that at all.

Hare Krishna bija, "These material tastes are wearing thin"- You can say that again. I once met an old man when I was a young man full of hopes and dreams. He told me "Life just keeps going on and on and on." I thought he was kind of cynical and bitter but now after spending many years of doing the same things over and over again I understand what he was saying.

I am definetly a neophyte in regards to Vedic literature but I was wondering is there any way to have a relationship with Krsna that is in mood of complete and total ridiculousness? I vaguely remember something in Prabhupada's books about there being a humorous relationship with Krsna but don't remember exactly what it said. I realize you would have to maintain the high regulative standards otherwise it would just turn into crude karmi comedy but I am very attracted to such a relationship because I just can't take life very seriously anymore no matter how hard I try. I really like the incarnations of Krsna where he behaves like a madman living with cows and stuff. Those ones are just a riot. You can't help but love a guy like Him.

Can you get all that from reading Prabhupada's books. I read his books and recognize his greatness although I don't follow perfectly I am way better than I used to be. Mostly scared of devotee association because I have read about all sorts of horror stories in regards to Iskcon but eventually I realize I am going to have to abandon the association of a lot of the karmis I live around. I really like reading Srimad Bhagavatam, absolutely amazing book, but I have no desire to preach it to anyone, in fact I can't think of anything that would be worse than that. I don't know if this means I am going to burn in a karmic hell for many lifetimes, I would definetly prefer not to.

I can understand peoples frustrations with Christianity believe me. I have lived around them for a long time and I think it is fair to say they are enminical towards brahmanical culture for the most part. Just for my own personal peace of mind I like to take Prabhupada's mood toward Christians and try to encourage them to follow their own commandments then they can elevate to the mode of goodness and possibly become more interested in Krsna. A devotee like Prabhupada is tolerant as a tree, Krsna will probably be much more harsh on the Christians if they remain enminical to brahmanical culture, so I understand peoples desire to see Christians destoyed. I do believe that Jesus was a pure devotee of God and that it is possible that the burning bush was Krsna and Krsna said to himself "I will give these primitive people in the desert a copy of regulative principles to follow, I would like to give them a copy of Srimad Bhagavatam but I fear they are too primitive to understand it". Just because I believe this doesn't mean I have any desire to join and be baptized by any Christian church anymore than I want to submit myself to a guru who demands worship, money, and then ends up having sex with his disciples.

Prabhupada said the Lame man (India) should join forces with the wealthy man(America) and promote spiritual culture around the world or something to that effect. As we can see that hasn't exactly happened as the world appears to be on the verge of collapse. Definetly a sad situation and I get a sense of forboding that a major catastrophe could happen sometime in the near future as a result of the karma going on. Hopefully I am wrong. quote=gHari]Stay the hell out of Iran. Get a life, you morons! Your self-image of 'the good' godly brothers remains only in your own delusions of grandeur. Soon you'll have to be placed on the list of terrorist nations. We need to realize the godless hell that has become typical of our streets, and step down from our prancing ponies and realize that our enemy lives here bigger than life. Our enemy: ourselves. Iran. Don't even think about it. Surely you know that 9/11 is the direct result of your previous attacks on towers in Libya. That is what Bin Ladden said. While watching those towers fall on TV, he envisioned the 9/11 plan. I guess that makes 9/11 simply extended collateral damage.

I found a quote in Srimad Bhagavatam that says if you recite the story of Prahlada Maharaja in the morning and evening with faith and devotion then all or your material needs will automatically be taken care of by Krishna and you will be guaranteed to go back to Godhead when you quit your body. I don't know if this means there is some flexibility in devotional service. From what I have read Prabhupada was very strict about chanting 16 rounds and following regulative principles but then I have read other statements where Prabhupada says the most important regulative principle to follow is no illicit sex and that if you are going to eat meat make sure and not to eat cows. I guess it changes for the audience he is speaking too or something. Maybe he was making concessions because western culture is so blind to spiritual realization.

Everyone is full of faults in Kali-yuga. Best to pray for people to follow the rules of their religion, that is what Prabhupada did. He had great respect for Christianity as I have seen quotes that say Christianity is a form of Vaisnavism and that Prabhupada has no war with Christianity. All he asked is for Christians to please follow their commandments. He didn't make fun of them.