gopal sakha

sometimes we see that certain devotees have held certain conceptions about how we fell from Goloka or Vaikuntha and started our material samsara. Because they hold these misconceptions for so many years they have to think that it must be true, it must be right - it must be correct. Even in the face of so much shastric evidence, the devotees will not let go of their false notions about the fall of the jiva. they just stubbornly stick to their long held misconceptions thinking that they cannot be wrong on this point because they have thought this way for so long. spiritual life requires that we be flexible and willing to accept the truth even if it conflicts with long held misconceptions we have. we did not fall from Goloka to become worms in stool.

Let's allow Lord Krishna to weigh in on this issue. api cet sudurâcâro bhajate mâm ananya-bhâk sâdhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah WORD FOR WORD api -- even; cet -- if; su-duracarah -- one committing the most abominable actions; bhajate -- is engaged in devotional service; mam -- unto Me; ananya-bhak -- without deviation; sadhuh -- a saint; eva -- certainly; sah -- he; mantavyah -- is to be considered; samyak -- completely; vyavasitah -- situated in determination; hi -- certainly; sah -- he. TRANSLATION Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

How does all that figure in situations where we see eternal parshadas like Rupa and Sanatan Goswami who are eternal devotees but who fell down from Brahminical culture and dined with and associated closely with Muslims? We see examples of many great pure devotees, even parshadas who appear to fall into maya and do all sorts of material things? How many great devotees and parshadas have appeared in this world as materialists, meat-eaters and karmis? What about Bhaktivinode? What about his having been Christian at one point and into brahmoism at another time? The extreme fanatical use of certain things Srila Prabhupada said to certain persons for certain reasons cannot be used to undo what he wrote in his books about apparent falldowns of devotees. There are scriptural references that seem to contradict what Srila Prabhupada said in this conversation to this Hindu gentleman. Should I post scripture to explain my point? Let's take a broader more comprehensive look at everything in the books of Srila Prabhupada about devotees who fall down. Let's not let this one statement in some conversation eclipse everything in the books of Srila Prabhupada about fallen devotees.

Nostradamus was in maya. He had no good conception of reality. How much faith can we put in the hallucinations of a lunatic?

I don't think Srila Prabhupada introduced Ekadasi immediately to his followers. I think it came a little later. I don't think Srila Prabhupada was extremely fanatical about implementing Ekadasi immediately with his followers. Some of the oldest devotees could probably tell us when it was instituted in ISKCON, but I don't think it came automatically when ISKCON was formed. There might be something in the Lilamrta book about it. I might be wrong but I remember hearing something about this before.

this Ekadasi superstition is one of the more bizarre parts of the Hare Krishna beliefs. Most devotees do not accept that the Moon is further than the Sun yet they accept that all the sins of the world enter into beans and grains on the eleventh day of the waxing and waning Moon. this ancient superstition that all the sins of the world enters into beans and grains on Ekadasi is indeed a very bizarre superstition that virtually all devotees accept. However, I do accept that there is something to it, because if I fail to observe an ekadasi I will have nightmares or be bothered with ghosts that night. I don't know how it works, but I firmly believe in this Ekadasi thing, even though it is beyond our understanding how these things are going on.

it's says that he falls down, but it does not specifically say that he falls down to the material world and become an amoeba and has to evolve for billions of years to become human being and a chance for self-realization. to say that he falls down to take birth in the material world over and over again is not said in this reference. the fall down could be a bad dream or something other than falling down to take birth in the material world. the shastra has said that living entities DO not fall down from Vaikuntha and there are no examples in the shastra to support that. Even the case of jaya and vijaya was not really a falldown but the will of the Lord that they come to fight with him for his pastimes. don't read too much into that statement. it's not specific enough to support the fall from Vaikuntha theory on the origin of the jiva issue.

ISKCON gurus consume too much sugar and ghee and they do not get enough physical activity. Srila Prabhupada requested that ISKCON use raw sugar if possible, but ISKCON continued to use processed white sugar and too much ghee and butter in the diets of the devotees. ISKCON gurus could use a little yoga discipline and a lighter diet than is offered the deities. If devotees want to eat like the deities, then they will eat too much sugar and ghee. The lifestyle of ISKCON gurus is too relaxed and lazy. They need some physical exertion. I heard a narration about Srila Prabhupada walking through Balboa Park in San Diego with some disciples when they came upon some yogi type doing yoga exercises. The disciples sort of snickered and scoffed at this individual and expected Srila Prabhupada to criticise this yogi, but Srila Prabhupada acknowledged this yogi and said "this is good health". So, yoga as a process of self-realization might be terribly deficient in this age, but yoga as a healthful discipline is very good.

it's not the rhythm and melody that makes it Gaura kirtan. it's the outpouring of heart that is the qualitative feature of Gaura kirtan. I can mimic the singing of an old babaji in Bengali style, but I can tell you for sure that it's just melody and style and not proof of anything more. I could cut a tape and promote it as some old Bengali babaji and a lot of people wouldn't be able to tell the difference. So, it's not melody, rhythm and voice that makes Gaura kirtan. I have been gifted with a proclivity to find sweet and mystic melodies for chanting bhajan, but I can assure you my spiritual life is a work in progress.

Sripad Bhakti Sudhir Maharaja gives a very captivating, humorous and lucid dissertation on comparitive theism and the currency of the spiritual realm. please listen and relish this excellant audio presentation from the CSM temple in Soquel, California upon his return from a long tour through Russia, Europe and Navadvip Dham. california. http://scsmath.org/NEW_MATERIAL/