Vedesu

Very nice question. I don't know if my answer will be what you are looking for, but since no one else has responded, allow me to give it a go: As per the Sri Sikshastaka, chanting cleanses the dust which has accumulated within the heart over the course of innumerable lifetimes. Lust, anger, greed, pride, envy, and illusion are the 6 great enemies within which comprise most of this dust. These enemies are deeply rooted and often go unnoticed until we stir the pot, so to speak. Just like when making ghee, we boil the butter and the impurities rise to the top. Similarly, when we begin the chanting process, our enemies within, oftentimes having gone seemingly undetected for so long, thus rise to the surface, in all their ugly, abominable so-called glory. While disturbing to experience, the good news is that we are able to identify and isolate these enemies, and recognize them for what they are: unwanted things. It is easier to uproot the weeds when we can readily see them... much harder to do so when they are buried underground in root form. Continued chanting will dissolve the anger as well as uproot it. It is a gradual process, so patience and determination are required. Also, if we feel overwhelmed by anger and other undesirable things, we can take solace in the fact that if we cry out to Krsna with feelings of helplessness, just like a baby crying for its mother, Krsna is karuna-sindhu, an ocean of mercy, and will lovingly reciprocate with us more than we can ever imagine.

When you speak of chanting in the park gHari, I thought you might like this:

Nice story, gHari. These forums have served many purposes, not the least of which is to hopefully give us some training so that we can better speak the philosophy in "real life." Many of us have been isolated for one reason or another and the forums truly did provide a sense of fellowship, even if there was a lot of bickering going on at times. No, I wasn't Vedesu on SRV. But I liked his style. And I saw that whoever he was, he wasn't using that handle over here on AF, so I thought I would grab it up. My wild guess was that Krparama prabhu (owner of VNN) was Vedesu. I couldn't imagine him hosting those forums and not participating, but of course, I could be wrong. You betcha, I hope to join you in the park someday! Let's keep the dream alive.

The end of an era, I suppose. Many of us were participating on the old VNN forums during the 90's before AF came along. Heck, I remember gHari from SRV, so I imagine some of us will be going through some withdrawal pangs after 13 years or so on discussion forums. But, time marches on. Most of the issues have been hashed out thoroughly and then some. I was even tempted to start one last thread on jiva tattva just for kicks. But I imagine one of the stealthy moderators would have slammed the door shut on that rather quickly. Well, my dandavats to my godsister Sri Jaya Radhe Dasi, who left us way too soon. She had a heart of gold and loved Srila Prabhupada dearly. As did my godbrother Sriman Puru prabhu. I had always felt that after he left, something in the forums died as well. But then, that's just my own personal sentiment. And farewell to all the devotees who seemed to just quietly vanish into the ether, such as Living Entity, Beggar, Audarya Lila, and so many others. Namaste and Hare Krsna!

I remember him as a part of the Dallas community in early '79, so apparently he didn't remain long as TP in the Windy City. Interesting how quickly things change. I wasn't a member of the Chicago Temple, although I visited a few times during the mid-70's and was there for the maha-initiation when all the RDTSKP busses were there. Anyone remember the devotee who took Babaji initiation at that time, I think his name was Audolomi? And wasn't there a devotee there named Pundarika who had memorized the entire Bhagavad Gita (an amazing feat at that time) and recited it to Srila Prabhupada? When Uttama Sloka prabhu left Toronto, was it Vishvakarma who replaced him? My memory is getting really fuzzy these days. Glad you're writing these memoirs, Bhaktavasya Mataji. I remember that there was a famous letter to Sri Govinda regarding how everyone should go out on sankirtana, including the TP, and only 1 or 2 devotees to stay back at the temple? Some of the cooks and pujaris were made to feel (by some of the book distributers) that they were 3rd class members of the Movement. They required some gentle preaching that an army moves on its stomach, so to speak.

Could you elaborate please? Is that "t" for Trivikrama? Or perhaps "t" for Tulasi? Or perhaps it was a typo (common error, I do it all the time), and you meant "r"? If so, "r" as in Ramachandra? Or "r" as in Rudraksha?

Interesting question. I hadn't really thought about it before. As you most likely know, Srimati Radharani isn't mentioned by name in the Srimad Bhagavatam, despite the fact that the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krsna are the very essence of the 10th Canto. What I'm observing in some of the above posts is that the Acaryas in our line such as Srila Narottama das Thakur, Srila Sridhar Maharaja, and Srila Narayana Maharaja, and no doubt many others, being rasika, are able to extract the deeper meanings of Rupanuga Vaishnava sastra. Which in turn is proof that books alone will only take us so far. Guru is essential in unlocking the treasure chest. For that matter, without a pure Vaishnava Guru as our guide, most students will tend to drift towards an impersonal conclusion upon reading Sri Bhagavad Gita. Still, that doesn't answer your question. I don't have the answer, although I would suspect that the term "manjari" would appear somewhere in the writings of the Six Goswamis. Sadly, I'm no scholar and have not read most of their works, thus anything I say would simply be conjecture.

Beautiful photos, Yasodanandana prabhu! Thankyou for sharing. It is always a sad time when a pure devotee leaves this world, or at least disappears from our mortal vision.

Is there any way you can visit both Temples for the time being? If Srila Narayana Maharaja is coming to visit in a few months, I would suggest that you go and have his darshan and hear his classes. In the meantime, do whatever you can as far as reading, chanting, praying, and serving. Krsna will reveal the answer to you in your heart. Hare Krsna!

Thankyou Prabhu. I always enjoy the photos of Srila Prabhupada that you share.

Again, more recycled propaganda which has been addressed numerous times. Why do some feel it is necessary to repost this type of poison from the Sampradaya Sun? I was appreciating what Sarva and others had to say on this thread, thinking we were making some progress in learning how to respect and appreciate other Vaishnavas (or at least avoiding disrespecting them) even if we ourselves choose not to be followers. "Bhakti Caru Swami confirms that in Bengali Srila Prabhupada asked Narayana Maharaja to help us after his disappearance." - Giriraja Swami, Following in the Footsteps - Srimati Jadurani devi dasi How To Reconcile Apparent Contradictions Full rebuttals to all the recycled arguments can be found at the Refutations Archives.

Yes, it is very auspicious to keep Ganga Jal at your home. If a family member becomes ill and is close to dying, you would definitely want to give Ganga Jal to your loved one. Always keep some on hand if you are able to.

There is a Refutation Archive at BVML with numerous position papers which address nearly all of the accusations raised by Parasurama das: http://bvml.org/ref/index.html Parasurama's paper is nothing new. It's pretty much the same old recycled nonsense that pops up once or twice every year. Srila Narayana Maharaja has never criticized Srila Prabhupada as some allege: Regarding Srila B.P. Puri Maharaja: As an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, I must say that I am quite embarrassed that some of my Godbrothers continue to engage in the inauspicious activity of propagating Vaishnava aparadha. Surely, Srila Prabhupada cannot be pleased with this.

Thankyou Laulyam Prabhu. Excellent realizations by His Divine Grace Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja. PS: A hearty welcome to our newest member: soda. But he wasn't the only one who joined today, so lest I leave the others out, a great big hearty welcome to our other newest members: lakshmanan, msnamita, dr. yashpal, and lalie. Also to info, NENGLES, buddha2k, and any others who may yet join today! Also, Audarya Fellowship has 3 members who are celebrating birthdays today!!! A great big Hari Bol shout out and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: RonPrice <!--rlm-->(64), <!--rlm-->Sandeep123 <!--rlm-->(30), and <!--rlm-->innahc <!--rlm-->(23), may they attain love of God within a very short time!

Prabhupada: I never said that. http://www.hknet.org.nz/SP-INeverSaidThat.html 75-09-02.Omk Letter: Omkara Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter dated August 17, 1975 and have noted the contents. I never said there should be no more marriage. By all means legally you can get married. How can I object? They misunderstand me. Unless it is there from me in writing, there are so many things that "Prabhupada said." I was expecting, or at least hoping to see an apology from the author of the post above for his extremely rude and seethingly hateful replies to Stonehearted, but unfortunately, I was disappointed to witness yet more venom spewing from this ritvik spammer. He was asked for a simple reference to a "Prabhupada said" but was unable or unwilling to provide one, and when he felt (wrongfully) that his authority was supposedly challenged, he reacted in a way which is not exemplary from one who wants to be known as a Vaishnava.