Arjuna Haridas

Pregnancy is physical. [True] love is spiritual. Similarily, a woman may have a different mindset than a man, but all of us are the same gender (neuter) when it comes to our soul, and it is from our soul that devotion to a specific God/Goddess comes from. As a matter of fact, women are nearly impossible to convert. I tried it with my mother - she's stubborn as a mule. Men, meanwhile, are easier to convert (I myself have bounced back and forth between religions before settling on Hinduism in general). As said before, there are many exceptions.

I'm sure that if Prabhupada said that women are more intelligent than men, she would be singing a different song. But that's a different story. It takes a man to tell a woman that she is intelligent when it is drilled into her head that she isn't. It takes a woman to tell another woman that she is what she is - a human being. Men cry, women cry. Men are stupid, women are stupid. When does the 3rd sex come into play?

You're kinda off. It was finished a little after the death of Muhammad (in the 600s CE). It's obvious that it wasn't written thousands of years ago, and it's also obvious that the author of the Bhagavata Purana isn't the same author as the Mahabharata.

Namaste/Haribol As a part of my spiritual quest, I'm going to try Gaudiya Vaishnavism (which, ironically, is where I started back in April 2007). I already know the basics of this great religion, but I'm having problems on the purification rituals. The only purification ritual I know of is Achamana. Does Lord Chaitanya recommend this? Or does He recommend a different type of purification ritual?

I know how you feel. Nowadays, its impossible to find a true Guru of any path - Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, whatever. Especially when you're a Westerner (an "outcaste"). It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. I have to go throughout my whole life as the Lone Soldier. I have no community that does not shun me, and of those Hindus who welcome me, none of them practice. Our "Temples" are just money dens filled with intolerant people. Whatever little worship goes on is given less importance than some dance from some 80s Bollywood movie. At least, that's how it's like for the local temples of my area. I've read the story of another Western Hindu on another website. He had to pay an arm and a leg (figuratively, of course) just for a homa. When the "priest" saw him, the "priest" got angry because Prabhu was white-skinned! You know its the Kali Yuga where you can't even take shelter in the holiest places on Earth. Stick with it, and keep praying to Lord Krishna. Personally, I know that He's a better deliverer than Dominos' (an inside joke). When chanting this mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare I am no longer a Lone Soldier, but I have an army behind my back; an army that can annihilate the forces of every man, unscratched. This is the army of Krishna's Love.

To be honest, that's as believable as those Christian miracles I get in the mail every week.

Namaste. I can only give a simple answer as I am not a religious expert. "There is no work that affects Me; nor do I aspire for the fruits of action. One who understands this truth about Me also does not become entangled in the fruitive reactions of work." (Bhagavad Gita 4.14) "But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have." (Bhagavad Gita 9.22) These verses from the Bhagavad Gita suggest that Lord Vishnu can free one of any bad karma (and any good karma for that matter). This is obvious since the Creator of Karma obviously can control it. So I would suggest praying to Lord Vishnu (or Whoever your Ishtadeva is) and I suggest that you ask that all bad karma be relieved from you because the situation is not in your control and you can't do anything about it.

"I am present equally in all beings. There is no one hateful or dear to Me. But, those who worship Me with love and devotion are very close to Me, and I to them" (Bhagavad Gita 9.29) We already have the Love of Krishna. It's up to us to accept and repay this Love.

Namaste to all. How exactly is one to worship Krishna WITHOUT puja? The only method I know of is "Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya" from the Vishnu Purana. How else can you worship Krishna (aside from puja and the Hare Krishna mantra)?

Thanks. I plan to come back to FFI. Just needed to leave for a while (it was getting progessively worse). So just to be clear, I don't roll the "r" in "Shree"? I would pronounce the "r" as a do in "road" (no roll, as if I was speaking English) or as I would in "rupiya" (a roll, as if I was speaking Hindi)?

Namaste. I'm not sure how to pronounce "Sri" as in "Sri Rama". Do you roll the "r" like you would if you said "Raja" or is it a regular English "r"?

The Brahmana were too busy oppressing the lower castes to care. The lower castes were too busy being oppressed to do anything. The Kshatriyas overall were too weak to do anything.

Thanks for your response. So If I pronounce the Name of Rama as "Ram", it'll still be effective (as the Rama Nama mantra)?

Namaste to all I'm planning to devote myself to Rama, and I'm confused as to what exactly to call Him. Many refer to Him as "Ram". However, Shastras call Him "Rama" (with the long "A" sound). Even Brahmana call Him "Ram". Which one is preferred?

Namaste. How does one go about purifying themselves according to Vaishnava Shastra (preferably Sri Vaishnava Shastra)?