Guest guest Posted March 14, 2002 Report Share Posted March 14, 2002 > ould you tell us, Sergei, how someone who neglects you in this way > inspires you? I admit I feel a little confused. I privately wrote the same thing to Sergei. I feel confused and concerned. I know that there are many of our godbrothers who are willing to give time, energy, guidance and love to their disciples. This is their responsibility, I feel. Of course, one can truthfully point out to me that I am not a guru. However, sastra states that one should not become guru, mother or father unless one can liberate one's disciple or child. Certainly I cannot guarantee that I can liberate my children, but the fact is that having taken up the responsibility as a parent I can see the correlation between parent and guru, and feel I have somewhat of an understanding of what a child or disciple needs. If I was raising my children as Sergei is saying he is being raised as a disciple, I would likely be charged with neglect of my children! As a parent or guru, one has rights and one has responsibilities. I'm not sure that Sergei is getting what he needs a bhakta on the path of bhakti-yoga. Your servant, Madhumati devi dasi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2002 Report Share Posted March 14, 2002 On Thu, 14 Mar 2002, Babhru (das) ACBSP (San Diego - USA) wrote: > daughter was considering initiation some years ago, but realized that her > confidence in the devotees she was examining was not unreserved. She has > more recently told me that there's only one devotee who does inspire such > confidence. Unfortunately, I am that devotee (Houston, we have a problem). This is the reality that led many of our predecessors to follow the *other* mode of disciplic succession: sukra-parampara. Much the same can be said about Deities; unless They're part of the family, most people simply aren't going to care for Them that much. As much as Srila Prabhupada criticizes the caste gosvamis who don't have brahminical qualifications, to my knowledge he never once denies the authority of the traditional system that gives them whatever validity they claim. Is it better to be a dvija-bandhu from a mleccha family or a dvija-bandhu from a brahmana family? The converse may give us a hint; I don't recall the exact reference right now (please feel free if anyone else does), but I've heard that Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that if one has faith in both a bonafide guru who is born a brahmana and another bonafide guru who isn't born in a brahmana family, one should take initiation from the brahmana-born guru. MDd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2002 Report Share Posted March 15, 2002 Dear Prabhus, This is exactly the same feeling I have since 12 years and after the fall of a previous guru. I hope this may lead to a serious discussion between the godbrothers of concerned gurus to free the mind of those in my case and B Sergei's case. This situation is simply unbearable cause scriptures have no evident solution and apparently this is not anymore a priority in Sri GBC's concern. Should we cultivate stoicism, now ? Taking a fifth initiation?. What is the next step before complete despair? Ys Vraja Gopal das (South of France) - "(Bhakta) Sergei Schmalz (Wiesbaden - D)" <Sergei.Schmalz (AT) pamho (DOT) net> > > However strange it may sound, my problem is rather to get the confidence > FROM that initiating guru who has been inspiring me for over 8 years. At > times I feel even sort of left out or overlooked, you know what I mean; not > that I am saying that I am THAT good, no, just that I dont feel like I am > worse than many others who DID get that confidence from the same guru and > got initiated. And this kind of problem doesnt seem to want to let me find a > solution in the nearest future... > > Your humble servant, > Sergei. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2002 Report Share Posted March 17, 2002 Dear Vraja Gopal Prabhu, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga and Sri Sri Radha-Govinda! > This is exactly the same feeling I have since 12 years and after the fall > of a previous guru. I hope this may lead to a serious discussion between > the godbrothers of concerned gurus to free the mind of those in my case > and B Sergei's case. This situation is simply unbearable cause scriptures > have no evident solution and apparently this is not anymore a priority in > Sri GBC's concern. Should we cultivate stoicism, now ? Taking a fifth > initiation?. What is the next step before complete despair? I guess I can understand your problem better than many others do. I have never been initiated yet, that's the only difference. Thus, I wanted to share with you my mind and try to raise your spirit, I hope. First of all, never give up hope, dont ever let the despair get you down. I've been there and know how it tastes to be "shot down" by the despair. Now, of course, you would ask how to keep going in life. I personally keep in mind these things: 1) It took Srila Prabhupada many years to get first initiation from his guru after their first meeting in 1922. 2) If we are honest before the Lord, then He knows our needs, but this doesnt mean He will rush to give us what we need right away, we should always remember that who knows what kind of nonsense we've ever done in our past lives, perhaps just that causes us to go through our present spiritual troubles. Recently, I have found out what my name means. It originates from Roman name Sergius which means "servant" or "attendant". This very much inspired me to remember my consitutional position as Lord Krsna's servant/attendant. Looks like the Providence "told" my parents what was the right name to give me. Try to look for similar "drops of nectar" in your PRIVATE life. I stress the word private, because our eternal devotional relationship with Krsna is to a major extent a private relationship. Even in a family every single family member has different feelings to different family members, similarly all of us have their own special ways of loving Krsna. Dont spill any single "drop of nectar" that you find in every "blooming flower" on the fast "field" in Lord Krsna's world. It's about you and Him. And, oh well, the guru who links us to him... Your humble servant, Sergei. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2002 Report Share Posted March 21, 2002 Dear Sergei Prabhu, Thank you so much for your kind words. As we may see, our big senior devotees are not overworried by what is the most bigest problem in our society. Actually I am not myself anymore so in "despair" cause I'm simply waiting patiently for the truth about Sri Guru and I am sure this will be disclosed soon or later to all the devotees and followers of Srila Prabhupada. Kali-yuga means also dividing the knowledge. From both, one part should be the truth and requires to be exponed beyond all fitting technical arguments . This day will come when all devotees will live and dance in reunited spiritual brotherhood, just like before. Hapiness should be shared by everybody to be complete, no? Ys Vraja Gopal das - "(Bhakta) Sergei Schmalz (Wiesbaden - D)" <Sergei.Schmalz (AT) pamho (DOT) net> "Applied Krishna Consciousness" <Applied.Krishna.Consciousness (AT) pamho (DOT) net> Thus, I wanted to > share with you my mind and try to raise your spirit, I hope. > > First of all, never give up hope, dont ever let the despair get you down. > Your humble servant, > Sergei. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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