TUlsi maalaa

[Guest guest]

Are there people here who wear tulsi mala's. Do you take it off when you take a shower or go to the bathroom?

[Guest guest]

I was just thinking that the other day anybody know?

[stonehearted]

I never take my kanthi mala off. I haven't for over 33 years.

 

Japa mala is a different story. I always keep it in a bead bag.

[Guest guest]

Stonehearted,

 

Doesn't the mala wear out or break? Have you ever replaced it with another one?

[Guest guest]

I am wearing my third tulasi mala now. The first one broke and I gave the second one away to somebody. I am actually considering if its Ok the take the maalaa off while I take a shower because it becomes wet.

[stonehearted]

Of course they wear out and break. Moreover, my cockatiels think they're fun to crack, which just drives me nuts. So we replace them when it's necessary. I don't use clasps--I consider them an unnecessary bother--but I do string them loosely enough that I can remove them. I usually wear one or two of those tulasi and silver necklaces to work (I work in a small college in a small town). But, either way, I always have a tualsi mala around my neck.

[Guest guest]

Stonehearted,

 

That's what I thought, just making sure. After all these years, do you still have the first kanti-mala you ever wore?

 

I'm thinking of starting to wear one. I've been into KC for that last couple of years, but have never mustered up the courage to put one on. Although I was born into a Vaisnava family, none of my immediate family members nor relatives (except for grandparents) wear one. I'm afraid they will start treating me differently and I will have to be on my "best behavior" all the time. Especially since I still eat eggs, onions, and garlic, it would appear as though I'm a hypocrite.

[gHari]

The eggs and stuff will be easy to give up. I mean, we're not talking heroin or cocaine addiction here. Believe me, any pleasure that could possibly be derived from eggs and the other smelly things is insignificant compared to the pleasure of wearing Tulasi-devi.

 

Stop eating eggs, onions, and garlic; and start wearing neck beads immediately. You are on the verge of getting your priorities straight. It is time to make a stand.

 

Armed with detachment and yoga, stand and fight, Arjuna.

[gHari]

I have saved what remain of the three sets of neck beads I've had over the thirty years, although I always try to keep a few originals in each new incarnation of the necklace (each bead keeps getting smaller and smaller with time). One becomes very attached to them, since they often remind us of Krsna, and the fact that we are His.

 

The first ones broke saving me from a possible very inauspicious circumstance. Some teachers from the college where I worked decided to go off to the island to one of their homes one night. I tagged along (mistake number one). I had been wearing the beads for about five years or so. Suddenly the men left and I was alone with the female host. It was likely a setup, since the guys had stayed only five minutes.

 

I guess gHari was not up to the challenge and tulasi-devi knew it. Sitting in the living room talking, suddenly my neck beads broke, and my belly was filled with little beads all over. Fortunately my shirt was tucked-in. Shocked and devastated, I made some lame excuse and left immediately. Hormones were always my weakness, and I'll likely never know just how lucky I am to have been saved by Krsna that evening.

 

Srimati Tulasi-devi ki jai!

 

 

[Guest guest]

But many foods have egg products, like dairy, pasta, pizza, etc. A lot of canned and frozen foods also have onions and garlic, not to mention all the different types of foods from restaurants.

 

There are so many restrictions on what you're supposed to eat, so what is left? Of course eating only the food one prepares is ideal, but for many of us that option isn't always available.

[Govindaram]

Excuses x300000, In the Gita it says'The devotees are realeased from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice others who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment verily eat only sin' plus vedic cooking has no place for eggs, and why include them, just try it once my friend prepare food-offer to the Lord- and ENJOY- hare Krishna.

[Guest guest]

Eggs I understand, but I don't see what's wrong with onions and garlic. How can eating jalepeno and spicy hot chili peppers be acceptable and onions not?

 

 

[Govindaram]

Hare Krishna

 

The main reason for not eating onions and garlic is because Lord Krishna dosen't like them, and also they increase the mode of ignorance, I know people like to have the garlic breads etc, but once you get a higher taste, you'll naturally give up onions and garlic. (theres a story about a cow and something but I can't remember where I read it).

[Guest guest]

It is not so easy thing that "I do everything, whatever I like." Some rascals preach that "Oh, religion has nothing to do with your eating. You can eat anything you like, and still you become a religious man." This is all nonsense. Nobody can become religious man if he is attracted by sinful activities. It is not possible. You must stop sinful activities. That is first condition.

 

-Srila Prabhupada

 

arjuna uvaca

senayor ubhayor madhye

ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta

yavad etan nirikse 'ham

yoddhu-kaman avasthitan

kair maya saha yoddhavyam

asmin raa-samudyame

 

 

Translation: "Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see who is present here, who is desirous of fighting, and with whom I must contend in this great battle attempt."

 

Prabhupada: Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me acyuta. Before this, Krishna was addressed as Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa we have explained. Now Krishna is addressed here Acyuta. Cyuta means fallen, and acyuta means not fallen. Just like we are fallen. We are fallen conditioned souls. In this material world we have come with an enjoying spirit. Therefore we are fallen. If one keeps his position rightly, he does not fall. Otherwise he is degraded. That is fallen condition. So all the living entities within this material world, beginning from Brahma down to the small insignificant ant, they are all fallen, fallen conditioned souls. Why they are fallen?

 

krishna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare

pasate maya tare japatiya dhare

 

Fallen means when the living entities are under the clutches of this material energy. That is called fallen. Just like a man, when he is under police custody, it is to be understood that he is a criminal, he is fallen. He has fallen down from good citizenship. Similarly, we are all parts and parcels of Krishna. Mamaivamso jiva-bhuta. So as part and parcel, our position is to live with Krishna. Just like this is my finger, part and parcel of my body. The finger must remain attached with this body. When this finger is cut off and fallen, although it is finger, it is no longer as important as it was formerly when it was attached with this body. So anyone who is not attached with the service of the Supreme Lord, he is fallen. This is the conclusion.

 

But Krishna is not fallen. If Krishna... Because He comes to reclaim us.

 

yada yada hi dharmasya

glanir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya

tadatmanam srjamy aham

 

Krishna says that "I appear when there is discrepancies in the, I mean to say, occupational duties of the living entities." Dharmasya glanir bhavati. We don't translate dharma as "religion." Religion in the English dictionary, it is "a kind of faith." Faith can be changed. But dharma is a word which cannot be changed. If it is changed, it is to be understood artificial. Just like the water. Water is liquid, everyone knows. But sometimes water becomes hard, very hard, ice. So that is not the natural position of water. Artificially, on account of excessive cold or by artificial means the water becomes solid. But the real position of water is liquidity.

 

So when we are detached from the service of the Lord, this is also unnatural, unnatural. Natural position is that we must be engaged in the service of the Lord. That is our natural position. Therefore the Vaisnava kavi says that krishna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare. When a living entity forgets Krishna, forgets Krishna's position... Krishna's position... Krishna says, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram: "I am the proprietor, I am the enjoyer." This is the Krishna's position. He never falls down that position. Krishna is enjoyer. He keeps always that position. He never falls down. He never comes to the position of being enjoyed. That is not possible. If you want to bring Krishna on the position of being enjoyed, then you are defeated. Being enjoyed means keeping Krishna in front, I want to get some profit of sense gratification. That is our unnatural position. Krishna will never agree. Krishna will never agree. Krishna cannot be enjoyed. He is always enjoyer. He is always the proprietor. So krishna bhuliya jiva means when we forget this position of Krishna, that He is the Supreme Enjoyer, He is the Supreme Proprietor... This is called forgetfulness. As soon as I think that "I am enjoyer, I am proprietor," this is my fallen stage. Krishna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare. When we... Then japatiya dhare, maya, immediately maya captures.

 

Therefore a conditioned soul, fallen conditioned soul, is struggling for existence. He is trying to be enjoyer, he is trying to be proprietor. That is his artificial way of life. Just like if a woman wants to become a man, that is her artificial position. She may dress herself as a man, just like in the western countries sometimes we see woman is artificially dressing like man, with hat, coat, man, riding on horse. That is artificial. So similarly, our position here in this material world is artificial. We are trying to imitate a man.

 

Actually the living entities are described in the Bhagavad-gita, prakrti. Prakrti means woman. And purusa means man. So the living entities are never described as purusa. Purusa is Krishna. Purusa sasvata. When Arjuna said, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan, purusam sasvatam adyam.... Purusam sasvatam. Krishna is always purusa. God cannot be female. God is always male, purusa. And we are prakrti. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim para.

 

After describing the material energy, bhumir apo analo vayuh, earth, water, air, fire, this material.... This is also female, prakrti. Female means.... We have got.... In India we have got little experience. The female is always controlled. Female is never given the position of controller. Nowadays it is going on. Just like Indira Gandhi, she has given the position of controller. This is artificial. In the history of India, greater India, Mahabharata, you will never find that a woman has been given a position of controller. No. It is not possible.

 

We have to take things from the sastra. In the Bhagavad-gita also woman's position has been equated with sudra. Striyah sudras tatha vaisyas te 'pi yanti param gatim. So position must be ascertained. But this position is artificial. Here either woman or man, they are in artificial position. Because a woman may be in women's dress, but her mind is like man. She also wants to enjoy. And the others, the so-called man.... The so-called man is also not man; he is woman. Prakrti. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim para. Prakrti. As the earth, water, air, fire, sky, they are also controlled, the supreme controller is Krishna, similarly, the so-called man or woman in this material world, they are also controlled. Nobody can say that "I am not controlled." Who is here? You must be controlled.

 

Therefore we see two prakrtis: para prakrti and apara prakrti. But all of them are controlled; none of them are the controller. And that is the difference between purusa and prakrti. Purusa means controller. And prakrti means controlled. Purusa means predominator, and prakrti means predominated. This is the difference. So Krishna does not fall from his position of predominator. Therefore He is addressed as Acyuta, Acyuta. Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me acyuta. Another meaning of Acyuta... Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Arjuna knows that "I am not controller; I am controlled." He is devotee, he knows his position. Therefore he is now trying to control Krishna. He is ordering Krishna. Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya: "My dear Krishna," he is not addressing as Krishna--Acyuta, "now you place my chariot between the two parties." This is ordering. That means Arjuna becoming controller. And Krishna becoming controlled. Just the opposite. Therefore Arjuna knows his subordinate position and he is ordering to Krishna. So indirectly he is begging to be excused: "My dear Krishna, I cannot order You. Order must come from You. But because You promised to carry out my order, You wanted to become my chariot driver, therefore I am ordering. Therefore I am ordering. I am not in position of ordering to You and You promised to carry out my order, and I think You are fixed up in Your that promise. Therefore I am asking you, Acyuta. You don't fall from Your promise." This is the... senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me acyuta. What is the number of verse?

 

Devotee: Page forty-eight.

 

Prabhupada: Forty-eight? The next point is that Arjuna wanted to see with whom he had to fight. He had no desire to fight. That will be explained. He was fighting unwillingly. Unwillingly. Because he is a Vaisnava, unnecessarily he does not want to kill, although he is ksatriya. It is his duty. Whenever there is discrepancy, killing, as representative of Krishna... Krishna has got two business. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam. He has got two businesses. One business is to give protection to the devotees, sadhu, sadhu. Sadhu means devotee. Sadhu does not mean simply by changing dress, saffron color, and smoking beedies. That is not sadhu. Sadhu means devotee.

 

One who is devotee... That is explained in many sastras. Sadhavah sadhu-bhusanam. Sadhu-bhusanam.

 

titiksavah karunikah

suhrdah sarva-bhutanam

ajata-satravah santah

sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah

 

This is the qualification of sadhu. Sadhu is titiksava, tolerates all kinds of miserable conditions. He is sadhu. Because this is a place of miserable condition. A sadhu learns how to tolerate. Sadhu is never disturbed. Yasmin sthito gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate. A sadhu, who has got the shelter of Krishna, if he is placed in the severest type of dangerous condition, he is never disturbed. Just like Prahlada Maharaja, his father was putting him in so many dangerous conditions, even he was supplying with poison. He knew that "My father has given me poison to drink. All right, let me drink. If Krishna likes, He will save me. I am now put into such dangerous position. I have to drink. Father is giving poison. Who can check?" And such a big powerful Hiranyakasipu. The mother cried, requested... He forced the mother, Prahlada's mother, "Give your son this poison." So she begged so much, but he was a rascal demon. "No, you must give." So the mother knew, the son knew that the rascal father is giving this poison. What can he do, a small child? "All right, let me drink." Gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate. He is not agitating. "All right, if Krishna likes, I will live." This is the position of sadhu. He is not disturbed. Titiksavah. In all circumstances, he is tolerant. That is sadhu. Sadhu does not become disturbed. Titiksavah. At the same time, karunikah. He is himself disturbed, but he is merciful to others.

 

Just like Jesus Christ. He is being crucified, and still he is merciful: "God, these people do not know what they are doing. Please excuse them." This is sadhu. He is personally being disturbed by the demons, but still, he is merciful to the general people. They are suffering for want of Krishna consciousness. So even up to the point of death, he is trying to preach Krishna consciousness. "Let the people be benefited. Eh, what is this material body? Even if I am killed, I am not killed. This body is killed, that's all." This is sadhu. Titiksavah karunikah. In one side he is tolerant, and other side, merciful.

 

In the material world, when one man is disturbed, he cannot do any beneficial work to any others. He is disturbed. "No, I am very much disturbed. Don't talk with me." No. But sadhu still goes on benefiting the people in general. Titiksavah karunikah. And what kind of benefit? The so-called rascals humanitarian work? No. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. He is beneficial to all kinds of living entities.

 

Not this rascaldom, daridra-narayana. Just like one rascal has manufactured this daridra-narayana. The poor man has become Narayana, and the goat Narayana is killed for their feeding. Not this kind of sadhu. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. A sadhu will not allow any kind of killing. See in the Christian religion, it is first injunction is "Thou shalt not kill." If you want to become religious... They are simply killing, and still, they are claiming "Christian." What kind of Christian? Simply their business is killing. So it is very difficult to find out a Christian, although they are claiming, I am "Christian." It is very difficult. Because their business is killing. And Lord Jesus Christ ordered, first order is, "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not covet." Who is following?

 

So sadhu is suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. Why he should allow animal killing? They are also living entities, but for their benefit, the so-called sadhu says, "The animal has no soul." What is this nonsense? Animal has no soul? Why? Why animal has... What is the difference between animal and man? What are the symptoms of possessing the soul? They are all equal. The man also eats, the animal also eats. The man also sleeps, the animal also sleeps, the man also have sex life, the animals also have sex life. The man also defends, the animals also defends. So where is the deficiency that you say that the animal has no soul?

 

Imperfect knowledge. Or making adjustment for their own benefit. Now they are making correction: "Thou shalt not kill,Thou shalt not murder." That means it will come to human being. But the actual commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." But these Christian people, they are making some amendment, "Thou shalt not murder." Because murder will apply to the killing of human beings. But Lord Jesus Christ never said like that. "Thou shalt not kill." It is applicable both for human being and for animal or even for trees. Unnecessarily you cannot kill. That is sadhu. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. "Don't kill my brother, but you can kill my neighbors." Not like that. He is not sadhu. Sadhu is kind to all living entities.

 

Krishna consciousness means to become kind to everyone. Therefore we say, "No meat-eating." Meat-eating means killing the animals. Killing the animals. Why you shall kill animals? You have to take Krishna prasadam. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati, tad aham asnami. Krishna says... Krishna is God. He can eat everything, everything. Krishna ate fire, you know. There was forest fire in Vrndavana. All the cowherds boys they became very much frightened, "Krishna.Yes, I'm ready." He ate up all the fire. So for Krishna He could eat anything He likes. He is God. But still, He recommends, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Why? Because we have to take Krishna's prasadam, so therefore He is recommending, "These things you can give Me." Patram puspam phalam toyam. So that is our food. We are devotees of Krishna. We are meant for eating the remnants of foodstuff offered to Krishna.

 

That is our... Jihva, tara madhye... If you want to conquer the tongue, then you fix up your mind that you shall not take anything which is not offered to Krishna. Then your tongue will be controlled. Tara madhye jihva ati lobhamaya sudurmati. Tongue is the bitterest enemy of the living being. The tongue is dragging. Jihva. "Kindly give me this immediately. Kindly give me this wine immediately. Kindly give me this tea immediately. Kindly give me this cigarette immediately. Kindly give me this meat." Why? Control. Krishna says, patram puspam phalam toyam. So we have to take prasadam, eat Krishna prasadam. Then naturally the other things will be negativated. This is the position. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam.

 

So if all human beings become vegetarian, not vegetarian, but eater of the Krishna's prasadam, all these liquor house and slaughterhouse and brothels will be closed. This is Krishna consciousness movement. We want to close these nonsense places of sinful life: brothels, illegitimate sense gratification, sex relationship, prostitution. If we are embarrassed with this sinful life, there is no possibility of becoming again acyuta. We remain cyuta, fallen. We remain fallen.

 

It is not so easy thing that "I do everything, whatever I like." Some rascals preach that "Oh, religion has nothing to do with your eating. You can eat anything you like, and still you become a religious man." This is all nonsense. Nobody can become religious man if he is attracted by sinful activities. It is not possible. You must stop sinful activities. That is first condition. Otherwise you cannot understand what there... People... Perhaps, in this Krishna conscious, except this Krishna conscious movement, all rascals, they do not know what is God. They have no clear conception of God. Because they are sinful. We can give the name, address and everything of God, clear conception, not vague idea, "God may be like this, God may be like that." Why maybe? He is God.

 

venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam

barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam

kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

Clear conception. The sastra, Brahma-samhita, clear description of God, venum kvanantam. He is playing on flute. It is not that the Muralidhara, Syamasundara, Krishna, has been imagined by some poet. No, it is described in the sastra, the form of the Lord. He is busy in playing flute, venum kvanantam. Aravinda dalayataksam, His eyes are just like petals of the lotus flower. Venum kvanantam aravinda, barhavatamsa, there is a peacock feather on His head. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham, and He is so beautiful that His beauty can cut down thousands of Cupids. Cupid is supposed to be the most beautiful in this material world. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. Clear conception.

 

This is the description of God in the sastra. And when God came, Krishna came on this planet, the same description. He is playing on flute, He has got the feather, peacock feather. So this painting of Krishna is not an artist's imagination. It is exactly the form. So here is the form of the Lord. Here is the name of the Lord. Here is the activities of the Lord. This is clear conception. A sadhu knows what is God. Or sadhu cannot know. They are thinking, "God must be like this, God may be like this, He must be a very old man," because adi-purusa. He is the first living... In this way... So you cannot create God by imagination. That is not possible. God is God, always. You have to know simply what is God. He is never cyuta.

 

God never becomes fallen down from His original position. The original position is, God describes Himself, mattah parataram nanyat: "There is no more superior authority than Me." That is God. One, if he is controlled, how he can be God? The supreme controller is God, the supreme controller is Krishna. Isvarah paramah krsnah. Isvarah means controller, and paramah means supreme. And who is that? Krishna. Krishna says also, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. So He is acyuta. He keeps His position. He never falls down. We are all fallen souls. Because our position, our Acyuta position is to serve Krishna. Because we are part and parcel of Krishna.

 

The same example: Just like this finger is part and parcel of my body. Its business is to serve the body. That is the business. There is no other business. A finger can pick up a rasagulla and keep it here. The finger cannot eat. Similarly, we cannot eat directly. That is our diseased condition. We have to offer Krishna. When Krishna eats, if we eat that, then we become energized. Just like you rasagulla put into the mouth. When it goes to the stomach, the finger immediately becomes reddish. The finger enjoys. Not only the finger, the eyes enjoy, the legs enjoy, because the energy is distributed. Directly we cannot be energized by eating. We must eat Krishna's prasadam. This is principle. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krishna dasa.

 

So if we serve Krishna, that is our Acyuta position. If we deny to serve Krishna, that is vicyuta, fallen condition. Acyuta and vicyuta. So to become Krishna conscious means acyuta-gotra. Acyuta-gotra. Gotra, perhaps you do not know. Gotra is the family tradition. According to Vedic civilization, everybody has got gotra. Gotra means of the same family, of rsis, gotra, from the rsis. So we have to become acyuta-gotra, again belonging to the family of Krishna. Now we are fallen. Therefore we have forgotten that we belong to the family of Krishna. When we revive our consciousness, Krishna consciousness, that "I belong to the Krishna's family..." Krishna is not alone, eko bahu syama. He wants to enjoy.

 

So we are family members of Krishna, not void. That is another rascaldom. Why Krishna should be alone? He is so powerful, He is so opulent, have you got any experience that a powerful person, opulent person is alone? Where is that example? Any rich man, any powerful man, any king, any lord, oh, he has got so many associates. So how Krishna can be alone? Krishna is never alone. Therefore you will find always Krishna with the gopis, Krishna with the cowherds boys, Krishna with Arjuna. Krishna is never alone. So these are the conditions of becoming acyuta. So Arjuna knows all these things because he is a devotee. Therefore particularly he is addressing Krishna, senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me acyuta. That's all right. Thank you very much. (end

 

[Guest guest]

 

Chapter 9. The Most Confidential Knowledge

TEXT 26

 

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

 

SYNONYMS

 

patram--a leaf; puspam--a flower; phalam--a fruit; toyam--water; yah--whoever; me--unto Me; bhaktya--with devotion; prayacchati--offers; tat--that; aham--I; bhakti-upahrtam--offered in devotion; asnami--accept; prayata-atmanah--of one in pure consciousness.

TRANSLATION

 

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

PURPORT

 

Here Lord Krsna, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord, and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and reach the goal of life--the transcendental loving service of God--then he should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Krsna will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked for. Thus, meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Krsna. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, "I will accept it." Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Krsna Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods.

In the Third Chapter, verse thirteen, Sri Krsna explains that only the remains of sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement. Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are said to be eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Krsna and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering, enable one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Krsna has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Krsna.

The impersonalist philosophers, who wish to maintain that the Absolute Truth is without senses, cannot comprehend this verse of Bhagavad-gita. To them, it is either a metaphor or proof of the mundane character of Krsna, the speaker of the Gita. But, in actuality, Krsna, the Supreme Godhead, has senses, and it is stated that His senses are interchangeable; in other words, one sense can perform the function of any other. This is what it means to say that Krsna is absolute. Lacking senses, He could hardly be considered full in all opulences. In the Seventh Chapter, Krsna has explained that He impregnates the living entities into material nature. This is done by His looking upon material nature. And so in this instance, Krsna's hearing the devotee's words of love in offering foodstuffs is wholly identical with His eating and actually tasting. This point should be emphasized: because of His absolute position, His hearing is wholly identical with His eating and tasting. Only the devotee, who accepts Krsna as He describes Himself, without interpretation, can understand that the Supreme Absolute Truth can eat food and enjoy it.

[Guest guest]

Is it allowed to take a mala of if you take a shower?

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Generally the tulasi mala becomes part of your body and is never taken off, regardless of the clean or unclean environment one enters. The same is the case with kavachas.

 

[Guest guest]

I am taking the mala off when I take a shower. Is that bad?

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

If you received the tulasi mala at initiation it should not be taken off.

 

[Guest guest]

I only received a yajnopavita at initiation. No mala.

[sushil_kanoria]

what if, the tulasi mala gets broken accidently ???

[sushil_kanoria]

what if, the mala gets broken accidently ???

[stonehearted]

sushil: what if, the mala gets broken accidently ???

 

Repair or replace it.

[Govindaram]

Hare Krishna to All

 

I've just been putting on a Tulasi Bead over my neck for just 1 day and I could feel the purity coming over me, also I found chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra a lot more satisfying and living by the 4 regulative principles of freedom a whole lot easier..

 

Ps You can smell the scent of the Tualsi Beads and it's so uplifting, I recommend everyone to buy one right now, but only wear it if you are living by the 4 regulative princples of freedom (no meat,fish or eggs,no illict sex, no intoxcication and no gambling).

 

I don't know but I felt my heart beat like Lord Krishna was sending me a message......if that dosen't make you put on a Tualsi Bead nothing will... Hare Krishna and please Bless me so I can further my quest for a bona fide spiritual master.

[Atheist1]

I read a post where someone was saying where they get worn out the replace them, and I wear a kanthi too, and after researching and asking around, the universal(hindu)way to discard one is to throw it into a stream or river(in india the holy rivers)...Just fpr anyones info