Forum

Replies

    • v j > v j August 6, 2018 at 5:39am

      for the record, prabhupad also performed initiation ceremonies with fire sacrifice according to shastric rules. pamho. AGTSP

  • Jelu Iliov August 5, 2018 at 9:06pm

    Hi Gayatri, I like your replies, and there is no problem with them. There will be a problem if one stops thinking, and just follow some directions !

    • v j > Jelu Iliov August 6, 2018 at 5:44am

      yes i agree with you.... gayatri ji's replies are nice & there's nothing wrong with them 

  • v j August 5, 2018 at 8:43pm

    this notion of a master being 'strict' - it may work for some people, but others may run away - which is not what we want. A master can sit with the disciple, understand his problems, offer tips and give him confidence that he can wake up & attend the arati on time, and the  same goes for all other challenges as well ... this has been my personal experience

  • Jelu Iliov August 5, 2018 at 8:30pm

    Maybe the word 'master' means - the one who forces us to do something ! Bat if he/she advices us he/she will be the true guru?! Maybe the western traditions are slightly different then eastern ones ?! In general, if one is forced [ or because of fear of punishment]  to do something good, it makes it less valuable ?!  

    • v j > Jelu Iliov August 5, 2018 at 8:40pm

      this notion of a master being 'strict' - it may work for some people, but others may run away - which is not what we want. A master can sit with the disciple, understand his problems, offer tips and give him confidence that he can wake up & attend the arati on time, and the  same goes for all other challenges as well ... this has been my personal experience

  • Sushil Kumar August 5, 2018 at 8:30pm

    It is okay , we can practice, even many others do practice and probably our elders do too. having a guru is a plus point, you will directed with right path .

    i too practice alone. it is hard to control our mind and focus on our aim. sometimes i too get distracted. But we have to try to focus on our aim.

    I started reading Gita and im learning many things day by day.

  • Jelu Iliov August 5, 2018 at 8:09pm

    Maybe, our karma is a kind of burden, we are obligated to carry ? So we rely on guru to share our own burden! Maybe it is worth to get rid of our negativity all by our self !

  • v j August 5, 2018 at 8:06pm

    As explained in shastras, Guru must be there. Even people who have simple love & devotion like the cobbler got it by hearing from a Guru at some point atleast - maybe their parents or someone else

    SB 5.12.12

    My dear King Rahūgaṇa, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vānaprastha, accepting sannyāsa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee.

    SB 5.12.16

    Simply by associating with exalted devotees, anyone can attain perfection of knowledge and with the sword of knowledge can cut to pieces the illusory associations within this material world. Through the association of devotees, one can engage in the service of the Lord by hearing and chanting [śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam]. Thus one can revive his dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness and, sticking to the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, return home, back to Godhead, even in this life.
    SB 6.1.16 — My dear King, if a sinful person engages in the service of a bona fide devotee of the Lord and thus learns how to dedicate his life unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, he can be completely purified. One cannot be purified merely by undergoing austerity, penance, brahmacarya and the other methods of atonement I have previously described.
    hare krsna
    SB 5.12.16
    To become liberated from material bondage, one must give up the association of worldly people and accept the association of devotees; positive and ne…
This reply was deleted.