GD Shutdown

Gaudiya Discussions has now shut down, thanks to the sinister presence of very undesirable elements along with it's other running problems.

Discussion Distractions

Looks like everyone is getting in a tizzy about Pitambara (Pete) and his new book. I'm not all that impressed with what I've heard so far. I only got around to downloading the book yesterday, and I got as far as the second page before I realised that it wasn't worth much of my time.

I might read it sometime when I'm bored, but I'm afraid "I no feel da revolution vibe".

I got turned off by all the discussion about sex and drugs, but I got mega-angry about the sex and drugs at Radha-kunda part. I mean, how dare he? How dare anyone?

After I heard on GD that some references were made on Sai Baba, I used the 'Find' function to search for the sections. Unbelievable! Pete thinks that Sai Baba is some kind of god! Do Pete's followers share this opinion? If anybody actually reads this, feel free to take a look at a side-project that I indulge in, which should enlighten people about this "avatar".

On the whole, I'm rather sad to see that this topic seems to be taking up everyone's attention at the moment. Looks like not much effort is dedicated to discussing any katha, but discussing the latest 'hot gossip' is something great. Who cares anyway? The guy is obviously a fringie and shouldn't pose much of a challenge to anything orthodox, or even a threat.

Who cares, really?

On another note, since my time is taken up with side-projects and exam revision and so on, I've been a bit lax with updating this blog as well as my own spiritual readings. So I hope that after Wednesday I'll be able to return to my CB readings and perhaps find some nice nuggets to post. Oh yep, and I should get around to getting my guitars re-strung too.

Beautiful

Sometimes I can't get over how beautiful Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda are. These pictures do not do Them justice, but I have a couple of fantastic pictures of Them on my altar.

As I was gazing at Them during my puja, I noticed just how beautiful They were with a beautiful milky-white complexion.

So beautiful..

Italy :: Prove Christ exists, judge orders priest

Hehe, what a quirky story. I've copied it on Gaudiya Discussions for posterity. Made me think a little about making the case for a historical Krishna. I've read the relevant section in Edwin F. Bryant's long introduction to his 'The Beautiful Story of God', but I don't know what to think of it.

Interestingly, Bryant's information has been echoed in an earlier book which I've read, ostensibly titled "Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Kalki Avatar" by Satya Pal Ruhela. I didn't give Ruhela much credence since I've read a few of his texts and found them to be of little more worth than garbage. Obviously he is a devotee of Sai Baba, but funnily enough a few other Sai devotees agreed with my impressions of his works. In my opinion he only tots up a collection of books to make him look like some sort of eminent author, regardless of the fact that his works had little merit, inconsistencies galore and longwinded foppery.

Of course I didn't give his "historical Krishna" information much credence until I read a similar treatment in Bryant's book. Bryant happens to put the information in a much better way, making it more legible and easy to read.

In any case, it's quite a project to prove the historical existence of Krishna. I don't think Mahaprabhu poses much of a problem in that regard. Everyone agrees, even academically, that He was one of the main protagonists of the Bhakti movement of religious devotion that arose out of Bengal.

Madhava's extension

Looks like Madhava is staying in Vrindavan for a little while longer. How fortunate for him! He was supposed to come back to Finland around New Year, and I wondered why there had been no sign of him by email or his presence on GD.

Turns out that he had a few travel mishaps and finally missed the check-in for the flight. All in all, he's now back at Vrindavan for some more time, and so he can happily continue his blessed bhajan there. What a great way for Svamini to show Her mercy on him and Malati!

I am simultaneously happy and sad about it; happy for him but sad that we'll be deprived of his instantaneous company online. But oh well, bhajan is the most important thing and he will segetting plenty of that! :D

Joyous New Year!

I had a funny experience last night as I did puja to my deities. They seemed to smile at me and I found myself overcome with an increasing sense of joy and happiness in my heart.

I don't think I've ever felt anything like it before, and I certainly don't think that it was down to a sense of occasion. or maybe it was? In any case, it was nice and uplifting to know that Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara seemed to be happy enough with my humble efforts to serve Them. It was almost as if They were right there in front of me, accepting my puja. Talk about reciprocation.