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Comment on Mantra 15 of Sri Isopanisad:

             In many ways this mantra invokes the work of Paul Tillich. Tillich writes in his monumental Systematic Theology of God as a symbol. A symbol, however, is supposed to refer to something, but to what does the symbol of "God" refer? If we use Ockham's notion of first and second intention, we could say "God" refers to God, where the word picks out the concept. In other words, the written symbol "God" is a way of vocalizing the mental symbol of God. It seeks to know the God behind "God", but this mental symbol is not the ultimate concept of God, so you are left with eternally trying to find the God behind "God." We want to move past the infinite regress of symbolism and arrive at the Being of God. For Tillich, herein lies the problem.

            Tillich argues that God is the answer to the question implied in Being.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

   Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the guru of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appeared in Sri Ksetra Dhama.(Jagannatha Puri) on 6 February 1874 as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorized the Bhdgavad-gita, and relished his father's philosophical works. He became known as "The Living Encyclopedia" for his vast knowledge.
 
   He preached convincingly against casteism and philosophical deviations from Gaudiya Vaisnavism. He tried to unite the four Vaisnava sampradayas by publishing their teachings. Srila Sarasvati Thakura earned the title Nrisimha Guru for his fearless and powerful delivery of the Vaisnava siddhanta. Mayavadis would cross the street to avoid confronting the "lion guru." Besides being a courageous preacher, he was ornamented with all divine qualities and full of ecstatic love of God. He established 64 Gaudiya Math temples in India and centers in

Datta sloka

Sarva Aparaadha Naashaaya
Sarva Paapa Haraaya Cha |
Deva Devaaya Devaaya
Sri Dattatreya Namosthuthe 

"I bow to the One who negates Karma,
The One who annihilates all sins
I bow to the God of all Gods
I bow to Sri Guru Dattatreya!"

Vicky Moreland

Chanting God's holy name is the way in this age:
Never ever give up chanting!!

“The ones who have no other respite, are steeped in sense gratification, are inimical by nature, without spiritual knowledge and material detachment and without any control over sexual desire and devoid of any righteous conduct – they can easily attain a state only by chanting the Holy Name – such that even the sum total of all-righteous people cannot reach.” – (Padma Purân)

I was asked recently about love and the role of love in the life of the devotee. Sadly this word is abused. In modern culture people often speak of "loving" a film, "loving" a food, or what have you. New Age types like to talk about "universal love". However, few know what love really is. Love is not simply an emotion. Emotions are subject to the material nature and often ebb and flow with whatever emotional state one finds themselves in at the moment. Thus we see marriages end because one of the partners isn't "in love" anymore. Love becomes nothing more than an emotional high. 

True love is a firm resolve to serve Krsna. Thus love is bhakti. We cannot love anyone else until and unless we first love God, the true Source of real love. Love for others is predicated upon love of God and arises out of love of God. When we love God, we are really seeking God's highest good and pleasure. This in turn brings about our highest good, and then we can reach out to others, helping them in their pu

Comment on Mantra 13 of Sri Isopanisad:

Following in the theme of the previous mantra, mantra 13 warns the reader that one result comes from worshiping the Supreme and another result comes from worshiping anything else. It further reminds us that this knowledge must be obtained from an acarya, who will deliver the undisturbed scripture.

It is often said that one can follow any path provided that the person remains true to that path, and that by doing so, one may find liberation. This statement is both true and false. Many paths are setup by false gurus who seek to glorify themselves and fill their egos by having men worship them. These paths are dangerous and will harm the soul. Many other paths are given by sincere devotees of one deity or another, who have brought their followers to worship the various demigods. These paths do not directly lead to moksha, but

Sri  Caitanya Caritamrta - Madhya 16.78
gadadhara-pandite tenho punah mantra dila
odana-shashthira dine yatra ye dekhila

TRANSLATION
Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and on the day of Odana-shashthi he saw the festival.
PURPORT
At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-shashthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the arcana-marga, a cloth should first be washed to remove all the starch, and then it can be used to cover the Lord. Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that the priest neglected to wash the cloth before covering Lord Jagannatha. Since he wanted to find some fault in the devotees, he became indignant.

ISKCON never was a place for wimps. Back in the day, maybe one in four could hack the program for long enough to get the "taste" that kept us "in" in the long run. "For those who are steadily devoted...", Sri Krsna says. Those who wanted Krsna stayed with Srila Prabhupada. Everyone sincere, we decided, either lived at the temple, or was basically there all day long. It was a hardcore urban non-violent but thoroughly revolutionary movement. We were determined with no doubt, to push on.

(first published at Sampradaya Sun, 2009)

Outsiders were karmis to us. There was no half-stepping. You were either totally with the program, or you couldn't stay long amongst such devotedly determined persons, who by mere juxtaposition exposed your maya. You would not complete boot camp, which consisted of dietary and sleep restrictions, as well as self-control, 16 wonderful rounds ( rounds are truly an adventure in concentration and awakening, and this kept us charged up and pure ), plus engagement i

"To associate with someone means to accept something from them.
I only accept what I have received from my śrī gurudeva; I do not accept anything from anyone else.
I do not engage in any activity outside of the instructions of Śrī Gurudeva, just to fulfill the intentions of others.

We should not accept anything from someone for our own use.
Whatever someone may offer us with love and devotion to be used in the service of śrī guru and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, we should accept respectfully and use it exclusively to serve the Supreme Lord.
This alone grants us welfare."

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada

A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. -- Srimad Bhagavatam 8.8.21 purport