Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Yes, thank you JagGaura you are spot on! I was fortunate today, took my new mahdal drum and temple song book to the local gardens and played Tulsi Arati for the pleasure of the Lord in my heart, and those walking (by glowed with warmth and peace). Haribol! My faith became stronger today...thx Prabhu!

We are so fortunate JagGaura because we have glimpsed the internal (and project less). My specific interest and study as a practical man, is how to share my insights and self healing with those who are deep in the mode of ignorance (they all know I am a sincere devotee, so that is a start). I describe bhakti in simple terms and live an example. As Paul the apostle said 'be all things to all men'. God will enlighten their heart to see the truth of our devotional heart and spirit in due course (in his time). In the last 6 weeks two friends have taken up my alternative therapies, one is now free of alcohol and slowly seeing the kingdom. The other friend has gone back to school and told me the other day he will never use marijuana again - I guided him to relaxing herbal smoking blends that have no addiction quallity. He is a major addict, and this week is attempting to give up the nicotine. This man I have been supporting and helping for the last 3 or 4 years. The other day he played karatal (for the first time) while I played drum and sang. He was very very nervous and has a long way to go (psychologically)... I asked him if he would like to practice the karatal twice a week with me. He said, yes, he had fun. We practiced internal bhajan together (with sensitivities) - each in our own way. I love him, my best friend here. Dont tell anyone ;) but I have plans to gather a small band of simple men...then we can go to the gardens together ;)

Here is my latest video, so that you may understand my practical work as an advocate  or at least some small service that God has granted me. And my past experience with spiritual emergence crisis.



...emerging of the unconscious...
from the book Holotropic Mind by Stanislav Grof M.D.

    ...All these observations led my wife, Christina (who has experienced a lengthy spiritual emergence crisis), and me to the conclusion that many states currently diagnosed as mental disease, and treated routinely by suppressive medication, are actually psycho-spiritual crises, or 'spiritual emergencies', as we call them. If properly understood and supported, they can result in healing and personal transformation...

love you guys, your servant Nava.

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Re: 2009 Kamada Ekadashi on April 5th

Dear Guest,

     Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! You may use the Vaisnava Reminder software for this.
     
     The link is here.

     For mac users, try here.

     It has all that you'll need and more.

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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Die reine Liebe der Seele (2)

Das gr�sste Pech der Menschen im Kali-Zeitalter ist, dass die Mehrheit nicht einmal die leiseste Ahnung davon hat, dass ihre Herrschaften vor etwa 500 Jahren pers�nlich auf diesem Planeten erschienen sind, mit dem einzigen Ziel, allen Ihre h�chste Liebe freiz�gig zu verteilen. NITAAI Yoga vermittelt uns das Wissen �ber diese vertrauliche Wahrheit. Es erm�glicht uns, ins Licht hinauszutreten und beendet unsere Unwissenheit. Dem Srimad Bhagavatam zufolge ist jemand, der diese Wahrheit kennt, die intelligenteste Person im Zeitalter des Kali. Deshalb ist NITTAI Yoga sicherlich ein sehr seltenes Geheimnis. Obwohl es f�r jederman bestimmt ist, bleibt es sehr verborgen. Trotzdem ist jetzt die Zeit gekommen, das Siegel zu brechen und dieses Wissen und den Nektar von NITAAI Yoga freigebig an jeden zu verteilen, den Fussstapfen der grossen Seelen nachfolgend, welche das in der Vergangenheit so getan haben.

Da gerade erst ungef�hr 5000 Jahre vom Kali-Zeitalter vergangen sind, bleiben davon noch etwa 427000 Jahre �brig, welche noch schrecklicher sein werden als die Gegenwart. Danach wird wieder ein Satya-Zeitalter (tugendhaftes und religi�ses Zeitalter) anbrechen. Die gesamthafte Dauer eines Zyklus aller vier Zeitalter (Satya, Dvaapara, Tretaa und Kali) betr�gt 4320000 Erdenjahre. Tausend solcher Zyklen entsprechen 12 Stunden von einem Tag von Brahma. Dar�berhinaus lebt Brahma Hundert Jahre in Satyaloka, dem h�chsten Planeten dieses Universums. Nach Ablauf dieser Hundert Jahre von Brahma, welche 311 Trillionen Erdenjahren entsprechen, werden alle Universem in den g�ttlichen K�rper von Maha Vishnu eingehen, wenn er einatmet. Er ist eine Teilmanifestation von NITAAI-GAURA. Alle Seelen und Universen bleiben f�r weitere 311 Trillionen Jahre in einem Schlaf-Zustand, bis sie sich wieder f�r 311 Trillionen Jahre manifestieren, w�hrend Maha Vishu wieder ausatmet. So wird die materielle Sch�pfung immer wieder geschaffen, erhalten und wieder zerst�rt. Die Aufgabe unserer Seele ist es, frei zu werden von diesem ewigen Kreislauf der materiellen Sch�pfung, und zum Zeitpunkt unseres Todes in die ewige Heimat der Seele einzugehen, um f�r immer mit unseren Herrschaften NITAAI-GAURA und RADHA-KRISCHNA in der unzerst�rbaren spirituellen Welt zusammen zu sein, welche drei Viertel der gesamten Sch�pfung Gottes ausmacht. Diese Aufgabe ist als NITAAI Yoga bekannt.

Die Probleme in dieser Welt werden nicht abnehmen, bis die Menschen die barmherzigste Pers�nlichkeit NITAAI und NITAAI Yoga, der Vorgang der Wiederherstellung unserer verlorenen Verbindung mit Ihm, versuchen zu verstehen. Wir w�rden uns schuldig machen, wenn wir einen solch grossen Schatz, wie wir ihn so grossz�gig von NITAAI und GAURA erhalten haben, nicht annehmen und verteilen, und ihn somit missachten w�rden. Damit wir von dieser Schuld befreit werden und anderen Menschen wahrhaftig von Nutzen sein k�nnen, m�ssen wir NITAAI Yoga ernsthaft praktizieren und es jedermann lehren.

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Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

Dear Mihir,

      Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Do not worry about those things. Progress in Satya Yuga was far more difficult than it is today -- dhyana yoga. Of course maya will always be throwing obstacles in various forms, but if our purpose is strong nothing will happen to us. It is all simply different variations of maya at work. She keeps placing temptations and traps in our way to see if we have enough faith in guru and the Lord. She doesn't want even the last trace of impurity in devotional service.

       We must never lose our determination for anything. Why other living entities, a simple change of circumstances like the university examination is sometimes sufficient to throw all chanting off track!

       As far as I am concerned, I am my own biggest enemy and if I can strengthen my purpose, then almost all the main problems are solved. Naama sankirtana, expecially Nitaai Gaura naama is very powerful. Ultimately we face our own selves and we fight against our mind. You must understand that we are always our most formidable obstacle and if there is anything to fear, it is our own self. By the way, Dhruva Maharaj was not distracted by demigods at all, his penance made life unbearable for them.

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

Sometimes the demigods and some other lower spirits try to distract a devotee from chanting the Holy Names. But none of them have the power to change the will of the devotee nor affect a devotee who is chanting. They can simply create some distractions and it is up to the devotee whether to fall for them or not which can be easily prevented by chanting Nityaananda, Gauraanga and Hare Krishna Mahaamantra with careful absorption. On the behalf of the Lord, sometimes demigods may also test devotees who are advanced in order to purify them further on their path to Goloka. So there is nothing to worry and even if they do manage to make us fall down sometimes, we have to simply get up and patiently start walking on the path by keeping on chanting. Ultimately the power of our chanting is much more than any tests anyone can put before us. Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!!

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaur angapada.

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Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

JagGaura Prabhu said : It is our own mind and other harmful living entities(visible or invisible) that try to keep us from chanting and singing the holy names of God.

Dear JagGaura Prabhu,

Nityananda ! Gauranga ! Hare Krishna !

Dandavat Pranaams.

Can you pls explain in detail about the visible or invisible living beings trying to be an obstacle in our bhakti. This is sounding very scary. I read this happening to Dhruv Maharaj where he was distracted by demigods. Do you mean we all are also facing the same thing ?

ys,
Mihir.

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Re: 2009 Kamada Ekadashi on April 5th

Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! Welcome to NITAAI.com. Ekadashi depends primarily on the latitude and longitude of a place and sunrise times in your specific place. For Toronto, it is as follows:

5 Apr 2009 Su  (suitable for fasting)  Fasting for Kamada Ekadasi
6 Apr 2009 Mo    Break fast 06:50 - 11:10 (DST) Damanaka-ropana Dvadasi

Yes, you can drink water in the evening of Dashami. The one time noon eating on Dashami for very strict Ekadashi fasting is basically to make sure that so that no grain food remains in our mouth or bodily system at all from Ekadashi morning onwards. But the Ekadashi fast basically begins from around the sunrise time on Ekadashi to around the sunrise time on Dvadashi.

No, you should fast according to Toronto time 5th sunrise to 6th sunrise. And your Dashami is also according to Toronto time and not Indian time. Fasting according to Indian sunrise times is not appropriate if you are staying in Toronto.

Ekadashi night is the night between Ekadashi and the morning of Dvadashi according to your Toronto time. Staying awake on Ekadashi night by doing spiritual activities is a great austerity but it is rewarded with millions of times in spiritual benefit so those who can do it are very fortunate. I am happy that you are planning to do this.

The strictest Ekadashi vrata involves not sleeping on Ekadashi night and not then not even sleeping on Dvadashi day time also and sleeping only after Dvadashi sunset. But it may be quite hard to perform in the present times as conquering sleep is even more difficult then conquering the urge to eat. So if one cannot do remain awake the whole day on Dvadashi also, then one can sleep after properly breaking the fast on Dvadashi sunrise. It will not exactly amount to breaking the proper Ekadashi fast, though it is a small compromise from the strictest Ekadashi vrata.

The proper way to break the fast is the to take bath, perform a simple achamana, sit in a pure place and chant the Holy Names, thank the Lord, Guru and the Vaishnavas mentally for allowing oneself to successfully completely the Ekadashi vow, begging forgiveness from the Lord, Guru and the Vaishnavas about any shortcomings in one's Ekadashi fast, offering obeisances to a photo or Deity of the Lord and Devotees, giving some charity (prasadam) to a devotee or devotees (if at all possible), singing the Ekadashi prayers & the pastime who Lord Gauranga broke His Ekadashi fast in Puri Dhaama from Prema Vivarta and then breaking the fast preferably with some grain Mahaprasadam on the Lord from a Holy Place, for example like Lord Jagannatha's or Lord Tota Gopinatha's Nirmalya (dried rice).

I hope this helps. We feel very happy to assist you in your sincere performance of the sublime Ekadashi vrata. Thank you for giving us a chance to do so.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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2009 Kamada Ekadashi on April 5th

I've read online that Kamada Ekadashi for 2009 falls on April 5th. But, does Ekadashi depend on time zones? If so, what is the date and the times for Toronto, Canada (same time zone as New York, U.S.A)?

Secondly, in a strict fast, after you eat once before noon on Dashami (the day before Ekadashi), that technically marks the beginning of the vrat, correct? Then, can you drink water after that? Or do you eat and drink only at sunrise on Dwadasi (the day after Ekadashi) after breaking your fast?


Even though I live in Canada I started my fast according to India's time - is that okay? Or is the sunrise really important for this?
So far, I had some food around 2PM and finished at 2:24PM (India time) on April 4th. After that I haven't had anything. According to the old guidelines, what time do they mean by 'noon'? Exactly 12PM or 'afternoon'?

And so, my fasting began from the afternoon/sunset of Dashami tithi.

I have another question: it's said that one must not sleep on the full Ekadashi night - which is the Ekadashi night? I think it's the night between Ekadashi and the morning of Dwadasi. Is the correct?

If yes, then I: sleep after sunset on Dashami, wake up on Ekadashi and stay awake the whole day and night and at sunrise of Dwadasi, I break the fast, stay awake the whole day and sleep only after sunset - is that right?
I will do that but is there a proper way to break the fast at sunrise? What and how much should I eat or drink? Because you are supposed to eat only one full meal at noon on Dvadashi too, so I'm a bit confused.


This is my first Ekadashi vrat and it's very important. But, I don't have anyone to turn to. The internet isn't very helpful either so I would be really grateful if someone can help me out.
Thank you.

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Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

Wonderful Jagannatha Gauranga dasa. Two hours Sankirtana daily is a most inspiring practice to grant us taste for the Holy Names and entry into the Lord's pastimes. Please keep it up. Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!!

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Re: Bliss and The Striving Body - my healing (please read)

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances.

Dear Nava prabhu,
Thank you for sharing your mind with us, it takes a lot of courage to share these things. We must always remember that all these unwanted things can only affect our temporary gross and subtle bodies, but they can in no way hamper You, the spiriti soul,who is always transcendental and unattached.  All the pains and sufferings we experience in life are caused by misdeeds we have caused to others previously. Actually the pain we experience is much less than what we deserve, we just get a tiny sample. The more we identify with the mind or body then the more acutely these pains and discomforts feel. We have caused countless distresses to other living entities throughout our lives, and the Lord purifies us by giving us distresses in turn. This is the greatest mercy of the Lord, we must accept that everything we get in this life, we deserve and should thank God.
In my opinion you have no problems other than identifying with body and mind too much, this is the problem for everyone in the material world but at least you are on the path to guaranteed success.
Lately I have been trying to do at least 2 hours sankirtana everyday. I watch with Guruji's videos and chant along. Know for certain that all of our thinking on deep subjects, either devotional or mundane, can never be productive without chanting the holy names. We must force ourselves to engage in sankirtana every day for a good amount of time. Guruji has many good videos to sing along with and watch his videos. There is nothing as powerful as sankirtana:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

Many days when I start singing I feel stiff and akward but as I continue on I feel more natural and my anarthas start to lift. It is our own mind and other harmful living entities(visible or invisible) that try to keep us from chanting and singing the holy names of God. We must must must follow the Lord's order and engage in chanting his glories. He assures us all of our problems will leave and our identification with our bodies and minds will lessen and gradually we will clear ourselves of material misidentifications. Everyone cares for you here at the Nitaai Sangha and wants to see you achieve the ultimate success of being reinstated in your constitutional position as eternal servant of the Lord. Know for certain that we are all pulling for you and that you have all our support and confidence.
The only solution to our problems is chanting and singing the names of the Lord, even the Lord says so......There is no other way, There is no other way, There is no other way

Sincerely
Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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