Share How You Have Been Touched, by Krsna Options

[Homer]

I grabbed a map and was hoping to hitch out to the farm...i was walking up the road chanting really loud and then i sat down on the kerb with the map because i wanted to plan my route.
then this truck pulled up and a guy asked me where I wanted to go so i told him i wanted to go to the Hare Krishna Farm out at Riverhead. Straight away he said "oh i was going out that way later today but i will go now, get in and i will give you a ride"

Yes, this is how I understand the nature of the divine.

The mercy manifests itself in small ways that make sense only to the person involved. To an outsider it may appear to be random or chance, but to the one feeling the energy it is a potential life changing experience.

So many seem to overlook the little mercies and they are counting on some grand cosmic gesture.

When god whispers into your ear it is sweeter than an orchestra of angels or a choir of celestial singers.

[Adrija]

I had a funny synchronistic experience recently that made me think god was messing with my head.

[Dhyana]

I had a funny synchronistic experience recently that made me think god was messing with my head.

Will you share with us? Or is it the sort of thing that wouldn't make any sense except for yourself?

[Adrija]

I guess it would be fairly meaningless to others...
I had read a post by Prsni where she referred to the role of Indian gurus and that got me to thinking over something Sridhar Maharaja had said about Krsna being a terrible thing without guru - the analogy is to do with the lotus, the sun is Krsna and the water is the guru! Anyway I was thinking that, in our culture to approach God directly is not a problem. But then, I thought of the idea of intercession which I was brought up with - almost everyone prayed to God either via Mary or through their favourite saint - like a grand-aunt of mine always prayed to St. Martin de Porres. All this was going on in my head but I was still thinking I still think you should not be deterred from direct connection with god.At this point in my musings, I turned on the radio and the song was one I'd never heard (Norah Jones) with the line - the sun doesn't like you - you always get burned. Then as soon as the song finished the d.j. was saying how an optometrist had just phoned in and talking about problems with eyes.(direct vision of the sun damages the eyes) It just make me laugh and think of God as trickster!!

[Dhyana]

Nice. Tricky. Thanks for sharing!

[Homer]

I turned on the radio and the song was one I'd never heard (Norah Jones) with the line - the sun doesn't like you - you always get burned. Then as soon as the song finished the d.j. was saying how an optometrist had just phoned in and talking about problems with eyes.(direct vision of the sun damages the eyes)    It just make me laugh and think of God as trickster!!

Ha ha. I knew a band in Canada named Heaven's Radio.

[Homer]

It surprises me that we have had so few posts in this topic.

Another way of asking how god has touched you is to ask why do you believe in god?

Unless there has been a moment in your life where you felt the presence of the divine how does one know there is a god and thus follow a religion?

Is hope that there is a god enough?

Is it enough to read or be told about god and if it makes logical sense to then worship god?

Perhaps these experiences of direct perception of god are too personal and those devotees who are still devotees wish to keep others from trivializing their beliefs?

I would have thought the vaisnavas and other theists here would have been eager to share their moments of bliss with us.

[angrezi]

yes, where is your god, is he in this post?

[Prisni]

I guess it would be fairly meaningless to others...
I had read a post by Prsni where she referred to the role of Indian gurus and that got me to thinking over something Sridhar Maharaja had said about Krsna being a terrible thing without guru - the analogy is to do with the lotus, the sun is Krsna and the water is the guru!

I would have a problem with a guru saying that the guru is always there as a kind of intermediate. I don't think it is like that at all. Actually, I think that Krishna gave me a guru that did not last the whole way, just to show that this is not a fact. Guru is like a therapist. S/he helps you with your problems, but it is not the person to have a relationship with, and when you are ready, the therapist steps aside.
The idea of the perfect guru that is always there, I think should be buried. There are no such persons and it is not even desirable in this religion.

The idea to approach Krishna, by approaching one of his friends, does not mean that the friend always will stand in between. Just that the friendship with the friend will not stop when we have reached Krishna. The friend (guru) is not a stepping stone that we discard when we are there. That relationship is eternal too. The friend will always remain a friend even when we have reached Krishna.

[Homer]

The idea to approach Krishna, by approaching one of his friends, does not mean that the friend always will stand in between.

Do you need a friend to help you approach your father?

I never understood this analogy about how one approaches an important person by befriending that person's dog and how we need a intermediary between god and ourselves.

The idea of equating our relationship with god as being on the level of our relationship (or lack of) with a rich and powerful businessman speaks volumes about the concept the Indian mind has about the nature of god.

Needing a intermediary to approach one's own father ( I presume god is father to us all) sounds so distant and businesslike.

Without direct personal experience of god how does one know if the 'friend' has direct experience of god?

[Homer]

yes, where is your god, is he in this post?

God is where you find him.

[Homer]

I had a funny synchronistic experience recently that made me think god was messing with my head.

Will you share with us? Or is it the sort of thing that wouldn't make any sense except for yourself?

Dhyana, as you say you are an atheist I am curious how you have come to this conclusion.

I have a friend who was brought up as a Christian. He was taught that god will grant anything to you if you pray to Jesus.

Well, every year he prayed to god through Jesus in order to get his desired present for Christmas. He never got what he prayed for and thus he became an atheist.

What brings a former true believer such as yourself to the other side of the fence and do you have a rational concerning this you would care to share with us?

From where does your faith in no god spring?

[Bhaktavasya]

It surprises me that we have had so few posts in this topic.

Patience, eh? It's 10.04 p.m. where i am, and i just sat down to read the thread through (having noticed it this morning for the first time, after checking my e-mail before going to work) and now it's 10.07, maybe 10.08 if i act fast ant post now.

[Homer]

It surprises me that we have had so few posts in this topic.

Patience, eh? It's 10.04 p.m. where i am, and i just sat down to read the thread through (having noticed it this morning for the first time, after checking my e-mail before going to work) and now it's 10.07, maybe 10.08 if i act fast ant post now.

Please, take your time.

[Bhaktavasya]

It surprises me that we have had so few posts in this topic.

Patience, eh? It's 10.04 p.m. where i am, and i just sat down to read the thread through (having noticed it this morning for the first time, after checking my e-mail before going to work) and now it's 10.07, maybe 10.08 if i act fast ant post now.

Correct the spelling error and spoil an instance of synchronicity? Not me, i'm like an ant worker in the whole God spectrum and it suits me well.

A personal story will follow. Tonight or tomorrow night.

Sometimes we get overwhelmed thinking about one or more close encounters with the Divine.

And some people are just way too shy or hesitant ("lest i believe again").

[Prisni]

Do you need a friend to help you approach your father?

I think this is one is exemplifying of the major problems when westeners approach Gaudiya Vaisnavism. To come with the preconseptions of Christianity, and seeing Krishna as God father, and Prabhupada as the son. And despite many years in the movement, some still keep that belief. The result is just a tasteless soup.

Gaudiya Vaisnavism is primarily about how to approach Krishna as a lover. (or friend or son or husband). I also think that is what gives Gaudiya Vaisnavism its charm. If we are to mix religious wildly, we can as well try to see Krishna in the light of scientology, or something like that.

[Homer]

Do you need a friend to help you approach your father?

I think this is one is exemplifying of the major problems when westeners approach Gaudiya Vaisnavism. To come with the preconseptions of Christianity, and seeing Krishna as God father, and Prabhupada as the son. And despite many years in the movement, some still keep that belief. The result is just a tasteless soup.

Gaudiya Vaisnavism is primarily about how to approach Krishna as a lover. (or friend or son or husband). I also think that is what gives Gaudiya Vaisnavism its charm. If we are to mix religious wildly, we can as well try to see Krishna in the light of scientology, or something like that.

I don't understand, Prisni.

Is not Krsna the cause of all causes?

Would it be more palatable to you, Prisni, if the question read:

Do you need a friend to help you approach your son?

[Adrija]

I guess it would be fairly meaningless to others...
I had read a post by Prsni where she referred to the role of Indian gurus and that got me to thinking over something Sridhar Maharaja had said about Krsna being a terrible thing without guru - the analogy is to do with the lotus, the sun is Krsna and the water is the guru!

I would have a problem with a guru saying that the guru is always there as a kind of intermediate. I don't think it is like that at all. Actually, I think that Krishna gave me a guru that did not last the whole way, just to show that this is not a fact. Guru is like a therapist. S/he helps you with your problems, but it is not the person to have a relationship with, and when you are ready, the therapist steps aside.
The idea of the perfect guru that is always there, I think should be buried. There are no such persons and it is not even desirable in this religion.

The idea to approach Krishna, by approaching one of his friends, does not mean that the friend always will stand in between. Just that the friendship with the friend will not stop when we have reached Krishna. The friend (guru) is not a stepping stone that we discard when we are there. That relationship is eternal too. The friend will always remain a friend even when we have reached Krishna.

Also I was thinking, in regard to the analogy, what if we took another plant and not the lotus - there's always a way of turning an analogy around, unpicking it. I think it was the intensity with which the dilemma was engaging me - years ago I would have seen the answer I got as a straightforward confirmation of the philosophy - but you can't leave aside conscience.
Another thing that's been making me ponder recently - I was thinking of sastra as like a treasure map - there are as many tricks and false ways to go (such as getting caught up in the rules and regs and literalisms) and in among all that there are indications, clues, insights. A lot of terms Sridhar Maharaja used like hidden treasure came up in my mind. Whatever is laid out on a plate will be superficial because it does not include our own individual engagement...

[Prisni]

Is not Krsna the cause of all causes?

The connection between that and the idea of Krishna as father, sounds like sexism to me.

[Homer]

A lot of terms Sridhar Maharaja used like hidden treasure came up in my mind. Whatever is laid out on a plate will be superficial because it does not include our own individual engagement...

Seeing the guru as being an authority who is able to teach about god takes perception that s/he has a superior understanding of what is god and how to connect with him.

How does one determine this? How do you know who is the guru?

There must be personal insight, a direct perception, that gives one faith in guru and or shastra.

If not then how does one recognize the guru?