Afraid of Identity?



What should one do if he is afraid of his true identity? I know this question seems foolish, but as you are very kind to everyone I hope you can explain something about how we should not be afraid of realizing our real self.

Answer:  Reactivate and Celebrate Your True Identity

You have a raised a very significant question. Thank you very much.

Because in the course of having a personal sense of identity we have suffered so many trials and tribulations we may sometimes think that it would be better if we did not have an identity at all. This is the philosophy of thinking that identitylessness is superior to identity. When we subscribe to this philosophy and we hear that we have an eternal true identity we become afraid thinking that it would better to merge or disappear into oneness or nothingness.

But if we will take complete shelter of the Lord under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master each of us will experience the reawakening of our original, blissful, enlightened identity as the eternal servant of Lord Krishna in any one of five primary rasas or relationships. And in this enlightened state of consciousness we will be very happy and satisfied resituated in our true identity. This happiness is millions and billions of time greater than the temporary sense of happiness one may experience by embracing identitylessness.

So there is nothing to be afraid of. Take Krishna's shelter and guru's guidance and become fully happy by flipping the switch to reactivate and celebrate your true identity, the eternal spirit-self.

How to flip that switch?  Chant Hare Krishna with love.

Is Religion Merely a Set of Beliefs?



Answer: Religion is the Perfection of Science

The first thing is that we must scientifically analyze whether or not there is a Supreme. First we can ask if everyone has the same amount of strength. Then we can ask if everyone has the same amount of beauty. And then we can inquire whether everyone is equally renounced. Then we can inquire further if everyone has the same amount of knowledge, wealth, and fame. The answer in regards to each of these six qualities is, "No." What does this tell us? This tell us that somewhere there is a person who excels everyone else in the possession of these six opulences.  That person is supreme, so there must necessarily be a Supreme. There cannot not be a Supreme. The only way there could not be a Supreme would be if everyone had exactly the same quantity of power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth, and fame. And since that is not the case, there must be a Supreme.

Genuine religion is more scientific than the so-called science of our modern times. It is most scientific because it enables us to directly experience at every moment the Supreme Person, the source for all of existence. Modern science is a hodgepodge of theories which come and go like the change of the seasons, but actual science and religion is to have perfect knowledge of and a perfect relationship with the Supreme Person, the absolute source of all energies, and of all of his energetic manifestations, which constitute the totality of existence.

Christianity and Krishna Consciousness



Question:  Christianity and Krishna Consciousness

explain how a practicing Christian can embrace the teachings of the Gita, i.e. Krishna consciousness, while remaining a Christian at heart?

Answer:  No McDonald's Hamburgers

As Krishna is God, the Father, and Christ is God, the Son, there is no difference in the teachings. lt is the same teaching presented from two different perspectives.  Krishna says, "Surrender unto Me," and Christ says, "Father, not My will, but Thy will be done."

But kindly note that as the Bible commands "Thou shalt not kill",  the Christians need to refrain from the heinous activity of flesh eating in order to bring themselves into a proper relationship with God. This is a necessary prerequisite for entering the kingdom of God because since it is a vegetarian place, as confirmed in the Bible, anyone who has a desire to eat meat would not be satisfied there. You will not find any MacDonald's hamburger stands in the kingdom of God.

Women in Hindusim

In India all the acaryas and their descendants later on acted only from the man's side. Their wives were at home because that is the system from old times that women are not required to go out. But in Bhagavad-gita we find that women are also equally competent like the men in the matter of Krishna Consciousness Movement.

Do You Believe in God ???

Question:  Do You Believe in God If yes, why? If no, why not?


Answer:  No.  We Know God.

Our position is NOT a position of believing in God because we KNOW God.  We know His name, His address, His associates, and His activities, and so many details regarding His qualities, and characteristics.  We also know what is the pathway that will take us directly to His transcendental abode. Those who do not have scientific knowledge of God are advised to believe in Him, but we do not require such sentimental belief.

What is My Mission?

Question: What is My Mission? 

I am a star child. I am a Gnostic, and I am asexual. I often feel bad because the material world hurts me. I feel like a lonely, unappreciated stranger. I don't want children and family. All as I need is friendship in a perfect spiritual relationship, but I don't find it. Why I am a star child? What is my mission?

Answer:

Although within this material world we are under the influence of the demigods, the controlling deities of the stars, our actual identity is that we are the children of Krishna or God. So even though under astrological influence it appears that we are star children, the fact is that we are children of God.

A Gnostic is a jnani, one who knows the truth. So if you were a real Gnostic, you would not feel lonely. But that's all right. I can train you how to become a real Gnostic.

Being asexual is very good. In fact asexuality is the ideal type of sexuality to have because the other types of sexuality drag one's mind to the carnal material platform on which one cannot advance spiritually.

You don't have to worry anymore about finding perfect friendship because you will not find a better friend than Krishna. He's with you at every minute. Krishna confirms in the Bhagavad-gita that He is the best friend of every living being. 

Also in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna gives you your mission, which is to fully surrender yourself unto Him. This and only this will make you happy. You will be completely fulfilled and always joyful. So now you should learn from our course how to fully surrender yourself to Krishna.

Quote of the Day

"Regarding your question about the disciplic succession coming down from Arjuna, it is just like I have got my disciples, so in the future these many disciples may have many branches of disciplic succession. So in one line of disciples we may not see another name coming from a different line. But this does not mean that person whose name does not appear was not in the disciplic succession."

Dangerous move & We must stop this : Madrasa education = CBSE education

This is a very dangerous move. There is no commitment on any board that can monitor the content of the Islamic teachings.There won't be any standard criteria for passing. According to the Deobandis, the madrassas are there purely to produce Islamic scholars. How can the Madrasa educated people be given CBSE equivalent certificates without modernized content? This will only encourage radicalism and orthodoxy within the government. This will only increase national security threat - both external as well as internal. The madrasa educated people will also be able to apply to colleges and seek govt jobs with these certificates.
Contributed by Shri Kumar Manglam
In the interim report submitted by the committee to Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh; it was proposed that the 'Aalim' degrees offered by Madrasas should be recognized in all the universities for admissions into the B.A. course. The 'Fazil' degree offered by any Madrasa, Darul Uloom or Jamia should be recognized by all Universities for admissions to post graduate programmes, the committee recommended. It also suggested that Madrasa education should be covered under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). So now IAS, IPS, military , CRPF you will find Moulvis only with religious education in Arabic and Farsi ruling India.
A major part of the existing curriculum in almost all madrasas consists of the teaching of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Many of these detailed rules and laws were devised centuries ago and may have lost their relevance in today's context. As someone who has written extensively on modern fiqh issues (jadid fiqhi masail) with regard to a host of contemporary issues that were obviously unknown to the early Islamic scholars.
madrasas now give much more attention than they presently do to the principles of jurisprudence (usul-e fiqh), because while several minor fiqh details (juzuvi masail) can and do change over time, and hence require new interpretations, these basic principles are unchanging. Knowledge of these principles is essential for engaging in ijtihad or creative reflection with regard to a host of contemporary issues that were obviously unknown to the early Islamic scholars.
Months after the first set back to the Indian educational system when the Congress' central HRD minister Arjun Singh set the stone rolling for reservations (including the creamy layered ones) in higher education comes another... Just before the following general elections, Arjun Singh proclaimed that his government is tabling a bill to recognize Madrasa certification at par with that of CBSE.Madrasas have been institutions of learning, where "Islamic sciences including literary and philosophical ones are taught" (Encyclopedia of Islam - Leiden E.J.Brill). The avowed aim of madrasa education is to inculcate the belief and practice of Islam among its followers and guide them to follow the Quran (Collection of God's revelations to Prophet Mohammad) and Sunna (Traditions of the Prophet Mohammed).Madrasas in India and their workings all along remained religion-centric. Subjects related to Islam dominate its curriculum and have largely ignored the rational sciences. The ultra-orthodox teachings at the Madrasas encourage the students to isolate themselves from the national mainstream... this coupled with lack of transparency in their operation encourages several conspiracies further splintering our already divided society in this time of terror, suspicion, and hate. This is to the extent that recently the government had reportedly issued notices to keep several madrasas under watch for anti-national activities.A responsible government would need to encourage all sects and religions to join the mainstream. However, what is happening currently is far from what was expected. Recognizing and accepting religions differences is one thing and encouraging religions differences is altogether another. Today, Arjun Singh has set a very dangerous precedent by declaring that they are working on a bill to equate Madrasa certification with that of CBSE, so that the madrasa educated gentry may qualify for government jobs (read IAS, IPS, IFS etc). What is the governance model being set for the future generations? Had Raja Ram Mohan Roy had accepted the Sati system since it was the "religious belief" of the time, we may still have been living with it.Today the religious orthodoxy is being encouraged by the proposed amendment to educational law. What is going to come next... separate constitutions for the different religions? Indian Muslim organizations have for long demanded a separate Sharia law for their society. Would that be on the cards next? On the same lines as Arjun Singh's thinking, one might argue that Vedic certification too be accepted for government positions, and so should the monks studying in Buddhist monasteries.
Can some one File PIL in supreme court that why vedic, sikh, buddhists school students not get Central aid and recognize their education with equivalent degrees ?

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Do You Have Questions?

Question: Is Sanatana Dharma Sectarian? 

Answer: It Is Pure Sectarian-less Religion 

Dharma literally means "intrinsic nature." And sanatana means "eternal." So sanatana dharma is the eternal intrinsic nature of something. For example the sanatana dharma of water is liquidity and the sanatana dharma of chili peppers is hotness. So what is the sanatana dharma of the living being? His sanatana dharma is service. Everyone has the propensity to serve. Therefore people serve their nation, their community, their family, etc. And if they can find no one to serve, they will get a dog so that they can serve the dog. The perfection of such serving propensity is to serve the root cause of all existence, i.e. to serve God. Just as by watering the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, by serving God we are able to perfectly serve everyone. So this serving God is the real sanatana dharma. This can be executed by anyone in any religious tradition. A Hindu can do it. A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew. It does not matter how one may be designated externally. If he is purely serving God without any ulterior motives, he has become perfectly situated in sanatana dharma.

So sanatana dharma is not another sect of religion. It is the pure essence of religion when religion becomes completely free from all material designations and material motives.

Quote of the Day

Regarding your question about why we dress the Deities in very opulent fashion and not as simple cowherds boy and girl, this is an intelligent question and the answer is that according to the regulative principles we cannot worship Radha-Krishna now. Radha-Krishna worship is meant for persons who have already developed spontaneous love of God. In the training period we are only worshipping Laksmi-Narayana."

The Path of Siddha Mahayoga and the Lineage of Swami Shivom Tirth

The Path Of Siddha Mahayoga

There are numerous ways to awaken Kundalini but generally these approaches may divided into two groups. In the first group are paths such as Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga or Raja Yoga. In these paths the Kundalini is awakened through the effort of the individual. In the second group is the path that is variously called Sahaja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga or Siddha Mahayoga. In this path the Kundalini is spontaneously awakened by the grace of the Siddha guru in a process that is called Shaktipat. This path is called Siddha Mahayoga because the processes of Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga and Raja Yoga all take place spontaneously after being initiated through the grace of a Siddha. This path of Siddha Yoga can be briefly described as follows: The Siddha Guru conveys Shaktipat initiation to the disciple by means of touch, word or intention. Upon initiation the various practices of Mantra Yoga and Hatha Yoga occur spontaneously due to the activation of Kundalini . After some time the mind becomes concentrated the prana becomes steady, and with this Laya Yoga is said to be accomplished. Finally, through the steadiness of prana the union of the individual soul with the supreme Self is achieved and the goal of Raja Yoga is accomplished. As Swami Narayan Tirth said:
Mantra, Hatha, Laya and Raja Yogas are not separate from one another. They are merely the divisions of categories of a single yoga. Through practicing these four in their respective order and attaining competency is called Mahayoga. Knowledge will not be attained by depending on only one of the four, and only by attending wholly to all four will natural yoga, that is the union of the individual soul with the supreme Self, be perfected.
The path of Siddha Mahayoga is not a modern invention but in fact it has a history of at least one thousand years. References to initiation through Shaktipat can be found in classical works such as the Yoga Vashishta, Shiva Purana, the Kularnava Tantra and in the works of the great scholar and yogi, Abhinavagupta. In many works the role of the guru is emphasized but in no work is it better epitomized than in the Shiva Sutras which states in Chapter 2, Verse 6:

gururupayah
In translation, this verse states that: "The guru is the means (to liberation)."
If one is intrigued by the promise of the path of Siddha Mahayoga it is natural to seek out a teacher who can offer Shaktipat initiation. Traditional sources on the path of Siddha Mahayoga encourage a careful review of the prospective disciple by the Siddha Guru as well as a review of the qualities of the Guru by the disciple. The qualities of a Guru are described in classical works of the path of Siddha Mahayoga and the Thirteenth Chapter of the Kularnava Tantra gives an extensive list of the qualities. First and foremost a Guru is expected to have a high degree of self-realization. Secondly a Guru is expected to have the knowledge and the capacity for conveying (Shaktipat) initiation. Thirdly the Guru is expected to have a knowledge of the aspects of the path. Finally a Guru's behavior is expected to reflect his state of realization.

Even the literature of one thousand years ago discuss the difficulty of finding a Guru who embodies all these characteristics and in the selection of a guru the classical works are quite pragmatic. They encourage a critical attitude in the beginning and only after the Guru has met one's criteria does one take initiation from him. From this point onwards they encourage unwavering devotion to the Guru. Unfortunately these days many students choose the opposite approach. They quickly adopt a devoted attitude toward a teacher and take initiation but over time some students become more and more critical of the teacher. This approach is generally ill-advised and is especially disastrous in the path of Siddha Mahayoga. Once one's Kundalini is awakened through Guru's grace a variety of experiences may occur, some of these potentially terrifying. At these times a total confidence in the Siddha Guru is absolutely necessary to calm the anxiety. If, on the other hand, at these moments one has residual doubts regarding the Guru then one's anxiety and discomfort can become even more amplified. The literature of Siddha Yoga does acknowledge that a student may progress from one teacher to another but in doing so the student should never doubt or criticize prior teachers.

The Lineage Of Swami Shivom Tirth

The known tradition of the contemporary Siddha Guru, Swami Shivom Tirth, begins with the figure of Swami Gangadhar Tirth. From there it continues with Swami Narayan Tirth. Swami Narayan Tirth passed the tradition of Siddha Mahayoga to Shri Yogananda Maharaj. Shri Yogananda Maharaj passed this tradition onto Swami Vishnu Tirth. Swami Vishnu Tirth received his initiation into the renunciate tradition of the Tirtha order from Swami Purushottam Tirth, an initiate of Swami Narayan Tirth. With Swami Vishnu Tirth this tradition began to appeal to a broader public. For over forty years Swami Vishnu Tirth's book Devatma Shakti has been one of the most reliable references on the path of Siddha Mahayoga. Swami Vishnu Tirth passed on this tradition to his most favored disciple Swami Shivom Tirth. Having retired from his duties as Swami Shivom Tirth has, in turn, passed on his lineage and responsibilities to Swami Shiv Mangal Tirth. Brief biographies of these inspiring individuals are given below. These biographies are drawn from the writings and discourses of Swami Shivom Tirth and Swami Shiv Mangal Tirth.