Ask a Hare Krsna a question

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rinnie said:
reb108 so glad you are appreciating the Catholic faith. And hope you stick around. You seem so kind and loving.

Just wanted to welcome you, forgot to do that, and wish you a safe and happy fourth of July.

God Bless!
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rinnie, you are most kind. Thank you. I am praying more. I just yesterday completed Saint Faustina’s Diary. If you haven’t read it, I cannot say enough about how powerful this book is. It has left me with something very tangible in my heart. I have now switched over to Saints of the American Wilderness and if you look in the “philosophy” section under the Apologetics section you will find a question I just asked about his book. Perhaps you could take a look and help me understand what is being said. Again, thank you for your kind words. All glories to Lord Jesus Christ.
 
LivingWaters7 said:
Well I think the main difference with Catholic theology is that the statue is not believed to be infused with the presence of Mary (as I understand is the view in Hinduism, i.e. prana pratishtha), nor are foods, flowers, incense, or water offered to the statue and/or to her. From what I understand, the bathing, clothing, and offering/feeding the deity/statue in Hinduism is done because it is believed that it isn’t just a statue. In Catholicism, it is just a statue.

I’m curious though, what is the significance of bathing the deity not just with water, but with milk, yogurt, honey, etc? What does it “do”?
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I am curious that you say Catholic theology states that the statue has no life or is not infused with the presence of Mary …or holy Icons and paintings…but the HOST is. When Mary of Egypt was mystically barred from entering temple, the Icon of Mary spoke to her and thus began her great conversion from nymph to Saint. I seem to have read in various Catholic books where Icons, paintings, and statues of Mary were infused with Her Holy presence. Why would Jesus ask St. Faustina that His Holy Image be painted and worshiped? Why do Catholics then believe that a bread wafer made in some factory is non-different from Jesus? It certainly doesn’t start out non-different. As I understand it, after certain authorized prayers are said by an authorized priest, the wafer “mystically” becomes Christ. It is the same thing in India, but on a much larger scale. After the statue of Krishna is made in some factory and sent by truck to a temple, authorized priest chant authorized Sanskrit prayers and invite Krishna to dwell in the statue. This is all done during an installation ceremony. Not all statues of Krishna are “Installed Deities.” However, for example, the Deities in the Dallas, TX temple are installed and throughout the day flowers, incense, and delicious food is being offered to God. The scriptures say the He will accept if they are prepared and offered with love, and that the items become exactly like the Catholic HOST, but on a much grander scale.



On certain Holy Days at a Krishna temple, hundreds of delicious preparations are cooked for Lord Krishna and the offered to Him. What He accepts becomes prasadam or mercy and is just like a Host in principle, but as I say, on a massive scale, so that after the formal worshiping, everyone sits down and enjoys an enormous spiritual feast, thanking God for His mercy. On my altar at home I have a beautiful statue of Mary that I have had since 1992 and in fact, I just cooked a homemade pizza and asked is she would please facilitates in the Lord’s acceptance of what I had cooked and was now offering.

As far as bathing the deities with milk, yogurt, honey, etc., this prescribed method is found in the Vedas and is older than written history. The founder of the Hare Krishna Movement brought all this information with him from India. This is not something concocted but a very ancient and spiritual method of worshiping God.
 
reb108 said:
I am curious that you say Catholic theology states that the statue has no life or is not infused with the presence of Mary …or holy Icons and paintings…but the HOST is. When Mary of Egypt was mystically barred from entering temple, the Icon of Mary spoke to her and thus began her great conversion from nymph to Saint. I seem to have read in various Catholic books where Icons, paintings, and statues of Mary were infused with Her Holy presence. Why would Jesus ask St. Faustina that His Holy Image be painted and worshiped? Why do Catholics then believe that a bread wafer made in some factory is non-different from Jesus? It certainly doesn’t start out non-different. As I understand it, after certain authorized prayers are said by an authorized priest, the wafer “mystically” becomes Christ. It is the same thing in India, but on a much larger scale. After the statue of Krishna is made in some factory and sent by truck to a temple, authorized priest chant authorized Sanskrit prayers and invite Krishna to dwell in the statue. This is all done during an installation ceremony. Not all statues of Krishna are “Installed Deities.” However, for example, the Deities in the Dallas, TX temple are installed and throughout the day flowers, incense, and delicious food is being offered to God. The scriptures say the He will accept if they are prepared and offered with love, and that the items become exactly like the Catholic HOST, but on a much grander scale.

iPage

On certain Holy Days at a Krishna temple, hundreds of delicious preparations are cooked for Lord Krishna and the offered to Him. What He accepts becomes prasadam or mercy and is just like a Host in principle, but as I say, on a massive scale, so that after the formal worshiping, everyone sits down and enjoys an enormous spiritual feast, thanking God for His mercy. On my altar at home I have a beautiful statue of Mary that I have had since 1992 and in fact, I just cooked a homemade pizza and asked is she would please facilitates in the Lord’s acceptance of what I had cooked and was now offering.

As far as bathing the deities with milk, yogurt, honey, etc., this prescribed method is found in the Vedas and is older than written history. The founder of the Hare Krishna Movement brought all this information with him from India. This is not something concocted but a very ancient and spiritual method of worshiping God.
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Read the forth paragraph :
jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION6.htm#CHAPTER%20LIX
 
Techno2000 said:
Read the forth paragraph :
jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION6.htm#CHAPTER%20LIX
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Techno2000 - Just read it, thank you. Having now just finished reading Saint Faustina’s complete diary which focuses on the image of the Divine Mercy with the words, “Jesus, I trust in You,” I have been thinking seriously, “who do I completely trust with my soul.” This is a good question. My conception of God has been developed over my lifetime to where I see God being like a diamond. A diamond has different cuts or facets or sides. I don’t consider one side as being better than another. All of God is good. One of these facets is the Holy Trinity and all that is Christianity, as founded by Lord Jesus Christ. It is what it is, Jesus is the only way, and as a matter of fact, I completely trust my soul with Jesus Christ. I would also trust my soul with Mary. I worship Jesus everyday and love Him. However, in view of my awareness of God as mentioned above, there is another Divine Facet. This “different” facet is the Divine Realm of Radha and Krishna. Upon hearing about this facet of God, 99% of all Christians think Satan, “you can’t love two Gods,” “deception, deception” and they begin to hiss. I get it. But in all honesty, I also trust Krishna with my soul. To me, the Christian “way” says that God is limited. The Krishna way says that God is unlimited. And yet, even Saint Faustina is unable to see the face of God. Toward the end of her Diary (she knows she is about to die), she says that soon, when the day comes that God finally presents Himself to her, “face-to-face,” that she will accept and worship whatever He may be. To me this says, as it says in the Holy Bible, that there is so much more. I just know that there is more for all of us. I feel blessed to have been mercifully guided to Lord Krishna. This is a huge family, just like Catholics have their huge family. I especially feel blessed in that I love to read about God. I am now reading every day of my life about Him. I feel especially blessed that fate pointed me to Sor Maria de Jesus de Agreda and her books and life …and all that has followed over these past three years. For three years I have humbly sat without fail at the feet of the great Catholic saints and have listened and tried to understand their message. This afternoon I stood in front of the image of Divine Mercy and told Jesus that I trust in Him. Jesus says that this trust is like a divine dipper and He has invited me to dip deeply into His pool of Divine Mercy and take as much as I wish. When my eyes are closed I can see the pool of mercy, more perfect than any body of water. I dipped from it and poured the first ladle full upon the head of a girl at work who seems very troubled. I kept dipping because Jesus welcomes me to take as much mercy as I want. I kept offering to others. And then I poured the last ladle over my own head.
 
reb108 said:
Techno2000 - Just read it, thank you. Having now just finished reading Saint Faustina’s complete diary which focuses on the image of the Divine Mercy with the words, “Jesus, I trust in You,” I have been thinking seriously, “who do I completely trust with my soul.” This is a good question. My conception of God has been developed over my lifetime to where I see God being like a diamond. A diamond has different cuts or facets or sides. I don’t consider one side as being better than another. All of God is good. One of these facets is the Holy Trinity and all that is Christianity, as founded by Lord Jesus Christ. It is what it is, Jesus is the only way, and as a matter of fact, I completely trust my soul with Jesus Christ. I would also trust my soul with Mary. I worship Jesus everyday and love Him. However, in view of my awareness of God as mentioned above, there is another Divine Facet. This “different” facet is the Divine Realm of Radha and Krishna. Upon hearing about this facet of God, 99% of all Christians think Satan, “you can’t love two Gods,” “deception, deception” and they begin to hiss. I get it. But in all honesty, I also trust Krishna with my soul. To me, the Christian “way” says that God is limited. The Krishna way says that God is unlimited. And yet, even Saint Faustina is unable to see the face of God. Toward the end of her Diary (she knows she is about to die), she says that soon, when the day comes that God finally presents Himself to her, “face-to-face,” that she will accept and worship whatever He may be. To me this says, as it says in the Holy Bible, that there is so much more. I just know that there is more for all of us. I feel blessed to have been mercifully guided to Lord Krishna. This is a huge family, just like Catholics have their huge family. I especially feel blessed in that I love to read about God. I am now reading every day of my life about Him. I feel especially blessed that fate pointed me to Sor Maria de Jesus de Agreda and her books and life …and all that has followed over these past three years. For three years I have humbly sat without fail at the feet of the great Catholic saints and have listened and tried to understand their message. This afternoon I stood in front of the image of Divine Mercy and told Jesus that I trust in Him. Jesus says that this trust is like a divine dipper and He has invited me to dip deeply into His pool of Divine Mercy and take as much as I wish. When my eyes are closed I can see the pool of mercy, more perfect than any body of water. I dipped from it and poured the first ladle full upon the head of a girl at work who seems very troubled. I kept dipping because Jesus welcomes me to take as much mercy as I want. I kept offering to others. And then I poured the last ladle over my own head.
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Read the whole Book Here:
jesus-passion.com/DOLOROUS_PASSION_OF_OUR_LORD_JESUS_CHRIST.htm
 
PietroPaolo said:
What, to you, are the biggest differences between what Catholics believe and what you believe?
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This is my fourth day reading Jiava Dharma and this morning I thought of this question you asked a couple of weeks ago. The biggest difference is that Catholics seem to deny the existence of anything outside of the teachings of their faith, whereas I accept a larger realm. I used to swim in the Pacific Ocean when I was younger. Every few minutes a new wave would start to form and I would paddle out and try to ride it onto the beach on top of my rubber raft. I noticed that each wave, while made of the same substance (salt water) was actually quite unique, if examined closely. For example, each wave has its own unique size. In one wave you might find a lot of seaweed, certain fish, while in another you might find an old stick or a seahorse, but not in every wave. But still, each wave shares the basic quality of salt water. While sincerely reading my last group of Catholic books, it became even more obvious to me that in religious terms, this “salt water” is love. Catholics are very loving people and have a history of love that any honest person will pay allegiance to. When examined closely, within this “Catholic Wave” are many diverse items, all floating within an ocean of love. Looking inside this wave there are amazing saints, prayers, history, Jesus, and more. I cannot tell you enough, how much I adore this Divine Wave called Catholicism. As I was saying, this morning I was reading Jaiva Dharma by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and as I immersed myself within its holy pages, I once again found myself swimming within a different wave. I haven’t read a Krishna book for about 3 years, focusing instead of Catholic literature. Where I was reading this morning, the character, Paramahamsa Babaji, was meditating deeply upon the pastimes of Radha and Krishna; as deeply absorbed in holy thoughts, love of God and ecstasy, as any Catholic Saint has experienced while meditating on the pastimes of Lord Jesus Christ. So the point is, there is this “Second Divine Wave,” also made entirely of love. Floating within this second wave are many diverse items: amazing saints, prayers, history and more. But either wave, Catholic or Krishna, what I find that connects them both is love. Yes, if you examine the contents of each wave separately, there are unique differences, but that is all superficial, with “salt water” (love) their common and basic nature. I am sorry that Catholics deny this other wave. Is the ocean so limited that it can only generate one wave? Is love so confined that it can only produce one wave? We don’t even find this to be true in our own lives. Is God so limited that He cannot send out a second impulse of divine love and mercy? Each religion has their great saints and they say to us, the tiny fish (souls) that are found swimming in their perspective waves, “love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.”
 
My understanding is that the spiritual practice of Bhakti Yoga, as practiced by Vaishnavas, does not aim for Unity with God. Rather, remaining in an increasingly more absorbed devotion to God.

This should resonate with Christians since, except for some of the saints, they seem to emphasize the Creator and Creation separation even into Heaven.

Do I have this right?

What is your understanding, of Moksha?
 
reb108 said:
Greetings. If you have ever wanted to ask one of those rather odd looking monks in the white or orange robes a questions, I will try my best to answer.
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Yeah, I got one.
Why do ya’ll wear those odd looking white and orange robes?
😃
 
JustaServant said:
Yeah, I got one.
Why do ya’ll wear those odd looking white and orange robes?
😃
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Yes, the robes that the Hare Krishna men wear as seen thru our Western eyes can certainly look odd, but like many things, you can get used to it and even like them. When I went to boot camp in 1969 they buzzed off all my hair. We all just stared at each other thinking, “freak.” About two weeks later a bus full of new long-haired recruits pulled up and we all thought how freaky they looked. White cloth (called a dhoti - doe-tee) indicates that the man is married. Orange cloth indicates that the man is not married. Kind of like that. The women just wear the most beautiful clothing ever (sari); any color they like. A married woman has a small red dot on her forehead and red dye in the part of her hair. The picture shows Radha and Krsna. She is wearing a sari. Krsna is wearing a gold dhoti.

http://www.ancientvedicradio.com/uploads/3/1/8/7/3187499/7611148_orig.jpg
 
brmckay said:
My understanding is that the spiritual practice of Bhakti Yoga, as practiced by Vaishnavas, does not aim for Unity with God. Rather, remaining in an increasingly more absorbed devotion to God. This should resonate with Christians since, except for some of the saints, they seem to emphasize the Creator and Creation separation even into Heaven. Do I have this right? What is your understanding, of Moksha?
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Thank you for your questions. As far as unity with God, that depends on how you define unity. Some people want to loose their identity and become one with God. There is a huge, New Age following that can’t wait to merge with God. Some people say that God is light and they want to become part of that light. They have no conception of God as a person, with an eternal spiritual body (Jesus mentions His Father’s right hand). However, as far as the aim of bhakti yoga (being in a loving relationship with God), I have always liked this picture since it pretty much sums it up for me. Although Christianity only has a vague description of God, His abode, and what activities take place there, here we see clearly the Divine Lord surrounded by His loving friends, enjoying a spiritual picnic. When I first became a Hare Krishna monk, I used to think (and still do), “Yeah, what could be more cool than that, going on a picnic with God?” This just rings true to me and that there is an actual religion that describes this, then I will gladly sit down and listen. So here we have unity without loosing our individualness. This picture is not some artist’s fantasy, but rather it is what Krishna literature describes the Kingdom of God to be like. This is the ultimate Moksha or liberation. After spending 40 years in a prison and when that time comes and you have served your last day and the door is open and you step out onto the street wearing your old clothes with a hundred dollars in your pocket, that is liberation. The day you walk thru “Heaven’s Gate” …that is Moksha. Free at last. Eternal liberation. Our entire Vaishnava theology is based on this fundamental verse found in the Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (Madhya-lila 20.108) that says in part, "The jiva’s (soul’s) natural condition is to be a servant of Krsna (God). So it is this loving devotional service that takes place in Heaven. St. Therese of Lisieux said that she couldn’t wait to get to heaven because there was so much she planned to do.

http://www.ancientvedicradio.com/uploads/3/1/8/7/3187499/7501948.jpg?733
 
reb108 said:
Yes, the robes that the Hare Krishna men wear as seen thru our Western eyes can certainly look odd, but like many things, you can get used to it and even like them. When I went to boot camp in 1969 they buzzed off all my hair. We all just stared at each other thinking, “freak.” About two weeks later a bus full of new long-haired recruits pulled up and we all thought how freaky they looked. White cloth (called a dhoti - doe-tee) indicates that the man is married. Orange cloth indicates that the man is not married. Kind of like that. The women just wear the most beautiful clothing ever (sari); any color they like. A married woman has a small red dot on her forehead and red dye in the part of her hair. The picture shows Radha and Krsna. She is wearing a sari. Krsna is wearing a gold dhoti.
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I hope you noticed, from the smiley, my post was tongue-in-cheek.😉
Having grown up in the big city years ago, I used to see HK’s all the time downtown. They seemed a harmless lot, certainly were musically talented, never asked for money or try to convert me.
Wish I could say the same for fundamentalist “street preachers”.
 
JustaServant said:
I hope you noticed, from the smiley, my post was tongue-in-cheek.😉 Having grown up in the big city years ago, I used to see HK’s all the time downtown. They seemed a harmless lot, certainly were musically talented, never asked for money or try to convert me. Wish I could say the same for fundamentalist “street preachers”.
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Not a problem. Don’t think I will ever catch all the nuances of those various icons. I have enough trouble just typing something coherent, without a bunch of misspelled words. As far as these street preachers, Hare Krishna’s included, I see them all being motivated by various degrees and types of love; influenced by different passions. I see that they all mean well, wanting to bless everyone with what they have received. Sometimes they knock at my door and it is nice to take a break and listen to them. Sitting at the right hand of His Father, Lord Jesus Christ eventually appeared upon the earth, “a street preacher,” simply an expression of that compassion, and love, that is God. One reason I like to read the books left for us by the great Saints of the Catholic faith is that pretty much all of them come across as being free from fanaticism. Instead their books are filled with their realizations, life stories, and expressions of love. I might be a Hare Krsna but I have certainly been blessed by them and I am so thankful.
 
reb108 said:
. . . . the Divine Lord, surrounded by His loving friends, enjoying a special picnic. When I first became a Hare Krishna monk, I used to think (and still do), “Yeah, what could be more cool than that, going on a picnic with God”? . . . .
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What is your opinion of the online video “Crispy Krishna” @ this time?
 
Hi, Reb108:

Wondered if you were even aware of what is described in Scripture as the Marriage Supper Of The Lamb?

Or how the Church has long held forth that Holy Eucharist is a foretaste of that Heavenly dinner?
 
flameburns623 said:
Hi, Reb108:

Wondered if you were even aware of what is described in Scripture as the Marriage Supper Of The Lamb?

Or how the Church has long held forth that Holy Eucharist is a foretaste of that Heavenly dinner?
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No, I didn’t know anything about this “Marriage Supper Of The Lamb.” I do now, having read several accounts. I wonder why all the books I have read, written mostly by different saintly nuns, never emphasized this?
 
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