Original Message:

From: Jm8

Subject: questions

Sent: Oct 2, 02:18AM

No problem, you can send them.

ys Jan


Paige25

RE: questions
Oct 2, 02:53PM

Thank you so much for the help! I hope these questions are okay, I'm just trying to learn as much as possible and have had problems finding people to interview in my area.

1. What the most important holidays and traidtions in this religion?
2. How has religion shaped your life?
3. What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?
4. What hymms or prayers do you find most meaningful to yourself personally?
5. Where you raised in the Hindu religion or did you convert to it?
6. Do you foresee any changes in the religion because of the changes in todays society?
7. Are all of the Gods considered to be equal in their power or importance?
8. Because of the importance of inward meditation, do you find it better to abstain from certain outward sensory pleasures? Such as indulgent food, alcohol, or sex.
9. Since Karma applies to our actions, thoughts, and intents- How does a person work to control their thoughts, such as anger or impatience?
10. Do you think it is possible to know in life how close you are to obtaining complete enlightenment?

Thank you again for your time.


Hare Krishna Paige,

1. What the most important holidays and traidtions in this religion?

Most important ones in Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition are Janmashtami 
(advent of Shri Krishna), Gaura Purnima (advent of Shri Krishna in the 
form of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu), Nrsimha Chaturdashi (advent of Shri 
Nrsimha, one of the prominent forms of Shri Krishna) and Rama Navami 
(advent of Shri Rama, one of the prominent forms of Shri Krishna). 
Other major ones are Govardhana Puja, Radhashtami and Rathayatra. You 
can find details on Wikipedia, etc.


2. How has religion shaped your life?

It has changed my paradigm by 180 degrees. The important things became 
unimportant and the other way round. Basically, I realized that my 
life has a purpose transcending our temporary experience in the 
present material body and the whole material experience in samsara.


3. What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?

There're internal and external ones. Internally one tries to overcome 
one's conditioning by matter, 'weak' body and mind. Externally the 
modern society present an antithesis to an environment conducive to a 
spiritual growth. One has to find ways how to limit its impact on 
oneself.


4. What hymms or prayers do you find most meaningful to yourself personally?

Aside the Hare Krishna mahamatra, our central practice, they're 
personal prayers to Shri Krishna and His servants for protection and 
support of my service to them.


5. Where you raised in the Hindu religion or did you convert to it?

Conversion isn't the right word, imho. I was a seeker and for years 
studied various spiritual paths, evaluating and comparing them. There 
was always something missing in them - until I found Gaudiya Vaishnava 
tradition which was like the complete picture for me.


6. Do you foresee any changes in the religion because of the changes 
in todays society?

There're changes related to demography. As devotees grow older, they 
start their families and move out of temples (which are analogical to 
monasteries), and they have to adapt their own practices as per their 
new situation. Gaudiya Vaishnavism has some flexible aspects (like the 
principle of yukta vairagya, employing material things in spiritual 
service) enabling it to cope with the changes.


7. Are all of the Gods considered to be equal in their power or importance?

Most Vedic traditions are monotheistic, i.e. they recognize only one 
Supreme God, although they call Him by various names. One overarching 
name is Brahman. He has many aspects, both impersonal and personal 
(male, female), immanent, localized and transcedent. Gaudiya 
Vaishnavas consider Krishna the supreme reality, Parabrahman, the 
source of everything material and spiritual.

Therefore all names of God are related to one personality, although in 
various aspects. In this sense they're equal but they can also be 
hierarchized from various points of view. Iow, it can get technical. 8)


8. Because of the importance of inward meditation, do you find it 
better to abstain from certain outward sensory pleasures? Such as 
indulgent food, alcohol, or sex.

Yes, our main principles are abstaining from meat/fish and eggs, drugs 
(even coffee and ordinary tea), gambling and sex outside of wedlock 
and procreation. These are considered bonds to matter in its gross and 
subtle aspects.


9. Since Karma applies to our actions, thoughts, and intents- How does 
a person work to control their thoughts, such as anger or impatience?

On theoretical level by understanding how they work (they're aspects 
of our conditioning by matter) and on practical level by spiritual 
practice which minimizes their influence. Like when one is getting 
cured from a disease, its symptoms gradually subside. It just takes 
the right medicine, regimen and time. The same applies to spiritual 
practice.


10. Do you think it is possible to know in life how close you are to 
obtaining complete enlightenment?

Depends what one means by complete enlightenment. Imho, this term is 
akin to Buddhism and even there it means various things in various 
traditions. The goal of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is to enter the Lord's 
lila in His eternal realm beyond material level where every living 
being has a specific active position in relationship with the Lord. 
The revelation of and entering to this suprareality may be fast (by 
blessings, etc.) or gradual (by general practice). But one can realize 
how far one is on the nine-step methodical ladder defined by our 
acharya Rupa Gosvami (adau shraddha tatah sadhu sango... see quote in 
Bhagavad gita As It Is 4.10 purport).

Hope this helps and all the best.

Your servant, bh. Jan

http://www.vrindavan-dham.com
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz

dvaitaM bandhAya mokSAt prAk prApte bodhe manISayA
bhaktyarthaM kalpitam dvaitaM advaitAd api sundaram

"Duality is bondage before moksa and wisdom after realization. The 
duality accepted for the purpose of bhakti is sweeter than even 
non-duality." (from mangalacarana to Advaitasiddhi sara sangraha by 
Madhusudana Sarasvati, former advaitin)

