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Destination Varanasi
28th of February, 2008 - 13:22
Leaving within the hour. It just dawned to me that Siva-ratri is right behind the corner, and Varanasi is approximately on the way...
Bengali lessons concluded
26th of February, 2008 - 15:53
Two months of Bengali lessons with Sakhicharan and Bisakha came to a conclusion today with the last chapter of the textbook discussions finished.
New section: Downloads
26th of February, 2008 - 7:55
A new section has been opened, hosting a number of media for download.
Raganuga for grabs
25th of February, 2008 - 21:26
Raganuga.Com and Raganuga.Org are available if someone wants to take the domains over and begin something anew.
Vraja Journal Digest - Newsletter discontinued
25th of February, 2008 - 7:52
The newsletter is discontinued in favor of a RSS newsfeed. I'm also heading towards Orissa in a few days, will be away for the better part of two months.
Kama-yantra
25th of February, 2008 - 3:44
I received a letter asking about the specifics of the design Visakha-sakhi draws on Radha's forehead after her morning bath, otherwise described as kama-yantra in Govinda-lilamrita. This is the reply.
Project Index - Concluding words
23rd of February, 2008 - 19:16
The project index at Madhavananda.com is indefinitely frozen. These are the concluding words posted today in the news section in announcing the same.
Soundscapes Reloaded
22nd of February, 2008 - 14:16
This is a continuation of the earlier blog entry featuring random sounds from Radhakund.
The Eve-teasing Problem
21st of February, 2008 - 15:24
In light of the recent rape and murder of Ananda-lila, an Australian girl who was staying in Vrindavan, people have asked for my comments on the culture of sexual harassment regrettably prevalent in India, sometimes labeled "eve-teasing", a rather archaic and tidy expression for an ugly social wrong.
Project ongoings
19th of February, 2008 - 11:09
Notes on diverse projects as the show is winding up. The ongoing-section of Vraja Journal retires.
Levels of Mantra and Meditation
17th of February, 2008 - 5:22
There are different levels on which a mantra functions or may be employed. Awareness of them, along with honest assessments of one's internal mental growth and present state, can prove to be helpful. I am also contrasting them with the theology of the four common aspects we know as nama, rupa, guna and lila.
And if you want to discuss...
16th of February, 2008 - 8:49
A few days back, my friend Jijaji told me he'd like to see a feature for leaving online comments on blog entries.
Gaudiya Discussions - Archives Reloaded
16th of February, 2008 - 8:26
These are the archives of Gaudiya Discussions, the once mighty giant of online Gaudiya Vaishnava discussions, debates, history, theology, controversy and creativity...
To Russian disciples of BVNM
15th of February, 2008 - 8:57
I keep hearing from several sources that some Russian disciples of BVNM have, as I had much predicted, employed my recent writings as ammunition in their hate campaign against the babaji tradition. Since none have contacted me in person, this is my open letter to them all.
Random soundscapes from Radhakund
12th of February, 2008 - 16:23
A while back a friend asked me to record some random bits of sound at Radhakund to get a better feel of the atmosphere. Here goes.
What I really want to say
11th of February, 2008 - 16:46
I just received a comment asking: "Do you want to stop posting clarifications and disclaimers and get down to the nitty-gritty of what you want to say?" Now, what do I really want to say? <pin drop silence follows>
My insight ventures
11th of February, 2008 - 7:15
With the occasional reference to yogic or Advaitin scriptures, or Buddhist suttas for that matter, some have been wondering about my explorations of knowledge outside the classical Vaisnava canon. Let's have a brief gloss on the why and the what to give everyone a better picture of what things are all about.
For all of you who want to spread the word
5th of February, 2008 - 19:39
Today I'm writing a note to all of you there, whether you're disciples of Narayana Maharaja, gurubhais of mine, or just random folks who want to interpret what I've written and tell all about it to your pals and all. And here's what I wish to say.
When the weather report is on
4th of February, 2008 - 19:30
I'd like to put in a note to all those who would judge me for what I am as I dive into the dark depths of my heart and pull out these horrendous blog entries. And yes, also for those well-wishers who have already concluded that I am a person with zilch spiritual authority or insight and informed me of the same. As well as for anyone else who might alter their perceptions of me because of what I have written, what I am writing and what I will come to write.
TBI - Part 3 - The factors that made me credulous
4th of February, 2008 - 19:16
From my last blog in this series, you'll remember the picture of someone rather stressed out by noise and corruption, pondering his future direction. What were my inner workings in the period that immediately preceded meeting this babaji? What made me so vulnerable to being duped? That's in turn for today's blog.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
1st of February, 2008 - 18:13
A word of clarification is in place, as my blogs as of late seem to have created some buzz in the blogosphere. Was Bhaktisiddhanta right about those bad babajis after all? My recent blogs were briefly mentioned in Jagadananda's recent blog, and a comment popped in: "Perhaps now its understood what Bhaktisidhanta was talking about...?" This needs some attention.


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For all of you who want to spread the word
Posted: 5th of February, 2008 - 19:39
Today I'm writing a note to all of you there, whether you're disciples of Narayana Maharaja, gurubhais of mine, or just random folks who want to interpret what I've written and tell all about it to your pals and all. And here's what I wish to say.

I realize all of this is an incredible treat for those of you who are looking for some fresh gossip you can pick and tell everybody and feel very important about it. It's also an unintended challenge for people who have built their faith of sticks like Fiddler Pig his house. Well the big bad wolf is out now, so watch ye, and make that house of bricks the next time over.

For the latter group, I should say to their solace that what I have written is not a theological commentary on the validity of the precepts they may have built their faith on. If I do note that in my view the contemporary samaja is a bit of a mess, it doesn't mean that I am declaring I believe Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a mess, or anything along the lines.

If someone feels that they are in a position jump to conclusions I have not explicitly stated, especially about me and my relationships with any number of other people grand and small, then here's a tip for you: you don't know me, and you don't really have much of a clue about things related with me either, so please don't even try to do the guesswork there.

Let me give you an example of a letter that seems to be doing its rounds:

"Madhavananda das from Finland was living at Radhakund for many years, who is considered as most important and learned of all those who are representing philosophy and practice of Ananta das Babaji... sometime ago he was a disciple of BVNM but left him because BVNM had spoken badly about Babaji Maharaja, but after five years of service to Ananta das Babaji he left him and took shelter of Sanatana das Babaji, but even after that he left him and took shelter of Bhakti Carana das Babaji, but now he even left him too..."

This is so clueless a depiction that it defies description. That someone should consider me as the most important and learned of all those representing Ananta das Babaji is quite hilarious in its own right, but the assumptions the author has jumped to on the course of events is what I take objection to. If you don't know, don't say it, pretty please.

Truth be said, I consider behavior like this to be despicable. How far and how deep people are prepared to degrade and defile themselves to drive their religious agenda is nothing short of astonishing. You are cordially invited to get in touch with me and confirm your assumptions before venturing into whatever it is that you are doing with your speculations.

While I'm on the topic, I would like to also remind those who might want to complain about me to someone. Please spare your energy, and spare mine as well. I am not really interested or inclined at this point to enter into a conflict of worlds complex beyond description. You are however welcome to actually just directly e-mail me if you have something that concerns me.

I do realize writing on topics like this is bound to spark some controversy. Controversy isn't bad per se. Hopefully raised awareness serves in paving a way towards a brighter future.
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