From: mece1e3@Jane.UH.EDU (Arindam Ghosh)
Subject: Lord Chaitanya's teachings
Reply-To: mece1e3@Jane.UH.EDU
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 04:43:17 GMT

This is not directed against the devout muslims( a la Irfan Hyder). This is
definitely against the ignorant, vaingloriant Muslims, who irrespective of
whether they follow the Quaranic precepts or not, proclaim themselves better
than all other believers, just because they are born Muslims. I have received
many mails regarding how Allah opens one's eyes when one looks for the truth.
This has been time and again stressed in all the religions. Perhaps this post
will help to open the eyes of some who consider all other faiths as beyond
consideration without knowing anything about it. I have the greatest respect
for Muhammad and all the true believers. But those who use his words to justify
their own perverse pleasures and exalted positions I have only pity. Oh, what
kafirs these Hindus are, they worship a cow, you know! So, I don't need to
listen to anything they have to say.

Lord Chaitanya (b. 1486 A.D.) is supposed to have come to show how to apply
Krishna's teachings in everyday life. Though he instructed his disciples to
write books on the Science of Krishna; he himself has left us only eight verses.
His followers are known as Vaishnavas (among whom there is no division based
on caste or anything) . He had many Muslims as his followers. This is not to
say that he is greater than Muhammed or something. It's difficult for any
man who searches the truth to be oblivious to the presence of such glorious
spiritual personalities. Many Hindus will not have any problem following
Muhammad's lead if he appears today. It's time Muslims understand the difference
between the Hindus and idol worshippers in Makka. I quote from him, as this is
an exact replication of what he said and not distorted by anybody.
One word of caution: When Hindus use the name of the prophet and the Lord, 
interchangably; they do so as they are manifestations of the same essence.
The prophet is but a mirror of the God and so are all the idols.

The eight prayers:
1
	Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan (chanting) which cleanses the heart
of all dust accumulated for years together. Thus the fire of conditional life,
of repeated births and death, is extinguished. This Samkirtan movement is the
prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the
benediction Moon. It is the life of all transcadental knowledge, it increases
the ocean of transcadental bliss, and it helps to have a taste of the full 
nectar for which we are always anxious.

2
	O my Lord! Your Holy name alone can render all benediction upon the
living beings, and therefore You have hundreds and millions of Names, like
Krishna, Govinda, etc. In these transcadental Names you have invested all Your
transcadental energies, and there is no hard and fast rule for chanting these
holy names. O my Lord! You have so kindly made approach to you easy by your
Holy names, but unfortunate as I am, I have no attraction for them
3
	One can chant the Holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, 
thinking himself lower than the straw in the street, more tolerant than the
tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respects to
others. In such a state of mind one can chant the Holy Name of the Lord 
constantly.
4
	O Almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor I have any
desire to enjoy beautiful women; neither do I want any number of followers of
mine. What I want only is that I may have Your causeless devotional service in
my life--birth after birth.
5
	O Son of Maharaj Nanda, I am Your eternal servitor, and although I am
so, somehow or other I have fallen in the ocean of birth and death. Please,
therefore, pick me up from the ocean of birth and death, and fix me as one of
the atoms of your lotus feet.
6
	O my Lord! When shall my eyes be decorated with tears of love, flowing
constantly while I chant Your Holy name? When will my words be choked up when
uttering the Holy name? And when will all the holes of hair on my body have
eruptions by the recitation of Your name?
7
	O Govinda! Feeling Your separation I am considering a moment twelve 
years or more, and tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain. I am
feeling all vacant in the world, in the absence of You.
8
	I do not know anyone except Krishna as my Lord, and He shall always
remain as such, even if He handles me roughly by His embrace; or He may make
me broken hearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do
anything and everything, but He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
Arindam

Arindam Ghosh		(OFF) 713-749-4451
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Asato ma sadgamaya, Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,
mrityorma amritam gamaya.
[ From unreal to real, from darkness to light, 
from death to immortality]