Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Thank you CCD for considering me a stalwart devotee...I only wish that compliment was more deserved by me..

As to the issue in question, I think that a lot of these sannyasis and prominent devotees have little time for internet debates, which can also easily get ugly and unpleasant. Our movement has many unresolved issues, and many very frustrated members - just see Sampradaya Times for examples. Perhaps there is also some sort of secret directive from GBC advising Iskcon officials to stay away from unmoderated debates? I find it somewhat odd that none of them are willing to write on open forums.

In a way that is very unfortunate, because internet is THE brihat-mridanga of our present times, reaching far more people than books, and with much less effort on our behalf. Our internet site Vrinda receives well over 100,000 visits per month, and it is only one of 5 or six Vaishnava sites in Polish language, all providing KC multimedia presentations and lightly moderated discussion. Vrinda also contains ALL Srila Prabhupadas books in electronic format. Most local devotees participate in these presentations and discussions. It is a very effective outreach program for the local centers.

They think they are top shots and people here are small fries. They dont want to come on level of small fries.

Some, that I know of, refuse to enage in any kind of internet confrontation. They may write, but will never engage in debates. Even if you write to them on their blog, they may just ignore it. Maybe it has something to do with internet communication, they created whole philosophy about how discussing on internet is bad, bad, bad. And they dont want to be bad boys, clearly.

They have no problem being filmed. Prabhupada certainly didnt.
They should be using whatever means possible to preach. Prabhupada did.
I have received e-mails from some gurus , or at least their assistants.
Apparently theyre just too big and important to discuss on this site. That should tell us something about them.

...pariprashnena is a pretty mellow site,almost boring,i like it,its kind of fun,i doubt if very many devotees even know it exists.

I am gobsmacked (besides the fact that no known sannyasis are answering questions here), but to suggest that devotees like Veda, Sita-pati or Kula-pavana are not stalwarts is just ridiculous. What more do you want ppl?

I think that its because many of the questions presented here generally turn into heavy debates and personal attacks by the same few people. I am not a stalwart devotee by any means, but I know Ive started to be put off by this site for that reason. (According to the guidelines for Vedic debate, a personal attack against someone indicates and immediate loss in the debate.)

..haribol denna prabhu,I just did a rather quick review of the past 10 pages of questions,about 300 in all, and I dont think i saw anything that you could consider a personal attack,can you give us some examples?

Haribol HariHaribol, I consider the recent questions of Why Gayatri and Bodily Pious Activities examples.

Another reason, in answer to the question, may be that many of the questions seem to be either simple/functional or controversial. The simple/functional ones practically any reasonable devotee can provide a reasonable response to, and the controversial ones, generally sannyasis etc will not speak publicly about them.

deena, I am curious about your other category/ies of questions besides functional and controversial. Very interesting.

perhaps because PAMHO exists, which is more reputable and holds people a bit more accountable for what they are saying in the sense your name, location and spiritual master are listed beside your post/reply.

Difficult questions are hazards on the straight-and-narrow path.

[quote][cite] Radhapriya devi dasi:[/cite]perhaps because PAMHO exists, which is more reputable and holds people a bit more accountable for what they are saying in the sense your name, location and spiritual master are listed beside your post/reply.[/quote]
Isn`t that more listening to who says something vs what it is said? For me the important is to learn. Accountability is more on character and that is not present in P a m h o afais.

Even though Im not in the stalwart or senior devotee category the reason I avoid this site is because often times I feel its pretty far from "pariprashnena" namely inquires in a submissive mood but, is often a forum where persons are eager to get out their own perspective of things irregardless of what others say and often times there is a very negative, disrespectful attitude by some of the participants. Of course this is a generalization and I am sure some come genuinely in a submissive mellow, but, for the most part I see a lot of discussion regarding politics and things which I have found my devotional life to be better with out.

I like PAMHO better in this regard because the discussions although sometimes pretty intense generally stay in a respectful mellow and the overall subject matter seems to revolve around understanding the philosophy and how we can best adhere to the standards Srila Prabhupada set. (at least in the conferences I am part of there). The presence of senior devotees on the conferences helps things from getting out of hand as sometimes they assume a sort of indirect moderator role by posting something which will make people stop and think about how Srila Prabhupada would want us to relate with one another.

Pariprashnena is an ideal standard, for which most of the users of this site certainly aspire. But if you find other sites more inspiring that is very good too.

PAMHO is strictly for Iskcon affiliated devotees and you have to pay to join and be accepted (at least thats how it was last time I checked). This site is free and open to all Vaishnavas. Naturally that leads to more confrontations.

probably PAMHO keeps more "mellow" cause you risk your status in ISKCON if you misbehave or voice an unorthodox opinion, here you only risk your free account if clear and basic vaishnava etiquette is transgressed. And its free anyway. Try to post there something like your last comment but referring to PAMHO itself and you'b4ll see what I mean.
But I think that any vaishnava conference is positive, and I am glad that pariprashnena, in just 18 months has come up with several hundred questions and thousands of comments, proving to be a popular site and somehow a "competition" to the classic forums. Sure it lacks many things but the attractive feature is the freedom of speech not moderated by any institution. That has been fresh air for many vaishnavas around the world, because ISKCON is no longer the only option in town. And regardless of your preferences, we are very glad you are participating mother Radhapriya and thank you for voicing your opinions here. Hare Krishna!

I know there are plenty of senior devotees here at pariprashnena with 20 years or more of devotional service. Another thing is sannyasis, gurus or famous devotees as was my original question.

[quote][cite] meme:[/cite] Another thing is sannyasis, gurus or famous devotees as was my original question.[/quote] I think being sannyasi or "guru" is overrated.

[quote][cite] ccd:[/cite][quote][cite] meme:[/cite] Another thing is sannyasis, gurus or famous devotees as was my original question.[/quote] I think being sannyasi or "guru" is overrated.[/quote]

Sour grapes? 8^D

The overriding assumption in this thread is that religious institutional status = spiritual qualification. Alas the history of ISKCON speaks eloquently on its falsehood.

Hare Krsna
Sorry , But sometimes the comments seem a little more to the offensive side. Something that is not really meant to improve any ones spiritual life.