New Devotee

Hare Krishna Hare Rama

Greetings all! New devotee here. I have been learning about Krishna for the last year now, studying Bhakti yoga the last 3 months (I have been an on and off again vegan for the last 7 years, my health isnt great so my doctors keep telling me stop so I do for a month and then go back to being a vegan again until my body shuts down. I am hoping for some intervention on this). I have had an introductory class on Hindu philosophy as an undergrad philosophy major, in the last year I have fallen in love with Indian music and art.

I was hoping someone could answer a couple of questions I have:

1. How do I get started? What should I be doing now? What should I not be doing?

2. How can I tell a real guru from a false one? Will a guru find me or do I have to seek one out?

3. what websites and resources do you recommend for people that are new to this?

All your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely--

Dar

[radhae]

Jay Shree Radhey Krishn!

It is good that you are interested in Hinduism. I am not the most perfect person, but i can guide somewhat.
A few links are http://JKP.org
http://BarsanaDham.org
and you can find other links from there.

Also, if you are truly interested in Krishna, then try your best to get the book "Prem Ras Siddhant"; it is a philosophy book that is a total summary of the Vedas and other scriptures, and many confusions are removed in the book also. The book is available from http://shop.JKP.org it is available in both Hindi and in English, for only 15 dollars each.

This is all i can do. I hope this helps you and if my saying can do much, I wish you best of luck in your journey to Radha Krishn. And no matter what, don't forget, Radha and Krishn are both One and the Same, no difference in Them whatsoever. They are One, but appear as Two in order to perform lilas(pastimes). So say the scriptures.

About Guru, you will have to find him. But, please, do take care in doing so. There are many frauds that look for followers. You have to find a true devotee of the Lord that lives for the Lord, everything he does is for the Lord and to help others reach the Lord. The websites i have mentioned are by the followers of Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharajji. He is the 5th original "Jagadguru" of the last 5000 years. You can find all this on the websites, so i will not inform you of more, but please at least give those websites a visit and go through some of the devotion flash movies. And there is a lot to read there also.

Jay Shree Radhey Krishn!!!

Radhae Radhae!!!

Jay Shree Radhey Krishn!


Thank You so much for your kind help. It is greatly appreciated.

--Dar

[JK Hauraki]

Hari Bol,

Great sites are www.prabhupada.com. and www.Krishna.com alike are Excellent sites for all your literature purchases and free downloads on many great Books. By his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.

Let His Divine Grace guide you in your spiritual life for now as you progress you will further understand the practices of Devotional Service like myself, I started my journey through His Divine Grace's Books and I offer my repeated obesiances to him everyday.
Read a little everyday, Chant the Maha-mantra everyday and you will surely feel the benefits.
A great book to start with would be the Science of Self Relization by His Divine Grace. And Nectar of Devotion is a complete book on Devotional Service and tell us what offences are to be avoided.
As for being vegetarian, this is definetly an art. So get Started with a book by Kurma Dasa, Great Vegetarian dishes. Fantastic book for starting out or Quick Vegetarian Dishes by the same Author. You need Dairy products or you will get sick this is accepted, so please try some of these recipes they are full of nutrients and are offerable to the Lord and his Great Devotees. You will never look back. Good Luck! P.S these books are all available at the Krishna.com. Hare Krishna! :lol:

[Ratnesh]

Please do not read the Prabhupad's book listed on the site. It is not the original one. Almost all the books written by prabhupad is manipulated by GBC ISKCON. So the Prabhupad's books are no more authentic, unless you get it from other publishers (not the BBT).

Want to see the true story about the changes made by BBT, please go thru:
http://iskcon.krishna.org/Articles/2000/07/00028.html

If u want Hindi Bhagvad Gita read this one:

http://www.gitapress.org/books/gita/633/gita_arth1_100.pdf
http://www.gitapress.org/books/gita/633/gita_arth101_200.pdf
http://www.gitapress.org/books/gita/633/gita_arth201_256.pdf

[varadaraja sharma]

Radhe Krishna,

dear morning star.

if your wish is krishna prema, lord krishna is merciful enough to take you to only a kind guru who would take you near him. The talk of bonafide, malafide etc., etc., were always there would be there. what is more important is how you proceed in the krishna bakthi. whomever you approach, how you are progressing is what matters to sweet krishna.

if you happen to read the life histories of krishna bakthas you would find that their lives are filled with benevolence, truth, kindness, humbleness and storewell of all good qualities. imbibing these qualities take you near krishna. the absence of these qualities take you away from the lord.

Radhe Krishna

[rakeshsingh2]

Yes, by reading the life story of Krishna Bhakta like MeeraBai, Surdas, Haridas we can improve a lot in krishna bhakti.