When I listen to lectures of GM from various years, they are all
delicious to me.
Still, if someone tells me you can choose which lecture of GM
I will give you to listen today, the one from 20 years before,
or one that he gave last week, I would take this from last weak.
On one hand this is because I am in contact with GM for a short
period of time, and these last years I feel like I am following him
on phone-calls, lectures,... it is more live for me when it is with
closer date.
I wonder if it is problematic that I think like that? Is it offensive
to have this understanding that even guru is continuously distilling
his own spiritual thinking, making his lectures even more sweet
today then they were before?
This all came to my mind when I was listening today to GM lecture
"Siksastakam Intro - July 14th, 2004". There GM speaks how
teaching of Siksastakam came from the Lord Chaitanya at Lord's
very advanced stage of His own spiritual life, something to pay
attention to, overflowing of His own extasy...
I believe that it is like this with advanced devotees also.
All in all, this was just one small thought of mine, and regardless
of what will be the answers to this posting of mine I will of course
continue to with great attention listen all that GM ever said.
Just a guess, but GM could have been speaking to a different audience in the past. Someone like Citta Hari or Syamasundara could answer better than me but I think GM was speaking to wider audiences back in Oregon--i.e., more new people. His talks may be more focused on devotees these days, compared to 20 years ago. The audience's receptivity will affect what the speaker says.
(Sorry to keep jumping in :Just Kidding: to answer your questions but I like your questions! )
(Sorry to keep jumping in :Just Kidding: to answer your questions but I like your questions!)
Yes, Prabhu! I like that you like my questions. It is inspiering to hear that, so I will continue .
I am actually dooing this participation on Tattva-viveka as a part of my daily sadhana.
GM told me: "Please join our discussions on Tattva-viveka. You can find good association there."
So, I am serious about it. I am trying to think quite long before I ask some question, and to decide
what is a good question that I can ask, in order to clarify some my understanding.
Somehow, quite some questions are comming to my mind, and I am writting them down,
that they wait in the queue. During the time, some ideas come to my mind, how to formulate
the question so that devotees can easily understand what I am asking or posting as my oppinion.
I also write down these near the particular question that I want to ask. When all of it is ready,
I am ready to ask a question, and it seems that devotees appreciate them.
Actually I am practical and honest in my asking.
This my being honest and not afraid not to know sometning, or presenting some sort of problem
of mine, is also very much a product of GM being a gentle and learned guru, as well as his disciples
on this forum.
So, I am not afraid. I think quite some time, and then I try to ask a question worthy of asking.
Just a guess, but GM could have been speaking to a different audience in the past. Someone like Citta Hari or Syamasundara could answer better than me but I think GM was speaking to wider audiences back in Oregon--i.e., more new people. His talks may be more focused on devotees these days, compared to 20 years ago. The audience's receptivity will affect what the speaker says.
I am actually amazed how GM is nicely speaking to mixed audience on his lectures,
both many years ago, and now also.
Generaly he is speaking in a "mixed way", so to say, with explanations of some words
that may not be known to the people who are for the first time on the lecture, or
just started comming to the programs.
I feel inspired in the same way when he says - "Just chant Hare Krsna.", or when
he explains some secret meaning of some sloka or some idea of some acarya.
When I listen to his lectures I am not a seeker for new amazing informations
on our tradition or our philosophy, but when I hear something new I incorporate
it in already learned up to now.
What I wanted to say in my original posting is that I feel that, when I listen some
lecture from recent time, it even more captures me, shakes me, and reminds me:
Wake up, don't sleep in Maya, you are a servant of Krsna! :Just Kidding: