Tolerating the Hassles of Material Existence

September 3rd, 2006--Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA:
We certainly tasted the hasslesque nature of material existence on our flight (Northwest Airlines 44) from the USA (Minneapolis) to Europe. After we had been airborne for several hours the aircraft did a 180 degree turn and headed back to Minneapolis because of mechanical difficulty. Instead of returning to the main airport in Minneapolis, we landed around midnight at a small airport in Duluth, Minnesota where we were greeted by a half a dozen emergency vehicles with their red-lights blinking. Fireman appeared outside the plane with special suits to protect themselves in case our plane erupted into flames. Once a portable staircase was wheeled up to the aircraft the firemen entered our cabin. There did not appear to be a terminal at this remote airstrip. We spent the entire night on the plane. We were informed after the problem was solved that we would continue now on to Europe. We taxied to end of the runway readying for take off and then we stopped. I dozed off and dreamt that the plane was moving forward only to awaken and see that we remained sitting still. Finally after what seemed an eternity we were informed that we would be returning to Minneapolis instead heading on to Europe. Finally after sitting longer in Duluth as the light of dawn started to manifest we took off for Minneapolis.

So here we are in the Minneapolis airport getting to board another flight to Europe, realizing that all of the hell we go through in the material existence is a actually a special blessing to help us realize that material world is not our home. Our actual home is the 100% hassle-free spiritual world.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Name Missing from the Disciplic Succession List?...

There is a disciplic succession in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita As It Is. But in this list the name of Sri Ramakrishna is not included. Why ? Is he not eligible to be considered a guru? Your kind answer in this regard would be highly appreciated.

Hare Krishna

Ashis Paul

Answer: Must Be in Unbroken Disciplic Line from Krishna Himself...

For anyone to be included in a disciplic succession list they must be coming from an unbroken line of gurus beginning with Lord Sri Krishna Himself.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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