Kulapavana

This is kinda interesting too. I remember studying the life cycle of liver fluke (sheep, and sometimes human, parasite) in college. Grass snails pass it out (in microscopic larval form), ants eat it and soon parasite grows in them,

inducing the ant to climb to the top of blade of grass and wait...

to be eaten by sheep, where the parasite grows 1000s times its original size, lays eggs which pass out in urine and are eaten by snails... so the cycle goes on and on. Behold the banyan tree of material creation! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

eating babies is one of the symptoms of this Age of Kali as described in Srimad Bhagavatam. It will get a lot worse. I have heard that it happens here in US also. Several years ago there was an investigation in NY City that alleged such practices (with very rich people involved) but things were swept uder the carpet as usual in such cases.

the idea that women in Vedic culture "dressed in burkhas" to be "chaste looking" is obviously false. Aryan women dressed in a very nice way not to hide their beauty, but to enhance it. Just read Krishna Book. And yes, men nowadays too often blame others for their problems.

Have you read the full version of Mahabharata?

"Salva was humiliated so he refused to marry Ambika and she had nowhere to go. It is then, Ambika cursed Bhishma. In the end, on the battlefield, it was Ambika, reincarnated as Shikhandi (an eunuch) fought with Bhishma and the latter gave up as he would not fight with an eunuch"

There are several errors in your summary, not even including the name. After rejection by Salva, Amba returned to Bhishma offering herself as his wife and pleading for acceptance. Read that passage that has Bishma's reply to her plea. Rejected again (and what follows is a nice story too, which I'm not going to reveal) Amba eventually gets Bhishma's guru to plead her case. The curse is at the very end of her life in that body. In her next body she is born female again, with full memory of her past life and same sentiments. She is known as Sikhandin and eventually gets a male body from a Yaksha (not a eunuch body!) and in this body she fights at Kurukshetra. Throughout her life as Sikhandin Bhishma secretly observes her through his spies. Why? Is he afraid? That is prepostrous. Read the details of his final battle, and how he refused to fight Sikhandin not because it was "dishonorable" (ANY attacker bearing lethal weapons can be killed without dishonor in Aryan culture) but precisely to honor her vow... as I said, the story is deep and complex, you could write a best selling book based on it! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

I can only give you a hint: Amba was the only person in Bheeshma's life that made him regret taking his terrible vow...

if you have read full text Mahabharata this is a very interesting story. there was a very special bond between these two, much more than meets the eye.

the main problem BOTH women and men have is that they think they are this body... look for a partner that sees you as a spirit soul trapped in a female human body. all others are just like animals you describe...

this article reminds me how little of our "personality" is really "ours"... hormones, parasites, upbringing, etc, etc...

I never had any such thoughts, I'm too attached to sense gratification... I wished for a war a couple of times to get me out of a major life screw-up, but not suicide /images/graemlins/wink.gif

some additional info on this subject from various internet sources:

"The swastika is an equilateral cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same direction, usually the right, or clockwise. The swastika is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune and is widely dispersed in both the ancient and modern world. It originally represented the revolving sun, fire, or life. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit swastika which means, "conducive to well- being". The swastika was widely utilized in ancient Mesopotamian coinage as well as appearing in early Christian and Byzantium art, where it was known as the gammadion cross. The swastika also appeared in South and Central America, widely used in Mayan art during that time period.

In North America, the swastika was a symbol used by the Navajos. The swastika still continues today to be an extensively used sign in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. In Buddhism, a swastika represents resignation. In Jainism, it delineates their seventh saint, and the four arms are also used to remind the worshiper of the four possible places of rebirth; the animal or plant world, in Hell, on Earth, or in the spirit world. To Hindus, the swastika with the arms bent to the left is called the sathio or sauvastika, which symbolizes night, magic, purity, and the destructive goddess Kali. In both Hinduism and Jainism, the swastika or sathio is used to mark the opening pages or their account books, thresholds, doors, and offerings.

The swastika was a symbol for the Aryan people, a name which, in Sanskrit means "noble".

Using over 400 rare and unique photos and illustrations, visionary Pop artist ManWoman shows you the playful ways the Swastika was used before World War Two especially in America where it was the homegrown lucky sign of Native people. An eye-opening investigation into the hidden sacred history of the swastika and the enormous heritage we have lost because of swastikaphobia.

Gentle Swastika investigates swastika rituals of the pagan world and swastika history. It shows you swastikas in ancient synagogues and Christian catacombs. It shows you how the swastika transforms from the ancient symbol of the Goddess and the tribal migrations of native Indians, into Victorian good luck sign, the occult magical symbol, and the peaceful mystical blessing of Hindus and Buddhists. It shows you contemporary uses of the swastika as the emblem of punk rock defiance and youth culture. Gentle Swastika illustrates many variations of swastika; the meander, the triskelion, the tetraskelion, the fylfot, the gammadion, and the hakenkreuz.

•Part 1

Origin of the Swastika

Mesopotamia and India. Islamic use. Atlantis? Genital shields of aboriginal

Brazilian women. Mayans, Aztecs. Greek priestesses branded Swastikas on

their arms. Goddess figures dug up at ancient Troy have Swastikas on the

vulva. Romans took the Swastika across Europe. Egyptians?

•Part 2

Use and Misuse of a Symbol

Types of Swastikas. The Swavastika or backwards Swastika. Various names

for the Swastika. Amulets, talismans and hex signs. Pre-Nazi German use.

Ancient swords. My conversation with Helga, a Hitler Youth. Hitler's

mightiest magical weapon. How Hitler came to choose it for his flag. Hebrew

religious sign found on ancient synagogues. Essene Swastikas. The Cabala.

Jewish usage.

•Part 3

In Western Cultures

Swastika, Ontario, Canada. The town's struggle to keep its name after the

war. Three Canadian hockey teams called the Swastikas. Coca Cola's lucky

Swastika watchfob 1925. Jackie Kennedy's Indian dress. Swastika, New York,

Swastika, New Mexico. Boy Scouts Swastika badge. Detroit car with Swastika

hood ornament. Swastika surfboards from Los Angeles. Swastika shoulder

patch of 45th Infantry division US Army. What every girl wants--her own

Swastika. The Girls' Club of Ladies Home Journal. Emblem of the Dawn

Patrol, American volunteer pilots in WW1. Quilt patterns, architecture. The

Wild West--Swastika saddles, Swastika branding irons.

Chief Dan George praised my efforts to cleanse the Swastika. What it means

to native Indians, First Nations people. Dozens of examples--Hopi, Navaho,

Cree, Haida, Sioux nations. In 1940 native Indians in Arizona, New Mexico

in a solemn ceremony gave up their sacred symbol.

British uses of the Swastika including Rudyard Kipling and Celtic tattoo

designs. Swastika Laundry in Dublin, Ireland. The Nordic use--the Hammer of

Thor. Viking swords. Ancient Runes. Finnish Air Force's blue Swastika.

Carlsberg beer trademark. Iceland Steamship logo. When the last czar of

Russia was imprisoned with his family in 1917, the Romanoff girls

embroidered lucky swastikas on fabric before their deaths by the Bolsheviks.

•Part 4

In Eastern Cultures

Tattooed on women in Africa to ensure fertility. Gold weights from West

Africa. China and Japan. Samurai armor and Ninja throwing stars. Tattooed

on monks in Tibet. The Dalai Lama's throne.

•Part 5

As a Mystical Symbol

Hindu uses. Sacred Fire. Ganesha. Holy spots are marked with Swastika.

Sacred Heart of Buddha. Buddha's footprints. The Jains, who are

non-violent, make the sign of the Swastika. Christian symbol from the

catacombs. Gnostic grafitti. Occult Swastikas--Theosophists, Rosicrucians,

Masons, Golden Dawn, Transcendental Meditation, Pythagorus, Madame

Blavatsky, Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, William Butler Yeats. Aliester

Crowley claimed Hitler stole the Swastika from him.

that would depend on authorities spiritual maturity. btw: sometimes Christians let us speak to their congregation, we should not beat them in narrow-mindedednes /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Jesus of Nazareth was a great devotee and celebrating his appearance must be auspicious. and any excuse to have devotees get together to chant Hare Krishna and have a feast is fine by me /images/graemlins/smile.gif

we do it for familly reasons too. can you imagine being a devotee kid and get nothing for Christmas from your own parents? especially if your non-devotee family gives you stuff? That is just plain unfair! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

"If you really think it best to stay back and chant I wonder why you are also expressing your political opinion"

I said "stay back" not "ignore the issue". That means: "dont take sides" not "be ignorant". Ignorant people are easy to manipulate, and that's what asuras love: to manipulate people through ignorance and propaganda of lies and half truths. Arguments go nowhere only when people ignore facts.

Source: Times Online <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-826557,00.html>

Published: September 21, 2003 Author: Jonathan Leake, Science Editor

For Education and Discussion Only. Not for Commercial Use.

Dangerrrr: cats could alter your personality

Jonathan Leake, Science Editor

THEY may look like lovable pets but Britain’s estimated 9m domestic cats are being blamed by scientists for infecting up to half the population with a parasite that can alter people’s personalities.

The startling figures emerge from studies into toxoplasma gondii, a parasite carried by almost all the country’s feline population. They show that half of Britain’s human population carry the parasite in their brains, and that infected people may undergo slow but crucial changes in their behaviour.

Infected men, suggests one new study, tend to become more aggressive, scruffy, antisocial and are less attractive. Women, on the other hand, appear to exhibit the “sex kitten” effect, becoming less trustworthy, more desirable, fun- loving and possibly more promiscuous.

Interestingly, for those who draw glib conclusions about national stereotypes, the number of people infected in France is much higher than in the UK.

The findings will not please cat lovers. The research — conducted at universities in Britain, the Czech Republic and America — was sponsored by the Stanley Research Medical Institute of Maryland, a leading centre for the study of mental illness. The institute has already published research showing that people infected with the toxoplasma parasite are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia and manic depression.

The study into more subtle changes in human personality is being carried out by Professor Jaroslav Flegr of Charles University in Prague. In one study he subjected more than 300 volunteers to personality profiling while also testing them for toxoplasma.

He found the women infected with toxoplasma spent more money on clothes and were consistently rated as more attractive. “We found they were more easy-going, more warm-hearted, had more friends and cared more about how they looked,” he said. “However, they were also less trustworthy and had more relationships with men.”

By contrast, the infected men appeared to suffer from the “alley cat” effect: becoming less well groomed undesirable loners who were more willing to fight. They were more likely to be suspicious and jealous. “They tended to dislike following rules,” Flegr said.

He also discovered that people infected with toxoplasma had delayed reaction times — and are at greater risk of being involved in car accidents. “Toxoplasma infection, could represent a serious and highly underestimated economic and public health problem,” he said.”

In Britain, concern over toxoplasma is growing among health experts — especially as the number of pet cats has grown to about 9m. Roland Salmon, an epidemiologist with the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: “The evidence is that cats are the main cause of infection.”

Toxoplasma moves in a natural cycle between rats and cats. Rats acquire it from contact with cat faeces and cats reacquire it from hunting infected rats. It has long been known that humans can become infected with the parasite through close contact with cats.

Pregnant women are advised to keep clear of the animals because the parasite can damage unborn babies. People with damaged immune systems, such as Aids victims, are also vulnerable.

Until now, however, the parasite has always been thought harmless to healthy people because their immune systems could suppress the infection. But this view seems certain to change, especially in the light of research at Oxford University.

Scientists there have found that when the parasite invades rats it somehow reprograms their brains, reversing their natural fear of cats. It is this same ability to destroy natural inhibitions that is thought to be at work in humans.

Doctors Manuel Berdoy and Joanne Webster at Oxford University are studying how toxoplasma alters rat behaviour and the chemical weapons it uses to subvert the brain.

Berdoy said: “The fact that a single-celled parasite can have such an effect on the mammalian or even human brain is amazing.”

One startling fact to emerge from research is the great differences in levels of infection. In France and Germany, for example, about 80%-90% of people are infected — nearly twice that in Britain or America.

“I am French and I have even wondered if there is an effect on national character,” Berdoy said.

Dr Dominique Soldati, a researcher at Imperial College in London, is studying ways of blocking toxoplasma from getting into cells. “Once you are infected you cannot get rid of this parasite and the numbers of them slowly grow over the years,” she said. “It’s not a nice thought.”

_______________

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/TOXO/index.html

________

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/Tehul3.htm

Paper is titled "Changes in the personality profile of

young women with latent toxoplasmosis"

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/MANUSCRI/cloninger/flegr-cloninger2.pdf

Toxoplasma-infected men measured significantly lower on

verbal intelligence test measurements than those free of

toxoplasma.

Only 27% of the toxoplasma-infected had completed high-school compared to 36% of those not infected.

Although women are not the subject of the paper, it mentions

the remarkable result that toxoplasma infection appears

to increase verbal intelligence in women and to decrease it

in men.

Source: Times Online <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-826557,00.html>

Published: September 21, 2003 Author: Jonathan Leake, Science Editor

Dangerrrr: cats could alter your personality

Jonathan Leake, Science Editor

THEY may look like lovable pets but Britain’s estimated 9m domestic cats are being blamed by scientists for infecting up to half the population with a parasite that can alter people’s personalities.

The startling figures emerge from studies into toxoplasma gondii, a parasite carried by almost all the country’s feline population. They show that half of Britain’s human population carry the parasite in their brains, and that infected people may undergo slow but crucial changes in their behaviour.

Infected men, suggests one new study, tend to become more aggressive, scruffy, antisocial and are less attractive. Women, on the other hand, appear to exhibit the “sex kitten” effect, becoming less trustworthy, more desirable, fun- loving and possibly more promiscuous.

Interestingly, for those who draw glib conclusions about national stereotypes, the number of people infected in France is much higher than in the UK.

The findings will not please cat lovers. The research — conducted at universities in Britain, the Czech Republic and America — was sponsored by the Stanley Research Medical Institute of Maryland, a leading centre for the study of mental illness. The institute has already published research showing that people infected with the toxoplasma parasite are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia and manic depression.

The study into more subtle changes in human personality is being carried out by Professor Jaroslav Flegr of Charles University in Prague. In one study he subjected more than 300 volunteers to personality profiling while also testing them for toxoplasma.

He found the women infected with toxoplasma spent more money on clothes and were consistently rated as more attractive. “We found they were more easy-going, more warm-hearted, had more friends and cared more about how they looked,” he said. “However, they were also less trustworthy and had more relationships with men.”

By contrast, the infected men appeared to suffer from the “alley cat” effect: becoming less well groomed undesirable loners who were more willing to fight. They were more likely to be suspicious and jealous. “They tended to dislike following rules,” Flegr said.

He also discovered that people infected with toxoplasma had delayed reaction times — and are at greater risk of being involved in car accidents. “Toxoplasma infection, could represent a serious and highly underestimated economic and public health problem,” he said.”

In Britain, concern over toxoplasma is growing among health experts — especially as the number of pet cats has grown to about 9m. Roland Salmon, an epidemiologist with the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: “The evidence is that cats are the main cause of infection.”

Toxoplasma moves in a natural cycle between rats and cats. Rats acquire it from contact with cat faeces and cats reacquire it from hunting infected rats. It has long been known that humans can become infected with the parasite through close contact with cats.

Pregnant women are advised to keep clear of the animals because the parasite can damage unborn babies. People with damaged immune systems, such as Aids victims, are also vulnerable.

Until now, however, the parasite has always been thought harmless to healthy people because their immune systems could suppress the infection. But this view seems certain to change, especially in the light of research at Oxford University.

Scientists there have found that when the parasite invades rats it somehow reprograms their brains, reversing their natural fear of cats. It is this same ability to destroy natural inhibitions that is thought to be at work in humans.

Doctors Manuel Berdoy and Joanne Webster at Oxford University are studying how toxoplasma alters rat behaviour and the chemical weapons it uses to subvert the brain.

Berdoy said: “The fact that a single-celled parasite can have such an effect on the mammalian or even human brain is amazing.”

One startling fact to emerge from research is the great differences in levels of infection. In France and Germany, for example, about 80%-90% of people are infected — nearly twice that in Britain or America.

“I am French and I have even wondered if there is an effect on national character,” Berdoy said.

Dr Dominique Soldati, a researcher at Imperial College in London, is studying ways of blocking toxoplasma from getting into cells. “Once you are infected you cannot get rid of this parasite and the numbers of them slowly grow over the years,” she said. “It’s not a nice thought.”

_______________

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/TOXO/index.html

________

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/Tehul3.htm

Paper is titled "Changes in the personality profile of

young women with latent toxoplasmosis"

http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/MANUSCRI/cloninger/flegr-cloninger2.pdf

Toxoplasma-infected men measured significantly lower on

verbal intelligence test measurements than those free of

toxoplasma.

Only 27% of the toxoplasma-infected had completed high-school compared to 36% of those not infected.

Although women are not the subject of the paper, it mentions

the remarkable result that toxoplasma infection appears

to increase verbal intelligence in women and to decrease it

in men.

Yes, the US has become a playground (battleground?) of special interest groups. Greed is running rampant all over the place, as de facto vaishyas rule. Primitive religions are used to manipulate people for material gain by pseudo-brahmanas sold out to asuric vaishyas, and pseudo-kshatriyas make sure the system cant be broken. In short: Kali-yuga in full swing /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Source: Forward

Published: November 14, 2003 Author: NACHA CATTAN

A leading critic of Mel Gibson's controversial film about the death of Jesus has resigned from his post at the Anti-Defamation League.

Eugene Korn, the ADL's director of interfaith affairs, told the Forward that his resignation last week represented a "mutual decision" resulting from his need for "a more reflective and contemplative environment." Korn's departure has some Jewish communal observers suggesting that a more diplomatic approach is needed in dealing with Gibson's upcoming film, "The Passion of Christ."

Though the organization's strong rebuke of Gibson and his film was hailed by officials at several Jewish organizations, it has been criticized as counterproductive by an increasing number of communal experts.

"We have to ask questions in the Jewish community about the approach taken to this film," said Elan Steinberg, the senior adviser to the World Jewish Congress. "Have we really examined the question of whether bringing greater publicity to the film, broad charges of antisemitism and perhaps disenchanting those who are our allies in many struggles should be done in such a cavalier way?"

Some sources familiar with the situation say that Korn was uncomfortable with the aggressive style of the ADL's longtime national director, Abraham Foxman, on several interfaith issues, including the Gibson movie. Korn, who has been at the ADL for less than two years, declined to comment on the dynamic between himself and the group's charismatic leader, though he acknowledged a "difference in style" between himself and the ADL. He did, however, insist that he agreed with the organization's handling of "The Passion.Personally I think the strategy is correct," Korn said. "I was one of the leaders of the strategy."

The ADL did not return calls seeking comment.

Some critics argued that the ADL strategy might be backfiring. "I'm not sure if we're not playing into [Gibson's] hands," said Gilbert Rosenthal, director of the National Council of Synagogues, a partnership run by the Reform and Conservative movements dedicated to interfaith dialogue. "He said he's got millions of dollars in free publicity. I'd like to see statements from the Christian community on this."

At the Reform movement's biennial convention in Minneapolis last week, Hebrew Union College professor Rabbi Michael Cook warned that the Jewish community needed to abandon the strategy of loudly criticizing the movie or risk embarrassment when it hits theaters. According to Cook, who served on an interfaith panel of scholars co-convened by the ADL that drafted a critical assessment of a screenplay for the movie, Gibson is in the process of altering the film, and it will be less offensive than many have been predicting. Instead of acknowledging the degree to which he responded to his Jewish critics, Cook said, Gibson will point a derisive finger, asking what all the shouting was about.

These are just the latest statements from a growing list of critics who claim that defense organizations, including the ADL, are mistakenly attempting to discredit and strong-arm Gibson. Other critics include Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president and founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews; Michael Medved, a conservative film critic and Orthodox Jew; and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, president of Toward Tradition, a conservative group dedicated to forging better relations between Jews and Christians.

The ADL, and to a lesser extent the Simon Wiesenthal Center, have been at the forefront of the battle against Gibson's film, which they say blames Jews for the death of Jesus and could stoke antisemitism. Gibson belongs to an ultra-traditionalist Catholic splinter sect that rejects Second Vatican Council reforms.

The ADL stirred controversy earlier this year when it co-convened a panel of Jewish and Catholic scholars to review an initial screenplay of the film and provide feedback to Gibson. Gibson charged that the script reviewed had been obtained illegally. Korn later attended a screening of a rough cut of the film, due out this spring, after which the ADL concluded that "The Passion" depicts Jews as responsible for Jesus' death.

Some experts in Catholic-Jewish relations defended the ADL. "I think it's important to confront these issues and alert the community," said Seymour Reich, an ADL lay leader and past chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Inter-religious Consultations.

Communal leaders praised Korn for his levelheaded and analytical approach to interfaith dialogue and lamented his absence at a crucial time for Catholic-Jewish relations.

"He had his own entree to the Vatican," Reich said. "He could call up and speak directly to Cardinal [Walter] Kasper," the top Vatican liaison to the Jewish community.

Reich said that he believed that Korn convinced Kasper to issue a statement saying that two church officials who praised the film were not speaking for the Vatican.

Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, said that Korn is "a scholar in a field where there's a paucity of scholars."

Korn's recently appointed counterpart at the American Jewish Committee, David Elcott, said: "Not having Gene, somebody of his caliber in that position, is not just a loss for the Jewish community, but for those who want to see religion and religious values working in a positive and constructive way. He has many contacts and our voice will not be as strong."

Korn said he plans to consult with other Jewish organizations on inter-religious affairs, including local Jewish community relations councils.

"Did I say the US or anyone else was blameless?"

No, you did not say that directly (as you did not post any of your own words), but that's what this propaganda article suggests. Whenever there is a problem, a blame game begins.

I wanted to make a point that part of the blame for these mass killings rests on the shoulders of US government. Anybody who believes US decided to remove Saddam from power for humanitarian reasons (or WMD threat for that matter) should study the facts of the case more closely.

"May I ask why you are commenting if you think it best to stay back and chant?"

It is important for devotees to see things in perspective, and I was trying to provide it. The objective of this article is to provide another bogus justification for war US started in Iraq. By showing dirty machinations of US leaders over several administrations in this area, a devotee may indeed be inspired to stay back and chant instead of supporting another set of war mongering asuras pretending to be "good guys". Is that reason enough for you to justify myself?

meditation these days is mostly bogus. unless you meditate on something truly spiritual it is simply sense gratification.

that is pretty disgusting... who wants to eat fungus? It is so tamasic... /images/graemlins/frown.gif

there is no better cheer up food than Maha-prasadam! Halava and gulabjamuns work miracles too... I could tell you hillarious stories related to this subject. Here is one:

Long, long time ago, when I was still a carefree brahmacari, we used to have gulabjamun juice drinking contests during major holiday feasts. An older guest joined in, downing about a quart of the "juice"(btw: that was far short of the top contestants like myself). After a short time this poor man was flat on his back in total delirium from sugar overdose. We were chanting loudly around him, just in case he passes away. Well... he lived and became a very nice devotee. We all thought that this was not a bad way to leave your body once it is time /images/graemlins/smile.gif

All glories to the Maha-prasadam of the Lord!!!!

"Hodgkinson said the majority of people buried in the mass graves are believed to be Kurds killed by Saddam in the 1980s after rebelling against the government and Shiites killed after an uprising following the 1991 Gulf War"

In 1980's US govt. strongly supported Saddam (Iraq was used as a counterbalance to Iran), supplying him with weapons and turning blind eye to his crimes. And the Shia uprising after Gulf War was directly incited by US, who conveniently backed out of the deal when the uprising started.

when asuras fight among themselves it's best to stay clear and chant Hare Krishna...

maybe you expect too much prabhu /images/graemlins/wink.gif ..we should not try to artificially cheer ourselves up. material existence is a grim reality...

this world is full of barbarians practicing primitive rituals sanctioned by their primitive "religions". this is the Age of Kali. the only hope is Lord Caitanya's bhakti movement. waste no time. Hare Krishna!