Kulapavana

I know it's a terrible thing to say, but that guest sounded a little bit like Gollum... ;-)

many people try to satisfy their material desires using religion either as a tool, or an excuse (power hungry politicians are a good example)... atheists use such materialists as an example of "negative influence of religion" - such views of religion are both biased and primitive

Vedic astrology is obviously part of the Vedic knowledge tree. But that tree has many branches, including things like medicine and even sorcery. "Vedic" does not mean: "spiritual" but "true knowledge". Vedic astrology is difficult and few people nowadays really have mastered it. Vaishnavas pay little attention to astrology, as their future is ruled by Krishna, not stars. Astrology can be useful in some cases (marriage compatability for example) but one should not use it as a crutch in life. Hare Krishna!

Haridham prabhu, post it if there is some relation to Krishna in it :-)

just encourage her to take up spiritual life a little at a time. association with nice devotees is very important for building up her enthusiasm. do things together (japa, temple visits, food offering etc.). good luck!

...to see all missions cooperate nicely in the effort of spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world. Not united under one flag (that will never happen), but cooperating without backstabbing and mudslinging, standing shoulder to shoulder like the great and diverse Pandava army at Kurukshetra... I hope I live to see that day! :-)

Before anybody can try to help you you need to tell them what is your problem..

I remember on our first farm in Poland the mice were so brazen they would sometimes chase each other on the altar during morning arati (let alone run all over sleeping bhaktas at night and leaving droppings everywhere). Eventually even the most paka brahmanas caved in (I think that happened when a mouse started eating the offering on the altar) and we got a cat. Desperate times call for desperate measures.... ;-)

ha ha... I have 3 kids, the oldest one is 18 so youth is not on my side, and I work full time... we currently have one cat and 5 kittens. want any? :-)

I do not generalize. Several of my posts on this thread make a clear point about that. The issue is that we should not blame others for our situation, because for the most part we get what we deserve. Most of the time when people criticize us they have a good reason. We should at least carefully examine such criticism to make sure we are indeed blameless. Labelling all those who dare to criticise us as envious demons, anti-semites, etc. is not only blind but also detrimental to our spiritual progress.

I really hope this is my last post on this thread... ;-)

people's fascination with the "end of the world" is astonishing. since you can die any moment we should be fascinated with making the best use of our life every day.

As an organization, or community, we must actively fight all evils (such as child abuse) in our society and not sweep them under the carpet. Many times in the past I was ashamed of our leaders trying to cover up such "internal" problems and responding only when forced to do so from the outside. I publicly spoke against this kind of shameful behaviour many times, often getting in trouble as the result, and while I was not alone, many devotees chose to remain silent. I'm glad things are better now.

I hope you understand my point, as it applies to everybody.

Cats should live outside and get milk and prasadam leftovers. They can limit the number of mice getting into the house. As to mice inside the house I suggest live-traps. You should release mice at least a couple of miles away from your house.

Prabhu, the real issue, which you seem to be carefully avoiding, is whether such shadowy organizations have good or malicious intentions. I might be reading it wrong, but you seem to portray them as a bunch of good guys out to help the world while they can enjoy their privacy. I however think their main dogma is not esoteric at all, it is greed and desire to control, typical desires of the asuras.

Vedic scriptures tend to define things very precisely. God is certainly one but in our tradition there is a lot of emphasis on philosophy. You also need to understand that in our philosophy God does not punish us for turning away from Him. That is a judeo-christian concept. Do not mix different traditions for the sake of "preaching appeal". No neeed for that at all. Everything is not the same. Just try to understand our own tradition in depth. Hare Krishna!

there is no argument here at all. SP is much more than a Jagad Guru.

often when devotees realize their varna is less than brahmana they become a little more humble and less pretentious. it is not that having a sudra body is humiliating in any way... but it can be humbling.

the christian concept of eternal damnation is certainly NOT comparable to samsara (reincarnation cycle). it boils down to this simple equation:

rejection of God or life in sin (finite wrong) = eternal punishment in hell (infinite punishment)

samsara is simply an action=reaction, temporary heaven and temporary hell in reaction to our activities

How many? That depends on the matha:

1. ISKCON - they have to check with the GBC

2. ritviks - still looking for the right quote in the Veda-base on lightbulbs

3. Gaudiya Mathas - they renounced electricity

(no disrespect intended ;-)

whoever "they" may really be I hardly care Shivaji prabhu. to me they are just another bunch of power hungry asuras. Hare Krishna!

keep Srila Prabhupada as your guru forever. however, if you want to be formally initiated into our sampradaya you should find a qualified disciple of SP that truly represents his line and take diksa from him. you will find such connection very enlivening and useful. Hare Krishna!

"..the Lord vomited people like Ben out of his mouth to hell..."

wow! this kind of language is usually the domain of southern baptists ;-)

it was a cut and paste job... seems like the web links did not copy... :-(

The Billy Graham Deception

Is Billy Graham a 33° Degree Freemason?

The Illuminati have since time past conspired to establish a New World Order. To achieve this goal, 3 main areas are to be infiltrated and throughly subverted.

One World Government

One World Religion

One World Economy

It is by placing key 33rd degree Freemasons at the apex of political, religious and economic instutions that their satanic goals can succeed. Billy Graham has been selected and used by the Illuminati to work to bring about a One World Global Church based at the Vatican.

This exposure of Billy Graham's Masonic links will include

An ex-Freemason's testimony of Billy Graham attending his 33rd Degree Masonic initiation <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/deadly.htm>

Billy Graham's endorsement of a Masonic youth group <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/demolay.htm>.

Billy Graham being praised by many 33rd Degree Masons and receiving awards from them <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/praise.htm>

Robert Morey's knowledge of Billy Grahams Masonic File <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/file.htm>

Freemasons that are employed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/bgea.htm>

Billy Graham gets nearly 1 million dollars from a New Age Occultist <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/temple.htm>

Billy Graham on Famous Freemason list done by Masonic Grand Lodges <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/list.htm>

Billy Graham endorsing and helping other 33rd Degree Freemasons such as Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller and Norman Vincent Peale.

Billy Graham receives award from a powerful Masonic Lodge <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/jewish.htm>

Billy Graham receives award from a Masonic University

33rd Degree Freemasons Mark Hatfield and Jesse Jackson help Billy Graham

Billy Graham attended a Freemasons only meeting (eyewitness evidence)

BGEA hires Freemasons to help with a crusade

Billy Graham And Norman Vincent Peale Believe That Jesus Christ Lied <http://www.geocities.com/endtimedeception/lied.htm>

some rivalry in devotional service can be a good thing, and such rivalry does exist in the spiritual world as well... it makes such service a little more intense and exciting... but we should support all sincere preaching efforts by the Vaishnavas. best wishes to you as well :-)