Dharma

Thanks for the info. I like the last line as it indicates not even the gods know. For some reason I find it humorous and it makes me laugh as in the first reading there is such a buildup and it seems so profound-you thing there will be a Supreme Revelation-finally an answer and bang- "Who knows?" The mind goes tilt.....

I would say yes. What is interesting to me is that by the time Buddhism reached other parts of Asia it had gone from meditation on corpses to meditating on a cherry blossoms. Just as impermanent yet much more beautiful and ceratinly less odiferous. The Greeks realized the mathmatics of beauty. The specific proportion thatis pleasing to the eye is 62%-38% and was called the golden rectangle. It was also called the Golden Mean or "Law of Beauty". There is a very good Disney movie called "Donald in Mathmagic Land" that goes into it for those not inclined to study geometry. There is a realtionship with running, swimming, walking etc which requires numbers based on Golden proportions. They are Fibonacci numbers found by using square root of numbers which harmonized with the Golden Mean. Fibonacci numbers are gotten by adding the previous 2 numbers starting with one (it is assumed that 0 proceeds). 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc. This is called tye Golden measure. There are only five shapes nature builds with. Tis also relates to phi (five). For an object to be considered beautiful it must have inherant balance. Phi is an unconscious attractor. The way the eye receives impulses in the retinal field is 62% reception and 38% supression. Perhaps that is why. Anyway appears that phi is in the human "hard drive". As the realtionship to spirituality and beauty, the ancients used the Golden mean called Phi Ratio as a spiritual practice to develop spiritual vision and deep levels of perception. Christ was depicted holding two fingers with thumb and 3rd finger connected showing phi ratio. Icons frequently show this. The Christian cross also is phi ratio. This ratio of beauty gave us the words Philosophy (phi-loso-phi) and standard. St==1st, nd=2nd, rd=3rd. All other numbers are assigned to TH. Thus standard of beauty. The golden measure is not so much a number as a relationship between a small part and large part of the whole (Poornamida, chant is brought to mind). The 5 pointed star which is the shape of man said to be created in God's image contains nothing but phi (five) relationships and every part of this star contains the exact coordinates for the replication of itself over and over again. Phi is considered to be the number of creation. Interestingly the the ratio of dna molecule is 34-21 aproximately the golden measure. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 06-01-2001).]

I would say yes. What is interesting to me is that by the time Buddhism reached other parts of Asia it had gone from meditation on corpses to meditating on a cherry blossoms. Just as impermanent yet much more beautiful and ceratinly less odiferous. The Greeks realized the mathmatics of beauty. The specific proportion thatis pleasing to the eye is 62%-38% and was called the golden rectangle. It was also called the Golden Mean or "Law of Beauty". There is a very good Disney movie called "Donald in Mathmagic Land" that goes into it for those not inclined to study geometry. There is a realtionship with running, swimming, walking etc which requires numbers based on Golden proportions. They are Fibonacci numbers found by using square root of numbers which harmonized with the Golden Mean. Fibonacci numbers are gotten by adding the previous 2 numbers starting with one (it is assumed that 0 proceeds). 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc. This is called tye Golden measure. There are only five shapes nature builds with. Tis also relates to phi (five). For an object to be considered beautiful it must have inherant balance. Phi is an unconscious attractor. The way the eye receives impulses in the retinal field is 62% reception and 38% supression. Perhaps that is why. Anyway appears that phi is in the human "hard drive". As the realtionship to spirituality and beauty, the ancients used the Golden mean called Phi Ratio as a spiritual practice to develop spiritual vision and deep levels of perception. Christ was depicted holding two fingers with thumb and 3rd finger connected showing phi ratio. Icons frequently show this. The Christian cross also is phi ratio. This ratio of beauty gave us the words Philosophy (phi-loso-phi) and standard. St==1st, nd=2nd, rd=3rd. All other numbers are assigned to TH. Thus standard of beauty. The golden measure is not so much a number as a relationship between a small part and large part of the whole (Poornamida, chant is brought to mind). The 5 pointed star which is the shape of man said to be created in God's image contains nothing but phi (five) relationships and every part of this star contains the exact coordinates for the replication of itself over and over again. Phi is considered to be the number of creation. Interestingly the the ratio of dna molecule is 34-21 aproximately the golden measure. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 06-01-2001).]

Dear shvu, Thank you fro the info and estimated dates of the texts. It is interesting what you said about the mahabharata being based on actual events. Some evidence has surfaced within the last decade: Excerpt from the World Island Review, January 1992. A heavy layer of radioactive ash in Rajasthan, India, covers a three-square mile area, ten miles west of Jodhpur. Scientists are investigating the site, where a housing development was being built. For some time it has been established that there is a very high rate of birth defects and cancer in the area under construction. The levels of radiation there have registered so high on investigators' gauges that the Indian government has now cordoned off the region. Scientists have unearthed an ancient city where evidence shows an atomic blast dating back thousands of years, from 8,000 to 12,000 years, destroyed most of the buildings and probably a half-million people. The Mahabharata [an ancient book] clearly describes a catastrophic blast that rocked the continent. "A single projectile charged with all the power in the Universe...An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as 10,000 suns, rose in all its splendor...it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death which reduced to ashes an entire race. The corpses were so burned as to be unrecognizable. Their hair and nails fell out, pottery broke without any apparent cause, and the birds turned white. After a few hours, all foodstuffs were infected. To escape from this fire, the soldiers threw themselves into the river." A HISTORIAN COMMENTS Historian Kisari Mohan Ganguli says that Indian sacred writings are full of such descriptions...He says references mention fighting sky chariots and final weapons. An ancient battle is described in the Drona Parva, a section of the Mahabharata. "The passage tells of combat where explosions of final weapons decimate entire armies, causing crowds of warriors with steeds and elephants and weapons to be carried away as if they were dry leaves of trees," says Ganguli. "Instead of mushroom clouds, the writer describes a perpendicular explosion with its billowing smoke clouds as consecutive openings of giant parasols. There are comments about the contamination of food and people's hair falling out." Archeologist Francis Taylor says that etchings in some nearby temples he has managed to translate suggest that they prayed to be spared from the great light that was coming to lay ruin to the city...The radioactive ash adds credibility to the ancient Indian records that describe atomic warfare." Housing construction in the area has halted while the five-member team conducts the investigation. The foreman of the project is Lee Hundley, who pioneered the investigation after the high level of radiation was discovered.

Dear shvu, Thank you fro the info and estimated dates of the texts. It is interesting what you said about the mahabharata being based on actual events. Some evidence has surfaced within the last decade: Excerpt from the World Island Review, January 1992. A heavy layer of radioactive ash in Rajasthan, India, covers a three-square mile area, ten miles west of Jodhpur. Scientists are investigating the site, where a housing development was being built. For some time it has been established that there is a very high rate of birth defects and cancer in the area under construction. The levels of radiation there have registered so high on investigators' gauges that the Indian government has now cordoned off the region. Scientists have unearthed an ancient city where evidence shows an atomic blast dating back thousands of years, from 8,000 to 12,000 years, destroyed most of the buildings and probably a half-million people. The Mahabharata [an ancient book] clearly describes a catastrophic blast that rocked the continent. "A single projectile charged with all the power in the Universe...An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as 10,000 suns, rose in all its splendor...it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death which reduced to ashes an entire race. The corpses were so burned as to be unrecognizable. Their hair and nails fell out, pottery broke without any apparent cause, and the birds turned white. After a few hours, all foodstuffs were infected. To escape from this fire, the soldiers threw themselves into the river." A HISTORIAN COMMENTS Historian Kisari Mohan Ganguli says that Indian sacred writings are full of such descriptions...He says references mention fighting sky chariots and final weapons. An ancient battle is described in the Drona Parva, a section of the Mahabharata. "The passage tells of combat where explosions of final weapons decimate entire armies, causing crowds of warriors with steeds and elephants and weapons to be carried away as if they were dry leaves of trees," says Ganguli. "Instead of mushroom clouds, the writer describes a perpendicular explosion with its billowing smoke clouds as consecutive openings of giant parasols. There are comments about the contamination of food and people's hair falling out." Archeologist Francis Taylor says that etchings in some nearby temples he has managed to translate suggest that they prayed to be spared from the great light that was coming to lay ruin to the city...The radioactive ash adds credibility to the ancient Indian records that describe atomic warfare." Housing construction in the area has halted while the five-member team conducts the investigation. The foreman of the project is Lee Hundley, who pioneered the investigation after the high level of radiation was discovered.

I like this poem of creation. To me it seems very Zen: I think it is from the Rig-Veda (hymns often used during sacrifice.) There is of course controversy on the date written, but is usually considered to be from between 6,000 and 15 century BC: "There was then neither what is nor what is not. There was no sky, nor the heaven beyond. What covered? Where was it and is Whose shelter? Was the water the deep abyss? There was no death, hence nothing was immortal. There was no distinction between night and day. That One breathed by itself without breath. Since there has been nothing other than It. Darkness there was in the beginning, a seas without light. From the germ that lay covered by the husk of the One was born by the power of heat. Love overcame It in the beginning, the seed springing from mind. Poets having searched in their heart found by wisdom the seed of what is in what is not. Their ray was stretched across. Was It below or was It above? There were seed bearers, there were Powers; self power below and Will above. Who then knows, who has declared from whence was born this creation? The Gods came later. Who then knows whence it arose? He from whom this creation arose, whether He made it or did not make it only the highest seer in the highest heaven knows. Or perhaps he does not know." [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 06-01-2001).]

Dear Dasanudas, It is ok, like the TV. If anyone is not interested they can change the channel. Liberation from a vaastu discussion is just a click away. The appropriate place to put your arches is in the South. When you do your foundation start digging from the Northeast to Se then ne to nw. the northeast should be the first to lose the load and the last to take it back. Always keep it lighter than the SW. Good luck with getting a sympathic contractor. Actually that is a little extreme. I would be happy to have a basement. However if digging a basement under just half the house put it under the North half and not the south. Depressions enhance the negative fields which are se, s, and sw. A half basement under the Noth side is best. 2nd choice is full basement. Basement in just south not good at all. There are a few things I would not compromise on. That is a North or East facing house. Lower at the NE than the Southwest. No plumbing on the north wall. No toilets or kitchen in the North east. The ideal floorplan is as follows: Kitchen in the SE quadrent of house with stove facing east. I will give you the elements since you understand feng shui. It wall help you place your feng shui cures. SE is ruled by fire. Fire will enhance it (in feng shui they call the front door N no matter what direction the house faces). Master bedroom in SW quadrent second choice is NW. SW is ruled by earth or ancestors. Sw is also called the field of devils. Second choice is NW. NW is ruled by air. NE is water and is called Deva Moola, or God's place. North is wealth. If you have some financial problems make sure the N is larger and more open outside than the S. Make sure the NE is lower than the SW. These I do not compromise on. "Agreed, but I also understand that various actions nullify karma and swing your samskars in a new direction, of course a transcendentalist is beyond all reaction." Definately that is a good point. Karma Yoga and Samskara Shuddhi can also have great impact. Have a good karma yoga story: I know a lady who suffered greatly with cancer. She did the chemotherapy and was very very sick. She is a very fastidious lady and lives alone and it pained her that she could not take care of her house or shop for fresh food-she was so very ill. So difficult basic survival was for her during this time. As she began to recover from the chemo which had failed to help her, she still had the cancer, but had learned greatly from her suffering. She knew how painful it was to try and take care of the house and herself while alone. She was determined to help others in the same boat. She developed great compassion for those who were just starting chemo. She knoew nothing of the dynamics of karma yoga or even karma as she is Catholic. She began to help them. She would go to their homes and watch their kids, and clean and shop. Call them to see how they were, asking what they needed without them having to ask. That means so very much when you are ill, that you actually would not have to beg someone to do something for you or feel as if you were putting them out. She did this for quite some time and what the doctors called a miracle occured. With no more treatment her cancer is totally gone. Those who have practised karma yoga will not find it so miraculous-just expected result. But even praying for others in the same boat as you can work as if by magic with a perplexing problem. I do not know if it applies to the planets. I know some of the ancient wisdom is more effective and different states of consciousness are possible as Moolam draws closer. But for the most part do not know so much of astrology. What do you think? In the summer time I go to Andhra Pradesh. I am in Arizona the rest of the time for now. Where are you?

Dear Sironaji, That is a wonderful and beautiful experience! Reading it gave me goosebumps! That is the type of profound divine mystical experience which is the common denominator in the lives of saints, sages, mystics, and prophets. It is the personal encounter with divinity such as Moses and the Thorne Bush. The knowledge of scriptures is reforming which may not always be a good thing, but it is only such mystical experience which transforms. A look into the lives of saints, and mystics would reveal all. Mankind is literally starving for such experience. It is also one of the common denominators in the path of many enlightened beings. Siddhartha himself had such experience the night he left his fathers home. Voices on the wind spoke to him and told him there was a way-the way of the wise of old-they were speaking about liberation of suffering to him. He was immediately removed from the realm of belief (ignorance and speculation) to discovery. Discovery is the arch enermy of belief. Belief is what separates while discovery, such as what you have experienced,unites. You can easily see this separatism-this sense of separate existence, the self righteousness brought about by strong belief evidenced by the various sects of religions. Even within the framework of a specific religion there is great separatism. Northern Ireland is a good example. You can not unknow now what you know, no matter who makes fun or tries to tell you otherwise. And they will. Many were burned at the stake or imprisoned for less vivid experience than what you received. That is the nature of ignorance or belief. It will fight to the death for its continued survival. Another look into the lives of saints or even the discovers such as Copernicus would evidence this as well. It is so beautiful! You now know! You must be feeling very different today. Please share how it is with you. Thank you so much for telling your experience. I was just thinking today how this forum is so devoid of mystical experience. I had thought that a web site about mysticism would have many more experiences posted. I opened up the page and there was this heartbreakingly beautiful experience from Sironaji, the mystic. I am grateful. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 06-01-2001).]

I understood that it was the animal sacrifice. It is a very interesting discussion. I am a little confused as to age of the various texts. What is the age of the Bhagavat Paurana? The ancient Indians were not particularly adept at keeping written records. Much of the tradition was oral. I would not be surprised if there were not ancient texts. Earlier there was a discussion on no beings' birth with the exception of Kalki, being predicted by texts. On reading it, the magi kings who visited the Christ child came to mind. It would be quite a long ride on horseback to Bethlehem. Yet on the other hand one book of the Bible indicates that the Christ was a toddler when the magi arrived, so perhaps you are right. I would define avatar in the traditional sense as one who changes the "truth". Buddha would score heavily in that arena in my book. Whether he was an incarnation or avatar of Vishnu I will probably never know. I can only believe. However that is what belief is-ignorance and speculation or at the very best hoping that something might be so. It makes me very happy (they say ignorance is bliss!) to believe according to Pauranic tradition that Buddha is the ninth avatar of Vishnu, yet for some reason the idea is upsetting to many Buddhists.

I understood that it was the animal sacrifice. It is a very interesting discussion. I am a little confused as to age of the various texts. What is the age of the Bhagavat Paurana? The ancient Indians were not particularly adept at keeping written records. Much of the tradition was oral. I would not be surprised if there were not ancient texts. Earlier there was a discussion on no beings' birth with the exception of Kalki, being predicted by texts. On reading it, the magi kings who visited the Christ child came to mind. It would be quite a long ride on horseback to Bethlehem. Yet on the other hand one book of the Bible indicates that the Christ was a toddler when the magi arrived, so perhaps you are right. I would define avatar in the traditional sense as one who changes the "truth". Buddha would score heavily in that arena in my book. Whether he was an incarnation or avatar of Vishnu I will probably never know. I can only believe. However that is what belief is-ignorance and speculation or at the very best hoping that something might be so. It makes me very happy (they say ignorance is bliss!) to believe according to Pauranic tradition that Buddha is the ninth avatar of Vishnu, yet for some reason the idea is upsetting to many Buddhists.

Namaste Dasanuda, Thank you for your beautiful response. I am writing to respond to the question about which direction the deity faces. The person performing puja should face west. East is the second choice. South is the direction ruled by Death recommended to face this direction. However circles and arches are appropriate there as they attract and absorb negativity. In ancient traditions the circle was reserved for mandalas and ceremonies for the dead. Personal experience and preerence cannot be overuled and there really is not a should not. You may notice different types of meditations or mystical experienes are affected by the direction you are facing. However if the alter in in the Northeast quadrent of the home it should not be in the corner but off towards the east. The deity would be facing west. East and West are both all right. I have heard some conflicting opinions from masters reguarding N & S. It is like the inside bathroom. There is some controversy. I would keep the statue if beloved. The thing about vaastu as Love said, the karma is also a factor as to ones susceptability. Some can stay in terrible places and suffer no ill effect. Others can sleep on nails. If I were you I would keep the statue. Common sense has to come in. I have a very good house but have a small 3x2 pond in the S which is not so good. However the birds and lizards depend greatly on it. The pond will stay. I was not particular attached to or dependent upon the statues so I did not have a problem giving them up at the suggestion of the master. Some I still kept, but not Ganesh, Krishna with the flute, Dancing Shiva or the laughing Buddha. Love writes:, "Scientifically, it is only rational to say that there is no proof to suggest that take a unhappy man and put him in a house built on the principles of vaastu-shastra, and he will be a happy man." This is very true as actually the type of home you have with either good or faulty vaastu is a karmic repercussion. What would more than likely happen to the poor unhappy fellow if transplanted from a faulty vaastu home into a good one is that the his karma will speed up and be experienced quite quickly. He will curse the day he ever heard of vaastu and say it is bull and threaten to sue the master or at the very least think ill of him call him a useless fellow. His wife will complain more, eat more, shop more and say, "I told you so." He may lose his job. A dramatic vaastu move is not for the faint hearted. Nor sometimes is the path to enlightenment. Usually in such a move things can get worse-actually much worse for quite some time. But if the same "hyperspeed karma" situation were to happen in a place with faulty vaastu it would be an absolute hell. But eventually when the unhappy fellow has hit rock bottom in such a house and becomes a master of suffering,realizes his internal condition, he will have an insight-generally one along the line of: that suffering is not in the fact but in the perception of the fact and bang-he no longer suffers. No matter what. This is not a figurative example. I have seen it over and over again. Whether the person is aware of that phenomena or not it, still occurs. The difference is that in a terribly faulty vaastu house that there is little energy for such insight. Just when you think it can not get any worse, it does. Or it just goes on and on. "When will it ever end.If only." and "I should have" become predominate thoughts. Others are constantly blamed for misfortunes-be it the priests or the president, ones children or the iRS. Worse yet there is resignation. "That's life." or "It's my karma." or "It's God's will that I suffer." becomes the mantra. Eventually numbness sets in or he manages his sorrow and becomes like a living corpse. There is barely enough energy in such houses to handle ones own affairs, let alone offer prayer or compassion to others. That is a reason why the priests and monks would be concerned that the places they spent their time would have tremendous energy. It is necessary to be able to serve others. I do not know if vaastu is so much a science as a philosophy. It to many people is not rational. Nor is much else about Hinduism-yet the effects are empiracle. Those who study vaastu and feng shui will know that the history of the previous inhabitants will follow the future inhabitants. You will see many houses that are up for tax lien sale or every one who stays gets divorced, or perhaps there is a nervous disorder amongst the people. In some places the males do not live past 40, or there is brain cancer. Making a few chnaging in the plot level can change the fortunes of all future inhabitants. This is when you get into the realm of the sages. Close observation of natural phenomena. History repeating itself. There was a street in India where the males all died very early. It was thought to be cursed. A problem in the West-I think it was an open field and several wells- was adressed by a sage and the difficulty ceased. Again vaastu like ayurvedic medicine has its roots in the quest for enlightenment. Many of the ashrams that Siddhartha visited in his struggling for enlightenment adhered to principles of vaastu. Many monasteries and ashrams offering mukti yajnas and actually having great sucess with the transmission of enlightenment experience and enlightened states to others adhere to vaastu, including the legendary monastery at Satyaloka. It is interesting also how much of the new USA temple construction in the US is in the Pittsburgh area. There you will find a south to north flowing river which (like the Nile) offers great spiritual potential. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-30-2001).]

Thanks.

Definately such statues can bring prosperity. However the energy can be drained from the dwelling as well. The Vedic sage whom vaastu was revealed to was meditating on how man could be free of the sufferings and insecurities that had even then plagued man for too long. The focus for the sages at that time was enlightenment not worldly gain. There were few dwellings and vaastu was used primrily for temple construction. When a structure is built in an electromagnetic field the field is disrupted. When the structure is built according to vaastu it is least disruptive to the natural order. At that time the focus was harmony -in not causing damage to the way the earth receives and interacts with cosmic or divine energy rather than in today's condition of "What-can-harnessing- these-energies-do-for-me?" The body scavenges electricity. That is why eating raw food can give you more energy than cooked food. You can operate a clock plugged into a lemon or an apple for several months (you can get these clocks at a science store if you'd care to try it). The cooked fruit has no electrical charge. The same clock plugged into it will not work. Food is not the only source of energy that the body uses. If the colon is clogged with toxins and mucous and the body has lost its ability (its sponginess) to absorb energy from prana, vapors, water, light, etc., calories are sometimes the primary energy source however. It was not always the case. In ancient times prana flow was important as so much energy it takes for insight. The focus was on enlightenment not on material gain. The more energy available the more oppertunity for insight. Energy was taken from wherever it could be had. Evidence of this remains in the septanga marga as well as other tried and true paths. A dwelling with correct vaastu has high levels of prana. The inhabitants can scavenge a bioavailable energy from the site. If the energy of the site is less than that of the inhabitants such as a home under an electrical transformer or one with faulty vaastu such as a with high NE and a low SW, the inhabitants will lose energy. It is a house where there is bickering. The men do not come home at night. The women complain. There is alchoholism. There are health problems and psychological sufferings. There can be an almost total lack of sacredness. The children are difficult, lazy, disturbed or deformed-sometimes like demons. The inhabitants are oft times obese or diabetic as they are trying to make up the enrgy deficiency with food. Help must be hired as such a house is difficult to keep clean-all energy is taken up in survival. Definately the inhabitants of such homes may prosper financially. I have seen some such houses with terrible vaastu with elevators and $100,000 chandeliers in them-handpainted gold leaf wallpaper-the works. Virtual outer world paradises contributing to inner world hell. They are not particularly suitable for human habitation however and totally inappropriate for those seeking mukti. Please do not misinterpret. I am not saying that lavish houses are linked to such disharmony. Not at all. I am saying that sometimes there will be a home with great disharmony of electromagnetic fields that does not affect the finances-yet there are many other sufferings within. With the development of instruments that measure subtle energies it was confirmed that the homes with some of the statues had less energy. There was a drain so to speak. I imagine that some of these powerful icons must use some of the available energies to answer the prayers of the inhabitants. But that is just my perception. That is why perhaps they are said to drain energy from the home. In a larger place such as a temple which will more than likely be thoughtfully planned out and harmoniously built-more so anyway that the average housing development home, the energy drain is not so noticable. Or perhaps it is sacrifice. That is the ancient way. Something is given, something is received. It takes much more energy on a devotees' part and certainly a sacrifice of time and energy and perhaps some money to travel to a temple to pray. Many times the statues are placed in the home for convenience of inhabitants or as decorative objects. I can see what you are saying and the philosophy ofthe statement about how can keeping a statue of a god in your home be bad for your life. On the other hand the focus of vaastu was originally for liberation of human suffering not for material gain. If the prosperity is bringing happiness and liberation to people then that is very good. However it has not been my experience with wealth. Prosperity in general just gives more freedom or oppertunity to run from or manage one's sorrow in my experience. Those who employ vaastu know that it is good to keep the NE corner of the home free. Since this is called deva moola many will place their alters right in the NE corner. There is a sanskrit saying that translated says "closed northeast-dead plot." To close this corner is like blocking the windpipe or lifeforce of the home. There is a measurable difference when the NE is blocked be it with a bookcase or a religious statue. I do not think it matters if one is choking to death on holy water or choking to death on Budweiser. The result is the same. Is one a more beautiful death? I think not. Removing the statues made a measurable difference in my home. I would logistically or philosophically thought there would be no difference. The gods are still there just not in statue form. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-29-2001).]

How she became assumed a plant like form- the prayer or process I do not know, but the story goes something like this: The Queen of Vrindavan, the place I believe of Krishna's birth, was a beloved devotee of Krishna. She happened however to be married to a demon. For one reason or another Krishna had to kill the demon. He knew the queen would be very upset with Him if she found out so He assumed the form of the demon husband and lived with her for quite some time. Eventually the truth came out and she was very upset. So upset that she put a curse on him to become a rock as He was so hard hearted as to do this to her. Laksmi was then very upset and begged Tulasi to take the curse back. She finally consented removed the curse, but Krishna decided to remain a rock, and in that form He refused to accept worship without her presence. She later accepted a plant form so that the people could worship Him. In that form she is his main consort. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-28-2001).]

Maitreya, Reborn Christian? I am Hindu so I guess that makes me reborn again and again and again and again and again..... Just kidding. All- In all seriousness ever notice how when the concept of a one omnipotent god- be it Krishna, Christ, Yaweh or Sri Whatever enters the picture there is tremendous conflict. It is because no one can decide on the qualities of that "One." Different sects are formed by people who can kind of agree. There is so much separatism in belief. Men will defend a concept or a belief about this one omnipotent being to the very death even within the framework of a specific religion. Northern Ireland is a good example. This concept of a one omnipotent being seems to bring suffering and bloodshed wherever it goes. Take India for example. There are many many deities. Within an entire village perhaps a thousand or more gods are worshiped and prayed to. The people are still able to eat together, dance together, marry, have children and there is no conflict over this. All is well until the introduction of the one omnipotent god concept. Soon everyone is bickering about who has the best invisible friend. I would only ask what in this universe is absolute? I can not help but wonder about the statement of Jesus that he came not to bring peace, but a sword. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on Earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law, and a man's foes will be those of his own household." Indeed.

I was somewhat surprised by this as well. Vaastu masters teach this. They have ways of measuring the energies of places electronically with some kind of meter. I did not pay much attention to this, but once when an Acharya skilled in vaastu came to house once to he immediately pointed to some of the statues and wall hangings and said to remove from the house immediately. That they would drain energy. The removal did make a huge difference however. Quite noticable. I was surprised. According to that tradition, Ganesh should not be in the house but in a temple. The direction the trunk faces is important as well. to the right is auspicious. Krishna shown with the flute and dancing Shiva are not considered appropriate to have in the home as well. If Ganesh must be kept in the home he should not be placed alone, but with Laksmi. I guess if you have some of those statues and are experiencing some disharmony in the home or problems with the children, finances, health,tiredness, or whatever try removing them and see. Perhaps it will have impact or perhaps it won't. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-28-2001).]

Possibly the relationship to the sutra symbolized in part by the yin and yang symbol "Life is death. Death is Life." I imagine there are many different perspectives. In any case it is not good to keep statues or pictures of dancing Shiva (among a few other deities such as Ganesh) in the house. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-26-2001).]

I am wondering what other fast food uses meat in their foods. I know you have to be careful about refried bean and taco chip products in the Southwest as pork lard is a common ingredient. Eating pork will harden the spiritual heart and is considered in some traditions to be similar in karma to eating a human. Also what is xanthan gum made from? This is interesting on Canola Oil someone once sent to my mailbox: >>>"Here are just a few facts everyone should know before buying anything containing canola. Canola is not the name of a natural plant but is a made-up word, from the words "Canada" and "oil". Canola is a genetically engineered plant developed in Canada from the Rapeseed Plant, which is part of the mustard family of plants. According to AgriAlternatives, The Online Innovation, and Technology Magazine for Farmers, "By nature, these rapeseed oils, which have long been used to produce oils for industrial purposes, are... toxic to humans and other animals". (This, by the way, is one of the websites singing the praises of the new canola industry.) Rapeseed oil is poisonous to living things and is an excellent insect repellent. I have been using it (in very diluted form, as per instructions) to kill the aphids on my roses for the last two years. It works very well; it suffocates them. Ask for it at your nursery. Rape is an oil that is used as a lubricant, fuel, soap and synthetic rubber base and as a illuminate for color pages in magazines. It is an industrial oil. It is not a food. Rape oil, it seems, causes emphysema, respiratory distress, anemia, constipation, irritability, and blindness in animals and humans. Rape oil was widely used in animal feeds in England and Europe between 1986 and 1991, when it was thrown out. Remember the "Mad Cow disease" scare, when millions of cattle in the UK were slaughtered in case of infecting humans? Cattle were being fed on a mixture containing material from dead sheep, and sheep suffer from a disease called "scrapie". It was thought this was how "Mad Cow" began and started to infiltrate the human chain. What is interesting is that when rape oil was removed from animal feed, 'scrapie' disappeared. We also haven't seen any further reports of "Mad Cow" since rape oil was removed from the feed. Perhaps not scientifically proven, but interesting all the same. US and Canadian farmers grow genetically engineered rapeseed and manufacturers use its oil (canola) in thousands of processed foods, with the blessings of Canadian and US government watchdog agencies. The canola supporting websites say that canola is safe to use. They admit it was developed from the rapeseed, but insist that through genetic engineering it is no longer rapeseed, but "canola" instead. Except canola means "Canadian oil"; and the plant is still a rape plant, albeit genetically modified. The new name provides perfect cover for commercial interests wanting to make millions. Look at the ingredients list on labels. Apparently peanut oil is being replaced with rape oil. You'll find canola oil in an alarming number of processed foods. There's more, but to conclude: rape oil was the source of the chemical warfare agent mustard gas, which was banned after blistering the lungs and skins of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians during W.W.I. Recent French reports indicate that it was again in use during the Gulf War. Check products for ingredients. If the label says, "may contain the following" and lists canola oil, you know it contains canola oil because it is the cheapest oil and the Canadian government subsidizes it to industries involved in food processing. I don't know what you'll be cooking with tonight...<<<<< [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-21-2001).]

It has mixed reviews. About ten years ago it was a big deal. The herbal and supplement industry is like the pharmaceutical industry-it cycles. Something new comes out in pharmaceuticals its all the rage. A few people die and then a new one arises to take its place. Same with herbs, only rarely death or permanent side effects and shorter cycle. A supplement will be the hottest new thing for about 6 months, fortunes will be made, then you will rarely here of it again. I did not notice all that is was supposed to do, however I did notice an increase in vision. It did help my eyes. Bilberry has a similar effect. Have you ever made the mushroom tea? The starter mushrooms were very costly when they first were introduced. It is an unattractive flat fungus that looks like flesh coloured bologna. If it touches metal it shrivels and dies on that part. You have to boil some sugar and tea bags in glass, cool it add the fungus and cover it with cheesecloth and let it steep for a week in a warm place. Wherever you put it will begin to smell like dirty socks. In a week a new fungus is sticking to the bottom of the original one. You remove them, discard the old one and make the sugar and tea again and add the baby fungus. Soon evolution kicks in and the babies start getting a bump or a blister here and there like fried bologna. Some were darker than others. The features (birthmarks?) would skip a week or two and then manifest on the progeny in future weeks. We would look at it and say "Oh look-it looks just like its great great grandmother!" (not much happened down on the farm). After discarding the "mother" you could then drink whatever tea the mushroom had not used in the production of its youngster. You had to strain it first through cheese cloth as there were unknown effects if you should swallow a spore. I can only imagine and worried about the septic tank as well. God knows what it would do in a subterranean environment. It was pretty hard to taste it for the first time, but once you did it , it did not taste as bad as it smelled. Just like hard cider or sour apple brandy. It was quite good actually. There were heated debates in the household as to who had to change the mushroom that week as it took a couple hours by the time the sugar and tea cooled. The neighbor lady had purchased one for quite a sum and had to hire a mushroom sitter to go on vacation. I would also like to know also if anyone other than an importer or distributor experienced great physical transformation after drinking it. We kept waiting for something to happen and drank it for about 9 months. Nothing did so we gave it to someone who wanted it. I think the down side was that if left out longer than the prescribed time some people got food poisoning. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-21-2001).]

The eating of meat was originally not considered to be so much of a "sin" as an ignorance. Avoidance of meat was for spiritual development. Alot of the foundation of Hindu tradition was from the Laws of Manu" here is a passage on food: "Do not give the messed leavings of food to any. Do not eat between the fixed and set meal times (eating between 10:00am and 2:00pm was considered ideal during that time). Do not eat while the last meal is undigested. Do not go anywhere without ablution after a meal. Anxiously avoid overeating, for it wars against health, against functioning of the higher mind, and therefore against the hope of heaven and the way of the virtuous; it breeds gross passions, and is against the rules of what is the seemly and equitable division of food amongst all who inhabit the world. As far as possible take clen and bloodless foods. It is true that the mental inclination of the world on the path of persuit is in the direction of flesh-foods and spiritous drinks, and physical loves and lusts; and it may be said that there is not sin in these, especially in regulated forms and for the Kshatriya (Buddha's caste)and Shudra. But refraining from them brings high result. Flesh cannot be had without the slaughter of animals, and the slaughter of breathing beings does not lead to heaven. There fore flesh foods should be avoided. The man who has no will to bind, torture and slay innocent living beings, who wishes well to all, shall be blessed with enduring joy. And he who slays none shall achieve what he thinks, what he plans, what he desires, sucessfully and without pain." It is interesting how pigging out is considered to be just as if not more detrimental than eating meat. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-21-2001).]

It would seem logical to me that since he did seek mukti so relentlessly-reputedly visting over 60 ashrams, he did receive many dikshas. Logistically to me the diksha would be related to the lineage. This is just a conclusion however, and I was wondering if others might know. Also I have not seen much reguarding diksha at Buddhist practice. It seems to just be practice practice practice. Perhaps dikshas are reserved for more advanced groups or are esoteric in the various traditions. Anyone know? Something else is puzzling to me. A great Buddhist leader who I will not name, when asked how long before a man can become enlightened, replied, "Aeons." It already has been aeons. Is that because dikshas are not generally used and are focused mostly on practicing that he says it will take aeons? Is mukti attainable without diksha? I do not know. Anyone? I think however that contemplating the Buddha and his divine lineage can give some insight into the ongoing debate of "what is enlightenment". According to Hindu Pauranic tradition, Buddha was the 9th avatar of Vishnu, a previous incarnation was of course, Krishna. The next or 10th and final incarnation of Vishnu is Kalki whose name literally means the "Annihilator of Ignorance". The mission of this avatar is to close Kalkiyuga, usher in Satya Yuga and liberate all of mankind from suffering or in other words bring enlightenment to all of mankind. In the ancient sense, mukti means liberation from suffering. We tend to generally think of enlightenment as liberation from one ignorance or another. The key is (according to ancient tradition) that all suffering springs from ignorance. The suffering itself can not be tackled directly as it it merely a symptom, however the root of it, ignorance, can be eliminated. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-21-2001).]

"A group of men, women and children were on their way to a big city from their village home. Their journey took them through a very big, dense forest, replete with wild animals and eerie sound. As fate would have it they lost thrier way in the midst of the forest. You can form a fair picture of the secene:there was utter chaos-children in the blackness of the night-indecisive and confused parents and grownups couldn't comfort them. The impending doom was temporarily mitigated by the arrival of an army corporal, adept in the ways of survival, and completely familiar with the forest. Duty, however spared him limited time and since he was to go in a different direction, he patiently told them how they could get out of the dark, dense forest. He taught them the techniques of survival, and he taught them the art of making a torch-light from the dry twigs. The overjoyed travellers heaped their thanks on the corporal, who soon went his own way. Typical human error soon took its toll on the travellers. Each one of them wanted to take the credit for leading the others out of the forest. Egos clashed. Inevitably, various factions were created consisting of a leader and his small band of supporters. The immense enthusiasm amongst the leaders led to different interpretations of the way out of the forest. Thae fracas resulted in the travelers neglecting the lit torch provided by the corporal. The torch extinguished in the melee. Now none of them knew how to light the torch. They had been counting the proverbial chickens well before the eggs had hatched. They had not paid enough attention to the corporal while he had explained. More confusion and fighting prevailed. It was soon daybreak. each leader with his band of supporters went his own way. They kept going round in circles. Tradition has decreed that we pay obeisance to our saviors. So it happened with this group. Artists of the group sculpted images of the corporal, whereas others drew his portrait on the bark of trees with clay. They began worshipping these, fervently praying for a way out of the forest. None of the travelers ever made an attempt to recollect the advice of the corporal. Death soon overtook them in the form of hunger or as prey to the wild denizens of the jungle. So it has been with life." From "The Dharma of Kalki" A favorite is this version (with some embellishments) of a story told by Acharya Sri Ananada Giri at a Vara Yajna in USA 1998: The Condition of Man Once upon a time a man was passing his time in a deep dark forest. He would go there to be alone with his thoughts. One day he sensed that he was not alone. He looked behind him and saw that there was a ferocious tiger in the bushes waiting to pounce on him and drag him off for dinner. The man began to run. The tiger began to run after him. Faster and faster they ran, the hunter and the hunted. The man could feel the great beast's hot breath on his back and neck. Help! Help! He screamed to no one in particular. Just as the tiger was about to spring upon the man, apparent salvation came. The man ran right into a very deep hole. Down he fell into the darkness. "Oh Thank God! breathed the man, He was so relieved. But not for long, for there right beside him, sunning herself in a tiny sliver of sunshine that had somehow penetrated the deep dark pit was a snake of the worst variety. He was coiled and ready to strike at the intruder. The threat of the tiger paled in comparison to what the mighty serpent had in store for the unfortunate fellow. Caught between the snake below and the tiger above, the future looked pretty dim for the man. But in a moment, relief came as he noticed a small vine hanging above him. Leaping up he grabbed it and held on for dear life. How relieved he was, until he saw that a rat had come by and had started gnawing away at the vine. As he pitifully stared up at the rat who was gnawing on the vine that was keeping him safe from the serpent below, and the tiger who was prowling above, some honey dripped down from a tree above and fell onto his lips. And he licked his lips, smiled and said, "Ah, how sweet life is." [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-21-2001).]

Definately one effect of Christian conversion will be more McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in India. I am amazed how many Hindu own Taco Bells, Subways, various delis and KFC's here. It is kind of humorous to me how the cultures merge in this day and age. Once while in rural India I saw a Tee Shirt that said, "THE POPE MUST BE STOPPED." There was a big picture of his Holiness on it. Not so very interesting or surprising considering the circumstances. But what was interesting was that "THE POPE MUST BE STOPPED" Tee Shirt was the focal point of a beautiful and well tended little alter surrounded by garlands, with a little oil lamp and some fruit. Is it really possible to convert a Hindu? I wonder.

My perception of diksha is that it is like a seed which is supported and nurtured by sadhana and perhaps realization of sutras. It is a spiritual initiation that can be passed through intent, the eyes and the touch as well. Masters in ancient times would sometimes give a blow to the head with a sandal or push a disciple from a window yelling "Here is your enlightenment!" And it would happen for the disciple in a moment. My master gave some dikshas during a 48 day mukti yajna in India- www.goldencity.f2s.com and the effects were staggering. I literally staggered around for quite some time until I got used to the altered state and way of seeing and experiencing. Not to go into great detail what I have noticed is that if sadhana and contemplation is not done, or if the energy that the diksha provides is not used for some time the effects or impact of the diksha will begin to be less obvious-in a sense fade. So I think of a diksha as a seed followed by a plant a continuously growing process. I do not know what the experience of others has been or what is in books or what the experience is supposed to be, but that is how it happened for me. i would be very interested in hearing personal experiences with dikshas-how you felt, what happened. Also I have a question. Siddhartha received many dikshas from his teachers in his stuggle for enlightenment. When someone speaks of a specific Buddhist lineage, are they refering to the dikshas passed down? [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-19-2001).]

Correct me if I am wrong, but in order to keep one's non-profit staus in India, a large portion of collected donations have to go into the building of hospitals, orphanages, etc -such as Mother Theresa's missions? There should be one Hindu nation left on Earth as Hinduism is the last stronghold of the ancient theme of enlightenment. [This message has been edited by Dharma (edited 05-19-2001).]