suchandra

Another thing seems to be true, ISKCON gurus are ritviks of the GBC! So at least they should admit that ritvicism is being practiced within ISKCON, although they say, ritvikism is only possible in the name of the GBC but not in the name of Prabhupada.

Every single state of the ancient world/Middle East is by now turned into a dead desert because for centuries all these rascals simply couldnt/cant figure what is real yajna. Now we get biblical droughts all over Europe, artificial scarcity of rain - no rain at all for years in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, because all these rascals moved from the Middle East to Europe. Present European political leaders brain is simply recycled pigs innards and rotting cabbage because they were raised on sausage and sour kraut only. Some Vaishnavas exposing these rascals? The opposite seems true, ISKCON leaders showing up as supplicants of demoniac political leadership (see ISKCON UK/Hindu School).

THE GBC LAWBOOK GBC Law 6.2 - Qualifications of Gurus in ISKCON 6.2.1 - Mandatory qualifications. 10. Must have no loyalties that compete with or compromise his loyalty to Srila Prabhupada, to his teachings and to ISKCON. 6.4.1.1 A candidate for guru in ISKCON must first receive a majority vote of approval in a council composed of all the GBC secretaries of his current preaching area and at least ten (10) other senior devotees. 6.4.1.1.2 …obtainment of “no objection” letters…from the GBC temple presidents and other authorities (managerial). 6.4.1.3.1 A thorough description of the qualifications of the candidate, showing point by point how he CONFORMS to the GBC standards… 6.4.1.3.3 Then the chairman of the council sends a “nomination” to the GBC describing how the candidate conforms to the GBC standards, his description and the description of all who voted for him and how “senior” they are and explanations why they voted for him. 6.4.1.3.2 Then he is properly endorsed. GBC Law 6.4.2 Vows of Guru 2. I accept the GBC as the ultimate managerial authority in ISKCON. I support the GBC system and will follow them. 3. I remain surrendered to the orders of his authorized representatives…. 5. As a spiritual master I must always conform to ISKCON policies. 7. I shall teach all my disciples they are part of ISKCON. GBC Law 6.4.3 Standards of Conduct for Gurus in ISKCON 6.4.3.2.1 He must respect the GBC as Srila Prabhupada’s chosen successor, the ultimate authority, and respect, serve and follow them…. 6.4.3.2.2 He must act under their supervision…. 6.4.3.3 [He must] not change residence without their approval…. 6.4.3.4.5 [He must] avoid confrontation…. 6.4.3.4.6 [He must] not undermine ISKCON authorities in any way…. 6.4.3.4.2 He must always cooperate with them…. 6.4.3.4.4 [He] must instruct his disciples to cooperate with them.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. —Mark Twain

Srila Prabhupada: Narada Muni is our original guru because he is the spiritual master of Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva is the spiritual master of our disciplic succession; therefore we should follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni and become pure Vaisnavas. A pure Vaisnava is one who has no ulterior motive. He has totally dedicated himself to the service of the Lord. "Being thus assured by the great sage Narada Muni, the hunter broke his bow, immediately fell down at the saint's lotus feet and fully surrendered. After this, Narada Muni raised him with his hand and gave him instructions for spiritual advancement." This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Krsna. The spiritual master, being in the disciplic succession stemming from Narada Muni, is in the same category with Narada Muni. A person can be relieved from his sinful activity if he surrenders to the lotus feet of a person who actually represents Narada Muni. Narada Muni gave instructions to the hunter after the hunter surrendered. One simply has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master strictly. Then everything will be successful in due course of time. http://devotees.krishna.org/Articles/2001/09/023.html

Adi 7.115 In this connection the Padma Purana states, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih: "One who considers the arca-murti, the worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu, to be stone, THE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO BE AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING, and a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed, is possessed of HELLISH INTELLIGENCE." One who follows such conclusions is doomed.

The process by which banks create money is so simple the mind is repelled. http://theinformer.vox.com/library/video/6a00cd97061c554cd500d41431c06c685e.html

Thanks Devarsirat prabhu, that's what I always believed, Vaishnavas are the most dedicated spirit souls and therefore stick together like nobody else and help each other in every respect. Once Prabhupada, without whom Narayana Swami,or Sridhar Maharaja would have never become known in the West, but now is labelled as dead and gone, said, "There is a sinister movement within our Society". Interesting points which prove that "sinister movement" by Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das Prabhupada's Last Heroic Attempt at the Direction Of Management (DOM) http://www.iskcontoday.org<wbr>/2006-115.php Dear Prabhus, PAMHO, AGTSP! After meditating on the chronology of SP's repeated attempts to introduce the Direction Of Management (DOM) for our own good fortune and the good fortune of our six billion fellow humans for the duration of the Golden Age of Kali, one would have to be cold as ice not to feel absotutely stricken and heartbroken to read this letter which is obviously a close to last heroic attempt by Srila Prabhupada to get past the GBC's Absolute Unwillingness to accept the DOM. By explanation, my reading of the the first part of the letter brings me to the thought that SP wanted this letter to be the pivotal lever to bring the DOM to our Iskcon Society either at the time of His writing it, or a later time ... (Such as now). He included the first part of the letter (line item #1) quite certain that his "beloved disciples" would implement it immediately. This turned out to be true. I was present when every card, <!-- D(["mb","menu, letterhead, sign, book, brochure etc. was manically examined and then\u003cbr /\>rectified if it did not comply with the required language of line item #1.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>The second paragraph of line item #1 was a matter of urgent need at the\u003cbr /\>time, important enough, it would seem to be added to all of the legal\u003cbr /\>papers of Iskcon everywhere) ..... (The Oahu Hawa\'ai Temple had been sold\u003cbr /\>by Gaurasundhara without consulting Srila Prabhpada on the matter.)\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>I am certain that Srila Prabhupada inserted line item #1 so that History\u003cbr /\>would Witness that line item #2 had been completely disobeyed ... I do not\u003cbr /\>think that He considered it likely that line item #2 would be obeyed, and\u003cbr /\>He used line item #1 (which He was certain WOULD be obeyed) as a "marker:"\u003cbr /\>to prove that the letter was received by the GBC, circulated and read. No\u003cbr /\>one can now say that the GBC did not get or read this letter, as line item\u003cbr /\>#1 was literally followed to the letter. If He had not done that and sent\u003cbr /\>out a letter ONLY about the DOM, we, here in the year 2006 could easily\u003cbr /\>argue that without dispute, the letter was WRITTEN by SP, but where is the\u003cbr /\>proof that it was READ by all of the GBC members?\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>Because of line item #1, we have quite adequate proof that the letter was\u003cbr /\>received and that half of it was scrupulously followed, while the second\u003cbr /\>was not followed at all. We must remember that in the mid to late 1990\'s,\u003cbr /\>Sridham prabhu, (now deceased) was the GBC for Education, and put the DOM\u003cbr /\>on the GBC agenda for consideration. At that meeting, there was\u003cbr /\>considerable hopeful discussion, and support for the DOM until Tamal\u003cbr /\>Goswami and Jayapataka Goswami angrily denounced the DOM as a paper that\u003cbr /\>Srila Prabhupada had rejected, and that he had clearly changed His mind by\u003cbr /\>the end. All further discussion was squashed, and the "word on the street"\u003cbr /\>from that time onward was that the DOM had no place in the world of current\u003cbr /\>day Iskcon.\u003cbr /\>",1] ); //--> menu, letterhead, sign, book, brochure etc. was manically examined and then rectified if it did not comply with the required language of line item #1. The second paragraph of line item #1 was a matter of urgent need at the time, important enough, it would seem to be added to all of the legal papers of Iskcon everywhere) ..... (The Oahu Hawa'ai Temple had been sold by Gaurasundhara without consulting Srila Prabhpada on the matter.) I am certain that Srila Prabhupada inserted line item #1 so that History would Witness that line item #2 had been completely disobeyed ... I do not think that He considered it likely that line item #2 would be obeyed, and He used line item #1 (which He was certain WOULD be obeyed) as a "marker:" to prove that the letter was received by the GBC, circulated and read. No one can now say that the GBC did not get or read this letter, as line item #1 was literally followed to the letter. If He had not done that and sent out a letter ONLY about the DOM, we, here in the year 2006 could easily argue that without dispute, the letter was WRITTEN by SP, but where is the proof that it was READ by all of the GBC members? Because of line item #1, we have quite adequate proof that the letter was received and that half of it was scrupulously followed, while the second was not followed at all. We must remember that in the mid to late 1990's, Sridham prabhu, (now deceased) was the GBC for Education, and put the DOM on the GBC agenda for consideration. At that meeting, there was considerable hopeful discussion, and support for the DOM until Tamal Goswami and Jayapataka Goswami angrily denounced the DOM as a paper that Srila Prabhupada had rejected, and that he had clearly changed His mind by the end. All further discussion was squashed, and the "word on the street" from that time onward was that the DOM had no place in the world of current day Iskcon. <!-- D(["mb","\u003cbr /\>After some deeper research, I think that I can represent that their words\u003cbr /\>spoken at that meeting were not and never had been true. Much later, I\u003cbr /\>learned that the GBC headed by my good friend and God brother Bhadri\u003cbr /\>Narayan, Romapada swami as well as Hridayananda Swami all testified on the\u003cbr /\>risk of perjury that the DOM was indeed the founding document of the GBC\u003cbr /\>and in fact, everyone in Iskcon was well aware of it! I regret any\u003cbr /\>appearance of "conspiracy theory" that my writing may trigger in the reader\u003cbr /\>... It really sounds bad, and I know it. I know that it also sounds\u003cbr /\>accusatory, and I regret the accusatory tone.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>While conducting research in the Veda Base, it became abundantly clear in a\u003cbr /\>way that I never suspected at the time, that there were, in fact, two\u003cbr /\>Iskcons....The Iskcon of the "Bright Faced Devotees" and the Iskcon of (as\u003cbr /\>Srila Prabhupada put it by saying) "There is a sinister movement within our\u003cbr /\>Society". It is this second, misguided (or perhaps "sinister") iskcon that\u003cbr /\>keeps on appearing and re-appearing in the pages of my research. Based on\u003cbr /\>the facts as they emerge, it would appear that while encouraging and\u003cbr /\>Blessing the "Brighnt Faced Devotees", he simultaneously was fighting a\u003cbr /\>silent, un-noticed , battle with the other Iskcon.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>The repeated and chronic pattern of planned and stubborn disobedience by\u003cbr /\>this second Iskcon appears in 2006 in a much more sinister and scarier\u003cbr /\>light than it did in 197O, 1971, 1972 and 1973. That is what began to come\u003cbr /\>to view as facts became assembled from those years. So, I apologize to one\u003cbr /\>and all. I did not start out be become the bearer of bad news, or tragic,\u003cbr /\>heartbreaking, drama carried out behind the scenes. I started out to bring\u003cbr /\>to all of you, and the World itself, the fabulous GIFT of the Iskcon Srila\u003cbr /\>Prabhupada WANTED (AND STILL WANTS!) FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US! The\u003cbr /\>Iskcon that He created, is centered within the DOM.\u003cbr /\>",1] ); //--> After some deeper research, I think that I can represent that their words spoken at that meeting were not and never had been true. Much later, I learned that the GBC headed by my good friend and God brother Bhadri Narayan, Romapada swami as well as Hridayananda Swami all testified on the risk of perjury that the DOM was indeed the founding document of the GBC and in fact, everyone in Iskcon was well aware of it! I regret any appearance of "conspiracy theory" that my writing may trigger in the reader ... It really sounds bad, and I know it. I know that it also sounds accusatory, and I regret the accusatory tone. While conducting research in the Veda Base, it became abundantly clear in a way that I never suspected at the time, that there were, in fact, two Iskcons....The Iskcon of the "Bright Faced Devotees" and the Iskcon of (as Srila Prabhupada put it by saying) "There is a sinister movement within our Society". It is this second, misguided (or perhaps "sinister") iskcon that keeps on appearing and re-appearing in the pages of my research. Based on the facts as they emerge, it would appear that while encouraging and Blessing the "Brighnt Faced Devotees", he simultaneously was fighting a silent, un-noticed , battle with the other Iskcon. The repeated and chronic pattern of planned and stubborn disobedience by this second Iskcon appears in 2006 in a much more sinister and scarier light than it did in 197O, 1971, 1972 and 1973. That is what began to come to view as facts became assembled from those years. So, I apologize to one and all. I did not start out be become the bearer of bad news, or tragic, heartbreaking, drama carried out behind the scenes. I started out to bring to all of you, and the World itself, the fabulous GIFT of the Iskcon Srila Prabhupada WANTED (AND STILL WANTS!) FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US! The Iskcon that He created, is centered within the DOM. <!-- D(["mb","\u003cbr /\>The Iskcon that we created after "amputating" the DOM from Srila\u003cbr /\>Prabhupada\'s Iskcon, is all to well known to all of us ... non-elected\u003cbr /\>often criminal leaders triggering lawsuits and scandal paid for by the rank\u003cbr /\>and file devotees who never suspected that they had a right to vote, and to\u003cbr /\>experience voluntary free will as the basis of Spiritual Advancement rather\u003cbr /\>than the morbidity of the ever present leaders who were more inclined to\u003cbr /\>cover up the molestations, embezzlements, murders, frauds and other crimes\u003cbr /\>than to protect the temples that they were supposedly created to preserve.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>Fortunately, forty years is a small fraction of the Ten Thousand Year of\u003cbr /\>the Golden Age Of kali. I we all roll up our sleeves and "get to work" we\u003cbr /\>will be living in the Iskcon that Srila Prabhupada intended for us before\u003cbr /\>we, ourselves, leave these bodies that are aging fast. Please let\'s do\u003cbr /\>that!... I vow my unswerving support and aid every step of the way.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>Your eternal servant, Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003cwbr /\>\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>6) TRIPURARI hosts bogus gurus.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>Audarya Hosts Ratha Yatra Festival BY VRINDARANYA DASI\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>[PADA: OK here we go, for those who have told us that "Vrndaranya dasi" is\u003cbr /\>a figment of PADA\'s imagination, she is the person writing this article on\u003cbr /\>behalf of Tripurari swami. Duh! And she is the person always out there\u003cbr /\>riding around in the big Volvo X-Tracker Wagon with Swami BV Tripurari at\u003cbr /\>the helm. Duh! And she is the person the Eugene Oregon devotees of\u003cbr /\>Tripurari said "has to go because the swami does not look good always\u003cbr /\>associating with a young women, he looks worse than Ramesvara did." Duh!\u003cbr /\>The Eugene devotees said, either she goes or they will go. And Tripurari\u003cbr /\>said, "she stays and you all have to go." Sorry this person actually\u003cbr /\>exists, she is a young woman. And hence, some of Swami BV Tripurari\'s\u003cbr /\>",1] ); //--> The Iskcon that we created after "amputating" the DOM from Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon, is all to well known to all of us ... non-elected often criminal leaders triggering lawsuits and scandal paid for by the rank and file devotees who never suspected that they had a right to vote, and to experience voluntary free will as the basis of Spiritual Advancement rather than the morbidity of the ever present leaders who were more inclined to cover up the molestations, embezzlements, murders, frauds and other crimes than to protect the temples that they were supposedly created to preserve. Fortunately, forty years is a small fraction of the Ten Thousand Year of the Golden Age Of kali. If we all roll up our sleeves and "get to work" we will be living in the Iskcon that Srila Prabhupada intended for us before we, ourselves, leave these bodies that are aging fast. Please let's do that!... I vow my unswerving support and aid every step of the way. Your eternal servant, Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das

Firm makes 'healing super-water' <!-- S BO --> <!-- S IIMA --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="203"> <tbody><tr><td> Bad circulation can prevent foot ulcers from healing </td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IIMA --> <!-- S SF --> US scientists have developed "super-oxidised" water which they say speeds up wound healing. Oculus, the Californian firm which developed the water - made by filtering it through a salt membrane - says it kills viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is also effective against MRSA and UK trials are being carried out on patients with diabetic foot ulcers, New Scientist magazine reported. Experts said wound healing was a major problem for people with diabetes. <!-- E SF --> The key ingredient of the water, called Microcyn, are oxychlorine ions - electrically charged molecules which pierce the cell walls of free-living microbes. The water can only kill cells it can completely surround so human cells are spared because they are tightly bound together in a matrix. <!-- S IBOX --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="208"> <tbody><tr> <td width="5"></td> <td class="sibtbg"> We would welcome any safe effective treatment which could help people with diabetes make a swift recovery Tracey Kelly, Diabetes UK </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IBOX --> It is made by taking purified water and passing it through a semi-permeable sodium chloride membrane, which produces the oxychlorine ions. One study showed that patients with advanced foot ulcers who were treated with the water, alongside an antibiotic had an average healing time of 43 days compared with 55 days in those who received standard treatment Bleach-resistant bacteria The results were presented at a Global Healthcare biomedical conference in Monte Carlo. Bleach also contains a number of electrically charged molecules such as hypochlorite but in much higher concentrations than in the water. However, US studies have shown the water kills 10 strains of bleach-resistant bacteria. Professor Andrew Boulton, from Manchester Royal Infirmary, who is conducting one of the early UK trials, said the treatment seemed promising. "Hopefully it will confirm our initial good experience." About 15% of diabetic foot ulcers result in amputation. Diabetes UK care adviser Tracey Kelly said: "The healing of wounds is a major problem for people with diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control or have circulatory problems. "We would welcome any safe effective treatment which could help people with diabetes make a swift recovery. "This research is very interesting and we look forward to the trial results." Help the Aged spokesman Mike Foster said: "The team involved is a credible one and wound healing is a major area in the health of older people. "There is an urgent need to understand the biology of our repair systems so that we can improve treatments that will help to restore more people's health and independence." <!-- E BO -->

So this is how people in general see present ISKCON, "nasty things going on after Prabhupada has left". Even if that "nasty things going on" would stop, still, people would only believe when there's also wonderful activities, not just talk. from: http://www.kheper.net/topics/gurus/listing.html <table summary="tabulation of gurus" border="5" cellpadding="2" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>Guru or Master</td> <td>Organisation</td> <td>Teaching</td> <td>Abuse?</td> <td>Category</td> <td>Short summary, influence and present status</td> </tr> </tbody><tbody><tr> <td>Adi Da (Da Free John)</td> <td>Laughing Man Institute, Adidam</td> <td>Eastern</td> <td>Criticism, Problems with Adi Da, The Cult of Adi-Da?, re: Adi Da</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>A controversial guru, former disciple of Muktananda. Has changed his name many times. Some devotees have been traumatised by him, others benefitted. Claims to be first the avatar of this age and for that matter the only 7th Stage Realiser of all time. His material is very well written. I would interpret him as having powerful experiences of enlightenment but whose personality/vehicle is not strong enough to cope with the downflux of higher light. A lot of lower Affective power, ego inflation and intermediate zone perspective. Large following in the West - chiefly in America. Large literary production.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sri Aurobindo</td> <td>Sri Aurobindo Society</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>None</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>A visionary philosopher, a poet, a meta-enlightened being, an avatar, attained the Manifest Absolute, and worked towards establishing it on Earth. After his death his work was carried on by his spiritual co-worker Mirra Alfassa ("The Mother"). Some limited influence among certain intellectuals, a small but dedicated following worldwide</td> </tr> <tr> <td>H. B. Blavatsky</td> <td>Theosophy</td> <td>Occult</td> <td>None</td> <td>Avidya?/Astral</td> <td>Almost single-handedly initiated the Western occult/esoteric revival. Not an enlightened being, but still enormously significant. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Andrew Cohen</td> <td>No formal organisation</td> <td>Integral movement</td> <td>Extensive psychological manipulation and financial exploitation of followers, under the guise of "breaking down the ego". See What Enlightenment? blog for more.</td> <td>IZ-a but may be only sporadic</td> <td>Small following in America, mostly on Ken Wilber's recommendation. His magazine <cite>What Is Enlightenment?</cite> is distributed widely</td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td>Aleister Crowley</td> <td>O.T.O.</td> <td>Occult</td> <td>No</td> <td>IZ-a Subtle</td> <td>Occultist, prankster, hedonist, poet, writer, considered an avatar of the new aeon by his followers; heavy astral consciousness, the single most influential figure in 20th century Hermeticism; influenced Wicca and (indirectly) L.R. Hubbard.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>G. I Gurdjieff</td> <td>"The Work", "Fouth Way" etc</td> <td>Occult</td> <td>Guru: A master manipulator Organisation: No</td> <td>IZ-a Gross?</td> <td>Tremendous physical and psychic consciousness, power and will, not enlightened, a manipulator, his ideas have been subtly influential throughout much of western esotericism, even reappearing in New Age form.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lord Hamsah Manarah. </td> <td>Aumist religion ['Aumisme'] </td> <td>New Age</td> <td>need to research</td> <td>IZ-a/IZ-b subtle</td> <td>Claimed to be the reincarnation of Christ, Buddha, Napoleon and Pythagoras. Teaches he is to save humanity from self-destruction. Such inflated claims indicate he has been fooled by impressions from the from the Affective worlds or Intermediate Zone. About 40 monks/nuns and about 100 lay followers, 1,000 worldwide.</td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td>L. Ron Hubbard;</td> <td>Scientology</td> <td>a little of everything!</td> <td>abuses galore!</td> <td>Avidya</td> <td>A former science fiction writer (I once read one of his early stories - quite clever!), he realised the best way to make a million was start his own religion. The greatest con-artist of our age. Thanks to courting movie stars who are given preferential treatment and in return provide oodles of good publicity, The Church of Scientology is as powerful as ever</td> </tr> <tr> <td>C. J. Jung</td> <td>Analytical Psychology</td> <td>Psychology</td> <td>None</td> <td>IZ-a Subtle?</td> <td>A brilliant analyst of human nature, student of mythic symbols, insightful but not enlightened, treated the women in his life badly. Enormous influence outside psychology, one of the great figures of the 20th century </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Prem Rawat; formerly Guru Maharaji</td> <td>Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital</td> <td>"The Knowledge" is from Sant Mat</td> <td>Avidya</td> <td>Made millions from his devotees from the 60s onwards, even his own Boeing. I have been told by someone who seems to me respectable that his followers still resort to thuggery and so warned against criticising him publically (I cannot confirm this). Criticism on Wikipedia</td> <td>Started out as the ice-cream eating boy guru hailed as an avatar or "The Lord Of The Universe"; basically an average Joe, his status as a master is luducrious. I heard him talk when he came to Melbourne. In no way an enlightened being. Formerly big following in the West</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi</td> <td>TM</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>The movement sells fake mantras and spiritual techniques at progressively very high prices.</td> <td>Avidya</td> <td>Basically took advantage of his connections with the Beatles to set himself up in the West. Too much money element for my liking, but has not abused his position sexually. Not an enlightened being. T.M. is a big organisation, that is making lots and lots of money. Their so-called "Sidha program" involves contracting certain buttock muscles allowing you to "bounce". The Tibetans did that ages ago (Read Alexandra David Neel's "Magic and Mystery in Tibet"). The practice can be harmful for one's psychological well-being, probably also physically harmful.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Shri Mataji </td> <td>Sahaja yoga</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>Yes</td> <td>IZ-a Subtle?</td> <td>Seems to me she started out as a basically decent even if self-deluded lady, got caught up in the guru power trip. Seriosly inflated ego resulting in her (& her followers) belief that she is the avatar of this age. Not an enlightened being. Possibly traces of Intermediate zone to draw in the followers, although when I heard her talk she seemed like an ordinary person. Some following in the West</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Meher Baba</td> <td>--</td> <td>Hindu/Sufi</td> <td>None</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>An interesting one. Clearly sincere, despite certain ridiculous themes in his teachings. Never abused his position. I would say a genuine avatar, but his personality was not strong enough to hold the Force, hence erratic behaviour. Decent following world-wide</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Swami Muktananda </td> <td>Siddha Yoga</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>Guru: Seems to have fallen in later years - sex with female devotees under guise of "Tantric Initiation". Also there was physical violence (or at least threats thereof) against those who spoke out Organisation: Followuing his death the movement schismed; the main faction following the sister, another the brother; need to research more</td> <td>IZ-a or IZ-b</td> <td>A sincere and decent teacher, although it seems in later years he fell prey to the guru power trip, started taking sexual advantage of young female followers (all in the name of "Tantric initiation"). Because of this, not an enlightened being, but nevertheless attained a high spiritual status (read his bio Play of Consciousness). Most certainly Intermediate zone Siddha Yoga still going in the West , despite it's incredibly amaturish approach to yoga and it's lack of enlightened leadership. A church for middle class people who have gone beyond exoteric religion but are not able to stand by their own light.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet</td> <td>Aeon Centre of Cosmology</td> <td>Integral Yoga</td> <td>None towards followers</td> <td>IZ-a</td> <td>Inflated claims of avatarhood, and asserts that her son is a reincarnation of Sri Aurobindo. Very small following, a number of weighty books and several websites</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Yoshikazu Okada</td> <td>Mahikari</td> <td>Japanese</td> <td>None? (need to research)</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>Japanese nationalistic religious movement - through initiation you are able to give healing light from your hands. The founder has been accused of association in Japenese war crimes. Small following in Japan and in the West</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Osho Rajneesh</td> <td>Orange People</td> <td>Syncretic</td> <td>Guru: Yes; Fled the US with over 100 federal charges, leaving behind 84 Rolls Royces. Organisation: Under Ma Sheela things were pretty nasty; the following now is non-harmful</td> <td>IZ-b</td> <td>Basically a mixture of sincerity and fake. Presented himself as the guru for the rich. There is no denying his affection for his followers, nor his love of all the money, rolls royces, and (from his Western female followers) sexual favours his office gave him. Not a true enlightened being, a good example of an Intermediate zone guru. Tremendously influential in the New Age movement, mainly because of the appeal to the infantile western attitude of being spiritual but keeping your materialistic ego and selfish attitude at the same time. His 'Zorba-Rajneesh' discoteks were all over Europe at one period; Zorba is the symbol of the ultimate worldly male chauvinist</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabupad</td> <td>International Society for Krishna Consciousness ("Hare Krishnas"</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>Guru: Prabupad himself was a decent guy Organisation: Some serious abuses, including sexual abuse of children - apparently these concerns are now being addressed</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>A sincere and decent teacher, never bused his position in any way. His teachings however are nothing but fundamentalist Vaishvanism. Not an enlightened being. Hare Krishna sect remains a viable "New Religion" (albeit a fundamentalistic one). Respected among hippy/alternative people because of strong Vegetarian stance. After Prabhupad's death there were some nasty goings on in the leadership of his organsiation. At least one of his personally appointed successors was chaged with racketeering and conspiracy to murder. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Swami Rajeshwaranand Giriji Maharaj </td> <td>need to research</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>was arrested in September '95 as a party to the murder of his lover's husband. The 26-year old Manoj Girothra, husband of Savita who was having an affair with the 'godman', was murdered on December 3rd, 1994, some two months after his marriage. Two professional hitmen had been hired by the 'godman'</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td> A 'popular godman' in India, but clearly from activities lacking in spiritual consciousness. Large following in India and abroad, </td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td>Bala Sai Baba</td> <td>need to research</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>need to research</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>The Palghat (Kerala) born Bala Sai Baba (the Child Sai Baba), now 35 years old. He claims to be the real Sai avatar, has set up an ashram in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and resembles Sathya Sai Baba trait for trait.</td> </tr> <tr> </tr><tr> <td>Sathya Sai Baba</td> <td>Sai organisation</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>Guru: Serious allegations of sexual abuse Organisation: The main organisation is either covering up the abuses or is in denial; ex-devotees who have tried to bring this to light have been defamed by slanderous devotees - one example; another example, - My experience with all this .</td> <td>IZ-a Subtle</td> <td>A real controversial fellow. People have had many psychic expereinces, and some of the vibhuti materialisation on photos etc may be authentic (like the weeping virgin mary statues, probably a similar principle), but most of the so-called materialisations (of baubles for devotees) are sleight of hand. I have been to his ashram. He has been called everything from con-artist to paedophile and homosexual (and even anti-christ and devil) to avatar. Faked his birthdate to be considered an avatar. I would say gets his power from the Affective worlds. Huge following in India (many millions), where his high status has prevented legal inquiry into the allegations against him. Somewheat smaller following in the West</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Swami Shyam</td> <td>Advaita</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>accused of seducing the wives of his followers (Robert Priddy knows followers, and informs me that some agree it is so. website</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>a current advaitin guru, at Kulu in the Himalayas. Popular with Westerners (esp. Scandinavians)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sri Swami Sivananda</td> <td>The Divine Life Society</td> <td>Hindu</td> <td>None (need to research)</td> <td><center>(to add)</center></td> <td>Seems to be basically a decent guy; Small following in India and the West</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche</td> <td>none as such?</td> <td>Tibetan Buddhist</td> <td>Sex with female devotees, emotionally distant</td> <td>IZ-a</td> <td>The original "crazy wizdom" adept in the West, alcoholic, Well respected and widely read in the alternative movement</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ken Wilber</td> <td>Integral Institute</td> <td>Integral</td> <td>Minor cultic tendencies, not abusive; my critique.</td> <td>IZ-a</td> <td>Extremely charismatic, very influential due to his voluminous literary output. One of the main intellectuals in the New Age/ New Paradigm movement today.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <center> </center>

Just try to understand, very simple, current ISKCON gurus are NOT the highest authority of their new disciples, the GBC is. In fact, ISKCON gurus do not have their own ashram, but function as a sub-authority within the ISKCON ashram. Their authority is subject to the higher authority of the GBC. It is the GBC who has the authority to sanction (sanctify or ordain) that a person is now 'authorized' by the GBC to now initiate devotees in ISKCON. The GBC has the power to withdraw that sanctification and proclaim that a person is no longer authorized. And, just like all other devotees, including their disciples, the gurus themselves are fully under the authority of the GBC and must abide by their rules. Thus, the true authority over all devotees in ISKCON is the GBC. And, further, the 'gurus' only initiate once they have been empowered or authorized by the GBC. Thus, they initiate under the higher authority of the GBC. This menas that they can be defined as rtviks or representatives of the GBC. New devotees become more initiates of ISKCON then they become initiates of their guru. This is proven by the fact that if a guru falls down the GBC act as the ultimate authority and instruct the disciples to remain submissive to their authority while rejecting the authority of their deviated initiating guru. None of this is at all 'traditional' and none of it comes close to the definition of being a 'regular guru'. A regular guru has his own ashram in which he functions as the ultimate single authority. The ISKCON GBC-appointed gurus do not have their own ashram and cannot function as the ultimate authority of even their own disciples, but the GBC remains the ultimate authority. Thus, the current gurus act rather as rtviks of the GBC then they act like regular autonomous gurus. The current GBC appointed gurus are really rtviks, yet, the GBC does not understand this and continues preaching that those who support Prabhupada being the only diksa guru for ISKCON system are devious.

What was it that empowered the rtvik process while Srila Prabhupad was still present that is missing now that transformed what was once a bona-fide system into a seriously deviant and bogus system? What empowered that system prior to Srila Prabhupad's disappearance? What was the authorizing element that made this process effective and bona-fide? After Srila Prabhupad's disappearance the GBC halted this rtvik process, declaring it no longer valid, no longer authorized. Other then the GBC self-declaring it unauthorized, what other shastric factors can the GBC point to that now rendered that process invalid? They say that it goes against tradition, but the rtvik system Srila Prabhupad set up is not supported by tradition either before or after his disappearance. They say it will mean the end to the sampradaya, that is totally untrue. Neither of those speculations can be upheld by shastra. Neither will they answer the question as to what empowered the process in the first place. That answer is simple. The process was established and empowered by the eternally living instructions of the spiritual master. Prabhupada's instructions are what empowered the process. His instructions establishing the system did not violate any Vedic injunction, thus his instructions and the process as he set it up are authorized. They were empowered by his words and everyone, including the GBC, accept this fact - at least up to his disappearance. What the GBC have failed to do is to provide any viable, verifiable shastric evidence that the process automatically becomes bogus at the disappearance of the body of the acharya. There is no such limitation because there is no such limitation on the instructions of the bona-fide spiritual master. His instructions never contained any such restriction or limitation. His instruction are living and eternal. There are no other shastric injunctions that limit or restrict this process, thus his words stand. His instructions empowered the rtvik process before his departure, and they continue to empower the process. The words and instructions of the spiritual master live eternally, and those who follow his instructions live with him. The force that empowered the process on Nov 13, 1977 remained in force, without any change or restriction, on Nov 15, 1977. But, the GBC declare differently yet fail to provide valid shastric evidence to support their speculative position. Simply their own conjecture. Their own opinion, their own assumption or speculation. The GBC simply say it is bogus - no other explanation.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody> <tr style="padding-top: 5px;"> <td class="Dateline" valign="top"> </td> <td align="left" valign="top"> Sarat Patra, Sampad Mahapatra http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070013077 Wednesday, May 23, 2007 (Puri) The 12th Century Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the holiest Hindu shrines. The temple's door is open to all those who are Hindus by birth irrespective of caste. It is also open to Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains but people of other religious faiths are not allowed to enter. This restriction has been in place for several centuries. It is a tradition that the priests say is rooted in its history. The temple suffered a dozen attacks by Muslim invaders in the medieval period and the priests had to secretly shift the idols to safer places. During the British rule, Jagganath was painted as a cruel deity, as a Jaggernaut, who rode a car that crushed people under its wheels. Interestingly, it's the British and not the Brahmin priests who in the early 19th Century formalised the ban. ''The temple was subjected to attack by non-believers and invaders 18 times between the 4th century and 18th century. Taking this into account the British rulers in 1805 notified that the temple would be open only to Hindus. So it's not the Raja or the Sevayats or the temple administration who imposed a ban. It's there in the holy texts as well as the Record of Rights of 1955,'' said Rabindra Nath Pratihari, Priest, Jagganath Scholar. Purification ceremony On the first of March this year the entire temple had to be closed for 18 hours for purification after an American engineer from New York entered the premises. He claimed he wasn't aware of the ban on entry for non-Hindus. ''I had no idea. There was quite a fuss and I was escorted out the temple, shown the way out. And I did that,'' said Paul F Rodgier. The priests accepted that the American really didn't know but wanted the administration to publicise the entry rules as this wasn't the first such incident. ''The American was probably not aware of the rules. The temple should have put up the rules on larger boards outside,'' said a devotee. Orthodox entry rules Since the 1980s there have been campaigns by Hindu converts, like members of ISKCON, that they be allowed entry. But this met with stiff resistance on the grounds that these members are not Hindus by birth. Even the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's request to enter the temple was turned down because she had married a Parsi. ''Many people say non-Hindus should be allowed. Actually it's a question of faith. It's not a museum or a zoo for everyone to visit. It is a place of worship for the believers in Lord Jagannath and Hinduism. Many people say the rules must change, but this can happen only when the believers want it. That time has not come,'' said Pratihari. The Orissa state government has a major role in the management of the temple but it has so far steered clear of all controversies over the orthodox entry rules. And the devotees' say unlike other deities the Jagannath trinity gives a public darshan twice every year and so there is no need the rules. </td></tr></tbody></table>

In any case, we do not need these missing tapes. We have sufficient evidence that the order of Srila Prabhupada was that he wanted all of his followers to be living preachers. And he wanted to implement his "Direction Of Management". Krishna has given us what we really needed, but at the same time it would be nice to recover these missing tapes. When looking at a few cut and paste snippets of a transcript from 1977 called "the appointment tape" and say, "where is the original tape of this, this is a hatchet job"? "Oh, you cannot hear that." Now we know why these tapes have been suppressed. Anyway if anyone can help out that would be appreciated.

Yes, it seems that more and more evidence keeps surfacing of odd things that were happening around late 1977, when many of Srila Prabhupada's "conversation tapes" seem to have gone missing. Tamal Krishna Swami was supposed to have started a separate "Prabhupada tape ministry" in Dallas (the main one was supposed to be in Los Angeles) and allegedly Tamal put the tapes in the charge of one Shankarsana dasa (now of Austin Texas). He was Tamal's right hand man and is now a guru himself. In any case one of Shankarshana's former associates now suspects he has some role in -- at least part of -- the "missing tapes" imbroglio. A devotee claims he was listening to some of the tapes he had borrowed from Shankarsana in the late 1970s. And when the devotee went back to get some more tapes, the devotee reports that Shankarsana suddenly acted very weird and demanded the tapes be handed back. Later this devotee asked Shankarsana about some of the statements made by Srila Prabhupada on these tapes, and Shankarsana all of a sudden did not know anything about any statements, tapes, or nothing at all? He suddenly did not know anything about any tapes, especially where the tapes went. Now there's quite some suspicion that there are "gaps" in 1977 when Prabhupada spoke in great detail about ritvik acharyas and this being taken out of the tape ministry.

600 million US dollar for an embassy building in Iraq - US taxpayers wont be amused and time to tell these politicians to spent money on vedic farm projects for changing this hell bent world into spiritually uplifting sinful human society. One building that's been built on time and on budget in Iraq: America's fortress embassy http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2084288,00.html · Vatican-sized bomb-proof structure to cost £300m · Builders in Green Zone already insurgent targets Ed Pilkington in New York Monday May 21, 2007 The Guardian A portion of the new US embassy under construction is seen from across the Tigris river in Baghdad, Iraq. Photograph: AP When the idea of building a new US embassy in Baghdad was first mooted by the American administration in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, there seemed to be a grandiose logic to it.The compound, by the side of the Tigris, would be a statement of President Bush's intent to expand democracy through the Middle East. Yesterday, however, the entire project was under fresh scrutiny as new details emerged of its cost and scale. <!-- This site/section combo is not set up to show MPU's -->Rising from the dust of the city's Green Zone it is destined, at $592m (£300m), to become the biggest and most expensive US embassy on earth when it opens in September. It will cover 104 acres (42 hectares) of land, about the size of the Vatican. It will include 27 separate buildings and house about 615 people behind bomb-proof walls. Most of the embassy staff will live in simple, if not quite monastic, accommodation in one-bedroom apartments. The US ambassador, however, will enjoy a little more elbow room in a high-security home on the compound reported to fill 16,000 square feet (1,500 sq metres). His deputy will have to make do with a more modest 9,500 sq ft. They will have a pool, gym and communal living areas, and the embassy will have its own power and water supplies. But commentators and Iraq experts believe the project was flawed from its inception, and have raised concerns it will become an enormous, heavily targeted white elephant that will be an even greater liability if and when the Americans scale back their presence in Iraq. "What you have is a situation in which they are building an embassy without really thinking about what its functions are," Edward Peck, a former American diplomat in Iraq, told AP. "What kind of embassy is it when everybody lives inside and it's blast-proof, and people are running around with helmets and crouching behind sandbags?" Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 about 1,000 US diplomatic and military staff have been using one of his former palaces as a make-shift embassy, which several observers have criticised as giving the regrettable impression that the Americans merely replaced Saddam's authoritarian rule with their own. Joost Hildermann, an Iraq analyst with the International Crisis Group, said of the new embassy: "This sends a really poor signal to Iraqis that the Americans are building such a huge compound in Baghdad. It does very little to assuage Iraqis who are angry that America is running the country, and not very well at that." The need to make the compound secure is a top priority. The Green Zone - the fortified four square miles in which the Iraqi and American governments and other international officials operate - used to be relatively peaceful but in recent months has come under almost daily rocket and mortar fire. This month the US embassy ordered its people to wear flak jackets and helmets at all times when in the open after four foreign contractors were killed by a rocket landing beside the present embassy. The multiple cranes surrounding the construction site of the new embassy have already attracted attacks from insurgents. Last week five contractors were wounded in a rocket assault. Despite the peculiar pressures, the Bush administration says the embassy will open in September, and be fully staffed by the end of the year. Already, however, there have been suggestions that the compound will not be large enough to house hundreds of diplomats and military personnel likely to remain in Iraq for some time. Scores of US officials are currently housed in trailers which are vulnerable to bombs landing on their roofs. According to a report by McClatchy News, staff members have complained about the dangers only to be told they must wait until the new embassy is ready to take them in. Toby Dodge, an expert on Iraq at Queen Mary, University of London, has just come back from a month spent in Iraq, largely in the Green Zone. He thinks the Americans are unlikely to pull out of Iraq fully until the end of the next presidency at the earliest, and so the new embassy will serve its purpose for several years to come. "A fortress-style embassy, with a huge staff, will remain in Baghdad until helicopters come to airlift the last man and woman from the roof," he said, adding his own advice to the architects of the building: "Include a large roof." There is one added irony - the embassy is one of the few major projects the administration has undertaken in Iraq that is on schedule and within budget. <!--Article is not commented: 0 -->

To me this reads like someone who is training gurus. Btw, what do you reply to Krishna when He says: "I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku." Prabhupada: "Regarding parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. Just like we belong to the Brahma Sampradaya, so we accept it from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhva, and between Vyasadeva and Madhva there is a big gap. But it is sometimes said that Vyasadeva is still living, and Madhva was fortunate enough to meet him directly. In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sungod, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system--namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku; and so these gaps do not hamper from understanding the parampara system. We have to pick up the prominent acaryas, and follow from him. There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to. Hoping you are all three well, and please keep me informed. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami" http://sangalog4.blogspot.com/2004_04_11_archive.html (SP Letter to Dayananda, 12/4/68)

Let us remember that if the GBC had acted in accordance with Prabhupada’s teachings, there would be no room for criticism. Where there’s smoke there’s fire and Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion (Prabhupada’s words). Who initiated and supported for years and years the Zonal Acarya travesty? On whose watch were the gurukula children brutalized and raped? Whose negligence allowed the theft of millions of dollars when some GBC/guru exited from Iskcon? The list could go on. However, we understand that these are like staff members, who are fallible. When it comes to the core sanctuary of Vaishnavism, the initiation into the path of bhakti, there should be no possibility of any cheating. This is clearly what sastra says, there should be no possibility of any cheating when it comes to the qualification of a diksa-guru.

Thanks Vedesu for explaining how to recognize a sincere madhyama adikari although you say, "I am a sub-kanistha at best". Still, Prabhupada never enforced upon newcomers/innocent devotees to play Russian roulette and fall prey of so many who later turned out to be crocodiles, see my post above. But then still you say de facto that it is the GBC's job to rubber stamp boatloads of candidates as spiritual masters, whereas it is newcomers business to see if there's any one bona fide to be a trustworthy spiritual master? And if you pick up the wrong - too bad, they appointed a molester as guru and you were stupid enough to have accepted this judgement! Sorry, but it happened too often in order to repeat the same procedure as being right. So this is clearly again like the counterfeit printer saying to the judge, "Your honor, these fools accepted my perfectly manipulated bogus money - they are the criminals, why you blame me?"

We fall from a position when we're artificially taking a position which doesnt come up with our qualification. However, in a varnashram situation you cant fall, because sudra, vaisya, etc. all are engaged in serving Krishna and Krishna says that he accepts devotional service from all varnas without favoring any varna or ashrama. Chapter 9. The Most Confidential Knowledge TEXT 32 O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth--women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]--can approach the supreme destination. PURPORT It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower or higher classes of people. In the material conception of life, there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord, there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that even the lowest, who are called candalas (dog-eaters), can be elevated by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking center of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance. According to the different modes of material nature, men are classified in the mode of goodness (brahmanas), the mode of passion (ksatriyas, or administrators), the mixed modes of passion and ignorance (vaisyas, or merchants), and the mode of ignorance (sudras, or workers). Those lower than them are called candalas, and they are born in sinful families. Generally, those who are born in sinful families are not accepted by the higher classes. But the process of devotional service and the pure devotee of the Supreme God are so strong that all the lower classes can attain the highest perfection of life. This is possible only when one takes center of Krsna. One has to take center completely of Krsna. Then one can become much greater than great jnanis and yogis.

Looks like the cooks of ISKCON Bangalore are doing a real good job, they not only feed daily 500,000 school children, now they also feed the prisoners at Bangalore Central Jail. <arttitle>Outsourced meals for jail inmates </arttitle>22 May, 2007 l 0319 hrs ISTlS Nandagopal/TIMES NEWS NETWORK <!--google_ad_region_start=article--> BANGALORE: Perhaps for the first time in the country, lunch and dinner for prisoners is being outsourced. Inmates of Bangalore Central Jail will receive food cooked outside. Prisoners, used to a daily diet of poor-quality rice, insipid sambar and watery buttermilk, were on Monday treated to a sumptuous meal of rice pongal, khara bhundi, panaka, in addition to good rice, thick sambhar and buttermilk prepared by Iskcon's kitchen on Kanakapura Road. "Outsourcing of meals for prisoners is being done for the first time in India," claimed ADGP prisons S T Ramesh. Henceforth, Iskcon will ferry the meals here in time for the 11.30 am lunch and 6.30 pm dinner, using specially equipped vehicles costing Rs 11 lakh a piece. Home minister M P Prakash said, "I had mooted this idea of having food cooked by an organisation like Iskcon. Prison authorities took it up earnestly and it is now a reality." Convicts will receive good quality food — 710 gm of rice, 500 ml of sambhar and 200 ml of buttermilk for their lunch and dinner — while undertrails will receive 505 gm of rice and large portions of sambhar and buttermilk. The sambhar has a large quantity of fresh vegetables. The prisoners, who got upma for breakfast for years, have been receiving a changed menu for the past two months — upma, vangi bhath, chitranna, puliogare, vangi bhath and avalakki. Iskcon's Madhu Pandit Das said the effort to feed prisoners was possible because of the new kitchen where it was possible to cook 1 lakh meals per day.

Prabhupada used to tell the allegory that once a crocodile invited a monkey in a tree to come and ride on his back. The foolish monkey jumped down from the tree and soon found himself clinging to the crocodile's back in the middle of the river. The monkey asked the crocodile, "Where are we going?" The crocodile replied, "I'm going to take you home, where my wife will cut out your heart and we will eat you for lunch!" The monkey replied, "But I left my heart back on shore in the tree. Will you please let me get it?" The crocodile thought this was a good proposal and allowed the monkey to touch shore. But the monkey jumped into his tree and refused to accept further invitations from the crocodile. The moral of this story: Watch out whom you give your heart or it is not wise to pick a quarrel with a crocodile while living in the jurisdiction of the water. Sometimes ex-disciples used to say, ISKCON is not anymore Prabhupada's original movement, there're people controlling this movement who want power and in order to reach that goal change ISKCON. Inflitrating a religion and changing it into something else seems to have been a topic since long ago. In Leviticus 25:44-45 (1400 BC) it says: "By our jokes and by our attacks we will render their priests ridiculous and eventually odious, their religion as ridiculous, as odious, as their priests. We shall become masters of their souls, because our pious attachment to our religion will prove to them they shall be our possession."

But then you say de facto that it is the GBC's job to rubber stamp boat loads of candidates as pure devotees, whereas it is our job to see if there's any one bona fide to be a trustworthy spiritual master? And if you pick up the wrong - too bad, they appointed a molester as guru and you were stupid enough to have accepted this judgement! So is this not a little like the counterfeit printer saying to the judge, "Your honor, these fools accepted my bogus money - they are the criminals, why you get on my case?" Never heard any judge to fall for that one - although in present kali-yuga anything might be possible.

These are good points, although we tend to immediately reject when hearing certain terms that are afflicted with previous negative experiences, like ISKCON is a place of brahmanas and varnashram is something what should happen outside of ISKCON. Ravindra Svarupa says, where're the brahmins within ISKCON, there're none, indicating that ISKCON considers itself as brahminical but is in fact something else. Since varnashram is a network of cooperation, we have to find out that this planet is presently run by a most efficient economic network. Of course not by Vaishnavas but by people who show us that it is possible to set up a real successful global network: 100th Anniversary of the First Zionist Congress (Zionism=global economic networking) http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Centenary+of+Zionism/Centenary+of+Zionism.htm

Srila Prabhupada: "Old man also should be taken care of. Nowadays the philosophy is coming: “mercy-killing.” “Old men should be killed to show him mercy.” Because he is burden in the society, the communistic theory “Old man does not do anything and simply eats; therefore to show him mercy he should be killed.” “Mercy-killing.” Just see the philosophy: “Killing is mercy.” But this is going on. “Mercy-killing.” Is that? “Mercy-killing”? What is that? Brahmānanda: They kill someone for that person’s benefit. Prabhupāda: Benefit. So the man killer, will he take that benefit? If somebody comes that “I shall kill you for your benefit,” that he will be afraid of. But he is philosophizing, “mercy-killing.” This is going on. So one should be respectful also to the old men. According to Vedic knowledge, brāhmaṇa, old men, child, woman, and cow—they have no fault. They are free. They are not within this jurisdiction of law. So therefore cow-killing, brāhmanna-killing, woman-killing, and elderly-person-killing, they are accepted as the great sinful activities." Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.56-57 - Bombay, August 14, 1975 (43:43) http://causelessmercy.com/t/t/750814SB.BOM.htm?i=1975