Smiley

The business about Mohammed and Jesus being great devotees of Krishna seem to have been "made up". Muslims and Christians definitely would never agree to that. If I am wrong and Srila Prabhupada was following "the path of mahajans and previous acharyas" in these statements, please inform/correct me. Or perhaps these would be exceptions to your rule?

Thank you for sharing that thehat!

ranjeetmore, you can easily (and cheaply) print out each canto if you don't need the Sanskrit and purports. If you do want the Sanskrit and purports, you will find that each text here links to the corresponding Sanskrit pronunciation, word for word transliterations, translation and purports of Swami Prabhupada: www.SrimadBhagavatam.org If you don't need print-friendly and just want to read the entire Bhagavatam online then: www.PrabhupadaBooks.com

Sonic Yogi, do you also accept the teachings of the Koran, including its doctrine that Allah is disgusted with the worshipers of images?

By François Gautier 16 Mar 2009 WHY did a film like Slumdog Millionaire, which conveys an utterly negative image of India — slums, exploitation, poverty, corruption, anti Muslim pogroms — create so many waves in the West, pre and post Oscars? And why does not the Indian government protest, as the Chinese would indeed have, for a twisted and perverted portrayal of its own reality? There are several answers: When the missionaries began to evangelise India, they quickly realised that Hinduism was not only practised by a huge majority, but that it was so deeply rooted that it stood as the only barrier to their subjugating the entire subcontinent. They therefore decided to demonise the religion, by multiplying what they perceived as its faults, by one hundred: caste, poverty, child marriage, superstition, widows, sati … Today, these exaggerations, which at best are based on quarter-truths, have come down to us and have been embedded not only in the minds of many Westerners, but also unfortunately, of much of India’s intelligentsia. We Westerners continue to suffer from a superiority complex over the socalled Third World in general and India in particular. Sitting in front of our television sets during prime time news, with a hefty steak on our table, we love to feel sorry for the misery of others, it secretly flatters our ego and makes us proud of our so-called ‘achievements’. That is why books such as The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre, which gives the impression that India is a vast slum, or a film like Slumdog Millionaire, have such an impact. In this film, India’s foes have joined hands. Today, billions of dollars that innocent Westerners give to charity are used to convert the poorest of India with the help of enticements such as free medical aid, schooling and loans. If you see the Tamil Nadu coast posttsunami, there is a church every 500 metres. Once converted, these new Christians are taught that it is a sin to enter a temple, do puja, or even put tilak on one’s head, thus creating an imbalance in the Indian psyche (In an interview to a British newspaper, Danny Boyle confessed he wanted to be a Christian missionary when he was young and that he is still very much guided by these ideals — so much for his impartiality). Islamic fundamentalism also ruthlessly hounds India, as demonstrated by the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, which are reminiscent of the brutality and savagery of a Timur, who killed 1,00,000 Hindus in a single act of savagery. Indian communists, in power in three states, are also hard at work to dismantle India’s cultural and spiritual inheritance. And finally, the Americanisation of India is creating havoc in the social and cultural fabric with its superficial glitter, even though it has proved a failure in the West. Slumdog plays cleverly with all these elements. Many of the West’s India-specialists are staunchly anti-Hindu, both because of their Christian upbringing and also as they perpetuate the tradition of Max Mueller, the first ‘Sankritist’ who said: “The Vedas is full of childish, silly, even monstrous conceptions. It is tedious, low, commonplace, it represents human nature on a low level of selfishness and worldliness and only here and there are a few rare sentiments that come from the depths of the soul”. This tradition is carried over by Indologists such as Witzel or Wendy Doniger in the US, and in France where scholars of the state-sponsored CNRS, and its affiliates such as EHESS, are always putting across in their books and articles detrimental images of India: caste, poverty, slums — and more than anything — their pet theories about ‘Hindu fundamentalism’. Can there be a more blatant lie? Hinduism has given refuge throughout the ages to those who were persecuted at home: the Christians of Syria, the Parsees, Armenians, the Jews of Jerusalem, and today the Tibetans, allowing them all to practise their religion freely. And finally, it is true that Indians, because they have been colonised for so long (unlike the Chinese) lack nationalism. Today much of the intellectual elite of India has lost touch with its cultural roots and looks to the West to solve its problems, ignoring its own tools, such as pranayama, hata-yoga or meditation, which are very old and possess infinite wisdom. Slumdog literally defecates on India from the first frame. Some scenes exist only in the perverted imagery of director Danny Boyle, because they are not in the book of Vikas Swarup, an Indian diplomat, on which the film is based. In the book, the hero of the film (who is not Muslim, but belongs to many religions: Ram Mohammad Thomas) does not spend his childhood in Bombay, but in a Catholic orphanage in Delhi. Jamal’s mother is not killed by “Hindu fanatics’, but she abandons her baby, of unknown religion, in a church. Jamal’s torture is not an idea of the television presenter, but of an American who is after the Russian who bought the television rights of the game. The tearful scene of the three children abandoned in the rain is also not in the book: Jamal and his heroine only meet when they are teenagers and they live in an apartment and not in a slum. And finally, yes, there still exists in India a lot of poverty and glaring gaps between the very rich and the extremely poor, but there is also immense wealth, both physical, spiritual and cultural — much more than in the West as a matter of fact. When will the West learn to look with less prejudice at India, a country that will supplant China in this century as the main Asian power? But this will require a new generation of Indologists, more sincere, less attached to their outdated Christian values, and Indians more proud of their own culture and less subservient to the West. François Gautier fgautier26@gmail.com © Copyright 2008 ExpressBuzz http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=10ACvtR0cZA=

Jacob was the most popular male name in 2002 and Thomas was number 36 (I am sure that means in the United States, definitely not in places like Asia) Their meanings and origins can be found here: http://www.name-meanings.com/

maha_shakti, I have personally met Sri Mata Amritanandamayi and I can ascertain to you that she is a genuine siddha with all attainments. Everyone does not know this however; many people think that she is just a simple woman with a kind heart. Many of the people who she has revealed herself to have a more complete picture. Go to get her darshan if you can. Her devotees have convinced her to visit them in different cities around the world and so she will eventually be coming to a city that may be convenient for you: Home Page www.amritapuri.org Yatra www.amritapuri.org/yatra

Precisely! By only doing it Himself which could be easily accomplished through death during sleep, accidents, illness, wild animals or natural disasters ('acts of God'), etc. according to a persons karma - no one will ever think that they are justified in doing it for Him. An all-knowing being knows that if He ever told people to kill women, children and non-combatants, it wouldn't just stop with the instances that He actually ordered. That is why the All-Knowing One stated unequivocably that "one who knows the principles of religion" does not kill a boy, a woman, a foolish creature or a surrendered soul. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.7.36

Thank you for sharing that. You introduced me to the Gita Mahatmya years ago and it still inspires me - I still chant the Gita daily! Thank you so much!!

I believe this is the original, unaltered version of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita: www.asitis.com Everyone can read it online for free.

Narasingh, I really appreciate the time and efforts of you and everyone else who has contributed to this thread - even those who I do not agree with. We will never completely agree on all of these issues but I do respect your scholarly presentation and realize that your views are an important part of our Dharma. I look forward to reading your blog or website.

I completely agree and since most Christians seem to simply follow the New Testament I will not criticize them (unless they attack Sanatana Dharma). This is because I believe that Sri Vishnu accepts their sacrifice as He does mine - "If anyone with love and devotion offers me a leaf, a fruit or a flower I will accept it." The fact that many Christians will indeed go to the mat in defense of the Old Testatment ("it reveals God's holy character") creates cognitive dissonance within me since I am philosophically wired; therefore I try to avoid those discussions with them as much as possible.

Narasingh, I think a few clarifications are in order: 1. I am not a follower of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu but I do like certain paintings of Sri Krishna. 2. It is not my intention to convince my brother of anything but to make an adequate, reasoned defense of Sanatana Dharma. If that somehow or another plants a seed which sprouts into deeper thinking at some future point - so be it. I am not out to convert him at all and that attitude would only confirm what many Christians already fear - that Hindus, Buddhists, etc. have that as their agenda 3. I am not stuck on names, idioms, words, etc. I prefer to use the revealed names of Sri Vishnu and I think it would be presumptuous for me to go beyond that. My only issue with other people using the names of Jehovah and Allah are that they are inexorable with the Bible and the Koran, both of which call for the slaughter of innocents and describe Jehovah and Allah as jealous and disgusted with the worshipers of images. That being said, I have no doubt that the same being which resides in me resides equally within everyone including Christians and Muslims, many of which are no doubt more pious than I am. That doesn't change in the least any of my arguments against the teachings of the Abrahamic literatures - teachings which should be subjected to moral scrutiny. To reiterate - my views are based upon what I think are dangerous and morally flawed teachings. I am trying to do philosophy here - if that makes me like "any other bigot" in your eyes - so be it. Unless you want to address those issues and the other points which I raised (i.e. Zeus, Odin, Elvis Presley and Sai Baba) then I should rest my pen now rather than spin my wheels.

There may be no limit to His names, but there is a limit to the number of names revealed. If we go beyond that and engage in speculation then why don't we also add the names of Zeus, Odin, Elvis Presley and Sai Baba to the list? My guess is that because they are not as popular as Jehovah and Allah. It is no disrespect to the Abrahamic religionists that we do not decorate Jehovah and Allah with the title 'Sri Vishnu' as they have not requested it.

It is not about words and idioms, it is about morality. Did a Supreme Being order people to do this or not? If an unchanging being would - then it is not a stretch that it may be within his "will" that similar be done today - thus religious violence becomes thinkable.<br><br>

It is helpful; and the link in # 6 is an eye-opener.

We can "suppose" all kinds of things but pure speculation does not bring us closer to the truth. Does the Shiva Purana describe the pastimes of Sri Vishnu? Are these the pastimes of Sri Vishnu?! Sri Vishnu can be distinguished by His qualities; if those don't matter then what about Zeus, Odin, Sai Baba or Elvis Presley? To define is to exclude - otherwise definitions become gibberish.

I must take issue with you: If the Bible is a revelation of Sri Krishna, is the Shiva Purana also? Sri Krishna said, "those who worship other gods, worship only Me but they do so in a wrong way." So while He may accept the worship, it is still considered "wrong way" worship according to Bhagavad Gita. Why not just allow people "in the West" to worship in their own way without trying to apply labels to it that they themselves reject?

The original Email from my brother who is an elder in the Seventh Day Adventist Church read: Contrary to his prediction, I not only read the article but have encouraged all the members of this forum to read it also. Also attached to that email was a link to another article, the author of which claims to have actually practiced yoga, meditation and vegetarianism. Notwithstanding the fact that he did not indicate that his experience with yoga and meditation were negative, he has still since decided that yoga and meditation are not only dangerous but sinful. Here are some brief excerpts from the article: full article: http://www.letusreason.org/NAM1.htm Maybe what is at the crux of this whole issue is something that many seem reluctant to say - that the Abrahamic view of a Supreme Being - that of an angry and jealous God - is entirely irreconcilable with Santana Dharma. The real danger which they allude to is not that of being tricked by 'demonic spirits' but from damnation to hell by a jealous God. <br><br>

Thank you for your contribution. I have sent my brother the link and told him that my response will come from the many voices in this forum.

Narasingh, the original article equates meditation with 'mesmerism' (hypnotism) which is one of the early misunderstandings of Western writers; it might help to touch upon the differences. This is also an important juxtaposition for SDA's since their church prophetess spoke out strongly against hypnosis in the 1800's. Also I would like to encourage you to post your essay to a blog so that it is easier for people like me to link to it (and for search engines to find it). This can be done anonymously and without any cost at all by registering at www.blogger.com Also, Blogger (which is owned by Google) will not place ads on your site.

Would you please clarify what you mean when you say "badass"?

I see your point. Perhaps the attribution should be "HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his disciples"?

That is a good point, happily dmoz.org also lists meditation under religion and spirituality besides just under health; http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Meditation/ so maybe there is still hope. It seems a shame that Hinduism is so reviled that people feel a need to disassociate meditation from it whereas 'Christian Meditation' is considered very marketable.

Here is a response to the German Court business from DAVID ORME-JOHNSON, PH.D.: http://www.truthabouttm.org/truth/LegalIssues/GermanCourtCases/index.cfm Also, I read a book by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. and this excerpt from it might add some perspective: