Smiley

I think the first item of inquiry should be the study itself that the article referenced. Here is the exact language of the article listed on the SDA site: Given the many factual misrepresentations and strident tone of the author, I don't think it is reasonable to just accept his representation of the study at face value. I think this search string would be useful with different search engines: germany, Ministry of Youth, Family and Health, study, TM

Over the years I have tried to objectively represent the ideals and goals of Sanatana Dharma in general. However there may be some interpersonal dynamic that gets in the way of clear thinking (my brother thinks very clearly on all but spiritual issues) so I will today refer him to this thread and perhaps hearing from others who are not his subordinate siblings will at least plant a seed in his mind that maybe Eastern religion was not devised by 'Satan' to trick people into damnation!

He means well and wishes me well according to his own way of thinking (I am sure he would give me the shirt off his back if I asked) so I don't consider him my enemy. However the SDA church (of which he is an integral part) along with other missionary churches which share Pope John Paul II's stated desire to "win India for Christ" have made themselves enemies of Sanatana Dharma (by seeking its destruction); therefore I have some cognitive dissonance about all this.

My oldest brother is a vegetarian but I will take your advice and try to limit my contact with him. I was very offended by him sending me the article and then saying that he agrees with it and quite frankly I don't want to hear his voice for awhile. However maybe there is a lesson for me in that the Pandavas tried very hard to respect their oldest brother even after he behaved despicably by selling Draupadi - a devote of Sri Krishna - into captivity and then sitting still while the miscreants tried to disrobe her in an open assembly. Of course what the Kauravas did was far worse since they knew who Draupadi was.

The excerpts below are from an article that my oldest brother - an elder in the 7th Day Adventist Church has entreated me to read. He knows that I have been an observant Hindu since 2001 but he has made it clear to me that he agrees with the article in its entirety. He has made statements similar to those in the article over the years. I would appreciate it if someone would like to provide a refutation to this article and I will forward the link of this thread to him. Thank you. full article: http://www.sdadefend.com/MINDEX-U-Z/Yoga.pdf

If you are a Hindu why would you call a Biblical personality "lord"? Do you also agree with having a cross on the Rs. 2 coin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM4UTMvMz7E www.hamsa.org ........ width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM4UTMvMz7E&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM4UTMvMz7E&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br>

Would you please link me to the source of the above quote? Thanks. <br>

Eating meat before or after a flood is equally illogical. Protein comes in the form of amino acids. Meat eaters get their amino acids from animal muscle tissue. Animals get their amino acids from the plants that they eat. The amount of land needed to produce X grams of beef protein is far less than the amount of land needed to produce the equivalent amount of soybean or hemp protein - meat consumption is a very inefficient way to acquire protein. Why would a supreme being suggest such a thing? If man was going to figure it out, he could have on his own. If he didn't figure it out he would have been much better off just eating whatever plant matter that the primates and bears who came off the ark found to eat (according to the myth there were only eight humans to feed). Or manna could have fallen from heaven as it did for Moses much later. Or sufficient stores of hemp, soybeans, almonds, apples, bananas, oranges, etc. could have been zapped into existence with the same ease that those animal skins were zapped into existence for the naked Adam and Eve (even though non-violent alternatives like cotton or wool would have sufficed). This kind of irrationality needs apologists to work full time trying to explain away the many inconsistencies and contradictions. http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/<br>

Apparently the 'American Acharya' thread closed just as I was about to post a reply to it. The system must have posted it here instead and d me to this thread! Obviously my reply is a complete non-sequitur in this thread.

I think that when the US Government calls someone to ask them about Hinduism or Vedic culture then they have a certain standing in the world and Hindus can choose to either cheer or criticize (making the non-Hindu world wonder). Either way, I don't see how a person gets to a position of such prominence without the arrangement of Sri Vishnu. Therefore I am willing to wait and see what he does with the opportunity. ........ width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value=" "></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"> </embed></object><br><br>

Thank you. You just spoke the words that I would have if I had your knowledge base.

Hi Shiva, I would like to address part of your question (although I realize you may have meant it as rhetorical - if so, forgive me). I don't have a TV right now but I am a member of Netflix.com. This way, I have to give serious thought to what I watch and have to wait for the next video to arrive. During that wait, I get other things done. The problem with TV and especially with modern TV (cable or satellite) is that there are so many choices that it tended to monopolize my time, not to mention paying a big cable bill for the privilege.

Dear Tulsi Devi Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. Would you please refer me to an article or video in which your guru teaches about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? I would really appreciate it. Thank you kindly.

Namaste. Dear Tulsi Devi I live in Phoenix but I am not the interested party. I was only asking for an acquaintance in New York who was interested in Vaishnavism. Now that you have told me that your guru is an admirer of Swami Prabhupada and shares some of his views (like about Sri Shiva), I have more information about his teachings. May I ask if he also shares Swami Prabhupada's views about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - that is considering him an incarnation of Sri Krishna? Thank you.

Hello Tulasi Devi If someone in another state is interested in Vaishnavism as taught by your guru how would they know which states your guru has trained disciples in?

There seems to be stagecraft mixed with hypnotism mixed with things which defy explanation. For instance, the story of the doctor with the boils on his head sounds credible. While in Kerala I had many serious experiences that I cannot explain. These were things I was going through personally - there was no Tantric who told me what was going to happen to me (which would have created a mental influence). Also these things happened right out of the blue - no one told me to expect them or say anything like "watch out for _____ while you are in Kerala" and so I don't suspect a psychological cause. Of course that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of BS that passes for metaphysics - there is. IMO there is genuine metaphysics going on in India as well as BS and sometimes a combination of the two. I think those who simplistically see things one way or the other are not perceiving things aright.

I am not an ISKCON person but I would like to point out that Swami Prabhupada could have meant that people were starving spiritually. However from another perspective, I believe they have a rule that no one should go hungry within 10 km of a temple. Therefore by establishing more temples, more people are being physically fed. I agree with some of your other points BTW.

Glad to share. Please let me know what you think about it after watching.<br> <br>http://www.babelgum.com/html/clip.php?clipId=107136

The name of this film is 'TANTRA - mystery, myth, magic' This is a very dramatic 48 minute documentary and it takes a deep journey into various Tantric traditions of India. Any one who watches this film can clearly see how so many different religious practices have roots in the Indian subcontinent. Of special interest to me was an African Shaman who was a devotee of Shiva/Shakti and spoke with great erudition during his pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela religious festival (these festivals are the largest known gatherings of human beings). The video requires that you do a quick download of what is known as a Babelgum player (which is in Beta stage). It is worth it since it allows you to see full screen clips of independent films at resolution impossible through sites such as YouTube. film description: "Tantra is an early Indian practice and is deeply rooted in the religions of India. The Tantric practitioners need the mystical experience and the guidance of a Tantric Master who possesses various tools like yoga and other techniques which are nothing short of "mind over matter" and beyond human comprehension. The Tantra exists in Shaiva, Vaishnava, Ganapataye and Shakta forms. The films deals with the concept of Tantra and how it has evolved and changed in the Indian scenario." http://www.babelgum.com/html/clip.php?clipId=107136

This Vaishnava guru is a disciple of Sri Hanuman devotee Neem Karoli Baba (http://www.neemkarolibaba.com/) He is the author of a book titled Silence Speaks I met him during a visit to his orphanage in India. Here is more information on him: Baba Hari Dass - The Silent Monk http://www.mountmadonna.org/yoga/babaji.html

Redsox, don't worry. If a higher power exists and wants to reveal itself to you, it is the business of that higher power; everyones destiny is not the same. The remedy for fear is to from this point on follow your conscience scrupulously. Not someone elses conscience, but your conscience. If you find comfort in the words of the Bhagavad Gita, then by all means, continue to read it. However, don't force anything. Everyones destiny is not the same. Also, please consider adopting a non-violent diet: http://www.meat.org/ P.S. For me it was 9/11/2001 that got me interested in Bhagavad Gita.

<br>I saw this on YouTube. Great prayer! <br><br>

testing 123, testing 456, testing 789.

xyz_1, it might help narrow your search by considering what is possible in your particular situation at this particular time. The original idea of guru shishya is for the disciple to live with the guru under his direct tutelage. Such an association is very powerful even when words are not spoken. This mentor-protege relationship is the very essence of the process. more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_shishya

Thank you for that Gaurahari das; I enjoyed that!