bhaktajan

Kamadeva, personified, has five names according to the Amara-kosha dictionary: kandarpa darpako ‘nanga kamah pancha-sharaih smarah “Cupid has five names; 1) Cupid; 2) Darpaka, ‘he who prevents future events’; 3) Ananga, ‘he who has no physical body’; 4) Kama, ‘lust personified’; and 5) Pancha-sharaih, ‘he who holds five arrows’.

One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

<TABLE class=MsoTableGrid style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> The timeless wisdom of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is expressed in the ancient Sanskrit Vedas. Originally preserved through oral tradition, the Vedas were first put into writing five thousand years ago by Srila Vyasadeva, “the literary incarnation of God.” After compiling the Vedas, Vyasadeva set forth their essence in the aphorisms known as Vedanta-sutras. From Isopanisad Introdution: But five thousand years ago Vyasadeva put the Vedas in writing for the people in this age, Kali-yuga. He divided the Vedas into four: Rig, Sama, Atharva and Yajur. Then he gave the charge of these Vedas to his different disciples. Then Vyasadeva summarized all Vedic knowledge for scholars and philosophers in what is called the Vedanta-sutra. This is the last word of the Vedas. Vyasadeva was not very satisfied even after compiling many Puranas and Upanisads, and even after writing the Vedanta-sutra. Then his spiritual master, Narada, instructed him, “Explain the Vedanta-sutra.” Vedanta means “ultimate knowledge,” and the ultimate knowledge is Krsna. Krsna says that throughout all the Vedas one has to understand Him: vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham. Krsna says, “I am the compiler of the Vedanta-sutra, and I am the knower of the Vedas.” Therefore the ultimate objective is Krsna. The Vedanta-sutra simply hints at what is Brahman, the Absolute Truth: “The Absolute Truth is that from whom everything emanates.” This is a summary, but it is explained in detail in Srimad-Bhagavatam. If everything is emanating from the Absolute Truth, then what is the nature of the Absolute Truth? That is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Absolute Truth must be consciousness. He is self-effulgent (svarat). We develop our consciousness and knowledge by receiving knowledge from others, but for Him it is said that He is self-effulgent. The whole summary of Vedic knowledge is the Vedanta-sutra, and the Vedanta-sutra is explained by the writer himself in Srimad-Bhagavatam. We finally request those who are actually after Vedic knowledge to try to understand the explanation of all Vedic knowledge from Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) is Vyasadeva’s commentary on his own Vedanta-sutras. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 2"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> After compiling the Bhagavatam, Vyasa imparted it to his son, Sukadeva Gosvami. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Sukadeva Gosvami later recited the entire Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit in an assembly of learned saints on the banks of the Ganges at Hastinapura (now <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Delhi</st1:place></st1:City>). <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 4"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Maharaja Pariksit was the emperor of the world and was a great rajarsi (saintly king). Having received a curse that he would die within the seven days, he renounced his entire kingdom and retired to the bank of the <st1:place w:st="on"><ST1:PGanges River </st1:place>to fast until death and received spiritual enlightenment. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 5"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> The Bhagavatam begins with Emperor Pariksit’s inquiry to Sukadeva: Maharaja Pariksit: “You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die. Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and what he should not do. Please explain all this to me.” <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 6"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Sukadeva often relates historical episodes and give accounts of lengthy philosophical discussions between such great souls as Narada Muni and Vasudeva. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 7"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> At a later date, the sage Suta Goswami, [who was present at the <ST1:PGanges River </ST1:Passembly] repeated the Bhagavatam before a gathering of Sages in the <st1:place w:st="on"><ST1:Pforest </ST1:Pof Naimisaranya</ST1:P</st1:place>. [These sages, concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people in general, gathered to perform a long, continuous chain of penances to counteract the degrading influence of the oncoming age of Kali.] In response to the sages’ request Suta Gosvami repeated from memory the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam, as spoken by Sukadeva to Pariksit. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 8"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Also, <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 9"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> Suta Goswami sometimes responds directly to questions put by Saunaka Rsi, the spokesman for the sages gathered at Naimisaranya. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 10"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> One therefore simultaneously hears two dialogues: 1) between Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Goswami on the bank of the <st1:place w:st="on">Ganges</st1:place>, and, 2) between the Suta Goswami and Saunaka Rsi, the spokesman for the sages gathered at Naimisaranya. <o:p></o:p> </TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 11; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; WIDTH: 6.15in; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=590> With this understanding of the history of the Bhagavatam, the reader will easily be able to follow its intermingling of dialogues, and events from various sources </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Improve your moves with a dap of jnana with every move you take.

jnana is to learn the basic structure of matter & energy and ergo karma etc etc etc.

The above data will make your body alkaline. The above will replenish the liver, pancreas, kidneys, lymphs to preform their function of buffering acidic compounds so as to flush them out. A lack of replenished vitamins/minerals/enzymes cause the liver, pancreas, kidneys & lymphs to allow acidification of the body's internal chemistry.

Thanks to tha wise old Indian Swami from Vrindavan land.

Thanks to tha wise old Indian Swami from Vrindavan land.

Il status quo.

ma salam.

Honey, be a sweetie and bring me some nectar & cookies!

Sucandra, Do you read these postings before you post them, or do you post-read them after pre-posting them before reading the post? Or is it the other way around? At least, after seven years pass you'll gain a leap year to boot. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The article is obviously a joke.

God is king. The material world is a "perverted reflection" of the Spiritual World. Therefore, in the Kingdom of Heaven, there is an economy based on being servant to God --this requires orientation to be qualified to 'resume'/'assume' a post in the Viakuntha-planets [realm of no anxiety ~ergo: happiness and blissfull enjoyment]--where God is in the pastime/relationship-to-others as, Supreme Transcendant Emperor. krishna-loka is where God is in his 'original-original' form: a cowherd shepard boy on in a rural estate.

Exact meaning of Bhagavad-gita<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> This is a Re-Posting of Sucandra's post:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sucandra:<o:p></o:p> They still insist upon interpretating the Gita like Kuruksetra is the body and the Pandavas are the five senses etc. <o:p></o:p> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guest (Indian man): Could it be that there may be different interpretations?<o:p></o:p> Prabhupada: No, that is not possible. That is not the process. You cannot interpret Bhagavad-gita. If you want to preach Bhagavad-gita, you must preach what Krsna has said. If you have got a different philosophy, you can say differently. You don’t cheat people that you take Bhagavad-gita and interpret in your own way and cheat others and be cheated yourself. You cannot do that. <o:p></o:p> Guest: Well, for example, Tilak Maharaj…<o:p></o:p> Prabhupada: Tilak may be, Gandhi may be, whoever may be. But the point is that you have to understand Bhagavad-gita according to the direction of the author. Because you are Mr. Tilak or Mr. Gandhi, you can do everything on Bhagavad-gita… <o:p></o:p> Guest: No no, that is not the idea. But there are different type slokas. <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada: Now how you have got a different types of… Just like the Bhagavad-gita begins, dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavaḥ [Bg. 1.1]. So dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre, how you can interpret in a different way? Kurukṣetra is already there. But how you can interpret, “Kurukṣetra means this, Kurukṣetra means that?” You cannot interpret. <o:p></o:p> Guest: Yes, but who is decided what exactly the meaning… <o:p></o:p> Prabhupāda: Exactly the meaning is there. Guest: Literal, literally. <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada: Literally, yes. The thing is the interpretation is required when you cannot understand. <o:p></o:p> If, if I say, “This is a stick,” everyone knows it is a stick. <o:p></o:p> So I say, “Here is a stick.” <o:p></o:p> So if you say, “No, I do not accept it is stick.” So what is that interpretation? Everyone knows it is stick. <o:p></o:p> Similarly, Kurukṣetra means that the place, still existing. <o:p></o:p> And in the Vedic sastra it is ordered, kuruksetre dharma yajayet. <o:p></o:p> You go… From time immemorial it is a place of pilgrimage. <o:p></o:p> Even Kṛṣṇa, during solar eclipse, Kṛṣṇa with His family, He came there, Jagannatha. The ceremony is there, Ratha-yatra. <o:p></o:p> Because Kṛṣṇa, Balarama and Subhadra came in the same chariot. <o:p></o:p> That is being performed. <o:p></o:p> So Kurukṣetra, dharmaksetra, at least five thousand years ago the system was that people used to come to Kurukṣetra as a place of pilgrimage, dharmaksetra. <o:p></o:p> And Kurukṣetra, the place is there. <o:p></o:p> And there the two family members, the Kurus and the Pandavas, they fought. <o:p></o:p> The Battle of Kurukṣetra took place. These things are evident. <o:p></o:p> Then why there is need of interpreting? That is the first point. <o:p></o:p> Guest: Those points are very clear. <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada: Every point is very clear. In the Bhagavad-gita, every point is very clear, unless you interpret it in the wrong way. <o:p></o:p> —Room Conversation with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada December 20, 1976, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bombay</st1:City></st1:place> full lecture: http://causelessmercy.com/t/t/761220rc.bom.htm<o:p></o:p>

Some say, while others . . . "I personally have never had any attraction to Iskcon for this very reason. . . . advocates basically make fun of people that have strong affection for Prabhupada and label them as sentimentalists. . . . Pretty sad deal all the way around."

My Guru is God. My Wife is a bag of stool, blood, bile & pus. My parents are mudha Karmis My neighbors are grifters & sons Ltd. My job is overtaxing. My back aches. My predicament is a load of . . . So remember to say something nice at the next wedding you attend.

Just the pearls of Wisdom, mame. The way I see it is: Someone posts a picture of the present day Bhavananda Goswami as he is today . . . and thus, for one who has vision & knowledge, will undoubtedly think upon seeing said picture, "Ugh! Why does some one post this? What was the uploader thinking?" --this is what Kulapavana may have meant by his misgivings: he may have been encouraging dolts to show long lost dirty laundry that belongs to someother individual(s) as if it was our own too. remember what your mother said [if you were so karmically gifted to have one], keep your nose clean.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1:country-region w:st=" /><st1:State w:st="on">WASHINGTON</st1:State> — The Obama administration intends to provide some $900 million to help rebuild <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Gaza</st1:City></st1:place> after the Israeli incursion that ended last month<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Official: US aid to rebuild <st1:City w:st="on">Gaza</st1:City> to top $900 million, <st1:City w:st="on">Clinton</st1:City> prepares for 1st <st1:place w:st="on">Mideast</st1:place> trip<o:p></o:p> By MATTI FRIEDMAN , Associated Press <o:p></o:p> Last update: February 24, 2009 - 2:41 PM<o:p></o:p> http://www.startribune.com/world/40215947.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/24/US_to_donate_900_million_to_Gaza_relief/UPI-80801235481620/ <o:p></o:p> http://www.nbcchicago.com/topics/?topic=Hamas And, World Bank Lending Iran $900 Million http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499068,00.html <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>

Bank of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> heiress says 'idiots' are running the bank<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Say "banking heiress" to me and I envision a spoiled brat. But that doesn't mean that she's wrong when she complains about the executives who are destroying her fortune. This comes to mind while reading the comments of Virginia Hammerness, a big stockholder in Bank of America (BAC) and heiress to founder A.P. Giannini's family fortune. She recently complained, "What idiots, what kind of idiots are running that bank?" and described the current state of the bank as "totally repulsive." <o:p></o:p> I feel sympathy for Hammerness because her criticisms are spot on. She pointed out that CEO Ken Lewis should pay for his decision to acquire the near-bankrupt Merill Lynch, even after learning that huge bonuses were paid out to Merill employees right after the deal was announced. Her grandfather would not have accepted such huge bonuses, she said, but would have instead put the money into helping customers.<o:p></o:p> Top of Form<o:p></o:p> Bottom of Form<o:p></o:p> A.P. Giannini was famous for helping his customers after <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:City>'s 1906 earthquake. His bank had burned down so he set up a wooden plank on two barrels along the street and made loans on a handshake. Giannini later said that each of those loans was repaid. The best thing about Hammerness is that her memories of how her grandfather ran Bank of America reflect exactly the kind of banking principles to which we need to return.<o:p></o:p> Too bad there is no way she is going to see her fortune return to where it was before Ken Lewis got his hands on it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Comments by readers:<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> A primary "unanswered question" is: Why are CEOs who orchestrated and perpetuated the frauds of the pyramid and Ponzi schemes, the "derivative" frauds, and other FRAUDS, STILL in the positions of being CEOs running the corporations that they "managed" into financial failures.These CEOs have ALREADY received TENS and HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars . . . they got their obscene and unwarranted "profits" LONG AGO while they were perpetuating these frauds. These CEOs certainly cannot honestly proclaim that they did not know what they were doing . . . they were paid of of that obscene compensations because they, above all others, were supposed to know what they were doing. The CEOs were the ones who "influenced" (sic. "paid off") the vast majority of Congress to relax the existing regulations, to let other regulations expire, and to vehemently VOTE AGAINST any NEW REGULATIONS. Then Congress tacitly pressured the regulatory agencies to relax what their oversights of these FIs and corporations, esp. for the "off-the-books" (sic. virtually worthless) 'assets'. This has all been a highly executed con job and blatant fraud. In my opinion, these CEOs ARE CRIMINALS; there simply is no other way to categorize what they have done. Congress is the lynchpin in all of this FRAUD. If Congress had diligently performed their fiduciary duties, then virtually NONE of these FRAUDS would have occurred. It is the likes of Barney Frank (D-MA) who previously fehemently fought against regulations, and who is presenting himself as a champion and leader of economic recovery who are the hypocritical INEPT, INCOMPETENT and/or TOTALLY "CORRUPT" Congressmen who have succeeded in destroying our economy . . . and yet the people of MA continue to re-elect this guy . . .. I find that amazing, and demonstrative of how utterly STUPID the people can be. And the same applies to all of the other consituents who continue to re-elect their CORRUPT Congressmen. These Congressmen are so complicit in what has happened, the same that occurred in the Saving and Loan scandals f the 1970 -80s, that they cannot or will not take actions against these CORRUPT CEOs. We must purge both Congress and our business enterprises of these CORRUPT "leaders" who have undermined our economy .. . . And who have substantially increased their personal fortunes at the expense of detstroying our economy. Only a FOOL would re-elect these CORRUPT Congressmen.<o:p></o:p> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> B <st1:place w:st="on">Harrison</st1:place>. Who are you and how do we get you to run for Congress? Do you have a crew of like minded associates that you can take with you? It seems that some CEO's have made decisions based on the immediate financial benefit to themselves, which in fact have then contributed to the destruction of their companies. Virginia Hammerness' quote of "What idiots, what kind of idiots are running that bank?" is exactly what I thought when I read that Bank of America was "acquiring" Merill Lynch. It makes absolutely no sense based on any type of a moral principal; it benefits the few and corrupts the original concept of stock ownership, to contribute to the development of a company. That ownership was then rewarded with dividends, based on the success, or lack of, a company. Why would you want to acquire a company with such a tremendous debt? I believe that the corruption of that principal or ideal, to be a stock holder in a company, started with the tremendous profits made on the dot coms. That was the beginning of "fake money" as it had no intrinsic value, it had not been "earned." The profits were so instantaneously huge, that people who held that money were far more likely to use it with abandon. It seems to me, that in the mid 90's, the stock market became nothing more or less than a location to place bets with your money. Because of the instantaneous response of computers, investors are able to pre set their buy and sell points. I once watched someone buy a stock on an initial offering of $12.00 when the market opened, and sell it instantaneously for $21.00 before noon. With a $100,000.00 investment, that person made an increase of 75% on their money by noon, or $75,000.00! I walked away shocked and dismayed with a fuller understanding that the stock market had truly turned into a casino. I have said for several years, that when the stock market ZOOMED past 7,000, that it was all unrealistic. The intrinsic value of Disney, how does that continue to increase? Does the steel, or the property or the copyrights, somehow increase in value many times over, how is that possible? When the market went past 14,000 in the fall of 2007, my anxiety in terms of our 401K became unbearable. In January of 2008, I wanted to convert the stocks and bonds to just a plain old savings account type vehicle and was repeatedly told what a bad idea this was, that I needed to stay in for when it turned around, that I'd miss the "jump" when the stocks again went up. As the market was declining, I was told that it was not the time to sell, you don't sell "low," you buy low and sell high. I kept arguing that there was not going to be any more "highs," that look at a graph of the stock market for nearly the last hundred years. That this growth was unsustainable. That there had been sub prime adjustable rate mortgages made that had come due and were again coming due in the next few months. It was tremendously difficult to argue the point with all of the wizened advisors, but finally, I mustered the courage to basically defy them, and had the money put into a "safe" account. I was told that I had "lost" money, maybe 8 % at the time, and to not do it, but fortunately I did. It's not a whole lot of money, but at least it's not "lost" money. We are still feeling the downturn as many others, but at least that money remains. I am not degreed in Economics, and I gleaned impending doom simply by reading the local newspapers. It is unthinkable to me, that mortgages were made without 20 percent down, which has been to my understanding the loaning standard, by which the banks, the lenders are protected. One would think that we should cry for regulations, but my sons have explained to me the error of that logic. These bad loans were made and then immediately flipped to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The lenders didn't even go into their own "vaults" to get the money, the loan went immediately to FM/FM. If the government hadn't "backed" these loans, they never would have been made. The broker took all of the fees and none of the risk. If it had been the corner bank that had loaned the money, and had been liable for the money, we would not have this current and continuing crisis. If the government hadn't been in the mix in the first place with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, I don't think that it would have been possible for this to happen. I have absolutely no solutions for this mess, other than to let itself shake out. I guess it's too late for that. I read that 91% of mortgage holders are current on their loans, why are we mortgaging the futures of our children, grand children and perhaps beyond, to remedy a situation that involves 9% of mortgage holders. I think that this is far greater than the Great Depression. The GD was a run up that crashed and corrected itself over a period of 12 years with some help from FDR but nothing of this magnitude. This crosses all markets and all countries. This banking industry crash should have been easily seen by many but nothing was done to stop the lending. Certainly it must have been because it rewarded the few and yet, it destroyed the many. One would hope that a moral compass would return to all, or that at the very least, those with a moral compass would protest vociferously when these huge errors in judgement, and lapses in conscience occur. When deals are made with large, abstract "companies" it seems that the opportunity for fraud abounds. I think it would help all of us to think of Mr. Giannini, on a board between two barrels, basing a loan on handshake deals that were honored. My father, Ira Mok, based his business on hand shake deals that were honored. I know that we're way beyond a handshake, but hopefully those with honor and principles will be able to rout out and overtake unscrupulous leaders, in both politics and industry. I know it's a big order, but I have faith that it can be done. We have the privilege to live in a country in which anything that can be thought, can be achieved.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ BHarrison, I agree with your post in all ways and only wish that Americans had the backbone to organize into a force to be reconed with. We need a leadership group amoungst the "great unwashed" that will battle these officious bastards on their own turf. I see shadows of the French revolution, but we are without cake to feed them.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>

Hey Dudes & Dudettes [cowboys & cowgirls], [inresponse to Sonic Yogi, who Originally Posted, "There IS a need to invent a new system in the age where thousands of neophytes want to play guru and produce a class of embittered ex-devotees."]: Why is Kula HAVING TO SAY things like this? "...Where do you see these thousands of guru wannabes? I see extremely few of them among the devotees from my generation. ..." ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Somebody(s) are running amok with dirty laundry in our faces [via these latest string of posts] as if Iskcon hasn't been "weeding out" all sorts of undesirable bad-actors. Austere life is for austere people. ............................................................................................ Also, are the rtvik people famous for "Guru-worship"? --No, correct? Rtvik are not famous for "Guru-worship" Are Iskcon members famous for "Guru-worship"? [offering praise in-memorium,etc does not equate to Guru-worship --just as visiting Elvis Presly's estate does not equate to "worship"] --No, never have been and never will. Any one or anything that a person deems as good as God --it is their personal business --and not some ritual-mass-worship-orgy, ala, cult-personality-zombees. I have never heard nor been told that a "Devotee" considers "Maharaja So and so" to be God incarnate. Rather, it was commonplace to be reminded that spiritual dedication and stern adherence to Bhakti-yoga till each individuals' time of departure would benefit ones own relatives. [Good Putra.] Also, that a Guru became obliged to 'boddhisattva-ize' his determination to NOT LEAVE his stewarded wards in the mire without making all efforts to retreive them --am I writting too abstractly? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We are, at best, stewards of our lot in life --that is what a Guru 'reminds' us to become, "Good Shepards". Good Guru(s) = Good students. Bad Guru(s) = ongoing student-ship, to be continued . . .

Perfectly delineated! Wonderful monogram! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Beyond ordinarie mortal intellectual descrimination!

"career huckster and criminal" --who the eFFing hell to you think you are to name an other vaishnava as a, "career huckster and criminal"? You don't deserve better--maybe you have already noted this fact! You got robbed?????????? by a Vaishnava?????????????? If yes, I'm glad for you deserved it & you will accrue the same again soon enough. andy108, You are a bogus poster!

andy108 to Kulapavana: "Right. So you, a neophyte who was duped by a career huckster and criminal," "It appears that engaging Kulapavana incites him to continued acarya aparadha" :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I have come to the following conclusion: andy108 is a grand non-sense for the first order par-excellance! andy108, my suggestion is that you retire your efforts --they are too mechanical for human brain algorithms. You andy108 are a bogus character. Your familiarity with esoteric hindu thought of our sect is too obtuse and offensive to be real! You are a fake and a phoney entity. Guys, you're being duped by this dialogue-master. Please proceed with rapid caution --your input is being scanned and then re-aligned to cause dissention. andy108 is an slippery intellectual --with attactive lures . . .