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atheist
She would have more time to show us that the changes in her political direction are sincere. She could also work to build up her base. I agree that she would be preferable to Mufi Hannemann. But can we really trust her??
Good question. Is it worth the risk? If people and families affected adversely by this cult organized and approached her as a political force, it might do something. (Maybe cause her to serve the people over her guru... too hopeful?) If she is approached with the respect due the office we might get answers...especially since she is saying she has had a change of heart concerning issues antithetical to Butler. I am only suggesting this since the mainstream media is not doing their job.
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atheist
One thing that I am wondering is: Did Jagad Guru Chris Butler arrange or order Tulsi's marriage to Eduardo Tamayo? I wonder how they met.??
The only reports I know of is that Butler does not usually arrange marriages but will if it serves his purposes. He is adamant about his followers only marrying into the cult. Initiates may only marry initiates. He did order Katyayani (Kathy Hoshijo) to have a fake marriage with a former policeman (cult member Larry Olsen) when she ran for office. This was to make single mom Hoshijo more electable. The brochures had lovely fake family photos on campaign flyers. So it is very possible that The Tamayo marriage was arranged.
If not arranged, followers from around the world would come to Hawaii to do service or consult with Butler. There was ample opportunity to meet at Butler's house, at kirtans, lectures or at any of the cult's business ventures ...from video production studios, chip factories, noni farms, to yoga classes. Since dating and sex outside of marriage are not allowed in the cult, probably the first good-looking, well-off devotee who was horny and had a pleasant personality could easily succomb to marriage after a few sparks started to fly. The basis of the marriage in the cult is only to serve guru and krishna. No sex is allowed except to have children that you are expected to offer up to Butler's alter and to be sent off to be brain washed in the Phillippines.
I am not sure if children of the elites were required to go to that school or not. I know VD's (Wai Lana, Butler's consort) kids were also a privledged lot. In fact, certain children in the cult were not even allowed to talk to them due to their exalted status. The cult has a heirarchical system. Probably only elites may marry elites.
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atheist
What is a wedding like within the cult???
The weddings that I have heard about were similar to the Hare Krishna's in that they have a fire sacrifice and leis and mantras. The only difference is that they don't wear saris and dhotis or have traditional Indian melodies and music. They have their own style. It's a party with food and dancing and chanting. I am sure the Gabbard's had guitar music and a big kirtan with big daddy KKD (Mike Gabbard) leading the chants.
Here's a video of a Hare Krishna wedding
Vedic Wedding Fire SacrificeQuote
atheist
Does Jagad Guru Chris Butler also break up couples like some other cult leaders do????
Yes. He has been known to attempt to break up couples he felt were not suitable...usually someone not in the cult. Sometimes followers would fall in love with someone outside the cult in hopes of converting them. There are many stories like this. One involved a young woman who found a nice guy who became very sincere about serving, but Butler did not like him. He compared the woman to a "dog in heat" for wanting to marry after she had written for permission to do so. She wanted to marry and have a family but had not found anyone within the cult. She was devastated by Butler's cruel "so fucking what!" reaction. They had sold everything and moved to Hawaii to serve guru. He actually would not even allow this guy to accompany her selling his books door to door for her safety. He ended up doing janitorial work for free at one of Butler's businesses as his "service". They eventually left getting fed up with Butler's cruelty and jam sessions (continuous criticism). There are many other similar examples.
I do not know what the current practice is, but any one wanting to get married would write Butler for permission. Any big life decision was presented to gurufraud. The system seems to be handed over to his leutenants these days so he doesn't have to bother with micro-mananging his followers. He has plenty of dedicated bull dogs to do this work for him now.
There is also the story of the young lady on this forum who had an affair with a follower who was separated from his wife. A full blown scandal ensued and he was ordered to go back with his wife. He was a kid who had grown up in the cult and his whole family was involved so he did not have much choice.
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atheist
I read somewhere that Jagad Guru Chris Butler doesn't have a problem with men having more than one partner. Is this true? Does anyone know if there is any real practice of polygny (polygny is polygamy where a man has more than one wife) within the cult? What about within the larger Hare Krishna (ISKCON) movment???
From my interviews, Butler hated the practice. He would mock it and deride it. He said that people who engage in its practice are just men who want more sex gratification. After ACB published in one of his books that polygamy was okay, several of his diciples took on more than one wife. This bled over to Butler's group. The few couples that tried this all broke up. I know Butler refused to attend any of these weddings. I do not know if Butler attended any of his follower's weddings or not.
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atheist
We know that his Divine Grace A.C. Bhativedanta Prabhupada, who initiated Chris Butler, believed that women should be married young. I believe he is quoted as saying women should be married by age 16 and that 12 is not too young. What is the practice within the Science of Identity Foundation cult???
To my knowledge, Butler did not encourage young marriage. This may have changed, but I don't see his adult step-kids married. From lectures you get the idea that marriage is an inconvenient but neccessary pain. It's only use was to create more servants to perpetuate his cult. He derided the first generation of kids for not being pure enough. It seems he tightened the ropes on subsequent generations. If he doesn't see a use in a marriage or doesn't like someone he will encourage service and celibacy. Spouses and children just take away time and energy from Butler, so he is mostly against marriage.
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atheist
I know that Jagad Guru Chris Butler frowns upon divorce. Does anyone know if he is divorced himself? What happens to a devotee, such as Tulsi (perhaps), who divorces???
There is a rumor that Butler is divorced, but it may not have been a legal marriage back in the hippie days. For many exers this does not seem likely that he was ever married before Wai Lana. He did however, order the divorce of his follower Wai Lana so he could marry her himself in spite of the fact that he preached heavily against divorce! Remember, he thinks of himself as a pure devotee and the "Guru to the Whole Universe" so he can do anything he damn well pleases. My take is that he really doesn't care if anyone divorces or not as long as his money is rolling in. His propaganda booklet on the topic is just another fish hook to get more followers, but I doubt he believes a word he wrote. I am certain he has supported the divorce of a follower who is married to a "blasphemer" who wants to leave the cult.
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atheist
Does anybody have any idea how Chris Butler communicates with Mike Gabbard (Krishna Katha das) or with other devotees when they are in office? I'm guessing that Jagad Guru's positions are well-known to the politicians even before they are elected to office.??
Of course his positions are well laid out and dictated to followers before they run for office. In the case of the 1970's Independents for Godly Government Party, ALL of the people running for office were TOLD TO RUN! He was the puppet master behind all of the campaigns!!! Even Rick and Carter Reed were ordered to get into the District Attorney's office. This made it so Butler was privy to any information coming out of there! The old dog Prabhufraud Butler has been at this game for years. Rick Reed, Wayne Nishiki, Mike Gabbard, and several others would never have run for office without Butler's commands!!!! Back in the day, before cell phones and internet, they would meet at Butler's house or talk on the phone. Butler's lieutenants or loyal couriers would also deliver messages. Snail mail was also used to pass on bulky instructions and memos send by his secretaries. I am sure they use secured technology these days and personal servants. Butler is very smart and knows how to brush his footprints away.
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atheist
Does anybody think it is a good idea to have a reclusive guru, with some known wacky views, having a hidden influence on the politicians who are elected to represent them?
Evidently the people in Hawaii and their media don't seem to care one way or the other...or they just don't believe it to be possible or true. Unfortunately, it is true. Not only that, but it could border on treason.