corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Might be another way of saying that earning money > reducing mysteries beyond words to words, > commodifies them and breeds delusion? > > Lots of ways to interpret this. Yes. Making money takes attention and effort. Moreover, there is a warning in the literature of this tradition that the spiritual li
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Because it is worth emphasizing that the very doctrine of this philosophy - described in its scriptuers - proves or confirms that the activities of a chaplain, a teacher, a preacher - they reduce or take away the effects of sacrifices and Brahmanical achievements. This is a good argument against the fanatical blind faith that the teachings of this or that guru "are perfect, his vision is pur
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That's something many don't think about -- the way > success and wealth bring problems. > > Too many people making money off of you (mafia, > etc) and refuse to let you shut the circus down. In his case, a cavalcade of off-road vehicles would come and plow the land in front of his house. Or
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bhaktivedantas writing, lectures, and casual talks > are chock-full of anti-homosexual rhetoric, > anti-blacks, anti-women etc. It's preposterous for > Shyamasundar to state that Bhaktivedanta > "...seemed to not give it a whole lot of notice". > BULLSHIT. Bullshit. and another
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLetter from Syamasundara dasa From the Archives Ashé Journal #2.3, 2003. Statue of Shrila Prabhupada, ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai (Os Rúpias) Statue of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai (by Os Rúpias) Please accept my best wishes, and most humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Where would any of us be had He not so mercif
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Buter came to ISKCON offering his followers to > Bhaktivedanta. Within the ISKCON structure, those > followers STILL very much followed and adored > Butler. And when he left, they left with him, as > well as several who were not with him before but > were in ISKCON before his arrival but left
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Looks like Google translate knocked back a few. Going into truth with both eyes and ears open?? > In > other news, Butler's Beach house flooded. His > followers were likely blamed. Was their devotion and faith in "the best guru in the whole world" to weak to stop the Ocean?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In other words, FORREST: the way I see things, > ISKCON is to the world of "Hinduism" what the > Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is to the world > of Bible-based religion. It sees itself as a > theocratic organization and as the agent of the > restoration of the principles of Varnash
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm not sure what this incident was, but it > appears to be some sort of religious > discrimination/intolerance/hate crime. > > I'm curious what was written about Tapasya. > > To this very day, in 2024, Catholics, Hindus, and > Muslims are constantly arguing, fighting, and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gabbard said she was partnering with X on a > series of short films to share stories of people > "whose voices are silenced." Is she talking about Rama Ranson, Henri Jolicoeur, Ian Koviak and many others whose public voices were attacked by SIF hired lawyers? There is an interesting conv
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

But of course, if there is no perfect authority, we return to the basics - yama - universal moral principles. But activists will tell you that based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, a devotee can sometimes fail. Comment that it may be sporadic. Well, then the question arises: why is this notorious "guru" taking money from a drug dealer? Well, they will say that they are sanctified
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Of course, there is also the question of Parampara. And here another problem begins, because high in Parampara there is... Narada Muni. Narada Muni did not initiate women. Which undermines all initiated women in all sanghas either it should be said that they do not belong to Parampara or "initiating women" is not in the category of sanatana-dharma but naimitthika-dharma - detailed instr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Similar, but activists or SIF members when pointing out discrepancies say that a pure devotee - acharya - can change the detailed instructions. Here, in turn, representatives of other sangas distinguish sanatana-dharma from naimittika-dharma - a concept unknown in SIF/SoI. Either way, if we firmly accept the narrative-science that milk can be poisoned by snake venom and this is true with the mess
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sure, It's good to inform group members.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Like, I am sure that Tulsi Gabbard is not a > complete moron. She is an Army officer and former > Congressperson. She's not a dummy; she's not an > idiot. She has an above-average IQ. But she > is thoroughly psychologically > conditioned and heavily invested in Chris Butler, > and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's as if Howard Hughes got religion and started > styling himself as a guru. What an eccentric and > demented man Chris Butler is. Thank you for these > quotes, Culthusiast. You're welcome. By the way, it is worth having people do such research and evaluate it themselves. Another aspect of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Do Chris Butler's disciples call him "Srila > Prabhupad"? Yes. Some other important quotes: QuoteBecause, you see, Lord Chaitanya's teaching's really very simple and doesn't have anything to do with all these kinds of politics. Once you get into an ecclesiastical situation wh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteShe doesn't want it. She's ducking. What an idiot. Somebody's got to teach Jaya Radhe dasi how this works. She just ducked from a cookie. (Laughter) Still hasn't got it, "Why is Srila Prabhupad always throwing things at people? He's such a nice person. (Laughter) And we just sang all these nice songs and everything in front of him. Now he is throwing t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

idiot* - 117 idiots - 67 aids - 111 (whole words) homosexual - 285
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Good Lord. I see that. And let's not forget > Chris Butler's rantings about AIDS and "faggots," > either. > > In the available transcripts of 1000 lectures, the following words are mentioned n times: - "shit" - 449 - "faggot" - 118 - "fuck*" -
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

XKRISHNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You know, faith. Flesh!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm not sure of the logic surrounding Butlers idea > on guru-ship, but he always touted that a guru is > "self-effulgent" whatever the fuck that means. But > the fact is that he WAS appointed. He was > appointed by Tusta on a number of occasions and > many early followers who w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The list of Tulsi Gabbard's industry sponsors or donors available on the Follow The Money website is worth attention in the context of her alleged religious beliefs: Some of them are: -Planned Parenthood (even 350 000 abortions per year) -Procter & Gamble -defence industry companies -Hunting -Gay/Lesbian rights/issues -Abortion Policy -Gambling/Cassinos -Tobacco -Beer
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is still a document available on (Wayback Machine) about MLM in Sri Lanka, where Vijay Eswaran, Joseph Bismark's partner at QNET, siphoned off $15 million. This is a PDF. Below is the address: SriLankaReport.pdf
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For a Western believer who respects the need for e.g. Buddhist dharma or appreciates the "Christ's sacrifice", if accepting the spiritual diversity of Vaishnavism e.g. described in the Bhagavatam problematic are issues such as Radha's husband Abimana - in eternal Vrindavana, not only earthly - accepting the agreeableness of Vishnu who fulfilled the promise of his devotee wanti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Do you think it has any value? They will put effort into writing all the points and the "guru" will graciously reply? He probably won't answer, and if he does, it will be a bunch of half-truths and manipulations with emphasis on how "unpleasant" it is for him, maybe a few threats, etc. He would probably be confronted with the evidence anyway. There are plenty of testimoni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On one of the Polish FB profiles exposing the group, one of the members of the group living in Florida wrote that if they write a humble letter to the "guru", he may kindly explain their doubts. Good joke. The answer was that they would rather pet a dog, even an angry one, than "write a humble letter". Astounding arrogance, ignorance, stupidity, etc.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: > Cults do this all the time. A central cult figure > has some "realization" and then uses culturally > pleasant phenomenons (dovetail for the service of > the Devine) as a method for feeling spiritual. > Butler did this with his cult. He often had > devotees pair popular rock/folk song rhythms with > mantra chanting. and to this day
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, it's a nice ride. None of the fanatics will delve into historical details. That it is possible that the Sumerians came from Burma and Tibet, so they were closer to Tibetan Buddhism. Then something got mixed up there, because Avesta and Zoroastranism appeared next to Vedism, but where in Zoroastrianism we have good Ahura Mazda and bad Ahriman, so good fights evil and here in Christianity
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RUN_FOREST_RUN Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've been saying this for a long time: > QuoteBeyond the appropriation of yoga, Hindu symbology is taken and used to make toilet seat covers. Tantra has been made into a fetish. A guru is anyone who has mastered his or her occupation. Karma is luck and fatalism. Meditation is just relaxation or at be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"