Googling, In Catholicism, First Communion is usually conferred at the age of 7 (the age of reason) and Confirmation in the faith is conferred usually around 12-14 years of age. Generally speaking. The posts from IB seem to confirm and commune with all of the info that has been posted in this forum. And then some. I can't help thinking that SIF and FL may be worse than I even consid
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Once again we have an individual describing aspects of a harmful cult and its leader. Once again FL and the SIF fit perfectly into the mold. Just one example - Rajneesh had his followers taint a salad bar with salmonella to try to influence the outcome of an election. FL had a disciple dig up dirt on a political opponent of one of his puppets by having a disciple use a hidden tape recorder an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey "I believed", Thanks for the post. Great information. I hope you will provide more!! It seems to me that you are suffering as a result of being involved in the cult of SIF. This is what happens in cults. Having these negative experiences and being left with regrets, anger, and disillusionment really shouldn't occur in a bona-fide spiritual environment. I mean, if you a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I checked out www.fflvrindavan.org and found it very touching. God bless those Vaishnavas for their good works! Wasn't it wonderful seeing all those young girls with smiling faces wearing their tilak and in nice school uniforms. Now imagine that - a spiritual organization helping the poor, needy, sick, and homeless. Isn't that one of the MAIN teachings of Jesus Christ?? And they are
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteyourmastertwoYes who could forget the good old days. Lots of acid, criusin for chicks, surf all day, no work. I was there. First came acid, then meditation and acid then meditation andn chanting Hare Krishna and acid then just chanting hare krsna. Chris was your basic Jesus/Paranoid/Martyr surf dude type who liked to surround himself with worshipers. We called him Sai in the beginn
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoke108, Regarding being displeasing to FL. If you accept him as your guru, then of course you are obliged to be pleasing to him. We are NOT saying that it is okay to be displeasing to one's guru. However, we are questioning, as we have every right to do so, FLs claims to be God's representative. Those of us who feel that he is not a legitimate guru therefore also conclude that by c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - could you please provide us with an interpretation based on your knowledge of Vaishnavism regarding FLs constant chastisement of his followers, the issuing of fines, the signing of non-disclosures etc. and so on. That would be really interesting.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Terrenaut - FL is not going to anything about what is going on in his cult. That is the sad thing. You see, he is convinced that he is the real deal and simply cannot be questioned. He thinks that he is a pure devotee and as such everything he does is purely for Krishna and therefore he does not have to answer to anybody. After all, we are just lowly demons, what do we know? How dare we do
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoke108 - Thanks for your post. Thank you for having the courage to come forward and admit that by reading this forum you now have doubts. Let me be the first to tell you this - your spiritual life is NOT doomed. That is another of FLs fabrications to keep his devotees in line and submissive and working for him. Also, there is nothing wrong with having thought, or perhaps still thinking, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

By the way, we know that this forum is being read by devotees of FL. I keep asking for feedback from them. Challenge what we are saying here. Defend your guru. Enlighten us. The majority of the posting here of late, thanks mainly to Quotesman, has been very factual and supported by evidence contained in revealing letters. There is not a lot of flaming or spreading of lies and gossip. Nor
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Wow! I had heard the opposite story of Gaura Kisora das Babaji as well and believed it. After all, I had no reason to disbelieve it. Oh what a tangled web....... We are again brought back to the lack of humility exhibited by FL. How can anyone be a Spiritual Master and lack this quality??? Can anyone reading this forum kindly provide us with an example of the humility of the one who calls h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - My sentiments exactly. My guess is that NM dismissed these letters as simply as one brushes a fly off one's sleeve. An advanced devotee would not be bothered by such mundane behaviour. He probably had his disciple respond due to the volume of emails received and in an attempt to offer them instruction. Again, we beg anyone to please enlighten us as to what training FL has
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well...well...welll... There is no need to comment on the LOW level of consciousness exhibited by FL and his followers in their ignorant letters to Narayan Maharaj. The response by Prema prayojan brahmacari was very eloquent but I could sense some exasperation on his part at the lack of knowledge and misguidedness of FLs disciples. Especially in light of this fact: "On the o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think the letters should be posted here. I have really enjoyed the letters that Quotesman has posted. It also adds credibility and integrity to this thread as cold, hard facts tend to do. I was much impressed by the letter written by the devotee from the Chaitanya Mission. It seems to me that this devotee shows more sincerity and craving for knowledge than FL. Probably more knowledge of shas
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yeah - good point about his marriage. Just focusing on that one point is enough to question what the heck is going on. So - to any devotees of Siddha there who are reading this - and we KNOW you are - how you you address the fact that he took sannyasa and then married his disciple? Are you okay with the fact that he is making up his own rules? How does this NOT contradict his supposed sp
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - I don't think Christians find it acceptable that Christ suffered - most are deeply saddened by this, mourn his passion, and mourn their own frailty when they consider how weak they are and yet look what Christ did. Anyway - I do not want to get into a debate with you either, nor I am even remotely qualified to do so. I prefer to look at the similarities of Christianity and Vai
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - here's a question for you - In "Autobiography of a Yogi" Yogananda defined "chaitanya" as referring to "Christ consciousness". Any comments? Also, speaking of Christ, FL lectured quite strongly on the fact that Christians worship the body and blood of Christ because he gave himself as a sacrifice so that sins may be forgive
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Lots of nice chanting on youtube. I'm glad I checked it out! Very cool. Youtube is such a high traffic site - it's a really good way to broadcast the Holy Names. Isn't this what Vaishnavas should be doing? It does make you wonder if FLs agenda has anything to do with Vaishnavism. It seems to be that most of his devotees are so stressed by their "service" tha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - the letter form ACB to Tusta was a great find. WOW!!! All devotees of FL should read this. I remember that we were not allowed to address each other a "Prabhu" because this is "too ISKCON". And we were strictly forbidden from associating with ISKCON. They were demons and tried to assassinate our dear FL. I remember some ISKCON devotees coming to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I saw a movie not long ago called "The Devil Wears Prada" in which Meryl Streep plays the president of a high fashion mag who is a control freak, obsessive-compulsive, and extremely overbearing on her subordinates, all of whom are constantly in high anxiety. Sound familiar? If you watch it while keeping FL in the back of your mind you will find it quite funny, and quite sa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - thank you for providing the terrific information an Vedic life and tradition. And it is interesting to note that the most dangerous demons who appear in Kali Yuga come in the form of priests or acharyas. Makes one wonder, doesn't it? FL also claims to be part of the sampradaya, which I now question. I think this has been brought up before in this forum, but let's loo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I love Deepa Mehta's movies - especially "Water" and "Earth".
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Fascinating posts regarding FLs relationship. or lack thereof, with ACB. I remember hearing that he did not take any disciples until after ACB left his body because that was the proper thing to do and, after all, he was so proper. This example was used to try to enhance his divinity. I also recall hearing lectures in which he criticized devotees for wanting to go to India on a pilgrimage. T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I remember listening to a lecture in which FL was talking about when ACB was approving various disciples as acharyas. Apparently Tusta received an "official" letter from ACB saying that he could accept disciples. FL was joking about this in his inimitable way, saying something like, "...well, at least he got a letter". Apparently FL never received such a letter
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Regarding Katyani - I never heard anything bad about her from FL or any of his disciples. She had her own disciples and they were not supposed to mix with FLs disciples. Supposedly so there would be no conflict of instruction - obviously an FL rule which reeks of ego. I did see some mixing of the groups in L.A. though. No big deal. I met her and BT once. They were really nice to me - and her c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More great posts. Thanks to all for their contributions. I look forward to reading this forum everyday. My comments: to googling: - I have every reason to believe that Ph and K are still together. All respects to them! Wonderful people. - Regarding others asked to renounce sannyasi and get married. I think Bkd was in this boat - and I think he was quite content to remain sannyasi but he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The official "party line" I remember getting regarding FLs marriage was as follows: FL had a large number of single female disciples and he had to interact with them and counsel them in his service to Krishna. He thought it would be more proper to be married to continue to serve in this way. So the confidential loving servant of Krishna needs to concern himself with such m
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I usually preferred the more mellow chants as well. Nothing wrong with a nice enthusiastic rock out on occasion though, with lots of dancing. Good clean fun. I've heard at many gatherings these days the younger guys have a mosh pit during chants. I find this extremely irritating. And not spiritual. Terrenaut - you are not going to go to hell for criticizing FL. That is just "c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Speaking of chanting - I still really enjoy listening to mantras and this is usually the music of choice - especially when I am driving in my vehicle. I don't listen to FL or his group anymore though. I have been listening to mostly Jai Uttal, Krishna das, and Bhagavan das. I believe all were devotees of Neem Karoli Baba. I have to admit that some of the chants are beautiful and inspiring
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesman - I'm glad to see that you are still a Vaishnava. I think that this is a wonderful process and may the Lord look with favor upon you. I can relate what you said about dreading going to gatherings. I felt this way and these feelings also contributed to my wanting to leave. I was attending to avoid guilt. I should have been attending out of love. But this was not the case. It a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"