Interesting reads:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Krishna without the guru? What vaishnava path is that? The very scriptures say this is impossible. I assume you trust the scriptures since they are the basis for even the idea of a krishna god. I just think it is silly to claim allegiance to krishna but somehow reject that you need a guru. The very god himself dictates that you need a guru. Anyway, I stand by my word. I am not here to a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To each thier own.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think we can all agree to disagree at this point that any substance we attribute to this path is largely based on some level of adherence to faith in its mechanisms. Or which I lack any and see little fruit in cultivation. I mean that, for me, with as much as I read and study and question these ideas, I have not found anything of irrefutable permanence in its expression as "absolute".
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Interesting reads:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

“There is no trustworthy standard by which we can separate the ‘real’ from the ‘unreal’ aspects of phenomena. Such standards as exist are conventional: and correspond to convenience, not to truth. It is no argument to say that most men see the world in much the same way, and that this “way” is the true standard of reality: though for practical purposes we have agreed that sanity consists in shari
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Have you ever watched any contemporary sci-fi flick? It comes from human imagination. Not because some planet exists made of copper for the sole purpose of making shmores out of brahman killers. Oh man, you're funny. Let me guess, the planet where it rains diamonds is for greedy jewelry dealers? Lol. No scientific rigor or even basic study of natural phenomenon is in any way described
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

No veda describes in any scientific detail diamond Rain and copper planets my friend. Sorry. No purana or veda can be accurately dates nor attributed to any single time or source. Gratuitous dating conservatively places most interpolations as recent as 500 to 1500 years ago. Well within the scope of any mentioned and verifiable "science" having already been discovered and in circulat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's fine to analiyze rasa from an angle of maths and game theory, if one has the appetite. However, any sanyassi worth their salt will tell you that Radha with blonde hair is pure speculation. Any guru who is considered a stalwart approaches this form an angle of pure "surrender" of information transfer form guru to disciple without adding or subtracting or modifying or trying to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Myths arose as a necessary part of human evolution. Storytelling and mythology is how humans conveyed ideas, passed down information about historical events and created mirrors of their social and psychological selves throughout history I don't have a problem with mythology as a vehicle for studying human evolution and archeological, anthropology history. I enjoy mythology. From a symbol
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Great Vedic Pluralism: Some great things to look forward to in India: How will we know when "Krishna wants us to be violent"?: Will Tulsi gabbard tell us? Buteler? Swami Boo Boo? “It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though they may be faulty, than another’s duties. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engag
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's called damage control. SIF's PR team needed to put something out there online to cover their tracks as always. These were posted on Medium at the height of Tulsi's political campaign and were 100% developed b their PR team to cover all basis. Tulsi is recorded in a number of places stating she never heard her guru speak a single ill word. What a load of crap. Now she is on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

All of the above. I felt all of this growing up a hare krishna. In Butler's group it was easier to hide your faith in public, but once you join other gaudiya cults and dress as a devotee, shave your head, brahmin threads, sikha, Tilak, Mala etc, it's impossible not to attract unnecessary attention and try to explain to people the bizarre irrational shit you believe. Thanks for posti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More poor children getting quality educations: SB 5.21.13, Translation: The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as Samvatsara. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three catur-masya periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here we have a shining example of the mind-melting shitshow this cult produces in its followers as a final offering: I've posted other sites on here showing how they have basically desolved their brain in a vat of nonsense. On the surface, you have a "chant and be happy" religion, akin to gospel singing. But underneath it all is something from a psyche ward schizophrenic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Devotees need to always create a demon/demigod narrative. It helps fortify their weak position. Realty is not black and white. Gabbrad/Butler/SIF and other Gaudiya groups create hysteria the moment they can do it. When Y2K happened, they were some of the first to start spreading misinformation and hoarding cans, water and toilet paper. Same with COVID and now with this war assault on Ukraine.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Gonna leave this here... For those who do not want to read it: Conclusions We describe here that repetitive speech, an easy cognitive task, is sufficient to induce a wide-spread unidirectional reduction in activation in the human cortex even outside the context and training of commonly practiced Mantra. This behavior appears to lead to a wide-spread activity reduction in brain
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yup. That's basically the bottom line. Read this mind-numbing sampling of what religious fanaticism does to the mind. These guys are sitting around claiming authority over myths, dreams, visions, faith, opinions and interpretations. Nothing "absolute" about it. Completely subjective from the ground up by any standard of measure. Well, any rational standard. What's
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Have any of you ever read this book?: Anyway, it's got to be the biggest pile of meandering mind trash I have read in a long time. In fact I have never found any writings of Bhaktisiddhanta to have any coherence or structure. Just an endless meandering stream of consciousness with no resolution or goal in sight. I am on the hunt for some Nadia Prakash articles as well since they have
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Truth Wins, I have written about the spiritual addiction component in these groups many times. I am aware of the "bliss" affect the average person seeks or even experiences for some time. It may even be a lifetime for that matter. But rarely. Eventually what it transforms into is a hardened ego related to the time investment. It is basically hard if not impossible to admit that we ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Absurd inquiries? Once you're in such a cult that is the only type of inquiry that exists. Blind following is taking the advice of such a verse to begin with and accepting so-called vedic texts as an authority to begin with. There is little in the way of explaining in this cult and more blind following than any religion I've encountered. There is nothing that qualifies a &q
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The overarching issue is that it's an insane philosophy that asks of its followers to pretend to be a Manjari. And if not that, it asks that you simply keep doing some repetitive activity like chanting, serving some guru or reading some texts in some abstract hope that "all will be revealed". All what will be revealed? What has been revealed to the average devotee after 40 years of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Beware the mad man who tries to convince those around him that his ideas hold water. Beware the mad man that tries to normalize his views or vilify all other views as lesser than his own. Beware the madman that seeks, demands or positions himself in the line of worship, praise and adoration. Beware the mad man who claims to be be the sole keeper of wisdom. Beware the mad man who leaves behind him
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The bigger these cults get the less culty they feel to unwitting seekers. In many ways they dilute philosophically to a comfortable point where it's just another simple religion that believes in a savior, heaven and hell and salvation.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, I agree butler's cruel style was imitated by his followers. Children's feelings were often dismissed as "false ego", self pity, or naive verse were quoted like "from lust comes anger, from anger comes bewilderment etc... Basically insulting people as lusty low creatures. Kids who were chanting japa daily, reading scripture and performing all manner of services. Bu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The bag on the head happened. I personally witnessed many devotees being openly humiliated at beach gatherings and letters from butler instructed to be read in front of all the devotees demeaning and insulting or excommunication. This was done regularly to the point where many were petrified they would be next. What does anyone stand to gain in making up the paper bag incident? Butler looks plent
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Gralow's account was closed likely due to her needing a break from Twitter or that she violated some rules on there. Lord knows she and the rest of the world needs a fucking break from Twitter. Tulsi Gabbard sure does, She spends half of the time on there spreading misinformation and divisive dribble. Luckily most of the comments on those posts are filled with people who see right through he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Fohr, Thank you for your support and echo of some of my observations and thoughts over the years. I am happy some connect with my views, but yes, we all must forge our own ideas in the fire of our honesty and rigor in understanding what all this is about.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"