HANUMAN FIGURINE IS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S LUCKY CHARM

BARACK OBAMA ALWAYS CARRIES 
HANUMAN STATUETTE IN POCKET

www.indiadivine.org - A statuette of Lord Hanuman is among few items that US President Barack Obama always carries in his pocket and seeks inspiration from whenever he feels tired or discouraged. President Obama disclosed this on a YouTube interview which the White House scheduled as a way to reach younger audiences as it promotes Obama’s final State of the Union address on last Tuesday. 
Asked to show off an item of personal significance during the interview with YouTube personality Nilsen, 54-year-old Obama pulled from his pockets a series of small totems, each of which he said reminded him “of all the different people I’ve met along the way.” It included rosary beads given to him from Pope Francis, who he met at the White House this fall and a tiny Buddha statue procured upon him by a monk.

The other items that US President Obama always carries in his pocket are a silver poker chip that was once the lucky charm of a bald, mustachioed biker in Iowa; a figurine of the Hindu monkey God Hanuman; and a Coptic cross from Ethiopia, where he visited in July. “I carry these around all the time. I’m not that superstitious, so it’s not like I think I necessarily have to have them on me at all times,” Obama said. 
But he said they do provide some reminders of the long path of his presidency. “If I feel tired, or I feel discouraged sometimes, I can kind of reach into my pocket and say yeah, that’s something I can overcome, because somebody gave me the privilege to work on these issues that are going to effect them,” he said. Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion. Nowadays, there are about three million Hindus in USA.

A figurine of Lord Hanuman is among the few items that Barack Obama always carries around in his pocket and seeks inspiration whenever he feels discouraged, the U.S. President revealed in an interview, CNN reported. In a live post-State of the Union interview with Ingrid Nilsen, American YouTube personality, from the East Room of the White House on January 15, Obama showed things he carried around all the time and took out from his pocket which he described as: "This is Hindu little statuette of monkey god Hanuman that a woman gave me." This video-interview is posted on The White House website. In Mahabharata war, the flag on Arjuna’s chariot, driven by Lord Krishna himself, displayed Lord Hanuman; therefore to achieve success in battle it is not  surprising that President Obama also reportedly carried small Hanuman figurine as a lucky charm during electioneering. Hanuman, son of wind-god, besides incredible strength and changing shape at will and flying, is a perfect grammarian, great scholar and excelled in all the sciences. According to a legend, even while he was still an infant, he intimidated the sun. Apart from all of this, Hanuman’s only desire was to go on serving his Lord Rama; and thus, from the devotee's point of view, Hanuman perfectly exemplifies ‘dasyabhava’ devotion - one type of devotional disposition - that lovingly bonds the master and the servant. Servitude [dāsya], friendship [sakhya], parental affection [vātsalya] and conjugal love [śrińgāra] are the four transcendental mellows [rasas]. These are the transcendental modes of loving service to the Lord. By the devotees who cherish these four mellows, the Supreme Lord is subdued. Our spiritual masters have taught us that our practice should be focused on culturing a specific service that takes the shape of any of the loving sentiments, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya or madhurya / śrińgāra. Our hearing and chanting will become focused on those lilas which will help us to promote our particular serving identity to the Lord. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The bhāva stage is the final division before one reaches love of Godhead. The word sarva-bhāva means that one can love the Supreme Personality of Godhead in different transcendental modes of mellows, beginning with dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya. In the śānta stage, one is on the border of loving service to the Lord. Pure love of Godhead begins from dāsya and develops to sakhya, vātsalya and then mādhurya. Still, in any of these five mellows one can render loving service to the Supreme Lord. Since our main business is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can render service from any of the above-mentioned platforms of love.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 7: "The Science of God"
Chapter 9: "Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nrisimhadeva with Prayers" - Verso 54

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

"CHARLIE, CHARLIE, ARE YOU THERE?"

DON’T PLAY ‘CHARLIE, CHARLIE’
ARE TEENS SUMMONING DEMONS?

www.vox.com - "Charlie, Charlie, are you there?" This incantation is sweeping the nation: teens everywhere are stacking pencils, calling to a demon named Charlie, and entrusting their fates to the predictive powers of leftover loose-leaf paper and graphite. But where did this trend come from, and what does it say about superstition? 
To find the answers, I consulted experts on the psychology of superstition and the Ouija board. What they revealed will help you understand the origins and appeal of this newly popular game. It's played by dividing a piece of paper into four quadrants, each labeled with either a "yes" or "no." If you like, you can also switch out the "yes" or "no" for your favorite member of One Direction, or some other interesting subject.

Then you place one pencil on one line and balance another perpendicularly on top of it. Say, "Charlie, Charlie, are you there?" If Charlie "responds" by rotating the upper pencil towards one of the answers, sort of like a compass, you can proceed to ask more questions. Examples include "Charlie, will I get an A?" or "Charlie, will I get married to my homecoming date?" 
For her article about the phenomenon, Washington Post reporter Caitlin Dewey did some great research. She found that it may be related to an old game from Spain called "Juego de la Lapicera," but we don't know how or when the crossover happened. There is another game called Charlie Charlie that's been played for a while, but it's different and involves pencils held together instead of being placed on a paper grid. At some point, the two games became the phenomenon we know today.

Charlie Charlie is a new teenage craze that's somewhere between a Ouija board and cootie catcher. It's gone viral with the hashtag-friendly name #CharlieCharlieChallenge. As it continues to fascinate the minds and souls of more and more teens via uploaded social media videos, the most important religious representatives warn people of the dangers of inviting evil spirits to get answers. The iconic world evangelist Billy Graham reminds parents that Satan is up to his same old tricks, as everything from cultish films to board games introduce teens to various nuances of contacting demonic spirits. "Curiosity about ghosts and demonic spirits is no new phenomenon," Graham's BGEA reminds Americans. "From horror movies like Candy Man to Ouija boards and the folklore legend of Bloody Mary generations have experimented with occult practices and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon." The renowned televangelist Pat Robertson asserted, “Demons are real. They are not playthings and they are certainly not parlor games. For any little kids to begin to play these games and think it’s cool, it’s not,” Robertson said. “They are real. They desire to destroy human beings.” Roman Catholic experts in demonology are also sounding the alarm. “Some spirits who are at the root of that practice will harass some of those who play the game,” said José Antonio Fortea, a Madrid-based and Vatican-approved exorcist for the Catholic Church. Demon possession is unlikely, he said, but participation in the game “will result in other spirits beginning to enter into even more frequent communication. Then the person really can suffer much worse consequences from the demons.” Vedic culture teaches us that those who have died in certain ways may do not receive again a physical body; rather it is difficult for them to promptly take again a physical body. These creatures roam in search of unwary who wish to communicate with them. We must guard a lot of it, not only do not invoke spirits but take refuge in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is in our hearts as internal master; and remember that if we take refuge in the Supreme Lord at the time of death, we can escape from repeated birth and death, and we will receive a spiritual body to live eternally in the transcendental world. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

In the history of humanity there have spread different methods by which people have tried to communicate with ghosts. Under names such as spiritualism, macumba, reading snuff, Ouija board and many other similar invocations or methods of divination. Some others experience with shamanic plants, which facilitate to contact with spirits. These processes have serious consequences for those who perform it, and of course, create a lot of curiosity, especially to those who have no information of the eternal significance of the soul and not know the difference between the subtle body and the gross body. Goethe's famous quote was: "I can not get rid of the ghosts I called." Who used to invoke ghosts, it's likely to be recruited by them to the ghostly world. At the time of his death, he or she will think on the same ghosts with whom he had previous contact and consequently will enter into this ghostly area and could not incarnate again to continue the evolution of spiritual consciousness.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
"The Dangers of Communicating with Ghosts"
http://vwonline.blogspot.com.ar/2006/03/vedic-wisdom-online.html
http://www.sabiduriavedica.org/c39-espiritualidad/el-peligro-de-comunicarse-con-fantasmas/

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

INTERNET PORN "HOT GIRLS WANTED"

NETFLIX’S ‘HOT GIRLS WANTED’ 
SHINES AMATEUR PORN INDUSTRY

www.dailynews.com - “Every day a new girl turns 18, and every day a new girl wants to do porn. I will never run out,” says Riley in the documentary “Hot Girls Wanted,” available on Netflix on May 29. The 25-year-old former Outback dishwasher manages a houseful of young women ages 18-21 who have come to Miami to be in the porn industry. He advertises for them on Craigslist, offering a free plane ticket to the Magic City. 
“These girls have grown up in an era where famous people have done sex tapes,” says Bauer. The “pornification” of pop culture has been growing since the 1980s, which coincides with the era of the Millennial generation. Recent music videos from Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus and a slew of rappers walk right up to the edge of pornography.

Many of these young women are anxious to leave the confines of small-town life behind, and a plane ticket to Miami, home of glamorous lifestyles, promises freedom and fame. A teen, who was captain of her cheerleading squad in a town in Texas, is disdainful of what she has left behind. “What she is trading it in for is “$800 a porn shoot. They do five shoots the first week. That’s very attractive,” says film's co-director Ronna Gradus. 
Many of the teens get into the industry impulsively, for many the excitement fades and it becomes a horrible job and those feelings of freedom and empowerment disappear. And their parents, relatives and friends usually find out about their careers soon enough. Arguments that they are making choices about their own bodies sound specious when all you become is an object fulfilling male sex fantasies, some of them unsavory.

“Hot Girls Wanted” is a new documentary about making it in the porn industry that works as an excellent warning to viewers who might be tempted to try it as a path to success. After an initial montage of sex-positive pop culture, the filmmakers’ implication is that female role models can influence suggestible people into thinking sex work is a path to wealth and fame. The subjects of Hot Girls Wanted are mostly in their late teens, yearning to escape from parental control and make more money than they would at low-paying jobs in a lousy economy. Alyssa Rosenberg from The Washington Post's Opinions section says that “Hot Girls Wanted” makes the point that porn seems attractive in part because other options seem worse. “Do I want to be in my parents’ shoes when I’m their age?” muses Rachel in the movie. “No. I don’t want to go to college, meet someone when I’m in college, marry them, stay in my home town, have a bunch of kids and then die there.” The real shame of “Hot Girls Wanted” isn’t porn itself, but a lack of other, more sustainable opportunities, so girls, playing the part of a porn star, try to find freedom, money and adventure. But this new online amateur porn business isn’t exactly a reliable source of those things, either; it is estimated that most young women will drop out of the porn industry within a few months or a year at most, and also they may be rejected or negatively considered as candidates for future jobs. Our spiritual masters have taught us that as Kali-yuga advances, all moral and religious principles will lose, unwanted worldwide population will increase, there will be great disturbances in the community - murder, rape, war, disease and pests. Likewise, good people, peace, prosperity, happiness and spiritual progress will disappear. Consequently, the world will be in chaos and child pornography, rape and other sexual crimes will be out of control. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The social and moral implication of the influences of rajas and tamas are described in chapters 16, 17, and 18 of the Gita. Excessive influence of these two ultimately cause suffering. Knowing this, one can understand that pornography involves considerable violence - violence to oneself and others. […] How would you feel if one of the teen porn girls was your daughter, sister, or niece? They are all someone’s daughter, sister, or niece. How do you think their parents feel, seeing their children involved in the pornography industry? Knowledge of the fact that you are instrumental in perpetuating their involvement in this should help you realize just how ugly you become when you implicate yourself in pornography, whether it is on the Internet or elsewhere. It is a violent activity with violent results. 

Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Tripurari Mahārāja : 
“La Guerra de Kuruksetra: Mito, Historia, o Lila?”
“Q & A with Swami B. V. Tripurari”
Śrī Caitanya Sanga - Vol. III, N° 3 – 23 de Enero del 2001.
http://swami.org/
http://swami.org/pages/sanga/current.php

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

CLIFF JUMPER DIED IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

EXTREME ATHLETE DEAN POTTER
DIES IN BASE JUMPING ACCIDENT

www.sltrib.com - Two wingsuit fliers who leaped to their deaths from a cliff in Yosemite National Park were trying to zoom through a notch in a ridgeline and were airborne for about 15 seconds when they slammed into a rocky outcropping, a friend said Monday. Dean Potter, 43, and his partner Graham Hunt, 29, were both experienced at flying in wingsuits — the most extreme form of BASE jumping, which is a sport so dangerous that enthusiasts keep lists of the dead. 
Dressed like flying squirrels, with flaps between their outstretched arms and legs to keep them aloft, they leaped off Taft Point, 3,500 feet above the valley floor, and would have been traveling at speeds close to 100 mph as they aimed for the narrow gap in the ridge.

Potter thought he had found ways of safely enjoying some of the world's riskiest endeavors. He scaled the toughest vertical faces without rope, and walked barefoot across lines suspended between cliffs. If he fell or became exhausted, he would deploy a parachute. As if that didn't provide enough adrenaline, Potter wanted to fly. 
BASE jumping — renegade parachuting off buildings, antenna, spans (such as bridges) and Earth — is illegal in national parks. Doing it in a wingsuit is even more dangerous, particularly the form Potter practiced, gliding frighteningly close to cliffs and trees before deploying his chute. The park service celebrates Yosemite's role as a climbing mecca, but struggles to stop people from illegally leaping off the cliffs.

From the moment of his death, Dean Potter earned legendary status. One of the most popular extreme sports in the United States and the world, failed in one of his attempts to base jumping in Yosemite park in California. Dean Potter is remembered as free spirit, risk-taker; “He was all about getting the most out of life, and doing what you love and not being afraid to take those chances,” a friend recalled. “Dean was part of this community and had a great impact on the climb. He was a luminaire in the pantheon of the gods of the rally,” said the director of Yosemite, Mike Gauthier, at the Times. Yes, the man took risks without fear. But we do not believe it is something worthwhile to do that. If you put at risk your precious life to enjoy the feeling of adrenaline running in your veins, what you do is not to applaud and celebrate. At least five people have died in BASE jumping accidents in U.S. national parks since January 2014, including the most recent deaths at Yosemite, said Jeffrey Olson, a National Park Service spokesman. It is illegal do this in all U.S. national parks, and jumpers who are caught are fined and have their equipment confiscated, however people continue doing these nonsense. People who lack true spiritual knowledge enjoy maintaining a defiant attitude towards the laws of man and God, laws designed to protect them, yet risk their lives. Our spiritual teachers have already taught us that human life is invaluable, because it is an opportunity to know and love God, and it is completely silly to jeopardize our lives just to take dangerous risks in these so-called extreme sports. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Currently, it is imposed the general idea that “You have to enjoy the world.”  But the concept of enjoyment is dangerous, self-destructive and, in turn, it makes people to put their lives at risk.  More and more people spend large amounts of money on distractions that have no importance, just to satisfy their desires.  Some are poisoned themselves with drugs and alcohol, while others engage in activities that are constantly exposed their health and welfare.  In the rush to meet happiness artificially, man does foolish things, knowing from experience that is wrong and that ultimately end up disappointed. ... However, this type of activity sooner or later, discouraged artificially them, it is a pleasure so brief that fails to meet the expectations of enjoyment. ... We invite you to learn more about the spiritual life, which delivers a superior taste.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Dangerous Fun” - “Fictitious Happiness”
http://bhaktipedia.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php
http://bhaktipedia.org/espanol/index.php?n=sabidurias_vedicas.diversiones_peligrosas

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

NEBRASKA WOMAN SUING “ALL GAYS ON EARTH”

NEBRASKA WOMAN FILES SUIT 
AGAINST ALL HOMOSEXUALS

www.nbcnews.com - A Nebraska woman identifying herself as the “ambassador” for plaintiffs “God and His Son, Jesus Christ,” is suing all homosexuals on Earth for breaking “religious and moral laws,” according to court records filed Tuesday. 
In the suit, entered into the docket as Driskell v. Homosexuals, Sylvia Ann Driskell, 66, of Auburn, Nebraska, asks in a seven-page, neatly handwritten petition (PDF) that U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard decide once and for all whether homosexuality is or isn't a sin. The suit doesn't cite any case law under which a judge could make such a determination.

In fact, it cites no court cases at all, quoting Webster's Dictionary and numerous Bible verses, instead, to bolster Driskell's central contention, which is: “That homosexuality is a sin and that they the homosexuals know it is a sin to live a life of homosexuality. Why else would they have been hiding in the closet.” Driskell writes, "I'm sixty six years old, an [sic] I never thought that I would see the day in which our Great Nation or Our Great State of Nebraska would become so compliant to the complicity of some peoples [sic] lewd behavior." 
The suit was noticed by several gay activists and writers. Driskell, who's representing herself, didn't answer a call for comment. The court noted dryly that, regarding to the defendants, “No summons [was] issued.”

A 66-year-old Nebraska (USA) woman recently filed a lawsuit against all homosexuals. Sylvia Driskell's case is called “Driskell v. Homosexuals.” She is suing all homosexuals on Earth for breaking "religious and moral laws." She is representing herself as the 'ambassador' for 'plaintiffs God and His Son, Jesus Christ'. Last Thursday, a federal judge dismissed this woman's lawsuit against all "homosexuals" on the grounds that it failed to request a specific remedy and relied on biblical verses in a secular court. Indeed, Driskell's filing "consists of seven pages of her personal and religious views on the subject of homosexuality," the court explained. Because of these fundamental flaws in the filing, the court dismissed the case. With regard to homosexuality our teachers have already inquired, “What is this phenomenon? How do you face this problem? What it is and what is not? What happens inside a person to be inclined towards homosexuality? Is it organic? Is it karmic, ie by reactions of his activities in past lives? Is it hereditary?” In truth, we do not know well. What we do know is that homosexuality is not something demonic but there are men and women with homosexual tendencies or preferences. We must broaden our vision, open our hearts and live with it. To achieve this we must begin to improve ourselves, purify and qualify us more and more to serve more and more to all, without exception. Everyone should be qualified. ¿Qualify for? To love and to serve others. We should love people as they are, not as you want them to be. Would you love only the people who perfectly fit your ideal man and woman? Well, if you think so then you are staying without giving or receiving love because nobody is perfect. We must put aside fundamentalisms, eradicating our prejudices, change mindsets and expand our capacity to love and achieve real progress in our spiritual life. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

I have had homosexual people who want to join my temple and in fact there are devotees who have undergone sex reassignment surgeries, and are doing important services. Can you condemn it? It is a complicated issue because they also want to be with Krishna. In one way or another they have an issue with their gender identity, and want to dress like the opposite sex and What to do? So life is not easy, in my service I deal with everything. […] It is something that exists, it can also be by psychological repression. There is not a proper way I know to handle this but what I do know is that love should not be excluded. Perhaps even more love in these situations are required. Difficult situations have their reason and devotees in general are not homophobic. They are not hateful towards anyone.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
Vrinda Sunday Chats
Conscious Marriages 3/29/15 Part 1 of Chat
http://vrindachats.blogspot.com.ar/
http://vrindachats.blogspot.com.ar/2015/03/conscious-marriages-32915-part-1-of-chat.html

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

MOB KILLS RAPE SUSPECT IN INDIA

MOB IN INDIA BREAKS INTO
JAIL, LYNCHES RAPE SUSPECT

Reuters - Guwahati, India. A mob of several thousand people broke into a high-security prison in India, dragged out a rape suspect and killed him, officials said on Friday, adding that police had to impose a curfew to restore order. Rape has been a particularly emotive crime in India since 2012, when a student was raped and tortured on a bus in New Delhi and later died. The government has banned a documentary about that attack, re-igniting debate about gender inequality. 
The mob attacked the prison late on Thursday in the northeastern state of Nagaland. The man, a 35-year-old Muslim businessman accused of raping a woman, was dragged out and hauled naked through the streets and beaten to death.

"Security personnel at the jail were overpowered by the mob," said the state's chief minister, T.R.Zeliang. One person was killed and several injured when police fired on the mob. A curfew was imposed in the district late on Thursday and remained in force on Friday as the situation was "still tense", district police chief Meren Jamir told Reuters. Most people in Nagaland are Christian. Violence against women is widespread in India where a rape is reported on average every 21 minutes. 
Acid attacks, domestic violence and molestation are also common. There were 309,546 crimes against women reported to police in 2013, up from 244,270 the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. These include rape, kidnapping, sexual harassment and molestation.

This article, written by Biswajyoti Das for Reuters news agency, tells how a multitude lynches a rape suspect in India. A mob, consisting of thousands of people, stormed a prison compound in India's far northeast, dragging out a rape suspect before beating him to death on the streets. Police initially used tear gas and bamboo canes to rescue the inmate, but were not successful. The suspect died while being dragged four miles through the streets as people beat and pelted him with stones. The incident, which sparked outrage both in India and around the world, highlighted the frightening level of violence against women in this country. Despite the horrific and public nature of the attack, the violent mob is an embodiment of the country's increasingly tough stance and disgust towards for sexual violence. As Kali Yuga progresses, we witness how every society seems ready to explode into ghastly acts. There is anger and rage inside of some people at never before seen levels. The tendency to commit abuse, rape and other kinds of violence against others is born of illusion. One factor which fuels the bad actions is lust, the all-devouring enemy of this world. As Lord Sri Krishna tells in the Bhagavad-gita 16.21, one of the gates which leads to the hell and the degradation of the soul is lust. And it is also lust the root cause which made descending the living entities into this material world. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Material lust is like a blazing fire, never leaving a person with any peace. Such desires always force people to attempt to satisfy their cravings. The flames of such desires consume all hope for peace in such individuals. When society is made of many such individuals, whose primary interest is to simply satisfy their own desires and gratify their senses, this disorder prevents peace in human society. [...] The more you try to satisfy your senses, the more you will come under the control of lust, greed and anger. Lust is there when you want to satisfy your material desires. Greed is there when you want more than you need.  Anger will always be there in some form when you fail to achieve what you want, or when you attain it but then lose it. The unmerciful masters of lust, greed and anger will never leave you alone.

Dr. Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
"Toward World Peace: Seeing the Unity Between Us All"
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/toward_world_peace_ebook.htm
http://www.stephen-knapp.com  -  http://www.stephenknapp.info/

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

PRODUCTS OF MAGIC AND SPIRITUAL RITUALS

STORE IN PENNSYLVANIA SELLS
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

http://thetimes-tribune.com - (USA) Colorful rosary beads dangled above an assortment of African canes, near a bookshelf stocked with everything from witchcraft books to holy water. Spiritual candles lined wood shelves beneath a row of saint statues, led by St. Michael the Archangel pointing his sword at Satan. About two months since Centro Espiritual Botanica Santa Ana opened in a small South Scranton shop, store officials continue to add the variety of spiritual and religious products that have drawn consumers from across the region to its other location in Stroudsburg. 
“We have a lot of customers that used to travel from up here to go down to Stroudsburg because they didn’t have one here,” said Geisa Ceballos, owner of the store at 612 Cedar Ave., via a translator.

“With this type of business, you have to be knowledgeable, you have to be able to communicate with the spirits.” Though it’s still relatively new, the store offers products that represent dozens of different religions and practices. A pink Buddha candle sits just two rows beneath a “21 Division” candle. Some candles are used to get rid of bad spirits, while others are meant to attract love. A Roman Catholic cross hangs on the wall, across the room from a Santa Muerte statue. Nearby, a stack of books tackles topics ranging from voodoo to crafting spells. 
“As a botanica we have to sell everything, from baths to candles to incense — anything that has to do with religions,” she said. “Different cultures have their different saints and different beliefs. We need to offer it all.”

This article is about a spiritual and religious shop in Scranton city (Pennsylvania, USA). This is just an example, because there are many similar to it. This shops, sometimes called "Botanica" or "Yerberia", sell everywhere lot of metaphysical items for santeria and voodoo, occult and pagan rituals, witchcraft and wiccan ceremonies. It is assumed that these products, some of which are somewhat expensive, can remove negative energies that cause spiritual disturbances, depression, negative thinking & feelings, hopelessness, anger, resentment, unhealthy relationships. These shops announce their spiritual products saying: "Remove a jinx that someone has put on you or a loved one. Need more love in your life? Looking for more money to come your way? Try these products and build your fortune." In order to achieve this goal, they offer a variety of things, from altar tools and supplies, ritual and saint candles, tarot cards and crystal balls, runes, metaphysical and self-help books, aromatherapy products, bulk herbs, incense, t-shirts, bumper stickers, celtic cloaks, statuary, swords, CDs of spiritual music, jewelry, sabbat cards, and all kind of rocks. There are many studies and ancient practices that demonstrate the desire of man to control his destiny without giving up their materialistic desires and embark on different processes, such as the occult, magic, witchcraft, voodoo, witchcraft, macumba, camdombe, etc., speak transcendental and spiritual, but in reality are only different forms of materialism, though subtle, they still will keep us anchored into the ocean of happiness and distress in this wheel of birth and death. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

One of the biggest problems of superficial men is that they confuse the occultism with transcendence. As the occultism try to handle areas of life that are subtle - usually invisible to our eyes - but the invisible has nothing to do with the transcendental and spiritual. The Vedic cosmology divides the existence of every being in their physical existence, which is composed of the body made of earth, water, fire, air and ether, and another part that is the subtle astral body set up by the mind, intelligence and false ego. Beyond the subtle body is our spiritual soul, which is transcendental in nature and can - after being freed from illusion - leave the confines of the gross and subtle bodies, and receive by grace of God a spiritual body in the world eternal God. That is called the perfection of yoga, and is the only area where the pure love manifests.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Occultism”
http://gurumaharaj.net/
http://bhaktipedia.org/espanol/index.php?n=sabidurias_vedicas.ocultismo
http://www.sabiduriavedica.org/c39-espiritualidad/ocultismo/

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2015

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2015
HAPPY YEAR OF THE SHEEP

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese were seeing in the Year of the Sheep on Thursday, but with fortune-tellers predicting accidents and an unstable economy, it wasn't exactly warming everyone's heart. “In around June, when it's getting hot in China, the Western economy will fluctuate quite a lot and will be very unstable,” Shanghai-based astrologer Dong Jialing predicted. “But August or September will mark the start of a very stable economic period,” he said. 
This animal sign, which comes once every dozen years, can be said to have an identity crisis. Known variably as the Year of the Goat, Sheep or Ram, the sign's confusion stems from its Chinese character, "yang," which broadly describes any of the ruminating mammals, with or without horns.

Many Chinese prefer to translate it as the “Year of the Sheep” because sheep are more cute and cuddly, and large sheep figures have appeared around the capital's shopping areas in recent weeks. The goat, however, is more likely to be the original meaning because it was a popular farm animal. During the seven-day holiday that started Wednesday, the world's second-biggest economy largely shuts down. 
Many mainland Chinese tuned into the annual New Year's Eve TV gala Wednesday evening, and this year's mascot managed to achieve the problem-solving feat of not being clearly a sheep or a goat. The previous year, the Year of the Horse, is generally considered to be an auspicious time - never mind that Asian airlines had a string of high-profile disasters.

Happy Chinese New Year! Today marks the beginning of the lunar calendar used in many parts of Asia and celebrated around the world. But, are we in the Year of the Sheep or the Ram or the Goat? The confusion stems from a bit of ambiguity in the Chinese language. The Chinese character "yang" describes any of the ruminating mammals, with or without horns. A goat is "shanyang," while a sheep is "mianyang." (A ram is just a male sheep.) The Chinese character "yang" is present in other characters with positive meanings, such as "beautiful," ''auspicious" and "goodness." Still, some superstitious Chinese find the year inauspicious. Some parents say they'll avoid having a child this year. Astrologists interviewed said this year would bring a volatile economy, more transport accidents and windy natural disasters such as tornadoes in the United States and typhoons to Southeast Asia. Feng shui master Clement Chan said he sees a lot of fire this year, and "fire means accidents." He anticipates plane crashes in the first half, but not as many as in 2014. He also sees a lot of road accidents. On the positive side, he sees female managers and company leaders doing well this year. "I think you'll see a lot of female world leaders - they'll achieve something great, actually," Chan said. Beyond the popular superstitions and predictions of psychics and astrologers, one thing is certain: This year will be a new opportunity to try to know God and cultivate our inner being. A new chance that God has given us to reflect on towards where we direct our life. God willing, we have twelve months to improve ourselves, purify our spiritual essence and release of many conditions that for countless ages have chained us in this material world. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

A new year is a land mark in our lives and a time for reflection on where we have been, where we are and where we want to go. It's also time to ponder on our failures and mistakes in our spiritual lives. In the path of Bhakti every occasion and everything is for the purpose of transformation. If the previous year bought sufferings in our lives we can take solace in the fact that all sufferings and punishments in this world are for our healthy rectification. Today we need to meditate on what I really want in life. ... On this day let's resolve to go, with determination, to where we really want to go in life. To achieve meaning filled success in our lives, we need strength beyond ourselves and association of sincere souls. We also need to resolve to take shelter of the holy names of God and soberly remember that today we are one year closer to death. At the same time we need to meditate on our purpose in life and that will guarantee an eternal life, beyond the temporary existence of this world.

Śrīla Radhanath Swami Mahārāja :
“'Bless'-ful New Year 2013”
Talk at Sri Radha Gopinath Temple 
Mumbai on New Years Day, 2012
http://www.radhanath-swami.info/
http://www.radhanathswamionline.com/
http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/masters/wellness/blessful-new-year-2013

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

AMERICAN FAITH IN HINDU GODS

SUPER BOWL WINNING QUARTERBACK 
KEEPS A GANESHA DEITY IN HIS LOCKER

www.usatoday.com - (Glendale, Arizona) Tom Brady is the quarterback of the New England Patriots American football team which had just won the Superbowl. When Tom Brady reached his locker, about an hour after victory and a series of interviews, he was done talking to the news media. But his locker spoke for him. Prominently displayed was was a four-inch bronze elephant-headed statue - Ganesha, the Hindu God. Or as Brady quietly told a visitor, "The Remover of Obstacles." 
Two team officials shielded him from the news media with the same intensity that the New England Patriots offensive line protected him from the Seattle Seahawk.

But the locker spoke. Ganesha, remover of obstacles, almost beckoned to the curious. Ganesha illustrates the spiritual side of his psyche developed with trainer and adviser Alex Guerrero. But the spiritual is coupled by mental commitment, evidence by more items in his locker. Lying next to Ganesha were five note cards and handwritten notes that included: "Bend knees more on drop." And, perhaps most important, "Be on toes", and a poster by his children Benjamin and Vivian that read "Go Patriots. Love you Daddy.''  
He was on his toes all night, shaking off two interceptions, throwing four touchdown passes and, in what was again Brady at his best, leading the Patriots back from a 10-point deficit. On his toes on a 20-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski on the game-winning drive. Brady, 37, can now rival Joe Montana as the greatest quarterback of all time.

Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks in American football, believes Ganesha as 'remover of obstacles' and who better needs obstacles to be removed than the playmaker in this rough and tumble game? Brandy keeps a four-inch deity of Ganesha, and his devotion came to light after journalists crowded around his locker after the quarterback led his team New England Patriots to a fourth Super Bowl title two week ago. More items in Brandy's locker - a poster by his children - show that his spiritual and mental commitments are joined. The Times of India newspaper said that "American fealty to Hindu Gods is not new. President Obama himself was reported keeping a small locket of Hanuman in his pocket as a lucky charm during his Presidential campaign. And the US House of Representatives now had a self-professed Hindu lawmaker in Tulsi Gabbard, whose faith comes from the Hare Krishna movement, and who used the Bhagavad Gita to take her oath in Congress." In many parts of the world, especially in all America and Europe, there are many spiritual movements, which have their roots in India but they are not Hindu. Different meditation movements, although rooted in the ancient Hindu meditation practice, are not considered as “Hindu” or even as “religious.” The same is true of the Yoga practitioners, who do not think of themselves as Hindu. Increasingly, more people have started to respect the wise knowledge, admire the open and tolerant way of living, and also enjoy the colorful traditions coming from India. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Hinduism is pluralistic. In other words, it does not claim any one prophet or savior; it includes all aspects of God; it does not subscribe to any one philosophy or dogma; it includes various schools of thought and ways of understanding spiritual Truth; it includes a variety of religious rites or sacraments; it does not exclude any particular scripture that can help a person understand more about God and spiritual Truth; and it does not say that you have only one life in which to become spiritually perfect or you will go to eternal damnation. Thus, Vedic philosophy is more of a way of living and an outlook on life than a religion. Because of this, Hinduism and the path of Vedic culture includes a variety of customs, ideas, and philosophies. It accommodates a wide range of approaches for allowing people to advance and understand our spiritual identity and transcendental Truth.

Dr Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
Vedic Culture / Hinduism: A Short Introduction
http://www.stephenknapp.info/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/vedic_culture_hinduism_a_short_introduction.htm

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/