DURING MEXICAN FEAST OLD BULLS ARE TORTURED

IN MEXICO ANIMALS ARE DRAGGED 
THROUGH A RIVER AND BEATEN BY LOCALS

http://elpais.com - In Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, local ranchers donate their working bulls for a religious festival. The animals are first dragged through a nearby river and afterwards beaten by local residents - many of whom are inebriated - as they climb back on to the riverbank. The bulls in Tlacotalpan are not raised to fight or run - they live peacefully in the fields, and when the time comes their meat is used to feed the hungry. 
But every year six elderly, tired bulls, donated by their owners, are sacrificed during during the celebrations of the feast of the Vírgen de La Candelaria. The popular annual event in this town of 8,000 residents has angered many animal rights groups.

The bulls are forced to cross the river before being beaten by spectators. At the other side of the river the townspeople wait for them. Hundreds pull the bulls out of the water using a rope. They expect the massive animals to run after the spectators, but the bulls can’t or won’t. Unlike fighting bulls, the breed in question is docile and, they are usually already exhausted and can hardly move by the time they arrive at the festivities. Some of the bulls arrive on the riverbank bleeding from the nose. In past years, some of them have drowned in the river. 
But animal rights organizations believe that these rules do not go far enough. “[The cruelty] should be prohibited and eradicated from our society, especially from religious festivals, which should instead focus on teaching people positive values,” reads a joint statement issued by AnimaNaturalis México, PATAS, and Project ARPA.

This violent tradition takes place in the state of Veracruz, Mexico; the article is written by Elena Reina Muñoz. Many voices from protectionist groups have risen to condemn these traditions. Since 2014, municipality of Tlacotalpan had to enact a regulation under pressure from animal rights organizations and the Ministry of Environment for the abuse were not so blatant. But unfortunately things remain the same. The mayor, Homero Gamboa, has acknowledged: “Despite awareness campaigns about the care of the bull, many attendees flout the rules and try to hit the animals.” This is another example of man's cruelty to animals, but why are there people who enjoy torturing the defenseless? Our spiritual masters have taught us that is due to a greater or lesser degree the consciousness is covered. As their consciousness is said to be retracted, animals can not search to find God. Only conditioned souls in human bodies can search and love God. Among people there are different stages: those who are in the stage of budding consciousness; those who practice devotional service (sadhana-bhakti), situated in the stage of blossoming consciousness; and those who have already reached the love of God (bhava-bhakti), situated in the stage of fully blossomed consciousness. As human beings we have already reached an auspicious condition of life, so we should act accordingly protecting our younger siblings (the animals). We should improve our state of consciousness, change our materialistic view of life and help our neighbors to do the same. We should be concerned, not only in our individual advancement, but also be ready to collaborate in the task of raising consciousness in others and walk with them along the path of goodness. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

[...] We must constantly work to raise our consciousness, which is the potential that God gave rational beings like us. The initial and most basic step to enter into this platform is to stop harming others for personal benefit or gain. And for this, it is essential to become sensitive to animals and stop mistreating them only for our sense gratification. At that time we will be able to enter into the area of universal respect and love between beings. A feature of those who want to change the world is that they feel constantly that life is a bliss [...]. Those who possess this ability should share it with others and educate people in such values, because when consciousness is shared, it is possible together to begin to understand the philosophy of love: then it becomes an endless bliss.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
"Love Activists, Activists of Consciousness"
http://voces.huffingtonpost.com/b-a-paramadvaiti-swami/activistas-del-amor-activas-de-la-conciencia_b_2089259.html
http://gurumaharaj.net/
http://vrindaportal.com/
http://vrindanews.com/

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

STAY AWAY FROM MEAT!

10 REASONS WHY IT'S 
GOOD TO STOP EATING BEEF

http://www.boldsky.com - Excessive consumption of red meat can cause certain health effects. Beef is not an exemption. Though it can provide many nutrients, health experts recommend minimising the consumption of beef or is possible, staying away from it altogether. Read on to know why eating beef could be bad for health: (1) It Hardens Your Blood Vessels - This applies to all red meats. Carnitine, which is a compound that is present in red meat may clog arteries. 
(2) May Cause Infections - E.Coli is a microorganism that may cause kidney failure, cramps in the stomach or even dehydration. (3) Hormones - The hormones present in red meat may increase the risk of suffering breast cancer in women. (4) Bacteria - As beef sellers want more profits, they started using certain drugs on cattle to make them grow faster and bulkier. This makes the meat cause certain side effects in humans including bacterial infections.

(5) Affects Immunity and cause Inflammation - Your immunity may react to certain substances present in red meat. (6) May Cause Cancer - Processed meat increase the risk of cancer due to certain additives and flavours added to processed beef and this makes it more dangerous. (7) May Cause Diabetes - Too much of beef consumption may also lead to type 2 diabetes and the risk factor increases by 45%.  (8) Alzheimer's - Red meat consumption in excess may cause accumulation of iron and this might indirectly lead to the risk of suffering Alzheimer's disease. 
(9) Cardiovascular Issues - Eating too much of beef is linked to cardiovascular diseases because the bacteria in the gut breaking down certain substances in beef and releasing certain harmful compounds. (10) Obesity - It goes without saying that too much of meat on your plate can easily obesity. It is tough to burn all the calories and fat when you are on a beef diet.

This article was written by Praveen Kumar from boldsky.com. He wisely wonders "Does it make any sense to eat artery-clogging meat? When you plan your diet with low calorie foods, why eat fattening meat on the other side? Beef pushes your waistline further and invites a host of health issues like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart issues and osteoporosis." Also, he adds, "any animal product comes with a set of minus points. It comes with hormones, antibiotics, bacteria and toxins too." While research found that both red meat and processed meats contained similar amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol - both a contributing factor for heart disease and stroke - processed meats had on average four times higher levels of salt and other preservatives, according to lead author of the study Renata Micha, research fellow in the department of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health. Despite all these, many people still claim about meat protein benefits, so the debate over the pros and cons of vegetarianism will continue forever, as different people have different needs and differing views on health and nutrition. However, our spiritual teachers have taught us that the fundamental principle of vegetarianism is essentially not to be violent. To eat meat is necessary to kill, therefore we must abstain from eating meat, for not participating in violence against other living creatures. If we are part of the food chain that is based on the act of killing, we will receive as a reaction to be born as animals in order to be killed. Srila Prabhupada has very clearly explained that we had animal bodies in past lives, and if we do not reach perfection in this opportunity which has been given us this human life, we will return to these lower forms. So please, do not eat meat. We should not participate in the killing of animals and therefore we can avoid both the suffering of our younger brothers and the harmful effects on our health and our future destiny. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Eating of cow flesh or the flesh of any other animal, the motivation behind slaughter, is detrimental to the health of human beings. [...] Meat bearing animals suffer from dozens of diseases and parasites caused through unnatural living and exploitation such as forced feeding, which causes fatty degeneration of organs, endocrine complications through castration diseases including contagious abortion, foot and mouth diseases, fevers, catarrhal conditions, cancer tumours, tuberculosis, mastitis, liver flukes causing ducts to be filled with septic matter (only the liver is condemned, not the carcass), etc; their blood and tissues are impregnated with preventive vaccines. Poultry is often impregnated with oestrogens, which are carcinogens. Animal fats contain cholesterol which is now thought to cause coronary diseases of the heart.

Vedic Knowledge Online - “Hidden Price of Meat”
“Modern Civilization is Centered Around Animal Killing”
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/change.htm#2

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

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/

SURGERY TO INCREASE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE

“EL CHAPO” UNDERWENT OPERATION
TO ENHANCE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE

https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com - Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, 58, underwent a drug dealer operation in the genitals to improve sexual performance, a few weeks before holding a secret meeting in the Mexican jungle with actress Kate del Castillo and actor Sean Penn while a fugitive, according to reports. 
CNN in Spanish revealed that information on its website based on the testimony of "an official from the Mexican government" not identified and pointed out that the surgery took place in a hospital in the state of Baja California in northwestern Mexico . Apparently the doctors put “implant” to “increase blood circulation in the area and thereby improve sexual performance leader of the Sinaloa Cartel,” indicating the channel, which does not offer more details.

Experts say that women were “weakness” of “El Chapo”, in his life he had seven known partners, with whom he fathered 18 children. 
According to the Mexican government, the boss had an "almost obsessive interest" in Del Castillo, apparently emerged following she wrote him an open letter in 2012 via Twitter asking him to use his power to do good and be a “hero”.  After that he sent her some flowers and from there they held a secret communication-from September, thanks to a cell phone that the boss bought the actress with some messages of affection.  These messages were broadcast by Mexican media had access to them through the intelligence services. Some of the texts that the actress, were “I moved too much to tell me you take care of me.”

A new revelation in the saga of recently recaptured Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman shows that he suffered from erectile dysfunction and had recently undergone surgery for it. “What's new about this? That Guzman has a weakness for women? He has 18 children, he's married to a woman 30 years younger than him,” said Alejandro Hope, a security analyst in Mexico City. At the end, the most wanted drug lord was held in a sex motel room. Saying “Lord” to these people, it is proof of how sick our society is. The true Lord is God, the Lord is Krishna, the Lord is Jehova, the Lord is Allah. True Lords are Shiva, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad. This “drug lord” wanted to avoid the natural effects of aging. Lord Krishna himself says in chapter 11 verse 32 of the Bhagavad Gita, “Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds.” He is the true God, the one who is the annihilator, the killer of all. When there is creation, He develops all from their original state, and at the time of annihilation He devours them. Time does not spare any person, whether in the case of a billionaire “lord” of drugs or a penniless and homeless drug addict. This man, hated by many but respected and admired by others, is unable to accept the passage of time and he does not respect the stages of his own body. Men fear him but he fears to look ridiculous against women by their erection problems and low sexual performance - a limitation that naturally comes when one reaches a certain age and it should be tolerated as part of this human life. It is in vain artificially fight against the current of time. Each person should accept his age and act on it. Like winter and summer, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, every stage of life has its reason for being and all of this has been planned by the Supreme Lord, so we must accept everything as His mercy. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The society of human being is naturally divided into eight by orders and statuses of life — the four divisions of occupation and four divisions of cultural advancement. The intelligent class, the administrative class, the productive class and the laborer class are the four divisions of occupation. And the student life, the householder's life, retired life and renounced life are the four statuses of cultural advancement towards the path of spiritual realization. Out of these, the renounced order of life, or the order of sannyāsa, is considered the highest of all, and a sannyāsī is constitutionally the spiritual master for all the orders and divisions. [...]  The human life is meant for attaining eternal and unlimited happiness by spiritual realization.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 1 - Creation
Chapter 3: Krishna Is the Source of All Incarnations - Verse 13

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

THE BENEFITS OF A PLANT-BASED DIET

THE HEALTH BENEFITS 
OF A PLANT-BASED DIET

http://news.yahoo.com - When you consider Bill Clinton’s svelte physique post-heart surgery and Paul McCartney’s on-stage energy, it may seem that vegetarianism is a fountain of youth. And a strong body of research supports the idea that a plant-based diet can boost your health, decreasing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, and helping you stay at a healthy weight. It can even lengthen your life, according to a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine that tracked more than 70,000 people. 
But for many, life without steak, barbecued chicken, or pork tacos doesn’t sound so appealing. Fortunately, you don’t have to make an either/or choice. “Just making a shift to a more plant-based diet can offer significant health benefits,” says Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., an adjunct associate professor of nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The main advantages of a plant-based diet seem to be more related to the foods you’re eating lots of (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts) rather than those you’re eating less of (meat). “When you base your meals on plant foods, you’re packing your diet with the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that most Americans don’t get enough of,” says Sharon Palmer, R.D.N., editor of Environmental Nutrition.
Plant-based diets are also full of phytochemicals, compounds that help keep many of your body’s systems running smoothly. For instance, the anthocyanins in berries help protect vision; carotenoids in carrots and cantaloupe, and the isothiocyanates in brussels sprouts neutralize the free radicals that cause cell damage; and flavonoids in apples help control inflammation.

This article is written by Rachel Meltzer Warren to Consumer Reports. Despite all the evidence which proves that the adoption of plant-based diets is a way to improve individual and public health, many people still consider that humans have evolved as carnivores, and they do not want to live without eating meat. However, one thing is clear: the more unprocessed plant based foods you eat, the better your overall health. So regardless of what diet you choose - vegetarian, vegan, paleo - avoid processed foods. If you became vegetarian or vegan, you will never worry about your cholesterol or blood pressure levels. Another thing to take into account is that eating beef has daunting environmental impacts. We should also be aware of the fact that eating vegetarian or vegan foods helps combat climate change and other environmental problems. Because of the amount of grain and land used to produce a pound of beef, as well as the volume of methane the animals produce, the world’s intake of beef has significant environmental ramifications, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, the environmental impacts from beef production dwarf those of other animal foods such as dairy products, pork and poultry.  Apart from all that, did you know that each vegetarian or vegan person spares more than 100 animals from dreadful anguish, suffering and pain every year? So, why not try to put more vegetables on your plate and gradually eliminate meat consumption? (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The word “vegetarian,” first used by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in 1842, comes from the Latin word “vegetus” meaning “whole, sound, fresh, or vigorous”. The original meaning of the word implies a balanced philosophy and moral sense of life, much more than a diet of fruits and vegetables. In 1961 the Journal of the American Medical Association said: “Between 90% and 97% of heart disease can be prevented by a vegetarian diet.” Since then it is known scientifically that after snuff and alcohol, meat consumption is a major cause of mortality in Western Europe, USA, Australia and other regions. A report by the British medical journal, The Lancet, DCR Sirtori concluded that people with high levels of cholesterol associated with heart disease “may benefit from a diet in which protein comes only from vegetables.” 

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Vegetarianism as a lifestyle”
http://gurumaharaj.net/
http://vrindaportal.com/category/english/
http://vrindanews.com/category/acharyas-2/swami-b-a-paramadvaiti/
http://vrindanews.com/acharyas-2/swami-b-a-paramadvaiti/vegetarianism-as-a-lifestyle-srila-guru-maharaj/

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