Vedic Astrolgy - Conference
By Shyamasundara Das et. al.
Text
COM:976143 (16 lines)
From: Internet: BHUMNA@aol.com
Date: 20-Dec-97 00:46
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [434]
Subject: Re:
Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
Prabhu,
I work as a psychic and an astrologer. Historically there have
predictions
of world disasters at the approach of each century, what to speak
of
a milleneum. The Aleutian natives preach of a period of spiritual
prosperity,
of hope, of joy of wonderment. My guides tell me that the 10,000
year
period predicted will continue and can be extended not the reverse. ( I
am
known to be more critical than anything else) I have a 90% correct rate
and
feel silly writing these things to you because I don't know you. Still I
am
so tired of hearing these negative predictions when we are ignoring
Krishna's
wonderful energy all around that could be tapped into and enliven
people.
I listen to people's darkest secrets, there is much suffering in this
world.
I wish devotees could be more positive, polite, and loving to the
suffering
masses.
Besides
there is a train of thought that everything is happening by desire
and
meditations are desires. By spreading this disaster concept people almost
wish
it.
Tilak
dasi
(Text
COM:976143) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:977008 (136 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 20-Dec-97 00:21
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [435]
Reference:
Text COM:974767 by Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Subject: Astral-disinformation
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear
Maharajas and Prabhus,
Hare
Krsna!
One
point that I forgot to make regarding these predictions
of
the future. This would apply more to psychics and such
and
less to astrologers because they don't rely totally on
psychic
stuff but on charts etc.
It
has been suggested by some that a lot of the
dark
predictions being made about the future is being
influenced
and manipulated from the subtle level. In other
words
"astral-disinformation." I first encountered this
when
I was living in Southern California (1992-94)
considered
the most likely place to get the first effects
of
any "earth change." I would get periodic calls from
devotees
and karmis about predictions of the "big one"
coming
up in the next month or some other time. They had
read
about it in some astrological magazine or some
"psychic"
predicted it. I would calmly respond that I was
not
packing my bags and leaving just yet.
I
happened to mention this to Atmattatva Prabhu once over
prasadam
(he was visiting and working with the BI at the
time,)
he made a curious comment. He said that all these
reports
of the upcoming calamity and big earth quake etc.
were
being propagated purposely in the ether by powerful
subtle
beings in order to create dis-information. Why?
Because
the predictions will invariably fail and when the
real
warnings are given then no one will listen because the
other
warning were all hoaxes. (Like the story of the boy
who
cried "wolf".) It was obvious
that the sources of such
dis-information
were not benevolent spirits.
This
etherical disinformation (half-truths etc) affect
mostly
pyschics and such, but can also affect astrologers
because
their inspirations may be influenced by such
astral-pollution.
Sort of like jamming a radio frequency.
It
would thus be important for vedic astrologers to protect
themselves
before doing these kinds of predictions (any
predictions
for that matter). Aside from having a
tremendous
astrological education and experience, they must
also
have good sadhana, and do "bhuta shuddhi" before doing
any
consultation. By "bhuta shuddhi" I mean exactly the
same
one that is done in archana so that the mind of the
pujari
is not disturbed by negative subtle forces trying to
disturb
the worship. Of course "bhuta suddhi" has other
purposes
but I specifically mean in this case protection
from
"bhutas."
Just
recently I spoke to a client of mine who happens to
work
for various, shall we say, government organizations,
who
told me a version of the same thing that Atmatattva
did.
He slant was that certain parties (including, but not
limited
to, New World Order types) were cashing in on the
"Millenial
Madness" and putting false or misleading
messages
into the ether via "remote viewing" and other
material
mystic siddhis, in order to advance their own
agendas.
There is no one unified program out there but a
lot
of competing factions.
I
told him the story of how Duryodhana was once on the
brink
of committing suicide, but was kidnapped by a yogini,
and
brought to a lower planet and brough before the
presiding
powers. They told him that he couldn't commit
suicide
because he had been sent to earth (like the devas
who
took birth as Yadhus) on a mission to conquor it for
them,
etc. and that they would help him. He was then sent
back
and regained full enthusiasm. However no matter what
plan
the demoniac come up with they always run into
difficulty, because they forgot one player, the fly
in
the ointment so to speak--KRSNA.
The
same is true now. What ever plans and conspiracies
these
high level athiests have they must still deal with
the
ultimate plan wrecker--Lord Krsna. As Robert Burns
said"The
best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."
So
there is no doubt that the future of this world is not
bright,
it wasn't designed to be, but ultimately everything
is
under the will of the Prime Mover, Lord Krsna. No one
should
stop their devotional service because of any
prediction.
Devotional service is not material. The motive
for
doing it is not material but spiritual, even if we
build
a temple and it is dstroyed does that mean the
devotional
service is destroyed? No. It means that we start
again
and continue with our devotional service under any
circumstance.
I think the devotees from the former USSR can
appreciate
this. They were preachers, just because the KGB
arrested
them and tried to stop their preaching they didn't
stop.
They just preached more enthusiastically in the
Gulag.
No one could stop their devotional service. There
are
no material impediments to devotional service because
it
is spiritual.
To
give an example of how we should not give up in spite of
any
circumstance I would like to tell you a true story I
heard
on the radio earlier this year.
The
news announced that a French Journalist had just died
at
the age of 40 something, after having
just published a
150
page book. It had taken him 18 months to write it. The
astounding
thing was that he had suffered an extremely
debilitating
stroke just 19-20 months earlier leaving him
completely
paralyzed and unable to even speak. The only way
he
could communicate was by blinking his left eye, he
didn't
even have use of his right eye. Still, with this
left
eye he wrote a 150 page book. His assistant would
indicate
a letter of the alphabet and if it was the correct
one
he would blink. This is called determination in spite
of
the greatest difficulty.
Just
imagine what spiritual progress we could make if we
applied
the same determination. So don't let any prophecy
stop
any devotee from executing his service to the Lord, it
is
not material and should not be viewed from material
perspective.
One
more point. In 1993-94, the devotees in
Alachua wanted
to
build a temple. But some persons went to a Bhrgu
Sastrini
who told them they should not build the temple and
that
they should wait. If they built the temple something
bad
would happen and the donors would lose money etc, etc,.
This
created a lot of confusion in the minds of the
devotees
and conflict between opposing views. I was asked
my
opinion. I countered this negative prophecy by putting
out
a series of articles on the schools of astrology with
an
indepth analysis of the Nadi granthas (you may want to
review
that). The devotees in Alachua thus ignored the
warnings
of doom and went ahead and built their temple
which
so far has only expanded and not experienced any of
the
negative results predicted by the Bhrgu-sastrini or her
followers.
yhs
shyama
(Text
COM:977008) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975629 (24 lines)
From: Dina-natha (das) SNS (Delhi - IN)
Date: 19-Dec-97 17:39
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [433]
Reference:
Text COM:947045 by Shyamasundara (das) ACBSP (Florida - USA)
Subject: Death of a Great Astrologer
------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
I had originally sent this last month but because of some
>
bugs in COM it didn't post.
>
>
To: Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se
>
Subject: Death of a Great
Astrologer
>
Reply-to:
Shyamasundara.acbsp@com.bbt.se
>
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 16:24:34
>
>
Hare Krsna!
>
>
Last night I happened to call India to speak to Sriman R.
>
Santhanam, his wife go on the phone and told me that he died
>
suddenly of a heart attack on Oct 18, 1997. Needless to say
>
I was stunned.
Also
when I came to the shop of the Sagar publications in Delhi and I asked
them
about Mr. Santhanam, they told me that he just "expired", that was
the
exact
term that they used. Said but true.
Y/s,
Dnd.
P.S.
Have you heard of Sanjay Rath? He translated Jaimini's Upadesa Sutras.
(Text
COM:975629) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:974767 (82 lines)
From: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Date: 19-Dec-97 09:43
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [426]
Cc: Ekanath (das) HKS (NE-BBT, Almvik - S)
[6845] (received: 19-Dec-97
19:42) (sender: (Bhakta) Jan Mares (NE-BBT Czech))
Reference:
Text COM:974139 by Nikhilananda (das) ACBSP (D)
Comment: Text COM:977008 by Internet: Shyamasundara
Dasa afn14643@afn.org>
Subject: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
So
many predictions by so many people. I have merely stated what I heard or
read,
not that I could believe any without some substantial proof. Some
astrologers
as well as clairvoyoants do have the opinion that many wars and
natural
disasters will take place, including
delhi
astrologer KN RAo its seems: his date was 2002 and 2003. I heard that
from
Sridhar Swami. Still, I dont know.
I
suppose the next few years will reveal it all.
I have not read written
statements
of KN Rao on this, only through Sridhar Swami. The others have
written
as follows:
Gayatri
devi says "The years 1998, 1999 and 2000 are likely to be years of
tremendous
changes in world history, heavy carnage, incendiarism and fearful
happeneings. International bodies of peace will stand
watching impotently."
But:
"Astrological indications are never deterministic, not even the most
severe
afflictions. They only emphasize the need for extra effort and
exertion
to overcome them and to augment the good points."
P.Sastri
predicts problems in 19.1 1998 and 6.4.2000:
First in middle east
and
poland and ukraine, then conflict between middle east and western
powers.
S.K.Kapoor:natural
calamities in July 1999, and june july 2000, war possible
in
aug. 1999 and june 2000
K.K.Pathak:
possible war on 28.5.2000, but not world war.
Bepin
Bihari: with conjunctioin of saturn and jupiter India will take a more
promising
course in government leadership.
luthra: possible world war in sept. 1999 or 2000
Conclusion:
posible wars and serious natural calamities.
These predictions
are
not based on the fact of 2000 after christ, but on the coincidental bad
configuration
of planets at that time. (christ was not even born in 0 year
but
7? years before.) There are also many
astrologers who make false
predictions. Judge by their previous records.
It
is possible that asuras can also have mystic powers, as we see with
raksasas,
who are non veg. They can appear and
disappear, manifest control
by
mind, change shape, flying in the sky, etc.
I would think they could
also
see the future to some degree.
Experiments done at Stanford research
institute
by Hal Putoff have shown that ordinary people can develop the
ability
of clairvoyance seeing objects or events at a distance and also
projecting
into the future. This is called scientific remote viewing. It
was
sponsored by the military for spying purposes. People who have had near
death
experiences have also experienced clairvoyance and other "mystic
powers." Such cases have been studied by reliable
doctors.
So
it is nothing super human, nor purely imaginery, according to the
testimony
of those investigating and involved. We cannot dismiss all
evidence
simply because they are not pure devotees.
But with such mental work, there is always the
possibility of distortion
due
to personal desires. Added to this the flux of future events due to
divine
intervention.
Added
to this there are many imposters.
The
only thing to do would be to examine carefully the past predictions of a
certain
person, and see how much came true.
Based on that one could accept
or
reject that persons predictions about the future. Even then, future is
not
totally deterministic. My point is that many clairvoyants have made
predictions
of disasters around 2000. Is it simply accident that astrologers
are
making the same predictions.
Perhaps
someone could check out the degree of reliability of the past
predictions
of both the astrologers and the clairvoyants.
The reliability
of
Raman's family (Great grandfather of
Gayatri) of astrologers has been
somewhat
verified by the fact of making predictions about WWII before it
took
place.
As
for clairvoyants, Gordon Scallion, who
attained his powers after a
medical
problem, made predictions about earth tremors in 1995. 10 out of 12
were
correct in location, intensity and
time. That is the information I
have
been given, but someone should verify if this is actually correct. If
so,
he has a better record than an astrologer.
Formerly he predicted
calamities
about 2004, but he has since moved up the date to 1998. So I
suppose
we will see the veracity of his predictions shortly. Starting in
1998
Japan, alaska, west cost of America, will begin to have more severe
earth
quakes, and volcanoes, so that the coast population would have to be
evacuated
over the rocky mountains. These are precursors of a pole shift
maximum
45 degrees. Canada will be come quite tropical. If the first part
turns
out true next year, perhaps we should study his other predictions more
seriously.
Perhaps
someone in America has more information on his previous rate of
success
in predictions.
Srila
Prabhupad made predictions about WW as
well. Who knows the details
and
when?
(Text
COM:974767) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975326 (110 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
Cc: mrkandadas@com.org
Cc: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [432]
Reference:
Text COM:966438 by Hari Sauri (das) ACBSP
Subject: Re: Does anyone know about quivering signs
in the body?
------------------------------------------------------------
>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 97 17:11 +0100
>
From: "COM: Hari Sauri
(das) ACBSP" <Hari.Sauri.ACBSP@com.bbt.se>
>
Reply-to:
Hari.Sauri.ACBSP@com.bbt.se, Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se
>
To: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
>
To: "WWW: Mrkanda (Dasa)
(Oberlin OH - USA)" <mrkandadas@com.org>
>
Cc: "COM: Vedic
Astrology" <Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se>
>
Subject: Re: Does anyone know about
quivering signs in the body?
>
[Text 966438 from COM]
>
>
> I was wondering if anyone on this conference
>
> knows anything about the science of fortelling future
>
> auspicious or inauspicious events by the quivering motion
>
> that sometimes occurs in different parts of the body.
>
> I was once with Srila Prabhupada on the
Hyderabad farm in
> Dec. 1976
>
when he made a statement to Mahamsa Swami that none in
>
Kali-yuga should work alone. Just as he said this,
>
Jagadisha who was Prabhupada's secretary at that time and
>
was sitting in another room out of earshot of our
>
conversation, gave a loud sneeze. Prabhupada immediately
>
responded "Confirmed!"
> Later I asked His Divine Grave if there was
some book in
> which all
>
these signs were listed--the sneezing, the tic-tic of the
>
lizard etc.-- and he said yes. However I don't know still
>
what that book is. Shyama, didn't you once write something
>
on this subject?
Yes,
sometime in 1994 I posted a whole series
on this
forum
about the meanings of sneezes, etc.
>
And do you know what that book is?
>
There
is a whole literature on this subject, the genre as a
whole
is called "Shakunasastra" and there are many texts on
the
subject such as Brhat Samhita of Varaha Mihira,
Sivaswarodaya
and Swaracintamani--both texts dealing with
the
meaning of the breath (which nostril the breath is
leaving
by), Prasna Marga has several sections on Shakuna.
There
is a texts called Shakunauti from Rajastan written in
the
local prakrit which is compilation of previous texts.
Another
is Basantarajashakunodaya written before the 12th
century.
Then
there is Mahadeva's Pancapakshishakunam (omens from
birds)
of unknown antecedents or date.
Gargasamhita
has chapters on Shakuna especially ones based
on
Pashaka--dice playing--he has devised a system of
divination
based on the sacred dice playing of Sri-Sri
Radha
Krsna.
As
I said this genre is generally called Shukuna sastra
from
"shaknoti shubhaashubham vijnaatum"--the source of
foretelling.
They have been grouped by ancient thinkers
into
8 groups: (1) Bhauma, (2)Utpaata, (3) Svapna, (4)
Ulkaapaata,
(5) Anga, (6)Vyanjana, (7) Lakshana, (8)
Svarodaya.
Shakuna
orginally stemmed from the foretelling of events
from
the sounds of birds, remembering that sages lived in
dense
forests, and were not urban dwellers or residents of
cyberspace.
Later this term included others as mentioned
above.
I will give very brief description.
(1)
Bhauma--earth quakes, tremors, volcanoes and other
things
related directly to earth beneath our feet are bad
omens.
(2)Utpaata--Calamaties
and unusual events, such as drought,
hordes
of rats, rain looking like blood or milk, etc were
bad
omens.
(3)
Svapna--dreams
(4)
Ulkaapaata--Atmospheric events. appearance of heavenly
bodies
in unusual forms, this includes eclipses, comets,
meteors,
etc.
(5)
Anga--throbbing or twitching of limbs. In general
unless
otherwise noted, any effects on the body of a male
will
have the same effects on a female if found on the
opposite
side of the body. That is, if on the rightside on
a
male, then the leftside for female.
(6)
Vyanjana--this includes moles and other markings on the
body.
(7)
Lakshana--aka Samudrika Sastra--reading lines, bodily
features
(physiogamy). Palmistry--hasta samudrika is an
offshoot.
(8)Svarodaya--snoring,
breathing from one or other nostril,
sound
of musical instruments, calls of birds, tone of
voice.
I have mentioned two works on this subject, another
is
Narapatijayacharya.
This
is a brief description of the main 8 branches, there
are
others but this is already getting a lot longer than I
had
intended.
yhs
shyama
(Text
COM:975326) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975324 (56 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
Cc: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [431]
Reference:
Text COM:965753 by Karunesa (das) KKD (Zagreb - HR)
Subject: Re: doomsday and us
------------------------------------------------------------
>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 97 11:12 +0100
>
From: "COM: Karunesa (das)
KKD (Zagreb - HR)"
<Karunesa.KKD@com.bbt.se>
>
Reply-to: Karunesa.KKD@com.bbt.se,
Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se
>
To: "COM: Vedic
Astrology" <Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se>
>
Subject: doomsday and us
>
[Text 965753 from COM]
>
>
Pamho!AgtSP!
>
>
I don't understand one thing.
>
>
In my case, and in few others, we don't have such a bad
>
future. One devotee is supposed to become a great
>
musician, my brother has a big success, I also have some,
>
but how it does relate with the future. I mean, all those
>
wars, disasters, earthquakes, volcanos, diseases and so
>
one. Becasue, that god years in horoscopes are just to
>
come, starting with 1998. Does it mean that disasters are
>
not going to be so big or what? Maybe it is not going to
>
happen what is written in our horoscopes?
>
>
How is the future of the world related with us, don't we
>
share the karma with the society?
>
>
Can somebody explain it to me?
>
I
don't want to get into a big explanation but I will say
this.
Often I am asked, in a somewhat humerous way, what
the
stars have to say, and I respond back, that for some
the
stars are good, and for some the very same stars are
bad.
When somebody is going down, some else is going up.
When
one empire is rising another is falling.
WWII
was a horrible tragedy in which 58 million
died
by conservative estimates. Yet some people were
favored
by this war. Prabhupada once told of one man in
India
who worshipped Hitler, not because he believed his
politics
but because since Hitler had come on the scene he
had
made huge profits.
The
point is: not that every person in the
world is
doing
well at any one time, or the reverse. The same can be
applied
to groups or societies. For example the Islamic
religion
flourished and spread like wild fire between
roughly
650-900AD at the same time the very ancient
religion
of Zoroastrianism, an Vedic heterodox offshoot and
major
world religion which competed directly with
Christianity,
was liquidated when the Moslems conquored
Persia
and defeated the Sassanid Empire. They went from 10s
of
millions to less than 100,000 who survived and ran away
to
India and are today called the Parsis.
yhs
shyama
(Text
COM:975324) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975323 (21 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
To: bhakta Ivar
<dutch-bbt@mail2.tornado.be>
Cc: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [430]
Reference:
Text COM:966166 by Internet: bhakta Ivar dutch-bbt@mail2.tornado.be>
Subject: Re: doomsday and us
------------------------------------------------------------
>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 97 15:51 +0100
>
From: bhakta Ivar
<dutch-bbt@mail2.tornado.be>
>
Reply-to:
dutch-bbt@mail2.tornado.be, Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se
>
To: "COM: Vedic
Astrology" <Vedic.Astrology@com.bbt.se>
>
Subject: Re: doomsday and us
>
[Text 966166 from COM]
>
>
>Can somebody explain it to me?
>
>
rakhe krsna mare ke
>
mare krsna rakhe ke
>
>
Exactly. When I was first in India I was in the middle
of
Malaria
epidemic, one doctor told me that there had been
100,000
new cases reported in Hyderabad alone, the city I
was
in. Several devotees got malaria, I was bitten by the
same
mosquitos as they were (no nets) but I didn't get it.
Nor
did I get any serious disease in the 5 years I was in
India.
(Text
COM:975323) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975308 (153 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [429]
Cc: Ekanath (das) HKS (NE-BBT, Almvik - S)
[6846] (received: 19-Dec-97
19:42) (sender: (Bhakta) Jan Mares (NE-BBT Czech))
Subject: Re: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
I
sent this some time ago but didn't send a copy to the
forum.
>
[Text 961625 from COM]
>
> Recently I have been hearing more and more
about the
> "coming
>
apocalypse" by the year 2000. I have even heard
>
Prabhupada's godbrother BV Puri Maharaja say that from 98
>
through 2000 there will be an escalation of war, then
>
famine, uncontrollable diease and natural disasters which
>
will result in the destruction of 3/4 of the world's
>
population and the end of the mechanical/technological
>
era. People will be forced to go back to the land and
>
after a period of hardship will actually become peaceful
>
and happy and will remain that way for about another 2,000
>
years. He bases this on his own realizations.
> Last week this appeared in the Caclutta
newspaper Asian
> Age:
>
>
>
> Headline: KANNADA WEEKLY SAYS APOCALYPSE ON MAY 8, 1999
>
> Bangalore Dec.7: And
end-of-world cover story published in the
>
>Kannada weekly Taranga has frightened some readers into a buying frenzy
>
with
>
>each copy, normally priced at Rs. 5 selling for as high as Rs. 100....The
>
>feature which claims to be based on scientific studies suggests that the
>
>world will be wiped out by the turn of the centuary, May 8 1999 to be
>
>precise. Eight planets will line up on that unfortunate day and the world
>
>will come to an end."
>
>
> The article goes on to say how the author
quotes from a
> variety of
>
sources to back up his speculation--Nostradamus, the
>
Bible, Quran, Puranas etc. as well as current global
>
warming studies, El Nino etc. He does think a few high
>
altitude places will survive but most places will be hit
>
severely:
>
>
> "Africa will be shattered,
Europe and West Asia will be swallowed by
>
>rising sea water, most of Japan and California will be destroyed earlier by
>
>earthquakes, and remaining portions in the coming flood; the west coast of
>
>India will be submerged and continental plates will move, separating North
>
>from South India.,,,
>
> "There are few solutions
to avert the disaster. According to
>
>reaserach cited by the author, the killing of so many animals for food has
>
>created a negative force field of their collective anguish. The force field
>
>will contribute to the havoc that shall be wreaked on doomsday he says.
>
>'Even if we ignore the predictions in the holy books, recent scientific
>
>evidence confirms the coming of the flood,' he says."
> The article ends by mentioning how a few
school children
> have
>
stopped studying for their exams because they don't see
>
the point after reading the article.
>
What
kind of planetary alignment where they talking about? I
cranked
out the chart for that date, 7 planets are in chara
rasis
(movable signs) and 2 in dual signs.
Perhaps
I'm just a sceptic at heart. But I remember reading
predictions
like this in 1980 in astrological magazines
about
impending nuclear holocaust in 1982 because of a
certain
planetary allignment mentioned in the following
paragraph.
The Astrolgical Magazine carried several
articles
with titles like "1982 A Year of Cataclysm?"
If
you want to see strange chart formations look up the
following
dates Nov 12-14, 1982, up to six(6) planets in the
sign
of Libra. When I first noted this in 1978, when I had
just
moved to the BI's Atlanta headquarters, I thought to
myself
that something important would happen. It did. The
world
scene changed dramatically. Can anybody tell what
happened
then? Of course the world didn't come to an end,
but
one very significant event occured in that period that
had
a profound effect on world events as we know them
today.
I
still remember that while I was in Atlanta (1978-79) how
Sadaputa
Prabhu was given a book called "The Jupiter Effect"
(it
is still on his shelf in Alachua) written by some
scientists
who speculated that because so many planets would
be
on one side of the earth in Nov 1982 that this would
cause
changes in gravity, leading to major world
catastrophe,
etc.
Check
out early 1962, Feb 4 th in particular,
you
will
see all of the planets in Capricorn except Rahu (it is
physically
impossible to have all the planets in one sign
because
Rahu and Ketu are always 180 degrees apart) . At
that
time also the Indian newspapers were full of prophecy
of
the destruction of the world. What actually happened?
Important
things did happen. Can anybody say what they were?
I'm
not saying that big things will not happen in the
future.
One of my major studies is history, in particular
ancient.
One cynic has described history as "one damned
thing
after another" others have described it as simply a
catalog
of war, death and destruction. The rise and fall of
one
empire after the other. (If you want to read some glum
stuff
I have a large tome called "Darkest Hours" of history
which
doesn't even include one war--just your run of the
mill
disaster, you know The Black Death, influenza (did you
know
that in 1917-19 about 25,000,000 world wide died of
it?)
earthquakes, famines, volcanos, etc. did you know that
the
largest mass drowning--about 500,000 at once took place
in
recent years in Bangladesha? This superceded the
previous
record of 300,000 held by the same
country in the
early
70's ). So I would be the last person to be surprised
to
find that yet another change where to take place in this
world,
which Lord Sri Krsna has so aptly called "a temporary
place
full of misery."
This
doesn't mean that astrology can't predict mundane
events,
but it requires a lot of time and effort. First the
astrologer
has to know ordinary astrology well. Then study
history
in depth. Planetary combinations at periods of
political
and social upheaval through out history should be
looked
into. For example what kind of planetary
positions
were
active when the Moslem Arabs destroyed the Sassanian
dynasty
of Persia after a 17 year campaign 634-651AD?
Mundane
astrology is the most complex field of astrology
because
it combines many factors simultaneously: the charts
of
Nations, leaders, ingress charts, on going transits,
omens
and prasna. Trying to juggle all these things
together
is no mean feat. But in previous times astrologers
where
sponsored by kings and had the time to do such
studies,
now that is hardly possible, as society does not
support
astrology. Very few astrologers are remotely
proficient
at it these days. In ancient times Megastenes
(ambassador
of Seluecus Nikator to Samudra Gupta) records
that
it was also the practice for the astrologers to make
predictions
about the coming year to the king and assembly.
But
if the astrologers predictions failed 3 times he was
not
allowed to make public predictions again.
I
personally do not want to make any predictions on this
matter
because I have not studied all the patterns in depth.
I
will however make one comment regarding the motion of
Jupiter
and Saturn. These two planets are often linked with
major
world changes. They conjoin every 20 years and oppose
every
20 years. That means on year 1 one they conjoin, on
year
10 they oppose, on year 20 they conjoin, on year 30
they
oppose, etc. Their next conjunction is coming up soon.
yhs
shyama
PS
I will answer the questions as to what happened in 1962,
and
1982 after others have a chance to respond.
(Text
COM:975308) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975253 (31 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [428]
Subject: Re: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
>
> >
>
> The article ends by mentioning how a few school children have
>
> stopped studying for their exams because they don't see the point after
>
> reading the article.
>
>
And the psychosis continues. This kind of reaction show
>
the weak constitution of the people in general. Why not
>
give them something real like Krsna consciousness and
>
improve their character.
>
It
has been termed "Millenial Madness" just before the turn
of
the first millenia, 1000 years ago, people also thought
the
world was coming to an end, the 2nd coming of Jesus was
imminent
so why bother doing anything. Society ground to a
halt,
some people stopped building projects or anything else
that
was long term because "what's the use the world is
coming
to an end."
In
any case one thing is for sure, the death rate is 100% I
I
am doomed to die of something whether it be from Global
warming,
nuclear holocaust, ethnic warfare (designer
diseases
aimed at certain ethnic groups--for example
sickle-cell
anemia), slipping on a banana peel and breaking
my
neck, a mosquito bite than turns into cerebral malaria,
or
a heart attack.
yhs
shyamasundara
dasa
(Text
COM:975253) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:975251 (12 lines)
From: Internet: Shyamasundara Dasa
<afn14643@afn.org>
Date: 19-Dec-97 01:35
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [427]
Subject: Re: End of the world
------------------------------------------------------------
One
devotee sent me this.
>
>for instance, the incidence of earth quakes has increased
>
>suprisingly in the last ten years. Of course some of the information may be
>
>supressed by those who dont want anyone to know.
>
>
This is just not true. The USGS keeps exhaustive records
>
of earthquakes and has addressed this misconception many
>
times.
USGS
I assume stands for US Geological Survey.
(Text
COM:975251) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:974140 (8 lines)
From: Nikhilananda (das) ACBSP (D)
Date: 18-Dec-97 23:53
To: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN) [5417] (received: 19-Dec-97 01:32)
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [425]
Reference:
Text COM:971863 by Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Subject: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
In
my humble opinion the conjunction of jupiter and saturn in aries
is
not so bad for world events but would be
conducive for spiritual life.
Jupiter
and saturn together mostly prove to be good for spiritual
life,
yogic tendencies etc although it is a mars sign. I would assume that
year
may give birth to a very powerful world ruler of spiritual
disposition.
there may be war also but I do not expect the proportions that
could
cause a major destruction of the world. May be it is just my
optimism.
(Text
COM:974140) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:974139 (149 lines)
From: Nikhilananda (das) ACBSP (D)
Date: 18-Dec-97 23:53
To: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN) [5416] (received: 19-Dec-97 01:32)
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [424]
Cc: Ekanath (das) HKS (NE-BBT, Almvik - S)
[6844] (received: 19-Dec-97
19:42) (sender: (Bhakta) Jan Mares (NE-BBT Czech))
Reference:
Text COM:967304 by Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Comment: Text COM:974767 by Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Subject: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
AgtSP
With
all respect I would like to note that the years cited by
Your
Holiness for a coming world destruction again differ from
so
many predictions by others.
Ever
since I joined Iskcon in 1972 there have been predictions
by
"clearvoyants", "prophets" and people who suspect
"conspiracies"
by world governments and predictions by
religious
groups for a coming destruction of the world
practically
every
year and every time they were so convinced it would take place.
The
first prediction I received was for the end of the world in
1974
and since then the scenario repeated.
Naturally
the magical number of the year 2000 would prove
to
be especially attractive for speculations and great expectations.
Unfortunately
the arguments offered by most esoteric scources for it
are
mostly very weak to say the least, and the previous predictions
never
manifested. The so called prophets however were making themselves
a
name because due to the frustrating nature of this world so many people
would
desire a major change. Historical records show that such doomsday
predictions
have been made ever since the Roman empire, through the middle
ages,
until now.
Srila
Prabhupada when he was asked about his mentioning there could be
another
big war soon, said "What can I say, I am not a politician"
and
when asked which preparations should devotees make to prepare for
a
coming nuclear war he replied "simply make preparations to chant Hare
Krishna."
So I would never ever advise anyone to make his plans in
service
etc. dependent on such "predictions"or rather speculations
at
all. SP also said it could all be changed by the sankirtan movement.
SP
also told the LA devotees to never worry about coming earth
quakes
but simply stay there and depend on Krishna. Now twenty years
later,
LA is still there and so are the LA devotees.
I
am completely tired of the recent trends in our movement to quote
"authorities"
like Edgar Cayce who called himself clairvoyant but
simply
became rich upon selling millions books on the basis of people s
superstitions
and unscientific ways of thinking. He was just good in
impressing
people about his greatness in the same way as cheaters and
such
as Yogananda, mdm Blavatsky, Sai baba, Guru maharajji, the sun
templers
( who even escaped a coming doomsday by collective suicide )
and
others who did not have a single proof for all these phantastic
stories
except mere belief.
In
the Vedas a few purified, austere sages are mentioned who can see past
presence
and future, so someone could exist who has such powers but
certainly not a degraded Westerner who is deep into the
sinful habits
and
makes a big show by selling all kinds of fairy tales.
The
only reason it seems to me that people accept someone like Cayce as
clairvoyant,
medium, etc is factually simply because he says so.
That
is nor reason for me.
There
is no other support for his stories other than his own words
and
the "witness reports" of people who hold a total absolute belief
in
him and probably anything that looks
ophantastic and super natural.
In
fact the more phantastic the easier it is believed.
I
have been very interested in studying
whatever
literature was available on occult topics but I can only say
that
99,9 % of the books are so much void of proofs, evidence and
even
basic logic and honesty that it is really phantastic.
Recently
a TV team went to a UFO congress and asked all of the UFO
experts
there to see their amateur video of a porcellain plate painted
with
fluorescent paint and tossed through the air at twi-light by
the
camera team the night before.
Each
and everyone of them told them he had not the slightest doubt that
the
video showed a 100 % genuine filming of an ex terrastrial space ship,
judging
by their special knowledge of light, movement etc. and their
previous
extraordinary experience with such space ships. And some also
relied
on their "extra sensory perceptions" as clairvoyants.
Even
when told by the TV team that what if itz was simply a normal
eating
plate painted with fluorescent paint they said "impossible".
My
stomach turns when I hear mentioning of guys like Cayce as
so-called
authorities.
When
will Iskcon devotees stop quoting such quacks as reference.
I
think it is a shame. HDG Srila Prabhupada in his whole life never
gave
any credit to such so called "prophets" from the esoteric scene
whatsoever.
There has been much damage by the millions of speculations
introduced
to the minds of devotees in recent years.
I
believe that a high amount of scepticism
would be advisable.
Since
most of the new age authorities like Cayce etc. are also
completely
controlled by mayavadi and ghostly concepts I believe it
is
our duty to expose them as the cheaters or excentrics they are.
Twelve
years ago here in Slovenia a group of Jove s witnesses
believed
in a very charismatic clairvoyant from their group
who
convinced them all, a few hundred people of until then
totally
normal family background that the coming of a world wide
big
flood is near and would take place in 1985. So they built a huge
boat,
a second Noah s arch and pulled it all the way up on the top
of
a 800m high mountain near the capital of Slovenia. They stayed
on
top of that mountain with the boat, to wait for the coming flood.
I
am not sure if tehy are still aiting but they beacme the laughing stock
of
the whole country and had to bring down the ship again.
The
history of the world in kali yuga has been an ongoing series of
disasters
and wars, because of the sins of the people, and one
will
find predictions for a major world disaster for almost every year
in
history.
One
of the classical type of arguments of the esoterics when they
want
to make their point and have no proof is to say
"
there may be so many indications and proofs but some people in the
government
and big capital try to surpress the evidence. "
I
want to ask you
1.)
How do you know that there is such proof, when it is supposedly
surpressed
?
2.)
How do you know someone is surpressing it ?
3.)
What kind of proof is it which is surpressed and how comes
you
happen to be one of the few who know about it ?
4.
) If you know then why do you not reveal that proof ?
5.
) Who can possibly controll all the scientists in the world who
love
to make a name for themselves to keep their mouths shut and not
reveal
their findings ? Not one scientist agrees with the other one,
they
are all jealous of each other.
6.
) There has been an up and down in earth quake activities ever since
the
start of kali yuga but neither shastra nor actual observation and
statistics
it seems from my own limited findings show an extraordinary
increase
of earth quake activity in the last ten years, outside the
acceptable
tolerance of ups and downs.
I
do agree it is easy to become a victim of so-called myths anmd legends.
Sorry
for disagreeing. I am neither for or against the theory of the
coming
of a world catastrophy in the near future but the arguments I have
seen
so far miss in my opinion all substance.
In
other words, I would like us to be honest and simply say, we do not
know.
For
this reason and also for spiritual reasons like the fact that we
are
not here for ever anyway in this world,
I would suggest
that
we do not advise devotees to get overly concerned with such doomsday
scenarios
or to even mold their plans and service projects accordingly.
In
such a doomsday consciousness we may as well give up doing anything
for
the spreading of SP s movement and simply lean back and go to
sleep.
There are millions of sects who teach this doomsday thinking
in
one way or another. Being not just another sect, we do not have
to
get into that. At least that is my personal, limited opinion.
Yr
svt ND
(Text
COM:974139) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:971863 (2 lines)
From: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Date: 18-Dec-97 10:59
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [423]
Reference:
Text COM:970980 by Bhaktivinode Thakur (das) HKS (Nowy Sacz - PL)
Comment: Text COM:974140 by Nikhilananda (das) ACBSP
(D)
Subject: Apocalypse Now?
------------------------------------------------------------
the
conjunction of jupiter with saturn in aries at beginning of June 2000 is
also
a bad indicator.
(Text
COM:971863) ------------------------------------------
Text
COM:971862 (4 lines)
From: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Date: 18-Dec-97 10:59
To: Vedic Astrology (Symposium hosted by
Shyamasundara Das) [422]
Reference:
Text COM:971106 by Dvaraka (das) HKS (Buenos Aires - ARG)
Subject: Apocalypse Now?
----------------------------------------------------------