Paranormal
Phenomena
What a joke of a term. Obviously devised
by peoples who have no idea of what they are dealing with.
First it might be useful for us to
present the fact that what we are talking of here is/are not some fantasy, or
invented story to excite or thrill one. Far from it. As one renown Ghost buster
once told me, "Actually we are all ghosts, ...spirits" the only
difference being that we have a gross body made of mucus, bile and air, and
disembodied spirits have only subtle-ethereal a body made of mind, intelligence
and false-ego.
Atheists accept only what they can
register with their senses or the instruments created by their blunt
materialistic senses. What they cannot see they do not accept.
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada on a Morning walk in Bombay, India, April 12th 1974 had the
following conversation with one Indian man.
Srila Prabhupada. "........And you
have not seen so many things. Does it mean that does not exist? You are
researching. You have not seen. As a scientist.........."
Indian man. "I have heard lots of
ghost stories, but......."
Srila Prabhupada. "No, No it is not
stories. We are hearing from Bhagavata, it is authority. We are not hearing the
stories of third class man. We are hearing form Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva............"
Indian man. " But you see, up till
now, in my long life of eighty years........."
Srila Prabhupada, "No, No you have
not so many experiences. That does not mean these things do not exist. Your
experience is not all in all. Don't think like that. So these are existing
actually. That is the defect, that you do not accept the authorities. That is
the defect. Here Vyasadeva is describing, who is called Vyasadeva, full of all
knowledge, and the Bhagavata is a mature experience. We are hearing from him.
Why do you not believe? I may not have experience. This ghost means the living
entity is subtle life without any material body. That is ghost. When one is
very sinful, he does not get the material body. He lives in the subtle body:
mind, intelligence and ego. That is ghostly life. And they display. Because
they have no body, one cannot see, but they display so many mischief's. That is
ghostly life. Seeing or not seeing doesn't matter. Therefore it is enjoined in
the Vedanta Sutra, shastra caksusa (see through the bona fide
scriptures)."
Indian man. "But it should be
proved."
Srila Prabhupada. "It is true
because it is spoken by Vyasadeva. How you say it is false? You cannot say
that. That is blasphemy."
Indian man. "In olden days there
used to be the ghosts and all these things, but now that is
gradually............"
Srila Prabhupada. "But
gradually..........! That does not mean you have improved very much. Because
you do not believe in ghost........................!"
We have seen that such mysteries are
explained in the Vedic literatures if one takes time to research. For example
there are many mentions of ghosts in the scriptures, i.e., in the Srimad
Bhagavatam in connection with Daksha, as followers of Lord Shiva.............
etc., in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta in connection with Chotta Hari das. The
Bhagavad Gita states that those who worship ghosts go to them, Srila Prabhupada
Lilamrta mentions in connection with Srila Prabhupada staying at John Lennon's
house and the ghost that was removed by Srila Prabhupad. Sripad Ramanujacarya's
former wife at one time was possessed by one, until Ramanuja relieved her of
that burden. Sripad Madhwacarya parents and party were attacked by a Brahma
Raksasa ghost as they carried the small baby boy Vasudev (Madhwacarya)
returning from the Anantasana Temple a week after Madhwas' birth. The follower
of Sripad Madhwacarya, Sripad Vadiraj Tirtha Swami had, as his servant,
shishya, one very powerful ghost named Bhutaraj, who used to help him to defeat
mayavadis, and other heretics who tried to attack him. In the life of Sri
Raghavendra Tirtha Swami it mentions how his former wife became a ghost after
terminating her own body out of separation, when he took sannyasam. He then
liberated her from that situation with the water from his kumandalu, so do not
worry for her. Sri Vayu Purana briefly mentions ghosts, as do other Puranas,
but Garuda Purana dedicates four chapters to them, what is their cause, their
description, problems arising from them, and their release. So I would like to
say without fear of contradiction, that according to shastra, and in my humble
opinion there is such a designation, as ghost (which is to be avoided by all
sane persons) - and it is completely normal.
So what is it that causes one to inhabit
such a ghostly form, instead of a gross body like ours. The answer is untimely
death. Untimely death means that it was either premature; such as an accident,
disease, suicide, etc. Something that interfered with the normal expanse of a
person's life.
One may rightly argue that surely that
interruptions would have been because of that soul's karma, so in one sense it
is not untimely, it is their just deserves. That is true, but at the same time,
when a suffering conditioned soul is unprepared for this kind of death, such
lack of knowledge about what is going on is very untimely.
Such an untimely death causes for the
individual who is attached to their body, family, situation around them great
lamentation due to attachments. They're suddenly in a strange and unfamiliar
situation, surrounded by other more established ghosts/spirits who have some
idea, maybe not about self realisation, but about what is needed to get them
out of their present bondage. Of course there are others who are so absorbed in
their sufferings and plight that they are traumertised in the past.
The Nature of the Soul - Jiva-atman:
Near Death Experience:
The reasons that one becomes a Ghost,
and how ghosts interact with their relatives:
Favourite "Haunts":
* Cemeteries - The age of the cemetery
doesn't matter but the older it is, the more time it has had to accumulate
restless spirits. Why cemeteries? Well there are theories such as they are
portals to the other side or that some spirits are drawn to their former
bodies.
* Schools - Schools and former sites of
schools may have the build up of psychic energies and imprints of all the
highly emotional events that have transpired there.
* Theatres - The actors have run the
gambit of human emotions inside the walls of a theatre plus many have
interesting hauntings attached to them.
* Battlefields - These are great
locations simply because of their nature. Many violent deaths in one area will
always hold some spirits and psychic energy there.
* Churches - There is a long history of
the faithful returning to the church they worshipped at. They may be looking
for the salvation they were promised and cannot find.
* Hotels/Motels/Boarding houses - Many
dark dealing and highly emotional events take places in these rooms.
* Historic Locations - Many historic
buildings, because of their age, have had more time to have spirits
attach to it, or in some cases have
spooks directly attached to the goings-on of ancestrial homes etc. These
buildings are often open the public and can give you a easy place to start.
Many even have known histories of hauntings and you may be able to gain access
to the building after hours after speaking with a friendly caretaker(s).
* Scenes of Murderous Crimes - A place
where someone was brutally attcked or savagely killed, where the soul was
forced prematurely from that body and traumatised due to the attack, the shock,
the unknowing, uncertainty of their circumstances and their attachments for
their former situation. Such a place makes a good subject.
Many experienced groups believe that
there are evil spirits in many areas such as cemeteries and by saying a 10
second prayer you can safely go about your business without worrying about
them. An experienced demonologist will tell you that by doing this in the name
of God or whatever good Deity you worship, you will keep any "non human
spirits" at bay since they have to leave you alone when told so in this
manner. You will not provoke an attack by doing this and I say it's just as
simple as saying your prayers at night. Just in case you're feeling
adventurous: My personal experience is that it takes a little more than a
solitary 10 second prayer to keep at distance a ghost. Rather, supposing that
you have to go into such places, the best method is the chanting the Holy
names, the Hare Krishna mahamantra. The chanting done in this way is very
effective. To purify a place the loud congregational chanting accompanied with
mridanga drums and kartal hand cymbles is very potent when done with great
attention. On a personal basis too, the concentrated chanting of Japa on beads
is also very effective, the mantra being non-different from the Lord. However,
and this is no defect on the part of the mantra, depending on the attentiveness
of the sadhaka (chanter) the effect can be greater or lesser, just as
proprtionately one takes shelter of the suddha naam (pure Holy Name).
Different kinds of Ghosts:
There are so many different kinds of
ghosts, although they are all disembodied jivas, spirit souls really like you
and me.
Some of these different kinds some of
you will have experienced, some consciously, and some unconsciously. The
different kinds are brought about by the different ways "they met their
end", and the consciousness that they achieved at that time.
According to the Vedic shastra there are
many, many different types. Just as there are many kinds of gross body so the
various developments of the subtle body are also there. There are powerful
Brahma raksasas, or angry brahmins with fearful eyes, or tantrics who may have
died due to their own or another's misdeeds. Garuda Puranam chapter 11. texts 4
and 5, says that by kidnapping another man's wife and stealing the property of
a brahmana one also becomes a brahma raksasa, and thus have come to some
unfortunate end.
There are Pramathas who are not harmful,
but others like Vetaalas who like to haunt cemeteries, and who animate dead
bodies (Zombies), they create an atmosphere of fear wherever they go. There are
Shakini and Dhakini witches with shrill voices (like the Banshee) who abuse and
curse people, there are also attached house-hold Preetas who give their
relatives hard times, dancing on the roof tops, playing games with them and
frightening them because they never received their offerings of Vishnu prasadam
after death. What to speak of Guyaksas; how many of us have experienced things
disappearing from our homes, offices etc., only to turn up later somewhere
else, or even in the same place where we looked several times. Well this is the
business of the Guyaksas. Previously they were thieves, and even now without a
gross body still they cannot give up their old habits, they just have to have
things. But where can they put things, not in their subtle pockets, so they
hide things. There are the wandering Bhutas who are with no residence least you
give them one, or Durmanas dejected souls who moan and weep at night. Vinayakah
hobgoblins, Mulon, Yutadhanis, Malanaya etc., etc., some are brahmins, some
kshatriyas, some vaishyas, some shudras, and some who are from outside the
scheduled varnas, so many, and they each have their different effects and
influence on different people. There is even one especially found to prey on
women, and which causes miscarriages in many. It has it's head tucked down into
its body, and is known for its abnormally long (nearly two feet) and thick
penis which causes harm to women of pregnant disposition. Krsna book chapter 84
says that "Instead of being devotees, they are simply impediments on the
path of devotion."
How many have experienced what in
medieval England and Europe they called "Hag attacks"? A common night
time phenomena for those especially who lie on their backs when sleeping. The
"Hag" comes and tries to enter the body via the mouth, the victim
usually experiences some dream where one is being enticed or threatened, and
then sitting upon one's chest the Hag or Incubus tries to enter. In most cases
the victim experiences paralysis of the entire body, while an inner struggle
goes on for the possession of the body. Often in males a dream is induced by
the personality (Succubus) who steals one's semen that they may become stronger
from the experience. Those who are fortunate enough to have been trained in
chanting Hare Krishna in times of trouble, that pure and saving name by the
mercy of the Lord, comes to mind. It's like that, at first after realising we
are in trouble, paralysed and possessed we try to chant, but often nothing
comes out, but in the mind the mantra resounds until it burst forth from the
mouth and the ghostly hag is thrown off.
Most people would have experienced
something of this nature at some time of their lives, although we have
experienced that some people are just too dull and insensitive to experience
anything.
You will I'm sure find, as we have that
some people will not accept that there is such a thing as a ghost. We would
like to ask a question in this regard, one that surely they will not answer.
Are they purposefully blocking it out,
or can they not clearly perceive it from where they are at present situated. In
some cases it maybe that Bhutas are saying that they do not exist as is
suggested in the Garuda Purana chapter 20: 31 and 32., wherein it says that,
"When one loses faith in the Vedas, Smritis, Puranas, and Dharma shastras,
or abuses the devas, brahmins, gurus, either in their presence or absence that
aberration is due to the influence of preet, or ghosts." Garuda Puranam
chapter 8., texts 90 and 91 qualifies this further with the statement as
recorded, spoken by the ghosts, "We stay where people do not follow the
Vedas, where there is no feeling of shame or falsehood, no faith in religion,
no sense of discipline, no inclination for forgiveness, no patience and no
knowledge."
According to where one is at, they can
make a nice presentation........ and if one is weak (physically weak due to
over indulgence in sex - semen loss, due to illness, menstruation, child-birth,
traumatic loss - a death in the family), or sinfully inclined then a bargain
can be orchestrated by which the embodied and disembodied jivas make a deal to
enjoy co-operatively - actually the ghost is enjoying and the lusty embodied
fool is tricked into thinking he's enjoying too. I used to have a friend who
did like this - he would allow one ghost that resided at his house to come to
have sex with him at night, in this way both got their lusty material desires
fulfilled. However, when my friend wanted to stop this, he couldn't and the
last I saw he was admitted into an institution. On another occassion one young
lady traded off her freedom to one ghost for the knowldege and experience the
ghost could give her - she suddenly became adept in music and the arts of the
Chinese culture and could speak Cantonese, without any study. But, you could
see desperation in her eyes, she was not free like before.
It's not just the weak or dirty that get
propositioned either. Srila Prabhupada cites an instance when he stayed at John
Lennon's house, "I was a guest there. There was a
ghost..................... binding to the maya, to just remain a slave of maya
and drink this beer." (Morning walk June 20th 1974. Germany.) Needless to
say Srila Prabhupad did not give in to such an invitation.
.....But so many suggestions and
invitations may be presented to us, of a more or lesser destructive - tamasic
nature. A friend of mine was thrown off a bridge, and another from a building
by shadows that brushed by them........ need I say more on this. These are for
real, it is not in anyway imagination.
There is a psychosomatic disease
mentioned in the Ayurveda called Bhuta Graha which is resemblent of this kind
of mutual gratification, especially by the unmarried young women-folk, and
brahmacharis who are not fixed in their vow, or who are artificially trying to
maintain or remain celibate.
According to Ayurvedic Medicine there
are eight different departments set up by the founders of that great science,
Lord Dhanvantari, Prajapati Brahma, Prajapati Daksa, the Aswini Kumaras,
Shushruta Muni, Maharaj Nimi (who issued the Nimi Tantra), which all try to
deal with the various diseases, accidents, ageing developments, problems and
occurrences in the body. These eight departments are Kay chikisa, dealing with
the anatomy; Bala roga vigvagha, bala means children, the paediatric
department, gynaecology, osticology; (Bhuta) Graha vigvagha, deals with the
subtle realm, mental disturbances, one's thinking, psychosomatic diseases and
epilepsy, as well as yosha pasmara, a kind of epilepsy found in women. Graha
vigvagha also includes bacteriology which falls into the category of the
unseen; Urdvanga, Shalakya Tantra spoken by Nimi, Urdvanga means the upper part
of the body, head and neck, E.N.T. (Ear, Nose, Throat) and Eye; Shalya, means
surgery, even "plastic surgery" grafting etc., spoken by Shushruta
more than 2000 years ago; Damshtra, is the science of recovering a person from
the effects of poisons either swallowed, or snake bite, spider...........etc.,
came via teeth, damstra means teeth, (yours or someone else's); Jara, deals
with old age, geriatrics etc; and Vishayi, rejuvenation, convalescence etc.
Of all of these eight departments of
Vedic Medicine seven have come to be widespread throughout the world but there
is one, bhuta or graha vigvagha, which the modern, western systems of medicine
have yet to understand. There has been much propaganda by the missionary media
over the past century that has managed to influence almost everyone in the Sub
Continent of India, and across the world for that matter, so much so that we
find many Vedic things have been either forgotten, shelved, or corrupted by these
modern philosophies. Instead of following the ancient sages, who's teachings
were previously all over the world. Half baked theories these days appear, are
taught even in schools and universities, and again disappear or change as new
theories pop up, year, after year, after year. Unfortunately it has become
unpopular with the modern sensual world around us to accept the ageless
scriptures of India, but there is much to be learned. If one takes the time to
look, with open eyes and mind you'll see that the many so called new age
remedies that are now "evolving" are actually parts of the ancient
sciences of india in a revised manner. Some examples of this are Naturopathy,
and the limbs of that like Aroma therapy, Colour therapy, Massage, Acupressure,
Vegetarianism, etc. There is also Permaculture and the Organics movement,
varieties of Meditation, Hatha, Mantra, Bhakti etc. Even in the rules for
Architecture builders are now becoming more aware of the environment,
especially electro magnetic fields, directions of buildings, using the sun more
for heating and lighting, or even making buildings more of sustainable
materials such as mud brick, all of which have been used in India for many
thousands of years.
We see the teachings of Vedic ways, in
which we can state all cultures have their origins, have in many cases become
mixed, corrupted or should we more to the point say, that these pure
philosophies of yore have been given up. Now what we have is a world that has
become dominated by political language, made up of various terms that spark off
a chain of emotional reactions of either defence, or delight. These are brought
about, and executed by conditioning the masses through propaganda and
advertising over many years. Expressions such as alien, cult, ethnic, non-conformist,
alternative groups, sectarian, etc. As well as the old favourites, pagan,
heathen, anti-Semitic, evil, strange new.........., or even devils, there were
many such powerful words, adjectives which did, and still do conjure up
negative pictures in the mind. The job was expertly done with large private
concerns, as well as both local and world governmental, financial and
administrative backing, and in some cases church authorisation, and even
supported by the armed forces. The way the whole planet has been brainwashed is
the subject of another paper, but still it partially has its place here too. We
have experienced that things that may appear a little unusual or different, or
should I more directly say, that don't fit in to the plan of the persons who
are manipulating the people in the world at present, the "New World
Order" as they like to be known, have over the past century carefully
edited out of circulation, what they didn't find appropriate. So that now a
days most people do not accept the Vedic literatures, or the Vedic Sciences
(Jyotish - Astrology, Ayurvedic medicine, etc) rather everyone is very willing
to follow the material scientists or the news media propaganda. If they do hear
anything in this view they have already been briefed that this tribal hodge
podge is only at best 2000 years old there was no civilisation before that. Yet
even today in readers digest they have published something to the contrary
stating that cloth was woven by ancient civilisations around 9000 years ago.
Previously to public pressure due to
total disbelief, things are beginning to change many aspect of the truth that
just weren't heard of before outside of secret meetings, are emerging. The lies
and cheating of the modern scientist's bluff is being called. I think we can
safely say that under this same umbrella, the British Raj "perfected"
the spread of false propaganda, and "perfected" the tactic of divide
and rule during their time in India. Now everything one is taught or hears from
"the authorities" has its limitations of political censorship.
Consequently we have lost many genuine sciences, which are now brushed off as
either superstitions or mythology, by those who either cannot or will not see
what is the truth.
This is the way that these persons view,
and deal with anything that they cannot directly perceive through their rather
blunt senses. Everything from their perspective falls into a few narrow
negative categories as we have touched on earlier, cult, mythology, legendary
stories etc. Due to the acceptance of the material scientists being
"Gods", and their philosophies now being worshipped, the world is in
illusion. These temporary material measures that have been taken by these
persons to cover the truth, over the next few decades we will see that in
actual fact those things that are not Vedic sciences will be proven in the long
run to be puspakash, flowers that fly in the sky, or in other words fantasy. As
the people of the world embrace their search for REALITY, and genuine answers
to material problems.
We mentioned earlier the term Yosha
pasmara in the connection of bhuta graha, actually it is described as a form of
epilepsy that is found in young unmarried women or girls. Though it is not
epilepsy proper, it is more a psychosomatic problem. As with others who are
affected by bhutas they also have many desires yet to be fulfilled. Deep inside
there is the desire for a husband, children and the security that women need,
to function properly. Yet due to the pressures of society, especially family,
plus the changes that are going on in their bodies, the development from girls
to physically mature women, anxiety builds up and as a pressure valve or
release valve such things as mood changes, doing things for attention,
pretending to be raped or abused, inventing friends, other eccentric behaviour,
or depression, argumentation, disturbed sleep, breathing problems, "fits
or epilepsy", bolemia, anorexia, and even seeming semi conscious fainting
occur. Sigmund Freud said that this kind of repression of the impulses results
in he says paranoid. We have seen this even occurring in Iskcon. And it's due
to suppressing the natural desires instead of understanding what they are and
dealing with them accordingly. Visaya vinvartante niraharasya
dehinah.......Bhagavad Gita 2:59., one cannot merely suppress desires, rather
one must gain a higher taste through training or education as to what is what.
In less morally oriented or lower class
girls, who are less concerned with what society or the family thinks of them,
they take to flirting with young boys, and even indulge in and search for gross
sex, and it takes place. But in more prestigious families, we have studied,
things would be different. If the girls at the same time as maintaining their
external moral show, are lusty within then complexities of bhuta graha often
take place. I have seen many incidences, symptoms of bhuta graha where a
constant battle for even keel goes on for years, because they just won't give
up the pursuit for sense gratification, or be totally honest. In others we have
seen this syndrome drive deep into the emotions making girls stop having
periods, or having fainting spells, or there are times when the build up is too
much and they just "go ape." In others who have tried to live a cloistered
life, we have seen it take them away from devotional service to fulfil their
separate interests of lusty desires, which take many forms. It may take the
shape of gross sex, or even to travel here and there with the view to finding a
mate, even the accumulation of material goods, anything from a new Rolex watch,
to fast cars, fine clothing, mobile phone, big houses, jet setting jobs,
anything to try to draw attention to themselves. Again, it may be added that it
is not necesarily that these things are wrong or bad in themselves, but when
one is suffering from bhuta graha there's a certain manner that these material
attributes are used to attract others by one seemingly who pretends not to. It
has been observed that as one's years increase it becomes more subtle, though
not in every case, to the extreme point that the mid-life crisis, dirty old
man, or femme fatal syndromes have been seen to develop as a result.
There are always opportunists who will
take advantage of a situation for their own enjoyment. In the same way there
are always ghosts around in the day and in the night, and especially at the
conjunctions of both, if they find a good candidate to enjoy through they will
try to make the necessary arrangements for their desires and the girls (or
boys) to be fulfilled. Bhutas who are of the subtle realm, having bodies made
of intelligence, mind and false ego, sense the lusty desires that have been
hidden below the surface, that have not actually been kicked out or replaced.
Thus it is seen that there is a dichotomy in the victim, externally everything
looks very good but under the surface lusty desires are being played with. In
actual fact they are their own victims.
Sometimes parents of girls have come to
me to remove ghosts from them. I sit in the company of another older devotee
woman and ask them what is their trouble. Ninety nine percent tell of the same
things, the same kind of voices, even some have seen the same kind of ghosts.
The girls tell of incredible stories of persons touching them, trying to rape
them, and threatening them that if they don't go along with it, they will also
become ghosts. Some have constantly been threatened that they would make them
go crazy, or would never leave them alone if they didn't succumb to their will.
Really its just a case of intimidation or subtle rape. These days the medical
profession put a tab on it, call it Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), feed
the victim drugs send them to a psychiatric hospital, try to suppress part of
the brain they say may cause it, and hope that the problem will eventually go
away. But usually it doesn't. And so medication goes on year after year.
Occasionally the penny does drop in a patient that maybe it's a lifestyle
thing, but often they are too far gone by then, and too internally confused
about who and what they are to change, but occasionally someone will come good.
But the longer it stays the harder it is to go, and the patient to be all right
even if they get their goal fulfilled.
In the name of dignity or fashion, both
sexes have been exploited to the full. Men tend to go for the macho role model,
while the women the seductress, and they don't even realise how they are being
led. One may well ask then, why do you girls dress so seductively if you do not
want some one to become attracted in that way. It is not for your husband, you
are not yet married. So then what are you doing, who are you doing it for, or
what do they want? The answer is that brainwashed by media and peer pressure,
and modern feminist groups, that they cannot help themselves.
Ghosts we have observed, heard, and been
told especially like young women. Practically it can be seen, but accepting
what the Acharya states must also be accepted according to the conversation of
Srila Prabhupada in Perth May 12th 1975. So it is not unusual or absurd, what
we are stating here.
Without breaching professional ethics
and revealing names and places etc., let me just say that my experience with
Bhuta Graha among young adults has been quite extensive. We have seen young
women having fainting fits, spells of lethargy, emotional mood swings,
disruptions to menstrual cycles, and so on, or just out right sneaking off
having sex, and getting pregnant; and we have seen young men displaying bazaar
behaviour to get noticed, wild dancing, and flashy clothes, or playing of
musical instruments to get attention (and not of the Lord), even tattooing
their foreheads, or wearing strange clothing apparel upon their bodies, to name
but a few things. And all this is in the cloistered society of Vaishnavas, what
to speak in the mundane society where young men dress in Gothic and prance
around in fish-net tights with lip-stick on their faces, etc., and hair-styles
more befitting the insect kingdom, and body piercing - the inane cries for
attention...... (or as mentioned earlier; mood changes, doing things for
attention, pretending to be raped or abused, inventing friends, other eccentric
behaviour, or depression, argumentation, disturbed sleep, breathing problems,
"fits or epilepsy", bolemia, anorexia, etc.)
The examples that we stating here have
been too many to think it a coincidence, for the same things have happened in
different towns, some even in different countries. It is not just one or two I
have been asked to help but dozens over the last ten or more years, and even
some young men who were suffering from similar troubles.
Whilst studying Systems of Healing,
Social Anthropology and Human Development at Massey University we had the
opportunity to do case studies on different people who were undergoing
"crisis" in their lives.
Most of these crisis were due to the
concept that they were either lacking in something, a want, for something or a
fear that something was going to be taken away, or had been taken away. These
crisis were not new things, most had them on a reoccurring basis throughout
their lives. In Human Development (Papillia & Olds.1990. page 533.) it
identifies some of the crisis that people of different ages undergo, and how
they react; Young adulthood - having finished their education, training and
courtship and having recently embarked on careers, marriage and parent hood -
are eager to live the lives that they have been preparing for. When they are
suddenly taken ill or badly injured, young adults are likely to feel more intensely
emotional about imminent death than people in any other period of life
(Pattison, 1977.) They feel extremely frustrated at the inability to fulfil
their dreams. Their frustration turns to rage, and that rage often makes young
adults troublesome hospital patients.(Papillia & Olds.1990. page 533.)
There is more to it too, often they see others enjoying life, and feel somewhat
deprived of pleasure or missing out on something that they feel was
intrinsically theirs. In Middle Adulthood crisis are faced in a slightly
different way, people take stock of their careers, their marriages, or the
marriages or relationships that they never had, their relationships with their
children, their friendships, or lack of them, their values and how they spend
their time, etc. Fraught with the conception that "Time is running
out" as we mentioned before they take to the open market. Late adulthood
crisis often become sour reflections, being sick and unable to do all the
things that they wish they had in the earlier parts of their lives, or feeling
that they are now a burden on their family, etc., many of their friends popping
up in the obituary column, and knowing that time is closing in, their life is
often just filling in time, and pretty miserable to the point that they are "Ready
to face death".(Papillia & Olds.1990. page 533.) But you and I know
that this is not the way to face death.
The following chart gives some idea as
to expectations that normative development give rise to, and also dysfunctional
development if not dealt with.(C.K. Sigelman & D.R. Shaffer. 1991. LifeSpan
Human Development. page 305.)
AGE RANGES STAGE (how they develop)
EMERGING PERSONALITY STRENGTH
Birth to 1 year trust & mistrust,
Hope
1 year to 3 years autonomy vs, shame
& doubt, Will (a sense of self)
3 years to 6 years initiative vs. guilt,
Purpose (goal setting)
6 years to 12 years industry vs.
inferiority, Competence (self esteem)
12 years to 20 years identity vs.
role(s), confusion, Fidelity (ability to commit one's self)
20 years to 40 years intimacy vs.
isolation, Love
40 years to 65 years generativity vs.
stagnation, Care (investment in future generations)
65 or so onward integrity vs. despair,
Wisdom.
A deeper look at the nature of these
periods may show us further insight as to how and why bhut-graha develops in a
range of people, and how it can be overcome.
Prenatal stage, conception to birth:
Basic body structure and organs form.
Physical growth is most rapid of life span. Vulnerability to environmental
influences is great.
Infancy and toddlerhood (birth to 3
years.):
New born is dependent but competent. All
senses operate at birth. Physical growth and development of motor skills are
rapid. Ability to learn and remember is present, even in early weeks of life.
Attachments to parents and others form toward end of first year. Self-awareness
develops in second year. Comprehension and speech develop rapidly. Interest in
other children increases.
Early Childhood (3 to 6 years.):
Family is still focus of life, although
other children become more important. Strength and fine and gross motor skills
improve. Independence, self-control, and self care increase. Play, creativity,
and imagination become more elaborate. Cognitive immaturity leads to many
"illogical" ideas about the world. Behaviour is largely egocentric,
but understanding of other people's perspective grows.
Middle Childhood (6 to 12 years):
Peers assume central importance.
Children begin to think logically, although largely concretely. Egocentrisism
diminishes. Memory and language skills increase. Cognitive gains improve
ability to benefit from formal schooling. Self-concept develops, affecting
self-esteem. Physical growth slows. Strength and athletic skills improve.
Adolescence (12 to 20 years.):
Physical changes are rapid and profound.
Reproductive maturity is attained. Search for identity becomes central. Ability
to think abstractly and use scientific reasoning develops. Adolescent
Egocentrisism persists in some behaviours, Peer groups help to develop and test
self-concept. Relationships with parents are generally good.
Young Adulthood (20- 40 years.):
Decisions are made about intimate
relations. Most people marry; most become parents. Physical health peaks, then
declines slightly. Career choices are made. Sense of identity continues to
develop. Intellectual abilities assume new complexity.
Middle Age (40 to 65 years.):
Search for meaning in life assumes
central importance. Some deterioration of physical health, stamina, and prowess
takes place. Women experience menopause. Wisdom and practical problem solving
skills are high; ability to solve novel problems declines. Double
responsibilities of caring for children and elderly parents may cause stress.
Time orientation changes to "Time left to live". Launching of children
typically leaves nest empty. Typically, women become more assertive, men become
more nurturant and expressive. For some, career success and earning power peak;
for others, "burnout" occurs. For a minority, there's a mid-life
"Crisis".
Late Adulthood (65 years and over).:
Most people are healthy and active,
although health and physical abilities decline somewhat. Most people are
mentally alert. Although intelligence and memory deteriorate somewhat, most
people find ways to compensate. Slowing of reaction time affects many aspects
of functioning. Need to cope with losses in many areas (loss of one's own
faculties, loss of loved ones). Retirement from work force creates more leisure
time but may reduce economic circumstances. Need arises to find purpose in life
to face impending death.(Papilia & Olds. 1990. Human Development. pages
7-8.)
As maturational development goes through
the stages crisis is there, evaluation of our quality of life is there,
assessment and projection toward fulfilment of what we aspire for and who we
think we are, or desire to be holds its presence. You one can imagine if one
tries avoiding any of, or combinations of these developmental examinations,
sooner that later the test will come. That test of all tests being the time of
death. For all other test results will be evaluated at this time, and if there
hasn't been enough Crisis then try this one on for size. Depending on how we
score in that examination/test we get a body accordingly, and some as we are
propounding here because of their massive attachments almost refuse to give up
the past bodily situation even though it is rudely taken from them anyway, or
out of frustration for their situation they take their life. Either way, the
fact of the matter is that the same crisis has not been dealt with, and it will
not go away. Consequently that person has to take yet another birth in a
material body to fulfil those desires and work out those frustrations.
Consequently at death one is according
to his/her consciousness taken to be fitted for the next dress. If one is a
pious person one may go to a higher domain, or gain entrance into a good family
for the opportunity of being trained up in devotional attributes to further the
progression. At the end of that life time the perfect devotee will leave that
body to go to join Krishna in His pastimes that are still being enacted in one
of the almost unlimited material universes, and in that association of pure
devotees go through his final finishing school before returning to the
spiritual abode (Chaitanya Charitamrta. - Disappearance of Haridas Thakur.)
Failing that one may, if one is not so
pious be taken down one of the 72,000 nadis (arteries) that are mentioned in
the Vedanta sutra, each of which, like a predestined door to your future, has
your designated destiny behind it. Some people have experienced NDE (near death
experiences, where guides have been contacted, declarations made, directions
given, before returning to this world. Srila Baladev Vidyabhushana in his
Govinda bhasya commentary on Vedanta Sutra says that they cannot return to the
spiritual world until all their works are completed - Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
4:4:6.) The description is there of the soul venturing down long nadis (subtle
tunnels or arteries - arterial routes) having one's life flashing before one as
one goes there as if in a sleeping or dreaming state. It is described that just
as in a palace there may be a door, couch, and light that fills it so the soul
enters into that realm in a peaceful state and experiences the state of
Brahman. Her it is clearly defined that the jiva souls in essence is neither of
these things, he's not of the gross or subtle body, not of the nadis, and not
of the resting place in brahman, all of which are temporal places. There he is
tended by appointed assistants who share with him spiritual enlightenment,
often giving direction, and resolve of how he can improve the quality of life
which he/she, due to material attachments is forced to return to. However,
Vedanta Sutra makes it clear that the same person in one sense does not return.
"When a jiva enters to the Brahman, he enters like a jar full of salt
water, with covered mouth, plunged into the Ganges. When he awakens from sleep,
it is the same jar, taken out of the river with the same water in it. In the
same way the jiva, covered by his desires, goes to sleep and for the time being
puts off all sense activites and goes to the resting place, namely, the Supreme
Brahman, and again comes out of it, in order to get further experience. He does
not become similar to the Brahman, like the person who has obtained release.
Thus we learn from this four fold reason that the same soul which had gone to
sleep, awakes into the same body."(Govinda Bhasya - Vedanta sutra 3rd
Adhyaya 2nd Pada, 6th Adikarana sloka 10.)
Those souls who are worthy of reform,
the sinful, are taken to the Plutonic realm of the Yamaraj by his accomplices
at the speed of mind to experience what they had done to others - their karmas.
Upaayam - Remedial Measures:
Depending on the kind of attack there
are various methods or actions to be taken to prevent one from being attacked,
or coming under the influence of such ghostly personalities.
If one is healthy, strong, clean, and
out of good sadhana with peaceful mind one shouldn't be too much disturbed by
such things.
An exception to such a statement could
be wherein someone has done some "black works" and fixed a
personality to one to purposefully cause a problem in one's life. For this you
need to see an expert in nirvaranam (removal), while you maintain the status
quo by rigerously chanting the maha mantra, keeping oneself clean, pure of
thought, and fixed on the Deity form of the Lord, such as the Shaligram.
There are various shields (kavachas)
that practicioners of the tantric arts place upon those suffering, or to ward
off in a preventive manner, such as The Hanuman Kavacha, Sudarshan Kavacha, and
Nrsimha Kavacha.
For cleansing a house it is nice to
perform a shanti homa (fire sacrifice - yajna) in the place and also go through
the place chanting Purusha suktam prayers and sprinkling sacred waters from the
Ganges, etc. This usually works and moves on a wandering soul, but for those
who are more stuborn you again would need the help of a tantrik healer.
Sometimes, due to some astrological
challenge in a person's chart, there may need to be a particular kind of yajna
(Narayana Bali) and some upaayam be done as a remedial measure, there are
different things....
I trust that this may be of use, but if
you still have questions or a "situation" then please get back to me
by e-mail and see if we can identify your need.
There are some
"die-hard-closet-atheists and Christians" even within our movement
who still refuse to accept the Vedik conclusions regarding these topics.
Recently some of them ganged up on a friend who was skilled in these matters,
used him as a scape-goat for one of their colleagues who was having some
difficulties and wouldn't admit it. If some of them read this I'll probably be
the next one under attack. Anyway, what can we do, this is the nature of denial
of anything in the material world - some are even saying that Prabhupad is
wrong, so that they can maintain a mundane way of life while dressing and
interacting with those dressed as Vaishnavas and likewise doing all manner of
mundane things. Satyam eva jayate - the truth will prevail.
One thing one finds out the hard way
when confronting a negative power, such as a ghost armed only with the
maha-mantra or similar weapons, and that is just how surrendered we really are.
You see when being tested by fire, there can be no pretense or show. Pretend
and one get's burned, so to speak, take shelter of the Sudha naam - Holy name
of the Lord and we will find shelter. It is a war the combatants are real, the
weapons and tactics are real. It can only be for real.
Sri Rama Raghava raksha mam
Sri Krishna Keshava pahi mam
Sri Krishnarpanamastu