Articles By Bhakti Anand Goswami
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A Few Thoughts on Diksha: I have been following this discussion of the meanings of 'diksha' and would like to offer some food for thought. Linguistically the Sanskrit word DIKSHA and the Latin root of the word DISCERE are related or 'cognate'. Here are some significant words from this same root.  These may be found by tracing back from DISCIPLINE or DISCIPLE in an English etymological dictionary, or traced the other direction from Sanskrit forward into the 'Indo-European' cognates and their various uses.  

Angels - the Messengers of Hari-Vasu / Eli-Yahu: What kind of beings are the angels?  ANGEL is a rather generic term for MESSENGER that is found in the Biblical Tradition, where it usually refers to a more-than-human being that is a servant of God. It may also rarely refer to a human servant or messenger of God. Thus some 'angels' are human, and some are super-human and among these, there are many kinds and grades from elemental and planetary protectors, to transcendent beings in the highest heaven of heavens, who are very close to God. 

Answers to a Constructive Critic: In the below letter I have arranged the writer's paragraphs to respond to them in a certain order. Subject: Your Various Articles. Dear Maharaja, It was extremely good of you to send me all this material and the notes about yourself. I have read everything with great interest. Now I have some comments and questions. I don't wish to appear critical, believe me. But I am looking for some logical reasoning based on empirical evidence. So much religion is based merely on the human imagination, I am looking for some clear sign that there is more to it than this. I am sick and tired of people telling me what God's plan is for the human race, as if they have a direct line to the Divine and receive this information in confidence. Alas, such is not the case and I have yet to see any evidence that God exists and, if he does, that he has any special interest in the human race. 

Baladeva-Charaka: Baladeva-Charaka as Baal-Dionysos-Iasas  (Jesus Asclepius), the great physician, the second person of the proto-Catholic Heliopolitan Godhead, and the savior of all worlds.  Helios Kouros had a co-eternal alter-form, called Baal or Yahu among the very ancient Semites, Dionysos or Osiris among the Heliopolitan Greeks, and Asar (Osiris) or Serapis among the Egyptians.  The Jewish deity Yahu (Jah) was once called Baal, before his Dionysian heresy caused the disuse of his name Baal or Balu.  In his form as the descending Son-of-God Savior and Great Physician, Baal-Dionysos was called Eshmun among the Semites, Asclepius or (1) Iasas (Jesus) among the Greeks, Aesculapius among the Romans, and Imhotep or Serapis in Egypt.  This same 'Great Physician' form of Baladeva in India was called (2) Charaka.

Balarama-Charaka as Jesus Christ - A Summary, A Letter Written to an Ayurvedic Scholar: My name is Bhakti Ananda Goswami.  I am a Vaishnava sannyasi and an historian of religion. My 30+ year study of  bhakti traditions has led me to the conclusion that the late dominant devotional tradition of the Mediterranean region, for at least 300 years before the advent of Jesus Christ, was the worship of Balarama-Shesha (Semitic Yahu-Baal as Nachash/Naga/Seraph) as the Great Physician Asclepius (Serapis in Egypt).  The entire Proto Catholic Heliopolitan Asyla Federation of Alexandria was centered on the unified systematized theology of Serapis.  Jews were full members of the Serapean alliances/federations from age to age.  This is why, for instance, the Greek version of their scriptures ( Septuagint and Apocrypha) was translated by the Jewish Elders AT THE TEMPLE OF SERAPIS IN ALEXANDRIA ! 

Behold the Lamb of God: CHRIST HAS RISEN HALLELUJAH ! DEAREST FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BEHOLD ! HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW! PEACE AND LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR DEAR ONES THIS BLESSED EASTER! ALL GLORIES TO JESUS YUPA DHVAJA! BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI / BROTHER DAVID AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

Christ is Risen ! Allelujah ! Guru is one, through the causeless mercy of God we get guru, then through the intercession of guru we get Godhead. Lord Baladeva / Sankarshana, as the self-sacrificed cosmic Purusha 'yupa dhavja', is the original spiritual master in every universe.  He ultimately "takes away the sins of the world" through his self-sacrifice on behalf of all fallen souls.  Today, Easter, we celebrate his triumph over sin and death on behalf of all creation.   The Vedic sacrifices, to atone for sin, were all commemorations of the once-and-all-sufficient intercessory cosmic self-sacrifice of the Rig Vedic Purusha (Purusha Sukta hymn). Let us contemplate today how Lord Baladeva as Purusha is the redeemer of the entire cosmic manifestation, and how as Jesus Christ he stepped into time to reveal his love for all of us, in taking away the sins of the whole world.

Establishment of the WVA Interfaith Committee One Scholar's Historical Perspective: The World Vaishnava Association is seeking to establish an Interfaith Committee, to promote the non-sectarian mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Rama.   In the days of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai's Earthly pastimes, Their bhakti yoga Sankirtan movement inaugurated an astounding non-sectarian religious revival and social phenomenon, which has been called by scholars the “Bengali Renaissance”.  This religio-social Charismatic movement embraced, and was embraced by, not only various branches of Vaishnavas, but Shaivites, Devi Worshipers, Buddhists, and even Muslims.   Its non-sectarian, pure bhakti appeal was so overwhelming, that all kinds of devotees were caught up in it.  Scholars have written about this Sankirtan movement's wide-reaching social effects. 

Forming a Non-Sectarian League of Devotees: Please note that I am merely a friend and servant, and that none of the below is conceived to in any way compete with or replace any other devotee missions or institutions. I am trying to develop a concept for a global interfaith (non-sectarian) bhakti yoga revival. This is not the same as continuing a specific sectarian lineage, so the issue of authority in such a lineage does not come into this project at all. Anyone may use any of these ideas in their service. They are posted here as an open invitation for cooperation between all devotees of the lord regardless of sex, race, caste, varna, ashrama or sectarian / lineage creed.

Further Discussion on Theosophy: T -  The following comments are provided at the request of Daniel.  However, I find myself unable to criticize BA very much, except perhaps that he does not seem to understand the difference between exoteric Theosophy and esoteric Theosophy. But then, few do.  BA - You are correct to note that I have not been commenting on anything except the ‘exoteric’ teachings of Theosophy. These are what are generally available to the public, and what I have been concerned with in this exchange. I am aware of other teachings. I once moved to Ojai California so I could study the Theosophical Society and related groups centered there. As there is a Theosophical Library there, I had the opportunity to do some reading in Theosophical sources. During that time I also visited Meditation Mount (A. Bailey’s center), etc., and with the Theosophical Pseudo-Catholic Church members, Roy Masters people, Krishnamurti and Satya Sai Baba devotees and other esoteric, New Age, neo-Hindu and neo-Buddhist practitioners and groups in the area. The Ojai area is an epicenter of such activity.

Good Planets, the Heavenly Jerusalem and Paradise in the Judeo-Catholic Tradition: Regarding our final destination, a devotee wrote: "I believe that everyone goes to their awarded destination at the time of death. If you are sincerely following Jesus, you will go where Jesus is, if you are sincerely following Mohammed, you will go to where Mohammed is, etc. If your mind is absorbed in your pet dog or cat at the time of death, then you can also attain that state and associate with them on a similar level. 

Haryeh as Aryeh Yahu Tzabaoth, The Lion of Judah: ON THE LEFT IS ONE OF THE SCORES OF JEWISH-RELATED AND PROTO-CATHOLIC ICONS THAT I COMPARED WITH VAISHNAVA AND PURE LAND BUDDHIST ICONS IN MY INTERDISCIPLINARY MASTER'S DEGREE PROJECT. 

Jesus and Nityananda:  If Jesus is Nityananda! The way that you have posed your question has prompted me to write something about the theology of Sri Baladeva, the Second Person of the Godhead, and how both Jesus and Sri Nityananda Rama are considered in the Catholic and Vaishnava Traditions to be Incarnations of Sri Baladeva.

Jesus in India? Plausible Deniability - Part One: In this three part series, Bhakti Ananda Goswami addresses some of the fraudulent and corrupted 19th and post-19th century New Age religious literatures often encountered and sometimes accepted as authentic by devotees.   In doing so he will give references in Parts Two and Three to sites and scholarly texts where devotees can learn more about these inauthentic so-called ‘ancient’ scriptures, which are being aggressively promoted by various New Age ‘gurus,’ religious and esoteric groups.   

Jesus in India?  Part Two (A): <<< With all due respect to your own great endeavors regarding the so-called "Talmud of Jmmanuel," it is also another one of these esoteric frauds. You have been duped sir, and have invested years into the product of an esoteric conspiracy.>>>> “That's your assumption, but you haven't investigated the matter while I and others have. The Talmud of Jmmanuel (TJ) is only one translation and one or two editings away from its original, while other "known-to-be texts," like the Gospels, are much further from their sources. As you well know.”

Jesus in India? Part Two (B): Some Web Sources, Pro and Con, for Considering the Claims of the ‘Tomb of Jesus’ Ahmadiyya Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839–1908), The Ahmadiyya Prophet, Messiah and Kalki Avatara, ‘Discoverer’ of the so-called ‘Tomb of Jesus’ in Kashmir.

Jesus in India?Part Two (C) - Whose 'Jesus,' If Any, Is Buried In Kashmir: Abubakr Ben Ishmael Salahuddin is the author of “Saving the Savior,”  the Qadiani sect Ahmadiyya Muslim propaganda literature about the so-called 'Tomb of Jesus' in Kashmir.   He is also the 'Tombmaster' of the New Age popular Tomb Of Jesus website  that promotes the Ahmadiyya teachings about the Muslim's Jesus.  This is Bhakti Ananda Goswami's letter responding to some of the “Tombmaster's” statements in his recent letter to B A Goswami on the jesus-christ Yahoo group.   

Jesus, Bridal Mysticism, and Madhurya Rasa: FIRST, ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE TERM ‘BRIDAL MYSTICISM’ SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO THAT DIVINE LOVE MYSTICISM IN THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS, IN WHICH THE SUPREME LOVER IS GOD.  FOR MILLINEA THE MOST POWERFUL CURRENT OF RABBINICAL TRADITION HAS CONSISTANTLY ASSERTED THAT THE LOVER OF THE “SONG” IS GOD (“HASHEM” = THE HOLY NAME” !)   THESE JEWISH MASTERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED THE “SONG OF SONGS” AGAINST CHARGES OF MUNDANITY FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.  IN FACT THE “SONG”, WHICH IS THE JUDEO-CATHOLIC SCRIPTURAL SOURCE FOR BRIDAL MYSTICISM, HAS BEEN AND IS STILL CONSIDERED THE “HOLY OF HOLIES” BY BOTH JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN

Karmic Speculation Cannot Build a Dharmic Nation: Bhakti Ananda Goswami Repudiates the ‘Bad Karma’ Framing, Blaming, Shaming and Intimidating of Abused Gurukulis and Other Devotees.  Dear Gurukuli,  My mood is to encourage and support the gurukulis (and their parents) in any way that I can, to assert themselves as a dharmic corrective to the sins and crimes committed against Srila Prabhupada, and so many of his sincere devotee followers and their children, in ISKCON / the movement.   The perpetrators of these evils have had the audacity to try to guilt-trip their victims with ‘bad karma’ indoctrination!  They have abused the doctrine of ‘bad karma’ to try to modify their own culpability and to intimidate their victims into shame and silence. 

Krishna as Kama / Eros, and Love in the Flavor of Friendship Part 1: I HAVE BEEN A SANNYASI SHIKSHA (INSTRUCTING) MASTER FOR TEN YEARS NOW.   SINCE I HAVE NEVER WANTED FOLLOWERS OR FANS, BY LORD BALADEVA'S MERCY I HAVE AVOIDED THE WHOLE PATHOLOGY OF THE DISTORTED MODERN GURU-DISCIPLE SYNDROME.   INSTEAD I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD, AND I AM KNOWN FOR MY BHAKTI (LOVING DEVOTION) IN THE BALADEVA SAKHYA-RASA OR CHIVALROUS PROTECTIVE FLAVOR OF FRATERNAL LOVE. 

Krishna as Kama / Eros, and Love in the Flavor of Friendship Part 2: RASA and Flavors of Love in Platonism.  C. S. Lewis nicely describes the Greek Heliopolitan concept of the 4 primary flavors (rasas) of love, in The Four Loves.  One of these flavors is PHILOS, or friendship. In Kouros-centric Platonism, philos, friendly or brotherly love could be profound, passionate and eternal. One form of such profound friendly love in late classical Greece actually came to be called ‘Platonic love’. This is one of the flavors of love described in the SYMPOSIUM.   

Krishna as Kama / Eros, and Love in the Flavor of Friendship Part 3: Now I would like to share with you some of my favorite "Nectar of Devotion" passages about friendship. "At this age Krishna was garlanded with various kinds of flowers. He used to put on a silk dress, colored with various kinds of dye. Such beautiful decorations are considered cosmetics for Krishna. Krishna would wear this dress when He used to go into the forest to tend the cows. Sometimes He would wrestle there with His different friends, and sometimes they would dance all together in the forest. These are some of the specific activities of the pauganda age."  [pauganda is from six to ten years of age]

Krishna as Kama / Eros, and Love in the Flavor of Friendship Part 4: This is my particular realization about Sri Krishna being everywhere. He is in HISTORY and in His Books, but HE IS NOT A PRISONER OF THE PAST OR AN OBJECT.  HE IS PRESENT HERE AND NOW.  RIGHT NOW.  NOW.  NOW, AND ALL OF THE MOMENTS IN BETWEEN.  However, if we refuse to acknowledge His Presence, if we don't accept His Love, His Self-Revelation from the past and the present too, these can't change us, they cannot become part of us. We may be able to quote a lot of verses, but we will still be outside of the jar (how is that for a mixed metaphor?).  We may be adverse to the fallen 'material' world of sin, but we will not be filled with Krishna's Love. Emptying out the false selfish 'love' of the fallen world is only required so that we can be filled with Krishna's True Love. 

Nityananda Trayodasi Offering.  The Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology of Sri Nitai-Balarama as the Second Person of the Godhead, the Origin of Incarnation, the Original Spiritual Master, the Savior of all Worlds, and the Second Person of the Catholic Godhead Part 1: 

Nityananda Trayodasi Offering.  The Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology of Sri Nitai-Balarama as the Second Person of the Godhead, the Origin of Incarnation, the Original Spiritual Master, the Savior of all Worlds, and the Second Person of the Catholic Godhead Part 2: To Balu-Yahu Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead; To Balu-Yahu Christ, Zaos (Jiva) the reservoir of all living beings; To Balu-Yahu Christ, shelter of the spiritual energy, and Lord of Shekinah (Shakti); To Balu-Yahu Christ; Baal-Dionysos; counter-form of Helios Kouros; To Balu-Yahu Christ; upon the cosmic mayim waters; To Balu-Yahu Christ; Whose name is also KRISHNA; 

One Father God, One Holy Mother, One Human Family: Over thirty years ago I began studying Deity and theophoric (god-bearing) personal, place and city names in the Hebrew and Greek versions of the Bible.  I wanted to understand the relationship of the Judeo-Catholic (Apostolic Christian) Deity to the other peoples and Deities of the Old and New Testament stories.  At that time I had not been prejudiced by any form of ethnocentrism and had no preconceived notion about where to look for connections, or what I would find. As a result, I was not inhibited to compare Hebrew, Israelite and Judahite Deity names with those of the Deities of Africa, Europe or traditions East of the Levant.  I began by searching the scriptures and Biblical concordances for every Deity and theophoric name I could find. 

Pure Land Buddhism As Vaishnavism Part One: The Difference Between the Original Pure Land Tradition and the Atheistic Theravadin Tradition: What About Southern or Voidist Buddhism, Isn't It The Oldest / Original Form of Buddhism ? Recently I was asked if the Buddha taught atheism.   I could not give a simple answer, because there is an erroneous presupposition in the question. Original Mahayana Buddhism was theistic, and taught the existence of infinite Buddhas, or incarnations of Lokeshvara (Vishnu) or the Supreme Transcendent Adi Buddha HRIH (Hari, Krishna), Who incarnates to preach the Dharma according to time and circumstance.

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Two:  The Preeminence of Pure Land or Mahayana Buddhist Tradition Obscured by Theravadin Buddhist Disinformation: From a letter sent on Sunday, May 05, 2002 to Bhakti Ananda Goswami (the devotee's letter has been edited for use in this column.  Bhakti Ananda Goswami's comments follow indented passages from the letter):

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Three:  A Basic Principle for Studying Vaishnava Goddess Connections in Buddhism: Dear Bhakti Ananda Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!  Thank you very much for your kind letter with so vast and nice explanations. So I need a time to investigate it. Thanks to you, I again started my research work in Buddhism and other interfaith subjects. Right, all ancient methods derived from mystical Radha-Krsna Union: Korea - Celestial Mother and Tangun, Japan: Amaterasu, Izanami & Izanagi, Vietnam: Lac Long Quan & Au Co, Kouros & Rhoda etc.

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Four:  What is the Evidence of its Krishna Centrism ?: "Many have said that Mahayana Buddhism is related to Hinduism, why do you claim it is specifically Krishna-centric Vaishnavism that it is most closely connected to ?" I have made an interdisciplinary study of Mahayana Buddhism, specifically focusing on its core, which is historically and theologically the Pure Land Tradition.   In this study, I have sought the oldest sources in each region, comparing texts and inscriptions with icons and symbols, related architecture, rites and prayers etc

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Five:  Who Is The Jewel / Mani in the Lotus / Padma ?: Who IS 'The Jewel in the Lotus' of Tibetan Buddhism, and the rest of Mahayana Buddhism? OM MANI PADME HUM is one of the main mantras of Nepalese and Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. It is Sanskrit. It invokes 'The Jewel in the Lotus'. Mani means 'jewel' or 'pearl' and Padma means 'lotus'. These words do not refer to a mundane pearl in a lotus, or to mundane Tantric intercourse as has been promoted by the late 'Tantrists'.

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Six:  Replying to the Atheistic Challenge of a Theravadin Buddhist: Sent to "Bhakti Ananda E.O.H.N." Hari Bolo, B.A. Goswami!    Jaya Prabhupada!  Thanks for all your nice e-mails. ..... I'm writing because I have a question.  I spend time in a certain Buddhist chat room.  There is one guy who thinks he owns the room, and quotes all this Gautama Buddha stuff. He says the teachings of Buddhism say that wisdom is the highest, insight or whatever, and that devotion is not even mentioned in the sutras. So, I was wondering if you could just give me a couple of quotes, or a barrage of stuff I can share with him?  ... Thanks , your servant, ...... Dasa 

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Seven: False-Self Hinduism, No-Self (Anatta) Buddhism , or the True Self of the Great Bhakti Tradition?: Having just visited a New-Age Advaita Vedanta web site, e-mailed to me by a very loving person, here is my response.   The site is full of sweet preaching about love, but ultimately teaches the non-existence of any personal self, either finite or supreme (God).  The logical inconsistency of this coupling of impersonalism and love is pervasive in the New Age movement, where the Christian value of love and a kind of innocent romanticism and sentimentalism are often paradoxically presented in the context of some form of corrupted Neo-Mayavadi-Hindu or Neo-Theravadin-Buddhist doctrine of the false-self or no-self.

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Eight: Theravadin Buddhism and the Aryosophist Oppression of the Dravidians of Sri Lanka ...Theravadin Buddhist Atheism Is NOT a Benevolent Historical Force: Atheistic Buddhist voidism has not been a benevolent force in history. The history of the elite 'Aryan' Theravadin Buddhist upper-class oppression of Tamil Shaivite Hindus, Vaishnavas and Devi worshipers in Sri Lanka is appalling.  The powerful 'Aryan' Sinhalese Theravadin Buddhist upper class / caste readily allied themselves to the atheistic Anglo-Germanic Aryosophists (like the Theosophists) in the 19th century.  

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism: Part Nine:  Exposing the Historical Emptiness of Theravadin Buddhist Claims: So far I have stated that the Buddhist iconography of both the Northern or Mahayana (with the Pure Land devotional tradition at its core) and Southern or Hinayana (Theravadin or atheistic) schools is the same.  I have described seeing examples of this canon of sacred forms from the earliest known Buddhist sites from Japan and Angkor Wat Cambodia to Nepal and Sri Lanka, the proud ‘capital’ of Buddhist atheism.  

Pure Land Buddhism as Vaishnavism Part Ten:  Review and Preview: In a nutshell, the original Buddhism is actually a form of Radha-Krishna-centric Vaishnavism.  It pre-dates the appearance of the historically late Sakyamuni by thousands of years, and was once the dominant Bhakti Tradition of major portions of the human family.  The historical and theological core of this Bhakti Buddhism has been called 'Pure Land Buddhism' by modern scholars. 

Radha-Krishna and Sankarshana at the Heart of World Monotheism: Historical Identity = Theological Identity; The Evidence says Krishna-Balarama-Paramatma is the Judeo-Christian Trinitarian Godhead, and The Shekinah Mysticism of  Mary the Mystical Rose is that of Radha. At the heart of the Jewish, Catholic Christian, and Sufi Muslim Traditions is something Western theologians call 'Bridal Mysticism'.  In Bridal Mysticism, Israel, the Church or the individual soul is considered 'feminine' (Shakti-Prakriti or Receiver) in relationship to the 'masculine' (Purusha) Godhead, Who is the Giving Source and Lover of all beings. Historically this concept is related to the Song of Songs in the Jewish scripture and to Eli-Yahu and Shekinah rabbinical theology.  Shekinah has been considered the uncreated Feminine or Receiver-ness of Godhead. 

Religion and the Modes of Nature: “ALL of the extant separate Shaivite, Shakti, Advaitan, and Buddhist Sanskrit texts (Mahayana Buddhist Texts are originally in Vaishnava Sanskrit) are much later than the Vedic/Vaishnava texts. However one dates the Vaishnava Shastras and these later texts, and the traditions they represent, the separated traditions are clearly based on the former existence of the Vedic-Vaishnava Tradition. Thus the common inheritance / genealogy of the separated traditions in is Vedic-era Purusha or Vishnu worship.”

Response to Janus: From Janus:  "I'll leave you all (and it seems now that I am only talking to myself as no one else is posting) to mull this over while I go on to address something related, the supposed bonafides of Christianity in general and of Catholicism in particular. I have noted that Bhakti Ananda Goswami has recently been on a personal campaign to protect you from being converted to the consideration that some Islamic splinter group’s claims to the bonafides of its tradition make it a viable source for divine truth, or something like that. But as Bhakti Ananda Goswami attempts to protect us from the untruths of this person’s claims it seems only fair that we return the favor and responding in a like manner protect you from Bhakti Ananda Goswami’s claims that his tradition (Roman Catholicism) is a vehicle of the truth. Perhaps someone can clue Bhakti Ananda Goswami into the fact that my next post is going to show that his Catholic tradition in particular is founded upon lies and that it continues to perpetrate these lies, so that he can gather his notes together and prepare himself, not that it will do him any good."

Some Thoughts on Oppressive Preaching and Abusive Guru-Disciple Relationships: Anyone who has been around the Movement for the last 10, 20, or 30 + years probably has heard cynical and bitter diatribes about the falsity of love and friendship among selfish materialists in this world. All relationships have been routinely condemned as mere material attachment, and this has led to a profound impersonalism in the Movement masquerading as spiritual detachment, or 'transcendence'.

Success Brings a Backlash: It is clear that some people want to cause you pain. They tried to hurt me too, by dragging irrelevant personal information (twice) into the debate, and saying I was a crack-head, a dugpa (Tibetan black-magician), or a Ma Mo Chohan (dark, evil demigod) worshiper, etc., and trying to discredit me as knowledgeable about Hinduism, Buddhism or occultism.  When they have no real ability to answer your questions or charges, then they apparently will stoop to personally violating the contributors to this web site with character assassination and aggressive hunting-down and false identity campaigns.

Summary of the Vedic Sources of Theosophy Part One: Tthe below summary the MW page numbers given are from the 1979 Oxford edition of the Sir M. Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English dictionary. The numbers in () are to references below in the References section. The Earliest Sources for HPB’s Teachings.  To summarize and comment on H.P. Blavatsky’s (HPB) Theosophical Society The Secret Doctrine teachings (from the claimed “Stanzas of Dzyan”), I have excerpted some of the key ideas from a summary of the Theosophical teachings in G.A. Farthings book Deity, Cosmos and Man. I am a recognized authority on the Sanskrit Vedic-Vaishnava Tradition that HPB’s Eastern (Advaiti Shaivite Hindu, Mahayana Buddhist, Sikh, etc.) teachings are obviously derived from..

Summary of the Vedic Sources of Theosophy Part Two: Beyond the Macrocosm and Within the Microcosm. Beyond our finite universe, the Vaishnava Vedas and Puranas present the Origin of countless universes in MAHAVISHNU and His Feminine MAHA TATTVA (Magna / Maha ‘Great’ Truth) Causal Waters, and beyond THAT the greater, truly infinite and transcendent ‘Spiritual Sky,’ and the PARAM DHAMAN (Domain) PARADESHA or Padma (Lotus) Paradise, the Original Abode of Shakti and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Summary of the Vedic Sources of Theosophy Part Three: The following excerpts are from Geoffrey A. Farthing’s book Deity, Cosmos and Man, The Scope and Framework of the Science, Part I, Chapter II, pp. 11-20. Mr. Farthing’s book is an excellent introduction to Theosophy as given in the writings of Madame H.P.  Blavatsky and her Adept Teachers.

Summary of the Vedic Sources of Theosophy Part Four: The following are additional excerpts from Geoffrey A. Farthing’s book Deity, Cosmos and Man, The Scope and Framework of the Science.

The Antiquity of Vaishnavism and Related Traditions: Even if the Vedas are 7000 years old as you say, which would make them about contemporaneous with the earliest manuscripts of the I CHING, what do you make of the fact that the human race is believed to have originated at least 50,000 years ago according to some reckonings, and as many as 2 million years ago by others?  If Vishnu is real, why did he wait so long to reveal himself?  The 7000 is someone’s speculation; I generally don’t like fixing earliest dates for a particular version of something when there is so little evidence.

The Bible as Veda Genesis/Janus/Ganesha/Gnosis: I have studied the Old Testament in both the Hebrew and the Greek (Septuagint and Apocrypha), and can tell you that these are both Krishna Balarama (Vishnu) centric Vaishnava texts, and Shaivite-related texts.  The 'Jewish' scripture in either form (Hebrew or Greek) is absolutely a Vaishnava record, with additional strong Shaivite associations.  In fact the very word for God's revealed knowledge in the Hebrew is Yeda / Yada and in the Greek is Oida.  This is Veda !   Just as the supreme Deity's names Yahu / Yeshi and Yishma in Hebrew are Vasu and Vishnu in Sanskrit,  Yeda is Veda.

The Hare Krishna Movement: Traditional Madhva-Gaudiya Vaishnavism or a New Age ‘New Religious Movement’ (NRM)? Introduction and Part One: Understanding the Origins of the ‘Spiritual’ New Age Movement in 19th Century Western Mayavadi and Racist Occultism: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?:  Around the World sincere devotees of traditional Madhva-Gaudiya Vaishnavism have been misperceived as being members of a New Age ‘New Religious Movement’ (NRM).  This perception has led to a general disrespect for them by the members of truly ancient and venerable traditions such as Judaism, Parseeism, Buddhism, *catholicism and even other lineages of Vaishnavism and ‘Hinduism’.  In the worst instances, this misperception has even led to the fear of Gaudiya Vaishnavism as a dangerous New Age ‘cult’, and the persecution of Gaudiya Vaishnava devotees as a destructive anti-religious, anti-social and criminal element in society.

The Purusha / Polieus Asyla Federations, Ancient and Future Human Unity and High Civilization: "EXCEPT FOR VRINDAVANA, ALL PLACES OF KRISHNA'S PASTIMES ARE CALLED PURAS (TOWNS)." THIS IS BOTH AN HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL ASSERTION OF PROFOUND IMPORTANCE TO THE PAST AND FUTURE UNITY OF THE HUMAN RACE.  PURUSHA WORSHIP-BASED SACRAMENTAL SOCIAL ORDER WAS AT THE HEART OF ANCIENT HIGH CIVILIZATION IN AFRICA, THE LEVANT AND EUROPE AS WELL AS IN MESOPOTAMIA, INDIA AND ELSEWHERE.  THE PUR (TOWN OR CITY) IS THE SACRAMENTAL VARNASHRAMA DHARMA SOCIAL-BODY ORGANIZATION OF THE COSMIC PURUSHA OF THE RIG VEDIC PURUSHA SUKTA HYMN.  FROM THE PRE-ADVENT MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL TRADITIONS OF POLIEUS / PURUSHA WORSHIP, THE DOCTRINE OF THE SACRAMENTAL SOCIAL BODY OF THE LORD AS POLIEUS HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH AS THE MYSTICAL AND COMMUNITARIAN / SACRAMENTAL SOCIAL BODY OF CHRIST. 

The Rasa-Lila Dance. Caroling the Hora - Part 1 An Introduction to Radha-Krishna's Dance of Divine Love in the Garden of Paradise in Biblical Traditions:  SRI SRI RADHA-KRISHNA AND SRI RADHA'S 'EXPANSIONS', AND BALARAMA (SRI KRISHNA'S FIRST 'EXPANSION'), ARE AT THE HEART OF HUMANITY'S DIVINE LOVE 'BRIDAL MYSTICISM' TRADITIONS. THUS IT WOULD SEEM REASONABLE TO EXPECT TO FIND EVIDENCE OF THEIR 'RASA LILA' DANCE-OF-DIVINE-LOVE IN THE VAISHNAVA-RELATED OTHER GREAT BHAKTI TRADITIONS. IN THE LATE 1960S I BEGAN A STUDY OF 'CAROLING' AND THE SACRED DANCE IN CATHOLIC, GRECO-ROMAN, JEWISH AND OTHER ANCIENT DEVOTIONAL TRADITIONS. ON THIS THREAD I WILL TRY TO PRESENT A LITTLE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION TO MY LONG STUDY OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT.  

The Rasa-Lila Dance. Part 2 Some Different Perspectives On This Important Subject: BELOW ARE SOME EXCERPTS FROM WRITINGS I FOUND ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF THE 'RASA DANCE' IN BIBLE-RELATED TRADITIONS.   IN ONE HALF HOUR I LOCATED OVER 500 REFERENCES TO THE SUBJECT OF THE SACRED CHORUS (OR CIRCLE DANCE), BY SEARCHING THE WORDS I HAVE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS LETTER.  THESE REFERENCES RANGED FROM EXPERT SCHOLARLY SECULAR ACADEMIC AND CHRISTIAN WORKS, TO 'NEW AGE', NEO-PAGAN AND MASONIC-RELATED 'ESOTERIC' SOURCES.  THE SUBJECT IS SO VAST AND HAS BEEN STUDIED BY SO MANY WESTERN SCHOLARS, FROM SO MANY PERSPECTIVES, THAT I AM AMAZED THAT THERE ARE NOT ALREADY NUMEROUS WORKS AVAILABLE ANALYZING IN DETAIL THE VARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RADHA-KRISHNA BRIDAL MYSTICISM AND CATHOLIC (AND PROTO-CATHOLIC HELIOPOLITAN) HIEROGAMOS MYSTICISM, AS CELEBRATED

The Rasa-Lila Dance. Caroling the Hora - Part 3 The Catholic and Greek Labyrinth, and the Circle Dance of the Japanese Tanabata Festival:THE LABYRINTH WAS PART OF THE CIRCLE MEDITATION IN EARLY CATHOLICISM. GOD WAS AT THE CENTER OF COURSE.  THE SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL WORLDS EMANATED OUTWARDS FROM GODHEAD, AND THE ROUND-WALKERS MEDITATED AND PRAYED - SANG OR DANCED INWARD TOWARD THEIR ORIGIN IN GOD.  REVERSES HAD SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, AS DID THE BLOCKS .  IN SOME LABYRINTHS THEY REPRESENTED ENCOUNTERING DOUBT OR PRIDE, ETC. ON THE PATH BACK TO GODHEAD.  THE LABYRINTHS WERE MANDALAS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE MEDITATION WITH ONE'S ENTIRE SOUL, MIND, VOICE AND BODY. SOMETIMES THEY REPLACED PILGRIMAGES.  

The Rasa-Lila Dance: Caroling the Hora - Conclusion The Sacred Dance in Islamic Mysticism: BOTH THE CONSTANT REPETITION OF THE HOLY NAME(S) AND THE SACRED DANCE ARE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED SUFI MUSLIM TRADITIONS.  THE DHIKR OR CONSTANT INVOCATION OF THE NAME OR 99 NAMES OF GOD IS PRACTICED BY THE SUFIS WHO DANCE THE CIRCLE AND SPINNING DANCE.   DURING THE DANCE ITSELF, THE DERVISHES ARE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME(S).  TO BALANCE AND SPIN CONTINUOUSLY, ACHIEVING CONSTANT PRECISE MOTION WHILE CHANTING, REQUIRES TREMENDOUS FOCUS. THE SUFI, OR GROUP OF SUFIS, MAY ENTER INTO AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE ABSORBED IN THIS AMAZING DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE. 

The Real Meaning of "Maya", A Comment on the Theos-Talk Dialogue about Maya: Maya does not mean ‘mother’ in Sanskrit. This is an associative meaning from the fact that MAYA is the personal name of Vishnu’s or Shiva’s Feminine Shakti as YOGA MAYA (the ‘Mother of Devotion’), or MAHA MAYA (Durga), Who is the ‘Mother’ of the material universes.  MA or MATA does mean MOTHER, but this is nowhere given as the root of the ancient Sanskrit word MAYA.

The Stanzas of Dzyan And the Evolution of Theosophical Thought Between 1880 and 1888 Part One: Previously in my paper “What Were They Masters Of ?” I discussed the Eastern content of the Mahatma Letters. In Parts Three and Four I included the result of a preliminary search of the Mahatma Letters for key Sanskrit names and terms.  In the next part of this paper on the Stanzas of Dzyan I will present the results of my preliminary search of H.P. Blavatsky’s 1888 first publication of The Secret Doctrine for comparison. The presence or absence and use or abuse of these Sanskrit words in the Mahatma Letters is quite revealing to a Vaishnava Sanskritist such as myself.   Therefore, for my purposes, the Sanskrit vocabulary of the Mahatmas somewhat establishes the parameters and content of their supposed Eastern expertise.

The Stanzas of Dzyan And the Evolution of Theosophical Thought Between 1880 and 1888 Part Two: WHAT DOES “DZYAN” MEAN?  WHAT DOES H.P. BLAVATSKY PRESENT THE “STANZAS OF DZYAN” AS, AND WHY DOES SHE USE THE VAISHNAVA BHAKTI SHASTRAS TO COMMENT ON THE STANZAS? CONSULTING THE SOURCES, FROM THE MAHATMA LETTERS AND MADAME BLAVATSKY’S “THE SECRET DOCTRINE” (SD) THE FOLLOWING QUOTES ARE DEFINITIVE. 
DZYAN DEFINED AS DHYAN OR JAN NA [Compare KNOW, GNOSIS, JNANA, DHYANA, DJAN, CH’AN and ZEN]

The Unified History of Monotheism,  Sources of Evidence, The Field of Helleno-Semitica: The underlying premise of my unified history of monotheism is that there was no strict divide in ancient times between the Greek or 'Indo-Aryan' (Indo-European) and Semitic (Hebrew, Israelite and Jewish) peoples, languages, religions and cultures.   The idea of a strict Greek versus Jewish / Semitic dichotomy is a later racist invention, that was highly developed and established as a kind of Euro-centric religion by the 19th century racist Euro-Aryanists.  This profoundly divisive and even adversarial Aryan versus Semitic world view eventually gave rise to the Third Reich and today's present world pathology of thought, in which all sorts of racist self-identified 'Aryans' despise the 'Abrahamic religions', the Yahwists, Jews, Semites, 'Zionists, 'Illuminati', Catholics, Jesuits or whatever else they call their imagined and most hated non-Aryan 'other'.

Theosophy, Buddhism, and Vaishnavism: I have only a few major criticisms of BAG’s comments: First, he doesn’t seem to understand Buddhism very well, and is very prejudiced against it.  I have been initiated into three schools of Pure Land Buddhism.  I have continued to practice the daily recitation of Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese ‘Other-Power’ Pure Land Buddhist Invocation Mantras, and to observe my Buddhist vows, including the Great Compassion (Bodhisattva) vow of Avalokiteshvara for over 20 years.  I have read Pure Land Scriptures in the Sanskrit

Uniting All Vaishnavas: Please consider the following words of the great Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharyas Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura from their book Vaishnavism and Nam-Bhajan. On pages two and three, these two illustrious Chaitanyaite Vaishnava Saints give the following astounding definition of “Vaishnava.”  “Real Vaishnavism: The word 'Vaishnavism' indicates the normal, eternal and natural condition, functions and devotional characteristics of all individual souls in relation to Vishnu, the Supreme, the All-pervading Soul. But an unnatural, unpleasant and regrettable sense has been attributed to the word making one understand by the word Vaishnava (literally a pure and selfless worshipper of Vishnu) a human form with twelve peculiar signs (Tilak) and dress on, worshipping many gods under the garb of a particular God and hating any other human form who marks himself with different signs, puts on a different dress and worships a different God in a different way and designated by the words 'Shaiva,' 'Shakta,'  'Ganapatya,' 'Jaina,' 'Buddhist,' 'Mahomedan,' 'Christian,' etc.

Vasu Murti Appointed to Organize Interfaith Council For Non-violence:Hare Krishna! Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga Ki Jaya!  To the esteemed Sanga of the WVA, and the Devotees of the world, we are most grateful to our Gurus, the Lord and Our Merciful Mother, and pleased to announce to the devotees of the world that Vasu Murti of Oakland California, USA has accepted his invitation to organize the first WVA-IC Ahimsa Council, to promote the Vaishnava ideals of holy peace and benevolence  through interfaith dialogue on ahimsa and non-violent cooperation in addressing social issues of critical importance. 

What Were They Masters Of? Examining The Claims of the Theosophical Masters Part One: My series on Buddhism has gotten interrupted again, this time by a very important opportunity to contribute something of lasting value to the effort against the covered atheism and voidism that presents itself as ‘Gnosis’. Please send any comments you have on this to Robert or the Forum section of this site, ASAP!

What Were They Masters Of? Examining The Claims of the Theosophical Masters Part Two:  Theosophical Propositions:

What Were They Masters Of? Examining the Claims of the Theosophical Masters Part Three: An Historical Perspective.  Whether or not God or gods exist, their worship certainly does, and such worship can be studied rigorously in an interdisciplinary way in history, the same as any other real-world phenomenon. In the same way, the innovation and diffusion of Theosophy can be studied.  Thoughts, theistic, atheistic and agnostic, etc., and the symbols, words and actions which express them have history. While people of equal intelligence and integrity may dispute the existence of God, gods, or the Theosophical Masters, the existence of religion and theosophy is not debated.

What Were They Masters Of? Examining the Claims of the Theosophical Masters Part Four: Of the words listed in Part Three, those with the more significant numbers of references rank as follows, with the Vaishnava Sanskrit-related shastra names and terms marked with an asterisk (*):  *karma 38   race 31 *Buddhism 24  dhyan chohans 21 (identified with the Theravadin Buddhist term "Tatagathas")  *deva(s) 21  (not used as a name of Krishna-Vishnu) *Buddha 18 (not used as an Avatara name of Sri Vishnu)  monad(s) 18 *nirvana 17 (not used as a name of Sri Krishna) *maya 16 (never referring to either Mahamaya Devi or Yoga Maya Devi)    races 16

What Were They Masters Of? Examining the Claims of the Theosophical Masters Part Five: >>> Your essay is quite interesting and contains much food for thought.<<<  Even the best of friends, in fact the very best of friends, continually try to stimulate each other’s growth with thought-provoking communication. The phrase ‘food for thought’ is so apt, because thought is actually nourished by new, difficult and challenging ideas and stimuli. Whether one has a monistic or dualistic world-view, the Socratic Dialogue method of teaching and learning is very valuable. You and I, and the other contributors here, have raised questions that merit investigation, and this is a good thing, not a negative thing.

Why the Cross is the Symbol of Jesus Christ as the Cosmic Purusha: At the beginning of every cosmic manifestation, the Second Person of the Godhead, Lord Baladeva, the Servitor Lord, Original Spiritual Master and Savior of all devotees, sacrifices Himself as the cosmic Purusha, for the creation, maintenance and redemption of the entire universe. The Rishis (compare Hebrew Roeh 'Seers') assist Him at His Self sacrifice. The remnants of His sacrifice become the food of all beings. Commemoration of His sacrifice becomes the central rite / act of worship in the whole universe. His consecrated Body / Remnants / Sesha or PURUSHA-IDA  / Prasadam are the 'remnants of His sacrifice' sacramental food of the twice-born. All of the Devas are born from His sacrifice. From His head the brahmanas are manifest, from His arms the kshatriyas, from His belly the vaishyas and from His legs the shudras are manifest. Thus the varnashrama dharma sacramental 'Mystical Social Body' of Purusha is the primal cause of theocentric human civilization and all sacramental social life.

WVA-IC Coordinator Seeking Volunteers: WVA-IC COORDINATOR BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO FORM LOCAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL COUNCILS TO IMPROVE VAISHNAVA / CATHOLIC RELATIONS. Working Groups Needed to Improve Vaishnava / Catholic Relations in Poland, India and Elsewhere. It is with deep grief that I consider the deteriorating situation between Vaishnavas and some Catholics in Poland. Catholic Christianity is more compatible with Gaudiya Vaishnavism than with any other religious group. There are profound historical and theological, ritual, aesthetic, ascetic / moral and social-order connections between these two great Bhakti Traditions. Without any scholarly understanding of this, anyone may observe how humble, open-minded Catholics are attracted to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Such Catholics, in fact, have often realized that there are elements of Vaishnavism in their Catholicism. I have, for instance, in the last 30 + years met a number of practicing Catholics, who like myself also consider themselves to be Vaishnavas. Generally the historical reasons for Vaishnava-Catholic commonalities are not important to non-scholar devotees, who are more concerned with the present practice of their faith. So, while scholars should be discussing these historical connections and related theological and ritual, etc. commonalities, at the 'grass roots' level, the devotees of both traditions can simply appreciate those spiritual and moral goods their Traditions hold in common, eventually coming to a relationship of mutual appreciation and even cooperation for their common benefit.