When a man dies, he is called dead, but when he again appears in a subtle form not visible to our present vision and yet acts, such a dead body is called a ghost. Ghosts are always very bad elements, always creating a fearful situation for others. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (09-22-03)
It is practically experienced. I know that the ghost, if you go in a house ghostly haunted, if you chant Hare Krsna mantra, they'll go away. They cannot tolerate. In my life there was several incidences like that. In my household life, I was doing business in Lucknow. So there was one house, very big house, worth thousands of rupees' rent, but it was ghostly haunted. So nobody would take that house. I took it at two hundred rupees, (laughter) and very big house. And I was... All the servants, they complained, "Sir, there is ghost." So I was chanting. He was living in several spots, especially on the gate side. So I could understand, but I would chant Hare Krsna, and I was saved. Everyone was saved. There was... And, say, in 1969 I was guest in the house of John Lennon in London. So there was a ghost in... It was a big plot. There was a guest house. So they complained, "Sir, here is ghost." So I advised them to chant Hare Krsna, and the ghost went away. Yes. This is fact. When there is Hare Krsna chanting, these ghostly, demonic living entities, they'll not be able to stay there. They'll go away. [750203BG.HAW]
Those who are very sinful and attached to their family, house, village or country do not receive a gross body made of material elements but remain in a subtle body, composed of mind, ego and intelligence. Those who live in such subtle bodies are called ghosts. This ghostly position is very painful because a ghost has intelligence, mind and ego and wants to enjoy material life, but because he doesn't have a gross material body, he can only create disturbances for want of material satisfaction. It is the duty of family members, especially the son, to offer oblations to the demigod Aryama or to Lord Visnu. From time immemorial in India the son of a dead man goes to Gaya and, at a Visnu temple there, offers oblations for the benefit of his ghostly father. It is not that everyone's father becomes a ghost, but the oblations of pinda are offered to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu so that if a family member happens to become a ghost, he will be favored with a gross body. However, if one is habituated to taking the prasada of Lord Visnu, there is no chance of his becoming a ghost or anything lower than a human being. In Vedic civilization there is a performance called sraddha by which food is offered with faith and devotion. If one offers oblations with faith and devotion--either to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu or to His representative in Pitrloka, Aryama--one's forefathers will attain material bodies to enjoy whatever material enjoyment is due them. In other words, they do not have to become ghosts. [SB 4.18.18]
The word eka-pada, "one-legged," refers to ghosts, for it is said that ghosts walk on one leg. [SB 4.29.2]
Because of his desire to enjoy the material world, the living entity is dressed with the material gross and subtle bodies. Thus he is given a chance to enjoy the senses. The senses are therefore the instruments for enjoying the material world; consequently the senses have been described as friends. Sometimes, because of too much sinful activity, the living entity does not get a material gross body, but hovers on the subtle platform. This is called ghostly life. Because of his not possessing a gross body, he creates a great deal of trouble in his subtle body. Thus the presence of a ghost is horrible for those who are living in the gross body. [SB 4.29.6]
Sometimes the living entity is forced to give up his body and enter another one according to the judgment of Yamaraja. It is difficult, however, for the conditioned soul to enter another body unless the present dead body is annihilated through cremation or some other means. The living being has attachment for the present body and does not want to enter another, and thus in the interim he remains a ghost. If a living being who has already left his body has been pious, Yamaraja, just to give him relief, will give him another body. Since the living being in the body of the King had some attachment to his body, he was hovering as a ghost, and therefore Yamaraja, as a special consideration, approached the lamenting relatives to instruct them personally. Yamaraja approached them as a child because a child is not restricted but is granted admittance anywhere, even to the palace of a king. Besides this, the child was speaking philosophy. People are very much interested in hearing philosophy when it is spoken by a child. [SB 7.2.36]
After giving up the body, one is transferred to another body, but sometimes, if one is too sinful, he is checked from transmigrating to another body, and thus he becomes a ghost. To save a diseased person from ghostly life, the funeral ceremony, or sraddha ceremony, as prescribed in authorized sastra, must be performed. Ravana was killed by Lord Ramacandra and was destined for hellish life, but by Lord Ramacandra's advice, Vibhisana, Ravana's brother, performed all the duties prescribed in relation to the dead. Thus Lord Ramacandra was kind to Ravana even after Ravana's death. [SB 9.10.29]
We have heard of people's being haunted by ghosts. Having no gross material body, a ghost seeks shelter of a gross body to stay in and haunt. The Sakatasura was a ghost who had taken shelter of the handcart and was looking for the opportunity to do mischief to Krsna. When Krsna kicked the cart with His small and very delicate legs, the ghost was immediately pushed down to the earth and his shelter dismantled, as already described. This was possible for Krsna because He has full potency. [SB 10.7.9]
If a man becomes disappointed and he cuts his own throat or hangs himself, some way or other, eats some poison, to finish, does it mean that he is finished? Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. He is rascal. He does not know. By finishing this body he is finished--no, that is not possible. The result is, because he violated the rules of nature, he becomes a ghost. That is his life. One who commits suicide, he becomes a ghost. Ghost means he does not get this material body. He remains in the subtle body, mind, intelligence. Therefore ghost can go because he is in the mind. Mind speed is very strong. If you have got this material body, you cannot go immediately hundred miles off. But if you are in the mental body, you can go immediately, thousand miles immediately, within a second. So the ghost, they can play something wonderful because... But they are not happy because they have no gross body. They want to enjoy. He's materialist. He has committed suicide for some material want. So he is want of material..., fulfilling material desire. He could not fulfill in this body; therefore commits suicide, but the desire is there. The desire is there, and he cannot fulfill it. He becomes perplexed. Therefore the ghost create disturbance sometimes.
You mention ghosts. So far I have experience, the best way to remove them is to chant Hare Krishna very loudly and have jubilant kirtana until they leave. In England, on Mr. John Lennon's house where I was staying in 1969, there was one ghost. But as soon as the devotees began chanting very loudly, he went away immediately. [71-12-03]
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadahttp://society.krishna.org/Articles/2000/11/00195.html
Now that we are ready to inavde Iraq and with the looming threat of a possible nuclear war with North Korea notwithstanding the nuclear threats posed by Pakistan and India, it seems the whole world is poised on the brink of a world war holocaust. But the big question on everyone's mind is, Who's side is God on? Bhakta Vaikuntha (03-11-03)
God does exist and He remains ONE even though He may be perceived as different things to different people in different parts of the world according to one's angle of vision and/or religious or cultural upbringing. In other words, to give the simplest analogy that HDG Srila Prabhupada used many times, one who lives in Arizona may think the sun is an Arizona sun or one who lives in Germany may think it is a German sun and so forth but the fact is this, the sun is spread everywhere and remains ONE. The sun does not discriminate, that is, someone basking in the sun in Bermuda experiences the same sunlight as another person in prison looking out at the world from their cell. Likewise, if someone in another part of the world cannot see that same sun this does not mean the sun is not shining. On a cloudy day we may say that the sun is not there but we know it exists nevertheless. Such is God. We may have different perceptions but He also exists even though we may not "perceive" Him or see Him. This is common sense. Therefore, the ancient Vedic texts also state that God is impartial and yet, as contradictory as this may sound, He is partial toward the righteous or those who have surrendered to His will. But what is God's will? (See my article Implementing A Vedic Society").
AHIMSA
"Ahimsa" in Sanskrit means nonviolence. But what is its real meaning? According to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada the Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in one of his purports to the Bhagavad-gita (10.5) He states: "Ahimsa, nonviolence, means that one should not do anything that will put others into misery or confusion. Material activities that are promised by so many politicians, sociologists, philanthropists, etc., do not produce very good results. Because the politicians and philanthropists have no transcendental vision; they do not know what is actually beneficial for human society. Ahimsa means that people should be trained in such a way that the full utilization of the human body can be achieved. The human body is meant for spiritual realization, so any movement or any commissions which do not further that end commit violence on the human body. That which furthers the future happiness of the people in general is called nonviolence." And again in (Bg. 13.12) Srila Prabhupada states: "Nonviolence is generally taken to mean not killing or destroying the body, but actually nonviolence means to not put others into distress. People in general are trapped by ignorance in the material concept of life, and they perpetually suffer material pains. So unless one elevates people to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence. One should try his best to distribute real knowledge to the people, so that they may become enlightened and leave this material entanglement. That is nonviolence." There may be disagreement as to the nature of "real knowledge" but for those who are not familiar with the Vedic literatures it is Krsna who is none other than that ONE God almighty Himself and the origin of all that be. The best analogy Srila Prabhupada gave (one of many) is the doctor who must use his scalpel to cut the patient open to remove a cancer in order to save the patient. If that same doctor were to run out and use that same knife on someone else, it would be murder or an act of violence. While this may also be based upon ones perspective, the fact remains that in war, and sometimes war in inevitable according to time and place, God or Krsna will "arrange" a situation in which righteousness will overcome and defeat evil or demoniac natures. He does this to re-establish religious principles that He Himself has set into motion in human society and at the same time protect His devotees or the theists. But wait. How can God advocate a world war? Doesn't this run contrary to the principles of peace and nonviolence?
THE MAHABHARATA
Perhaps the largest and oldest epic Sanskrit history of the world is the 100,000 verse "Mahabharata" which means "great India." It was compiled 5,000 years ago by Lord Krsna's literary incarnation Srila Krsna Dvapayana Vyasadeva who also put to write the monumental 18,000 verse Srimad-Bhagavatam, considered the "crown jewel" of all the Vedas. Srila Vyasadeva's assitant in the writing of this work was none other than "Ganesa," who holds a very prominent place in the pantheon of demigods. Mahabharata then is not an ordinary novel as we in the west have come to know literature and while there are those supposed religious scholars who want to classify such as "myth" or quaint folklore, in essence; it is actual fact. Just as one documenting the battle of D-Day in World War Two to people 5,000 years from now. While it is historical fact, and while there were major personalities fighting in that war such as generals etc. there may be those who find this episode unbelievable. The Mahabharata then is not an ordinary treatise because of the presence of lord Sri Krsna and the events related to Him. One would have to give up the notion through knowledge and realization of course to realize this very essential point. That Krsna is God and not just a handsome Prince with astute philosophical observations and that what he says is absolute truth is the final thrust of the gita itself.
This comes from reading and hearing the Vedas to assimilate its true meaning. Very briefly, Mahabharata deals with two feuding dynasties, the Kurus and the Pandavas culminating in the the famous, "Bhagavad-gita" which means "song of God." That is, the gita itself consisting of 700 verses is a battlefield dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and spoken by Lord Sri Krsna Himself. This is actually the heart and soul of the Mahabharata. While the story leading up to this great battle is mammoth in scope; it was a fratricidal conflict between the 100 sons of the blind King Dhrtarastra and his son Duryodhana and on the opposing side their cousins the Pandavas. Unique to this story is the fact that Krsna puts Arjuna into illusion regarding his apprehension at seeing his kinsmen prepared for battle. Regarding his "duty" as a soldier or "ksatriya," Krsna begins to enlighten Arjuna as to the nature of the self and reveal transcendental knowledge regarding the "self" in a manner that future generations can also understand today; issues concerning the nature of the soul, God and our eternal relationship with Him. While God, or Krsna remains invisible to the living entity then, as in the previous analogy of the sun covered by clouds, He exists just the same. To eradicate any doubts in this regard we turn to a purport from the Srimad-Bhagavatam by Srila Prabhupada (6.4.24): "The transcendental position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krsna) is not perceivable by the conditioned souls, who are accustomed to material vision and cannot understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead exists in His abode, which is beyond that vision.
Even if a materialistic person could count all the atoms in the universe, he would still be unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The conditioned souls may try to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead for many billions of years through their mental speculative processes, traveling at the speed of the mind or the wind, but still the Absolute Truth will remain inconceivable to them because a materialistic person cannot measure the length and breadth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's unlimited existence. If the Absolute Truth is beyond measurement, one may ask, how can one realize Him? The answer is given here by the word "svayambhuve" (unto the Supreme Lord, who is manifest with no cause), one may understand Him or not, but nevertheless He is existing in His own spiritual potency." Although Krsna is the actual hero of the Mahabharata, the beauty of his position within this great work is that while appearing as a human being in an aristocratic dynasty, (The Pandu dynasty), He is God almighty Himself. Therefore, He appeared in the Pandu dynasty and was seen face to face. Thus, Krsna is no ordinary person. To corroborate this further, one of the great Vaisnava devotee saints living 500 years ago, Srila Rupa Goswami wrote many books on the subject of Krsna. He was a staunch devotee of Krsna consciousness and an erudite scholar on the subject of Vedic thought. In one of his many important and illuminating works, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu or "The Nectar of Devotion," he delineates the various aspects of bhakti-yoga, or the nature of devotional service to Lord Sri Krsna. Bhakti-yoga means, love and devotion. In that book, he relates a meeting between the great saint Narada Muni and King Yudhisthira who had just been enthroned as emperor of the world. Narada says to Yudhisthira (translations by Srila Prabhupada): "My dear King Yudhisthira, in this world you (the Pandava brothers) are the only fortunate people. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has appeared on this planet and is presenting Himself to you as an ordinary human being. He is always with you in all circumstances. He is living with you and covering Himself from the eyes of others. Others cannot understand that He is the Supreme Lord, but He is still living with you as your cousin, as your friend and even as your messenger. Therefore, you must know that nobody in this world is more fortunate than you." Now that we have presented an inkling of the superiority of Krsna, we will set the stage for one of the biggest battles in human history, the battle of Kuruksetra. In this massive battle that would last 18 days and where 640 million soldiers would be slain, Krsna agrees to become the charioteer for His friend and warrior, Arjuna. These warriors were known as "ksatriyas" and were expert in the military sciences. In those days, ksatryias knew how to use sound vibrations or "mantras" to direct weapons and in fact had a weapon known as the "brahmastra" that was nuclear in origin but rather than explode like today's nuclear devices, it imploded and in fact could be targeted like a laser with tremendous heat and light in defeating the enemy.
There were also water weapons that could counteract fire weapons and the art of warfare 5,000 years ago can be said to have harnessed mystical weaponry still unknown by today's high technology and both sides were expert in their delivery. These are facts. In Vedic times there were also codes of war regarding time, place and circumstance. A ksatriyas duty then was to kill to uphold Vedic law and protect the citizenry and even the king would not return to his kingdom unless he was wounded in battle. It may also be noted that while the figure of 640 million soldiers is an inconceivable number compared to today's statistics, there was only one king who basically ruled the world and so on the battlefield many nations participated and met for combat in one place. Later, other kings were enthroned in various parts of the globe known as the "seven islands" that is, Australasia, Europe, Oceania etc.
KSATRIYAS and RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES
When we say that it was a ksatriya's duty to kill, this killing was not done whimsically but to uphold religious principles and annihilate demonic or ungodly elements within society. Defining a ksatriya's specific duty Srila Prabhupada writes, (Bg.2.32) "For a ksatriya to be on the battlefield and to become nonviolent is the philosophy of fools. In the Parasara-smrti, or religious codes made by Parasara, the great sage and father of Vyasadeva, it is stated: "The ksatriyas duty is to protect the citizens from all kinds of difficulties, and for that reason he has to apply violence in suitable cases for law and order. Therefore, he has to conquer the soldiers of inimical kings, and thus, with religious principles, he should rule over the world." The next question may be raised that one man's religious principles may be another man's poison. After all, don't other nations go to war over what they believe to be their religious principles? This is a very valid question and one that requires insight and realization. In doing so, we will turn to the law books known as the Srimad-Bhagavatam for a definition of real religious principles: (Translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada): 6.3.19
dharman tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam
na vai vidur rsayo napi devah
na siddha-mukhya asura manusyah
kuto nu vidyadhara-caranadayah
TRANSLATION
Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rsis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyadharas and Caranas. PURPORT
"When challenged by the Visnudutas to describe the principles of religion, the Yamadutas said, veda-pranihito dharmah: the religious principles are the principles enacted in the Vedic literature." Elsewhere in that same purport, Srila Prabhupada writes: "Herein it is stated that the real religious principle is that which is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krsna). The principle is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: that one should give up all other duties and surrender unto the lotus feet of Krsna. That is the real religious principle everyone should follow. Even though one follows Vedic scriptures, one may not know this transcendental principle, for it is not known to everyone. To say nothing of human beings, even the demigods in the upper planetary systems are unaware of it. This transcendental religious principle must be understood from the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly or from His special representative."
And continuing in the next sloka (SB. 6.3.20-21) the translation reads as follows: Lord Brahma, Bhagavan, Narada, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila (the son of Devahuti), Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhisma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Goswami and I myself (Lord Yamaraja the constable of death), know the real religious principle. My dear servants (the Yamadutas), this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhagavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature (goodness, passion and ignorance). It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead. In addition, according to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu (see "Implementing a Vedic Society- One and Two), the ultimate religious principle in this age of Kali is the chanting of the holy names of Krsna; Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Hare, Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare. Thus, religious principles have been explained according to the Vedic law books. For further elucidation and to gain faith and conviction in these conclusions, one must hear and read these ancient Sanskrit texts particularly from the via medium of God, the spiritual master. With Arjuna However, he was seeing God face to face by virtue of the word "svayam" which means "in person." The conclusion then is that Krsna is the only source of the Vedas and religious principles in general.
He Himself says this in Bg. 15.15: "I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." Demons then are basically atheistic in temperament and are averse to not only the laws of God as set forth in the Vedas, but also to the very existence of God. This is due to envy. What of those who are demonic? What are their characteristics? Which brings us full circle to the idea of whose side is God on. According to Lord Krsna Himself, he states in the Bhagavad-gita 16.7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-16-17: " Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them. They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust. Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world." Author's note: Today, this may indicate terrorism but Srila Prabhupada in his purport to the above sloka stated Bg. 16.9: "Indirectly, this verse anticipates the invention of nuclear weapons, of which the whole world today is very proud. At any moment war may take place, and these atomic weapons may create havoc. Such things are created solely for the destruction of the world, and this is indicated here.
Due to Godlessness, such weapons are invented in human society; they are not meant for the peace and prosperity of the world." Continuing with Krsna's statements from the gita: "Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent. They believe to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification. Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell. Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false prestige, they sometimes proudly perform sacrifices in name only, without following any rules and regulations. Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demons become envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against the real religion."
Arjuna, being perplexed about his duty tells Krsna in Bg.1.36: "Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra and our friends. What should we gain, O Krsna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?" Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to this verse;
Bg.1.36 "According to Vedic injunctions there are six kinds of aggressors: (1) a poison giver (2) one who sets fire to a house (3) one who attacks with deadly weapons (4) one who plunders riches (5) one who occupies another's land (6) one who kidnaps a wife. Such aggressors are at once to be killed, and no sin is incurred by killing such aggressors. Such killing of aggressors is quite befitting an ordinary man, but Arjuna was not an ordinary person. He was saintly by character, and therefore he wanted to deal with them (the opposing forces) in saintliness. This kind of saintliness, however, is not for a ksatriya. Although a responsible man in the administration of the state is required to be saintly, he should not be cowardly."
DOES GOD LOVE AMERICA?
Which brings us to the gist of this article. Is God, or Krsna on our side particularly since we are at war with terrorism? We will let God, Krsna decide. This may sound somewhat nationalistic but it's a fact that America is a great country. God has ordained this so for over 200 years. Compared to other countries around the world we have certain freedoms. We have tolerance and we do not attack other countries unless provoked. There may be political reasons unbeknownst to the citizens as to the whys of a particular nations doing what they do and it is admitted that no country is perfect in that respect, even America. It is also admitted that we are not in "Vedic times" per se and that the current age is filled with bad elements worldwide. All countries are guilty of mass murder in the form of abortions as well as animal and cow slaughter. Collective hard karma awaits all of us living or after the demise of the body. But the facts are this. If indeed it's as Krsna says in the Vedas that "not a blade of grass moves without His sanction," then winning World War Two and other conflicts throughout the centuries is no accident. But why? I think the main reason is America's religious tolerance, that is, one's freedom to practice one's faith notwithstanding the personal views of others who may be less tolerant or due to ignorance. After all, the "Hare Krishna" movement began in 1966 in the greatest city in the world, New York. The seeds of love of God were planted there by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and temples were born that will soon sprout again giving the fruit of love of God, Krsna. In some strange way then, one could say that America has become a "tirtha" or holy place because Srila Prabhupada walked upon its land. If, after careful deliberation the leaders of America imbibe these ancient texts and actually see how these Vedic laws may be enacted in human society then America will truly be a great nation and as Srila Prabhupada once said, the whole world will follow. Will America be victorious? Everything rests with the arrangement of the almighty God.
Time will tell, but as Krsna told Arjuna on the battlefield 5,000 years ago, all the soldiers on both sides are already dead by My arrangement. You be but an instrument in the fighting. Of course, Arjuna and his brothers were the only survivors and Yudhisthira was enthroned as the righteous king. We can only imagine the bodies of millions dead at the end of the battle, the elephants and horses dismembered, the chariots smashed and crushed. One can only imagine a grief-stricken scene of widows walking through the blood-soaked field drenching the ground in an ocean of tears. That is the nature of war. Meanwhile, it should be interesting to note that because Lord Krsna was personally present on the battlefield, all the soldiers slain got liberation. For Krsna, the battle for Him was like a director making a movie and because the soul is eternal, those slain were just changing their bodies. One must understand this very deep and essential point. Once Arjuna realized this fact, he became fearless. The reader may draw their own conclusion.
Note: This article does not condone America's involvement with the war against terrorism nor does it advocate war in general. Neither does it advocate NOT going to war depending upon circumstances. Rather, it is a response to those who may wonder if violence is ever to be condoned in a civilized society according to time and place. While knowing that these topics are controversial, it is this writer's opinion only in presenting certain facts based upon Vedic historical evidence. http://society.krishna.org/Articles/2003/03/014.html
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
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