Spiritual Portal

Paramhansa Yogananda as William the Conqueror*
June 1, 2009
At Paramhansa Yogananda’s Mt. Washington headquarters, reincarnation was normal to our way of thinking. We took it quite in stride if ever Master [Paramhansa Yogananda] told us, as he sometimes did, about our own or someone else’s past lives.

Master revealed to us that he himself had been Krishna’s closest friend and disciple, Arjuna. (“Prince of devotees,” the Bhagavad Gita calls him.) We found it easy to believe that he had been that mighty warrior, for Master’s incredible will power, his innate gift for leadership, and his enormous physical strength (when he chose to exert it), all pointed to someone with the tendencies of a mighty, conquering hero.

Divine power is rooted in love
People who knew only of Paramhansa Yogananda’s extraordinary love and compassion, his sweetness, and his childlike simplicity were sometimes taken aback when they encountered his power. Few realize that power and divine love are opposite sides of the same coin.

Indeed, divine love is no gentle sentiment, but the greatest force in the universe. Such love could not exist without power. Great saints would never use their power to suppress or coerce others, but power is, nevertheless, inextricably a part of what it means to be a saint. It took extraordinary power, for example, for Jesus Christ, alone in a crowd, to drive the money-changers from their tradition-sanctioned places in the temple.

Worldly people fear this power in the saints, and, fearing it, persecute them. They don’t realize that a saint’s power is rooted in love, or that it threatens nothing but people’s delusions and ignorance-induced suffering.

Yogananda’s power was not only a product of his divine awareness; his human personality, too, reflected past incarnations as a warrior and conquering hero. In Calcutta, in his youth, he was approached more than once by people who wanted him to lead a revolution against the British. There was something in his very bearing that bespoke the intrepid warrior.

William: noble, generous, forgiving
He told us more than once that in a former life he had been William the Conqueror. Educated as I had been during my early years in the English educational system, I had always thought of William as one of history’s great villains. On learning that that supposed “villain” was my own Guru, I made it a point, needless to say, to study several biographies of William in order to get a broader picture of what he’d really been like.

I found that William the Conqueror was indeed, in every way, a great man. Morally, in an age of widespread profligacy, he was chaste and self-controlled. Spiritually he was deeply religious, and never (so I read) missed a day of mass in his life. He was noble, generous, and forgiving.

A divine commission
He lived, however, in an age when conquest could be accomplished only by a very strong will. He told us he had been given a divine commission, which I have since come to understand was to bring England out of the Scandinavian sphere and under the influence of Roman Christianity.

During his lifetime, William promoted the recovery of old monasteries and generally gave great support to the church, endorsing also the concept of chastity for the clergy. William and Archbishop Lanfranc, together, unified the church, and reorganized it from the ground up.

Quite as important in the context of those times, they connected the church administratively and liturgically with Rome. His closest friends were spiritual men like Archbishop Lanfranc (who in this life, Yogananda stated, was Swami Sri Yukteswar) and Saint Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury.

“The will of a single man”
William’s occasionally harsh behavior was forced on him by necessity, and never sprang from personal anger (though, consistent with my observation of Master himself on occasion, William’s demeanor sometimes appeared very fierce). I asked Master once (I was thinking of his lifetime as William): “Sir, is an avatar [a divine incarnation] always aware of his oneness with God’s omnipresence?” “He never loses his consciousness of inner freedom,” Master replied.

William’s life, when studied in this light, gains new luster and meaning. The British historian, E.A. Freeman, wrote in his biography, William the Conqueror: “[What we English are today] has largely come of the fact that there was a moment our national destiny might be said to hang on the will of a single man, and that was William [the Conqueror].”

Earlier, Freeman stated: “The Norman conquest has no exact parallel in history largely owing to the character and position of the man who wrought it. The history of England for the last eight hundred years has largely come of the personal character of [that] single man.”

William’s legacy: a united kingdom
England itself was by no means so Anglo-Saxon as relatively recent writers, including Sir Walter Scott, imagined. The north, according to recent DNA testing of old bones, was heavily Scandinavian, and the east came under what was called Danelaw, and must have been more Danish than Anglo-Saxon.

It was William who united the constantly warring earldoms into one kingdom. His legacy, moreover, which bound every native to primary loyalty to his king, saved England the fate of medieval Europe, which saw constant baronial conflicts.

England’s government dates back to the conquest by William, who brought England to a level of security, stability, and legal organization that made it possible for it to survive the death of medieval society and continue on into the modern age. England is the oldest continuous government in the world, the second being the United States.

https://www.ananda.org/blog/yogananda-kriyananda-gita/

I find it a little comical that the writer of this post realized his Guru was also a ruthless man in a previous life. The personality of Putin and Donald Trump may mean they will one day be Spiritual Masters. Who knows? Every saint has a past.

I really enjoy reading this, not because the writer is attempting to defend William the Conqueror- but for the idea that a Master may be where they are because of the dramatic experiential wisdom they've accrued through multiple incarnations.

Some of Williams actions lead to cannibalism, and he had no problem killing the young or the old.

I asked this question in a separate thread... http://spiritualportal.net/index.php/topic,8850.0.html

But we can carry it on here if you'd like-

When we rise through duality, are God and the Devil One?

William I’s Harrying of the North of England over the winter of 1069/70 resulted in perhaps 150,000 deaths, reducing many victims to eating cats, dogs and even one another.
https://www.historyextra.com/period/anglo-saxon/william-conqueror-war-criminal-story-harrying-north/

Thanks Eric; I will be sure to read about it. I wondered if Kriyananda may have painted an overly rosy portrait of a conqueror back then. From what we know about Arjuna he seems more likely, to be a Master later. There are many things that we have yet to understand. Gods justice and the cruelty of for instance Ghengis Khan was so extreme as to be wondered at even how any God would allow it without being devoid of compassion. He at times conquered one village after another and it was said he used the villagers of the last place he was at and put them in front of his troops while driving them on. The next village’s soldiers were in disarray and confusion at the site of killing their own people. A similar tactic Putin has used in putting fellow conquered Ukrainians in the front lines while attacking Zelinski’s Ukraine. But I do believe anyone can and will eventually change.  Even the souls of Putin and Trump. But doubtful any time soon.

I do not understand many of the so called ‘karmic’ justices of history. Perhaps I have a lot of meditative years and experiences ahead of me. Because of the ability and presence of the age we live in, we do find that meditation gives us understanding.

I also wonder about the notions of consciousness you have recently provided. If indeed the third dimension is limited to a linear notion of time…..It may be that time does not even take place in our notion of how it should. In fact what happened during the time of for instance, William the Conqueror can not be seen in the same way that may be perceived by a person living a 5 D existence. In other words the century we are living in could be perceived as a different movie theater we are seeing than one with for instance Jesus living. But do they have to be connected in a linear fashion of time? Are there beings that can slip in and out of different time frames periods, that they do not see exhibiting the notion of linear time at all?

https://youtu.be/DmnLewOyuP4?si=dzURemP39gQc18AN

The issue of William the Conqueror is a difficult one. Kryananda is known for mixing truths with lies (when they are to his advantage) and for his inclination toward self-aggrandizement. On the other hand, Durga Ma also hints at Yogananda being  WTC in a previous life. And Durga Ma is surely a reliable source.

Since I tend to disregard what Kryananda wrote, I tend to believe that WTC did not remember at all his previous lives as an exalted Yogi and lived a life as a mere pawn of God, that is, he served some purpose in God's plot, a purpose he was unaware of, he just single-mindedly pursued what he had to do.

Also, re. Gengis Khan, he probably was not as cruel as the western historians depict him. Late in his life, he also adopted a Taoist master as his spiritual advisor. Of course he lived in the brutal times of kali yuga, when ruthlessness was the rule.

Thanks for your helpful response mccoy. If you read the Old Testament it is full of a very destructive and punishing God. So it would not surprise me if WTC was more conscious of his destiny at playing out his divine role as an instrument of God’s karmic justice in some of his so called ‘cruel’ actions that Eric mentioned earlier.

Sometimes I find it prudent to pray about a response to other people’s comments about Master or other important events before replying, so my response is not interpreted as a reaction but rather a response given from a space of thoughtful contemplative prayer. How does anyone know about his ( William the Conqueror) actions and what they were guided by? Let us not forget the ‘cruel’ act of Babaji when he branded a devotee to absolve him of some karma in which he was destined to die. It seems to me that there needs no ‘hell’ for the actions and behaviors of tyrants like Trump and Putin today. All you have to do is have them live out multiple lives during the Kali Yuga here on earth.

You and I do not need to agree on everything mccoy. When it comes to Kriyananda I just think that no one was so fortunate to be in the presence of an Avatar like Jesus or Yogananda without having a high degree of spiritual sainthood. And for some reason they have been put in a high degree of test by being in their physical presence here on earth with these avatars. I thought I’d mention that it was relayed to me that Judas was self realized in my life time by SRF monks. His guilt was very difficult to overcome as you might imagine.

I was fortunate to be in the physical presence of Durga Ma quite a few times in her bedroom at Mt. Washington with other devotees, where we meditated with her several times. I learned some important spiritual lessons being in her presence. That’s my experience, with her.

Seekers of God are not drawn to William the Conqueror. One can argue President Trump and Putin are also reflective of the time we find ourselves in as far as the evolution of consciousness within our region of time/space is concerned. Yet we have real examples of people that seem to indicate a higher level of evolution in consciousness who are made incarnate even in the darkest of times. It implies we are not bound to group think but that each of us have an opportunity to raise our understanding. That's the noble, main quest of any spiritual seeker. We often contemplate what it would be like to rise out of duality, or voice in some creative manner that we are tired of incarnating here.

I maintain the attitude that Trump or Putin can come back and be great Masters. But it doesn't matter. We don't look at Yogananda and think- I want to be like William the Conqueror- a man who had no regard for killing women and children.

Similarly, Amma the Hugging Saint- another clear example of deep understanding and a Soul who seems to have risen above duality.

If I had to guess, I would say Yoganandna when he was alive- or Amma even now, do not spend time circulating news stories about political figures in their spiritual communities. I don't think Guru's who are here to be an example and help us break free from Maya are taking up arms and going into the war zone. None that we have yet presented here in the spiritual portal as noteworthy Masters. Even if you were to find an example, I don't feel personally inclined to go to war with others.

The war is with ourselves.

And there's a marital contract we took coming here- to this school house. That is the relationship between Ego and Soul. Suffering is okay, suffering is natural. There is a harmonious nature between the two, but most people do not ever stop to contemplate this relationship- and when they do, they only think the marriage means being at odds ends with each other... Ego VS Soul. But we have examples like Anandamayi Ma, who was made as personality incarnate and yet- exuded pure Spirit/Soul that seekers of all religious paths can acknowledge.

I think there are blinders for seekers- all of which are again, natural. Just because we are apt to fall does not mean we give up. We just recognize that falling is natural and allows us knowledge to move forward in a more appropriate manner.

Some of those blinders are-

Righteousness and Anger.

These two things often prevent us from seeing ourselves. We rarely take responsibility for our own actions when these two things are present. We are plugged into the ME VS THEM mindset. And often so focused on the other, we are emotionally reactive. 


I wrote this in a hurry... I have more to add and contemplate later... This is a rough draft. But it fees like a channeled inspiration. Didn't want to forget!

Ha ha Love ya Eric,

We have a great example of Masters and saints who led us to war and rebellion… a few examples here;

#1 Krishna
#2 Moses
#3 Joan of Arc
#4 David
#5 Gandhi - in this his case peaceful rebellion
#6 Lincoln (perhaps not a Master but definitely had saintly qualities, abolishing slavery by having more people killed in all the wars U.S. has ever fought!)
#7 Washington ( A man of psychic visions and brought us freedom from tyranny )
#8 St. Ignatius of Loyola
#9 St. Sebastian


The Killing of Women and Children in the Old Testament
Paul E. Brown
Title: The Killing of Women and Children in the Old Testament
Category: Theology
Subject: Killing Women and Children
Often the question is raised--sometimes by skeptics, but sometimes by sincere believers--as to why God on certain occasions in the Old Testament allowed the killing of women and children by his chosen people, the Israelites.

Examples of passages that cause people to raise those questions are the following: In Deuteronomy 3:6 Moses is recounting for the Israelites the events that had occurred during their journeying toward the promised land: “And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.”

In Joshua 10:40 we read: “So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.”

Reading such passages, people sometimes ask: “How could it possibly be right for God to approve the killing of innocent women and children?”--and in the two cases referenced above, as well in others that could be cited, clearly God did approve of that killing; indeed, he commanded it. The further question is raised, “Does not God thereby contradict his own command given in Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill” (KJV)?

First of all, a clearer and more accurate translation of Exodus 20:13 is, “Thou shalt not murder” (NIV). Murder refers to unjustified killing. Some killing is justified--such as soldiers doing their duty in war, the government executing murderers, and a person killing to defend his family or himself from a would-be assassin. So, Exodus 20:13 does not rule out all killing--only killing that is unjustified.

But there still remains the question, “How could the killing of innocent women and children ever be justified?--and how could God command such a thing?”

The first thing to be remembered is the truth of Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God is the Creator and Sovereign of the universe, which means--among other things--that he is the Sovereign of life and death. It is his prerogative to determine who lives and who dies.

“But,” the question persists, “how could God justify killing innocent women and children?”

While we may never in this life have a complete answer to that question, at least some light can be gained by bearing this in mind: we know for a fact--for Scripture reveals it--that certain nations and cities in which men, women, and children were exterminated were nations and cities that were horribly depraved and corrupt; they were like moral cancers in the body of humanity. Note what Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:3-4:

Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee.

Eric, with your beliefs, if you ever went had to go to war… consider being a medic. They certainly have been needed!!!

Can't say I've met those people you have listed or knew they were all considered masters. But I can say I've met saints and masters and none of them were going to fight physical wars. Also we've been introduced to people who represent Yogananda's mission and there are none that I've met slinging a gun to their persons or rallying behind one nation over another. Certainly none have harped on politics with emotional attachment as we do here. I stand by my contribution.

I'm glad you find my ruminations hilarious, I think God has a sense of humor too.

Eric consider the service of a medic. If ever required to fight.

Also, while you were sharing your ideas with God on murdering women and children
No one here is saying they want to be like William the Conqueror.
But everyone here finds inspiration from Yogananda.

A man in orange robes.

But let's look at who is alive today that we do find inspiration from.

Can you send me a photo of Amma the hugging saint in military attire firing upon her fellow man?

I share the same sentiment as your post which says we don't understand Gods ways. I think we can, but I think as long as we identify with Ego and nothing else- we can not glean insight into the larger picture. It is the same when I say righteousness is a spiritual blinder.

You have often written you wish to free yourself from incarnating here again, so I remind you of that desire.

Do we dictate good karma based on our beliefs and attitudes? If we don't understand Gods ways, it seems quite foolish to think we know better. Thinking we know better is very 3D and in part why we suffer.

It's only natural if you truly incarnated here to understand.

So happy suffering
May all beings be happy

Do YOU know better? I’m just beginning to understand. I do not answer for William the Conqueror. Do you? If you take inspiration elsewhere… so be it. Everyone has a different life mission, I don’t pretend to know yours. Just exploring here Brother. Reading the signs together. As for you;  you are venturing an opinion, it is fine. Amma’s path is not that of a warrior. The person(s) she was devoted to were;  Krishna and Arjuna. Justifying is one thing exploring are own uncertainties is quite another.

Steve,

Notice the qualifier, "we"

This me vs you attitude is not a mindset I choose to operate from. It isn't easy.

Also... Swami V doesn't seem to be a solider... Gurunath too. People that are alive whom are spiritual magnets for others don't seem to be gungho soldiers.

So I maintain my speculation, without saying I know better. Just sharing a concept that is meant to liberate us from the dualistic thinking that keeps us at odds ends with one another and/or from sensing the reality of a greater intelligence from additional dimensions.

Since you leave no reference here I know not, nor can I respond to your post. However I do find considerable inspiration from soldiers of the soul who have fought through history for righteous causes and doves of peace who left their fragrance behind, for us all to smell their divine fragrance.

Yes of course, there are many admirable generals and warriors.

These impressions you have could also be indicator of your own past lives, as you have often pondered.


Samskaras¿

Ah, and in case you were needing context... As I have said in my initial reply this morning- this felt like inspired channeling.

I am looking at my recent interest in understanding 5D, my recent hypnagogia experience which meant momentarily experiencing additional dimensions, ideas of why we meditate, and ideas of Self that mean more than our immediate personalities we identify with.

Reincarnation suggest life after life.

You and I have both voiced a desire to rise through duality over the years on this forum. We may understand that in different ways.

And then of course, my lovely friend HIK- the bowl of Saki, has wisdom to impart on us today. Synchronicities in general speak to me of that greater intelligence not bound to 3D.

    

It is in fact, noted in the Scriptures of India, that karmic justice, dispensed by the hand of a emissary of God, is a privileged blessing, leading to their chastened souls liberation. Thus only with divine purpose, does the god-king Krishna slay those of evil doing. Similarly, God’s just law manifests through the child Jesus not to maim, but to free (No such concession is attached to the destructive actions of a despot or egotist [Trump or Putin*]  with a self-induced savior complex. God’s laws will not be mocked.)

~ Paramahansa Yogananda

* my note.

Yes, every Saint has a past but not a recent past, like despots you have mentioned above and below in quote, filled with wrath and ego. And the ruthlessness you mentioned can be looked at quite differently then you perceive, and as a blessing of an enlightened soul. No such concession is attached to the destructive actions of a despot or egotist with a self-induced savior complex. God’s laws will not be mocked.


Even as a child Jesus possessed great powers he had manifested in his previous incarnation as Elisha. No vindictive or arrogant intent motivates such a one (*Like despots we see on the world stage today: Fuhrer Trump and Putin included). Children who taunted Elisha were destroyed by bears summoned from the woods by the prophet, not as an act of wrath, but in recognition of a present cause providing the opportunity for the atonement and expiation of long-past evil actions-fruition of the law of karma, cause and effect, God's law of justice.

- Paramahansa Yogananda

Unlike your last comment Brother UWE Paramahansa  Yogananda had good things to say about all people.  But praise is an overstatement since he also warned Adolph Hitler of his future actions. Just as he was unable to predict the future results of free will, towards these men, so i am unable to predict your responses to the points i've made. But now that i see them i would also warn you of your future actions towards other people's quotes and assessments, for your own good karma, and spiritual well being.

i do not mind you're coming "sqaure at my face. My take on the last posts were a response to Erics latest entries. And you have interjected about my understanding of human life on this planet. Perhaps there is a tenuous connection to my replies to Eric. Im unsure of that. But you certainly have a right to express your opinions even if they are a warning about my practice of Astrology which appeared to be a concern of yours and you also have given me. i take no offense and hope we can continue this section about Yognanda's past lives as it interests some of us and has been an interest of mine as well. The past; the future and the present. All topics we can discuss here together and learn from our shared experiences.

Well friend it is quite different for me because I was there in Los Angeles in 1973 and heard these stories direct from Paramahansa Yogananda’s disciples that were with him in the body. I remember specifically asking Brother Bhaktananda if Paramahansa Yogananda was Shakesphere and he replied; “ That is what the Master said.” Yes “Only because someone has said”. And I need not defend him, but for me he ( Bhaktananda) was an extraordinary man and most likely a Master, who was pro ported to be St. Francis in another life.

But seeing as to the fact that you have the view that the Bhagavad Gita was an allegory a sort of metaphor for the internal spiritual struggle we all face, and nothing more; How am I to change your opinions? It really is not my mission here. You are welcome to your thoughts and differences in opinion and experience. If you for instance see the life of Jesus as a ‘legend’ as well, it really does not affect the facts, what they may or may not be, and our interest in meditation and the spiritual life. There is plenty of room for skepticism here and I’m sure you will continue to provide it Brother.

If you ‘seem to think I’ve got somethings wrong’ that is alright also. I’m not attempting to change your experience or expectations of reality and what it means to you. Let us move on here, and I will continue this subject as I have astrology in spite of your differing viewpoints. I’m sure you have much to share even if at times it is different then what I share and experience(d).

Namaste 🙏

Brother UWE is this your way of “justifying anything?” Including the psychopathic egomania of Fuhrer Trump and the pandering megalomania he has given to all despots like himself, since acting out a role he could not play and his pathetic remarks, including the most recent one for his opponents to “rot in hell” in his recent Christmas message.

Paramahansa Yogananda may have given the proper advice at the time. And may have been right in his assessment since Germany under Hitler did join Japan and not Russia but Italy to compete with its adversaries.

No apologies in hindsight here friend; I’m only attempting to understand. I was never for the huge military build up of the Reagan years either. It is not such a black and white issue as you appear to portray here. One thing is certain though… you have proved that Masters indeed have taken part in their views of worldly issues, although their main focus is spirituality which I hope will be ours as well.
https://apple.news/AF_8JKhv9TQi4avABfUNZ-

Yogananda’s Opinions About the Nazis
February 7, 2013

Question
All my life i have always felt a deep ache in my heart because of what happened to the Jews (and others) in during the Holocaust in Germany.

I am very much interested to find out about Master's opinion on Hitler and Nazi Germany. I am sure that he was aware of the happenings and knew about the execution of millions of innocent people.

I once read somewhere that Master often cried at nights because of the cruel nightmare which was taking place in Germany. Is this true? (Unfortunately i cant find this article anymore). It would be so nice to know that Master felt compassion for these people and "stood up" against Hitler and the Nazis in some way or another.

—Carina, Germany

Answer
Carina, you are not alone in feeling deep compassion and hurt for the sufferings of so many people. That such a thing should happen is almost impossible to understand, especially for us today.

The workings of karma are strange and hard to fathom. As Krishna says to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, “weep not, Arjuna, for the soul is indestructible and you and I and these have been through many lives.”

That such atrocities should awaken compassion and mercy and a firm resolution to never permit this again is one of the spiritual blessings of the sufferings such souls went through. For better or worse it played a major role in establishing the Jewish state of Israel.

Master made an attempt to have an interview with Adolph Hitler in 1935 when Master toured there and went to Bavaria to see Therese Neumann. Master had hoped to awaken Hitler’s interest (when he was Alexander the Great in a past life) in the Indian teachings with a mind to soften the blow of Hitler’s karma and that of Germany and the Jews and many others. He said that he even put into Hitler’s mind, later, during WW II, the thought to invade Russia and thus hasten his own demise and the end of the war.

Yes, of course he felt pangs of suffering. I do not recall any specific references but you can be certain he was keenly aware. As a true Master he also knows that suffering in this world cannot be avoided; that it’s divine purpose is to awaken us to seek lasting happiness where it only can be found: within; in the state of superconsciousness, with God alone.

He was strongly for the war effort to defeat Hitler and Japan. He saw the war as punishment for the greed and exploitation of Western countries in general, as well. He saw that the war would mark the beginning of the end of Western colonialism. He saw the cause of Allies as a righteous cause and that America would come out of the war in a role and position of unprecedented power and opportunity to help rebuld the war torn nations and economies.

So, yes, rest assured the Master’s heart was as big as the “world”. But he would not have spent a lot of energy condemning Hitler or anyone. He always did his best to encourage all people to be better.

Off hand, I don’t recall him “standing up to Hitler” in any specific words or speeches, but I can assure you he spoke out strongly for the cause of defeating Hitler and all that he represented. War is always a mixed bag, bringing out both cruelty and nobility in combatants and noncombatants alike.

Blessings to you,
Nayaswami Hriman

Paramahansa Yogananda also said to never think you can use non-violence with Hitler or Stalin like Gandhi did with the British. The British were gentleman unlike the behavior of Adolph Hitler and Stalin.

I can't speak for Steve but this christmas message about trump telling the people attacking him to rot in hell is not the Christmas message I saw.

Here's what I and others heard:
https://rumble.com/v43fdm5-donald-trumps-christmas-message-puts-the-bidens-to-shame.html

It's 1 minute and 18 seconds, no such mention of hell. But I don't put such comments past him, no one here thinks him a saint. Though maybe one day he incarnates as a spiritual master and the people who attack him become his devotees. I think that would be quite a cosmic joke 🤣.

Anyways .. Vivek Ramaswamy carries a similar energy as Donald Trump like the example below.

I find what Vivek is saying quite admirable. Many of my friends found relief in Viveks words, and at the same time, they find it sad that common sense isn't so common. https://www.infowars.com/posts/watch-ramaswamy-decimates-wapo-reporter-after-told-he-didnt-condemn-white-supremacy/

I would like to share that my last GF saw things in our relationship that I just can not identify with or say I experienced. Similarly, my Sister saw things while we were living together that felt more like her own drama than the reality of the matter. I think relationships kind of work like that. Because we're all viewing life from a limited lens and unique personality- full of past grievances and present day kinks needing worked on, it seems we all gather something different in our personal relationships. There was no telling my Sister she was the source of her own drama. But I can admit at times I needed to act better, instead of reacting. I am not proud of reacting, I don't think anyone ever really is. Well just the other day my Sister finally came to her senses and apologized to my Dad and I. She told Dad she was holding resentment while we were living together and that was the source of much of her misery. She said she realized she doesn't want to be like that and is choosing to move on from her resentment(which was based on a misconception and derived from Ego). For my Sister, it took a change of scenery. It may also be why we experience 'attraction' and 'repulsion' in relationships. Because we either consciously or unconsciously separate ourselves from the things we have been feeling are disagreeable. And this isn't an attack on my Sister or my last GF- because they each presented me with my own opportunities to understand and rise through as it relates to my Ego and personal dramas.

Alright... With that in mind-

I would also like to share some additional wisdom that really helps me put things in perspective.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/omtalks/the-daily-q-uote-t1942-s990.html#p30895

To me, though I perceive some of Steve's political ideas disagreeable- like thinking President Trump is Hitler and an evil person- I don't think Steve is *wrong* for thinking these things. Just like I did not agree with my Sisters or even last girlfriends ideas, and I'm sure they did not agree with some of mine, and some of the things they saw are probably things I'm not even aware of or even care to focus on. I can say I believe what Steve see's in Trump or Putin is indicative of the energy in himself and what he chooses to work on.

Steve you have often said you find your self standing up for the little guy. So no doubt, you will find instances of bullying and unjust treatment in society. Why? Because of your desire to stand up for the little guy. You are fulfilling a desire to understand something in your self. And this life is granting you every opportunity to understand it.

I really liked the saying- that this is not negative rather an indication of where the energy is within you. Considering we have much to work on and rise through in this land of duality, this could definitely be indicative of past life and karma in general(as you have often pondered).

I will admit you are most likely correct in some of your evaluations above; specifically about the ‘little guy complex’. In some very important ways, over the decades of this lifetime, I see myself as someone who attempts to overcompensate for my perceived shortcomings and seemingly insignificant contributions to social, political and even spiritual dilemmas. It is a driving force in even this site we’ve created, and I appreciate the support and feedback I get from members here that keep it going. I remember Art telling me about people having some challenging aspects in their personal lives showing up in their personal astrology charts that keep them driven to succeed in their purpose.

While not always in agreement with your assessments Lucca, I find them a possible explanation to unfolding events at those periods in time, as an example of God’s possible justice working out on behalf of karma in a hellish time of history.

Objectively, Steve, I think that the subject of the past lives of a Master (or whomsoever other people) is too uncertain and open to personal, unproven reasoning and even feelings.

My final consideration is that only the really credible sources, the spiritual giants, can be a suitable reference. For example, Bro. Bakhtananda was indisputably a spiritual giant.

I respectfully differ with you on this issue. Since you mention - “whomever other people” - since I do not consider myself a Master yet have had quite convincing past life experience in many ways to verify such instances. What we find here is that we have to go into the laboratory of our own meditation to procure such information and experience. The research cannot be duplicated by those who have no true faith or belief in such matters. It does not mean it isn’t true but rather it shows that those who are constantly skeptical will remain that way due to their own lack of faith and mindset’s. I do not claim to know the past lives of others; only my own and I consider that quite limited since the Masters have told us we have lived countless lifetimes.

Any past life of others, I attempt to give the source of the information given. It is up to you or anyone else to check out that source. If I have failed to give the source, I apologize for that over site. If you or anyone else do not accept me as a source for my own past lives, I am ok with that. I do not expect anyone to believe any of my spiritual experiences, although I have had many to relate to you and others. I totally understand that we have different levels of trust in the experiences of for instance a Paramahansa Yogananda or Sri Yukteswar then for instance in you or I. Yet should that disqualify me or for instance Eric or you from relating our personal experiences? To what degree is anyone objective? In fact can we really even rely on the objectivity of others? What is objective to one may be their own personal perception of what they claim to be objective about. Science is quite limited in its studies since it requires consistent verification by many or more likely most of those who refuse to go into the laboratory of their own meditation for verification of experience by others. A great portion of scientific study is based on physical evidence which in itself is suspect due to the dream nature of physical reality and our own abilities to influence it. In this sense it is also;

“too uncertain and open to personal, unproven reasoning and even feelings.”

And yes, I have turned the critical nature of scientific research and evidence back on itself because of a lack of sufficient faith and spiritual experience to be ‘ objective ‘ about such matters… Which presents a paradox in thinking and understanding and attitude. In fact I have found that you can present so called ‘objective’ evidence of the physical nature of events to many if not most scientists and they will not accept the evidence given because of their various paradigmatic beliefs in regards to the nature of the evidence shown. As an example; I can show evidence that astrological evidence is a proven fact because of overwhelming statistical preponderance, yet I have found that evidence is not acceptable to many scientists I’ve met based on the fact that it accepts supernatural or superstitious claims. Such is the prejudicial nature of most scientists mental health and attitudes. No doubt you and others may smile at what I have just presented here. If you do it only proves my point. If you are not smiling you have successfully navigated my path of communication on such matters.

I'm not smiling but fine attunement to the sphere of thought of reincarnation is very difficult to obtain.

While I cannot object to your remembrances of your own past lives, I cannot accept references on others, coming from people who are not spiritual giants.
If Yogananda, bro. Bakhtananda or Anandamoy or Achalananda or Daya Mata or Durga Ma say something about a previous incarnation of a specific soul, I'll believe it on the basis of the proven spiritual advancement of the cited saints.

Whereas I could not accept claims coming from other less evolved figures, at least not without some skepticism.

I see your skepticism as a good thing and not bad. Like everything else in life, it is good to have balance. A balance between faith and constructive skepticism that motivates us to look for answers. If you were ever interested I would tell you. But we have more important topics to talk about then me here.

At times I have even been skeptical of spiritual giants as you described it. I can give many examples. Although in most cases if I did not feel a very strong sense that their comments may be wrong 😑 I followed their example over my own. But at times, having been around spiritual giants, I’ve found that some of them have subtle differences in their beliefs and examples. I’ve even found that being in certain groups like for instance SRF their were respectful’ differences. I say this because I rarely saw any thing confrontational. I think this has been a wonderful example for me. Great spiritual people do not contradict and demean one another, they have risen beyond such petty spiritual expression.