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Fall of a fake Hindu Godman

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Asaram Bapu, a powerful self-proclaimed Hindu godman with millions of followers, was given life imprisonment for rape of a 16 year old girl on the pretext of driving evil spirits. A textbook case of what kind of guru-s to avoid and the growing clout of power-hungry men exploiting people's beliefs.

Asaram Convicted For Rape, Gets Life Sentence
 
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sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Tukaram is reported to have said of hypocritical "holy" men: "Let their dead conscience be burnt; it is no sin to thrash them!"
 

Kapalika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
About time. Too many con artists posing as spiritual leaders. People need to heed the warning that money and religion mixed is a very grave sign. Unless there is transparency and the money is going into helping the community it shouldn't be involved in the process.

Though I'm not sure why this is in religious debates... what is there religious to debate about?
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
About time. Too many con artists posing as spiritual leaders. People need to heed the warning that money and religion mixed is a very grave sign. Unless there is transparency and the money is going into helping the community it shouldn't be involved in the process.

Though I'm not sure why this is in religious debates... what is there religious to debate about?
No idea. If somebody wanted to debate something...that's why I put it in. Never know, an Asaram disciple might crop up. Apparently there are 40 million of them worldwide (though I doubt that number).
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Good to hear. We constantly heard on media how India is not treating rape seriously, but I don't get this feeling from recent news at all.
When the new rules come up it would be obligatory to conclude the case by special courts in two months. Many states have made death as punishment of rape below 12 years of age. The Central government is thinking about it as it may cause the rapist to necessarily kill the victim. It may not be the best solution. However, the punishment has been enhanced.
 

Amani_Bhava

Member
Asaram Bapu, a powerful self-proclaimed Hindu godman with millions of followers, was given life imprisonment for rape of a 16 year old girl on the pretext of driving evil spirits. A textbook case of what kind of guru-s to avoid and the growing clout of power-hungry men exploiting people's beliefs.

Asaram Convicted For Rape, Gets Life Sentence

Not picking an argument, nor writing on behalf of the dolt called Asaram.

Fake Hindu Godman. Interesting phrase.

If Asaram had not committed any rape would he be a fake Hindu Godman ? What differentiates a fake Hindu Godman from real one?

namaste

amani_bhava
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
Asaram Bapu, a powerful self-proclaimed Hindu godman with millions of followers, was given life imprisonment for rape of a 16 year old girl on the pretext of driving evil spirits. A textbook case of what kind of guru-s to avoid and the growing clout of power-hungry men exploiting people's beliefs.

Asaram Convicted For Rape, Gets Life Sentence

I believe I can't imagine how that would work. Demons would jump for joy at the prospect of a rape. They would probably want to stick around to observe it.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
Good to hear. We constantly heard on media how India is not treating rape seriously, but I don't get this feeling from recent news at all.

What is the problem. Is there no religious law to go by? I believe Jewish law forbids rape.
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Not picking an argument, nor writing on behalf of the dolt called Asaram.

Fake Hindu Godman. Interesting phrase.

If Asaram had not committed any rape would he be a fake Hindu Godman ? What differentiates a fake Hindu Godman from real one?

namaste

amani_bhava
Rape is simply an utterly egregious act that shows all and sundry that the person is a criminal and a deceiver. However, the sign of a sage (muni) are these, (Gita Chapter 2)

When he leaves behind all desires emerging from the mind, Arjuna,
And is contented in the Self by the Self,
Then he is said to be one whose
wisdom is steady.

He whose mind is not agitated in misfortune,
Whose desire for pleasure has disappeared,
Whose passion, fear, and anger have departed,
And whose meditation is steady, is said to be a sage.

He who is without attachment on all sides,
Encountering this or that, pleasant or unpleasant,
Neither rejoicing nor disliking;
His wisdom stands firm.

With the elimination of desire and hatred,
Even though moving among the objects of the senses,
He who is controlled by the Self,
By self-restraint, attains tranquility.

While those who are unwise act
From attachment to action, 0 Arjuna,
So the wise should act without attachment,
Intending to maintain the welfare of the world.



These are the qualities one should seek in a muni whose teaching one is hoping to follow. If these qualities are not present, or contrary qualities show themselves, the person cannot be considered to have strained the wisdom of a Seer. While its impossible for anyone to be perfect, I believe that in recent history people like Gandhi, Vivekananda, Rabindranath were the ones in whom such qualities were evident. None of the current crop of jet-setting gurus with their billion dollar empires qualify imo. Some of their activities and organizations are virtuous, no doubt. But if the true muni-s are like Newton or Einstein of spirituality, these are merely secondary school science teachers who are busy raking in the mullah through mass scale private tutoring of commercial grade garden variety spirituality cheat sheets.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
My question was if he did not rape would Asaram be an authentic Hindu Godman

namaste

amani_bhava

Until he's found not to be. Con men come in all nationalities, religions, colors, ethnicities, social strata. Eventually they are discovered to be frauds.

"The truth will out".
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
A textbook case of what kind of guru-s to avoid and the growing clout of power-hungry men exploiting people's beliefs.

Unfortunately much damage is done first.
 
Asaram Bapu, a powerful self-proclaimed Hindu godman with millions of followers, was given life imprisonment for rape of a 16 year old girl on the pretext of driving evil spirits. A textbook case of what kind of guru-s to avoid and the growing clout of power-hungry men exploiting people's beliefs.

Asaram Convicted For Rape, Gets Life Sentence
Such incidences are one of the reasons I'm of the "only
God is my Guru (or priest/pastor/etc.)" persuasion.

Only He belongs on that pedestal, imo.

Sometimes being unorthodox can be a life-saver.


-
 

Amani_Bhava

Member
Such incidences are one of the reasons I'm of the "only
God is my Guru (or priest/pastor/etc.)" persuasion.

Only He belongs on that pedestal, imo.

Sometimes being unorthodox can be a life-saver.


-

That is rational.

Unfortunately guru is rather indispensable in Hinduism.

Kabir wrapped himself in rags and submerged himself in Ganges .. exactly at the spot saint Ramananada used to bathe at dawn everyday.

When his feet touched Kabir, saint Ramananda said "Ram, Ram" thinking Kabir to be a dead body.

and Kabir meditated on those words as guru-mantra.

That is why these gurus flourish .. people seek a mantra.

namaste

amani_bhava
 
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