[Posted March 7, 2007]
Put "God" to the TestA.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiABC News - March 6, 2007 - JIM AVILA Jesus Might be Alive and Well in Houston Jose de Jesus drinks, smokes and claims he's the Second Coming. When asked to explain who he is, de Jesus responds: "Jesus Christ, man, the second manifestation, the Second Coming of Christ." He acknowledges that "it bothers a lot of people" that he calls himself Jesus. De Jesus' beginning was anything but grand. Born in Puerto Rico, de Jesus grew up poor, living in government housing. He stole for a living to pay for his teenage heroin addiction and admits to eight felony charges that put him behind bars for nine months. Like many, de Jesus says he was born again in prison. From there he moved to the United States, where he became involved in church youth groups, and eventually a minister in Boston. But it was a vision, de Jesus says, that turned him from man of God to being God. go to story Criteria
to Meet
Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi-lila 7.29-30 "Lord Chaitanya in Five Features"
There are ... unscrupulous persons who exploit the Lord's appearance by posing as incarnations to cheat the innocent public. An incarnation of God should pass the tests of the statements of the shastras and also perform uncommon activities. One should not accept a rascal as an incarnation of God but should test his ability to act as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For example, Krishna taught Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita, and Arjuna also accepted Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but for our understanding Arjuna requested the Lord to manifest His universal form, thus testing whether He was actually the Supreme Lord. Similarly, one must test a so-called incarnation of Godhead according to the standard criteria. To avoid being misled by an exhibition of mystic powers, it is best to examine a so-called incarnation of God in the light of the statements of the shastras. Under Control Laws of Nature: An Infallible Justice In
the Ishopanishad, the word isha is used to
describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Isha means
"controller." Do you think you are controlled or not? Is there any
person anywhere within this universe who is not controlled? Can anyone
say, "I am not controlled"? Nobody can say that. So if you are
controlled, then why do you declare, "I am not controlled, I am
independent, I am God"? Why this nonsense? Mayavadi impersonalists
claim, "I am God, you are God, everyone is God." But if they are
controlled, how can they be God? Does this make any sense? God is never
controlled; He is the supreme controller. So if somebody is controlled,
immediately we should know that he is not God. Full in 6 Opulences Sunday Feast Lecture, Los Angeles, January 19, 1969 The
Sanskrit word, equivalent word of the English word "God" is
Bhagavan. Generally described, God is great. That is perfect. Actually
God is great. Nobody can be equal to God, and nobody can be greater
than God. Greatness... If I am great and if there is another competitor
great, then I am not God, neither he is God. When we say, speak of God,
there is no competitor. The Sanskrit word used, asamaurdhva...
Asama. Sama means equal; [the prefix]
a means not. Nobody is equal. Asama, urdhva. There
are three positions. Just like we are sitting here. Somebody is equal
to me, somebody is greater than me and somebody is lower than me. You
will find, everyone. Anywhere you go, you'll find, somebody is greater
than you, somebody is equal to you and somebody is lower than you,
anywhere you go. But in case of God, there can be only lower; nobody
greater or equal. That is God, simple definition of God. Nowadays there
is a disease, to declare oneself as God, "I am God." And there is
regular propaganda that everyone is God. Now, how everyone can be God?
The definition of God is like this: "Nobody shall be equal; nobody
shall be greater." Then He is God. If somebody says, "I am God," say,
if somebody thinks that "I am God," he should think also, "Whether I
have no more any greater than me or equal to me?" Oh, if you find so
many equal and greater, lower also... But first thing is whether there
is nobody greater than you or nobody equal to you. Then you are God.
Don't be crazy and think that "I am God." God is not like that. Here is
the definition, bhagavan, asamaurdhva. In Sanskrit word, it is
very nicely described. aishvaryasya samagrasya Bhaga, these opulences... So you have to find out. You do not accept any cheap God. You just try to find out whether this man claiming as God has no greater than him and no equal to him. Then he is God. This simple test. Don't accept any bogus, so-called God. Just try to put him to the test whether he is actually God. This is the test, that nobody should be greater than him; nobody shall be equal to him. Then he is God. Private Life Bhagavad-gita (1.20) Lecture, London, July 17, 1973 Impious life cannot inquire about God or can understand about God. We have several times repeated the verse, yesham tv anta-gatam papam Papis,
sinful men, they cannot understand. They understand, only think that
"Krishna is Bhagavan; so I am also Bhagavan. He's an ordinary man,
maybe little powerful, historically very famous man. So He is, after
all, a man. So I am also man. So why not I am God?" This is the
conclusion of the abhaktas, non-devotees and sinful men. Put "God" to the Test/ WORLD SANKIRTAN PARTY ©2007 - Hansadutta das Home | About | Events | World Sankirtan Party | Inside Nam Hatta eBooks | Site Map | Store |