Slavery to Banks: A Vedic Prophecy

Slavery to Banks: A Vedic Prophecy
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa)
This shows how banks, especially the Central Banks, which are part of a network established in many countries, have set up a system which is increasingly controlling the economy and lives of numerous people around the world, and is gaining more power, wealth and influence. The questionable development of the Federal Reserve Bank in America is presented as an example of the fulfillment of the Vedic prophecy regarding the dangers of standardized gold and the hoarding of it (one of the places in which the personality of Kali resides), and what more problems this can cause in the future as the age of Kali-yuga advances.
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As related in the Bhagavata Purana, at the start of Kali-yuga, King Pariksit declared that the seeds of evil will manifest in four things: intoxication, gambling, illicit sex, and the killing of innocent creatures, especially for meat-eating. These were the activities in which the personality of Kali could reside.
Not only are these the bad habits of Kali-yuga, but engaging in the above-mentioned activities propel us into numerous additional negative activities, all of which force us to give in to such undesirable emotions as greed, anger, jealousy, fault-finding, treachery, hatred, and so on. All of these pave the way for untold pain, suffering, misery and further wicked actions and intrigue.
We can plainly see the damage these activities are presently doing. For example, liquor and drugs and other forms of intoxication no doubt ruin the lives of innumerable people. It causes poor health, depression, the waste of needed money, and even suicides and death, either by accidental overdoses or from other things such as territorial gang wars and so on. Drinking or intoxication literally poisons the brain and body. It takes away the ability to achieve a higher consciousness and destroys the principle of austerity, and being responsible and focused on the goals of life. This leads to irresponsibility and a philosophy of “whatever feels good, do it”. Such intoxication paves the way for further calamities in one’s actions and difficulties in life.
Gambling, or engaging in questionable or fraudulent business practices, takes away the principle of truthfulness and honesty. Gambling houses also tempt people into their clutches with fancy lights and alluring women with the hope of gaining easy fortune, yet mostly take much of the money away from those who patronize such places, sometimes leaving them in ruins.
Animal slaughter takes away one’s sense of mercy and compassion for others. It promotes selfishness and cruelty and furthers society’s ignorance of its spiritual identity. You could not so easily slaughter and eat other creatures if you clearly saw the soul within the animal.
Prostitution or frivolous sexual activity takes away one’s sense of bodily and mental cleanliness. It increases addiction to trivial bodily pleasures, which accelerates degradation and disease in society.
The desire for sex in this age of Kali-yuga is one of the most captivating of all preoccupations of the human race. It distracts most of society from the real spiritual purpose of life. People want to satisfy themselves in this way and then use up so much energy, physical and otherwise, to meet their sensual desires. It saps them of their time in life when they could be using this existence in much more important ways.
For quick profits debauched men and even women capture and force many young girls, and boys as well, into a life of prostitution, which often leaves them hurt, wounded, diseased or ruined for life. Such exploitative culprits, who engage in human trafficking and force others into such an existence of engaging in the sex trade, will multiply like a virus in this age. And like any virus, if they are not destroyed completely, they will only reappear later in a different place.
On a personal level, for any man, semen or the vital force is the most precious substance in the human body, and is not meant to be wasted through mere sensual enjoyment. It is the last product made by the body through the process of digesting the food we eat. This vital force is especially effective in nourishing the nervous system and brain. All who are on the spiritual path to perceive the spiritual dimension are recommended to retain this vital force for assistance and greater strength, concentration, intelligence, good memory, health, determination, and clarity. When it is preserved it is turned into the Ojas Shakti, and is utilized in the brain for higher abilities and noble purposes. If it is wasted and released through frequent or unnecessary sex, one’s brain and nervous system are disadvantaged. This manifests as lack of certitude, direction, clarity, along with mental weakness, indifference and lethargy. Then noble thoughts give way to the increased focus on base and sensual desires. Intellectual energy is then diverted from spiritual inquiry to concocting further plans for more sensual pleasure. Then this becomes the major aim in such a person’s life, especially in Kali-yuga, which depletes them of their time, energy, higher consciousness, and paves the way to death’s door with little else being accomplished. In this way, one’s life becomes wasted.
Anyone, such as rulers, social leaders, or religionists, who desires progressive well-being for themselves and society should avoid these four irreligious activities. All of these eliminate the finer characteristics of human nature, which leaves behind the lower animalistic qualities and the further degradation of human society and the world. However, the results and tendencies for all of these degrading activities are found in one specific thing more than any other, and that is the hoarding of money, which is explained next.
THE DANGERS OF KALI IN STANDARDIZED GOLD
In the story of Kali requesting Maharaja Pariksit for places in which he could stay, as related in Srimad-Bhagavatam16, Kali begged for one more place to reside, besides the four that have been previously described. So Maharaja Pariksit gave permission for Kali to live where there is gold, because wherever there is the hoarding of gold there is also falsity, intoxication, lust, envy, and enmity. Therefore, the personification of Kali became gold standardized. This has led to innumerable problems in this age, and it is simply getting worse as the age of Kali progresses.
Now one thing to remember here is that we have been warned about the dangers of standardized gold in Srimad-Bhagavatam, which was written around 5,000 years ago. But how does this danger manifest? How would a 5,000 year old statement or prophecy about gold apply to us today? Let us explain further.
Throughout history governments have coined and printed their own money, based on actual supply of whatever commodity was backing the money, such as gold or silver. This is what standardization is all about. A five-dollar bill, for example, would be worth five dollars of gold. Of course, the problem is that they removed that standard years ago and now they can print all kinds of dollar bills that have no standard value. Falsity sets in when actual gold, as in gold coins, is no longer used as a currency and paper money replaces it. The paper money does not fairly represent the value of the actual reserved gold. The result of this is artificial inflation and manipulation because the currency is not real. This inflation can set off multitudes of reactions in the value of goods: changes in the value of your savings and the money you earn, etc.
Then add to this the widespread ignorance and confusion regarding tax laws, and you have a system designed to keep people under control or bewilderment. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1787, John Adams wrote, “All perplexities, confusion, and distress in America arise not from defects in the Constitution, nor from want of honor and virtue so much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.” In other words, a dishonest money system is the basis of many of the economic and even social problems in America. Money can either build or destroy a nation. If a money system is honest, all people can prosper. A dishonest system, however, enriches a few at the cost of many.
To give a very simple example, which was also told to me, centuries ago in some townships people stored their gold in the goldsmith’s vault for a fee, in which case, they would get a receipt for their gold. Afterwards, people would exchange these receipts among themselves as a money substitute for commodities or services. They could redeem the receipts for the gold. However, only a small amount of the gold was ever reclaimed, allowing the goldsmith to issue receipts for more gold than he had. So some receipts did not represent anything. In fact, he could use some receipts himself to make purchases or to lend at interest and yet take title to property as collateral. In this way, the increase in fraudulent receipts decreased the value of legitimate receipts. By manipulating the number of receipts in circulation, the wealth and prosperity of the community were quietly confiscated by the goldsmith without anyone knowing.
By reducing the number of receipts and money in circulation, the goldsmith could cause a depression in which he could increase his wealth at the expense of others. However, by increasing the number of receipts he could stimulate the economy and bring prosperity into the community. In this way, we can see that any money substitute like paper currency is honest only when it accurately represents real money. But when people use paper instead of real money, the seeds of corruption can enter the system.
America’s economic problems are based on this practice of issuing notes that are not accurately backed by gold. This is standard practice in the banking industry that is based on the modern day goldsmith known as The Federal Reserve and their Federal Reserve Notes. Remember, a Note is an I.O.U., or debt. Paying a debt with another debt is not possible. A debt must be paid with something of value, like gold or silver. Thus, the name “Federal Reserve Note” is, in fact, a fraudulent name since it is not what it claims to be–an accurate representation of a certain amount of gold.
There are only two actual economic systems: One is barter and the other is credit. Barter is simply the exchange of items that have equal value. The use of gold or silver coins is a barter system. Other items that have been used for exchange have included cows, salt, tea, tobacco, and opium. But money by itself does not exist: It must be something of value or an honest representation of something of value. However, credit is not tangible; it cannot be measured. It is only an idea represented by bookkeeping entries. Wealth is produced through labor in exchange for value or in making useable products that have exchange value in the marketplace. You do not find this with credit, except for the amount of money that becomes owed.
Bookkeeping tactics can then manipulate and adjust the value of such credit to suit whatever the plans are of those who control it. On page twelve of Keeping Our Money Healthy, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it states, “The Federal Reserve system works only with credit.” But credit is not wealth.
This state of affairs started 200 years ago when Amschel Rothschild (1743-1812) established a principle that the economic and political systems of nations would not be controlled by the citizens but by the bankers, for the bankers. This came about by a carefully planned series of political and economic maneuvers that gradually established a ” Central Bank” in every country. This, in effect, allows those involved in this Central Bank system to gain control over the economy of the world. Many people think that the strategy of these power elite bankers is to establish a single world government over which they have complete control. If such would become the case, then politicians, leaders, and people in general, would all be controlled by the policy decisions of these bankers, not by governments. Even nowadays governments are often influenced by the economic decisions made by these bankers.
These central banks have the authority to print money for whatever country in which they are established. It is these banks from which governments borrow money to pay for debts to continue their operation. Thus, printed money is debt money. It has no intrinsic value since they do not base it on gold. It is printed to further the borrowing by the government. This propels a false economy in which everything, even the government, operates on credit, which is debt. And the larger the debt, the shakier everything becomes. So, yes, presently the Federal Government of the U. S. is practically bankrupt, so it keeps borrowing money from the Central Bank, known as the Federal Reserve Bank. And now the national debt is over 8 and one-half trillion dollars (at the time of this writing, as of January 1, 2007), which the government owes to the Federal Reserve Bank and other member institutions. This also means that in a country of over 300,500,000 people, every U. S. citizen owes over $28,000 as their contribution to help pay off this debt. Most of this debt is interest that multiplies on a daily basis that the government, or rather the American taxpayers, are supposed to pay back to the Federal Reserve Bank. To pay back such a debt is most difficult. Thus, policy decisions by the Federal Reserve regarding the national debt can send waves of changes throughout the country at any given time. So we can see how this government must consider the dictates of the Federal Reserve Bank, which operates more like a privately owned and operated organization of international bankers than an agency of the government, since that is exactly what it is.
Presently, the policies of the Federal Reserve control inflation and deflation. They have the duty to establish and adjust the “prime lending rate” that “helps” stimulate the economy or control growth. They can expand or contract the money supply by buying or selling U. S. securities and by raising or lowering reserve requirements, which is the money that member banks must have in reserve. The Federal Reserve has many other duties that exert a powerful influence on this nation’s economic life, and, thus, affect every other country in the world.
It was on November 22, 1910 when the nation’s leading bankers left by train at night from Hoboken, New Jersey on a secret mission to Jekyll Island, Georgia to create what would be the Federal Reserve System. Through their plans they were able to bypass the U. S. Constitution that established how they should regulate money. For example, Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution directly states that only Congress has the “power to coin money and regulate the value thereof”. Furthermore, Article One, Section Ten of the United States Constitution says, “No state shall make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts”. Also, Title Twelve of the United States Code, Section 152, states: “The term lawful money, or lawful money of the United States, shall be construed to mean gold or silver coin of the United States.” Even as far back as the ” Coinage Act of 1792,” Congress fixed the dollar as a specific weight of silver in the form of a coin, and fixed the value of a gold coin in relation to it. Nonetheless, it was in 1913 that Congress surrendered the original constitutional power to create and regulate money to the Federal Reserve in the Federal Reserve Act, thus giving this control to foreign interests. Then the Federal Reserve began printing paper money. Between 1914 and 1963 the Federal Reserve Note never claimed to be money or dollars. It simply stated that, as on a note for five dollars, “The United States of America will pay to the bearer on demand Five Dollars.” Above the bank seal it said, “This note is legal tender for all debts public and private and is redeemable in lawful money at the United States Treasury or at any Federal Reserve Bank.”
Then in 1963 the Fed began to issue its new series of notes without this promise and began taking the previous notes out of circulation. By removing this promise to pay the bearer, the federal government, in cooperation with the Federal Reserve, eliminated the money system as established by the Constitution and replaced it with something totally different.
The implications of this may not seem as drastic as they really are, and, obviously, most people did not think so at the time. Nevertheless, a few people have certainly understood what this could mean.
For example, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States, made the prediction: “If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children shall wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
Although Jefferson was no prophet, he perceived a clear picture of what we could expect. Even in the early days of this country the bankers had tried to establish a central bank. In light of this, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the seventh president of the United States, stated: “The bold efforts that the present bank has made to control the government, the distress it has wantonly caused, are but premonitions of the fate which awaits the American people should they be deluded into a perpetuation of this institution or the establishment of another like it. If people only understood the rank injustice of our money and banking system, there could be a revolution before morning!”
The reasons for the early American wars were many, including the principles these bankers were trying to implement. England, for example, had attempted to take away the right of the colonies to print their own money. It had been noted by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) in 1763 while visiting England, that the reason why the colonies were prospering while England was suffering a tremendous national debt and high unemployment was because the colonies issued their money in proper proportions to the demands of its trade and industry.
Thereafter, the Central Banks of England pushed the British Parliament to pass a Bill prohibiting the colonies from issuing their own money. Thus, the bankers could gain control of the wealth of the colonies. Benjamin Franklin later noted that within one year of the enactment of that Bill, the streets of the colonies were filled with the unemployed, and there was great dissatisfaction.
Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) tried hardest to establish the Bank of the United States, which would be an agency of the international bankers. But Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and other leaders greatly opposed this. However, after Franklin’s death, Hamilton had bribed enough congressmen to grant a charter for the First Bank of the United States in 1791. Having lost this battle, Jefferson said that he believed banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. They have set up a money aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. They should take the power of issuing money from the banks and restore it to Congress and the people to whom it belongs.
The charter for the First Bank of the United States was for 20 years and expired in 1811. Then the Bank of England attempted to seize control over the ex-colonies as they had tried before the Revolution. This was one reason for the War of 1812.
For the next 100 years the international bankers tried gaining control in the U. S., but there were various opponents, including Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the 16th president of the United States. He said the money power preys upon a nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces as public enemies all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes.
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It is interesting that in 1913, the same year the Federal Reserve Act was incorporated for the Federal Reserve Bank, the government also adopted the 16th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution that began the Income Tax. Income tax “contributions” are collected by the Internal Revenue Service, which operates like a private collection agency for the Federal Reserve. In this way, they have positioned themselves as tax collectors who take the wealth of all individuals, besides printing the currency and directing governments by making economic policy.
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Furthermore, member bankers, and their institutions such as various Foundations, have used their wealth to purchase much of the media, controlling our education, news, publications, radio and television networks. They also can manipulate universities by providing (or withholding) large grants of funds for particular programs, and they also often own companies that produce the college and school textbooks. In these ways, they can feed us whatever information is needed so that we form the necessary opinions they want us to have about many things around us. Thus, much of our philosophies and outlooks on life, the politicians we vote for, even the way we do things, are affected through this means.
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Plus, these days we can see how many people get seduced by the promise of easy money through various bank loans, adjustable mortgages which may be attractive at first until the rates go up, and the lure of credit cards, which catch people who become forever indebted by such instruments, or products as they are called in the banking industry. Though there may be many of us who use banks for various reasons, these are some of the ways by which numerous people become unknowing slaves to a banking system wherein a small group of elitist individuals live a wealthy life at the expense of the many.
Needless to say, there are hundreds of groups out there that have plenty of information and speculation about what is likely to happen in the future regarding the plans of these power elite bankers and their allies. Some people say that they will replace all money with a single international currency. They will later change this to international debit cards that each person must carry that will have a computer chip in it that will hold information on your whole life. One central computer will observe and track all of your dealings. Later they will do away with these cards and they will surgically embed the chips under the skin of your hand. Then you will not be able to make any transactions without having the microchip. No more cash or private transactions or gifts to friends or family without bankers knowing. There will be no transactions without it going through the banks and through your microchip. Some people also expect that they will take out taxes from your account automatically, or they might take possession of everything you own without you being able to do anything about it. You will have no privacy and few freedoms. You will be either a good citizen of the one world government, or I should say the one world bank, the New World Order, or you will be a renegade living underground or in the mountains. Thousands of people going off to live in the mountains and away from government control is a scenario that is also predicted in the Vedic literature, as we will see as we proceed through this book. From here the speculations of what may happen in the future can go on and on.
The reason why I write about all of this is not to promote the speculations or conspiracy theories of some people, but to show that although the Vedic literature may give a brief warning about what will happen in the Age of Kali and the cause of it when the dangers in the hoarding of gold is mentioned. Also, to help recognize the full implications and how that description will expand as the Age of Kali progresses. In this case, it is only one verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatamthat states the personality of Kali could reside in the form of hoarding and the standardization of gold, and that wherever this goes on there will be falsity, intoxication, lust, envy, and enmity. This also indicates the desire or lust for ever-increasing power and control, and an expanding gap between the haves and the have-nots. Certainly, we can see all of this in the short review above of the last few hundred years regarding this issue and the control of currency. Thus, the results or outcome of whatever small warning the Vedic literature gives may have very wide and deep implications that will greatly affect our lives and the state of society and politics, and even the well-being of the planet and our environment and natural resources. Naturally, the more profit oriented any organization is, the less they will be concerned for the well-being of the people, planet and natural resources.
So, we need to contemplate these warnings and develop the ability to perceive the long term dangers to which these Vedic prophecies are referring. We have to understand that the process of increasing corruption in the economy, government, and society in general of which the Vedic prophecies speak is still an ongoing process. What we may accept as normal during this day and age, even the economic principles that we think are standard, will all mean something far different in another 50 or 100 years. The rate of change and corruption is increasing as the age of Kali-yuga moves forward.
As we study the warnings and prophecies in the Vedic literature, the implications of them will be quite evident whenever we see the news. But be mindful of the seriousness of what these prophecies describe. Then, as we become familiar with them, we will be more aware of the general pattern of events that are likely to continue into the far distant future of the Age of Kali, and how to prepare for such social tendencies and what our role is in an ever-changing and increasingly materialistic world. Nonetheless, there is still hope for expanding the spiritual forces in society, as I describe in my article, “A New Species of Humanity”. But the time to act is now while we still have the freedom to make a difference.
[This was adopted from a segment of “The Vedic Prophecies” by Stephen Knapp. More information about this book can be found at http://www.stephen-knapp.com.
A New Species of Humanity
By Stephen Knapp
If we are going to succeed in becoming free from the influence of Kali-yuga and use the Golden Age within the first 10,000 years of Kali-yuga in the best way possible, then we must cooperate in allowing for a new species of humanity to enter this world. This new species will not be based on physical changes but on the development of spiritual consciousness, and the goal of working toward the perfection of human life--materially and spiritually. This new species of humanity and spiritual warriors are those who are not afraid to investigate higher dimensions of reality, new areas of spiritual experiences that are beyond the limitations of conventional and fear-based religions [those that urge the obedience to their principles based on the wrath of God]. After such investigations, they will help make such higher spiritual knowledge and experience available for the welfare of others. This is happening now and growing all the time. However, this has always been the Vedic process for thousands of years.
So in some ways, the new species mentioned herein is but a reawakening of the spiritual consciousness that was prominent in the early ages such as Satya-yuga, or found in the enlightened sages of today. Yet, this consciousness, when compared with the general materialistic views and motivations found in most people today, is like a new species of humanity. It is the rare type of person who is genuinely concerned about the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of all living entities, and who also has the higher consciousness to perceive how to do that. Everyone who is concerned about themselves and the welfare of the planet should be eager to be a part of this new species of humanity, this higher consciousness, and help in this process of spiritual change and improvement. For any real solutions to our problems or social issues must be based on a spiritual foundation.
Any plan-making endeavors for solutions without a spiritual foundation will simply go through the six basic changes that all material elements go through, which is birth, growth, maintenance, producing some by-products or reactions, dwindling, and then vanishing, only to be replaced by something else. Humanity needs more than this sort of guesswork or speculative resolutions that come and go. It needs a change of consciousness based on spiritual understanding and perception. This means that the light workers and spiritual warriors on this planet must work to bring in and spread as much light and spiritual knowledge as possible.
Another thing that this new species of humanity will want is genuine knowledge of the spiritual strata. Therefore, true spiritual knowledge must be made available without misinterpretations or the contamination of those who have ulterior motives. Ignorance is the cause of all the anomalies of human society that King Yudhisthira could perceive at the onset of the age of Kali, as described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The way to overcome such ignorance and the problems that accompany it is to inject pure spiritual sound vibrations into the atmosphere. This will counter all forms of pollution in this world, beginning with the pollution in our consciousness, thoughts, and desires, for this is indeed the starting point of all pollution. This pure sound vibration is in the form of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and the recitation of theSrimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore, anyone who wants to become a part of the new species of humanity or the new breed of spiritual warriors to help bring about a new revolution in society and in spiritual consciousness should participate in this process.
One fact that we need to recognize is that the world has enough of everything. There is no scarcity of food or material resources. It is wrong to think that there is scarcity due to overpopulation on this planet. Mundane economists put forward this theory. There is, however, a great burden in the lack of cooperation in the management of the planet’s resources caused by a lack of spiritual awareness among the world’s leaders. Even if there may be a shortage of food in one area of the world, there is plenty of food in other areas. Nevertheless, because of a lack of cooperation, one country or another suffers starvation because of the artificial system of economics, as previously described, that sets the stage for competition, envy, and a lack of efficiency and unity between countries and communities. The only real solution is to bring in this new human species, the new breed of spiritual warriors, who can pave the way for a revolution in spiritual consciousness. People must recognize the spiritual nature of each other and of all beings in this world if there is to be a true change in the way we relate or cooperate with each other.
With the right consciousness we can, indeed, make proper use of things to live comfortably without enmity between each other and nature. And if a new species of such like-minded people act together in this way, it will have extremely powerful effects on this planet. If, however, humankind insists on seeing each other on the basis of bodily and cultural differences, then their vision is no better than that of the cats and dogs who are always howling, barking, chasing, and fighting with one another. There is no excuse for humankind to remain on such a base level when they have the higher mental and intellectual facilities that they do. They must rise above the animalistic platform by their spiritual progress. Only through this means will humankind reach a level of evolutionary development in which they can begin to see beyond bodily and cultural distinctions and work together in spiritual harmony with themselves, nature, and the Supreme Will. In this way, this age of Kali will lose its dark influence. It can become like the Golden Age of Satya-yuga. There is no better nor a more needed time for this to happen than right now. Let us not forget that the influence of Kali-yuga can be inflicted only upon those who are not developed enough in spiritual awareness.
It is obvious to many that the forces of darkness are getting stronger as the years go by, as the Age of Kali advances. Moral standards decrease while crime increases. Similarly, the forces of light are also getting stronger, and new levels of spiritual knowledge are coming into this earthly plane, the likes of which we have not understood for thousands of years. The characteristics between the forces of light and darkness are also becoming more distinct. Therefore, the people of this earth will participate in this polarization and will be required to decide with which force they will participate: The spiritual and progressive level, or the descending and materialistic one.
As this polarization increases, the future of the world becomes twofold: One aspect will be the obvious physical and geographic changes. The other will be the more spiritual changes. The physical, social, and geographic changes will not be viewed or experienced as so drastic by those who flow into the higher dimension, while the planet earth will display a hard and difficult life for those who remain absorbed in the lower materialistic and fearful level of consciousness. The earth will accommodate both levels of dimension, but the views of existence on earth will be very different from each level.
There will, indeed, be a higher and progressive energy shift, as predicted by the Vedic scripture, and it is already in progress. In this cycle, the planetary changes, whether they seem good or severe, will be a cleansing process to help bring in the needed progress and new species of humanity, at least while the Golden Age within Kali-yuga continues, which is predicted to last another 10,000 years.
What this means is that we are at a decisive point. There will be a transformed world. It will be attained by force through an apocalypse, or through cooperation by a planetary awakening. Whether the whole population awakens is not necessary. Only a certain percentage need be enlightened in this way because the power of light will far exceed and overpower the force of darkness or materialism, at least enough to keep the positive changes available for those who wish to participate in them. Naturally, not everyone will be interested.
This polarization during this age of Kali means that people will vibrate on different levels. As the consciousness of those who are spiritually inclined develops, they will become increasingly open to extraordinary experiences. They will become more in tuned with levels of higher realms, and beings who exist in those realms. Communications between us and those of higher dimensions will also increase. After all, higher consciousness means you vibrate and perceive that which is on higher levels of existence. The more spiritual you become, the more you can perceive that which is spiritual.
As genuine religionists, devotees, and sages become successful in the process of spiritual development and begin to disappear from the face of the earth, or disengage themselves from materialistic society, or rise above the earthly plane before the Golden Age in Kali-yuga comes to an end, they will reach higher dimensions that will be imperceptible to those on the lower levels. The vibratory levels of their thinking and consciousness will bring them to higher dimensions of existence. Thus, they will separate themselves from the rest of society, and the severe changes in Kali-yuga may not be so applicable to them. They will have risen above it, even if remaining physically in this earthly existence.
An example of this is Srila Vyasadeva. The Vedic texts state that Srila Vyasadeva, the compiler of the Vedic literature, still lives at Badarikashrama in the Himalayas, although no one can see him. And there are descriptions of other sages and masters who have been living in the region of the Himalaya mountains who are hundreds of years old. Yet how can Vyasadeva live there without being seen for so many thousands of years? This is possible because he lives in a higher dimension of energy which makes him imperceptible to our eyes. We may be standing right next to him and not see him. Also, because he is living on a subtler platform, he does not have the same physical needs nor will he age as we do.
This is why the Puranas describe various siddhas, perfected living beings, who will be waiting for the end of Kali-yuga to reveal themselves and help begin the new age of Satya-yuga. During the Golden Age in Kali-yuga, the whole world can enter a higher vibratory level and rise into a higher level of consciousness. Remember, consciousness is not merely a state of mind but also a vibrational level. The higher the consciousness, the higher the vibratory level of energy in which that person perceives, understands, lives, and sends out to others. This is the opportunity that this Golden Age in Kali-yuga provides for us, to whatever degree we develop it.
Adjusting the level of our consciousness is also the way we can change the course of our future. In spite of the predictions that are provided, or the prophecies we find in various texts, we can reduce the severity of them. We can decide for ourselves what level of consciousness we want to develop and in which we want to exist. The higher the social consciousness is, the less severe the changes will be in society and throughout the planet, and the more harmonious things will be globally. In other words, there would be less need of the severe earth changes for the cleansing of the planet. Remember, the world only reflects the consciousness of the inhabitants. When the inhabitants work in harmony with nature, what is the need for nature to cause repercussions to our actions? When nature and people are balanced, the world will give what we need. Thus, we can create a very bright and positive future for ourselves and this planet simply by elevating our consciousness.
It may be difficult for some to understand, but pure souls or devotees with cleansed or pure consciousness can directly perceive themselves as spiritual beings in a human body while also perceiving the spiritual identity of others. They can recognize how the spiritual world or its energy pervades this material strata, though it is imperceptible to most. When they are in this consciousness, they can see the planet as an island, a space ship you might say, and our bodies as suitable vehicles for existing on this particular planet. Such persons can also lift their consciousness to detach from the body or bodily state of mind and enter various levels of the spiritual dimension, though their body is still acting and perceived on the material plane. In other words, the body may still be here, but the consciousness and vision of the pure soul has entered another dimension and is perceiving things from that spiritual level, yet he or she is still interacting within this material realm. One minute they may be participating in the drama of life on this planet. The next minute they can see themselves as merely wearing the material body like a temporary costume, aloof from their activities on this plane of existence and absorbed in knowing that they are spiritual beings, part of the spiritual dimension.
In this consciousness, they know that wherever they go they are already home because the spiritual dimension pervades everything. The spiritual dimension is eternal and unlimited while the material dimension is temporary and finite. So they go through life in this world like a tourist traveling in a foreign country: They observe, even participate in activities, but they remain detached and aloof at the same time. The point is that during the Golden Age within Kali-yuga, such pure souls and devotees will live among the general populace of this earth. Though they may not be known or appreciated by many, those who can search them out can take advantage of such persons by learning from them. They can learn the process of changing their own consciousness for the most positive developments and, thus, be directed to the goal of life and return to the spiritual dimension. However, we need to remember that after this Golden Age in Kali-yuga is finished, all such spiritual persons, even knowledge of such people, along with all information of the Supreme and the genuine, fruitful spiritual process, will fade away and disappear from the face of the earth. Then the darkest portion of Kali-yuga will proceed. Therefore let us take advantage of the opportunities that we presently have to raise our consciousness and become a part of the spiritual changes, a new species of humanity, that can manifest in this age while we still have the time to do so. And let us plan the arrangements to share this potential with all others. This can indeed decelerate the progress of the oncoming dark influences of this age of Kali-yuga.
(This article is from: http://www.stephen-knapp.com)