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    Characteristics of Kali Yuga

        There are many passages in the Hindu writings which describe the condition of the World during Kali Yuga, actual era in which suffering plays an important part in spiritual liberation. Amazingly these written facts are exactly what we are seeing in the World today. Among the most striking of these passages from the Hindu holy books are the following.

        Swami Vivekananda, great Indian mystic, wrote, 'But greater than the present deep dismal night...no pall of darkness had ever before enveloped this holy land of ours. And compared with the depth of this fall, all previous falls appear like little hoof-marks'. Obviously this seer is referring to our actual era, Kali Yuga.

        'Cheating will be the order of the day in business relations; satisfaction of sexual pleasure will be the only consideration of male or female excellence and worthiness'.

        'When deceit, falsehood, lethargy, sleepiness, violence, despondency, grief, delusion, fear, and poverty prevail, that is the Kali Yuga...'

        'Celibates will cease to observe their vows of study, purity and celibacy; householders will take to begging (instead of giving alms); hermits will resort to villages (leaving their retreats in the forests); and sanyasins will be extremely greedy for money'.

        'In the Kali Yuga, men will abandon their parents, brothers, friends, and

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    relatives. They will occupy high seats (and pulpits) and will (pretend to) preach religion'.

        You can be aware of the great darkness in which we are immersed in this present era –Kali Yuga- throughout the world; though darkness is the testing which enables you to attain mukti –spiritual liberation-. Despite this tenebrous climate, you must always try to be very positive and optimistic even when hostile and unfavorable conditions are present in your life.

        In contradiction to what many believe, Kali Yuga is the most beneficial age for attaining spiritual liberation. Many people, especially in India, think that this is a bad era of tremendous chaos, suffering and destruction, but we must remember that this is an era in which all that suffering will purify us enormously. Only in this age liberation is possible but not in previous ones –Satya, Treta and Dwapara-.

        You can find in chapter twenty, versicle sixteen of the book of Matthew from the Bible, that Christ stated two thousand years back, 'So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen'.

        Remember that the chosen ones choose themselves through righteous deeds, thoughts and words. Faith, devotion and total surrender shown towards God or to a fully realized Guru, are vital for attaining spiritual liberation. Also endurance, strong will, patience, love, humbleness, sacrifice towards others and acceptance of your destiny, are essential for achieving this goal. These words

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    –"So the last shall be first, and the first last..."- are also showing us that some of the people that were doing things rightfully, at the 'End of Times' –our actual era, not to be misinterpreted as the end of the World- will err the path. They won't be able to pass their final tests because the more you grow spiritually, the harder the tests you have to overcome, in order to attain spiritual liberation.

        Christ stated that at the 'End of Times' there would be great suffering and sorrow.

        In Matthew, chapter twenty four, Christ declared:

        3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

        4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

        5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

        6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

        7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.

        8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

        9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye

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    shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

        10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

        11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

        12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

        13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

        In this last versicle, you can be aware that only people that will endure up to the last minute of their lives, having a strong will power and performing carefully and diligently positive karma –righteous deeds, words and thoughts- will be capable of attaining spiritual liberation.

    Next Chapter: Christ's Prophecies Regarding the 'End of Times'

    Any Questions?