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Self-realization explained.Through the interviews, lectures, essays, and letters of this book, Srila Prabhupada exhaustively explains how to practice yoga in the modern age. Topics include karma and reincarnation, superconsciousness, how to choose a guru, Krsna and Christ, and spiritual solutions to today's social and economic problems.Please Read This Book, It does not endorse Hinduism, because Self-realisation has nothing to do Hindu,Christian,Muslim…. A enlightened person just Loves God, and God is not restricted to Hindu/Muslim/Christian etc.Foreword to The Science of Self-RealizationFrom the very start, I knew that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was the most extraordinary person I had ever met. The first meeting occurred in the summer of 1966, in New York City. A friend had invited me to hear a lecture by “an old Indian swami” on lower Manhattan’s Bowery. Overwhelmed with curiosity about a swami lecturing on skid row, I went there and felt my way up a pitch-black staircase. A bell-like, rhythmic sound got louder and clearer as I climbed higher. Finally I reached the fourth floor and opened the door, and there he was.About fifty feet away from where I stood, at the other end of a long, dark room, he sat on a small dais, his face and saffron robes radiant under a small light. He was elderly, perhaps sixty or so, I thought, and he sat cross-legged in an erect, stately posture. His head was shaven, and his powerful face and reddish horn-rimmed glasses gave him the look of a monk who had spent most of his life absorbed in study. His eyes were closed, and he softly chanted a simple Sanskrit prayer while playing a hand drum. The small audience joined in at intervals, in call-and-response fashion. A few played hand cymbals, which accounted for the bell-like sounds I’d heard. Fascinated, I sat down quietly at the back, tried to participate in the chanting, and waited.After a few moments the swami began lecturing in English, apparently from a huge Sanskrit volume that lay open before him. Occasionally he would quote from the book, but more often from memory. The sound of the language was beautiful, and he followed each passage with meticulously detailed explanations.He sounded like a scholar, his vocabulary intricately laced with philosophical terms and phrases. Elegant hand gestures and animated facial expressions added considerable impact to his delivery. The subject matter was the most weighty I had ever encountered: “I am not this body. I am not an Indian …. You are not Americans …. We are all spirit souls. …”After the lecture someone gave me a pamphlet printed in India. A photo showed the swami handing three of his books to Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The caption quoted Mr. Shastri as saying that all Indian government libraries should order the books. “His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is doing great work,” the Prime Minister said in another small tract, “and his books are significant contributions to the salvation of mankind.” I purchased copies of the books, which I learned the swami had brought over from India. After reading the jacket flaps, the small pamphlet, and various other literature, I began to realize that I had just met one of India’s most respected spiritual leaders.But I could not understand why a gentleman of such distinction was residing and lecturing in the Bowery, of all places. He was certainly well educated and, by all appearances, born of an aristocratic Indian family. Why was he living in such poverty? What in the world had brought him here? One afternoon several days later, I stopped in to visit him and find out.To my surprise, Srlla Prabhupada (as I later came to call him) was not too busy to talk with me. In fact, it seemed that he was prepared to talk all day. He was warm and friendly and explained that he had accepted the renounced order of life in India in 1959, and that he was not allowed to carry or earn money for his personal needs. He had completed his studies at the University of Calcutta many years ago and had raised a family, and then he had left his eldest sons in charge of family and business affairs, as the age-old Vedic culture prescribes. After accepting the renounced order, he had arranged a free passage on an Indian freighter (Scindia Steamship Company’s Jaladuta) through an old family friend. In September 1965, he had sailed from Bombay to Boston, armed with only seven dollars’ worth of rupees, a trunk of books, and a few clothes. His spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, had entrusted him with delivering India’s Vedic teachings to the English-speaking world. And this was why, at age sixty-nine, he had come to America. He told me he wanted to teach Americans about Indian music, cooking, languages, and various other arts. I was mildly amazed.I saw that Srila Prabhupada slept on a small mattress and that his clothes hung on lines at the back of the room, where they were drying in the summer afternoon heat. He washed them himself and cooked his own food on an ingenious utensil he had fashioned with his own hands in India. In this four-layer apparatus he cooked four preparations at once. Stacked all around him and his ancient-looking portable typewriter in another section of the room were seemingly endless manuscripts. He spent almost all of his waking hours–about twenty in twenty-four, I learned–typing the sequels to the three volumes I had purchased. It was a projected sixty-volume set called the Srimad-Bhdgavatam, and virtually it was the encyclopedia of spiritual life. I wished him luck with the publishing, and he invited me back for Sanskrit classes on Saturdays and for his evening lectures on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I accepted, thanked him, and left, marveling at his incredible determination.A few weeks later–it was July 1966–I had the privilege of helping Srila Prabhupada relocate in a somewhat more respectable neighborhood, on Second Avenue. Some friends and I pitched in and rented a ground-floor storefront and a second-floor apartment, to the rear of a little courtyard, in the same building. The lectures and chanting continued, and within two weeks a rapidly growing congregation was providing for the storefront (by this time a temple) and the apartment. By now Srila Prabhupada was instructing his followers to print and distribute leaflets, and the owner of a record company had invited him to record an LP of the Hare Krishna chant. He did, and it was a huge success. In his new location he was teaching chanting, Vedic philosophy, music, japa meditation, fine art, and cooking. At first he cooked–he always taught by example. The results were the most wonderful vegetarian meals I had ever experienced. (Srila Prabhupada would even serve everything out himself!)The meals usually consisted of a rice preparation, a vegetable dish, capatis (tortilla-like whole wheat patties), and dahl (a zestfully spiced mung bean or split pea soup). The spicing, the cooking medium–ghee, or clarified butter–and the close attention paid to the cooking temperature and other details all combined to produce taste treats totally unknown to me. Others’ opinions of the food, called prasada (“the Lord’s mercy”), agreed emphatically with mine. A Peace Corps worker who was also a Chinese-language scholar was learning from Sr!la Prabhupada how to paint in the classical Indian style. I was startled at the high quality of his first canvases.In philosophical debate and logic Srila Prabhupada was undefeatable and indefatigable. He would interrupt his translating work for discussions that would last up to eight hours. Sometimes seven or eight people jammed into the small, immaculately clean room where he worked, ate, and slept on a two-inch-thick foam cushion. Srila Prabhupada constantly emphasized and exemplified what he called “plain living and high thinking.” He stressed that spiritual life was a science provable through reason and logic, not a matter of mere sentiment or blind faith. He began a monthly magazine, and in the autumn of 1966 the New York Times published a favorable picture story about him and his followers. Shortly thereafter, television crews came out and did a feature news story. Srila Prabhupada was an exciting person to know. Whether it was out of my desire for the personal benefits of yoga and chanting or just out of raw fascination, I knew I wanted to follow his progress every step of the way. His plans for expansion were daring and unpredictable–except for the fact that they always seemed to succeed gloriously. He was seventyish and a stranger to America, and he had arrived with practically nothing, yet now, within a few months, he had singlehandedly started a movement! It was mind-boggling.One August morning at the Second Avenue storefront temple, Srila Prabhupada told us, “Today is Lord Krishna’s appearance day.” We would observe a twenty-four-hour fast and stay inside the temple. That evening some visitors from India happened along. One of them–practically in tears–described his unbounded rapture at finding this little piece of authentic India on the other side of the world. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined such a thing. He offered Srila Prabhupada eloquent praise and deep thanks, left a donation, and bowed at his feet. Everyone was deeply moved. Later, Srila Prabhupada conversed with the gentleman in Hindi, and since what he was saying was unintelligible to me, I was able to observe how his every expression and gesture communicated to the very core of the human soul.Later that year, while in San Francisco, I sent Srila Prabhupada his first airline ticket, and he flew out from New York. A sizeable group of us greeted him at the terminal by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Then we drove him to the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park, to a newly rented apartment and storefront temple–an arrangement very similar to that in New York. We had established a pattern. Srila Prabhupada was ecstatic.A few weeks later the first mrdanga (a long clay drum with a playing head on each end) arrived in San Francisco from India. When I went up to Srila Prabhupada’s apartment and informed him, his eyes opened wide, and in an excited voice he told me to go down quickly and open the crate. I took the elevator, got out on the ground floor, and was walking toward the front door when Srila Prabhupada appeared. So eager was he to see the mrdanga that he had taken the stairway and had beaten the elevator. He asked us to open the crate, he tore off a piece of the saffron cloth he was wearing, and, leaving only the playing heads exposed, he wrapped the drum with the cloth. Then he said, “This must never come off,” and he began giving detailed instructions on how to play and care for the instrument.Also in San Francisco, in 1967, Srila Prabhupada inaugurated Ratha-yatra, the Festival of the Chariots, one of several festivals that, thanks to him, people all over the world now observe. Ratha-yatra has taken place in India’s Jagannatha Purl each year for two thousand years, and by 1975 the festival had become so popular with San Franciscans that the mayor issued a formal proclamation–“Ratha-yatra Day in San Francisco.”By late 1966 Srila Prabhupada had begun accepting disciples. He was quick to point out to everyone that they should think of him not as God but as God’s servant, and he criticized self-styled gurus who let their disciples worship them as God. “These ‘gods’ are very cheap,” he used to say. One day, after someone had asked, “Are you God?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “No, I am not God–I am a servant of God.” Then he reflected a moment and went on. “Actually, I am not a servant of God. I am trying to be a servant of God. A servant of God is no ordinary thing.”In the mid-seventies Srila Prabhupada’s translating and publishing intensified dramatically. Scholars all over the world showered favorable reviews on his books, and practically all the universities and colleges in America accepted them as standard texts. Altogether he produced some eighty books, which his disciples have translated into twenty·five languages and distributed to the tune of fifty-five million copies. He established one hundred and eight temples worldwide, and he has some ten thousand initiated disciples and a congregational following in the millions. Srila Prabhupada was writing and translating up to the last days of his eighty-one-year stay on earth.Srila Prabhupada was not just another oriental scholar, guru, mystic, yoga teacher, or meditation instructor. He was the embodiment of a whole culture, and he implanted that culture in the West. To me and many others he was first and foremost someone who truly cared, who completely sacrificed his own comfort to work for the good of others. He had no private life, but lived only for others. He taught spiritual science, philosophy, common sense, the arts, languages, the Vedic way of life–hygiene, nutrition, medicine, etiquette, family living, farming, social organization, schooling, economics–and many more things to many people. To me he was a master, a father, and my dearmost friend. I am deeply indebted to Srila Prabhupada, and it is a debt I shall never be able to repay. But I can at least show some gratitude by joining with his other followers in fulfilling his innermost desire–publishing and distributing his books.“I shall never die,” Srila Prabhupada once said. “I shall live forever in my books.” He passed away from this world on November 14, 1977, but surely he will live forever.-Michael Grant(Mukunda dasa)

Bismillahirrahman-irahim. Assalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi-wa burakatuhu (this is the Islamic greeting of ‘Peace be upon you’).THIS IS A LONG POST, WHICH EXPLAINS THE IDEOLOGIES, BELIEFS, TENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE AHMADIYYA SECT OF ISLAM. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO EXPLORE THESE, FEEL FREE TO HEAD OVER TO MY SHORTER SUMMARIZED ANSWER: See Tauheed A's answer to What is Ahmadiyya Muslim community?I will now begin my longer post - first, these are the topics I will cover:What is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat? Who is the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi?What does the advent of the Promised Messiah/ Imam Mahdi mean for Ahmadi Muslims?What is the goal/goals of this community? What are they doing?On what basis are they being persecuted in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan & Indonesia?Proofs and claims that the Promised Messiah has come: What is the meaning of Jihad of the Sword? What does the lunar/solar eclipse tell us about the coming of a prophet? etc.What is the Insitution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya? (sucessorship beyond the Promised Messiah)What is the Ahmadi Muslim belief on the life and death of Hazrat Isaa (Jesus, peace be upon him)? Why is it different from non-Ahmadis’ beliefs?What do Ahmadi Muslims believe regarding the “Finality of Prophethood”Finally how to convert and become an Ahmadi Muslim?As always feel free to flick back to the top for a shorter version of this answer (the link is pasted above)Part 1 - Brief Introduction to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the efforts being made by Ahmadi Muslims around the world:To start off, a SHORT QUOTE from Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - The Ahadith:The Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated “There will be a time where nothing will be left of Islam but its’ name, and nothing left of the Qur’an but its’ words… and Religious Scholars will be the worst CREATURES on earth” [Mishkaat, kitabul ilm]THAT is the current eraThe significance of this quote is that it is parallel to the current generation we are living in: a time where Islam is overlooked as a religion of extremism, hatred and terror. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was also right in saying that “Religious scholars will be the worst CREATURES on earth” (Notice he said “creatures” instead of ‘people’), as it is BECAUSE of the stupidity of the religious scholars that Ahmadi Muslims are being tortured, tormented and persecuted in countries like Pakistan (where it is a punishable crime for an Ahmadi Muslim to identify himself with Islam in any way, shape or form), Afghanistan and Indonesia, while they are being bitterly rejected and shunned in other countries. Not only are they abusing Ahmadi Muslims, but they are also practicing shirk (idolatry): the BIGGEST SIN in Islam (take a look at the Mullahs in Pakistan)! Non-Ahmadis are waging violent wars against their own Muslim brothers, claiming that they are doing Jihad or that they are “serving Allah”. Believe me, the current state of the Muslim world upsets peace-loving Ahmadi Muslims just as much as it upsets non-Muslims!To clear these misconceptions, I just want to reinforce that Islam is a peaceful religion, and it is the actions of the tiny minority of Muslims (less than 1% of Muslims actually) that give Islam the negative perception it has in the modern world today. The word Jihad means to strive/struggle in the way of Allah - NOTHING got to do with violence or warfare. Even smiling in a tough time, or caring for an elderly person is considered Jihad.The Jihad Ahmadi Muslims believe in is a Non-violent Jihad because Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said that “When the Promised Messiah will come, he will stop (religious) war” [Bukhari]. This prophecy has been fulfilled, as most current wars are now geopolitical, NOT religious. Therefore, the Jihad Ahmadi Muslims is done NOT through weapons, but through the art of literature and rhetoric because now the opponents of Islam have changed tactics. This has been labelled “Jihad of the Pen”, which is essentially “extending and defending the teachings of Islam via books, argumentation and, in the modern world, with the involvement of social media and internet”. That is what millions of Ahmadi Muslims are doing all over the globe! Conveying the true teachings of Islam and winning people’s hearts, NOT by force - THAT is the True teaching of IslamTherefore, Ahmadi Muslims make it incumbent upon themselves to preach in a way that is not forceful, but rather in a way where they become role models for society. It is MANDATORY for an Ahmadi Muslim to serve his country just as much as he serves his faith. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is led by ONE Khalifa (caliph) globally - the current one (5th successor) is His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. In fact, our beloved caliph lays strong emphasis on “Love for one’s nation is part of faith”, and the Caliphate also strongly emphasizes on the separation of state and religion, therefore the Ahmadiyya Khilafat (Caliphate) is non-political, only spiritual (more info on the Caliphate in Part 2)Therefore, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaats around the world set to combat and exterminate radicalisation and extremism, and to convey the true teachings of Islam: the teachings of “Love For All Hatred For None”. The 2nd Khalifa (caliph) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmood Ahmad famously said “A nation cannot be reformed without first reforming their youth” - one of the main foundations of this community.It can thus be concluded that Ahmadi Muslims are very patriotic, and we see that through their highly-organized community gatherings and events, including peace symposia, interfaith-speaking events and frequent acts of community service: for example, litter picking/cleaning streets, visiting sick and poor, donating blood, tree planting and leaflet distribution. There are also plenty of charities initiated by the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaats, a prominent one being Humanity FirstAhmadi Muslims have also, By the Grace of God the Almighty, translated the Holy Qur’an into 70 languages, with some portions available in over 113 languages. The central TV network of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyyat - mta . tv), a 24-hours a day satellite network that has networks all over the globe in different languages. It has plenty of uses, ranging from news feeds to education to recitation of poetry and Tilawat (portions of Holy Qur’an).And nevertheless, if people choose NOT to accept the message of Islam once it has come to them, Ahmadi Muslims REFRAIN from forcing people to accept. This is supported by the Holy Qur’an, as it says:“There should be no compulsion in religion” - Ch 2: V 157And similarly, in Chapter 109: Verse 6“For you your religion, and for me my religion” - Ch 106: V 9We can conclude, therefore, that Islam STRESSES on freedom of religion, and it is Ahmadi Muslims that are these agents of change: that are taking on board the CORRECT Qur’anic teachings and applying them into the modern-day situation.Similarly, there is also one big issue separating Ahmadi Muslims from the majority which is related to misinterpretation of Qur’an and Ahadith - one basic difference in belief that has led to their persecution in certain parts of the globe:The issue is concerning the Arrival of the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi.Part 2 - the difference in belief that separates Ahmadi Muslims from the restAhmadi Muslims believe that this man (pictured above) is the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi (the Guided One) that was foretold to arrive in the “Latter Days”. His name is Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, and he was born in the small village of Qadian, Punjab, British India, in the start-mid 19th century (experts assign his year of birth to 1835). The purpose of his arrival was to REFORM Muslims all around the world, and reinstill true Islamic values as were championed and practiced in the times of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) and his followers. He came with NO NEW LAW, and just to REFORM the teachings that Muhammad Mustafa (pbuh) brought to the world 1200 years before.More on Ahmad: Ahmad lived until 1908, claiming to receive revelations and prophecies from Allah, and following his death, a system of Khilafat (caliphate) was established, where his noble friend and companion Hadhrat Hakim Maulawi Nur-ud-din (2nd from right in picture below) followed him as the Spiritual Head of the Worldwide Community. The Khilafat is non-political and the Khalifas (successors) are entrusted with the key responsibility of looking after the Worldwide Community, including management of key affairs, initiation of key schemes (leaflet distribition, charities, media-related schemes), as well as many other responsibilities.PICTURE ABOVE: The 5 sucessors to the Promised Messiah (Ordered from right to left)Currently, we are in the phase of his 5th successor (Left), Mirza Masroor Ahmad. Under the Divine Guidance of Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the global Jamaat’s memberships has exceeded 10 million people, spanning over 200 nations, only in the course of 130 years! The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is also officially the largest known Muslim organization to exist under one leader! And despite its size, the community is well-organized, and each country has its own board of Presidents, missionaries as well as other dignified votaries (however the UK is lucky to house the beloved Khalifa himself and his headquarters). The Global Community is linked via one TV network (mta.tv) and the community’s members makes heroic efforts to hold regular festivals, charity appeals, peace symposia as well as many more events.HOWEVER, opposition to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is strong and hostile, and non-Ahmadis reject him, claiming that he is an apostate and a defector from Islam, who only sought to stir discord within Islam. This is wrong, and the manner of false accusations and allegations they raise actually mirrors the situation of the time where the Kafirun (disbelievers) of Mecca leveled charges against the Holy Prophet! This signifies that the Promised Messiah, too, was the Divinely Appointed Messiah. Allah says that:“But there never came to them a Prophet but they mocked at him” - Ch 43: V 8“Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before thee, but when he sought to attain his object, Satan put obstacles in the way of what he sought after. But Allah removes the obstacles placed by Satan. Then Allah firmly establishes His Signs. And Allah is the All-Knowing, Wise.” - Ch 22: V 53“And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.” - Ch 62: V 4–5 (referring to the coming of the Promised Messiah)The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that Islam will be split up into sects, and the claim that only one of the 73 sects will enter Jannah (heaven) has stirred massive discord in the Muslim communities. Full excerpt of Ahadith below:Abdullah bin Amar (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Surely things will happen to my people as happened earlier to Israelites, they will resemble each other like one shoe in a pair resembles the other to the extent that if anyone among the Israelites has openly committed adultery to his mother there will be some who will do this in my Ummah as well, verily the Israelites were divided into 72 sections but my people will be divided into 73 sections, all of them will be in the fire except one.” The companions asked, ‘Who are they O Messenger of Allah,’ Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “They are those who will be like me and my companions.“Any decent minded person would be able to conclude that Ahmadi Muslims are that group that are considered “like the Prophet Muhammad and his companions” in at least 8 ways that other non-Ahmadis cannot be considered:Did Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s people suffer immense torment, persecution and attacks at the hands of his opposition? Yes they did, and Ahmadi Muslims are facing it as wellWere Holy Prophet’s people mocked, jeered and called derogatory names? Yes. The people of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) were called Sabbi (derogatory word for the Sahaba - companions of Prophet Muhammad). Similarly, Ahmadi Muslims are obnoxiously referred to as “Qadiyani”, “Mirzai” etc etc.. All are rude and derogatory namesDid the Holy Prophet’s opposition invent & spread lies and false allegations against him and his community? You know the answer.Was the Holy Prophet forced by the rich people of Makkah to leave Makkah or he would face torment (exile)? Yes, and so has the 4th Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Mirza Tahir Ahmad)Was the Muslim Ummah led by one Caliph (leader)? This is the BIGGEST PROOF that proves the similarity of Ahmadiyyat to the early community of the Holy Prophet.Was there a system of Khilafat after the demise of the Holy Prophet? Following on from previous point, definitely there is a system of Khilafat!Did the Holy Prophet (saw) forgive and not avenge his tormentors? Same with the Ahmadi Muslim Khalifas - LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE is our motto and we continue to abide by it.Did the Holy Prophet’s people champion the True Teachings of Islam (that of justice, peace, tolerance, forgiveness) and preach it to others? Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Muslim community that is Reforming people and instilling the true Islamic values as championed by the Holy Prophet (saw) himself and his people. This proves that Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is very similar to the people of the Holy Prophet (saw).These are EIGHT WAYS/PROOFS that defend the truthfulness of Ahmadiyyat in this claim! As I said, any decent open-minded person would believe after seeing this, but some people still persist in opposition.And once the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was asked about the reformer of the Latter Days, he placed his hand on the shoulder of Companion Hadhrat Salman Farsi (he was Persian) and said “even if faith were near the Pleiades, a man from among these would surely find it”. (Referring to a Persian man, as Farsi was also Persian) (Ref: Bukhari, Muslim).Part 3 - Proofs that the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi has comeThe stunning events in Ahmad’s life bear testimony to the fact that he is the SAME Promised Messiah that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) foretold 1400 years ago. This is supported by proper Qur’anic interpretation as well as the Ahadith (sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad)Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the following about the Messiah:His name would resemble that of the Holy Prophet: his name “Ahmad” is also a name of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)He will be of Persian descent and related to the Holy Prophet: he is of the lineage of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and was of Persian descentHe will come from east of Damascus: yes, he was born in Qadian, IndiaHe will be of dark complexion, neither white or black, have sharp eyes, soft hair and a very long beard: perfectly fits the descriptionHe will suffer from two diseases: diabetes and migraines I believe. LET ME MAKE ONE POINT HERE: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad DID NOT DIE OF CHOLERA or dysentery. He, in fact, passed away of old age and weakness as the same way all prophets had passed before him.He will receive divine revelation: he did claim to receive divine revelationThe duration of his mission will be 40 years: Take this quote: “Nearly 40 years of my life passed under the care of my father, and with departure from this life, I began to receive Divine revelation continuously and abundantly” (Kitabul Bariyyah, Roohani Khaza‟in Vol. 3 p. 162- 195)He will be supported by heavenly signs: the lunar/solar eclipses, plagues, end of violent Jihad etc.He will have two missions, to reform Muslims and to point out the falseness of other doctrines: he pointed out in many of his books the falsity and folly of the doctrines believed by non-Ahmadis and he also reformed the people who followed him, i.e moral reformation and instilling true Islamic values. Big tick on this one.He will re-establish Khalifat: MOST DEFINITELY he did. We are in the era of his 5th khalifa (successor) who is Mirza Masroor Ahmad. This is the biggest proof out of all.All 10 boxes are ticked. Thus proving that he IS the Promised MessiahHere is further proof that the Promised Messiah has arrived, with regards the occurrence of Solar and Lunar eclipses:References: alislam . orgEven the Holy Qur’an says in Chapter 81: Verse 2 - “When the sun is wrapped up,”, referring to the solar eclipse that occurred in the time of the Promised Messiah & also Chapter 75, verses 8–9 say: “And the moon darkens… And the sun and the moon are joined”There is also a famous Hadith, quoted by Muhammad (peace be upon him) referring to the “Latter Days”, explaining that (paraphrased): “When the Messiah will come, all the religious scholars will refuse to accept him, and only righteous people will”Similarly, the Holy Bible says, with reference to the “Latter Days”: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; see ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places.” - Matthew 24:6 .Isn’t that like the current situation? Wars that took place in the time of the coming of the Promised Messiah include: The Franco-Prussian war (1870–71), The Boer War (1890-1900), The Crimean War (1854) etc. etc.. Similarly, there were outbreaks of plague, including Asiatic Cholera, Hong Kong plague and, slightly later, the influenza outbreak (Spanish flu). In addition, Great Britain’s empire was slowly being torn apart by war and mutiny, that’s how Great Britain lost control of the US, Canada, Australia, India etc.. The prophecy has been fulfilled in the fullest and most unequivocal terms. Earthquakes and other tectonic activity started occurring in abundance and large amounts at this time too.For more reference to what Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said about the “Latter Days”, refer to: M. A. Malik's answer to Will the end time prophesy in the Quran find Isa (Jesus) to be a false prophet? Is the prophesy conditional if He converts? Is there a different prophesy other than this one? (Author Credit: M. A. Malik - Quora)Also, the Hadith mentions that “The Mahdi is none other than the Messiah” - Sunan Ibn-e-Majah Kitabul-Fitan. This declares that this already-proven Messiah IS THE MAHDI as well!Part 4 - Contrasting beliefs on the life and death of Hazrat Isaa (Jesus):So then, if the Ahmadi Muslims believe that the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi has already come, what do the non-Ahmadis say about this?Well, to put it short, non-Ahmadis believe that JESUS himself will descend onto earth and kill the Dajjal (disbelieving forces). Ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus will NOT come back to life because he has already come metaphorically, in the form of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Ahmadi Muslims, therefore, believe that Jesus has passed away, and that he did NOT physically ascend to the heavens. We believe that he passed away at the ripe age of 120 years, after venturing into the East (to the Indian subcontinent) to search for the Lost Tribes of Israel. In fact, Jesus’s tomb is situated in Kashmir, between modern-day Pakistan and India.Picture Above: Jesus’s tomb in Kashmir, between modern day Pakistan and IndiaSo, you may ask, How do Ahmadi Muslims explain the killing of Dajjal if they reject the descending of Jesus?Dajjal is NOT “a one-eyed donkey with a foot in the East and a foot in the West, who is very swift and has the word “Kafir” written on its forehead” This is a metaphor that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) used to describe the EFFECT of Dajjal. It purports to say that:One-eyed signifies its Right eye will be blind (Right eye signifies spirituality, religion and righteousness) and it will only be able to see in his Left eye (Left eye signifies greed for material possessions, war and bloodshed).The emblazonment of the word “Kafir” on its forehead denotes that it is a strong disbelieving force and will seek to annihilate IslamOne foot in the East and one foot in the West and very swift resembles aeroplanes: They get you from point A to point B in no time, and they can travel the world (East to West).Therefore, this purports to say that the Dajjal will be a FORCE that is able to travel through the world swiftly and try to annihilate Islam - NOT a human being or animalSo in reality, Jesus (Isaa) will NOT come back to kill Dajjal because it doesn’t make any sense! If Dajjal is a FORCE, then you can’t kill it with swords and weapons! Furthermore, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s advent sparked the end of religious wars (as all current wars are geopolitical), so swords cannot be used anyway!Lastly, as aforementioned, Hazrat Isaa’s (Jesus’s) tomb has been identified in Kashmir, so it is impossible for Jesus to re-emerge anywayBelow is further proof to illustrate the fact that Hazrat Isaa has passed away,“Jesus said, I am a servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wheresoever I may be and has enjoined on me prayer and alms-giving so long as I live. He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me haughty and unblessed. Peace was on me the day I was born, and peace there shall be on the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again.” (Ch 19: V 31–34)“And for you there is an abode on the earth and a provision for a time, He said, therein shall you live and therein shall you die and therefrom shall you be brought forth.” (Ch 7: V: 25–26)“Have we not made the earth so as to hold the living and the dead?” (Ch 77: V 26–27)This shows that Jesus must have died, and that he could not physically ascend into the heavens with his physical body. Similarly, if we dissect the 1st quote above, we can definitely claim that the Ahmadi belief on Jesus must be correct,If he was still alive, he would have to give alms in heaven, but who would need alms there?If he would descend again to earth alive, he would have to follow the Jewish prescriptions on both prayer and alms-giving – and could not be a follower of Islamic law.Did his mother accompany him to heaven physically? How could he otherwise behave like a dutiful son towards her?Finally, the Holy Qur’an emphatically emphasizes that it is ONLY GOD that is Alive and the rest of His creation is subject to decay and death. Allah says:“Keep in mind when God will say to Jesus, son of Mary: Didst thou say to people: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? – and he will answer, Holy art Thou, I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had said it, Thou wouldst have surely known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. It is only Thou who art the Knower of hidden things. I said nothing to them except that which Thou didst command me: Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them, and Thou art Witness over all things.” (Ch 5: V 117–18)The verse proves that:The corruption of Christian doctrine took place after the death of Hazrat Jesus. If Hazrat Jesus is still alive, as some Muslims believe, then Christianity must still be pure.The same Hazrat Jesus(as) will not appear a second time in this world, as he would then become aware that Christians had now taken his mother as Divine, and could not, therefore plead ignorance in front of God’s judgment seat.The Quran says about persons or beings worshiped as God:“They are dead, not living; and they know not when they will be raised.” (Ch 16: V 22)If Hazrat Jesus (as) is alive, as some Muslims believe, he must be God? NO“When Allah said, O Jesus, I will cause you to die and will raise you to myself, and will clear thee of those who disbelieve, and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection, then to Me shall be your return and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.” (Ch 3: V 56)Fittingly, the Ahmadiyya belief on his crucifixion is also supported by the Holy Qur’an in Chapter 4: Verses 158–159“And for their saying, We did slay the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah; whereas they slew him not, nor did they bring about his death upon the cross, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it; they have no certain knowledge thereof, but pursue only a conjecture; and they did not arrive at a certainty concerning it. On the contrary, Allah exalted him to himself. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.”This declares that all people who believe that Jesus did die on the cross are “certainly in a state of doubt… no certain knowledge thereof… pursue only a conjecture… did not arrive at a certainty”.Finally, it is supported in the Ahadith:Source: Tafsir al Muraghi vol 4 pg 87 - from my own picturesAll Quotations are from alislam . orgPart 5 - Issue regarding Finality of Prophethood (Khatamun-Nabiyyin)The final thing that lends support to the Ahmadiyya belief on the arrival of the Promised Messiah is the issue of the Finality of Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is based on the interpretation of the Qur’anic phrase: “Khatamun-Nabiyyin”Without interpretation at all, this phrase literally translates to “Seal of all Prophets” (Khatam = end of; Nabiyy = Prophet). However, as indicated through Ahadith and the Holy Qur’an, we know that a Messiah will come after the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), therefore an implicit interpretation of this verse is intended.Non-Ahmadis believe that the arrival of the Holy Prophet marked the end of prophethood in general. However:a) They are basically “playing God” as they are refusing to acknowledge that Allah can send down anyone as a Prophet at any time (if he wills).b) In their own hypocritical ways, they have also claimed that JESUS is the Messiah and that he will arrive in the Latter Days, notwithstanding the fact that they believe that Muhammad was the Final Prophet and Messenger! It can be concluded, thus, that the non-Ahmadis have contradicted themselves in their own mission to own the correct interpretation of this phrase. As we established earlier, Jesus (as) has passed away, and he did not ascend to the heavens like they believe. AND Jesus was a law-bearing prophet too, so if he was to come after Muhammad (peace be upon him), he would bring a NEW RELIGION, and hence he would NOT BE WITHIN THE UMMAH OF THE HOLY PROPHET (saw).Whereas Ahmadi Muslims believe that a Prophet can come after Muhammad (peace be upon him), but must be within his Ummah (community/lineage). Ahmadi Muslims believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) is a Non law-bearing prophet, who only came to refresh the teachings of Islam taught by Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Non-Ahmadis claim that Ahmadi views go against the essence of Khatamun-Nabiyyin (even though it is their views that actually do), so for that purpose, I will dissect this phrase word by word, first Khatam, then Nabi:MEANING OF ARABIC WORD KHATAM:The Arabic word Khatam means, in this sense, the “BEST” of something, like a seal in rank, as opposed to being the “end of” something.A famous example is about Hazrat Muhammad’s uncle Hazrat Abbas (ra). He was given the title: Khatam-ul-Muhajireen (Seal of all Refugees) - How could Hazrat Abbas (ra) be the last refugee ever? This clearly supports my point that khatam means BEST, and not LAST.Another famous example is the use of the phrase “Khatamun-Alkharzi”, which was used to describe a set of Tasbih (prayers offered upon completion of prayers) beads that looked better than others. Of course, this DID NOT mean that these Tasbih beads were the FINAL beads and no more could come after! Rather the true meaning behind the use of the word Khatam was to denote a special status to the beads that could not be attained by any other. Again, the word khatam means BEST not LASTThirdly, this view is ALSO backed up the Hadith of Hazrat Ayesha (ra), beloved wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Hazrat Aisha (ra) narrates: “Certainly, do say, he (the Holy Prophet) is the Seal of all Prophets, but do not say, there is no prophet after him” (Takmala Majma-ul Bahar Vol 4 p85 & Durr-i-Manthoor Vol 5 p104). This indicates that there will be a prophet to come after himFourthly, a second Hadith supports this view, this time from Muhammad Rasullulah (saw) himself:Source: Mishkat, from my own pictures.Now that we have established that khatam means BEST, the phrase Khatamun-Nabiyyin translates to “The Highest Status/Rank of all Prophets or The Best of all Prophets”. The only remnant of “end of” in him is that he brought the LAST LAW, meaning “end of all New Laws”.MEANING OF ARABIC WORK NABINabi, literally and without interpretation, translates to ‘prophet’. Non-Ahmadis believe that there is a difference between the words Nabi (prophet) and Rasul (Messenger). However, yet again, their view has no credibility or support, and in fact, the words Nabi and Rasul are interchangeable. Don’t agree with me? Here’s proof from the Noble Qur’an below:Quote: Chapter 19: Verse 55 of the Holy Qur’an —— Source: from my own picturesHere, we can see Hazrat Ismail (lshmael, ra) was called a Nabi AND a Rasul, despite NOT bringing a new law. This further proves that EVERY PROPHET is a Nabi AND a Rasul, the two words only representing two parts of the same office and two funtions of the same person.And the meaning of Nabi is: a CHOSEN ONE FROM ALLAH. The Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), was definitely CHOSEN by Allah, proving that he must be a prophet, or else what?Quote: Hadith of the Holy Prophet in Tabarani —— Source: from my own picturesThe Hadith establishes that:The Latter Day Messiah (i.e Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) is a prophet (no prophet can come between Muhamamd and him)He has also used both the words Prophet AND Messenger, showing that these words definitely are interchangeableAnd the Promised Messiah will also be within the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (saw), which he was.As we established earlier on in the post, the Dajjal is NOT a donkey, but a force led by proud Christian nations (viz. USA, Russia), who have one-eye towards materialism and worldy desires (Left eye), and the other eye (right eye) is BLIND (no spirituality/moral/religion in it).Breaking the cross means that he will "make plain the error of the creed of the cross" (refutes Christian doctrine of crucifixion of Jesus)Abolish war = STOP RELIGIOUS WAR (which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s advent has, further proving the fulfilment of the prophecy)Furthermore, those who truly follow the Holy Prophet (saw), he advised those who see him to accept him and “convey my Salam (greeting) to him”. That means that refusing to accept the Latter Day Messiah when he has come is tantamount to disobeying the command of the Holy Prophet, thus making them (non-Ahmadis) NOT true Muslims (to ‘extend greetings to him’ meaning ‘to accept him’)Part 6 - Are Ahmadis Muslims?I can solemnly affirm, after reading all that is above, pertaining to the proofs of the truthfulness of Ahmadiyyat, that Ahmadis ARE Muslims. It is NOT the right of a Muslim cleric to declare who is Muslim and who isn’t. The Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) states: “There is no need for a certificate from these people. We only need a certificate from Allah to show that we are true Muslims”.Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated also that: “'Whoever prays as we pray, turns to face the same Qiblah as us and eats our slaughtered animals, that is a Muslim.'" So Ahmadis can be considered Muslims.Unfortunately, some countries abuse their power and position in order to legislate against religious groups whom they think are wrong, causing more riot and disturbance-to-peace on planet Earth. This is exactly what Pakistan did to Ahmadi Muslims back in 1974, under the leadership of dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. Pakistani Ahmadis are not allowed to identify themselves as Muslims in any way shape or form, which means that they are not allowed to use the Islamic greeting of Assalamu-Alaikum (meaning ‘peace be upon you’), not allowed to go to mosques, and to refrain from practicing Islamic customs and using other Islamic terminology. Failure to do so results in punishments, ranging from fines to imprisonment.This is truly harsh, but as our noble Khalifa Mirza Masroor Ahmad commands: “We should treat others like we want to be treated… follow the principles of Love For All Hatred For None”. We should, therefore, ignore these Muslim sects who denounce others for the sake of political power. As I said before, “There is no need for a certificate from these people. We only need a certificate from Allah to show that we are true Muslims”, as rightly put by Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad.Part 7 - How do you convert to Ahmadiyya Islam?To become an Ahmadi Muslim, you must pledge allegiance (take an oath) which is known as the Bai’at and you can do this anytime. There are 10 Rules you MUST abide by to make your oath legitimate (known as the “Ten Conditions of Bai’at” - Ten Conditions of Baiat | Islam Ahmadiyya - Source: alislam . org)Furthermore, if you are not already a Muslim yet, you must recite the Shahadah: La illaha illala, Muhammadur-rasullulah - meaning “There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger”.The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of each country has an annual gathering, called the Jalsa Salana. The UK is usually the first to have it, as the Respected Khalifa himself is based in the UK. At the Jalsa Salana, people from all over the world, including speakers from other faiths, join together at the hands of this community, and comment on how world peace and unity can be achieved. The Bai’at (oath of allegiance) also happens there, in the presence of the Beloved Khalifa himself!The beloved caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad usually tours a few countries annually during their Jalsa Salana period, and usually inaugurates mosque-building in countries where Ahmadi Muslim populations are sparse.Part 8 - The end:I will end with a short question: If Ahmadiyyat is wrong and its’ beliefs are false interpretations of the Qur’an, then WHY is the community spreading so rapidly and prospering throughout the world? There must be some logic! Allah does not allow phobes to suceed, as it says in the Qur’an that pretenders of prophets are met with the severest punishment, both in this life as well as the next. It seems rather opposite with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.To summarise, Ahmadi Muslims are very similar to mainstream Muslims except for two things: that they believe that the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the ‘Latter Days’ has already come, but other Muslims do not (and thus their interpretation of the Arabic phrase Khatamun-Nabiyyin would be different to that of mainstream Muslims), and also their belief on the life and death of Hazrat Isaa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is different.May Allah guide us all to the right path and enable us to accept True Islam (Ameen). Thank You for Reading and Assalamu Aliakum Warahmatulahi wa-burakatahu (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you)—————————————————————————————————————NOTE FOR QUORA MODERATION: All sources from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Official website (alislam . org)HELPFUL SOURCES:Appearance of another Prophet after the Prophet Muhammad? | Islam AhmadiyyaThe Promised Messiah - Prophecies Fulfilled | Islam AhmadiyyaThe Advent of the Promised Messiah as Vindicated by the Signs of the Lunar and Solar Eclipses | Islam Ahmadiyya

Since our country's first Presidential election in 1788, the strategies of those campaigning have changed dramatically. Although the tactics that presidential hopefuls used in the early days of our country's history are still relevant, those who seek to be the Commander in Chief today must embrace a vast array of strategies that invite constant exposure and accountability.When George Washington was elected the first American President, he was the unanimous choice, receiving the votes of all 132 electors. In 1796, after eight years of Washington, America saw its first exposure to a true campaign during the second Presidential election. Vice President John Adams ran against Thomas Jefferson, who had been nominated by the country's first political opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans. As citizens of a new and fragile democracy, both Adams and Jefferson had to comply with the public's opposition to outspoken campaigning and direct appeals for votes.Four years later, the same two candidates raised the stakes during the 1800 election. Jefferson, who had lost in 1796, paid the editor of the Richmond Examiner to print anti-Federalist articles and to praise the efforts of Jefferson's Party. His supporters accused the incumbent president Adams of having a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman." In response, a leaflet by Adams' team called Jefferson "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."Smear campaigns persisted through the 19th century. In 1884, supporters of Republican Party candidate James Blaine coined a jingle that alluded to an illegitimate child that his opponent Grover Cleveland had allegedly fathered:Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?Gone to the White House,Ha, ha, ha!Cleveland's party responded with a tune of their own:Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine,The Continental Liar from the State of Maine!Political cartoons soon accompanied the campaign slurs. A drawing from the political magazine Judge depicted Cleveland covering his ears in aggravation as a crying baby identified him as his father. In the rival magazine Puck, a cartoon exhibited an aging James Blaine losing a footrace to a shadow comprised of his own scandals.In the 20th century, television changed the way candidates ran their elections. Since the first televised debate in 1960, when viewers resoundingly favored a fresh-faced John F. Kennedyover the sallow Richard Nixon, television appearances have played an integral role in the campaign. Contemporary presidential candidates often undergo lengthy training before ever appearing on television. Preceding the 2012 primary elections, Republicans held no fewer than 28 nationally televised debates. Political candidates and organizations spend billions of dollars on television ads -- by some accounts, as much as 75 percent of a campaign's budget goes directly towards the production and airing of television advertisements.Now in the 21st century, presidential candidates rely on the Internet -- with official websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts to provide constant access to the voting public and to increase candidates' reach beyond television. While campaigning for President in 2008, a video of Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech reached nearly seven million views on YouTube.Although the system of the presidential election has remained a constant in American society, the methods of campaigning have drastically changed since Jefferson's days. After generations of political pamphlets, newspaper smears, and catchy slogans ("I Like Ike!"), the growing presence of televised debates and constant access through a networked world has forced candidates to participate in a lengthy, exhausting and costly march towards the White HouseImage caption(From left): Brock Pierce, Mark Charles and Jade Simmons are all running for the US presidencyThe US has had presidents for more than 230 years, but only the first - George Washington - has ever been elected as an independent candidate.The twin peaks of US politics, the Republican and Democratic parties, dominate media coverage and campaign donations so completely that the chances of an outsider winning are virtually nil.What kind of person looks at those near-insurmountable odds and thinks - I'm running anyway?Quite a range as it turns out: As of 9 October, some 1,216 candidates (of varying levels of seriousness) have filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for president .The BBC asked three of them - a concert pianist and motivational speaker, a Native American IT technician, and a crypto billionaire - what they stand for, and why they deserve the votes of Americans.'Americans will see the current two options are not the choice'Image copyrightMICHAEL GILLMAN PHOTOGRAPHYJade Simmons is a multi-hyphenated woman. A former beauty queen, professional concert pianist, motivational speaker, rapper, mother, and ordained pastor.As she puts it, she is an unconventional candidate, "but these are unconventional times"."This seemed to me to be a time when we couldn't afford to do business as usual," she says. "I'm the daughter of a civil rights activist, and the way my father raised me was that if you see voids, if you see injustices, you need to ask yourself if that might be you that needs to be leaning in."She says her goal is to create equal access to opportunity, through economic, educational and criminal justice reform. And in that spirit, she's aiming to run "the least expensive campaign in the history of our nation"."We think it's abominable that it costs now almost a billion dollars to run for president when the qualifications are that you are 35 years old, a US-born resident, and have lived here 14 years," says Ms Simmons. "We'd rather spend that money on helping people."So is she a liberal or a conservative?"It depends on who you ask!" she says. "Everything from disgruntled Bernie bros to conservative Christian pastors are liking our policy."Her background as a minister and a person of faith does not automatically denote conservatism, she says."I think Jesus is one of the most radical figures we have in history. And I think if you look at how he operated you might end up calling him progressive."The coronavirus pandemic has upended this year's White House race, curtailing mass gatherings, pushing party conventions online and dominating news headlines. But for Jade, the major challenge of her campaign has been simply letting people know she exists."Even in a time where black lives supposedly matter, and black voices matter, and we saw statements of solidarity coming from the media and corporations, those same media outlets - including black media outlets - have refused to tell the story that I'm here."You have maybe a celebrity like a Kanye West who didn't even file his papers, and on the Fourth of July when he announced, within 30 minutes he was covered by every major network. So we were a little bit shocked that the narrative of democracy is not carried out as much as American voters think when you look behind the scenes."While the Republican and Democratic nominees will be on the ballot in all states, independents must meet an array of state deadlines and access requirements.Ms Simmons' name will appear on the ballot in Oklahoma and Louisiana, but in 31 other states she's registered as a write-in candidate - meaning that if voters physically write her name down, their vote will count. She acknowledges the odds are absolutely against her, but still believes she can make it to the Oval Office - and if not this year, then at some point."I know it sounds wild, given the history of independents! We believe that if we stay standing long enough, there's still some more disruption coming in - that most Americans are going to see that the current two options are not the choice."[…] We've been saying from day one, that we must restore the fabric of the nation. That's a spiritual fabric, that's a cultural fabric, a social and a racial fabric, and we feel that's been ripped to shreds - primarily and intentionally by both political parties."So if I were to close my eyes and envision a nation… This can't be just a flip-flop of power and revenge - 'We get to get back at you.' I see a palate-cleansing season where we can take a deep breath and say, 'Where do we go from here?'"'I made a decision to live my life in service'Image copyrightPETER RUPRECHTBrock Pierce is a former child actor who appeared in the Mighty Ducks franchise and starred as the president's son in the 1996 comedy First Kid. But thanks to his second career as a tech entrepreneur, he's also probably a crypto currency billionaire.Why is he running for president? Partly because he is deeply concerned by the state of the country."I think that we lack a real vision for the future - I mean, what kind of world do we want to live in, in the year 2030? What is the plan? Where are we trying to get to, you know? You have to aim for something. And I see mostly just a lot of mud being thrown around, not a lot of people putting forth game-changing ideas. It's getting scary. And I have a view of what to do."For the last four years, Mr Pierce has focused on philanthropic work in Puerto Rico, where his foundation recently raised a million dollars for PPE to give to first responders.Asked what America's priorities should be for the next four years, he suggests the country stops pursuing "growth for growth's sake", and measures its success by how well life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are upheld.Image copyrightALAMYImage captionBrock Pierce (left) in First KidIt's hard to pin Mr Pierce down politically. The man described by Rolling Stone as "the hippie king of crypto currency" favours legalising cannabis, held a unicorn-themed wedding ceremony at Burning Man, and was so unimpressed at being placed on a Forbes rich-list that he vowed to give away his first billion dollars. He also believes strongly in personal freedom, and has donated thousands to Republican candidates."I have many liberal tendencies, just like I have conservative tendencies," Mr Pierce says. "And I think it's time we take a collective breath and a brave step into the future, because all of these ideologies have something to teach us."The 39-year-old's life has not been free of controversy. When he was 19, three male actors accused him and two business partners of sexual assault. Mr Pierce denied any wrongdoing, and was never charged with a crime. The three plaintiffs withdrew their cases against him and never received any personal compensation. But inevitably, the headlines linked to that episode have made a presidential run a tougher prospect."Having your name in a story like that is… it causes immense harm," he says. "But the positive thing out of it is, it taught me not to judge people."Federal Election Commission data shows Brock Pierce has pumped $3.7m into his campaign. He says his strategy is to end up in the White House not by winning the election outright, but by taking a single state in a close race, then forcing the House of Representatives to pick a winner."Every time that this has happened before, 100% of the time, they've always chosen the third-place or last-place candidate to be president as a compromise. Now it's only happened once - 1824. And so our goal is to win a single state. And if we knock it out of the park, to win three."I turn 40 in November, which means I also have time on my side. And so we are also laying the groundwork for the future - not just for me as a candidate, but for all independent candidates going forward."And if he doesn't pull it off? Mr Pierce says he has offers."I'm constantly invited to run for Governor of New York, Governor of Minnesota. I mean basically everywhere I go they're like, Brock, you could actually fix this. Like if you don't become president next year, would you try and run our state, would you run our city?"I wouldn't even spend a moment thinking about this until November 4th, and that's what I tell everyone. Call me November 4th. But I made a decision, you know, to live my life in service, and so however I can be of greatest service I'm prepared to do that work well."'We have to change some things this nation was founded on'Image copyrightSHANE BAHNOne factor that unites independent candidates is that they haven't had to please a party majority to get a platform - so they run as themselves, on the issues that really speak to them personally.Mark Charles is a prime example.Professionally he's worked as a computer programmer and in tech support, but he's also an ardent social justice campaigner on issues affecting Native Americans and people of colour.His goal is to be an alternative candidate for voters who don't feel a kinship with the Trump or Biden tickets.Mr Charles is of Navajo heritage, an identity which has deeply shaped his candidacy and his view of what America should be.The land upon which Washington DC was built belonged to the Piscataway people."These were their lands, long before Columbus got lost at sea - and they are still here. And I am humbled to be living on these lands, on their lands, and I want to honour them as the host people."In the early 2000s, Mr Charles chose to move his family to a remote home on a Navajo reservation, "because I wanted to experience the more traditional life". They would stay for 11 years."I saw several presidential elections from that vantage point," he says."We were six miles off the nearest paved road, lived in the one-room Hogan - the traditional Navajo dwelling. There was no running water, no electricity in our community, our neighbours were rug weavers and shepherds."Image copyrightMARK CHARLES CAMPAIGNImage captionMark made a choice to connect with his heritage by moving to a Navajo reservationThe family prepared to cook on a camping stove, haul water, and live by candle-light. What they hadn't anticipated was how marginalised they would feel."The only groups of non-Natives we ever saw on the reservation were those who came to take our picture or those who came to give us charity. Almost no one came to build relationships with us," says Mr Charles. "On top of that, I was understanding and seeing some of the historical trauma that came from the very unjust history against our people."I [could] feel myself becoming both more insecure and more angry."He made a resolution to reach outwards and foster understanding instead of growing bitter. Now he says he's fighting for a truly inclusive, modern America which rejects inequality."Our Constitution, which starts with the words 'We the people' […] never mentions women, it specifically excludes Natives, and it counts Africans as three-fifths of a person," says Mr Charles."And so this is what my campaign is all about: if we want to be a nation where 'we the people' truly means all the people, we have to do some foundational-level work. We can't just say it and wish it was so: we actually have to go in and change some things that this nation was founded on, such as the racism, the sexism and the explicit white supremacy."