Staying on com

[Guest guest]

You are stuck with me.

 

"Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)" wrote:

 

> Are any of you regular contributers by any chance leaving com? I hope not!

>

> Ys Samba das

[Guest guest]

"Samba (das) SDG (Mauritius)" wrote:

 

> Are any of you regular contributers by any chance leaving com? I hope not!

>

> Ys Samba das

 

Samba Prabhu --

 

PAMHO! I am torn in deciding what to do. On one hand I am stimulated and

inspired by the exchanges we have had on COM, and I feel like we are gradually

learning things. Certainly the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture's

coordinating the devotees to work out the Minimum Cow Protection standards was

one of the most productive devotee collaborative projects I've seen in a long

time. Even if ISKCON should somehow dissolve into vapor, any devotee can

refer to those standards and get a good idea of how to take care of the cows

in a very sane and careful way. This is a work can have long-lasting

benefits.

 

Also, I really appreciate all the hard work of Raktambara and Mukhya and the

other COM devotees. They deserve our appreciation for all they've done over

the years to contribute to an international sense of community and loving

relationships between devotees. At least, I'd like to support them by

renewing my COM membership.

 

On the other hand, the spike in petroleum prices is really taking its toll up

here in cold old Maine. All prices are suddenly shooting up -- including our

heating. Currently I'm totally broke, though I think things will eventually

even out.

 

However, I'm thinking that maybe now is the time for me to sign off COM for

awhile -- so I can actually do my work on Volume 2 of Prabhupada on Varnasrama

and Farm Community Development. Volume 2 is Prabhupada's instructions on

Brahmanas and Ksatriyas.

 

I feel it is not really fair for me to continue to criticize some of the

management practices in ISKCON and then neglect the assignment I have been

given of compiling Prabhupada's instructions for leadership in a categorical

and usable form.

 

So, I'm thinking that perhaps I will sign off for a couple months, and then

come back on board in August or September -- once I have made substantial

progress on the next phase of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book project. (Is

anyone reading volume 1? -- that's another question -- but I can't be attached

to the fruits, Srila Prabhupada certainly was not.)

 

I hope this does not set a bad example, and I hope others keep talking --

otherwise there's no COM for me to come back to in a couple months.

 

If anyone does need to contact me, I'm still at npetroff (AT) bowdoin (DOT) edu.

 

It's also possible that BTG may publish my varnasrama article in May or July

-- but I'm not positive.

 

I guess the main realization that I have these days is that there are two

schools of thought on varnasrama. The first one says that you must follow the

rules, then you can make spiritual progress. If you don't follow the rules,

and you fall down from the spiritual path, then it's your own fault, for your

lack of commitment. What ever happens to you, you deserve.

 

The second one says that it is the shape of our society which influences how

well we can follow the rules of spiritual practice. The same person who could

not follow the rules in a normal situation, may find that he or she can easily

follow them when the whole society is arranged to make it easy to follow a

path of Krsna conscious life.

 

I guess I'm mostly in the second school. I think that we should re-structure

society, beginning with the "small unit of community" that Prabhupada talks

about in the Varnasrama Walks (March 1974). And when we do that, many

different kinds of people will be able to benefit from taking up the practice

of Krsna consciousness.

 

I believe that the heart of varnasrama is proper training for the individual.

I believe that ones occupational training should be linked to his or her

spiritual path. I believe that the highest perfection of life is to serve the

Supreme Lord by one's occupational duty -- and that a varnasrama society is

set up so that it gives every single person -- smart or dull, pious or

mischievous -- that opportunity.

 

But, on the other hand, I also think there is a place for the rules crowd --

the "right-wingers." After all, there are even right wing and left wing gopis

in the spiritual world. These devotees should probably work separately from

the devotees who think that completely overhauling the social structure is the

way to facilitate spiritual progress.

 

These groups should work separately from each other -- and they should (me

included) try to avoid wasting too much energy meditating on the "foolishness"

of the other group. Let each group work separately, and we may find that when

less energy is wasted on criticism ("the demon is expert at making insults"

Krsna says) that both groups will make valuable discoveries on how to move to

the Krsna conscious lifestyle that Srila Prabhupada wanted us to build.

 

*****************

 

Another thing that I wanted to say is that I hope all varnasrama-minded

devotees will visit ISKCOWP's website and see Paramananda's "Ox Power-Ki

Jaya!" complete with technical drawings for making simple ox-power equipment.

Thanks to Paramananda prabhu for his permission, for Balabhadra and Chaya

prabhus for pushing the project and to Bhakta Gary Curtin for doing all the

hard work.

 

This is an exceptional resource for the world -- and now it is available for

free. I hope all rural devotees will take advantage of this and print out a

copy for themselves. I'll send a separate note with the website address.

 

****************

 

So, that's all for now. I haven't made up my mind for sure at this point, but

it does seem like an opportunity for me to buckle down and get to work on what

I'm supposed to be doing. I sure do love you all -- what a great inspiration

it is being able to talk every day to devotees who are so persistently just

trying to push on with Srila Prabhupada's mission. You're all great!

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

[Guest guest]

At 16:54 -0400 4/8/2000, Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA) wrote:

>

>On the other hand, the spike in petroleum prices is really taking its toll up

>here in cold old Maine. All prices are suddenly shooting up -- including our

>heating. Currently I'm totally broke, though I think things will eventually

>even out.

 

For those devotees who are broke, I hope you're aware that Raktambara

has made it an option to sign on for 4 month subscriptions too

(approx. $8), while he is trying to cut the costs by switching ISPs

etc.

 

Hare Krsna Prabhu, you mean it's still *winter* in Maine? We had

temperatures in the 80s here last week (they've come down to a

comfortable 70 now, but still). It's hard to believe we're in the

same country.

 

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 8 Apr 2000, Madhusudani Radha (dd) JPS (Mill Valley, CA - USA) wrote:

 

> At 16:54 -0400 4/8/2000, Hare Krsna dasi (Brunswick, Maine - USA) wrote:

> >

> >On the other hand, the spike in petroleum prices is really taking its toll

up

> >here in cold old Maine. All prices are suddenly shooting up -- including

our

> >heating. Currently I'm totally broke, though I think things will eventually

> >even out.

>

> For those devotees who are broke, I hope you're aware that Raktambara

> has made it an option to sign on for 4 month subscriptions too

> (approx. $8), while he is trying to cut the costs by switching ISPs

> etc.

>

> Hare Krsna Prabhu, you mean it's still *winter* in Maine? We had

> temperatures in the 80s here last week (they've come down to a

> comfortable 70 now, but still). It's hard to believe we're in the

> same country.

>

> Ys,

> Madhusudani dasi

 

 

It's in the 50's and 60's here. We have crocuses but no forsythia. Lots

of wonderful birds like grey and white junkos, red cardinals, pinkish

headed house sparrows, blue jays and robins. The songs of the last three

are really beautiful.

 

Isn't it the second canto where it is described that the beautiful birds

represent the artistic sense of the Lord. What a kind manifestation from

Krsna these little birds are with their color and their beautiful variety

of songs. They are the ones who tell us that it is spring -- even though

the trees are still mostly bare. Krsna has many different ways of giving

us His mercy, and surely these birds are one -- they are a spark of His

beauty and they are very cheerful as well.

 

We're raking the leaves off the garden. Our carrots did survive through

the winter under the cold frame that my son made -- so that's pretty neat.

I'm always pleased about the first home-grown treat we can offer Krsna,

although we did bring indoors Asto's rosemary bush last fall and have been

offering rosemary buttered potatoes now and then.

 

As far as the cold, we're pretty much over that -- we're in the mud

season, but I still have a $500 heating bill and my transportation and

laundry just increased, so I'm feeling the pinch. But the main thing is I

really have to somehow focus on the next volume of the varnasrama book, so

I think I'll take this opportunity for a couple months. But I hope

everyone will keep things humming along on this front while I'm

temporarily absent. Like I say, I hope everyone will support Raktambara's

efforts.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

[Guest guest]

> PAMHO! I am torn in deciding what to do. On one hand I am stimulated and

> inspired by the exchanges we have had on COM, and I feel like we are

> gradually learning things.

 

I also pondered on the possibility of leaving com, but I came to the

conclusion that I really need all the help I can get in starting our rural

project here, and that some of the older, mature and experienced devotees on

these forums, are just too valuable a resource to let go of. Wisdom,

kindness, the willingness to share their experience, and a little down home

understanding, that comes from years of sincerely making the attempt to

surrender to Srila Prabhupadas desires, without being fanatical; these are

the attributes that I find so rewarding from the mature contributor, even if

we dont always see eye to eye.

 

> However, I'm thinking that maybe now is the time for me to sign off COM

> for awhile -- so I can actually do my work on Volume 2 of Prabhupada on

> Varnasrama and Farm Community Development. Volume 2 is Prabhupada's

> instructions on Brahmanas and Ksatriyas.

 

While I personaly would certainly regret your absence on com or should I say

BES, I want to see that book as soon as possible! This is your most

important work, from my humble perspective. Please get it out ASAP!

 

> So, I'm thinking that perhaps I will sign off for a couple months, and

> then come back on board in August or September -- once I have made

> substantial progress on the next phase of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book

> project. (Is anyone reading volume 1? -- that's another question -- but I

> can't be attached to the fruits, Srila Prabhupada certainly was not.)

 

If your only gone for a couple of months, and that means that we get the

book in a couple of months, then dont let us hold you back! This is serious

stuff. The amount of people that could benefit from the book, far exceeds

the com audience.

 

As for volume 1, it is an inspiration. I refer to it always. How are the

sales, do you know?

 

> I guess I'm mostly in the second school. I think that we should

> re-structure society, beginning with the "small unit of community" that

> Prabhupada talks about in the Varnasrama Walks (March 1974). And when we

> do that, many different kinds of people will be able to benefit from

> taking up the practice of Krsna consciousness.

 

It seems obvious really that that is the way to go, otherwise why would

Prabhupada himself made the attempt to get it rolling. Sometimes I hear

devotees say that 'we tried it, it didn't work'. But no one has actualy

tried it. In order to really try it, all of Srila Prabhupadas instructions

on the matter should have been transcribed, then studied, and then

discussed, and implemented in a very gradual way, constantly referring to

the instructions, and fine tuning things as we went along. This was not

done, so in fact a serious, sincere attempt by the society as a whole has

not ever been tried (since Srila Prabhupada left).

 

Personaly I feel that when Srila Prabhupada left, all the serious devotees

should have simply sat and studied all of Srila Prabhupadas instructions,

especialy regarding the mission, and activities of the Krsna conscious

society, as he had instructed, and then plotted a course forward, discussing

with all the devotees in istaghosties. Prabhupada made it clear that

sanyasis, householders, all are equal in ISKCON. But unfortunately

attachment for name and fame got in the way, and the movement was hijacked

by a few who wanted all the adoration, at everyone elses expense. Since then

there has never been a movement wide, sober reflection and serious study of

Prabhupada teachings, to reveal what he actualy was aiming for. The books

you are publishing, as far as I am concerned are some of the first rays of

light for a new age in ISKCON. Leadership means action, not position.

Leaders get down with their people, and work things out in amicable friendly

ways, as Srila Prabhupada did. Leadership is inspirational, not dictatorial.

 

Your Servant

Samba das

[Guest guest]

>

> It's in the 50's and 60's here. We have crocuses but no forsythia. Lots

> of wonderful birds like grey and white junkos, red cardinals, pinkish

> headed house sparrows, blue jays and robins. The songs of the last three

> are really beautiful.

>

 

Our juncos have headed back North. I suspect those "pinkish headed house

sparrows" are house finches. The new visitor at our feeders this winter has

been

a pileated woodpecker, quite spectacular.

[Guest guest]

> But the main thing is I

> really have to somehow focus on the next volume of the varnasrama book, so

> I think I'll take this opportunity for a couple months. But I hope

> everyone will keep things humming along on this front while I'm

> temporarily absent. Like I say, I hope everyone will support Raktambara's

> efforts.

>

Please come back soon, we will miss your association.

Ys. Sraddha dd

[Guest guest]

> So, I'm thinking that perhaps I will sign off for a couple months, and

> then come back on board in August or September -- once I have made

> substantial progress on the next phase of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book

> project.

 

Dear Mother Hare Krsna

 

I will miss you, and hope we will have your wonderfull and learned

asociation again in the future. I understood and learned a lot from your

comments on COM.

 

Your Varnasrama Book is a masterpeace, I just finished reading it.

Hope I can read your second one soon.

 

With best wishes, ys. Harsi das

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

Onkar Sandal is no longer at this e-mail address. Please contact him at

osandal (AT) mfi (DOT) com.

 

Thanks,

Martha Chapin

Allen Press

 

13/2000 +0200, you wrote:

> > So, I'm thinking that perhaps I will sign off for a couple months, and

> > then come back on board in August or September -- once I have made

> > substantial progress on the next phase of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book

> > project.

>

>Dear Mother Hare Krsna

>

>I will miss you, and hope we will have your wonderfull and learned

>asociation again in the future. I understood and learned a lot from your

>comments on COM.

>

>Your Varnasrama Book is a masterpeace, I just finished reading it.

>Hope I can read your second one soon.

>

>With best wishes, ys. Harsi das

 

*****************************************************

Martha Chapin mchapin (AT) allenpress (DOT) com

Allen Marketing and Management

810 E. 10th Street, PO Box 368

Lawrence, KS 66044 USA

[Guest guest]

"Harsi (das) HKS (Timisoara - RO)" wrote:

 

> > So, I'm thinking that perhaps I will sign off for a couple months, and

> > then come back on board in August or September -- once I have made

> > substantial progress on the next phase of the Prabhupada Varnasrama book

> > project.

>

> Dear Mother Hare Krsna

>

> I will miss you, and hope we will have your wonderfull and learned

> asociation again in the future. I understood and learned a lot from your

> comments on COM.

>

> Your Varnasrama Book is a masterpeace, I just finished reading it.

> Hope I can read your second one soon.

>

> With best wishes, ys. Harsi das

 

Harsi Prabhu,

 

Thanks for your very kind comments. You also are certainly one of the

stalwarts of Srila Prabhupada's varnasrama mission. I'm glad that your

continuing on COM to inspire devotees with your insights and thought-provoking

questions about varnasrama and simple living in a spiritual community.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

[Guest guest]

>Your Varnasrama Book is a masterpeace, I just finished reading it.

>Hope I can read your second one soon.

 

 

Please be so kind and inform us where can we find and buy the Varnasrama

Book by Hare Krsna dasi. Thank you in advance.

 

your servant, Paramesvari dd