We Have No Other Place To Go
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY THARANYA ARUMUGAM AND ALIZA SHAH

A homeless woman making a ‘home’ for herself under the Sungai Klang bridge, near the Pasar Seni light rail transit station, which the bridge serves as shelter to about 30 homeless people. Pix by Yazit Razali

 ORIGINAL ARTICLE: New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Amidst the skyscrapers dotting the city, lies a scene of poverty filled with dirt, danger and darkness, little known to the public.

The plight of the homeless in Kuala Lumpur came under the spotlight yet again following the gruesome murder of a homeless woman's toddler, who was beheaded and abandoned at the bank of Sungai Klang near the KTM station in Jalan Tun Sambanthan here on Wednesday.

The New Straits Times hit the streets yesterday and found many homeless people have made the corridors of the busy Central Market, Dayabumi complex, Petaling Street, Chow Kit, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Klang Bus Stand and Puduraya bus terminal their home.

One of the popular areas is along the Sungai Klang riverbank -- the crime scene of the murder -- that serves as home to about 30 homeless people.

In our visit to the area yesterday, we were first greeted by the stench, followed quickly by glares, as we approached a young man who was busy cleaning his "home".

Spotting our camera, the 25-year-old man, who wished to be identified only as Zul, immediately cautioned us not to take any photographs, for fear they would be chased away by City Hall (DBKL) officers.

Zul, originally from Kelantan, said he moved to Kuala Lumpur five years ago to look for a job, but could not afford to rent a house or even a room.

"We were chased away by DBKL several times, but would always come back here, since we have no other place to go.

"Even though, on some occasions, we risk losing our lives, especially when it has been raining heavily, as the river's water level could rises up within minutes."

He said there were several cases of people drowning when they could not climb up the poles or cross over the drains to escape from the rising water.

Zul, who is still looking for a job, said drug addicts had also caused problems for them, as they were subjected to constant raids by the police.

He said most of the vagrants were waiting for the local authorities to fulfil their promises to provide them with shelter and decent jobs.

"Last year, DBKL had carried out raids in our area and confiscated all our belongings," he said, adding that when they were nabbed, they were sent for counselling and later released if their urine tests came out as negative for drugs.

Norliza, who had been living in the area for a year, said she came to Kuala Lumpur to visit her sister, but found herself with nowhere to go when she was chased out of the house.

The 49-year-old, who was having a cold and got married last month to another vagrant, said she had no money to go to the clinic and hoped her husband would have enough to bear the cost of her medication.

She said her husband, who is now an odd-job worker, used to work at Pasar Karat with other vagrants before it was shut down by the authorities.

Rosli, 49, from Perak, claimed that even though he owned a house in his hometown and earned RM1,400 monthly, he was feeling lonely and chose to live with the homeless.

"As a Felda settler, I get RM1,400 monthly, but the loneliness forced me to move here. I plan to go back to my hometown after I get married."

He had been living in the area for three years.

Security guard Suhaimi Md Kamarahan, 54, who often spoke to the homeless, said there were more than 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing food and other necessities.

"The homeless would spread information among their groups on the time and locations where NGOs would provide food.

"Besides food, Pertiwi (Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam) would also provide soaps and towels once a month."

Hare Krishna's "Food For Life society" committee member V. Kunasekaran said the NGO had been providing free vegetarian meals to the public every Sunday at noon in Jalan Masjid Jamek since 2010, adding that the food, prepared for about 250 people, would usually finish within an hour.

"People, including the homeless, will start queuing from 11.45am. Some would return for second servings."



Sweet Like Sugar Candy
→ Japa Group


"The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛiṣhṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root."

Nectar of Instruction Text 7

Starting over!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

KKS_leipzig_2014When we come together once a year, that is valuable! At least for one thing – we are still here! Time is passing, a year has passed – what has happened!? In that year, we all have developed – some have become more learned in scriptures, some have made material progress, some have lost something… so whatever it is, now we stop in our tracks and we are here. So whatever happened in the last year, now we stop. Now, we start a new year, we start again – that is the idea. Whatever it was, it is closed now! Let us put it behind us and we start again.

From the New Vrindaban Garden June 2, 2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Garden of Seven Gates

A view of the Garden of Seven Gates from on top of the hill.

Greetings from the Garden…
Over the last two weeks the gardens here at New Vrindaban have begun there early summer transformation. The Meditation Garden located at the back of the temple beside the kitchen has flourishing oregano, new azalea bushes, calendula, and more. Its a great place to spend some time and soon we will have the new lattice fence completed. The Apothecary Teaching garden has now been completely planted soon there will be more than 50 beds of flowers and greens. Dr. Nick and his crew have done an amazing job on the new fence.
This past week we had 10 guest volunteers from an Intentional community East Winds in Missouri. They were and amazing help in all three gardens. Their extra hands and gardening experience could not have come at a better time. In the Garden of Seven Gates we now have a field of buckwheat growing for a cover crop. We have planted some new perennials such as strawberries, elderberries, blueberries, and additional asparagus. We have three community members that are contract growing for us this year within the Garden of Seven Gates. Their gardens include paste tomatoes, cucumbers, and broccoli. Other annual crops in the garden include: peas, green beans, soy beans, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, squash, sweet potatoes, quinoa, sunflowers, lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, and countless beautiful flowers.

Bckwheat

Each week I try to include a helpful gardening tip….. This week my advice is to watch out for flea beetles. Growing organically can be difficult and it is very important to regularly check your plants for bugs or the signs of damage. Flea beetles are particularly attracted to members of the brassica family (kale, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts) and eggplant. They are tiny fast moving black beetles, almost to small to see. What you will see is the damage to the leaves of the plant. They leave tiny holes all through the leaves and with enough damage it will kill the plant. The best defense is keeping the plants under floating row cover to protect them from the bugs. We are also using ECOTEC which is an organic spray that is made of concentrated mint oils. Its safe enough to spray and harvest the same day. Have a great week in the garden.

Harer Namaiva Kevalam.. Harinam At Rawang, Malaysia (Album 98 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

It has become a routine for devotees in Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur to take part in the monthly harinama palanquin procession. Originally started with a few people now it has become lika a small ratha yatra in the nook and corners of Kuala Lumpur and Klang valley. The enthusiasm of devotees to participate and distribute the Holy name is ever increasing. On 31 May 2014 devotees headed by H G Krishna Chandra prabhu went out on harinama at Taman Teratai, Sungai Choh, Rawang which is a one hour drive from the city. Harinam was well appreciated and accepted by the residents. Needless to say it was the first ever harinama at this area.116 residents offered archana to their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. 58 books were distributed and 123 chanting beads were given out along with the mantra cards. Devotees made sure to make those who bought the beads to chant at least once the Hare Krsna mahamantra. 300 full meal prasadam was also distributed in the locality. Harinama went on for almost 5 hours with devotees tirelessly chanting until 10:30pm. Sumptuous prasadam was served to all the devotees at the end. Everyone returned home with the satisfaction of getting an opportunity to be part of the Sankirtana movement once again. Read more ›

Is forgiveness practical?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

(At the request of several readers and with the inputs from Back to Godhead editors and other senior Vaishnavas, I present this as an expanded and edited version of an earlier brief article with the same title)

The great spiritual wisdom-traditions of the world often exalt forgiveness as a glorious virtue, indispensable for authentic spiritual growth. Here are a few examples:

  • Judaism: “When asked by an offender for forgiveness, one should forgive with a sincere mind and a willing spirit. . . forgiveness is natural to the seed of Israel." (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 2:10)
  • Christianity: Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22
  • Islam: The Koran explains Muslims to be those who “when angered they forgive.” (Qur'an 42:37)
  • Buddism: “He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me’ — in those who harbor such thoughts hatred will never cease. He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me’ — in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.” (Dhammapada 1.3-4)

In the Vedic literature, forgiveness is repeatedly glorified as a praiseworthy virtue:

  • In the Bhagavad-gita (16.3), Lord Krishna declares forgiveness to be a godly quality foundational for liberation and is contrasted with the anger and harshness that characterize the ungodly who stay in bondage.
  • In the Srimad Bhagavatam (9.15.40),the sage Jamadagni glorifies forgiveness: “The duty of a brahmana (a spiritual intellectual) is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.”
  • In the Mahabharata (Udyoga Parva Section XXXIII), Vidura talks about the importance of forgiveness to Dhritrashtra, "There is one only defect in forgiving persons, and not another; that defect is that people take a forgiving person to be weak. That defect, however, should not be taken into consideration, for forgiveness is a great power. Forgiveness is a virtue of the weak, and an ornament of the strong. Forgiveness subdues (all) in this world; what is there that forgiveness cannot achieve? What can a wicked person do unto him who carries the sabre of forgiveness in his hand? Fire falling on the grassless ground is extinguished of itself. And unforgiving individual defiles himself with many enormities.”

Even our contemporary culture recognizes the importance of forgiving: according to Gallup poll conducted in 1988, 94% Americans felt forgiving was desirable. At the same time, 85% Americans felt the need for some guidance about how to forgive. This article attempts to offer some insight on the practicality of forgiving based on the Vedic wisdom-tradition.

Forgive, but don’t forget?

The need for guidance while forgiving often arises from a valid question: wouldn’t we be opening ourselves to repeated hurts by forgiving a habitual wrongdoer? That the Vedic tradition are not blind to this ground-reality is evident from the above Mahabharata quote, wherein Vidura acknowledges this possibility when he says that a forgiving person may be seen as weak. To ensure that forgiving doesn’t open us to repeated abuse, it is important to discern the subtle but crucial difference between forgiveness and trust: even when we forgive wrongdoers, we needn’t always trust them. Let’s explore this difference by starting with the semantics of these words.

The Oxford online dictionary explains ‘forgive’ as meaning ‘stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, flaw, or mistake’ and ‘trust’ as meaning ‘firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.’ While the meanings of these words have many context-specific nuances and connotations, the above generic meanings convey a good sense of their essential thrust: forgiveness is for the past; trust is for the future

Whatever wrongs a person has done in the past can’t be changed; as long as we resent the past, we stay stuck in it. Consequently, our thoughts, words, actions and even lives may become resentment-driven, causing us to either clam up or blow up. When we clam up, we drive our anger deep within, thereby unnecessarily inflicting ugly scars on our psyches that may distort our personality. When we blow up, we drive our anger outward not just to the wrongdoer, but to whoever crosses our way at the time of blowing up, thereby unnecessarily creating a public image of being irritable. Thus both the resentment-driven responses – clamming up or blowing up – are unproductive, if not counter-productive. These negative emotions created by an unforgiving attitude affect our physical health too. Many studies, including those at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin, and many books, including those like “Learning to forgive” by Stanford University researcher Dr Fred Ruskin, have documented that more forgiving people have less health problems, whereas less forgiving people develop more health complications.   Scientific studies like these suggest that, at least for the sake of our own mental and physical health, it is beneficial to forgive and thereby free ourselves from negative emotions by forgiving.

Forgiving becomes a bit easier when our vision is enhanced by Vedic insights about the law of karma, which points out that we are likely to have hurt someone in the past, just as someone has hurt us now. We then see the wrongdoer not as the cause, but as the vehicle, of our suffering, which originated in our own past insensitivity. Underscoring this philosophically informed vision, Srila Prabhupada would recommend that we eschew becoming angry with “the instruments of our karma.” Even if our indignant feelings make the logic of karma difficult to digest, still forgiveness retains its potential to free us from resentment – even when the other person doesn’t ask to be forgiven.

Nonetheless, even when forgiveness is asked for and granted, we shouldn’t assume that the relationship is now restored to the earlier level of trust. If we re-start trusting prematurely, we may unwittingly grant that person the power to continue hurting us. Conveying our forgiveness helps that person avoid the pitfall of self-justification, and holding back our trust avoids the pitfall of that person remaining oblivious to the past wrongdoing. Forgiving a person certainly doesn’t mean that we let the other person continue the hurting behavior; that would be masochism and there’s nothing laudable or spiritual about masochism. At the same time, it needs to be stressed that there’s nothing intrinsically laudable or spiritual about cultivating and actualizing revenge fantasies. So, we need to find that balanced course of action which allows both us and the other person to grow spiritually. If we don’t forgive, we may keep suffering the past due to our heart’s ongoing resentment. If we trust, we may keep suffering the past due to the other person’s continuing misbehavior.  By forgiving-without-trusting, we let the past go so as to give the future a chance to come in.

Vidura: patient yet vigilant

How forgiveness-without-trust brought a better future is illustrated in the Mahabharata in the dealings of Vidura with his elder brother and the reigning monarch, Dhritarashtra. The saintly Vidura, who is also the speaker of the celebrated Vidura-niti (the moral codes of Vidura), repeatedly counseled the blind monarch, Dhritarashtra to choose morality over nepotism. Unfortunately, the king, due to his attachment to his son, Duryodhana, continued tacitly sanctioning the latter’s nefarious schemes to harm the Pandavas, who were the rightful heirs to the throne. At one time after the Pandavas had been dispossessed and exiled in a rigged gambling match, Vidura’s beneficial but unpalatable pronouncements about the vicious nature of Duryodhana and its dire consequences became intolerable to the attached Dhritarashtra, who censured and banished his well-wishing younger brother. However, the king soon came back to his senses and sent his secretary, Sanjaya, to seek forgiveness from Vidura and to call him back. Vidura returned and forgave Dhritarashtra, but didn’t trust him; by withholding his trust, he was able to keep track of further recurrences of nepotism. But by not withholding his forgiveness, he was able to maintain a congenial relationship with Dhritarashtra, thereby eventually helping the king see the futility and folly of his attachment and to finally take up the path to wisdom and enlightenment.

Thus, forgiving-without-trusting enables us hold the door open for the other person to improve without letting ourselves be trampled in the process. This approach ensures that we don’t terminate our relationships when they could be restored. After all, we too are fallible human beings like the offender; we too may err tomorrow and be in need of forgiveness. Would we not want a similar chance to improve ourselves when we happened to do a wrong? If the wrongdoer demonstrates reformed behavior consistently over a period of time, then we can forget along with forgiving and restore the relationship to the earlier trust level.

Of course, the possibility remains that the other person may not always walk through the door of improvement opened by us. The unpalatable yet undeniable reality of the world is that there will be times when we may need to shut the door, but forgiving-without-trusting ensures that we don’t shut it prematurely.

Actions, not kneejerk reactions

A relevant scriptural example is from the tenth canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam in the dealings of king Vasudeva, the father of Lord Krishna, with the demoniac tyrant Kamsa. When due to an unexpected turn of events, the tyrant had an apparent change of heart and sought forgiveness from Vasudeva for the past atrocities. Vasudeva promptly forgave Kamsa, but didn’t naively trust him and divulge Krishna’s whereabouts; in fact, Vasudeva cautiously and tactfully did all that was possible for him to keep Krishna’s whereabouts hidden from Kamsa. It soon became evident that Kamsa’s change of heart had been only momentary; he relapsed into his past malevolence by re-imprisoning Vasudeva and by repeatedly sending deadly demons to kill Krishna. Thereupon Lord Krishna, taking cognizance of the demonstrated incorrigibility of Kamsa and the need to protect the innocent from his viciousness, chose the necessary punitive measure of killing Kamsa. This capital punishment freed the real Kamsa – the soul – from the vengeful mentality inherent in his material body, thereby enabling the thus-purified soul to progress on the onward spiritual journey. In this incident, we see that when Kamsa did not use the forgiveness graciously offered to him to mend his ways and re-earn the lost trust, then eventually he was administered the required purificatory punishment commensurate to his misdeeds.

Thus, the principle of forgiveness is counterbalanced by the principle of justice, and if abuses escalate to a criminal level, we may have to administer punishment. However, even punishment can be administered without hatred or vengefulness for the other person, but with concern that the person shouldn’t continue hurting others and incurring further bad karma. This is illustrated in the conduct of Lord Rama in the Yuddha-Khanda of the Valmiki Ramayana.

When the demon Ravana abducted Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, the Lord offered to forgive the demon’s grievous misdeed if he just reformed and returned Sita. When Ravana scornfully rejected Rama’s kind offer, Lord Rama did the needful to punish and slay Ravana, but after the demon’s death, Rama personally instructed Vibhishana, Ravana’s younger brother, to carry out an honorable funeral for Ravana. Vibhishana was initially unwilling to perform the last rites for a person who had committed so many lusty atrocities. But Lord Rama revealed his compassionate heart when he instructed Vibhishana, “No disdain should ever be felt for the soul. Once dead, a person’s soul leaves his body and proceeds to its next life. Ravana’s sinful body is now dead, but his pure soul continues to live. The soul is always worthy of respect. You should therefore carry out the rites for the eternal good of your brother’s immortal soul.”

Thus Lord Rama revealed his loving concern for Ravana’s spiritual well being; however, his concern for Ravana was balanced by his concern for the many victims of Ravana’s atrocities. Because Ravana had shown no inclinations to reform his exploitative devilish ways despite Lord Rama’s repeated reminders, the Lord took the necessary disciplinary action against him – but without hatred.

Individualized application

How does all this apply practically in our contemporary scenario? Each of us is different, each of our relationships is different and each situation is different. So we need to be thoughtful, sensitive and mature while applying general principles to our specific circumstances. Often we will need to seek guidance from Krishna through prayerful contemplation and from Krishna’s devotees through heartfelt discussion. Then we will be able to intelligently choose among the three major alternatives that we discussed above:

  1. Forgive and forget
  2. Forgive but not forget by withholding trust
  3. Seek redressal without a hateful attitude.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, May 31st, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Fernie, British Columbia

Miles and Milestones

 After a hearty campout next to gorgeous waterfalls nestled in the mountains, Karuna Sindhu and I emerged from our tent at 3 AM.  In the second tent and automobile slept Michael and Daruka who both deserved the extra mileage of slumber.  In the pitch black of the evening, Karuna and I made our way along on what in broad daylight is viewed as a pure emerald lake.  We then crossed a creek that feeds that magical lake.  Only our mini flashlight guided us through a mountain trail and to Crowsnest Pass going westward.

The stars were multiple sparkles in the sky, and trees discharged their special perfumes as the sun started peeking.

We then hit a milestone – the Alberta/British Columbia border.  That’s 9 down and 1 to go, provincially.  It became a moment of victory I shared with Karuna.

At one point, I ventured on foot alone while Karuna joined Daruka in order to take to camping kitchen duties.  I came to a town called Sparwood, and entered the tourist visitors’ centre.  While there I was informed that Clara Hughes, Canadian Olympic winner for speed cycling and speed skating, had been in the facility earlier that day. This unique athlete, I realized, I met on the road two days earlier.  She was accompanied by two other cyclists near Lundbreck and was having a break when I appeared on the prairie shoulder of the road.  Positioned to reconvene their riding, she saw me, and raised her arm for a high five, and then shouted aloud, “Hey!”  She was all smiles, I didn’t know who she was at the time, but when Michael showed me her picture via the iPhone, sure enough, that was her.  It was another milestone.  I do hope she succeeds in her dreams. 

May the Source be with you!
 
37 KM



Spreading the Holy Names in Shaktinagar
→ Mayapur.com

By the will of the Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the holy name of the Lord is spreading gradually throughout the world in every village and town as predicted by Himself. By the last 50 years’ effort of H.D.G. Srila Prabhupada and his followers, this Hare Krishna movement is becoming more and more  popular throughout the […]

The post Spreading the Holy Names in Shaktinagar appeared first on Mayapur.com.

What is the use of writing insubstantial articles in newspapers that don’t even mention the name of Krishna once?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Amoghalila P

In a times of high talked personality and related events many will read this article (This comment refers to this article published in The Speaking Tree, Times of India.). Though well intended, looks shallow and poor in KC perspective. As there is not even once the name Krishna is used. You may say that you have emphasis on BG, but it ultimately misleads if not BG As It Is - pre1977.

Answer Podcast

Answer Highlights:

Prabhupada didn't use the word "Krishna" too often in Easy Journey to Other Planets and Ishopanishad as in his other books

Outreach in the public media is bridge outreach and one article is like one brick. A brick can't be expected to do the work of entire bridge.

The question about the editing of the Gita is answered here