Pratyatosa Dasa

This modern system of using non-renewable energy in the form of diesel and jet fuel to transport fresh produce from all over the world is artificial and temporary. My mother, at 84, is in excellent health. She lives by herself in a lakeshore house, and very rarely needs any help from anybody. In fact, I have my laptop plugged into her broadband 4 port Internet router right now! She told me that when she was growing up out in the country in North Dakota, if they didn't eat canned foods for most of the year, they wouldn't have had anything to eat! This is the really natural way to live! I took my wife and three kids to San Diego in 1990 to visit my mother's mother when she was 101, and my wife's reaction was that talking to her was just like talking to anyone else! We took her to Govinda's restaurant, and she said, "Oh! I've eaten here before! I like the food here!" Go figure! Ys, Ptd [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 04-03-2002).]

Dear JR Devi Prabhu, you can laugh all you want, but the fact is, I haven't missed one minute of work due to illness since I started cooking for myself about 2 years ago (knock on wood). Here's a couple for starters: Delicious, Nutritious 10 Minute Recipe: Hot Oatmeal and Farina Cereal ( http://www.howardbest.com/HotCereal2.htm ) Delicious, Nutritious 10 Minute Recipe: Mixed Vegetables and Rice ( http://pratyatosa.com/MixedVegisAndRice.htm )

I couldn't find it in the Vedabase, but I heard that Srila Prabhupada said, in reference to the Vietnam War, "If a country engages in war, they should fight to win. They should not hold anything back." IMHO, this means that, according to Srila Prabhupada, the U.S. should have nuked China, who was assisting North Vietnam, back to the stone age, if they refused, after repeated warnings, to give up their involvement. After years of wishy-washy wartime leadership from Kennedy and Johnson, Nixon obviously said, "Let's hit them with everything we've got, or let's forget the whole thing!". Since the powers that be wouldn't allow him to do the former, he did the latter. Therefore, Nixon ended up unknowingly following Srila Prabhupada's advice. [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-31-2002).]

Perhaps Srila Prabhupada's instruction to minimize eating and sleeping is having it's effect on popular culture! [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-29-2002).]

<center>And it really doesn't matter that we don't eat And it really doesn't matter if we never sleep No it really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter at all Coz we are so young now, we are so young, so young now And when tommorow comes, we can do it all again ( http://www.lyricsstyle.com/t/thecorrs/soyoung.html )</center>

Speaking of maple syrup, here's a delicious, nutritious snack that I came up with: 1. Into a small (preferably disposable) bowl put a handful of chopped dates. 2. Add a couple of handfuls of mixed nuts (I prefer Wal-Mart's brand because it has less than 50% peanuts and it includes macadamia nuts.) 3. Add enough honey and/or refrigerated (thick) maple syrup to completely cover everything. This treat reminds me of eating a delicious candy bar, only it's better because it is moist rather than dry. [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-29-2002).]

9) "Gandhi" DVD (1982) Winner of eight Academy Awards, "Gandhi" is an inspirational tale about one of the most unusual men in world history. As U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall said, "Mahatma Gandhi has become the spokesman for the conscience of all mankind. He was a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than Empires." I believe that this film, due in no small part to Ben Kingsley’s great performance in the title role, succeeds brilliantly in capturing Marshall’s notion. ( http://homevideo.about.com/library/weekly/aatp101401.htm )

Perhaps this will help to explain things: http://paulboutin.weblogger.com/2002/03/14

Because of the unusually large number of victims and the grievous nature of the offenses against them, the only reasonable plan, in my humble opinion, is to auction off some of the ISKCON properties! This would not be as bad as it sounds, because I'm sure that much of the property would then be purchased by Krishna devotees who are members of the congregation, so the Hare Krishna movement would go on in the affected localities despite all of the upheaval. The only difference would be that these properties would no longer belong to ISKCON. Then the Federal bankruptcy court judge would decide how the proceeds from the property sales are to be distributed to the various victims. [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-06-2002).]

Lawsuits are a last resort. The GBC had years and years in which to take some positive action, but they failed to do anything except to make a few show bottle displays for PR purposes. Until the advent of the Turley lawsuit, the ISKCON leaders simply harassed the ex-gurukulis who had been sexually abused. Some of these victims even committed suicide. The lawsuit gave the victims new hope and vindication, and the suicides have stopped. Judge by the results! [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-04-2002).]

If a devotee "sues ISKCON for wrongful dismissal", it's Krishna's divine arrangement. ("Not a blade of grass moves without the will of God.") Maybe the real "chaff" are the one's who are left!

Prabhu, all I'm saying is that the GBC's goal of dealing with all current and future lawsuits in one fell swoop, by declaring bankruptcy, is practically impossible, and some potential litigants are not going to be detoured from suing no matter what anyone says. Besides, its their legal right to sue, and anyone who interferes with that right in any way, including threats or intimidation, is a criminal, and is subject to federal prosecution ("U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 1512 : Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant" - http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_search.pl?title=18&sec=1512). [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 03-04-2002).]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,46552,00.html

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/02/26/cow.caught.reut/index.html

Actually, it was just a mistake, and I tried to "save face" by saying, "Reserved for later."

I've heard Srila Prabhupada say that life expectancy is decreasing, but is there any evidence to back this up? The Western official propaganda says just the opposite.

Here's another quote which tends to support the above statement: Srila Prabhupada, 12 July 1973, London, BG Lecture: "...A small piece of meat they are eating, not very much. But for these small pieces, so many population, huge quantity of slaughterhouse is being maintained. They cannot give up that small piece of meat. What is the difficulty? They can make... The same thing can be made by milk, milk product, channa. What do you call curd? Cheese. You prepare cheese and fry it. You'll get the same taste. But let the animal live, take its milk, and prepare so many milk preparations. But these rascals will not do. You kill simply for this tongue. It is so strong, this tongue. They cannot give up this, I mean to say, formidable tongue. He is demanding, "You must give me meat." So they are obliged. And for this obligation, they are committing so much sinful activities..."

Reserved for later. [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 02-24-2002).]

Raghunata (John) Anudasa [raghu@roopa.org] Wednesday, February 20, 2002 1:20 PM lawyer@oxfordlaw.com RE: Re ISKCON Chapter 11 Bankruptcy A few things. 1 may I send this to the guru-kuli conference? 2 May I send this to my mailing list? 3 Can you give some estimate of time—6 months, 6 years? 4 Can you give some estimate of $$--$500, $5,000 or $50,000? How much do you trust that it will actually settle. I ask for the simple reason that if you are 100% sure it will settle, would you or anyone offer to give me 50% of it right now and take the full amount when it is settled. Cash today for things like a computer and car will do more for establishing me in 3 years from now then receiving triple that amount 3 years from now. It is essential for another, more important reason as well. Clarifying these questions will do wonders in making it feel like you are offering something real to the kulis versus just more legal posturing. It will be a great step in reassuring them that something is actually being done right now. Raghu

Raghunata (John) Anudasa [raghu@roopa.org] Tuesday, February 19, 2002 2:23 AM lawyer@oxfordlaw.com RE: Re ISKCON Chapter 11 Bankruptcy OK Gupta, What does that mean for me. Everyone wants to know. They come to me. What should I say. What can I expect? What do you think is reasonable for me to anticipate, if anything? Talk to me. raghu

Joseph Fedorowsky [lawyer@oxfordlaw.com] Thursday, February 14, 2002 8:16 AM Re ISKCON Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Apologies for unwanted delivery. The ISKCON bankruptcy filing is not a Chapter 7 'liquidation' case. Temples will not be sold or liquidated. Rather, a Chapter 11 'reorganization plan' will create a victims' fund to compensate any Gurukuli who may have been abused -- not just the Turley plaintiffs. Accordingly, those Gurukulis who did not support the spiritually offensive legal complaint which blamed Srila Prabhupada will not be penalized. ISKCON likely has no legal obligation to compensate anyone for events which occurred decades ago because of the intervening Statute of Limitations which caps the time to file a claim. Yet, by way of the Chapter 11 reorganization plan, ISKCON as an institution will effectively be recognizing its spiritual and moral obligation to an entire generation of children. That is obviously needed. The focus is then 'cooperation to closure' of this unfortunate chapter in ISKCON's history rather than wallowing in the litigation 'blame game.' With regards, Gupta das Joseph Fedorowsky lawyer@oxfordlaw.com

http://www.startribune.com/stories/614/1134296.html The above URL no longer works, so here's the original article: Women win lawsuit after Jesus fails to appear Associated Press Published Jan 30 2002 SALT LAKE CITY -- A jury awarded $290,000 to two women who said they were deceived by a fundamentalist church whose leaders promised to produce Jesus Christ in the flesh. The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the Last Days was ordered Monday to pay $270,000 to Kaziah Hancock and more than $20,000 to Cindy Stewart for fraud, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress. As a condition of church membership, Hancock gave 67 acres of her farm and shares of water rights to the church for redistribution among members. Stewart contributed money from her retirement plan, attorney Don Redd said. In return, church founder Jim Harmston promised payments on other property, membership in heaven's elite and the chance to meet Christ on earth, Redd said. The eight-member jury threw out complaints of racketeering and unjust enrichment against the church and Harmston. Harmston refused to comment and referred questions to his attorney, Mark Middlemas. Middlemas did not return calls Tuesday. Harmston's wife, Elaine, told The Salt Lake Tribune that she was disappointed with the verdict, adding: ``God's people have always been persecuted and right now is no different.'' © Copyright 2002 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/614/1134296.html The above URL no longer works, so here's the original article: Women win lawsuit after Jesus fails to appear Associated Press Published Jan 30 2002 SALT LAKE CITY -- A jury awarded $290,000 to two women who said they were deceived by a fundamentalist church whose leaders promised to produce Jesus Christ in the flesh. The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the Last Days was ordered Monday to pay $270,000 to Kaziah Hancock and more than $20,000 to Cindy Stewart for fraud, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress. As a condition of church membership, Hancock gave 67 acres of her farm and shares of water rights to the church for redistribution among members. Stewart contributed money from her retirement plan, attorney Don Redd said. In return, church founder Jim Harmston promised payments on other property, membership in heaven's elite and the chance to meet Christ on earth, Redd said. The eight-member jury threw out complaints of racketeering and unjust enrichment against the church and Harmston. Harmston refused to comment and referred questions to his attorney, Mark Middlemas. Middlemas did not return calls Tuesday. Harmston's wife, Elaine, told The Salt Lake Tribune that she was disappointed with the verdict, adding: ``God's people have always been persecuted and right now is no different.'' © Copyright 2002 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

This is a good point Tarun Prabhu, but this is not the way that the legal system works. An example might help explain this: The Catholic archdiocese of Dallas, TX was sued because one of it's priests sexually abused 11 altar boys. The case was finally settled for $23 million. Because the wayward priest had contributed to causing this liability (a cover-up by the higher ups actually caused most of the liability), the priest was in turn sued by the church. The church won, and although the church was not able to collect any of the money because the priest was bankrupt, at least they were able to "save some face". The point is, that loosing the lawsuit gave the Catholic archdiocese the ammunition that it needed to go after the priest. It is their responsibility to do this. It is not the responsibility of the victims.

I agree! I told one old codger recently, "You have to drink wine in order to properly digest meat." He replied, "Yes, but I've heard that if you remove the alcohol what's left will still have the same effect." I retorted, "Don't you believe it! They'll tell you anything." He seemed somewhat taken aback, and didn't say any more on the subject. It's amazing how much blind faith people have in the highly self-motivated medical profession! Yup. Very interesting!