ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html><head><title>The Sampradaya Sun - Independent Vaisnava News - Editorial Stories - November 2011</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=EmulateIE7"> </head> <body bgcolor="white" width=800 link="#990000" alink="#990000" vlink="#000088"> <table width=750 border=1 bordercolor="#CC9933" bordercolordark="990000" bordercolorlight="CC9933" cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="white"> <tr> <td valign=top><font size=2><font face="Verdana"><font size=2> <center><P> <img src="../head1.gif" width=605 height=99 border=0 usemap="#nav1"></center> <center><table width=700 border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="white"> <tr> <td valign=top colspan=2><font size=2><font face="Verdana"><font size=2> <MAP NAME="nav1"> <AREA COORDS="23,17,110,82" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../index.htm"> <AREA COORDS="1,87,46,98" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../../media/mantra.wav" target="_blank"> <AREA COORDS="76,86,111,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../news/news.htm"> <AREA COORDS="121,86,189,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../editorials/editorials.htm"> <AREA COORDS="199,86,256,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../features/features.htm"> <AREA COORDS="266,86,329,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../sunblogs/sunblogs.htm"> <AREA COORDS="339,86,412,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../classifieds/classifieds.htm"> <AREA COORDS="421,86,466,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../events/events.htm"> <AREA COORDS="476,86,539,97" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../recipes/recipes.htm"> <AREA COORDS="549,86,796,604" SHAPE="rect" HREF="../../podcasts/podcasts.htm"> </MAP> <P><BR> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=700> <P><BR> <blockquote> <font face="verdana"><FONT SIZE=+2><p style='text-align:justify'> Chewing the Chewed </font></font> <P> <font face="verdana"><font size=2><p style='text-align:justify'> BY: BHAKTA MATTY </font></font> </FONT></FONT><P><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2><B>Nov 30, 2011 &#151; UK (SUN) &#151; </b> The points below, listed from 1 on, are from Mahavidya das prabhu's recent article, "<a href=" http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-11/editorials7997.htm" target="_blank"><B>Eight Points for Bhakta Matty</b></a>". Point 1: </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"Bhakta Matty doesn't mind serving and associating with such (in Bhakta Matty's own words) "offensive" people." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>As for serving "offensive people", Mahavidya das prabhu is referring to any devotee that receives a wage from Bhaktivedanta Manor. For the record, would Mahavidya das prabhu care to comment about the time before he was banned from the Manor, when he himself was on a paid salary? As he was also serving "offensive people." The obvious difference is that, as I have already stated in my previous submissions to the sun... <B>I DO NOT RECEIVE A WAGE FOR MY SERVICE.</b> As for Mahavidya prabhu saying. </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"Bhakta Matty must surely be aware that Bhaktivedanta Manor, where he serves the cows, is factually officially registered, as are all of the other UK ISKCON temples, as a Hindu temple." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Well, I made my own feelings known about this particular issue, in my previous submission, "<a href="http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-11/editorials7988.htm" target="_blank"><B>Q&A on Manor Goshalla</b></a>. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>I am at Bhaktivedanta Manor solely to help to fulfill the desire of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for Cow Protection and to help engage the oxen in meaningful work. I am not a politically minded person. My only desire is to try to serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Gokulanada, as I have already stated, through goseva. If everyone were to take the stance of Mahavidya das prabhu, then who would be there to care for the cows and oxen? </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 2. Secondly, Mahavidya das prabhu writes& </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"all the three preceding goshalla buildings were built in the most shoddy Manor imaginable." My reply was...Then what did you do at the time to petition against it, and did you or could you come up with a better plan for a new goshalla? Why didn't you do a presentation on what you thought was an appropriate goshalla." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>All glories to Mahavidya das prabhu's service that, as you say you..."built a scale model... it was done in consultation with the Manor management."... But did it ever occur to Mahavidya das prabhu that although he built a scale model and that it was done in consultation with the Manor management, that his final offering may have been rejected on a number of grounds other than just personal or financial ones? And that maybe his ideas just didn't cut the mustard? </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Mahavidya das prabhu then writes... </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"It was also agreed in a planning meeting that I take up the role of clerk of works in order to maintain some quality control. This position was rescinded the next day by Shyamasundara das and Prana Bhandu das so that "we can be our own clerk of works". </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Can I just ask Mahavidya das prabhu to tell us all how much Laxmi in wages he was willing to receive for his acting role as clerk of works, or was he, in fact, not getting a wage. Can he please clarify this point for us? </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Mahavidya das prabhu then writes.... </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"when it became apparent that Shyamasundar das was making a complete hash of the building, I did petition the then Temple President, Vipramukya das. <BR> My petition never got anywhere did it...? But Bhakta Matty would be familiar with this history. <BR> Two more disasters were then built, only to be pulled down shortly after. <BR> Would Bhakta Matty be happy if it was his hard earned cash, energy and time that had been invested? <BR> Obviously, Bhakta Matty doesn't have a problem with this." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Obviously, Mahavidya das prabhu put <I>his</I> hard earned cash into the project. The questions is... just how did Mahavidya das earn his hard earned cash? Let us stop chewing the chewed here. I have already commented on this point about mistakes by management in my last submission, "<a href="http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-11/editorials7988.htm" target="_blank"><B>Q&A on Manor Goshalla</b></a>. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 3. </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"Bhakta Matty does not address the issue of why "the highest tender" (£2.800.000) for building the new goshalla went to the <B>HIGHEST</b> bidder (a Bhaktivedanta Manor Patron). <BR> Bhakta Matty sidesteps this issue, but treats us to philosophy. <BR> Bhakta Matty prabhu seems to miss the whole point of FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY. <BR> Perhaps, once again, financial transparency is not an issue for Bhakta Matty." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>I actually agree with Mahavidya das prabhu that indeed, there should be financial transparency at Bhaktivedanta Manor, and indeed at any ISKCON temple. But again I will, as Mahavidya das pointed out above, "treat us to some philosophy". Lord Sri Krsna as Paramatma is seated in the hearts of all living entities, and as thus situated, He is the witness to all actions of the living entities. But as I actually agree with Mahavidya das on this point, and then even as Mahavidya points out above... "Bhakta Matty sidesteps this issue, but treats us to philosophy."... I am sure that because I agree with Mahavidya das prabhu's point on financial transparency that now, again with the interjection of philosophy, or as he writes..."Bhakta Matty sidesteps this issue, but treats us to philosophy".... it will no longer be an issue. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 4. Again, please read my article, "<a href="http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/11-11/editorials7988.htm" target="_blank"><B>Q&A on Manor Goshalla</b></a>. as regards the care for Gangotri the cow, otherwise, again we are just chewing the chewed. As Mahavidya das prabhu points out... "I would have you know my three people are <B>NOT</b> registered lunatics, but are all respectable, responsible people."... Then I would like to hear some more in depth details about what exactly the issues were regarding the negligence with Gangotri the cow, from these "respectable and responsible people." </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 5. </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"Bhakta Matty says that the field covered with 12 inches of broken brick and 2 inches of plastic has nothing to do with the wedding factory.May we beg to differ. If Bhakta Matty could have been present at a public enquiry in 2010 concerning the use of a marquee for weddings& and retrospective planning permission for parking& he would have heard how& <BR> that very issue was brought up by one of the Hertsmere civic councillors who helped the Bhaktivedanta Manor management achieve planning permission for the goshalla. <BR> It was revealed that Planning permission for the goshalla was granted Once permission for the goshalla was granted, the Manor management illegally (i.e., without planning permission) then proceeded to eradicate one field used by the cows to create a car park, taking up the whole field next to the proposed wedding tent. <BR> It should be noted that ALL the topsoil was removed and replaced with brick and plastic, upon which even grass has a hard time growing. <BR> When one considers the £1.000.000 income generated by the weddings and the output from the cows... <BR> one can easily understand the Manor managements' priorities." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Indeed, Mahavidya das prabhu is correct, I was not at the public enquiry in 2010 concerning the use of a marquee for weddings. I myself personally do have opinions which are for and against certain aspects in place at Bhaktivedanta Manor, as I know there many other devotees who also have some issues. However, these opinions should not conflict with our sincere desires to please Srila Prabhupada through performing devotional service to Lord Sri Krsna. As humans, none of us are faultless. However as devotees, perhaps we should not be reveling in others' mistakes as "we" see them, but encourage each other not to make mistakes in the future. As a minority community, we should be pulling together and not pulling apart. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, if indeed it is constructive, otherwise we are like a dog chasing its own tail, simply making no progress spiritually or otherwise, but just going around in circles. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>If the geo-grid car park went ahead without planning permission, as Mahavidya das prabhu points out, then I am sure by now that the officials at Hertsmere Council would have told the temple authorities to have ripped the offending geo-grid up by now, would Mahavidya not agree? </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 6. Mahavidya das response to my defence of the Deity kitchen not being able to afford to buy milk from the goshala, saying& </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"My point that the Deities milk is rationed because they have to buy it from the goshalla: According to Bhakta Matty, this is just "rubbish". <BR> I will pass on your comment to the Deity pujari concerned." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Yes Mahavidya das prabhu, please pass my comment on to the pujari concerned. I stand by my original statement. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 7. Mahavidya das prabhu then points out.... </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"I can only assume he (Bhakta Matty) is familiar with the directions of the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami as regards to salaries."... </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Again I raise the point. Mahavidya das prabhu is referring to any devotee that receives a wage from Bhaktivedanta Manor. For the record, would Mahavidya das prabhu care to comment about the time before he was banned from the Manor, when he himself was on a paid salary? Mahavidya das prabhu then points out... </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"I can only assume Bhakta Matty has read these explicit instructions.(given by, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) <BR> I can provide them, should he wish..." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Yes please Mahavidya das prabhu. Please provide the directions given by Srila Prabhupada as regards to salaries. Put them on the Sun and then how it was so, so different for you when you received a salary from Bhaktivedanta Manor? </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Point 8. Mahavidya das prabhu then points out... </font></font><p><ul><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>"Perhaps& <BR> being blind, deaf and dumb as to what goes on around one is the recommended ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor way of going back to Godhead." </ul> </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Believe me, I am certainly not deaf, dumb or blind when it comes to what is going on around me at Bhaktivedanta Manor, or at any other time or place in my life. It seems that Mahavidya das prabhu has more sour grapes then a whole planet of unattended vines. As I have said before... for me personally, I am happy to be a drop of oil on the chain of Srila Prabhupada's vision of Cow Protection that keeps the Bhaktivedanta Manor goshala running in the efficient way that it does. </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Yours in the service of the cows and oxen at Bhaktivedanta Manor goshala, </font></font><p><p style='text-align:justify'><font face="verdana"><font size=2>Bhakta Matty, the newcomer (...of 26 years) </blockquote> <P><br><p style='text-align:justify'><p><p> <center><a href="../../index.htm"><img src="../../leftarrow.gif" width=20 height=15 border=0 alt="Homepage"></a></center> <P><BR> <!-- ========================END NOTES===================== --> <blockquote> <font size=2><font face="Verdana"><font size=-2><center> | <a href="../../index.htm">The Sun</a> | <a href="../../news/news.htm">News</a> | <a href="../../editorials/editorials.htm">Editorials</a> | <a href="../../features/features.htm">Features</a> | <a href="../../sunblogs/sunblogs.htm">Sun Blogs</a> | <a href="../../classifieds/classifieds.htm">Classifieds</a> | <a href="../../events/events.htm">Events</a> | <a href="../../recipes/recipes.htm">Recipes</a> | <a href="../../podcasts/podcasts.htm">PodCasts</a> | <P> | <a href="../../about.htm">About</a> | <a href="../../submit.htm">Submit an Article</a> | <a href="mailto:sun@harekrsna.com">Contact Us</a> | <a href="../../ads/advertise.htm">Advertise</a> | <a href="../../../index.htm">HareKrsna.com</a> | </center> </blockquote> <P> <center><b>Copyright 2005,2011, HareKrsna.com. 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