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Sunday, February 9, 2014

Other Side of the Olympics

Baba

This email contains 3 sections:
1. Posting: Other Side of the Olympics
2. Comment: Re: Why One Must Not Kill Oneself In Any Situation
3. Prabhat Samgiita #421
== Main Posting==


Subject: Other Side of the Olympics
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 05:02:35
To: anandamargauniversal
 From: NITYESH


OTHER SIDE OF THE OLYMPICS

Namaskar,
There is another side to the present-day glitz and glamour of the Olympics, one which is not commonly known.



HUGE COST INVOLVED ~ RUSSIA SPENT 50 BILLION

In this capitalist era, hosting the Olympics means investing billions and billions into stadiums, airports, skating rinks, swimming pools, ski jumps, ritzy hotels fancy venues, and so many grandiose structures. Some estimate that to host the 2014 summer games, Russia spent $50+ billion.
HUGE MONEY SPENT ON OLYMPICS

WHILE THE COMMON PEOPLE SUFFER

Yet in the face of this gigantic display of wealth known as the Olympics, Shrii PR Sarkar offers a unique Proutistic assessment of the scene.

"While money has been spent lavishly for the construction of beautiful places of worship, money has never been arranged for food, clothing, housing, education and medical care for the welfare of the poor. While for four full years all the state revenues of Orissa were spent for the construction of the Konark temple, during that period not a penny was spent for human welfare. Needless to say, the history of all countries is replete with such examples." (Ráŕh: The Cradle of Civilization, chapter 6)

If we review Shrii PR Sarkar's above teaching with the idea that we are in the vaeshyan era where the money has been spent on Olympic stadiums etc at the request of corporate sponsors, then we can see how the vast spending associated with the Olympics spending spree is parallel to what Shrii PR Sarkar is warning about above with the Konark temple.

Public money should be used for the well-being of the people and not for extravagant projects that  have no bearing on the lives of the common people. If the general populace is not getting their basic needs fulfilled, there is no question of spending huge public money on things like the construction of the Konark temple and the Sochi Olympics. That is the Prout teaching.

Today we see that $50 billion has been spent in preparing for the Olympics, huge money has been spent on gargantuan construction projects, and big investments are made for finding and training elite athletes etc, amidst it all the common people are suffering.


LIVED FOR YEARS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER

"A new $635 million highway on the outskirts of Sochi runs by a crumbling apartment block with a red “SOS!” banner on its roof. The residents of 5a Akatsy street have lived for years without running water or a sewage system. And construction for the 2014 Winter Games has made their lives more miserable: The highway has cut them off from the city center. Even their communal outhouse had to be torn down because it was found to be too close to the new road and ruled an eyesore." (Courtesy of TribLive)

The local residents are suffering in the psychic realm and in the physical realm. There is no freedom of thought, civil liberties, or freedom of expression in Russia. It remains a suppressed state where still many of its citizens are lacking in the daily necessities, despite Russia's economic boom and oil wealth.

And just like with past Olympic cities, from Montreal (1976) to London (2012), after the games, all those grand stadiums will fall into dis-use, standing there needlessly, completely empty, wasting billions of public dollars as the cities go into debt, while still the minimum necessities of the people are not met.


OLYMPICS IS POMP AND SHOW OF CAPITALISM

RIDING ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR

Here again if we read Shrii PR Sarkar's below quote in the eyes of the vaeshyan era, we can see the audacity of what is happening with today's Olympic presentation.

Shrii PR Sarkar says, "Those who worship a marble deity in the dark corner of a temple and neglect the poor multitudes – who are themselves an embodiment of God – gain nothing in this life nor for the life
hereafter. The neglect of a person who is the embodiment of God is tantamount to neglecting God Himself. A truly righteous person realizes that God does not confine Himself to the temple, but manifests Himself in His creation." (AFPS-2)

Thus those who stand in awe of all the Olympic stadiums, and those who have lost sight of what the Olympics should be all about, they have forgotten their inner self and become a tool of capitalism. The Olympics should be a celebration of the human spirit, and not the pomp and show of capitalist wealth. Yet that is what the Olympics has become. But Shrii PR Sarkar warns us about become a pawn of the Olympic menagerie.


BASIC HUMAN VALUES GROSSLY OVERLOOKED IN RUSSIA

Yet through it all, even the most basic human values are grossly overlooked in Russia. Crackdowns against innocent citizens is a daily occurrence. People are seen as tools of the government not living, breathing entities who have an inquiring mind and a thirst for the limitless.

So here we can only think that in the eyes of Prout, this Olympics, like so many others, is also a shocking display of misused public wealth. As it overlooks the welfare of the common people and suffering humanity and instead tries to dazzle and allure the world with its superficial glamour etc.


THE SO-CALLED OLYMPIC SPIRIT:

JUST AN ELITIST SPECTACLE

Just as Shrii PR Sarkar has given kaoshikii and tandava for the practice and betterment of all, the real ideal of the Olympics is to inspire everyone to engage in sports and try to go beyond what they think they can do.

Unfortunately, the capitalist model has taken the Olympics to such an elitist strata, that only the most talented athletes participate and the rest of the world grows obese watching from the couch. The standard is so high due to huge money, corporate sponsorships, steroids, and year-round training, that for the common people the idea of participating is a dream. Plus, most of the top athletes who try to participate get hurt or even killed while training and never even perform in then Olympics. So here is another angle of vision of how the Olympic spirit just spells disaster for the people. They have been reduced to paying spectators and overweight consumers, nothing more.


THE OLYMPICS DOES NOT BRING PEACE

Some attest that the Olympics bring peace and amity. Let's take a closer look to see if this or not. In 1936, Nazi Germany hosted the Olympics in Berlin and shortly thereafter World War II began. Throughout the Cold War period, nations like the US and USSR participated in countless Olympics, but that never eased political or military tensions. Likewise India and Pakistan have been participating in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games for years, all the while they have remained antagonistic towards one another. As Ananda Margiis, we should bear in mind that peace only comes with the eradication of exploitation. So long as there is exploitation there will never be peace, regardless of a country's involvement in the Olympic games or not.


SOLUTION FOR HOLDING OLYMPICS

Various international organisations like the United Nations etc do not build new offices every time they hold a meeting. Rather they return to the same venue again and again. The same should be done with the Olympics. There can be 4 fixed sites around the globe. The Olympics can simply rotate through those 4 venues, returning to the same site every 16 years. That way each facility can be of a premium standard and well maintained. An international board will manage the sites and distribute profits to all nations. During "off years" when the Olympics is not being held at a particular site then that location can be used for the Asia games or other competitions. This will bring regular use and income to each site. It will not be like the way things are now where an entire Olympic sporting complex is built for the Olympics, only to sit unused and fall into disrepair as soon as the games are over.


COMMON PEOPLE WHOLLY OVERLOOKED

As the capitalist presses and media around the globe are gloating over the magnificent display of the Olympics, the needs and thoughts of so many suffering people are wholly overlooked in the practical plane. When the Olympics are gone the resident of Sochi will be a forgotten people, and their present woes will just continue.

Only Prout is the real voice of the people. Proutists speak for those who are speechless. So it is the duty of writers in all corners to stand up for the suffering humanity, while the various governments foolishly spend all their public on Olympic pomp and show, overlooking the needs and rights of the people.

Because the way things are now, the Olympics present a glamour show to the world, while it commands all public monies and funds.

This is the side of the Olympics that is mostly unknown.


PROUT IS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE

Our Prout philosophy aims for the welfare of the people. As Proutists, in this Olympic season, we are to always carry this ideal to the masses and work for their upliftment.

Shrii PR Sarkar says, "There will be no more suppression, repression and oppression. Let the mind develop according to its longings; let the mind be free. Let there be a human society of coordination and cooperation. This is the last stage. We are waiting for the rising sun with crimson rays. Even now the crimson rays are a bit visible. These crimson rays are the rays of PROUT." (PNS-17)

Namaskar
In Him,
Nityesh

Note 1: SOCHI OPENING CEREMONY

With the grand Opening Ceremony in Sochi Games being marveled at by all, and with literally billions watching the Olympic events, the 2014 games in Sochi (Russia) are front and center.

“With lights, floats and flying, Russia kicked off the opening ceremony in Sochi as the world turns its attention to the costliest Olympic Games in history.” (Courtesy of CNN)

The Sochi games have became the new poster child of this modern-era Olympics phenomenon where huge money is spent in order to impress the world.


Note 2: LINK TO PRIOR LETTERS ON EXTRAVAGANCE AND CONTRADICTION OF OLYMPICS



== NEXT SECTION ==


Subject: Re: Why One Must Not Kill Oneself In Any Situation
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 08:55:49 GMT
From: Vyasa
To: anandamargauniversal
Re: Why One Must Not Kill Oneself In Any Situation

BABA
Namaskara.
Good article on euthanasia. In U.S.A., there is a lot of news whereby people "accidentally" kill themselves because they were trying to get high by shooting up with heroin and die of an overdose even if they weren't suicidal. I get a lot of patients who survive such instances after they woke up from unconsciousness and a semi-comatose stated while in the hospital. They told us they were just trying to "catch a buzz."
Baba Nam Kevalam

Vyasa




PRABHAT SAMGIITA #421

PS Intro: This is one special type of song where Parama Purusa explains to the devotees what He does - how He carries out His liila.

"A'gun jva'la'te a'si niko a'mi, diipa'valii jva'li man ma'jhe..."  (Prabhata Samgiita #421)

Purport:

I, Parama Purusa, do not come to light a burning fire in the heart. I come to light the lamp of devotion in the heart-- for that I come. I fill the mind with divine effulgence - devotion, not fire [1]. Even on the rough & jagged path I pour divine sweetness - I make even the dry heart full of devotion. In those trees that do not flower, I decorate them with flowers.

I change the degrading personality into a divine one. I fill them with the beauty of devotion. To the dry heart I bring the warmth of love and devotion. I give them inspiration to move towards divinity. In this way I bless. Through the melody and rhythm of song and dance, silently I fill the remote corner of the heart with love. Indeed I fill the entire universe with devotion through song, dance and music - Prabhat Samgiita. I do not come to ignite the heart with yearning; rather I fill the heart with devotion.    

To those hearts that are frustrated, sunken, and lost, I give them the strength for their forward movement. I fill them with bliss so they can forget their pain and misery and become ensconced in divinity. I remain with everyone through My ota and prota yoga. I make everyone aware of this by My actions. I express this truth in all My work so that human beings can realise that Parama Purus'a is with them.    

I take advent on this earth to fill the heart with devotion...


End Notes For Prabhat Samgiita #421:

[1] Fire: Here fire means that devotees always lovingly accuse Parama Purusa that 'I am crying for You yet You just set my heart on fire, with no relief in sight'. But Parama Purus'a explains that it is not like that; rather He comes with the explicit motive to fill the mind with devotion... 
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