== 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."
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...
