Paul Rodney Turner's Blog, page 2

When you know Angels have your back

DionneBig thumbs up to Delta Airways customer service reps at JFK, Dionne and Omar. I am on my flight to Slovenia, via Paris. Here is what happened.To start with, the taxi driver dropped me off at wrong terminal and I am crazy late. As I entered the terminal at 6:15pm for my 7.00pm international flight I hear karatals. I look over and see a swami is arriving. It is someone I know and admire, Gopal Krishna Goswami! I had no time to say hi, but took it as a good sign and continued racing up the stairs to the check-in.It turns out, getting dropped at the wrong terminal was a blessing in disguise, because when I went to counter, one lady called Dionne said, "Oh my, let me check for you. Do you have bags to check?" I said "no." She asked her colleague Omar to find out the gate number so she could call to see if they could take me, but the phone did not work. Minutes are ticking by and she had to find another phone but no one answered. Omar said, "it is too late." You missed the flight! I am like, no, please help me. I am not travelling for personal pleasure. I am travelling for a charity. Then Dionne finally got an answer on the phone, "Hi, I have a customer here travelling for a charity. He does not have bags to check, can you take him?" The quick answer was no, it is too late.Dionne said, "I am sorry, sir, but you'll have to rebook your flight," but then something happened.Omar handed Dionne boarding passes. "What is this?," Dionne said. "The flight just miraculously opened up," said Omar, "so I quickly printed him a boarding pass!"Dionne said, "This is a miracle. Ok, sir, you have to follow me fast. We have to run."We were at terminal 1 and had to get to terminal 2. We ran as fast as we could. Dionne then took me to the front of the security line and then helped me unpack and repack after the check. I grabbed my roller bag and asked her, "Where is my computer bag?" "Oh, I have it. Let's go." We then raced downstairs to catch a bus, Dionne carrying my backpack on one arm and me dragging my roller bag. The bus line was huge, but she took us to the front and right into the bus, telling them to just go!We then took a 10-minute ride to Terminal 4. The one I needed to be at, but she told me if I had gone to terminal 4, the security lines are too long and I would not have gotten a boarding pass. "You have Omar to thank for that," she said.Finally, we arrived at the terminal and then we had to run 20 gates to get to my gate. Dionne saw one of those terminal buggies and said, "get on" and asked the driver to get me to Gate 28 asap. The Spanish lady said, "Sure," but did not understand the urgency.Anyway, we got on, but then she had to pick up other people, a family with lots of bags. They were taking their time and minutes were passing and my flight was boarding. Dionne was hurrying everyone up. Finally, we get going, but there are huge crowds to pass through. I realised, I should have just run, but we get to the gate in the nick of time, and I am the last person to board. I made it. I hugged Dionne and thanked her for helping me. Without her and Omar I would not have made it. Thank you, ladies. Dionne, you went above and beyond good customer service.

I was Hugged by a Saint

I had not seen Radhanath Swami since the time I was living in New York in 2010. He has always been very kind to me and even back then when I was probably at my lowest point in life, he extended his compassionate hand to spend some time with me and my friends at the Sunday feast at the Bhakti Centre in New York, by telling us a funny story of his college preaching days in the 80s.

After that day, I left the US and admired his successes and wisdom from afar through Facebook posts and videos, and like so many others, I thoroughly relished reading his first book, The Journey Home. 

I was so happy to be able to see him again once I heard he was releasing his latest book, A Journey Within at the George Washington University tonight.

My wife and I arrived on time and took our seats. My son, Bhimal is usually very peaceful, but tonight he was also excited and was making many oohs and ahhs . I watched and listened with wrapped attention as Maharaja  spoke. My eyes are not good at the moment, so he was slightly blurry to me from a distance, so I was straining my eyes to really focus on his face, hoping to capture his eyes. Like any good speaker, he constantly scanned the room from side to side, communicating to the entire audience. At times, I felt that he looked my way and I hoped that he would remember me.

His lecture and answers to the questions after the talk were beautiful, enlightening and entertaining. The entire auditorium listened with respectful silence and focus as he delivered each and every word with careful consideration. Maharaja talked about his dear friend Bhaktitirtha Swami, who on his deathbed asked Radhanatha Swami to promise to tell his spiritual journey in the form of a book. That book, The Journey Home is now translated into 24 languages and has inspired millions of people.

Tonight's talk introduced the wisdom shared in his latest book, The Journey Within , that our search for true happiness has to start from within -- we are the "witness" the soul to all of the changes that are taking place in our life and bodies.

After the lecture, Rukmini Walker the host, asked if people would like to get their books signed. I jumped at the chance and got into the line. There were about 5 people in front of me and soon the line started to snake around the room. I waited anxiously wondering what I would say, but our main purpose in coming tonight was to ask Maharaja if he would bless our new baby, Bhimal. My wife, Juliana readied him in the stroller beside me. Suddenly a young man approached me and asked for our names. I asked him to write down our spiritual names, Priyavrata, Jagannatha Priya and Bhimal. It seemed that he only started taking names with us and those that went before us introduced themselves.

Soon it was our turn. I offered my respects by bowing my head to the ground in the traditional manner and reciting a prayer of respect to all Vaisnavas. At first, Maharaja did not seem to recognize me. I handed him my book for signing and then the boy with the notepad showed him our names. Maharaja glanced at our names, but still did not make a connection. Knowing Maharaja would not have much time to chat, I immediately introduced my wife and son and asked him to please bless Bhimal and if he would kindly do the grain giving ceremony for the child next week. He immediately agreed and leaned over to touch the boy's head. He then looked at me again and his eyes lit up. His pupils dilated like they were taking in the universe and with a broad smile, he communicated clearly that he remembered me. We touched hands and then he leaned over to hug me. I did not feel worthy, but gladly complied as we embraced for a good 5 seconds. Maharaja buried his face in my shoulder and I felt so much gratitude. He asked where I was living and I told him we now live in Colombia at my wife's animal sanctuary.


It is said in the scriptures that even a moment's association with a devotee of God will guarantee one a successful spiritual journey. The Chaitanya Charitimarita  says it this way:

'Sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’—sarva-śāstre kaya lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

SYNONYMS
sādhu-saṅga sādhu-saṅga—association with pure devotees; sarva-śāstre—all the revealed scriptures; kaya—say; lava-mātra—even for a moment; sādhu-saṅge—by association with a devotee; sarva-siddhi—all success; haya—there is

TRANSLATION

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.
Tonight I got a hug from a saint and although I felt extremely unqualified, it made my day. As I read Maharaja's book later tonight, tears welled up in my eyes as he recalled his meeting with Dorothy at the airport. Dorothy was an elderly lady that had literally gone through hell and felt the entire universe swallow her up. Her story was so sad but Maharaja was there to comfort her with his simple words of wisdom and helped her see the positive side and how we always have a choice as to how we respond to each situation in life.

We all go through challenges and I have had my fair share. Lately, however, although in many ways life is good, it can still be overwhelming and has brought me to tears.

When I hear the stories of Radhanatha Swami and his incredible successes, I feel like I've achieved nothing and are far from reaching my full potential. In some ways, this makes me hopeful that things can only get better, but there are times, when, like Dorothy, I feel that God might have forgotten me. But when you come into the presence of a genuine holy person and take the time to attentively hear their wise words, you get a direct connection to transcendence which puts everything in your life in full perspective. Just like a light bulb turned on in a dark room, suddenly things become clearer and make sense.

In the Chaitanya Charitamrita there is a wonderful exchange between Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his dear friend, Ramananda Raya.  CC Madhya 8.251

Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, "Out of all auspicious and beneficial activities, which is best for the living entity?"

Now, Ramananda Raya could have given so many good suggestions here, even some very obvious ones like, "Oh the most auspicious activity is chanting the holy name of God," or "visiting a holy place," but he didn't. His answer was much more profound...

Rāmānanda Rāya replied, "The only auspicious activity is association with the devotees of Kṛṣṇa."

The ONLY auspicious activity! In making this amazing statement, he clearly declares that there is nothing auspicious about this material world. It is a temporary realm of birth, disease, old age and death, combined with three kinds of suffering (bodily, other living beings and natural causes). His statement supports the bold claim that even a moments association of a pure devotee of God can guarantee one all success.

We try to build big "castles" of wealth and fame in our life, but in reality, they are all made of sand and will not last past our demise. It is important to stay fixed on what is really important in this life -- self-realization. Who are we really? That is the journey within and most of us need a constant reminder from the saints and sages of this world.

I felt really blessed tonight after that hug. Thank you, God. Thank you, Krishna.

Books by Radhanatha Swami

The Journey Home The Journey Within

POEM - The wisdom and love of a mother

Mothers are like rock candy -- please let me explain,
They're soft inside, even though they sometimes complain...
About your dirty socks -- lying all around the floor,
They'll collect them diligently -- even the ones behind the door.

Despite your sad failings -- and your less than ideal ways,
Your mother loves you unconditionally -- and come what may.
She'll never give up on you -- nor will she trade you in,
Your hers forever -- regardless of your sins.

Sweet and tender inside -- but with a tough outer shell,
She's the rock you've been calling for -- the one who'll ring your bell
When the going gets tough -- and you need a helping hand,
Your mother is the one who'll forever understand...

Your weaknesses and strengths -- and your fears and misgivings,
Your silly character traits and those times unforgiving
But she'll leave them all aside, knowing you're doing your best,
Because every challenge we face is just another soul test.

You see, your mother gets it...she's wiser than you or I,
She knows a thing or two -- but she's not one to pride.
With age comes wisdom and the foresight to know,
When to fold one's hand and when to let it all go.

She has wisdom in spades -- a sage of high accord,
Your first guru -- worth more than you can afford.
So never devalue her worth -- or minimize her role,
For she is the divine vessel -- that introduced your soul...

To this material vibration -- a place to educate,
A chance to renew -- and our soul to elevate
For we are not these bodies -- but eternal spirit souls,
Pure, intelligent and blissfull -- trapped in a "black hole"...

From where we can absorb light -- through acts of pure devotion,
And re-awken our love for the Lord of pure emotion.
Your mother is an example of that Source of pure love
Empowered by the divine Goddess -- glancing down from above.

Honor her always -- and remember her sacrifice,
For there is no one and no thing that that can repay the price...
She has invested in your success -- and the elevation of your soul
To make you the best you can be -- to make you whole.

Dedicated to my dear mother, Alison May Turner

How to make your own natural vegan toothpaste at home

For strong teeth and an irresistible smile, we need to keep our mouth free of bacteria and brush after every meal. However, the most important thing is to stay away from toxic substances contained in most toothpaste, especially fluoride.

Over 95% of the toothpaste sold in the U.S. now contains fluoride, even the popular vegan toothpaste, Tom's of Maine, that started out fluoride-free until the company was bought by Colgate in 2006 for $100 million.

The presence of fluoride in toothpaste, particularly during early childhood, presents a huge health risk. This is why the FDA requires a poison warning on every tube of fluoride toothpaste now sold in the US.
The warning label on all major toothpaste brandsThe Fluoride Alert Network explains the danger

"Risks from ingesting fluoride toothpaste include permanent tooth discoloration (dental fluorosis), stomach ailments, acute toxicity, skin rashes (perioral dermatitis), and impairment in glucose metabolism. All of these risks have been unnecessarily increased by the marketing practices of toothpaste manufacturers, who use cartoon packaging and candy-flavors to target *adult-strength* fluoride toothpaste to young *children.* The dental community’s failure to educate the public about the dangers of swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste has further exacerbated the problem." - Source: http://fluoridealert.org/

What to avoid in your toothpasteThese ingredients are found in most major toothpaste brands:
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), as it can dry out the mouth and cause canker sores. This ingredient is often added shampoos too because it creates the foaming effect that is most desired by people.Hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, as they also cause drying and can lead to tooth sensitivity.Fluoride or fluorine is a very common ingredient for tartar control. However, a side effect from swallowing too much fluoride is dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a defect in tooth enamel caused by excessive fluoride intake during the tooth-forming years (age 0 to 8). In its mild forms, dental fluorosis presents as cloudy white splotches and streaks on the teeth, while in its moderate and severe forms, fluorosis can cause extensive brown and black staining along with pitting and crumbling of the enamel.
What to include in your toothpaste
A healthy and safe home-made vegan toothpaste should contain the following ingredients:
Alkalizing agents such as sodium bicarbonate or aloe vera powder, which reduces inflammation in the mouth and relieves irritation of gums.Natural abrasives like the natural fibers of the Indian Peelu tree or the very refined diatomaceous earth that can gently remove stains without damaging the tooth enamel.Natural sweetener like Xylitol. This natural sugar helps prevent tooth decay by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause cavities.Co-Q10, which has been shown to cure and prevent gingivitis.Olive Leaf extract, which helps prevent tooth decay while boosting the health of the entire mouth.The ideal toothpaste would be the combination of xylitol, Co-Q10, aloe and olive leaf.

Expensive version
2 Tbsp of Indian Peelu tree powder or diatomaceous earth1 Tbsp Aloe powder1 Tbsp Olive Leaf Extract1 teaspoon Xylitol1 teaspoon Co-Q102 - 5 drops of essential oilDistilled water to mix into a paste Aloe powder Xylitol powder
Olive Leaf Extract
Peelu branch made into a natural toothbrush Diatomaceous earth  Diatomaceous earth powder in a containerSimple version #1
1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon finely ground sea salt2 drop of essential oil (peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove or cinnamon)A few drops of distilled water to make into a pasteMix everything well to make it consistent.Simple version #2
1 Tbsp coconut oil1 Tbsp baking soda (use the aluminum-free kind)2 drop of essential oilSome distilled water to make into a pasteTry this out and see how you go. I assure you it is safe and your teeth will love you. 

SPIRITUAL EQUALITY IS THE SOLUTION

How to eliminate kidney stones naturally and easily

So, you've felt the excruciating pain of a kidney stone? Or you've heard about it and want to avoid one? Well, I can tell you honestly, there is a simple and effective way to treat and avoid kidney stones that can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of inconvenience.

But before I get to the remedy, let's first understand what kidney stones are and how they are formed in the first place.
What is a Kidney Stone?A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi.

The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis. Having stones at any location in the urinary tract is referred to as urolithiasis, and the term ureterolithiasis is used to refer to stones located in the ureters.


Nephrolithiasis is the medical term for kidney stones. Did you know that one in every 20 people develop kidney stones at some point in their life?

Kidney stones form when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. Dehydration is a major risk factor for kidney stone formation.

The symptoms of a kidney stone include flank pain (the pain can be quite severe) and blood in the urine (hematuria).

People with certain medical conditions, such as gout, and those who take certain medications or supplements are at risk for kidney stones. Diet and hereditary factors are also related to stone formation. Diagnosis of kidney stones is best accomplished using an ultrasound, intravenous pyelography (IVP), or a CT scan. Most kidney stones will pass through the ureter to the bladder on their own with time.
Natural CureThe first thing to note is your diet? Are you eating foods that cause kidney stones to form? Are you eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables and staying hydrated? 
I have personally tried this and it is harmless and effective. 
Step 1. 
Drink apple juice and distilled water throughout the day to keep thoroughly hydrated. Keeping hydrated will increase urine output in the urinary tract, cleansing the kidneys and preventing infection while kidney stones are present. This also helps guide the kidney stones to the urethra for natural removal from the body.

Step 2. 1 cup of extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice1 Tablespoon
Procedure:
Eat a light lunch and then do not eat after that until the next day. At around 7 pm, begin taking 1 Tbsp of lemon juice followed immediately by 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Repeat this every 15 minutes until the entire cups of olive oil and lemon juice are finished. 
Do not drink this mixture all at once, as it can cause nausea and vomiting, which would render treatment ineffective. According to the Alternative Health Gazette, kidney stone pain should subside within 15 to 20 minutes after taking the last dose.
Lay down on your right side and sleep. 
Visit the restroom every time the urge is felt. Kidney stones will be broken down within 12 hours and passed through your stool or urine, depending on the stone's position in the urinary tract during treatment. The passing of the stones should be less painful or pain-free.
The next morning, you should be passing out the kidney stones. DisclaimerFor stones that do not pass with treatment, seek medical attention immediately. You should first consult your doctor to first see how large your kidney stone is. This remedy can also be used effectively for gall bladder stones. If you get abdominal bloating, contact your physician immediately. 

Karma is a bull when there is an unfair fight

As a follow-up to my last blog article about fighting, there is one so-called "sport" that stands out amongst all others as the dumbest, most barbaric, ego-centric display of brutality -- bullfighting.

This cruel spectacle of blood and gore continues to flourish in Spain, Colombia and other countries. It is presented as a contest of conviction and skill between a brave matador and a mad and ferocious beast. The matador, dressed in a traditional costume of brilliant colours tries to toy with and evade the charging bull. For many this fight is an ancient ritual of showing the superiority of man over beast, but once they have witnessed the brutality with their own eyes, they typically never come back for a second show.

Like most bovine, bulls are not naturally aggressive, but must be provoked to illicit an aggressive response. What most people are unaware of is the cruel treatment the bulls undergo prior to their entrance into the arena.

The http://www.stopbullfighting.org.uk/ website explains: "What spectators see is not a normal, healthy bull, but a weakened, half-blinded and mentally destroyed version, whose chances of harming his tormentors is virtually nil."

What Exactly Happens to the Bull Prior to the Fight?

"The bull has wet newspapers stuffed into his ears; vaseline is rubbed into his eyes to blur his vision; cotton is stuffed up his nostrils to cut off his respiration and a needle is stuck into his genitals. Also, a strong caustic solution is rubbed onto his legs which throws him off balance. This also keeps him from lying down on the ground. In addition to this, drugs are administered to pep him up or slow him down, and strong laxatives are added to his feed to further incapacitate him. He is kept in a dark box for a couple of days before he faces the ring: the purpose of this is to disorientate him. When he is let out of the box, he runs desperately towards the light at the end of the tunnel. He thinks that at last his suffering is over and he is being set free — instead, he runs into the bullring to face his killers and a jeering mob." (source)

Our Desire to Lord it Over OthersThe urge to lord it over the material energy, which includes other living beings, is the root cause of our bondage in this material world. At some point in time, we all desired to be masters, and so, as Vedic scholar, Srila Prabhupada explains in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 3.26.5

"...the material energy was accepted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order that He might exhibit pastimes for the living entities who wanted to enjoy and lord it over the material energy. This world was created through the material energy of the Lord for the so-called enjoyment of such living entities. Why this material world was created for the sufferings of the conditioned souls is a very intricate question. There is a hint in the previous verse in the word lilaya, which means "for the pastimes of the Lord." The Lord wants to rectify the enjoying temperament of the conditioned souls. It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that no one is the enjoyer but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This material energy is created, therefore, for anyone who pretends to enjoy. An example can be cited here that there is no necessity for the government's creation of a separate police department, but because it is a fact that some of the citizens will not accept the state laws, a department to deal with criminals is necessary. There is no necessity, but at the same time there is a necessity. Similarly, there was no necessity to create this material world for the sufferings of the conditioned souls, but at the same time there are certain living entities, known as nitya-baddha, who are eternally conditioned. We say that they have been conditioned from time immemorial because no one can trace out when the living entity, the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, became rebellious against the supremacy of the Lord."

What these idiotic matadors fail to understand is that for all their machismo in fighting off the charges of a weakened bull, they must ultimately suffer karmic reaction - or "bad karma," and sometimes it ain't pretty.

All karma is bad in the sense that it necessitates bondage to this material energy, however, if a soul acts impiously, acting according to his own whims, he has to suffer a bad karmic reaction, like poverty, disease, ugliness, pain, or some other undesirable circumstance.

In relation to such whimsical and barbaric activities like bullfighting, the law of karma insures that those who cause such violence and suffering to other living beings must themselves experience equivalent violence and suffering - immediately or in the future. The Bible explains, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

OUCH!  Yes, he did! Do you have anything to say?The Law of KarmaWhen a human unnecessarily takes the life of another entity, especially under conditions of great pain and suffering, this act of overt aggression produces a severe karmic reaction as shown in the pictures above. And, if year after year millions of animals are mercilessly butchered in huge, mechanised slaughterhouses, the accumulated negative karma produced by all those participating is almost unfathomable. Not only is there individual karma, but family, community and country karma as well.

The history of the world has shown that nations that have displayed a total neglect of the health and welfare of their citizenry and exploited innocent animals, collapse into ruin.

Srila Prabhupada explains the connection between the killing of innocent animals and wars...

"In this age, the propensity for mercy is almost nil. Consequently, there is always fighting and wars between men and nations. Men do not understand that because they unrestrictedly kill so many animals, they must also be slaughtered like animals in big wars. This is very much evident in the Western countries. In the West, slaughterhouses are maintained without restriction, and, therefore, every fifth or tenth year there is a big war in which countless people are slaughtered even more cruelly than the animals. Sometimes during a war, soldiers keep their enemies in concentration camps and kill them in very cruel ways. These are reactions brought about by unrestricted animal-killing in the slaughterhouse and by hunters in the forest."

Bullfighting, much like other killing sports, is irrefutable evidence of the depths of depravity humanity has fallen to. We are a very sick species and are acting more like a deadly virus on this planet, killing everything in our wake. It is time for those that care -- the real human beings -- to speak up and stop all this madness before it is too late.

Read the facts on bullfighting at http://www.stopbullfighting.org.uk/facts.htm

Karma is a bitch - and bullfighting is an unfair fight

As a follow-up to my last blog article about fighting, there is one so-called "sport" that stands out amongst all others as the dumbest, most barbaric, ego-centric display of brutality -- bullfighting.

This cruel spectacle of blood and gore continues to flourish in Spain, Colombia and other countries. It is presented as a contest of conviction and skill between a brave matador and a mad and ferocious beast. The matador, dressed in a traditional costume of brilliant colours tries to toy with and evade the charging bull. For many this fight is an ancient ritual of showing the superiority of man over beast, but once they have witnessed the brutality with their own eyes, they typically never come back for a second show.

Like most bovine, bulls are not naturally aggressive, but must be provoked to illicit an aggressive response. What most people are unaware of is the cruel treatment the bulls undergo prior to their entrance into the arena.

The http://www.stopbullfighting.org.uk/ website explains: "What spectators see is not a normal, healthy bull, but a weakened, half-blinded and mentally destroyed version, whose chances of harming his tormentors is virtually nil."

What Exactly Happens to the Bull Prior to the Fight?

"The bull has wet newspapers stuffed into his ears; vaseline is rubbed into his eyes to blur his vision; cotton is stuffed up his nostrils to cut off his respiration and a needle is stuck into his genitals. Also, a strong caustic solution is rubbed onto his legs which throws him off balance. This also keeps him from lying down on the ground. In addition to this, drugs are administered to pep him up or slow him down, and strong laxatives are added to his feed to further incapacitate him. He is kept in a dark box for a couple of days before he faces the ring: the purpose of this is to disorientate him. When he is let out of the box, he runs desperately towards the light at the end of the tunnel. He thinks that at last his suffering is over and he is being set free — instead, he runs into the bullring to face his killers and a jeering mob." (source)

Our Desire to Lord it Over OthersThe urge to lord it over the material energy, which includes other living beings, is the root cause of our bondage in this material world. At some point in time, we all desired to be masters, and so, as Vedic scholar, Srila Prabhupada explains in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 3.26.5

"...the material energy was accepted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order that He might exhibit pastimes for the living entities who wanted to enjoy and lord it over the material energy. This world was created through the material energy of the Lord for the so-called enjoyment of such living entities. Why this material world was created for the sufferings of the conditioned souls is a very intricate question. There is a hint in the previous verse in the word lilaya, which means "for the pastimes of the Lord." The Lord wants to rectify the enjoying temperament of the conditioned souls. It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that no one is the enjoyer but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This material energy is created, therefore, for anyone who pretends to enjoy. An example can be cited here that there is no necessity for the government's creation of a separate police department, but because it is a fact that some of the citizens will not accept the state laws, a department to deal with criminals is necessary. There is no necessity, but at the same time there is a necessity. Similarly, there was no necessity to create this material world for the sufferings of the conditioned souls, but at the same time there are certain living entities, known as nitya-baddha, who are eternally conditioned. We say that they have been conditioned from time immemorial because no one can trace out when the living entity, the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, became rebellious against the supremacy of the Lord."

What these idiotic matadors fail to understand is that for all their machismo in fighting off the charges of a weakened bull, they must ultimately suffer karmic reaction - or "bad karma," and sometimes it ain't pretty.

All karma is bad in the sense that it necessitates bondage to this material energy, however, if a soul acts impiously, acting according to his own whims, he has to suffer a bad karmic reaction, like poverty, disease, ugliness, pain, or some other undesirable circumstance.

In relation to such whimsical and barbaric activities like bullfighting, the law of karma insures that those who cause such violence and suffering to other living beings must themselves experience equivalent violence and suffering - immediately or in the future. The Bible explains, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

OUCH!  Yes, he did! Do you have anything to say?The Law of KarmaWhen a human unnecessarily takes the life of another entity, especially under conditions of great pain and suffering, this act of overt aggression produces a severe karmic reaction as shown in the pictures above. And, if year after year millions of animals are mercilessly butchered in huge, mechanised slaughterhouses, the accumulated negative karma produced by all those participating is almost unfathomable. Not only is there individual karma, but family, community and country karma as well.

The history of the world has shown that nations that have displayed a total neglect of the health and welfare of their citizenry and exploited innocent animals, collapse into ruin.

Srila Prabhupada explains the connection between the killing of innocent animals and wars...

"In this age, the propensity for mercy is almost nil. Consequently, there is always fighting and wars between men and nations. Men do not understand that because they unrestrictedly kill so many animals, they must also be slaughtered like animals in big wars. This is very much evident in the Western countries. In the West, slaughterhouses are maintained without restriction, and, therefore, every fifth or tenth year there is a big war in which countless people are slaughtered even more cruelly than the animals. Sometimes during a war, soldiers keep their enemies in concentration camps and kill them in very cruel ways. These are reactions brought about by unrestricted animal-killing in the slaughterhouse and by hunters in the forest."

Bullfighting, much like other killing sports, is irrefutable evidence of the depths of depravity humanity has fallen to. We are a very sick species and are acting more like a deadly virus on this planet, killing everything in our wake. It is time for those that care -- the real human beings -- to speak up and stop all this madness before it is too late.

Read the facts on bullfighting at http://www.stopbullfighting.org.uk/facts.htm

How I learned to respect the art of fighting

I have been a fan of martial arts from the first time I watched a Bruce Lee movie. However, before that, I followed boxing and watched every championship bout broadcasted on television. My father was a fight fan and he always encouraged us to stand our ground and never be intimidated by others.

Professional boxers and streetfighters were friends of the family. I am talking really tough men that would intimidate anyone and yet they were friends of the family and their influence on us was profound. We even had a boxing gym in our garage and I became really proficient at hitting the floor-to-ceiling ball. My hand-eye coordination was sharp. Kenny Harrison was one of the most feared men in Australia and was a real man's man. He would regularly train in our garage and show us how to punch. I remember one day he hit the floor-to-ceiling ball so hard the dyno bolt holding it to the cement floor was pulled out! Kenny could do 50 pushups on one hand and had a stomach like a brick wall and would encourage us to hit him as hard as we could.

My nature was to be peaceful, but when you have an older brother that taunted and teased you all the time, at some point, you break and it forced me to choose the dark side and become what I had hated -- a bully. I wasn't your classic bully, but if I saw a chance to bother someone I took it, all to gain the approval of my very homophobic father who feared I might cave in and throw away my manhood.

For the most part, however, I kept the bully tendency in check and usually just stood up to any challenges when it was absolutely necessary, particularly when I had to defend one of my friends. I remember one day I was at home from school because I was sick and my mother bought me a book about the history of boxing. I immersed myself in learning about the great boxers of the past and relished the stories of bare-knuckle fights that would sometimes last for 50 rounds!

I stayed up late to watch "The rumble in the jungle" (Ali and Foreman) fight in Africa and "The thriller in Manilla" (Ali and Frazer) fight in Manilla. Although I never pursued boxing as a sport, I trained with professionals and could hold my own.


When I was 17, I was playing pool in the local pub with my friends and a 30-year-old man came over and started calling us names and enticing us to react. Everyone ignored him, but something inside said, "You can't allow him to disrespect you and your mates." So I calmly put my pool cue down and walked over to him and with one punch, knocked him clean out. I then walked back to the table and asked, "Is it my shot." My friends were in stunned silence. I picked up my cue and began playing pool again as if nothing of importance just happened. From that day on, everyone respected my right hand. That was the first time I had ever knocked someone out. The next two years of my life were hectic and chaotic, as I navigated my way to adulthood and tried to find my path. There were many more fights and very dangerous situations, but somehow I survived. Suffice to say, that unless something miraculous happened, I would have probably ruined any chance of a successful and progressive life.

At age 19, my best friend Jeff Cassels helped me escape the craziness of the neighborhood I was living and convinced me to move up to the mountains with him. For the next 6 months, I soul-searched, read philosophy, wrote poetry, drew pictures, played music and learned how to cook vegetarian meals. I even practiced celibacy and began doing mantra meditation. And then, just after my 20th birthday, I shaved my head and joined a Krishna ashram and become a monk. For me, it was the most natural thing, but I am sure many of my old mates were shocked.


By 21, I was steady in my vows as a monk and was doing fundraising for the temple, selling things like candles and incense to help support the Food for Life the temple did. This brought me to visit another temple in Melbourne, where something happened that changed my whole perception of violence.

Up until then, like most people, I viewed fighting as a match of egos -- who was the tougher man. That all changed one afternoon I was walking around a Melbourne neighborhood selling fragrant oils for the temple. Foolishly, I decided to enter a pub. Now, keep in mind that I was a monk and had a shaved head, so in order to hide that identity, we wore wigs and dressed in regular clothes. I approached the patrons at the bar at their tables offering them free samples and encouraging them to purchase some for Christmas presents. Suddenly a very large aboriginal man, about 190cm high and weighing around 140kgs, approached me, pushed me aside and began taking bottles out of my presentation bag, telling me that he wanted them and was not going to pay a cent. Basically, he was stealing from me in broad daylight and no one was going to do a thing about it. I was shocked and said, "You can't do that." He laughed and said, "And what are you going to do about it, bitch?" I was weighing around 70kg, but I still had my pride. In that moment, a switch flipped and I threw a right cross that knocked him flat out on the floor. He and everyone in the bar were shocked. As this big bear of a man gathered himself from the floor, I remember an older lady saying, "Kill him, Billy." He came at me full force and I began throwing more punches and then he grabbed me and I felt the massive weight difference. Suddenly the "light" went back on in my head and the internal dialogue went something like this: "What are you doing here? He will kill you. And you're a monk and you have a wig on! Get the hell out of here now!" I ran for door, leaving my bag of products and escaped to another shop across the road to call the police.

They arrived at the bar, picked up what was left of my bag, after everyone in the bar helped themselves and brought it to me across the road where I was hiding in a furniture store. The police officer rightly asked, "What were you thinking, selling such things in a place like that? You're lucky to be alive." Lesson learned.

I returned to the car still shaking and relayed the story to my fellow monk, Darren, who was an old friend from childhood who knew me well. He said with a smile of concern, "Paul, you have to be more careful." Then he told me the story from the Bhagavad-gita of how Krishna had enticed his friend Arjuna to fight for the greater good in defeating the demonic rulers that had taken over the world. Arjuna fought to reestablish righteousness. His aggression was in service to the Lord. I understood now that everything we experience in this world originates from the Supreme Personality, only that in this world, men and women fight for selfish motives and false ego, whereas the act of fighting can be done for the greater good -- to reestablish righteousness. Even Lord Krishna enjoyed slaying demons, and wrestling is an ancient sport that has been practiced by all the world's ancient cultures.

It was also during my time as a monk that I learned of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). I was visiting Dallas, Texas in 1995 when a martial arts friend showed me some VHS tapes of the first UFC tournaments. He was training to compete and would go to the local park and hug trees for 30 minutes to increase his crushing strength and roll iron bars across his forearm, like traditional Shaolin monks would do, to make their arms unbreakable. He was the real deal and we both enjoyed watching Royce Gracie destroy all comers, including men twice his weight. He looked fragile and weak, but he outsmarted everyone and shocked the world, by demonstrated the true meaning of martial arts.

A few year later, after I gave up my vows to be a monk and got married, I continued to follow the progress of the UFC and whenever I could I watched boxing on television. Martial arts is part of my upbringing and although I never took it up as a sport, I have always appreciated the discipline required to be successful in it.

Some of my childhood friends were probably shocked that I became a monk, but that is simply because they never got to know the real person inside -- the philosopher, poet, and artist that kept his "cards close to his chest," for fear of ridicule and out of necessity, considering the tough neighborhood I grew up in.

Looking back, it was an odd start to where I find myself now. It is hardly a perfectly scripted life story, but what life is? We all have a certain set of experiences we have to go through in order to become the person we are meant to become in this lifetime. My father was a convicted criminal that spent 5 years in prison. Some of the nastiest and toughest men in Australia (bank robbers, killers and conmen) were friends of our family. We grew up in an impoverished housing commission district of Sydney (Mt Druitt), notorious for crime. I would hustle in bars at age 16, playing pool. There are so many stories to tell, but suffice to say, it was all part of the greater plan to present me experiences that I could draw from to have gratitude later in life and know how to relate to others less fortunate.

My son, Bhimal was born in Colombia, a country famous for outlaws so you can be sure he is going to learn self-defence -- only unlike me -- he will learn it for the honor of protecting what is rightfully his and to defend those that need defending.

Royce Gracie and his brothers, who are now also represented by their children have done a wonderful service to humanity in bringing back the honor of martial arts, that over the last 20 years has been tarnished by ego-driven, chest thumping psychopaths charading as martial artists. Their Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academies are helping kids stand up to bullying by realizing their full potential.

I wish I had this kind of example when I was a child and for sure my son will be joining one of these academies as soon as he can walk.

A poem for Bhimal -- a blessed birth

You were conceived in Nepal -- in room 433At exactly 3:44 am -- it was mangal arati.
An auspicious time -- Lord Brahma's divine hour, We prayed for a yogi of considerable power...
A devotee of God -- a servant and sage,Someone that could do wonders in this dreaded iron age.
We chanted and prayed -- and hoped for the best,While Juliana ate healthy food on this noble quest. 
When we heard the good news, that you'd entered her womb,We knew this was some kind of transcendental boon.
Throughout the pregnancy, I sang songs and harinam, I read Krishna book and talked about the animals on the farm.
You seemed to appreciate -- my warm soothing voice, As you kicked mommies tummy -- we all did rejoice. 
But there were scary moments -- we had along the way,Corporate nurses and doctors -- hell-bent on dismay...
Misread the fetal monitor, fueling doubts about your heart,They told us you had arrhythmia -- it tore mommy apart.
But it turned out, you just had hiccups -- a normal irregularity,Something many babies have -- it was a moment of clarity.
And then the day came -- to enter this material world, To abandon the safe haven of your mother's warm whorl.
We prepared the room with flowers and sweet herbal scents,and played kirtan all day to welcome your descent.
Your mother strained and cried -- while I massaged her back,Reassuring her with kind words and feeding her snacks.
She was a champion throughout -- so strong and one-pointed,There was no denying this woman of a baby anointed.
And then you appeared -- at exactly 10:25 at nightafter 20 hours of labour -- your appearance gave us a fright.
For you were initially limp, totally white and lifeless,Exhausted from the labour -- you had lost all your breath.
But with loving caresses, from your mother and midwife,Suddenly you awoke -- and came roaring back to life.
You let out a cry -- letting us know you're ok, Finally, it was time to celebrate -- your actual birthday! 
I jumped in the pool, to join you and your mother, I could now finally tell your sister -- she had a little brother. 
Your name would be Bhimal -- a pure son of Jagannath, You will walk with confidence and teach the bhakti path.
Born on the 19th -- signifying confidence and pride,With a double "2" as well -- you'll be an intelligent guide. 
Talkative and psychic -- with empathy in tow,You'll have things to teach the world -- and let everyone know...
That we're all brothers and sisters -- animals and humans allied, "This world needs unity -- for we're all souls inside."
With a middle name of Fox -- signifying Xfiles and cunning, You'll have a way with words and will always be forthcoming.
Surrounded by animals -- at your mother's sanctuary, Your situation is unusual and extraordinary.
A place you'll learn -- from the day you are born, That all animals deserve respect -- and not eaten or worn.
Your mother hopes you'll be -- a servant and devotee, To carry on her mission -- she hopes you'll agree. 
Your daddy hopes you'll be a yogi -- a master of your tongue,to expand Food for Life Global and give prasadam to everyone. 
So thank you for making us -- a happy family, a complete triangle accentuated with your sister, Kishori
May the Lord bless you abundantly -- to live a life divine, to be the best you can always -- and to forever shine. 
NOTE: Bhimal was born on December 19, 2015. Today he is 44 days old.