THOUGHT FOR TODAY

This is a letter from Dr. Anil Kumar, a Hindu , to me when I was recuperating from a very serious and painful illness in 2002. Deprived of the use of my legs through bad circulation and had to undergo an operation with no certainty of being able to walk unaided again, by His grace, I can stand again and walk unaided with just minor discomfort.

WHY DOES ONE SUFFER? - A Hindu point of view.

Spiritually based on Vedic teachings, one may reconcile and call it Prarabhda (destiny) Karma. Another explanation can be that, when one is ready for his/her advancement ascension, the Almighty upon His own assessment and coordinating with the needs of His creation would impose this perceived episode of suffering. Thus, perceived suffering may just be a lesson test needing to be mastered by that individual. Hence, if the Almighty did not consider that individual worthy of this lesson prashad (blessing) one would not have received it.

Please be assured that the above is not a sermon to others only, but also applicable to myself as well. I am very certain that both Shri Butisingh and Ms Diane Dalton being spiritually oriented are currently facing their physical pain and worldly problems with a positive attitude. Also it is the Almighty’s kindness to direct fellow beings to provide encouragement to both these people in hours of their need. I personally would like to offer any service that either of these two spiritual beings consider me worthy of providing them.

– Dr. Anil Kumar

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“No one truly lives who does not truly love.”

Taken from poem THREE ESSENTIALS FOR LIVING
by Randall Butisingh.

From the Wisdom of Gandhi

Love is a rare herb that makes a friend even of a sworn enemy, and this herb grows out of nonviolence.
Love is the only remedy for hate. It blossoms only in the heart of a fearless man.
It is the law of love that rules manhind.
Love is the subtlest force in the world.
The real love is to love them that hate you, to love your neighbour even though you distrust him.
Love is indeed the highest form of nonviolence. It is the basic of all domestic duties.
Satyagraha is the same as truth force, love force, or soul force.

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY

INTERVIEW WITH TWO STUDENT DOCTORS, 2001

This is an interview I had with two student doctors in the USA, who interviewed me in 2001 when I was 89 years old. — Randall Butisingh

Question; How have you kept your health over the Years?

Answer: My state of health is not fortuitous. Apart from being born into a strong, healthy family, I had a good start from babyhood. I was breast fed from for many months. My parents had a small dairy, and as a child, I was given milk fresh from the udders of the cows which were grass fed. I liked fruits and in my days as a child, we had them in abundance. I exercised a great deal during my life; I ran, I swam, I boxed, I played cricket, I did acrobatics. I remember as a child, I never liked to be a mere spectator in a sporting event. I always liked to be a participator. Throughout the years, after surviving all the childhood illnesses, except typhoid and whooping cough, which I never contracted, I believe I built up a good immune system.

Mentally, I improved with old age. At eighty-nine, I think clearer, learn faster and remember better. My eyesight has very much improved after cataract operations so I can do much reading and writing. At present, I read Oriental philosophy and Comparative religion. I read and write poetry. I am interested in music also and did some practice on the violin at the age of seventy-five. I started to play the recorder (German flute), only a few months ago and have acquired some degree of proficiency. I can also translate music to accommodate it on the recorder.

Apart from being a teacher, which I am all my life, with a few breaks in between where I garnered good experiences in other occupations, I am a learner . I learned shorthand and typewriting, Hindi and Urdu while at school and the Arabic Script after I was eighty. I believe that when one stops learning, he ceases to live, and it is never too late to learn.

Question: Whom do you admire most in life? How do you feel that influences you in how you live your life?

Answer: The person I admire most in my life is Mahatma Gandhi, the architect of India’s freedom. Although I never saw him, I wept when he died as many did all over the world. I have read his autobiography and several of his biographies. I have also translated a hundred page biography of him from Hindi to English.. His doctrine of love and non-violence and self-denial appealed to me. He taught that I can live comfortably on very little; while others are poor while being rich, because they are never satisfied. I can be rich without having much because I want nothing and can share from the little that I have.

Question: Knowing that you live two months in the U.S.A. and two months in Guyana, what are the differences?

Answer: I enjoy living with relatives in the United States. My physical needs are well taken care of, but I am pampered and dependent. I have, however, made many good friends here, ranging from early twenties to past middle age. I am a good teacher, and there is always something which I can teach someone, . Here I am exposed to the best programmes on television, to music, to art, (I did six paintings of sceneries at a class I attended), to philosophy. I can follow the issues of the day, be an armchair traveller where I can see the countries of the world in the comfort of the living room, can communicate freely by telephone and e-mail. Here I have all the time of the world at my disposal.

In Guyana, however, I enjoy more independence. I do most things for myself, including cooking and washing. I move around more freely with the friends I have there. I am in an organization that propagates Hindi. I teach Hindi, set question papers for the Hindi examinations, edit a Journal, write Welcome and Farewell addresses in Hindi for High Commissioners and Hindi professors, give talks at religious gatherings and correspond with the newspapers.

Students: Thanks!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” Lyrics by Loretta Lynn:

Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Once upon a time there lived a man and his name was Isaac
He walked with God both day and night but he didn’t wanna die
He cried oh Lord please let me live death is close I know
God smiled down on Isaac and gave him fifteen years to go

Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Lord I wanna go to heaven but I don’t wanna die
So I long for the day when I’ll have new birth still I love the livin’ here on earth
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die

When Jesus lived here on this earth he knew his father’s plan
He knew that he must give his life to save the soul of men
When Judas had betrayed him his father heard him cry
He was brave until his death but he didn’t wanna die
Everybody wants to go to heaven…
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die

- Loretta Lynn

Dealing with the inevitability of personal death is the greatest issue facing every man and woman living in this world. The problem is that very few people look at this reality “with eyes wide open!” The pain for many is too great! So what do we do? We collect money and things and busy ourselves in mindless tasks so that they do not have to deal with this TRUTH. Is your wish to live due to the need for the enjoyment of material wealth or for spiritual growth?

We usually live in a dream state, unwilling to wake up and look in the mirror and face reality. Being on the move, always busy- no time for thinking or introspection - is not the way to find true happiness. KNOW THYSELF - One has to look deep inside, meditate and find the true meaning of why you are here on Earth – at this critical time. Find your divine purpose. Find out what is your role in being part of the solution rather than being part of the problem? Crass materialism will never bring happiness as you have to leave it all one day, if it does not disappear in an economic world wide depression before you die.

However, discovering that light within your soul and striving to be a connection to the Universal Energy Source would ensure your spiritual and emotional self-actualization. You would then realize that escapism from reality only pushes the pain of conscious life in the sub-conscious and is harmful to your health and sanity. Facing up to reality and accepting yourself and the short sojourn you have on Earth, and how you can be of service to mankind is the motto that you should have as you move through life realizing that selfishness and inflated egos are the enemies of spiritual development. Live each day to the fullest but always be AWARE of each life-sustaining breath you take.Make your life one of service to the Universal Goodness of Mankind.

World without end! – And all of us are an integral part of this truth.

- Cyril Bryan

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Suffering is the crucible in which the character is burnished.
Taken from “FLASHES OF LIGHT”  by
Randall Butisingh

SUFFERING QUOTATIONS

ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL
A religious man is one who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love, and defiance of despair.
New York Journal American, April 5, 1963

ALBERT CAMUS
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that that there was within me an invincible summer.

ALDOUS HUXLEY
At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols..

CORITA KENT
Love the moment.  Flowers grow out of dark moments.  Therefore each moment is vital.  It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each is to succeed

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

QUOTES BY BERTRAND RUSSELL

“What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires — desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.”

“Those who forget good and evil and seek only to know the facts are more likely to achieve good than those who view the world through the distorting medium of their own desires.”

“We are faced with the paradoxical fact that education has become one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought.”

“To teach how to live with uncertainty, yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy can do.”

“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” “Those who fear life are already three parts dead.”

“War does not determine who is right - only who is left.” -

— Bertrand Russell, philosopher 1872-1970

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

BLOT ON CIVILISATION

–Another peep into history. – By: Randall Butisingh

Letter sent to the Guiana Graphic around 1960 when Apartheid was in its highest degradation of Black South Africans while a neutral world passively observes.

______________________

The monstrous policy of Apartheid in South Africa which aims at dividing humanity is a blot on civilization and an insult, not only to the coloured race, but to every seeker of truth in this age.

If the conscience of the world is not awakened to this outrage on humanity, and if this state of affairs is allowed to continue with no pressure being to brought to bear on it by world opinion and the custodians of democracy, then our avowed democratic institutions will be made to suffer.

It behooves us at this time to remember the prophecy of Haile Selassie when he witnessed the attitude of the Western Powers in the unprovoked invasion of Abyssinia by the Italians led by their fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. That prophecy was fulfilled in the Second World War. Dante said “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality.” This applies to individuals as well as to groups.

It is heartening; however, that the Church in South Africa is taking a courageous stand in this matter, and it is hoped that the Church in the entire world will give its moral support. Loyalty to country is a good thing, but loyalty to heaven is far worthier. Humanity is of far more importance than Race. The former which is indivisible embraces all races; the latter is the result of geographical influences and can be divided by artificial barriers and also of prejudice.

At this critical period of world history, such a situation should exercise the minds of all Truth seekers. It is especially a challenge to Christians, whose duty it is, at any place, at any time, to defend fearlessly the rights of the individual and the dignity of the Human Race. In so doing they will be helping in securing Harmony and Peace.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

In 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia (then Abyssinia). Haile Selassie, its emperor was forced into exile in 1936. He appealed to the League of Nations for help, but received none. During World War II, the British helped to reinstate him. He ruled until 1974, when he was deposed by the army and imprisoned in his palace because of famine, unemployment and political unrest.

Mussolini, on the other hand, against advice, joined Hitler and declared war in 1940. After his defeat, he tried to escape but was pursued by Italian communists and executed with his mistress Cllaretta Petacci. Their bodies were hung downward in the Piazza Loretto in Milan. The mass of Italians greeted his death with no regret.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

MANKIND IS INTERCONNECTED AND INTERRELATED
… Unawareness of this is the cause of conflict.

There is a Divinity higher than humanity, that is behind and beneath all man’s activities. But man is not aware of it and he fails to benefit by that awareness. His first task is to recognize this source of joy and peace. That Divinity is like the thread in which the flowers are strung that holds the flowers together and makes a garland out of a heap of blossoms.

Mankind is strung together by this inherent Divinity.

Divine Discourse. March 29, 1979.

– Randall Butisingh

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

CLOTHING IN CIVILISED COMMUNITIES

This article written in the sixties when male teachers were allowed to remove their jackets in school; later they were allowed to come to school without jackets, but they could wear a shirt-jac or shirt and tie… During the seventies, the tie was discarded.

——

In an article captioned “Mini-skirted teacher” by Lucian, I would like to add that clothing in civilized communities is not only an article for the protection and adornment of the body, but it has a religious and cultural significance as well.

Among the religions, there is a tendency to dress in a manner which is sexually sobering, hence the purdah which is an extreme system of covering the whole body, including the face, by Muslim women. The shalwar and sari of the Hindus are garments which cover the whole body, but are elegant in appearance.

On the other hand, the tendency of primitive peoples is to wear as little clothing, if you may call it so, as possible. In most cases, only the regions for which Eve and Adam improvised their attire with the leaves of the fig tree are covered.

The argument that this or that piece of garment is superfluous or inconvenient cannot hold water. Usage and adaptability will take care of that.

Guyana is a hot country and from the point of view of suitability where comfort is concerned, would be that worn by the Arawaks. Our belles will be cool and attractive in the outfit worn by Miss Guyana for world scrutiny; but after all we are civilized, and this type of apparel, notwithstanding its practical utility, will be regarded as indecent.

The teaching profession calls for a certain dignity in appearance, and this dignity is dictated by convention and as Lucian rightly said, obligation. Dignified clothes hide contours, even deformities, both of which attract either salacious or morbid interest.

In our society the use of the tie as a cultural symbol is voluntary in certain categories of workers, but obligatory in the teaching profession where it is the duty of the members to main cultural standards.

Teachers are not models for fashion in the classroom. Fashion is an ephemeral phenomenon. Its designers pander to the excitement and attraction which current taste can reject. Teachers, too, must not initiate changes, but must confirm to what is accepted by society.

The time for discarding the tie by the male, even if reason prompts, and for permitting teachers to dress unconventionally and without modesty has not yet arrived… Let whatever is dignified and decent in apparel be retained in the classroom until such time as custom otherwise decrees. Perhaps a dignified national costume may be evolved.

Footnote: When a Miss Guyana entered for a Miss World contest in the seventies, she displayed what was worn by the Arawaks, an indigenous Amerindian tribe in Guyana.

. - Randall Butisingh

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

REDUCING POVERTY IN AFRICA

This is my letter to Brian and Kristen Konkol, recently appointed as missionaries in South Africa. They are dedicated and committed individuals, who were missionaries in Guyana before moving to South Africa a few months ago. They are now settling in and have asked my advice on: “How to reduce Poverty in Africa”. Here is my reply dated April 21, 2008. Your comments and advice on this most important subject are welcome. Feel free to contact Brian and Kristen Konkol with your help and ideas at: (bekonkol@yahoo.com

To: Brian and Kristen Konkol:

Before I attempt to give my opinion on “how to reduce Poverty in Africa”, I will attempt to define Poverty. In my opinion Poverty is a relative term. How? An individual may have very little, and it takes very little to sustain life. He may live in a one room shack with one or no shirt on his back, but he works honestly for the little that he has; he is always cheerful and will gladly share the little he has and his shack with a needy stranger. He is the personification of contentment; his conscience is clear, his sleep at night is sound and unbroken and he lives without fear. Would you call such an individual poor?

On the other hand a person may be laden with this world’s goods, like an overlade camel, much more above his needs; But he is the personification of greed; he cannot have enough; he is discontented; always wants more and more, never share what he has with the needy for concern that it will diminish him. This makes him grouchy, irritable, and cheerless. His sleep at nights is unsound and broken because of fear that someone may come and rob him of what he has. Would you call such an individual rich?

Now, how about reducing Poverty in Africa! Africa is a continent, beautiful and potentially rich, but it has been exploited by foreigners and recently, after independence by its own leaders. There were very few leaders, among them being Nelson Mandela, who did not succumb to the plague of corruption. Billions of the country’s wealth and foreign aid have been stashed away in foreign banks by corrupt politicians while those whom they have been supposed to serve go hungry.

This brings us to the question of education. If the populace is not adequately educated in order to understand the issues and the ability to confront injustice wherever it rears its ugly head, exploitation and corruption will continue to have a field day. Recently two benevolent Americans have been working in this field. They are Oprah Winfrey who is spending millions to educate over a hundred girls in South Africa to become leaders in the future and Bill Clinton who is spending millions to improve Agriculture in one of the countries in Africa.

It should also be noted that Poverty is an attitude in some of the countries. The men leave all the hard work to the women. When they do not hunt or fish, they gather in groups and idle away their time while the women work in the fields. Recently a group of women banded together in a community, and refused to slave for their idle husbands.

We need people who can educate, motivate and inspire these people, raising them from their present level, especially the women to one of respectability. Here is where you and Kirsten can fit in and I know that with the meager physical resources you have but the abundance of will, dedication and commitment, you will make things happen.
Africa does not need to be spoon fed. But while they are given the tools to progress, effort should be made meanwhile to eliminate hunger and disease.
Remitting of debts will be of little help if attitudes do not change.
Love, joy and peace,

Randall

randallbutisingh@hotmail.com