Text COM:2006833 (76 lines) [W1]

From: Internet: jayadeva das <nityanandarama@hotmail.com>

Date: 11-Jan-99 22:05

To: Apocalypse 1999? (Are you ready?) [369]

Comment: Text COM:2009133 by Malati (dd) ACBSP (Columbus - USA)

Subject: from Bhakti-tirtha Swami

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Dear Bhakti-raghava Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to ISKCON founder-acarya

Srila Prabhupada.

I’m very happy at the level of concern that you have about this issue.

Especially to the degree your using it as a preaching opportunity and to

the degree that you see it is more important than ever to develop our

rural communities. I had been previously a little frustrated, for four

years ago just before I took over Gita-nagari, I formulated 14 cell

groups for devotees to meet regularly and see how move towards

self-sufficiency. After some months of reflecting, hours and hours of

meetings and so many hours of research, we moved on to the farm. Once we

moved on the farm although we introduced a weekly skills development

workshop, where we had ongoing discussions about such things as

alternative energy, water purification, carpentry, bartering, taking

care of the cows and a host of other things, somehow just the day to day

maintenance an problems did not allow us to move to a more serious level

of self-sufficiency, in terms of really moving off the grid.

Realizing that education and an most importantly relationship building

were an essential foundation for building a strong community, we spent

two whole years just in dealing with relationship building. I will share

more about this in my report on our present situation here at a later

time. Of course one of our greatest difficulties is that we had

practically no one in the community who knew anything about rural life

or had any serious technical knowledge. Even worse is that this was and

has been my situation also. Therefore I had good intentions and a lot of

ideas about what was necessary, but I didn’t have those who had

sufficient expertise and the few I did have were so caught up in their

karmi jobs that they could never render any serious assistance. Now due

to the Y2K issue it seems like a blessing in disguise, because now so

many members of the community have built up such amazing momentum. But

now we have established cell groups in Washington and Gita-nagari and a

Y2K committee in Potomac all beginning to work together for

preparedness. Our mood is that things will not come back to the same

level as they are presently and that most of the world’s people will

have to make major adjustments in their lives. Most importantly in the

Gita-nagari/Washington connection we are constantly being reminded and

we are engaged in specific things for intensifying our devotion and

connecting more as a very tight community.

On another note, let me suggest getting updates about preparedness from

some of the other communities. You already have your contact for the

Saranagati community, but here are a few other communities: For the

Alachua community you might contact Balavanta, Kirtiraja, or Mahasrnga.

I think Mahasrnga is a ksatriya Chairman of the Y2K effort there. Also

contact the Prabhupada Village community. I would suggest contacting

Suresvara. Mother Hare Krsna dasi has his e-mail address. And also

contact Dayarama for the Mayapur project.

When do we expect that our package for the leaders will be ready?

Perhaps Dasarath and Hare Krsna dasi can respond to this. Also has

Dasarath finished his report yet?

Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service,

With love,

Bhakti-tirtha Swami

Return address: btswami@ibm.net

P.S.- Dear Bhakti-raghava maharaja. Once we get the different reports

from the communities we can submit them to Kaunteya so that they can

also be shared internationally. One of the things that’s going to be

very important is how different communities network amongst themselves,

as well amongst certain civic groups and communities that have been

living for decades how we’re now trying to consider. We’re presently

getting information from the Alachua community about buying food in

bulk. We’re sharing information with communities concerning purchasing

generators and pumps. We are visiting the Amish and contacting the

Mormons for different concerns.

Dear Hare Krsna dasi. When our Y2K package is to be sent out, please

send one also to HH Indradyumna Swami at:

- ul. Mlodych Wilczat 44

05-540 Zalesie Gorne

Poland

He very much would like to be supplied with any materials that can

update him and assist him in communicating with and preparing his

devotees.

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