NATION - RELIGION -   KING

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

Siem Reap  ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 2011 )

OM SURABHYAI NAMAH!

OM SRI-GURAVE NAMAH !

WELCOME

Welcome to the May edition of the ANGKOR BULLETIN. This will serve as a supplement to our website www.bhakticambodia.com. Devotees serving in the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to provide various information to our viewers to solicit their interest and participation, however that may be. We plan to make available literatures in the local Khmer language both those of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) and those of the Varnasrama Book Trust (VBT).
We are looking for interested persons from the Kingdom of Cambodia who can help in various activities, including translation and printing of literatures into Khmer.

Hare Krishna

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Meat-diet:What's wrong?

Ahimsa paramo dharmah
Lord Buddha appeared at a time where people were too much addicted to animal killing. So God Himself becomes so much disturbed that these rascals are simply killing. Then Lord Buddha began to preach his philosophy, ahimsa, nonviolence. Ahimsa paramo dharmah. Because He was very kind upon on the poor animals. This instruction of Lord Buddha isn’t merely a dogma or sentiment but can be scientifically analyzed.

So, what’s wrong with the meat diet? The meat centered diet link to these things.

Forest Destruction
According to Vegetarian Times, half of the annual destruction of tropical rain forest is caused by clearing land for beef cattle ranches. In the US about 260 million acres of forest have been cleared for a meat centered diet. Each person who becomes a vegetarian saves one acre of trees per year.

Agricultural Inefficiency
About half of world’s grain is consumed by animals that later slaughtered for meat. This is a very inefficient process. It takes 16 pounds of grain and soyabean to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef. If people were to subsist on grains and other vegetarian food alone, this would put far less strain on the earth’s agriculrtural lands. About 20 vegetarians can be feed on the land that it takes to feed 1 meat eater. if the soyabeans and grain fed yearly to US livestock were set aside for human consumption, it would feed 1.3 billion people.

Soil Erosion and Desertification
Overgrazing and the intensive production of feed grain for cattle and other meat animals results in high levels of soil erosion. World Watch Institute(1986) stated that one pound of beef from cattle raised on feedlots represents the loss of 35 pounds of topsoil.

Air Pollution
Burning of oil in the production of feed grain results in air pollution, including carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. Another major source of air pollution is the burning of tropical forest to clear the land for cattle grazing

Water Pollution
about 50% of water pollution in the US is linked to livestock. Pesticides and fertilizers used in helping grow feed grains run off into lake and rivers.

Water Depletion
Feeding the average meat eater requires about 4,200 gallons water per day versus 1,200 gallons per day for lactovegetarian diet. It takes only 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat, it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat.

And what benefit of being vegetarian?

1) To protect your heart
A comparative study of diet and heart disease in seven countries showed that the death rate from coronary heart disease was highest in countries where the most animal products were consumed.
2) To reduce the risk of cancer
Research over the last twenty years suggests that the same kind of high animal-fat-and-cholesterol diet that may set the stage for heart disease can also contribute to the growth of cancers of the colon, breast, and uterus.
3) To help feed the world’s starving people
A Harvard nutritionist, Jean Marey, estimates that reducing meat production by just 10% would release enough grain to feed 60 million people. United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim recently admitted that meat consumption in the rich countries is the key cause for hunger around the world. How is this? Many agricultural experts and economists feel that one of the chief factors that impairs the achievement of an adequate world food supply is the gross inefficiency in land use entailed by a diet centering on meat. All livestock animals obtain their primary nutriment from plants, thus drawing heavily on those sources of vegetable protein that are later converted into animal products such as meat and eggs. Thus, meat-eating is most uneconomical and impractical. If man were to consume the vegetable foods directly, starvation and its corollary horrors could be wiped off the face of the earth. This is no exaggeration. Mr. A.H. Boerma, the Director General of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization: “But if we are to bring about a real improvement in the diet of the neediest, we must aim at a greater intake of vegetable protein.” The Director General insists that if the common man were educated in the economics of starvation, he would immediately switch to vegetarianism.
“BUT WAIT A MINUTE! Weren’t humans designed to be meat-eaters? Don’t we require animal protein? And besides, I like to eat meat.”
The answer to both of the above questions is a resounding No! Our anatomical equipment-teeth, jaws, digestive system-favors a diet that shuns animal foods. The American Dietetic Association notes that ‘most of mankind for most of human history has subsisted on vegetarian or near-vegetarian diets. Man’s body is simply not designed for eating meat. As the prominent Swedish scientist Von Linne states: “Man’s structure, external and internal, compared with that of the other animals, shows that fruit and succulent vegetables constitute his natural food.” Man is not anatomically suited to a fleshy diet. His physiognomy is more akin to the vegetarian species.
As far as the protein question goes, the late Dr. Paavo Airola, one of the world’s leading authorities on nutrition and natural biology, had this to say, “The official daily recommendation for protein has gone down from the 150 grams recommended 20 years ago to only 45 grams today. Why? Because (1) reliable worldwide research has shown that we do not need so much protein, that the actual daily need is only 30-45 grams a day; and (2) that the protein consumed in excess of the actual daily need is not only wasted, but actually causes serious harm to the body and even is causatively related to such killer diseases as cancer and heart disease. In order to obtain 45 grams of protein a day from your diet you do not have to eat meat; you can get it from a 100% vegetarian diet of a variety of grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables, and fruits.” Dr. Airola goes on to suggest that the lacto-vegetarian diet (a diet composed of dairy products and vegetables) is the one most suitable from modern man. Dr. Airola also gives a good explanation of man’s curious addiction to meat. After all, if man was not meant to eat meat, why does he seem to crave it so much? Dr. Airola says, “Meat, especially red meat, contains many poisons, including a large amount of uric acid, which acts as a common addictive, similar to nicotine, caffeine, etc., creating a constant craving for more. If you were to stop eating meat, you may initially experience some withdrawal symptoms and cravings until your body excretes all the poisons. Then the craving will disappear.”

Adopted from: Divine Nature by Michael Cremo and Mukunda Goswami

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THE GLORIES OF THE TREES

KRISHNA HONOR THE TREES
The praises of the trees are sung by Krsna in Bhagavatam; “Just look at these most fortunate trees of vrindavana. They have dedicated their lives to the welfare of others. Individually they are tolerating all kind of natural disturbances, such as hurricanes, torrents of rain, scorching heat and piercing cold, but they are very careful to relieve our fatigue and give as shelter. My dear friends, I think they are glorified in this birth as trees. They are so careful to give shelter to other that they are like noble, highly elevated charitable men who never is denied shelter by these trees. they supply various kind of facilities to human society, such as leaves, flowers, shade, roots, bark, flavor extracts and fuel” ( Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.22.32-35)
And in the Purana describe Trees have five sorts of kindness that are their daily sacrifice. To families they give fuel; to Passerby they give shade and a resting place; to birds they give a home, and to the sick, they give medicines with their leaves, roots and bark. ( Varaha Purana, 162.41-42)

IMPORTANCE OF TREES
(Planting) five trees is better than (giving birth to) ten sons (as the former) offer libations to the father (planter) with leaves, flowers, and fruits. Ten wells are equal to one pond. Ten ponds are equal to one lake. Ten lakes are equal to one son. Ten sons are equal to one tree. And if one plant a pleasure garden abounding in boundless fruits (yielding many rewards), ( then) gods, wise man, nymphs, yakshas, etc., reside there for tree ages. (Vrikshaayurveda, 5-7)

TREES ARE THE SAVIORS
Trees alone on the earth give happiness both here and hereafter. Since they “save” from object poverty they are named “taravah”(the servitors). ( Vrikshaayurveda, 97)

TREE HELP IN THE PURSUIT OF PURUSAARTHA
Purusaartha: The four goals: Dharma (piety); Artha (Economic development); Kama ( Sense gratification); Moksa ( Liberation from the cycle of birth and death) (Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.16.13). And these goals can be attain by planting and nurtured trees.
Knowing this truth one should undertake planting of trees since trees yield the means of attaining Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksa ( the four aims of life). Therefore the trees should be carefully nurtured as through their shade, flowers, and fruits they help immensely in the pursuit of Dharma, Artha, and Kama (Urikshayurveda, 8 & 98)
To successfully reach the three goals of dharma, artha and kama, one must follow the instructions of the scriptures for this purpose and apply the recommended scientific process. Thus endeavor will prove successful; that is, one will enjoy life without breaking the law of nature (Without jeopardizing the natural balance of the world). On the other hand, if the natural laws to which these three goals are subject are perturbed, conflicts, injustice and disagreement will arise. When the balance is thus destroyed, there can be no question of success in the realms of piety, economic development, or sense gratification. This is the risk present societies are faced with. (The Book of Samskaras, 46)
The present societies have been developing by modern system which is not care for balance of nature especially trees. It is very deferent than how in the ancient time people are preserving the tress and forest, as in Vedic tradition.

VEDIC TRADITION PRESERVING FOREST
Vedic tradition describes tree basic categories of forest; one is Srivan, the forest that provide your prosperity. then there is Tapovan, where you can contemplate as the sages did and seek after truth. The third is Mahavan, the great national forest where all species of life find shelter. fach of these catagories mush be preserved.
The great natural forest was the source of natural wealth such as fodder, timber, root and herbs. Moreover, the trees guaranteed the fertility of the soil and purified the air and water. The village each family can preserve section of forest for their own specific need. These forest were different from Mahavan, the wild forest ore jungle, because they were open for exploitation and harvesting according to strictly ecological practice. This kind of forest was called Srivan, which literally means “forest of wealth they were the basis of community prosperity...The Srivan could be in the form of groves of a particular kind of tree, such as mango. They served many used, providing fruits, flowers, timber product and shelter for grazing cows.
Tapovan is the home for the sages. The life of a rishi, a holy person is mean to be one of self-control and penance though diet, simple living, renunciation of belonging and meditation. The Rishi requeres a place a part from a bustle and passion of worldly life, a place pervaded with the presence of god. This is Tapovan, forest of penance.
(Ranchor Prime, Vedic Ecology)

Yashodapura Ashram promoting the planting the trees and preserve the forest.

We encourage the children and youth stay in the village nearby our farm to be friendly with the nature

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Churning Ocean of Milk. Sculpture in Angkor Wat

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Ajita, unconquerable, advised the demigods to make a peace proposal to the demons. Following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods established a peace with Maharaja Bali, the King of the demons. Then both the demons and the demigods started for the ocean, taking Mandara Mountain with them. Because of the great heaviness of the mountain, the demigods and demons became fatigued, and some of them actually died. Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuda, and by His mercy He brought these demigods and demons back to life. The Lord then lifted the mountain with one of His hands and placed it on the back of Garuda. The Lord sat on the mountain and was carried to the spot of the churning by Garuda, who placed the mountain in the middle of the sea. With the understanding that when the nectar was generated from the churning they would share it equally, the demigods and the demons brought Vasuki to be used as the rope for the churning rod. By the expert arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons held the snake near the mouth, whereas the demigods held the tail of the great snake. Then, with great endeavor, they began pulling the snake in both directions. Because the churning rod, Mandara Mountain, was very heavy and was not held by any support in the water, it sank into the ocean, and in this way the prowess of both the demons and the demigods was vanquished. The Supreme Personality of Godhead then appeared in the form of a tortoise and supported Mandara Mountain on His back. Then the churning resumed with great force. As a result of the churning, a huge amount of poison was produced. The prajapatis, seeing no one else to save them, approached Lord Siva and offered him prayers full of truth. Lord Siva is called Asutosa because he is very pleased if one is a devotee. Therefore he easily agreed to drink all the poison generated by the churning. After Lord Siva drank all the poison, both the demigods and demons took courage and resumed their activities of churning. Because of this churning, first a surabhi cow was produced. Great saintly persons accepted this cow to derive clarified butter from its milk and offer this clarified butter in oblations for great sacrifices. Thereafter, a horse named Uccaihsrava was generated. This horse was taken by Bali Maharaja. Then there appeared Airavata and other elephants that could go anywhere in any direction, and she-elephants also appeared. The gem known as Kaustubha was also generated, and Lord Vishnu took that gem and placed it on His chest. Thereafter, a parijata flower and the Apsaras, the most beautiful women in the universe, were generated. Then the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, appeared. The demigods, great sages, Gandharvas and others offered her their respectful worship. The goddess of fortune could not find anyone to accept as her husband. At last she selected Lord Vishnu to be her master. Lord Vishnu gave her a place to stay everlastingly at His chest. Because of this combination of Lakshmi and Narayana, all who were present, including the demigods and people in general, were very pleased. The demons, however, being neglected by the goddess of fortune, were very depressed. Then Varuni, the goddess of drinking, was generated, and by the order of Lord Vishnu the demons accepted her. Then the demons and demigods, with renewed energy, began to churn again. This time a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu called Dhanvantari appeared. He was very beautiful, and he carried a jug containing nectar. The demons immediately snatched the jug from Dhanvantari’s hand and began to run away, and the demigods, being very morose, took shelter of Vishnu. After the demons snatched the jug from Dhanvantari, they began to fight among themselves. Lord Vishnu solaced the demigods, who therefore did not fight, but remained silent. While the fighting was going on among the demons, the Lord Himself appeared as the incarnation Mohini, the most beautiful woman in the universe.

KRSNE MATIR ASTU

BHAKTI RAGHAVA SWAMI
brswami@varnasrama.org
www.bhakticambodia.com