Anthony Marr's CARE-7 tour blog #5 - 13 Apr 2010
Northern California
It's been only 10 days Since the start of my 40-states-in-7-months
Compassion for Animals Road Expedition #7
Today is Vivianne's last day before heading down to Los Angeles to meet
with her spiritual master H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who, while based in
India, has millions of followers worldwide. Her intention is to continue to
persuade him to embrace animal welfare and animal rights in his teachings,
and to establish an animal sanctuary near Bangalore. Some years ago, while
on a pilgrimage to India, she saw, to her chagrin, indifference at best, and
cruelty at worst, among the thousands of pilgrims. She went straight to the
holy man to expressed her dismay, and did catch his attention, and later
received his promise to do his best. But in doing so, she became the object
of scorn and abuse of his followers. "How DARE you talk to his holiness in
this manner?!!" And yet she is undeterred. Over the last few days, she
crafted a 16-page letter to H.H., which she asked me to read, and this, in
small part, is what she wrote:
"...I had a hard time going very deep into silence and meditation because
of the stray animal situation at the ashram, and also because of two bad and
sad experiences that happened to me while staying there, which I am going to
share with you... Several times I broke my silence only to speak up for the
animals who do not have a voice... I am so elated and happy that you told me
in person that YOU and The Art of Living will do the very best for the
animals. I can�t tell you my joy. Words fail me. Coming from you, I take it
very deeply into my heart, because you do not say things lightly... Sorry,
it is a little hard to hold back my enthusiasm, because when you are
committed you do it in a very grand way with style and great power, which
always brings fantastic results. I feel like you have finally heard me this
time, and that you have felt the plight of the animal kingdom and Mother
Earth. Don�t get me wrong Gurudev; it is not that I do not care about humans
and children. On the contrary, I am always involved somehow to help them as
much as the animals. Michael and I regularly sponsor one Indian little girl,
one Tibet teenager, one woman oppressed war survivor and many children in
the Sudan... I am not saying this to brag about us, no I am saying this with
humility and only so that you are aware where my heart lies... in the Divine
manifesting in all sentient beings; and only hope deeply to do so much more
in the near future for many different causes... from human rights,
environment, peace, (oppressed) women to animal rights issues... I am the
voice for those who can�t speak... You always say to be passionate for the
highest, the divine! Thus, I see the divine in all and feel the oneness in
all creatures of Mother Earth... Indeed, some of the most powerful spiritual
experiences of samadhi I have lived so far have been with my spiritual
connection with the animals. The reason I am so persistent, and give great
attention and efforts toward the animal cause, is that most people help the
humans, but not the animals. In addition, the animals do not have a voice.
Most people do not see the Divine in animals. Their hearts are still closed
toward other species. Helping the animals is really helping humanity and
oneself. And this seva is so humble Guruji. There is no glory, glamor,
prestige, recognition, ego. On a personal level, only the unconditional love
of the animals and the spiritual connection to the Divine Mother in them is
the immediate beauty. What else can we want? Animal seva really exemplifies
the Divine feminine energy at work at her best!
"Unfortunately, I often find a lot of opposition and sometimes strong
animosity toward me from my brothers and even sisters because I help the
animals... They look at me as if I were a fool. Perhaps, I am one!... But,
it appears to me that many of your devotees and even teachers who are the
closest to you physically don�t get your full teaching. It is time for the
Art of Living organization to embrace animal seva all around the world! For
instance, the man who works in upper management from the complaint
department of the Indian ashram, the one who was very mean, rude, arrogant
and angry toward me - because I gave a little piece of food to one of the
sweetest dogs - said to me; �You foreigners, you think you come here, and
can change the ashram in five days.�... But we do need to change fast,
because there is not much time left for planet Earth. Bless his heart, and I
pray for his awakening. Another example was Dr. E., one of your most senior
teachers, and who happened to be my neighbor next door at the Ganesh
building at the ashram. A pure synchronicity of the Divine Mother! I must
share these stories with you Guruji, because they really prove that even
some of your very close devotees or even some of your senior teachers can be
cruel and very mean to the animals, and how their hearts are closed to other
creatures and even to us who love the animals and see the divine in them.
Often some of these high ranking teachers desire to be respected and to be
viewed as your embodiment... these very teachers are tarnishing your
reputation and Art of Living's reputation. Perhaps, they are not aware of it
or their ego is the ultimate master in them. The world is watching Guruji
and paying very close attention to the good, but especially to the wrong...
I take the liberty to speak on behalf of thousands of my dear brothers and
sisters around the world who also feel the same way. We are begging you
Guruji, we need your support and leadership within the One World family and
the entire globe... I would like to stress the great importance of this
urgent need to change the consciousness and awareness within the AOL
organization around the world first before it can spread outward. But it
must come from you first Guruji. I am not trying to tell you what to do, or
pointing out only evil doings, only how your teaching can impact the world
in the very best possible way, benefiting billions of creatures who are
suffering greatly and also benefiting millions of these disciples and
devotees who love animals spiritually.
"Here is one of my little true stories that happened in my last visit at
the Indian Ashram. One moonless night, one of the most loving and adorable
doggies followed me to my building. When I arrived at my room, I gave him
water outside since he was very thirsty. Several nights in the past, he had
slept at my doorstep like good dogs do, protecting me and displaying his
love. But that was before Dr. E. had moved in. So there I was giving water
to the thirsty... does it really matter which species?... It was already
pretty late, and Dr. E. with his lovely wife arrived at their room. Almost
at once, Dr. E. started to yell at me and the dog with disdain uttering,
�Don�t bring these filthy and disgusting creatures here,� as he chased the
dog away with fury. �They are filled with diseases. I don�t want them
around!� He never let me explain nor could I have a dialogue with him
regarding the issue. I was not in silence yet at this moment, so I kindly
and briefly reminded him of your teaching on universal responsibility,
oneness, and about human values such as kindness, love, respect and
compassion to all sentient beings. And Dr. E. told me I had the teaching
�wrong� as he slammed his door. Clearly, we had begun a powerful process!
But my convictions and my intuitive heart obviously knew that the teaching
and knowledge flowing through me is purely satvic. Then, I reflected and
asked for guidance on how to handle the situation. I knew it was not over. I
meditated on it. Then, the answer came the following day. I wrote him a
note, which said, "Dear Dr. E., If you had the good fortune or the
misfortune to be a stray dog or any animal for that matter, how would you
like to be treated?..." I slipped it underneath his door the following
night. Several days went by and several of the doggies wanted to follow me,
not because of food necessarily, but because of my love. I tried very hard
to not let them follow me. A few of them got really attached to me! How can
you blame them or me, they must have felt love for their first time in their
lives. That is the power of love!! So, I got some following! That is a baby
step. Another night one of my most adorable and very intelligent male dogs
followed me. I called him �Boogie�. Actually, the same one - a close
devotee! And, believe me I really tried hard to escape him in order to
protect him. But, when I entered my room after just a few seconds, I heard
this loud howling, screaming in pain. I ran out of my room to see what had
occurred, as Dr. E. walked back hastily into his room with such
righteousness, and a defiant, arrogant air on his face with his chin up. And
also I could see shame on his face too. I took a deep breath and did not
confront him. I stayed peaceful, calm and centered. There are no excuses for
Dr. E.�s cruel and mean misbehavior toward Boogie. I do not know if Dr. E.
kicked him or threw something hard at him. But, he did something wrong that
hurt him, judging by the screams. It does not really matter what it was.
That negative behavior is even more so coming from a high-ranking senior
teacher like him. And it was clear that Boogie was in pain from his
screaming. There is no reason in the world anyone should beat up on any
creature or human being. I let it go and sent Dr. Eberhard my love, light
and blessings, and then prayed for his awaking... Many more days went by.
Towards the end of our program... one of my most lovable and adorable female
doggies followed me to my building by accident. I closed the gate of Ganesh
and told her to go. But, she lay there waiting for me outside. In a rage,
Dr. E. came rushing out, grabbed whatever he could find such as stones and
branches, and proceeded to throw it at this poor defenseless dog... I am not
trying to pick at certain individuals or gossip, or to destroy someone�s
reputation. It is not my nature. I am only sharing with you this kind of
information, so you get the full picture of what is happening even with a so
called spiritual teacher, and that this negative attitude is prevalent among
many teachers and others within the AOL family. I have seen it many times
with my own eyes. I hope you appreciate my honesty and integrity. I am sorry
Gurudev, but I must share with you these things..."
There is a lot more to her letter, and the rest contained mostly positive
suggestions for change and new developments, but due to her imminent
departure, her husband Michael led us to the place of an Argentinian friend
name Ramiro in another part of Marin County for the rest of our stay in
northern California, where I finished reading the letter. Upon completing my
reading, I was moved to write her a letter in response, which she requested
me to write. And I wrote:
"Dearest Vivianne,
"I have read your letter to your spiritual master. I must say it made you
in my mind an even great goddess than before. It is sincere, honest,
insightful, passionate, compassionate, and above all, brave. I cannot think
of another person among his other millions of followers who would DARE to
utter a single word in the form of a question, much less a statement, much
much less an advice.
"I cannot believe that some of the senior 'spiritual' teachers could be
so unenlightened, not to mention callous, arrogant, and cruel. It does not
reflect well on your Guruji in the eyes of the world (like mine). The master
is defined by his followers, and he is not being well served. The question
in the mind of a common person in the street would be: 'Is the grand master
just the same as the lesser masters, who seems just the same as any animal
abuser?'
"You know me, goddess, when I go to India, I am just one person,
attempting to rescue an entire magnificent species from human destruction,
of which we have no right. You have given me gifts, goddess, physical and
spiritual, for which I am deeply grateful. Imagine me not only casting them
away, but further trampling them under my feet. The tiger is a divine gift
to the world, to humanity, and to our children. How can we call ourselves
spiritual, to spite the divine gift in this atrocious manner? Now, I see
millions of people going to India, and not one of them lifts a finger to
help rescue this great treasure, for the world, for our children, for its
own sake, and for the divine? Do these people go there to save the world, or
just to get their own souls to Nirvana? If the latter, I would consider it
the ultimate of selfishness. And if the former, what are they doing about
it? The tiger is one of the most glorious creations of the Divine (through
millions of years of evolution of course, which to the Divine is but a blink
of the third eye). If we can't even save the tiger, which is universally
admired, what CAN we save? If we trample on it and destroy it, what kind of
gratitude are we offering the Divine? It is India's responsibility to rescue
the Bengal tiger from extinction, and yet, it is a world treasure that all
will enjoy. I cannot image how the world could be beautiful without it. I
would weep for our children for their loss. Most of all, I would mourn the
tiger for its own sake.
"It really pains me to see millions of people converging upon a great
spiritual center, and only the few lone activists struggle in the mud
against the oppressive tide of humanity crushing the last few remaining
pockets of natural beauty, of which the millions are a part. Truly, I now
see myself, and indeed you, as just two lone voices in the wilderness, while
the masses indulge in their spiritual ascension, and stoning helpless
animals when 'spiritually' satiated. I earnestly implore you, my goddess,
since you, though you irresistible sincerity, have gained the attention of
your grand master, to implore him to rally his forces to save this great
gift from the Divine, for the Divine, and in doing so, also save humanity
from eternal damnation, which would indeed be our fate if we let ourselves
be the great destroyer of the Divine gift.
"To substantiate my request, please see and present to your Guruji my
"Champion of the Bengal Tiger" video in www.myspace.com/AnthonyMarr, and the
"Year of the Tiger Special" in www.youtube.com/AnthonyMarr. The situation is
more than dire. In another short decade, there will be nothing left.
"Your compassion warrior."
Within minute, Vivianne wrote back to me:
"Oh, my precious compassionate warrior, I hear you as clear as the moon
reflecting on my soul. I totally agreed with you sweetheart. I will do my
very best, and will always continue to be persistent with Gurudev. I will
definitely bring the tiger in the forefront to Guruji's attention as soon as
I get a positive response from this letter/proposal. We need to give him a
little time. The tiger issue would be one of the first campaign we can work
on when we open the Sri Sri Compassionate Animal Center, and you could be
the leading force behind it since you are an expert on the issue, and I
would make sure Guruji knows it... I will talk about it in my next letter to
Gurudev so he can bring it up in India. Thanks so much for your heart felt
and poignant letter to me. I am so grateful.
"In my heart and soul, I always feel that is so crucial to be authentic
and genuine with our convictions regardless who it is... Guruji is my
master, the most precious gift i can have in my life and I feel very close
to him, so it is natural to pour my heart and soul out to him. It has to be
that way, otherwise he is not my master. But, yes I agree with you - not a
lot of devotes will dare to say one word! That is why i am a Goddess!
"And you are the other precious gift to my life and humanity. I am so
honored to have you as my dear friend and compassionate warrior. Now you and
Anthony D. go hunt big time.... yes go hunting the hearts of the animal
hunters! Shoot millions arrows of divine love and compassion into their
souls!
"Love you so dearly,
Vivi Devi"
Why do women make me cry so easily?
Now for something lighthearted. Ramiro is a very handsome Argentinian
man, with a very handsome house with a very handsome view. He has vacated
his house to stay with his girlfriend for a few days so that Anthony D and I
could have his house to ourselves. He is an expert horseman, excelling in
polo, and since I used to be one myself excelling in hunter-jumper, we talk
horses and humane equestrianism, and shared our horse pictures. When it was
his time to go, he said casually, "Here is the house key, and here is the
key to the Ferrari." Anthony D and I were dumbfounded. I thought he was
joking, but upon opening the garage door, there it was, a dark silver
Ferrari convertible whose model name I could not begin to guess. We would
not presume to drive it, but I did sit in the driver's seat and had AD snap
a couple of pictures for fun-sharing with a few friends. Marla
Stormwolf-Patty, who had always said that I was the most "Zen" person she
knew, wrote back, "I like these candid shots of a very cool vegan. You're
the only person I know who can look zen behind the wheel of a Ferrari." And
I wasn't even in the meditative position!
Later, Ramiro dropped by for a brief visit, and told me that he was
selling the Ferrari, saying that it was not his kind of car, and that he did
not want to be stared at while he was driving. So why did he buy it in the
first place? No, he did not. Someone could not repay a debt to him, and gave
the car to him as payment. He had not driven the car for over half a year. A
very fine man.
In the afternoon, we dropped by the IDA office, when Dr. Katz personally
wrote me a $1,000 cheque in support of our endeavor. I was greeted warmly by
Hope Bohanec who passed my blog #4 to her friends, and met Renee for the
first time. Long may IDA run!
Tomorrow, we will move on to Santa Cruz and Monterey for a veg potluck
and another speech. Then, southward down the coast to Santa Barbara and Los
Angeles, where I will see my dear friend Coby Siegenthaler yet once again.
At 4 pm on Sunday the 17th, I'm slated to speak at the Animal Liberation
Forum on Long Beach, to be followed by Lorri Houston at 6 pm. I asked the
forum the expected duration of my speech, and was told that it would be up
to 80 minutes! Wow, that's almost 1/4 of my favored time frame!
In closing, I wish to thank the following Global Anti-Hunting Coalition
volunteers and friends who have offered me and Anthony Damiano their
invaluable support, both practically and spiritually: Tia Terrel (NJ), Marla
Stromwolf-Patty (CA), Christine Miller (FL), Michelle Yorty (PA), Cristina
Reyes (Australia), Nan Sea Love (CA) and Eve Loves Cher (NY), and of course
Anthony Damiano. I feel very blessed to have them in my life.
Anthony Marr, Founder and President
Heal Our Planet Earth (HOPE)
Global Anti-Hunting Coalition (GAHC)
[email protected]
www.HOPE-CARE.org
www.ARConference.org
www.MySpace.com/AnthonyMarr
www.YouTube.com/AnthonyMarr
www.myspace.com/Anti-Hunting_Coalition
www.facebook.com/Anthony.Marr.001
www.facebook.com/Anthony-Hunting_Coalition
www.HomoSapiensSaveYourEarth.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com (search for �Anthony Marr Heal Our Planet Earth�
Touring cell: begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 216-386-7362
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