Prout in Manila, Baguio and Ilocos Norte, Philippines - by Dada Maheshvarananda
Dharmadeva
Batac, Ilocos Norte - Dada Maheshvarananda spoke to a crowd of about 30 professors and students from three major higher education institutions in the province last May 16. Dada Maheshvarananda, author of the book “After Capitalism - PROUT’S Vision for a New World,” discussed the principles of PROUT and other issues, treated with a Proutist perspective.
Dr. Ninfa Asia, one of the coordinators of the lecture and a professor of the Public Administration program at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Graduate School, said that PROUT, having originated from India - a third world country like the Philippines, is very much applicable to the country.
A representative from the Cooperative Development Authority – Ilocos Norte also attended the lecture. She thanked Dada for promoting cooperatives as a means for creating a new world.
When the lecture concluded, academicians had a greater urge to establish an inter-school youth community service group to be oriented with Proutist principles. They also acquired Dada‘s book to be shared in their libraries and also as their personal copy. The coordinators also expressed their intention to the Timpuyog People’s Movement Inc (TPMI) and to Dada Maheshvarananda to conduct a subsequent lecture on PROUT at a bigger venue with more audience.
The TPMI, which was responsible for bringing Dada Maheshvarananda to the province, was also recognized by the Regional Center on Poverty Studies (RCPS) as one of their affiliate organizations. The RCPS, which is based in MMSU and headed by Engr. Criselda Balisacan, was also one of the sponsors of the event.
Shermon Cruz, president of the TPMI, also explained the meaning of the logo of the Ang Katipunan ng mga Samahang Maharlika (Ang KaSaMa), thus giving a brief explanation of the word “Maharlika” as well as the purpose of the Ang KaSaMa and the TPMI.
The lecture was held at the MMSU – Batac Campus. Other participating schools were Northwestern University and Divine Word College, private education centers in Laoag City – the province capital.
What is Ang KaSaMa, Inc.? Ang KaSaMa,Inc. is the acronym for the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Maharlika, Inc., a duly .registered national NGO confederation of regional socio-economic self-reliant multi-sectoral peoples organizations, NGOs, cooperatives,& foundations in Maharlika (Philippines). Ang KaSaMa aims to assist its regional member organizations and associate members especially in building master barangay integrated services models (MU) that will eventually serve as a nucleus nerve center in training, replicating, supporting the creation of self-reliant barangay based cooperatives throughout the nation. Ang KaSaMa is also engaged in renaissance leadership & total well-being training seminars, all-round collective social services, study and leadership circles, self-reliant master barangay models and cooperatives, neo-humanistic popular and ideological movements and advocacy campaigns in coalition with other moral organizations, and in popularization of the Kilusang Sulong Maharlika (KSM) program of self-reliant good governance .
Prout in Manila, Baguio and Ilocos Norte, Philippines - by Dada Maheshvarananda
My 10-day visit to Maharlika was an incredible inspiration for me. In addition to meeting dozens of old friends, I got the chance to meet and share experiences with hard-working Prout activists.
The National Prout Board of Maharlika is composed of: Dada Gayatrananda, Diivakar, Vishva, Rajnikanta, Subhrata, Paritosh, Jayadeva, Ajiir, Arun, Mahesh, Iishvar, Surendra and Ramesh. Their recent accomplishments include renovating part of the Proutist Universal office in Manila, regularizing the legal registration of PU, holding a monthly study circle, organizing two successful one-day leadership training sessions and a regular radio show (tel. +63-9203225249).
Ang Kasama Samaj activist leaders who attended the seminar were: Dada Devapriyananda, Manorainjan (a labor leader from Clark Airbase), Iishvara (Central Luzon), Ram Prasad (Baguio), Jagatmitra (Secretary General), Lalit Mohan, Parvati, Jagat (Cebu, former editor of Prout Times), Japamala (Cebu, Maharlika Artists and Writers Association), Shiva (Ilocos Norte) and Nareshvar. (Ang KaSaMa office: 11 Union Village, Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City, tel. +63-2-931-4882, mobile: 09197863739) See www.angkasama.net
During my last 48 hours, I took a bus to Baguio City in the mountains, where Arjuna and others organized a Prout talk for me in a beautiful art center call Vocas (5th floor of La Azotea Building). Forty people came with just a few hours notice, and I personally taught meditation to four people.
After seven blissful hours, I jumped on another bus to the far north of Luzon Island. Brother Shiva (see photo), professor of political science and coordinator of TIMPUYOG People's Movement, organized a lecture at Mariano Marcos State University. Their certificate of appreciation for Prout is above.
I found a very inspiring speech that Sarkar gave during his June 1968 visit to Maharlika. He said:
“Movement in the physical realm means the construction of a society led by spiritual revolutionaries [sadvipras]… Sinners will oppose you, but you will have to face the challenge... You are human beings, because you are fighting against immoralists.
“In the psychic realm you have to establish righteousness by removing the germs of crude mentality. Everywhere in the world today the crude intellect dominates. It is your duty to replace it with your righteous intellect…
“In the spiritual realm, your task is to establish Cosmic ideation… It is your duty to show the right path to society in those three spheres...
“Work with the Supreme’s infinite power and with infinite speed. Victory is surely yours.”
(from “Accomplish Your Work with this Body Only”, A'nanda Vacana'mrtam Part 23)
