13-3-13. Self Potreit. At the age of 65 only, the real life began, a second life indeed. Khadga B Bhandari, in his new home in Zaandam, superbly designed for the elderly persons, entered for a new life exactly in the way he wanted.
Carrying his Vishnu Lakshmi and Saligram deities on 13th March following the Vedic cultural process, he turned his home into a small temple. There was a pundit chanting the purificatory hyms from the Vedas, sprinkling Ganga water from the door while he himself chanting the mahamantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, entering into a new home purificatory process was perfomed on the day he started living in. An altar was set in and immidiately yagya fire ceremoney was launched followed by sankirtan. Two brahmacari sadhus; the temple priest of Radha Krishna temple of Amsterdam and his assistant came with madal and kartals and sang the kirtan while fire ceremoney continued. In the evening more Bhutanese came to visit and joined the vegetarian feast.
Often called out as Badaa or Badabaa, meaning the elderly respectable person in the family, Khadga B Bhandari's agony reflects the syndrome of those Bhutanese in exile who took themselves to suicide. To tell in short, his narration of his recent chain of events occured in his previous home at Panneroodstraat 170 has turned Badaa into a different person. He tells that he was suggested by the Dutch refugee agencies while in the transition camp in Amersfoort, to reside in the homes for the elderly persons. But he rejected that idea hoping that living in the warmth of family circle would be comfortable. The home given was on the 8th floor, where often the lift breaks and Badaa could not know which button to switch. His brother's eldest son; (bhatij) Khem Bahadur Bhandari living with him served him in every urgency at the times very little things in this new country of forced migration appeared very very difficult. For example to know how to get the service of the family doctor took for Badaa more than two years.
Then one would certainly say why should Badaa shift to a new home to live alone? A few would accuse against those who helped him find new stage of independent life. The answer is that Badaa made his own choice after many many compelling events and also for the want of independent in every aspects of living. Firstly the financial problem was acute and compelling to look out for an alternative. His social security allowance was 601 Euro calculated in cumulation along with that of his bhatij. In aditon to this he used to get 145 for welfare and 229 for housing allowance that totals 975 Euro per month. His expenses goes more than 800 euros. That is 589 for house rent, 150 for insurance, 70 for energy. In addition to this other expenses comes up such as own risk amount, water and sewage tax and other insurances like liability and risk. He has to bear all these expenses alone. Therefore only about a hundred euro remains for Badaa for his entire survival needs. This for Badaa was an impossible circumstance. He did not have enough money for meal, and besides that he was not allowed to manage his own meal. Getting a proper meal he likes was tormenting recour. He tells that he has to go to his younger brother's home to get the meal, walking about half kilometer in this cold weather. Because Badaa wanted to advance spiritually the meal offered to him was not always palatable since he is a vegetarian and others not. To bring a change in this aspect was his second reason to adopt independence in everything.
In Holland everyone has the right to freedom of independent living. Whenever conflict arises in the family, separation is the solution very often chosen even among the parents, children and spouses. Badaa has no other acceptions. He wanted to cook for himself and manage his meal alone. This is another reason too that grew into a family conflict. The money he receives is contolled by his bhatij and his bank card was given to him after much struggle on 3rd September 2012. It was already bankrupt although the bank record shows that he was given loan and some allowances by the government in the begining of the resettlement. Three times thousand Euros was withdrawn on 17-1 &14-11-2011 and on 18-4-2012 while once online transfered on 28-2-02 another thousand euros, needless to mention small amount withdrawl numerously. Badaa went to his family's house on 14th begging for a thousand euros only for he immidiately had to pay double rent and water tax at a time and has no money at all. He said that he was questioned: 'did you ever kept your money here and asking now? He said that he was then chased out of the house brutally. He phoned me and said: 'it is now conformed that all the amount received as loan from the government is stolen.
Due to the family tussel arising out of these issues, Badaa formally sought help of Bhutanese organisations to sort it out amicably. He requested this Platform in May 2012. I visited him twice and saw that Badaa was maalnourished, his body was shivering, he was very weak and the tuberculosis he was treated earlier was likely to rise again, as his doctor told too. However he was not totally helped outby this Platform due to growing threats and false accusations he approached BCN. Its President Mr. DP Mainaly kindly visited him twice and passified, yet the key issues from which the conflicts were arising was not put down completely. It rekindled again and again. Should there be no solutions looked out by many involved individuals and organisations Badaa would have been succumed in gradual suicide or slow death, a news breaking happenings among the resettled Bhutanese in USA. These organisations including some Dutch welfare agencies supported Badaa for his permanent solution, and that is to live in the house purposely built for such persons of such age and situation.
He did not had much time while in Bhutan, particularly due to the poverty and the political mess that his brother was put into F7 - non-national category threatening to exile long before they fled to India. In Nepal he was sick due to urinery infection.
Now getting good treatment in Holland, he is fit to practice the devotional service and searched out which line of devotion or sampradaya is the best. He approached first to Manav Dharma cult of Satpalji maharaj. Badaa says; 'a Baiju came to my house and decided to give me initiation. When I asked her about the deity worship, she said that, such practice is not good as the God has no form. He tells me that; 'if there is no bhakti or devotion to God taught by a religion such religion is then nothing but a cheating business. He the abandoned that cult and progressed ahead to Krishna consciousness. He chants in the 108 beads the Holy name of God. However his interest in this was not appreciated by his family members, het tells relating to one event that his bhatij smeared blood on his altar and schreewd that he will be alone at the time of death and his worshiping the deity is devilish. Yet Badaa continued with his devotion.
The very amaging thing in Badaa is that he has mindset for higher consciousness. He maintains celebacy and is never married. He wants to dedicate his rest of life in the devotional service in Krishna consciousness. This means he understood the goal of the human form of life, so he wants to rise above the materialistic concept of only eating, sleeping, defending and mating. Animals indulges in these four things only but the human body is special because he can make use of his intelligence in the proper way if he wants. Making the proper use of the intelligence or brain is to differentiate between what is good only for the body and what is good also for the soul and give priority for the good of the soul. Then try to know one's orgin and the relationsship with God, who actually is the God and what is one's duty towards God, the supreme father. Knowing this Badaa took up Krishna consciousness, known as Vaisnavism in the East under the guidence of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his disciples.
Bhandari badaa always wished that the devotees come to visit his home, which he thought was not possible to invite in his previous home. Fortunately, devotees, the brahmacaris who are completely dedicated in the service of the Lord visited him on the very day he started living in his new home. This is something special and a good indication that Badaa will have a happy life and a divine future here and also afterwards.
 |
| Bhandari baa (right) performing oblations for peace |
Often called out as Badaa or Badabaa, meaning the elderly respectable person in the family, Khadga B Bhandari's agony reflects the syndrome of those Bhutanese in exile who took themselves to suicide. To tell in short, his narration of his recent chain of events occured in his previous home at Panneroodstraat 170 has turned Badaa into a different person. He tells that he was suggested by the Dutch refugee agencies while in the transition camp in Amersfoort, to reside in the homes for the elderly persons. But he rejected that idea hoping that living in the warmth of family circle would be comfortable. The home given was on the 8th floor, where often the lift breaks and Badaa could not know which button to switch. His brother's eldest son; (bhatij) Khem Bahadur Bhandari living with him served him in every urgency at the times very little things in this new country of forced migration appeared very very difficult. For example to know how to get the service of the family doctor took for Badaa more than two years.
 |
| Bhandari Badaa after living for a month in Boxtel. |
Then one would certainly say why should Badaa shift to a new home to live alone? A few would accuse against those who helped him find new stage of independent life. The answer is that Badaa made his own choice after many many compelling events and also for the want of independent in every aspects of living. Firstly the financial problem was acute and compelling to look out for an alternative. His social security allowance was 601 Euro calculated in cumulation along with that of his bhatij. In aditon to this he used to get 145 for welfare and 229 for housing allowance that totals 975 Euro per month. His expenses goes more than 800 euros. That is 589 for house rent, 150 for insurance, 70 for energy. In addition to this other expenses comes up such as own risk amount, water and sewage tax and other insurances like liability and risk. He has to bear all these expenses alone. Therefore only about a hundred euro remains for Badaa for his entire survival needs. This for Badaa was an impossible circumstance. He did not have enough money for meal, and besides that he was not allowed to manage his own meal. Getting a proper meal he likes was tormenting recour. He tells that he has to go to his younger brother's home to get the meal, walking about half kilometer in this cold weather. Because Badaa wanted to advance spiritually the meal offered to him was not always palatable since he is a vegetarian and others not. To bring a change in this aspect was his second reason to adopt independence in everything.
In Holland everyone has the right to freedom of independent living. Whenever conflict arises in the family, separation is the solution very often chosen even among the parents, children and spouses. Badaa has no other acceptions. He wanted to cook for himself and manage his meal alone. This is another reason too that grew into a family conflict. The money he receives is contolled by his bhatij and his bank card was given to him after much struggle on 3rd September 2012. It was already bankrupt although the bank record shows that he was given loan and some allowances by the government in the begining of the resettlement. Three times thousand Euros was withdrawn on 17-1 &14-11-2011 and on 18-4-2012 while once online transfered on 28-2-02 another thousand euros, needless to mention small amount withdrawl numerously. Badaa went to his family's house on 14th begging for a thousand euros only for he immidiately had to pay double rent and water tax at a time and has no money at all. He said that he was questioned: 'did you ever kept your money here and asking now? He said that he was then chased out of the house brutally. He phoned me and said: 'it is now conformed that all the amount received as loan from the government is stolen.
Due to the family tussel arising out of these issues, Badaa formally sought help of Bhutanese organisations to sort it out amicably. He requested this Platform in May 2012. I visited him twice and saw that Badaa was maalnourished, his body was shivering, he was very weak and the tuberculosis he was treated earlier was likely to rise again, as his doctor told too. However he was not totally helped outby this Platform due to growing threats and false accusations he approached BCN. Its President Mr. DP Mainaly kindly visited him twice and passified, yet the key issues from which the conflicts were arising was not put down completely. It rekindled again and again. Should there be no solutions looked out by many involved individuals and organisations Badaa would have been succumed in gradual suicide or slow death, a news breaking happenings among the resettled Bhutanese in USA. These organisations including some Dutch welfare agencies supported Badaa for his permanent solution, and that is to live in the house purposely built for such persons of such age and situation.
 |
| With Pundit and Sadhu in his new home |
Now getting good treatment in Holland, he is fit to practice the devotional service and searched out which line of devotion or sampradaya is the best. He approached first to Manav Dharma cult of Satpalji maharaj. Badaa says; 'a Baiju came to my house and decided to give me initiation. When I asked her about the deity worship, she said that, such practice is not good as the God has no form. He tells me that; 'if there is no bhakti or devotion to God taught by a religion such religion is then nothing but a cheating business. He the abandoned that cult and progressed ahead to Krishna consciousness. He chants in the 108 beads the Holy name of God. However his interest in this was not appreciated by his family members, het tells relating to one event that his bhatij smeared blood on his altar and schreewd that he will be alone at the time of death and his worshiping the deity is devilish. Yet Badaa continued with his devotion.
The very amaging thing in Badaa is that he has mindset for higher consciousness. He maintains celebacy and is never married. He wants to dedicate his rest of life in the devotional service in Krishna consciousness. This means he understood the goal of the human form of life, so he wants to rise above the materialistic concept of only eating, sleeping, defending and mating. Animals indulges in these four things only but the human body is special because he can make use of his intelligence in the proper way if he wants. Making the proper use of the intelligence or brain is to differentiate between what is good only for the body and what is good also for the soul and give priority for the good of the soul. Then try to know one's orgin and the relationsship with God, who actually is the God and what is one's duty towards God, the supreme father. Knowing this Badaa took up Krishna consciousness, known as Vaisnavism in the East under the guidence of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his disciples.
Bhandari badaa always wished that the devotees come to visit his home, which he thought was not possible to invite in his previous home. Fortunately, devotees, the brahmacaris who are completely dedicated in the service of the Lord visited him on the very day he started living in his new home. This is something special and a good indication that Badaa will have a happy life and a divine future here and also afterwards.
By Gautam. Email: platformbvcn@hotmail.com
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