Love is the basis for integration

Intergration means a give and take approach with love. One has to open the heart to receive any one living neary by and without prejudice treat him or her as you would like to be treated. If this approach is adopted in our life then the exiled Bhutanes could easly build up second life in The Netherlands. Unfortunately this basic concept of treatment to others is missing in most of the Bhutanese people.

Mr. Frank singing a Vedic cultural melody in the BVCN

We have been taking every bit of facilities from the Dutch people but we are giving back quite less or nothing. We neither share among ourselves too. Say for example, about fifteen Bhutanese refugees who arrived here on their own during the last ten years indeed rarely show up their enterpreneurship to others who came through the resettlement. If there are some, then they isolate within their circle of acquantences and do not share their techniques with others openly. Others who are in need of some one who would offer the resources hasitate to approach openly perhaps due to the fear of direct or indirect repremand form thier social or political heros. They follow then a type of selfish rituals initiated by someone from the corner of the society to follow the rigour that would please the hero of his or hers choice. This type of social barrier led Bhutanese to drive themselves into their homes that negate themselves from active integration. For the actual integration we need to look ourselves in the mirror and make the internal adjustment. We need to build up ourselves so that we have the worth in the society that the host would like to make use of it.  Then the inegration will be pleasant and can make a breakthrough. But who will come forward? Who is going to break his mental barrier and open up to embrace the integration opportunities without any prejudice?

We have much questions than answers. Platfrom BVCN is receiving phone calls often resounding family break, break in thier traditions and riligious practices. Proselatizing and atheism is turning high. As the resettlement brought them to new environment, our genious elders, educated by the dint of their experiance, age and maturity and not by the academic knowledge are pushed back to obsolate state by their own youngsters who claim of thier academic excellence. Much worst scenario in them is that they are controlled by those who should actually be under controll of them. Our traditional societal norms and values are turning topsy turvy. So what type of future can we expect in the next tens years, nay it already got detoriarated?

However our social growth is currently stagnated, Vedic culture gives much room to recover in short time given that people accept it without prejudices. One approach to improve ourselves is through the sankirtan or the congregational approach in which the Vedic cultural values and traditions must be central.

Yasoda; wife of a pilot, Wilfred

This was explained in the intercultural gathering of 20th October in the hall of BVCN by Wilfred and his wife Yasoda Priya. Born in the Western culture and brought up in the Christian faith, they both were in search of the higher taste- the spiritual culture. Fortunately they come in contact with the Hare Krishna tradition, read Bhagavad Gita As It is version and found themselves contend.Coming out of the social and mental barriern is key to make friends and integrate intimately, she said.

Having lived also in USA and worked as a military pilot during the world wars and moved to Europe, Wilfred looks out with humour, the satisfaction of life through give and take approach in the society. Yasoda told the story about the congregation of the spiritualists whose presence could purify the existance. How does an ordinary man becomes gradually a druggist depends on how often he contacts another druggist. Similarly if one comes often in contact with the people with piety- who lives following the revealed scriptures like Bhagavad Gita, one can surely improves with good qualities to offer in very short time; she reminded.

During the program, Mr. Frank sang with his guitar some melodies in the Vedic sankirtan style. He offered his time to teach the attending children to play guitar and will come every 3rd Saturdays to BVCN. People like these come forward to give to the Bhutanese people, but how many Bhutanese will come out from their 'ghettto' life and accept this?. I wonder.