Dear Editor,
It is with sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sri Prakash Gossai yesterday morning. I considered Praks as I would call him, a friend, someone who was willing to open his mind to other religious views and interpretations. He was a dear friend to the Art of Living (Guyana) supporting its every celebration when called upon.
Without a doubt, he has left his mark on the Hindu community in Guyana. Praks will be remembered fondly, with deep love and affection by many.
I will miss him and the infrequent emails we shared. For many Guyanese, he would be remembered as the singing sensation that every Hindu wanted to listen to, mixing filmi song with religious ones. For me, he was more than that. He had an open mind to everything that fitted with his higher belief in spirituality.
His support for everything Hindu was across the board. Indeed, he was a simple man with a big heart.
May his soul find peace.
Yours faithfully,
Gitanjali
Gitanjali ask those in Florida about the battle for the Mandir, after they built it and hired your guruji. Your guruji was before the courts in Florida,he spends more time in New York rather than try to tackle the domestic violence that’s eating our country apart,wasn’t he hired by president Bharat Jagdeo.This man has a lot of baggage,us here in Little Guyana knows him very well.I hope those in Florida can now reclaim their Mandir.
I am wondering why would a Pandit go back to Guyana if he was so popular in the US? Life in US is way better. Lots of opportunities who are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel and keep grinding. Works for me.
RDMAN, do you really think these pandits/priests/religious leaders believe in the things they preach? It would not strike me that they do. Often times their actions are contrary to their preaching.
RDMAN and Rohan,
I thought the basic presumption of any court system is that your are presumed innocent until proven guilty. And the absence of a guilt verdict means, there is reasonable doubt about the accusations.
But why can’t you guys even on someone’s death, find compassion in your hearts for a loss of a life? Instead you seek to villify, not even having the courage of your convictions to use your real names.
I do not usually respond to closet critics but I will make this an exception. Prakash Gossai has done a tremendous job to keep HIndus feeling connected to their religion in Guyana and New York.
As for Rohan, his comment was obviously out of ignorance. Prakash Gossai commuted frequently between New York and Guyana to keep all of his followers happy. His objective was propagating the religion he associated with.
Gitanjali,
Sister, with all due respect to the pandits. Many Hindus do not go to church. Ever wonder why? Many are becoming Christians. Ever wonder why? The reason is that the pandits cannot think for themselves. THey are good of telling ‘NANCY STORY.’ And still expect people to find substance in what they are saying. Hinduis is by far the most practical religion/philosophy that is immortal. But it took to work of western scholars and my own research to understant it so that I can defend it vigorously. Many of these pandits cannot do that. Also, VS Naipaul put hinduism as it is practiced in it right perspective.
Rohan, my friend once told me that religion is a money making business. One religion takes from you on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.Take your pick..
Mr Gossai, may your soul rest in peace.
sweetgeoria peach
Court system? Go tell that to the folks who feel cheated and robbed.
Maybe I can shed some light on the Florida Mandir situation at another time. It is not kosher to vilify the dead, however it is important that the truth be known. Look out for details on the Mandir court casein Florida.
You are so right brother Rohan,you understand the language i speak,you are here in the U.S you know them very well and they don’t practice what they preach.I have done some investigations here in” Little Guyana”Richmond Hill on some of these so called religious leaders.The findings were shocking.I don’t go to Mandirs nor do i believe in any religion or am i against any religion, but i pray to god in my little room at home.
RDMAN, the situation is so appalling. In the Bronx, a certain pandit years ago collected money from members of mandir. Many of these poor followers commit their resources, time and money toward the building of a new mandir. No receipt was issued to the member who donated money. Mandir was built, and many members who committed their money to this cause were locked out in the cold. The mandir was named after the pandit.
I do not think we are vilifying anyone. We are just trying to get people to become independent on an institution that have for long time take advantage of the poor, the frail, the weak, and the helpless.
we were very shocked when we heard the sad news, the death of our dear Sri Prakash Gosai. We felt already loss of this devine soul, we call him the ambassador in our community and around the world .He contributed so much in the community and around the world, he will be missed by all , who will replace him? we convey our deepest sympathy to his entire family , his parent, and most of all his devotees. May his soul rest in peace
Rajie Dasgupta
RDMAN and Rohan, you are supposedly defending Hindu Dharma right? Because that is the only reason why I think you can be so excited over the death of a human being.
If so how are you helping to develop the culture? By the typical dog fights and mud slinging?
Gitanjali and Others, Here is a copy of one my earlier response in another section:I do not know much about this dude. But may his soul rest in peace…as are those of others (good and bad alike) who left before him. Word of caution to his followers and all Hindu followers. Many of the food you prepare and eat are indeed delicious, tasty. BUT… they are not healthy… even though it was “blessed” by the Guru or you God. In time, clogged arteries set in. High blood pressure develops. Heart rate starts to go through the roof. Medical bills become insurmountable. Please heed. Eat well. Become more active. Just do not sit and listen to the good word. Put common sense to work for you.
I will share an experience with you. Once I was complete vegetarian. My cholesterol was quite low. Nearly 110, but little weak and sick. But most time fill of energy. Ten years later, I started including fish and eggs in my diet. During one winter’s months (of less activity, just studying and writing) my cholesterol went well above the limit (about 217). I was surprised because I did not eat red meat, chicken and the likes. Bear in mind my diet at this time included 85 % vegetables and the rest, egg and fish. Subsequently, I cut back on the fish and eggs and consumed more bean soup and vegetable, with drastic reduction in fried food for six weeks. Results: my cholesterol dropped to 197!!.
Eat responsibly. If you are busy, rather than looking at TV, dedicate about half hour to basic stretches. The internet contains a wealth of information on how to exercise. You can also cut back on Church activity to make time for some exercise at the park. I promise you that after exercising you will feel better than after a church service. There will be no doubt about how you feel. But there can always be doubt about what you hear in church. Just try it. You may even be able to convince your pandit/priest that exercising and responsible eating should be given priority over his babbling. Sorry folks, no offense intended. I am just tired of hearing and seeing folks having their priorities in the wrong place. LET YOUR HEART BE YOUR OWN TEMPLE.
It you do not know much about this dude – then do not seek to cast aspersions on why he was in Guyana and whether the belonged to the group of so called do as I say but don’t do as I do. When in doubt, just ignore or find out. by lumping him with good or bad, you are passing judgement. if you have found the higher path, then your choice of words have made this into a lie. The man is dead for goodness sake, pay your respects if you so desire and let everything else be. There is a time and a place for everything. Including lectures on healthier eating habits and the pandits and their nancy stories. These same nancy stories have their place. People who cannot understand the higher philosophy stay connected through these very nancy stories. It is what they hold onto for their own sanity.
That’s right! Mud slinging! That’s how some of us contribute!
Ask those same mudslingers to GO OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING GOOD and they can’t!
Do you remember the story about Jesus and the woman who people were stoning? Do you remember the Lord’s request?
I personally feel the same applies to MUDSLINGERS. If you have never sinned before then go ahead and throw mud around.
Prakash Gossai might not have been perfect (who is?) but he was ONE GEM OF A HUMAN BEING. His goodness touched and influenced many all over the world.
And God Bless you too.
Sorry. But I am just trying to get folks not to repeat the same mistakes. For our long time survival, for our long term survival of Hinduism, its followers need something of greater substance compatible with modernity. There is a mass exodus of Hindus to other religion. Soon or late pandits will be left preaching only to themselves. People want to find real meaning to their lives. Hinduism is a very rich and diverse religion. The most tolerant of religion. There are many paths to salvation. Do the pandits tell us these things? Not often
Doing good things? Sure I do. I help old folks across a street. I am the go-to person at work when the going gets tough for everyone. I am working to see why there is individual differences between patients, causing them to respond differently to the same drugs. Hopefully it will lead to an improvement in patient care
A Footstep too Large to Fill!
In Memory of Shri Prakash Gossai
Your teachings and example was the light that led the way!
Giving religious knowledge and inspiration each day!
Your voice soothes and takes the darkness out of the soul!
Yours was the presence of a great one to behold!
The bhajans you render with your love of the divine will remain
Of tunes so touching that will play over again and again
Yours was a blessed footstep that no one can fill!
You were called to go home it was Lord Rama’s will!
My many memories of you will be cherished deeply
Of the kind words and the advice you gave so freely
A leader who was an inspiration to one and all
One whose deeds and reputation stood out tall
Many tears will be shed as hearts grieve
As a loved one to many takes his leave
Our Hindu community is in great sorrow!
For many, many, more tomorrows!
Namaskar Rohan Bhai,
I understand where you are coming from. Like you, I got fed up listening to unqualified people calling themselves pandits and leading congregations at mandirs. Many Hindus who changed religion indicate that they were tired of listening to pandits talking nonsense. They therefore chose to join a religion that made sense to them. Two of the main reasons for conversions are discrimination based on caste and pandits’ inability to explain Hindu philosophy.
Like you, I decided to study Hinduism by myself. One of the things I learnt from the Ramayana is that one of the greatest sins is to speak ill of others. I would therefore recommend against speaking ill of someone, especially a great one like Prakash Gossai. If I disagree with someone, I would discuss my thoughts with the person and refrain from bad-mouthing the person.
Another important thing I learnt is that the Hindu’s place of worship is not a church but a mandir. I suggest you use an encyclopedia to look up the meanings of church and mandir.
Namaskar my dear brother.
Namaste
It is with great sadness as the Host of Arya Samaj Internet Radio, that I would like to offer our deepest Sympathy and Condolences and Love on the passing of Shri Prakash Gossaiji.
Prayers for togetherness and love for Shri Prakashji’s family and the entire Hindu community. May the pain of loss and separation and the emotional pain that is felt by every member of his family and the Hindu community at large, be eased by the legacy that Prakashji has left with us. Let us all, regardless of our ethnic background or belief, or our stature in life, take the goodness of his life’s teaching and in practicing it, he will live on.
On 2 occasions I have worked with Prakashji, on the religious platform. Once in Guyana at a 3 day Yajna in Filicity Mahaiconey and later in Canada at the Vedic Cultural Centre at the memorial service of our late brother Satyadeo Sawh.. It was an honor to have worked with him and he was very accommodating in accepting on the spot changes of events as they unfold. Very Simple, humble and loved his religion.
There are some souls for whom the stream of devotion flows, and there are some others for whom the stream of love flows.
May the stream of love and the stream of devotion flows for the soul of Sri Prakashji that will reincarnate if not yet received emancipation.
Om Krato Smara, Klive Smara, Kritam Smara
Namaste
Joe Jaglall
Arya Samaj Radio