Jagabandhu das: Please rest assured that “starving” really will happen (and in the USA), starting with food shortages this summer when California cuts farming production by half because of years of severe drought. Meanwhile, unprecedented crop loss in the South has occurred because of recent freezing temperatures. Welcome to the 21st Century!
Most of my neighbors are “non-devotees,” elderly and otherwise, and mostly vacant half-million dollar vacation homes surround us on the banks of a beautiful spring-fed river. Even a larger “prepared” community is only so large and ultimately indefensible against armed aggressors. Three years of ammo to go with three years of food stockpiling probably won’t be enough to defend against unprincipled hungry marauders anyway (who might also have no compunction about eating people).
And I’m just not into guns at any rate (others might have guns and know martial arts, whereas I “know” Shiva). Often I happen to be surrounded by blue-collar types talking about guns (and hunting). I joke with ’em, “Guns?!!! That’s for when the voodoo runs out. If the voodoo runs out, that means you dun lost yer mojo. Which means yer pretty much screwed anyways.” This generally causes them to gape at me in stupification. Like I was from some other planet. Or another dimension, at least.
It makes more sense to me to plan for future food production and eliminate the hunger factor as a friction point by engaging in massive prasadam distribution starting right away (which indicates my needing to be extremely resourceful in networking with the larger non-devotee community of souls which surround me). The Chinese martial philosopher Sun Tzu considered inundation as the superior means to overcome an opponent or potential aggressor. To me this means inundation with prasadam. And the Holy Name.
Because of my wife having to stay at home to care for our severely autistic daughter, we’ve been a single income family for decades. Anything is expensive when you’ve continually exhausted your limited resources living hand to mouth for years on end. We can scarcely even stockpile basic necessities in preparation for a hurricane. But as I learned from my father, where there’s a will there’s a way (thinking/feeling/willing). I will be growing my own food by summer (and distributing lots of prasadam). Where I live is rural with many of the hardy good ‘ole people growing much of their own food (and canning it) since before I was out of diapers.
It appears my unemployment benefits may have finally run out and we’re preparing to apply for foodstamps for the first time ever, thereby increasing our unhealthy, artificial symbiosis with a collapsing/dying government. Meanwhile our country’s new fearless leader continues to engage in slick talk like the good salesman he is—but without being able to substantiate political rhetoric with facts or reality. What a mess!
When I first became an unemployed construction worker last spring it took a while for my unemployment benefits to kick in. During that time we experienced unprecedented (for us) economic disparity. Yet we somehow never went hungry, nonetheless. In spite of our near empty pantry and fridge. I began to meditate on the Pandavas during their forest exile and how Draupadi’s kettle somehow miraculously never went empty. They always had enough to eat and plenty for guests, as well.
My life has been very esoteric in application with countless re-assuring dreams of Srila Prabhupada, Lord Shiva and other Personalities over the past thirty odd years. My wife has similar dreams. Because of this, I’ll work hard to help others (including my family) with what little remains of this life. But with the deep conviction that I’m not at all the doer. With complete and utter reliance on the unseen world. And the real Isvaras. Same as it ever was.