ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

This kind of an operation sounds like it does more harm than good. People with Western values, business models, needs and desires come with a mission to the untouchables. These untouchables are trained to touch others for a price. The pro-development government helps because it wants all that cash coming into the country so it can be developed according to Western lifesyles; you know, cellphones, TV, refrigerators; bigger and better roads which will create a market for oil and cars, etc., etc. The untouchables will then have some cash to invest in all these wonderful and necessary products, thus fueling the consumer machine. Tourism should flourish in this old culturally rich place which means rich westerners burning up tons of fuel to get there, destroying ozone and causing global warming, etc. In the meantime, the local centuries old culture will be disappearing, except as museum pieces and archeology finds to capture the tourist and scientific money. If the country remains politically stable, it should be good for business all around. What is wrong with this picture? Not that the featured couple of this thread would fall into the trap, but the developments are wide open to exploitation of the existing culture and a financial bonanza for the business people involved. Rich people coming from all over the world to be touched by untouchables, lifting off pounds of guilt feelings, and untouchables touching those gods they've only seen on TV. The untouchables get to rise up a notch in the class structure. One class system has been replaced by another, this time by money. It looks like Nepal will soon have a chain of spas. Should be good for business: construction, banking, restaurants, transportation, tourism. Sounds a bit like Ojai. Rich folk come here and are serviced by the local therapists. Nothing wrong with that, per se, either here or in Nepal, except for the unfortunate consequences of imposing Western capitalism on a system that is perceived to be backward and in need of fixing. In that regard, Ojai is not that different than certain shangrilas in Nepal. Ojai is threatened with overdevelopment from the money interests of chain stores, condos, water companies, gravel suppliers, etc. The small town character of Ojai is threatened with extinction, except for a small historic district cum museum that will be preserved to protect the business interests outside the district. In the meantime, the real people of Ojai are being driven out of town and are replaced by the artificial speculators who benefit from the rigged financial system. Same in Nepal. Under the onslaught of the moneyists, the real people will not have a chance except as touchers, nannies, maids, gardeners, etc. for the rich (with a few token exceptions among the local aggressives). A local culture can be overrun even by spas. Suppose the touchy-feely business became really lucrative to support national chains, and they glutted the Ojai market. It would help to destroy whatever was left of Ojai as a "real town." Left to themselves, the Bengalese are hammering out a political situation. They kicked out the king but whether they can make a dent in the unjust class system remains to be seen. Probably not. The local leaders are being bought out and seduced by Western money at an alarming rate. Capitalism is a disease being sold as a panacea. The old religions were also corrupted by classism but at least they had some beautiful rituals and did promise unearthly rewards, and did preach against greed. Modern moneyism is just plain ugly and heartless while scamming people with smiley faces as they pick their pockets. Ojai and places like it in Nepal are beautiful natural havens but they won't be for long if capitalism has its way. Activists must recognize the wolf in sheep's clothing and the devil dressed up like an angel, especially when it comes to charity and do-good projects which can "sugar over" the devil himself. The project which is the subject of this thread sounds good but I need to play devil's advocate because colonialism always comes in the guise of helping natives who supposedly cannot help themselves. Moneyists see a way to make a buck for themselves but they never say that. They promise a better way of life which is exactly the kind of promise that now threatens our planet with destruction. The battle cry here in Ojai among a few who see the money scam is "save Ojai." I'd hate to see Nepal have to take up the same cry against western imperialists. Ojai is a tourist town. People can get touched anywhere now for a price. What they can't get for any price is exposure to a real town with real people who love truth, justice and freedom from being enslaved by money interests. If they pick that up in Ojai, they will learn something that is truly therapeutic. Getting touched in spas is never going to fill the deep need for love, truth and justice, whether by untouchables in one culture or economic slaves to the system in another.

I, for one, am inspired by Rob's work, and feel that he is contributing in a very positive way to the lives of people that otherwise are ostracized by their society.

Rob's efforts didn't come from a vacuum - he has a long history in Nepal, including serving in the Peace Corps. I think he has a good handle on how to help the Nepalese people in education, sustainable local business and more. He is NOT trying to impose some sort of Western-style capitalism for the sake of creating a Western-style standard of living.

And if you knew Rob personally, you would know he is not a "Moneyist seeing a way to make a buck" for himself. He has invested thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to pursue this project on behalf of the people he helps.

I was remiss in not including a link to the Himalayan Healers website.
http://www.himalayanhealers.com/

846 words without a single paragraph break is really hard to read, by the way.

Dear Dennis,
You are getting pretty good at keeping close to 800 words (just remember that paragraphs --breathing space--are an act of kindness to your readers, as Tyler mentioned.) Next Assignment: Unless it's an "Emergency Response" wait a few hours before you post your reply. It is a great discipline and wonderful way of seeing things with greater perspective if you put what you've written aside and look at it a little later with fresh eyes. I've never regretted it.

Dennis, you used the word, "money" 9 times in your diatribe (which I did not read because it is waaaaaay too long).

Tyler, you missed my point. "Moneyist" does not apply to Rob but to a class of capitalists. God to run or I will miss my bus; but as to length and form, I can't figure out your word counting device so am just winging it on a guessameter stream of consciousness genre. See ya later.

Namaste!
Difficult not to respond to Dennis's diatribe, and I needed a few days to digest, and also cool down.
Tyler's comments regarding grammar are a nice guideline, unless of course, grammar is yet another tool of the "moneyists" enslaving us to their machine?
Dennis, I'd like to talk in person. I can be reached at 970-623-6873.
I've been building this project with personal and family funds for 3 years now, working completely for free, taking out bank loans, maxing out credit cards, and turning down paying jobs to build this. It is run as a business simply so it can self-sustain; so that it follows business principles of transparency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness; and so that our students can improve their lives.
Our students are victims of human trafficking (sold as sex slaves), widows from the ongoing civil war in Nepal, or victims of domestic violence.
The majority are also from the "untouchable" caste, which has been outlawed in Nepal for 20 years. I'm not sure how familiar you are with their conditions?
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, and is not some idyllic, self-sustaining agro-community. 50% of infants die each year due to diahhrea,to give you an idea of what's going on over there.
As far as cultural imperialism, we are simply addressing an issue Nepalis themselves have outlawed. Beyond that, I've lived and worked in Nepal for 5 years, and my reputation among grass-roots community is profound. There is no enslavement or nefarious motives here.
Our students are from the very bottom of the barrell, not allowed in temples, houses, or schools, have separate water supplies, and no chance for improving their lives. Teaching them touch therapy addresses the issue of "untouchability" in a peaceful manner, with a focus on helping them heal.
You mention money motives. 100% of our profits are reinvested to fund future trainings and to open new centers so that more students can be assisted.
I'm wondering what it is you do for a living and how involved in the "moneyists" machine you may be? Unless you're off the grid, self-sustaining ecologically and agriculturally, a good deal of what you wrote speaks of hypocrisy, to say the least. Using the internet, communications, whatever, is dependent upon this "moneyist" machine which you oppose.
Personally, I believe a social/economic democracy effort that uses the markeplace with more communal values may be the only way we can address human nature and the ways of the world for the better.
None-the-less, I understand your rage, and it's something most of us feel. We actually have a great deal in common. :)
My advice would be to better understand a situation or a person before thowing out such a tirade.
I'd like to have a cup of coffee in the coming months, laugh at life, and yes, discuss the vagaries of this existence.
I sincerely hope you have a beautiful day.
In love and light,
Rob Buckley
Founder, Director, Volunteer
Himalayan Healers

Great to have you participate, Rob. And it will be great to hang out when you visit Ojai - I am very much looking forward to it.

Rob, your updates are most welcome here. Please don't stress on the long-winded comments of one person. Keep doing what you do.

Rob, thanks for your response. I would also like to talk. I am too tired right now but will sleep on it, and probably post something tomorrow. I am retired but have been spending most of my time as a political activist here in Ojai. Just came back from gathering signatures. Am I a hypocrite? Probably, that and a lot more. Sweet dreams to all.

Good morning, Rob and all. I'm Dennis. I hope you are all having a pleasant day. The weather is ideal here in Ojai and I plan to take a two hour stroll including the loop on Shelf Road, then to the athletic club and then sit for a couple of hours gathering signatures at Starr Market to stop chain stores from turning Ojai into the Great American wet dream. If you haven't picked up my ideological bent yet, that salvo will serve as a shot over the bow. So, how's life in Nepal? Just a few preliminaries before the main course. I reread my post and hardly think it qualifies as a "diatribe" or a "tirade," which is not a new attribution. I don't think it is the grammar that bothers folks but the length and the dearth of literary correctness. It's understandable in this culture of fifteen second sound bites and conformist mentality but be that as it may. Short attention span TV thought dinners are now considered virtues. At 67, I'm a passing breed but I do reserve the right to sing a swan song. Ah, what a brave new world we are entering. My budget does not allow an international phone call when free email is available. Just a minor quibble on accuracy: two days is not a few days (for you to cool down and digest). Thanks for your information about conditions in Nepal. I find them distressing and deplorable, especially 50% of infants dying of diarrhea. I think you are incorrect about my "rage." Anger, yes, but rage is a little over the top. If my using the internet is hypocrisy, defined by some pre-modern utopia, then I must logically avoid the telephone which you suggested I use. By that criteria, I would have to give up my bicycle which I use for transportation. I'm guessing that you would appreciate being acknowledged for the good work you are doing and expect to do. To the extent that it is good, I certainly do that. I have raised the question of what is good for Nepal, or for Ojai. You appear to take exception to the word "moneyist" and "moneyist machine." So do other posters. One gave me a word count of "money." It seems you are well acquainted with the money world. Taking out bank loans, maxing out on credit cards, investing your life savings, fundraising, arranging interest free micro loans, construction, servicing boutiques, meeting payroll, paying taxes, etc. puts you pretty near money's HQ. Frankly, it's not a world I relish getting too close to but each to his own. Money itself is pretty neutral; simply some medium of exchange. It's the consciousness that surrounds it that causes me concern. The present global financial moneyist system is in my humble opinion, one huge scam to transfer wealth from the poor to the rich. A defense of that statement would take us too far afield, much too far for modern attention spans. I don't know what Nepal was like 500 years ago but it probably was the result of a long development. That whole culture is now threatened with extinction by the modern and post-modern onslaught, the heart of which is money. Google "Money Masters" if you haven't yet for a taste of the scum. Ojai is likewise threatened which is why I turned activist after 66 non-political years. In fact, the world and its continued existence is now threatened with the money madness, disguised as a smiling angel instead of the scheming devil it is. You must realize you are walking a fine line, and even a dangerous one, with your political situation. Personally, I acknowledge your bravery. If the economy collapses, due to the moneyists, will you stay in Nepal or rush to the airport? I don't mean to scare you but the money scam may indeed collapse. Right now it is being held up with military power but that too could go down. If you are going to get in bed with the moneyists, you better check under the bed; there may be monsters there, real monsters and mobsters. When I look at the spa lifestyle, if you can believe their glossy magazines, it seems pretty phony because it's resting on phony money, stolen money, blood money. Why do you think there are maoists fighting royalists in Nepal? Might it have something to do with money and power? The sex I'll leave alone. Your helping the untouchables is commendable but unless you truly are in touch with the larger frame of truth, love and beauty, you're putting your eggs in a tiny basket, and those eggs are fragile. The spa magazines love to feature these magnificent temples on the mountains with the Himalayas in the background. Great cultural and natural beauty which the modern money machine exploits with its spa lifesyle. If I had a billion dollars, maybe I too would be tempted to fly around the world from spa to spa, burning up oil and helping to destroy what I say I love. I hope I don't turn more hypocrite than I already am, and have the sense to see that the spa lifesyle is dangerous and sitting on a pile of womem and children bodies; it's blood money. You indeed may be "the only project in the world with our focus..." Combining the spa lifestyle with untouchables gives you a competitive business advantage with liberal spa lifestylers but watch out for the backside. The Hotel Ambassador or the Club Himalaya will not be safe resorts if the U.S. money imperialists go down. I take the long view which involves following the money. Constitutionally I feel for the People; that's where my heart is and I am sure that is the case with you. I once spent a summer on an Indian (Crow, Cherokee) reservation where a branch of the Catholic church was running an operation to help the natives. Enlightening. If you're teaching another culture to fish the way you like to fish, that's one thing; but if you're giving them fish and taking away their ability to catch fish in their own way, that's another. If you sell people on the advantages of your culture, and that culture goes down because it is based on nothing, and the people have given up their own means of survival, that is a crime against humanity. Money, in its present form of fractional reserve banking, is based on nothing, literally nothing but paper and computer info. It's a scam and is bound to fail when it cannot be propped up with might. Touching is a deep human need. King Midas found out that touching gold is not all that useful. The untouchables cannot touch the rich but they at least can touch themselves. Here in Ojai we have untouchables called street people. Can you imagine if one of these untouchables touched a rich Ojai visitor from the Ojai Valley Inn? Yes, we do have our own caste system but ours is carefully covered with the veneer of money. I love Francis of Assisi. I was once a member of his order. He touched the untouchables of his time, the lepers, and "what was once bitter, became sweetness of soul and body." He lived with the poor and became one of them. He helped society by spreading the values of simplicity, poorness and respect for nature. He was not afraid to mix with the rich, even the Pope, but he did not join them in their spa lifestyle. It's a lesson I need to keep in mind if anyone ever offers me a billion dollars. This world will not be saved by a spa lifestyle; it will be destroyed if this kind of lifestyle becomes the norm. The challenge is to take the best of the past with the best of the present; no easy task. Let me think about it some more. Put myself in your place. Put myself in the untouchable position now and 500 years ago. The irony is that in Ojai we are trying to get an initiative passed that would limit chain stores. Suppose you and your sister spa chain wanted to set up here in Ojai, and you were over the 10-14 unit limit? Sounds like you are already up to 6. You couldn't come here because you were too big a chain. Thanks for this opportunity to think about a very important topic that concerns Ojai and Kathmandu both.

Good morning. I'm Dennis. Looks like another paradisal day here in Ojai. Hope you are all well on the other side of this rapidly shrinking globe. I reread our previous correspondence, and need a little clarification in a few areas. Are the untouchables "outlawed" in Nepal? It seems I read in the official documents that the government was trying to help them, not outlaw them. I agree that you do not have "nefarious" motives. My references to "moneyists" as less than desirable agents refers to the masters of the system of money, which in its modern globilization form is thoroughly corrupt insofar as money is based on nothing but a scam. Such a system is bound to fail and take innocents like yourself with it; the only ones who benefit from such a system are those who manipulate the "pyramid scheme." Rob, it seems your belief is in a "social/economic democracy effort that uses the marketplace with more communal values." Excellently put. I could not argree more with such a value statement. But you must realize that what you have just stated conflicts fundamentally with the present system. Moneyists hate socialists. Capitalism and socialism are at opposite poles. Moneyism and democracy are ideological enemies. The international bankers, and all their trickle down derivatives are not nice people. They are criminals who care nothing for the women and children they kill. That is why I contend that the moneyist system is rotten at its core. Careful distinctions have to be made, or I will appear to be "raging," attacking you in an "ad hominem" way. I am not. I am analyzing the world as it is. I do not claim to be right; I provide frequent disclaimers that I know next to nothing; but I claim my rights to free speech; and my right to use this public domain area of internetting. Those who participate on the OP understand that, or will soon learn it. Tyler runs an open operation here, and those who participate share in the benefits of that policy. I don't know what your local politicos do but the reason some of us are activists is that our local politicos and hidden moneyists are closed in mentality and policy. We push and prod them to open up. We are seeing some success here as you may gather from other threads; for example, the recent withdrawal from Ojai by Subway which has over 27,000 stores worldwide, perhaps even in Kathmandu; sucking money from the local people and transferring it to unnamed shareholders. There was a meeting in town last night concerning our water situation. A private capitalist/moneyist corporation has acquired the rights to the public's water because of our government's negligence, complicity, ignorance, etc. over the years. The company is sucking money from us and giving it to their CEO's and stockholders while giving us terrible service (the water is brown often, infrastructure falling apart, etc.). We see here on the local, micro level an example of what is happening on the global, macro level. The capitalist/moneyist system is corrupt. Face it. Do we throw the baby out with the bathwater. Of course not. Money per se is not the problem. It's the characters and consciousnesses which abuse money that are the evil monsters/mobsters under the bed. Speaking of which, I had a dream last night about a man on the side of a hill of large rocks; the hill of rocks started sliding; I yelled at him to get away quickly; but he didn't and soon slipped down with the rocks and was buried. I wondered what the dream was saying. I think it referred to our societal situation. We are in danger of going under. It is not something pleasant to contemplate and therefore is massively denied. I hope I'm wrong but I can hope all I want and it will not change reality. She's a bitch when her love is continually spurned. There has got to be a middle way and perhaps you will find it. My area of interest is not business, as appears to be yours. I'm not an expert or even an amateur there; I'm drawn to theoretical speculation about business which can be tricky without a practical base. Last night at the water meeting I was impressed with the business people who spoke so eloquently about the obvious injustice; but they kept conceding that "the company had to make a profit." Profit (money) is always the sacred cow that is worshipped, sometimes going by the title of "property rights." That is the bone of contention between the top dogs, Capital and People. The bible put it as "God and mammon," and how you could not serve both, God presumably as the God of woman and child, not the patriarchic blood thirsty tyrant. I prefer the world of Godus and her womem and children values as opposed to Midas and his gold, but then Godus did give us freedom to get in bed with one or the other. The moneyists now see water as a scarce commodity they can control and use to make more money for their god of capital; they would control the air if they could and sell it to us as if it were theirs. It's the same old story everywhere. It's so ubiquitous that we don't see it but it sees us; and the moneyists at the top of the money hill surely see it; in fact, they are running the whole scam through the banking system and debt program. Master and slave dressed up in a new guise. See "Money Masters." Anyway, the sun is now above the horizon in all her blazing glory; I hope the moon is shining over you and gives you and yours her sun sourced moonshine.

Testing the failed system.

Sorry, I thought I had lost what I had just posted because I got a message that my comment had failed. My testing the system post seemed to fix the previous error.