Thanks for sharing Chi Chi's story, Curtis, what a wonderful experience that must have been growing up. I'm sure that knowing you was a tremendous boon for Chi Chi, too.
** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> > wrote: > > > > Hey, Curtis, would you mind telling me more about the monkey? What > > type, how long did it live with you, what problems, what was its > > personality, etc. Having a monkey around the house is an old and > > long-standing desire of mine that's not quite extinguished and > > hearing what your experiences were really interests me. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Marek > > > Hey Marek, > > I got him basically as a rescue when I was 10 years old. The person > who gave him to me assured my parents that he would not survive. > Seven years later a vet we boarded him with put him down without my > permission because he believed it was cruel to have a monkey pet. > > Chi Chi was a squirrel monkey, New World, non prehensile tail. > Adorable tiny finger prints and finger nails. Here is what he looked > like: http://hoglezoo.org/animal.photos/squirrel.monkey.jpg > > He was fiercely protective of me and we had a beautiful communication > through tone. Some of the notes I hit while bending notes on my harp > were invented communicating with him. > > He asked me if I was in still in charge every day I owned him. > Because in monkey culture it is considered polite to show your > genitals when meeting someone new, his greeting for my parent's > fascinated guests was always very shocking as he was the John Holmes > of primates when he displayed. He always seemed a bit peeved that > they didn't return the favor! He never threw things, but he could > never be trusted not to bite, that is part of how they operate. His > bluff was so intense it could send grown men running out of the room. > in terror. > > Monkeys are bred in this country for pets which takes away the > extremely cruel way monkeys were imported before about 1975. That was > a horror show that has been mostly stopped by laws. The problem that > is not easy to solve is that these are social creatures who would > never be solitary in the wild. (Orangutans are the only exception I > know of) So built into ownership is fundamental cruelty IMO. Keeping > them as a couple would make more sense unless you wanted them to be > with you 24/7. Capuchin monkeys (also New World) make the most > amazing companions animals for paraplegics. They are still a > manageable size. By the time you get to Rhesus Monkeys or other > Macaques you are living with a creature with a fearsome bite power. > Monkeys and apes use biting to show displeasure and it is always a > danger. > > All in all I am fascinated with primates but don't believe they make > good pets. Their cultures are so dominance driven that with their > hyper intelligence, they will always be untrustworthy with others and > even their owners. Little marmosets in small groups is one way to > have the best of both worlds maybe. They look like little gremlins > and don't have all the negatives I mentioned, but they are also less > intelligent and quite hyper. > > I was really lucky to have lived with a monkey for those years, but I > don't know how lucky my monkey was. For all my love for him I could > never give him the constant companionship he craved and the result was > unintentionally cruel. > > But there are people on the Internet talking about raising monkeys > whose experience may be different. With the resources of an adult you > could keep them more healthy. Many counties, including the one I live > in, have laws against owning one and they will take them away as just > happened in Maryland recently. http://tinyurl.com/2prgle She lost her > appeal. > > Thanks for asking so I could remember what a rich part of my heart Chi > Chi was Marek. Here is a way to get your monkey buzz on: > > The Hanuman Chalisa > > > sri guru carana saroj raja nija mana mukura sudhar, > > varanaun raghuvara vimala yasa, yo dayaka phala chara > > > "Having cleaned the mirror of my mind with the dust from the lotus > feet of my Guru, I sing the pure glories of Lord Ramachandra, who > bestows the four fruits of life: religion, wealth, pleasure and > liberation." > > > buddhina tanu janike sumiraun pavana kumara, > > bala buddhi vidya dehu mohin, harau klesa vikara > > > "As I know I am an ignorant fool, I meditate on the Son of Wind, > Hanuman, and pray him to give me strength, wisdom and knowledge, > purifying me from all defects and bad things." > > > siyavara ramachandra ki jaya, > > pavanasuta hanumana ki jaya, > > umapati mahadeva ki jaya > > > "All glories to Mother Sita, all glories to Lord Ramachandra, all > glories to the Son of the Wind, Hanuman, all glories to Lord Shiva, > consort of Parvati." > > > jaya hanumana jnana guna sagara, jaya kapisa tihun loka ujagara, > > rama duta atulita bala dhama, anjani putra pavana suta nama > > > "Glory to Hanuman, ocean of knowledge and good qualities. Glory to the > lord of the Vanaras. His fame echoes through the three worlds. Glory > to the divine messenger and servant of Sri Rama! He is known as Pavana > Suta, son of the Wind and Mother Anjana, and his prowess is invincible." > > > mahavira vikrama bajarangi kumati nivara sumati ke sangi, > > kanchana varana viraja suvesa, kanana kundala kunchita kesa > > > "O Hanuman, you have unlimited courage and strength, you destroy > ignorance and grant wisdom. Your complexion is golden, your hair is > curly and you wear ear-rings." > > > hatha bajur aru dhvaja virajai, kandhe munja janeu sajai, > > sankara suvana kesari nandana, tej pratapa maha jaga vandana > > > "In one hand you hold the divine Vajra weapon, in the other you have > the flag with your emblem. Your shoulder is decorated with the holy > thread. You are the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Keshari. Your great > prowess is famous all over the world." > > > vidyavan guni ati chatur, rama kaja karive ko atur, > > prabhu charitra sunive ko rasiya, rama lakshmana sita mana basiya > > > "You have the greatest wealth of divine knowledge. You are virtuous > and intelligent, always ready to serve Lord Rama, and your greatest > pleasure is listening to His glories. Rama, Laksmana and Sita always > reside in your heart." > > > suksma rupa dhari siyahin dikhava, vikata rupa dhari lanka jarava, > > bhima rupa dhari asura sanhare, ramachandra ke kaja sanvare > > > "You appeared before Sita in a very small form, but you burned Lanka > with a terrifying form and a killed the demons with a gigantic form. > In this way you always serve Lord Rama." > > > lae sanjivana lakhan jiyaye sri raghuvira harshi ura laye, > > raghupati kinhi bahuta badai, tum mama priya bharatai sama bhai > > > "You brought the medicinal herb to revive Lakshmana, and overcome with > joy Rama embraced you and glorified you, saying that He loves you as > much as He loves His own brother Bharata." > > > sahasa vadana tumharo yasa gaven, asa kahi sripati kantha lagaven, > > sanakadika brahmadi munisa narada sarada sahita ahisa > > > "Sesanaga with his thousands mouths is singing your glories: with > these words, Rama embraced you. Even the Kumaras, Narada, Sarasvati > cannot complete describe your glories." > > > yama kuvera digapala jahante kavi kovida kahi saken kahante, > > tuma upakara sugrivahin kinha rama milaya raja pada dinha > > > "Even Yama, Kuvera, the lords of the directions, poets and sages are > incapable of fully describing your glories. You introduced Rama to > Sugriva, causing him to become the king of the Vanaras." > > > tumharo mantra vibhisana mana lankesvara bhae saba jaga jana, > > yuga sahasra yojana para bhanu, lilyo tahi madhura phala janun > > > "By following your advice, Vibhisana became the king of Lanka: > everyone knows this. You grabbed the sun, millions of kilometers away > in the sky, taking it for a ripe fruit." > > > prabhu mudrika meli mukha mahin jaldi landi gaye acaraja nahin, > > durgama kaja jagata ke jete, sugama anugraha tumhare te te > > > "You crossed the ocean keeping Rama's ring in your mouth as a token > for Sita. You could perform such a miraculous task because with your > grace even impossible tasks become possible and even easy." > > > rama duare tuma rakhavere hot na ajna vinu paisare, > > saba sukha lahai tumhari sarana, tuma raksaka kahu ko darana > > > "You always guard the door of Sri Rama, and without your permission no > one can enter. By taking shelter in you, all the joys of life are > obtained, and one under your protection has nothing to fear." > > > apana teja samharo ape tinon loka hankate kanpe, > > bhuta pisacha nikata nahin ave, mahavira japa nama sunave > > > "Your radiance is supreme, and the three worlds tremble when you move. > You are the supreme brahmachari, conserving your energy. By repeating > the name of Hanuman, all the ghosts and demons are chased away." > > > nashai roga harai saba pira, japata nirantara hanumata vira, > > sankata se hanumana churavai, mana rama vachana dhyana jo lavai > > > "All diseases and sufferings are destroyed by the constant repetition > of the name of Hanuman. One who meditates on him with his mind, heart > and activities is saved from all difficulties." > > > saba para rama tapasvi raja tina ke kaja sakala tuma saja, > > aur manoratha jo koi lavai soy amita jivana phala pavain > > > "Rama is the Lord of yoga, and all your actions are dedicated to Him. > By your grace, all desires are granted." > > > charon yuga paratapa tumhara, hai parasiddhi jagata uyjiara, > > sadhu santa ke tum rakhavare, asura nikandana rama dulare > > > "In all times, you are famous for your prowess and talents, your > glories are spread all over the universe. You protect the devotees and > the sages, you destroy the demons, and you are Rama's beloved." > > > asta siddhi nava nidhi ke data, asa vara dina janaki mata, > > rama rasayana tumhare pasa, sada raho raghupati ke dasa > > > "Mother Sita blessed you with the power to grant the eight spiritual > perfections and the nine material prosperities, and Sri Rama gave you > the power to heal. You are always His humble servant." > > > tumhare bhajana rama ko pavai janma janma ke dukha visravai, > > anta kale raghupati pura jay, jahan janmen hari bhakta kahai > > > "By meditating on you, one reaches Lord Rama, and eliminates the > sufferings of many lifetimes. After death, your devotee will reach the > abode of Rama, where he will always be a devotee of the Lord." > > > aur devata chitta na dharai, hanumata sei sarva sukha karai, > > sankata harai mitai saba pira, jo sumire hanumata balavira > > > "The other Devas do not care for the sufferings of the human beings: > only Hanuman is the source of all joys, and by remembering him all > sufferings disappear." > > > jaya jaya jaya hanumana gosain, kripa karau gurudeva ki nain, > > yah satavara patha kara jaya chhutahin band maha sukha hoy > > > "Victory and glory to lord Hanuman! O divine Guru, bless us with your > grace. By repeating this mantra one hundred times, one is liberated by > all problems and obtains unlimited happiness." > > > jo yaha parhai hanumana chalisa haya siddhi sakhi gaurisha, > > tulasidasa sada harichera kije natha hridaya mahana dera > > > "One who repeats this song with the glories of lord Hanuman obtains > all the spiritual perfections. Tulasidasa, the eternal servant of the > Lord, gives this promise in the name of Mahadeva, the lord of Gauri. O > lord, may you always reside in my heart." > > > pavanatanaya sankata harana mangala murti rupa, > > rama laskmana sita sahita hridaya basahu sura bhupa > > > "O Son of the Wind, you destroy all difficulties. Your form is all > auspicious, and you always reside in my heart together with Rama, > Laksmana and Sita." > > > siyavara ramachandra ki jaya, > > pavana suta hanumana ki jaya, > > umapati mahadeva ki jaya > > > "Glories to Sita Rama, glories to lord Hanuman, son of the wind, and > glory to Shiva Mahadeva, husband of Uma!" > > > > horizontal rule > > > Om Sri Hanumate Namah > > Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam; > Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim; > Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam; > Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam > > MEANING: "We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his palms > folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down his > eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung". > > > [These prayers are available at www.stephen-knapp.com] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > Isn't the checking point "Don't make an issue of the draining > > > influence of animal"? Very clever way to make an issue of it for > > > teachers. > > > > > > I think the problem you are talking about is that using cows as lawn > > > mowers is not efficient. They are not pets but are livestock. The > > > only way it makes sense to go through what farmers do is to eat or > > > sell them eventually. This is like a city person's weird fantasy. > > > I'll bet the guy would be ahead on energy if he used a non electric > > > lawnmower and still be all Vedic up in the hizzi. > > > > > > When it comes to pets each one has a cost, time, hassle, to benefit > > > ratio. I have owned a monkey, high hassle but high reward, dogs, > > high > > > hassle if you don't live in the country but hight reward, ferrets, > > > charming little elves but stinky, birds, too much mess but high > > > interactive intelligence and affection, and finally my favorite and > > > the winner of the cost hassle reward ratio: cats. The love and > > > affection they provide for the tiny amount of work it takes (I even > > > have a robot litter box) makes them the ultimate pet for me. > > > > > > As a life long animal lover, I always thought that MMY's animal > > > aversion was more personal than yogic. I doubt Donald Trump takes a > > > lot of time with pets either. Just not touchy-feely types. But > > > living with critters is good for your health and fills your life > > with > > > love. My life would be diminished without them. > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: > > > > > > > > Does anybody know of M's views on keeping pets? I've heard him say > > > that they > > > > are a drain. I always thought he meant of some kind of spiritual > > > energy, but > > > > I'm beginning to believe he actually meant a drain of resources > > and > > > time, > > > > being a distraction from program.< I heard a story about a yogi > > that > > > lived in a > > > > hut in the forest doing his program and he only had two > > possessions, > > > a couple > > > > of loin cloths. One to wear , one to wash and dry for the next > > day. > > > A rat > > > > used to disturb him in meditation by scratching the cloth hanging > > > to dry so he > > > > got a cat to chase away the rat, then he needed a cow to have > > milk > > > to feed > > > > the cat. Then he had to raise grain to feed the cow. Before long > > > the yogi was > > > > tending a farm in order to not be distracted in meditation from > > the > > > rat but > > > > there was no time for meditation because of all the duties of the > > > farm. In > > > > short , the busy businessman story. The reason I'm asking this > > is, > > > this story is > > > > being manifested on TMO property as we speak. A care taker has > > been > > > ordered > > > > to build a fence to keep some calves who are supposed to be lawn > > > mowers, so to > > > > speak. The care taker is going to end up rising at 4 or 5 in the > > > morning to > > > > bottle feed the calves and tend to their needs during the day so > > he > > > won't > > > > have to mow the grass (this was not his idea). I've tried to > > lobby > > > against this > > > > venture without success as being *off the program* and also a > > > liability to > > > > the TMO. Poor fencing means cattle escaping and wondering off, > > > perhaps on to > > > > roads, causing accidents. The calves will be steers and serve no > > > other purpose > > > > than to eat grass and be pets. Any comments are welcome. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > > > http://www.aol.com > > > > > > > > > >
