ridewithin

i switched.

2008-03-15T23:27:00.005-04:00

i switched over today. maybe one day i'll even get a real domain.
ridewithin.wordpress.com

after midnight i think like this.

2008-03-03T00:00:00.003-05:00

I'm outside right now relishing the warm weather and looking at the stars. They feel like old friends. I remember in Arizona sitting on the roof of our house, or driving to the desert, or camping on a mountain. The stars would blanket the sky and the more you stared into the sky which seemed to curve above you more and more stars would appear almost making it impossible to make out the major constellations. I sat on Mt Graham once at Geronimo Hot springs. It was a place where Geronimo would take his men to recover after a long scouting trip or a battle of some kind. It was probably exactly the same time of the year as now but 8 years ago or so. I sat with my hand in a hot steam of water meditating and praying for inner guidance. I peered out into the mysterious universe. I heard, "you have been wandering from planet to planet for so many lifetimes, fighting for this cause and that cause. Why don't you dedicate this one life to Me?" The Great Mystery had spoken. I really contemplated the Lords message and agreed to his direction. There is more to the story but you may think I am crazier than you already do if I explain further.

I stayed in Athens this weekend rather than returning to New Vrindaban. Our Yoga studio opens Monday and I start teaching at the studio on Tuesday. We had our final wrap up meeting today working out all the business details, paying the bills, and scheduling. During the meeting I had the chance to actually look at my schedule of events for this month. It's packed! Tuesday through Friday we are busy morning to night. The weekends are open for travel, New Vrindaban, continuing education and catching up. I feel very fortunate to be serving all day everyday. I always wanted to live a life where my work is what brings joy and inner fulfillment. I can honestly say that right now I see how that has been arranged. There is much work to be done, especially on myself. A number of weeks back I spoke with Acharyadeva about life and he told me to perform the Bhakti Check, a series of personal questions....

The Bhakti check:
Do I really want to do this service as an offering for Srila Prabhupada?
Do I feel Krishna’s presence in my life?
Am I reasonably attached to Krsna? Are my materialistic desires increasing?

Adjust. Make small adjustments to find balance.

I think i answered no no no yes. ouch. now i think i am answering, yes yes no yes. All of them I am working on. What I am appreciating most is that I have been gifted with a steady service to be able to notice and work on these points. On Tuesday we celebrate our 5th year anniversary of New Vrindaban College outreach. Just after we started my Gurumaharaja stopped me in the hallway behind the pujari room in New V and embraced me saying, "this is such a wonderful service. It is the best service you can do for the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu." Hearing this I just put it in my head that i should try to stick with this and try my best. We have made unlimited mistakes and still do but steadiness is allowing us to make natural progress. The analogy is like the water dripping on a rock. Outreach and everything which is involved with it is like water which is dripping on my wicked heart.

if a gun could kill winter....

2008-02-29T23:30:00.003-05:00

I don't like saying the word gun anymore. In yoga class today I told the students to interlace their fingers above their heads and leave their index fingers pointed upward. I was about to explain that they can imagine they are holding a gun in their hands shooting upwards. I didn't use this visualization but I did take note of my hesitation to reference a gun for any purpose. When I saw this photo of me walking with this facemask on I reminisced of my former desires to be a follower of Sub Comadante Marcos in Chiapas. I used to imagine myself dedicated to a vision of social change and armed with sub machine guns and bullets draped across my chest. In Highschool my friends started carrying guns after they got bored of beating each other up with fists, box cutters, mace and tazers. In Arizona you are allowed to carry concealed weapons. When I was in college I was going to start carrying a gun in my back pack to protect myself when I was out in the streets doing graffiti. One time I was in Las Vegas at a party sitting on a couch. My friend started a big fight with the main group of people who's party it was. A few friends ran inside and grabbed me assuring me it was time to go. We ran to our car with a number of people chasing us. We jumped into the car just as someone began to shoot at our vehicle multiple times with a hand gun. Just before I moved into the ashram in Arizona I went on a hike with one senior devotee on Mt Lemon. We had a wonderful day of hiking through dry river beds and reaching the top of the mountain. We were immersed in chanting japa and I asked many questions about living a saintly devoted life to Krsna. I was so happy to be in the company of such a senior personality who was obviously very advanced. We finally returned to the vehicle we drove. I sat in the passenger seat and as this devotee took off his water pack and jacket he also removed a gun from underneath his tshirt and put it in the glove compartment. I blinked for a second and did not believe my eyes. I was definitely confused for some time.

Admit Something.

2008-02-27T16:29:00.000-05:00

Hafiz
WITH THAT MOON LANGUAGE

Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.”

Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise
someone would call the cops.

Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.

Why not become the one who lives with a
full moon in each eye that is
always saying,

with that sweet moon language,
what every other eye in
this world is
dying to
hear?

mondays are filled with unique experiences.

2008-02-25T22:57:00.005-05:00

I don't know if my ear hurts right now from talking on the cell phone so much this evening or from the painful crunching sound of the deer smashing into the car that I haven't really processed yet.

Mondays are just not my days I guess. Each of my past three Mondays have been marked with dangerous experiences. February 11th I drove alone to Southern West Virginia for a lecture at a University. On my way home my car spun out of control. First it started swerving to the left then to the right then to the left then it just hit ice again and
started spinning out of control. I closed my eyes and remembered my dear Lord Govinda. The car got spun 270 degrees and got stuck on the edge of a ten foot embankment. It was a total blizzard. I got out of the car and some one got out of their car running towards me asking if I was ok and said they were calling a wrecker. I was really confused not understanding the term wrecker. It is the Appalachia term for Tow Truck. Not wanting to pay the 50 bucks for a tow I waved down a large truck and asked him to pull me out. With out much hesitation he took out his tow strap and easily pulled me off the embankment. A police officer who was present gave me a panthlet inviting me to his church if I was ever around town again. He said everyone needs Jesus in their life. I asked the man who pulled me out for his contact info so I could send him a thank you card but he stopped half way through writing his address and said, "you know what, just do something nice for someone else some day." I drove the rest of the way to Athens in great anxiety about slipping on the ice again. I made it home safely but in about three times as long as it normally would have.

On February 18 I drove from Athens to Columbus. The weather was great all day long. I stoppped into the Accra African market to buy plantains. palm nut cream and fufu for our African lunch later in the week. I then went to the temple for Darshan where I ended up doing kirtan and speaking for half an hour to a weekly meeting of new devotees about Bhagavad Gita and Lord Nityananda. When I left the temple at 7:30pm four inches of snow had covered everything and it was still snowing. Out of nowhere a blizard hit! I drove over to Mother Kamagiri's home to see the family and have dinner. We talked for about two hours and I had to hit the road. It was horrible! Because the storm hit so late and unexpectedly the snow just packed down and turned to ice. There were no snow plows out. Literally every hundred feet there were cars off the road. We were driving about 20 miles per hour. I had another 70 miles to drive at night, after a huge gluten feast, and in a blizzard. The weather got worse and worse so I pulled over into a shopping center and read for about an hour hoping the storm would stop. It was about 11 pm so I decided to sleep some. I woke up to the sensation in my toes of frost bite. I got back on the road and drove the rest of the way home where i made it in bed by 1:30am.

Today I stayed at New V until all the festivities were over. After the huge paneer subji had entered my body I needed to rest for about two hours. Around 4:30 I packed up the car and jumped in. Chris and Devanada Pandit Prabhus were wishing me off when I started the car and removed the emergency break. It was then that we heard a huge SNAP!I tried to back up but the car would not move an inch. The rear wheels locked up. No mechanics were around so Devananda Pandit Prabhu and I jacked up the car to see what we could find out even though both of us knew nothing about cars. Chris Prabhu chanted next to us for spiritual support. We had to removed each wheel and then bang on the break drums to loosen the brake pads from the drum. We think that the freezing weather kept them locked. Maybe the emergency cable broke too. We now know that I need new break pads. So it worked and I got off to the road. I made it to Athens safely.

When I got to the house one of the high school boys who comes to our program was sleeping in the living room. I woke him up and asked him if everything was ok and if he needed a ride home. His mother called at that time to see if he was ok then we drove home. On our way to his house a deer jumped out on to the road. I was driving about 40 miles per hour. I cringed and slightly swerved. The deer smashed into the side of the car breaking the side view mirror. We stopped to look for the deer. We could not find it anywhere and there was no blood on the car. It was a very loud sound which instantly reminded me of a story a close friend was retelling a month back as he picked me up form the airport in Albany.

He was a bit reserved for some time when we were driving. After about an hour of talking he shared what was on his mind. He told me that just three hours previous he had remembered hitting and killing a woman when he was a teenager. He forgot about the whole incident that morning. After it had happened his father told him to forget all about it because he had taken care of everything. So he did that. He went on with his football playing and high school partying. He went through college, He worked for 20 years, had got married and had two kids. This day while sitting having breakfast with his father in law and wife, his father in law told him a recent headline. A woman took her two daughters out to a highway removed everyones clothes and walked out in front sick. He excused himself from breakfast table and went to another room where he laid on the floor in great pain. He felt like vomiting. He was bewildered why he felt so much pain. All the remembrances of his own experiences entered his memory after so many years. He was driving home one night when a woman jumped out onto the highway. He hit her and she flew into the windshield. He clearly remembers the striking sound of her bones crushing against the windshield. It was present again, the whole experience. The whole traumatizing experience which he was told to forget. That experience didn't disappear it was hidden deep within and some how it was time to come out.

This is very fun.

2008-02-20T22:35:00.001-05:00

Krsna Prema Prada Sri Gaura Hari.

2008-02-18T11:13:00.004-05:00

Lord Nityananda used to travel with me for three years or so. Now He and His brother Lord Chaitanya are residing in a little wooden box for various reasons. I miss them. Actually I miss everything about Krsna Consciousness. Oh Nitai! emana nirghrna more keba krpa kare, eka nityanada vinu jagat bhitare. Maybe I have a chance, if only I meant it.

Reflections Newsletter

2008-02-10T11:29:00.001-05:00

I was spoken of in the recent Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections Newsletter. I don't know how to upload a pdf file to this blog so when I learn how Ill do it asap. If anyone out there knows how to do that let me know!

it's all love

2008-02-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

this is a unique expression of love. if you have 6 minutes watch it...

the one two knock out punch.....

2008-02-04T22:19:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was punched multiple times during a well planned performance. I deserved each and every hit. Actually the words which were spoken were like sharp arrows or precise missiles intelligently aimed at specific targets to weaken or dis-empower. A list was made of each and every thing which I hold dear in my life and systematically attacked revealing my duplicity and endeavors to feed the demons within. I am not a person who uses curse words but with all honesty I think I understood the inner purports of the four letter word and could use it to its full potential. My mouth remained closed as per the instructions I received to simply listen for my own welfare and contemplate the subject matter for a few weeks before I react upon impulse and anger from the ego. Bravo Bravo! Well planned performance, voice and all! I was destroyed and confused. I am destroyed and confused. Bewildered by the tests which come at the most exact times. A doctor knows how to prescribe medicine for a patient and Krsna is the most expert. I bow at his ability to utilize others so dramatically in this divine play of purification. I am thankful that I am surrounded by many Vaisnavas who quickly brought me back to emotional balance with their embraces and gentle encouraging words. While hearing I remembered this poem,

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Love them anyway,
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Do good anyway. The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow; Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; Build anyway. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth; Give the best you’ve got anyway.

On the walls of Shishu Bhavan,
Mother Teresa’s home in Calcutta

sunny days but stick in a terminal.

2008-02-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

This is Mother Rukmini and VBD gazing upon Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.

In Charlotte North Carolina now. Its wonderful to see sunny skys and distant horizons. I reminice of old times in Arizona. This time of the year is so wonderful out there. Maybe one day I can visit and spend some time out doors.

VBD, Krishangi and I stayed up til 1am talking as usual and woke up at 4 am to catch my morning flight out of Newark. Somehow we made it.

On the plane out of Newark I chanted a bit, slept some and listened to a lecture. I met up with my old friend Rikin at 2nd ave on Friday and he let me have about ten Bhutabhavan Prabhu lectures off his jump drive. Bhutabhavan Prabhu is an amazing speaker and sincere practitioner of Krsna Consciousness. On the plane ride I was listening and taking notes on his Lateral thinking seminar given in New York a few weeks ago. Im really connecting with his realizations about, and approach to, inspiring devotees to extend themselves to serve others. If you ever have a chance to hear him speak at anytime please take advantage of the opportunity. Better than that, invite him out to your area to ensure his association in your life.

Ill land in Columbus at lunch time and be picked up by Jason who just returned from a wonderful 1 month bicycle tour from San Francisco to Phoenix. We'll do some shopping for Vegan Cooking Workshop, pick up some things I left in the city and then drive down to Athens. This week is going to be wonderful in Athens. Jason, Chase and Chaitanya will all be there! I am so fortunate to have such great association after so many weeks of being away.

om gam ganapataye namaha

2008-02-03T18:08:00.001-05:00

The past few days have been filled with Ganeshji's mercy! Just before I left Kripalu my roommate left me a gift and a card. In the package was a small deity of Ganesha. I was so happy to have him appear in my life at this time. Today I was in NYc at Ashtanga New York and made arrangements to study there during our spring break in March. Ganeshji runs the place! I can't wait to be there and start my Ashtanga practice. So New Yorkers keep a look out I'll be around in March. Oh yeah I don't know if this is bonafide or not but I keep Ganesha in my bead bag and rub his belly.

Om parvati pataye
Hara hara hara mahadev
Gajananam buta
Ganadi sevatam
Kapitha jambu
Phalacharu bhakshanam
Umasutam shoka
Vinasha karakam
Namami vigneshvara
Pada pankajam

O elephant-faced God, Ganesha,
you are served by the attendants of Shiva
and you eat forest apples and blackberries.
You are Uma's son, the destroyer of sorrows.
I bow to the lotus feet of the remover of obstacles.

been tired since i joined iskcon

2008-02-01T23:36:00.000-05:00

It's almost midnight. I haven't chanted all my rounds today and I won't. I just can't do it. Energetically and mentally I'm a bit thrown off.

My 200 hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training officially ended today. I'm a certified Yoga teacher now. It was a lot of work. I woke up everyday at 4:30am and slept at 11pm. I was sleep deprived, and worked all the sheaths of myself tired. Asanas and pranayama, asanas and pranayam, asanas and pranayam, asanas and pranayam all damn day! It was wonderful, I learned so much about myself and about others. I learned to teach!

I went to various extremes and experienced yoga in all new ways. It was true experiential education. My favorite. The third level of intelligence. I just received an email that said a friend of mine just signed the lease on a new yoga studio in Athens. I'm signing up for slots. Lets see what happens with this new approach of teaching.

Im at Dereks house now and tommorrow Ill catch a train to the city(nyc) to meet up with the family there. Rukmini Mataji is sharing her realizations at 2nd avenue so it will be a great blessing to be there. Plus Ill see all the boys from the Sanctuary and the rest of the family. From there Ill head over to Jersey to meet the Pandava sena and Sunday meet with Micheal and Monday fly off to Columbus to pick up Jason and head to Athens! That's if I make it to my 6 am flight.

I got invited back to Kripalu as a yoga teacher intern if that can fit into my life sometime. I met so many wonderful teachers and peers. Just this one experience has opened up many doors for future service with many new contacts. Right now I just can't wait to get back to my normal schedule at the college. I miss them kids! Maybe soon I might even make it back to New Vrindaban and lay down at the feet of Sri Sri Vrindaban Chandra and the Vaishnavas.

living in a cocoon

2008-01-31T16:02:00.000-05:00

I've been Reflecting upon my life for the last 8 years living in the ashram and being guided by my Gurumaharaja. Today I read this wonderful quote which gave me a little more insight into the relationship I have with him and our organization's purpose.

“If you clip a cocoon to help a butterfly emerge, you will cripple the butterfly. Pushing against the interior of the cocoon is an essential, organismic struggle that brings fluids into the spiny tubules that will eventually harden into wings. Without this resistance and great effort, the wings will not develop and the butterfly will not fly. Likewise, if you meet a child with nonjudgemental support at the edge of his or her struggle, that child will break through challenges into the next developmental stage in his or her own time and own unique way. Every individual longs for a cocoon of safety, for loving support and encouragement to break through the discomforts of learning in order to discover his or her unique and personal vision of the self and to realize fulfillment as an individual.”
-Don Stapleton, Self Awakening Yoga

This is what I look like in my yoga cocoon.

don't break the ice

2008-01-30T12:04:00.001-05:00

On an other BMX note, did you ever see that movie “RAD”? Well I’ve watched it thousands of times and there is that song at the beginning “Don’t break the Ice”. It has taken 15 years to experience the importance of that song. A few days ago I walked across a two mile lake! Back and forth! It was the scariest thing I have ever done.

What happened was I was out on a walk trying to get out of the giant building and connect with nature. I made it to the lake and saw that it was frozen solid. Im from Arizona originally so frozen things are of great interest to me. One time a friend and I walked across one of the ponds at New Vrindaban.

Here I went out on the ice and I met Brenda from my yoga class. She is very quiet woman who I haven’t spoken to much. I dared her to walk across the lake. So we both decided to take the challenge. It took an hour or more. We walked in great fear light footed and shallow breathed. Do you know that sound in those sci fi films of unseen life forms woowoomp woowoomp woowoomp? After some time we realized that it was the sound of air being released from cracks in the ice.

We wanted to turn around every few minutes but felt so much excitement meeting our fears. It was so much fun. We reverted back to our child inside. One time I dared Brenda to jump on a big crack on the ice and she did. Nothing happened until I stepped forward and we heard the sound of cracking ice. We both screamed and started walking faster and softer towards the shore. The sun peeked through the clouds and the ice started cracking more and more as we walked and the woowoomp sounds became louder and more frequent. After a half hour of great terror we made it to the shore where we were greeted with dark chocolates and hugs from other members of our class.

Smoker Dave

2008-01-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

My old friend Dave Schilling called me yesterday with the best of news. One year ago He was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Everyone was struck with amazement. We all thought he would get lung cancer! His nick name was Smoker Dave. We were all affected in various ways. For me it allowed us to reconnect after a long period of separation. He was really going off in the wrong track. It was truly a blessing now that we reflect on the past year and all the transformation he has gone through. What seemed like a curse was actually a great blessing. Oh Yeah he called me in great joy. After intensive chemo and many life changes mentally and physically there is not any trace of cancer in his entire body! Amazing, simply amazing.

Check out a video part of his:
http://www.vitalbmx.com/video/displayimage.php?pos=-313

fasting til death.

2008-01-28T13:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in the depression of my sickness I spoke with my close friend William(picture above). He was revealing the glories of his recent fasting. I took it as a message from God. I remember Gauranga Kishore Prabhu explaining sickness to me many years ago. I often forget its purpose. My body is talking to me, What is it saying? So I fasted the yesterday and today. For bfast I drank maple lemon drink and now I just burped out the last drink of my Trilogy Kombucha. I feel much better today but still need recovery time.

Tomorrow is my last practice teach before my certification. Im nervous and need to do a long head stand to relax a bit. I got a new roommate last night. I was chatting with my psychotherapist til 11:30pm and went back to the room thinking I would be creeping in on my new roommate. Amazingly he was not there. I turned on my night light and read Bhagavad Gita until he came in. He arrived after a few paragraphs and we chatted til 12:30am. Just like last time I was here I got teamed up with the perfect roommate. He is a very mature man who owns a yoga studio near by and teaches iyengar, vinyasa and astanga. He is very interested in the spiritual side of yoga now and we connected very well.

Got to go now!

when you eat whats available.

2008-01-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

Last night I slept horribly. I felt like I had poison in my stomach. Those that know me know that I don't sleep much(meaning I always sleep horribly) so when I say I slept bad it really means something. I've always had stomach problems my whole life. Lots of stress and thats where I hold all of it. I guess all the stress of being here, all the physical asana, all the pranayam, my over endeavor, not eating right etc culminates in a night of absolute pain and agony. Luckily my roommate left Kripalu for the night so he didn't get disturbed by my rolling around. I woke up at 2am vomited, showered then read and chanted for a bit in one of the yoga rooms. I prefer this one yoga room over the others because its clean and it has wood floors. Around 4 am I slept on my yoga mat in that room til 5am where I returned to my room and slept for another hour before getting up for morning asana practice. Its a hard day when I don't chant atleast half of my rounds in the morning. Ill chant at lunch in the basement if I can get my mind into it.

My solace this morning was the warm Kichiri. Thank you Lord for answering my prayers.

Oh yeah, I miss the cows too.

Conversations with God

2008-01-26T08:41:00.000-05:00

Last night I had a wonderful conversation with my friend Oren. He is taking the massage therapy course here at Kripalu. We met randomly the other day and have since kept up our conversations about God. He has been intensely studying his birth religion over the last two years, something which I have great respect for. In our conversation and sharing of quotes about Teachers he pulled out a book he has been reading over the past month called "Conversations with God'. He read the following passage:

A true master is not the one with the most students, but one who creates the most masters.

A true leader is not the one with the most followers but the one who creates the most leaders.

A true king is not the one with the most subjects but the one who leads the most to royalty.

A true teacher is not the one with the most knowledge but one who causes the most others to have knowledge.

And the true God is not the One with the most servants but the One who serves the most, thereby making Gods of all others.

For this is both the goal and the glory of God: that His subjects shall be no more, and that all shall know God not as the unattainable, but as the unavoidable.

e-support.

2008-01-24T22:21:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent emails sent in response to recent posts.
Thank you all for sending your love.

1.
Dear Balaram Chandra,

Haribol, I just read this letter over and it's a bit intense. So brace yourself.

I was reading your blog from January 1st, and I feel such a bittersweet resonance with what you were going through - especially with the deities. Ever since I took the Japa Retreat seminar, I have felt a deep void and loss of faith that Krishna is really there. I feel as though I call out and call out and nothing's there. But I haven't spoken with very many - if ANYone - about this because I feel as though s/he will not understand. And (deep breath) I feel a loss of faith in guru that he can really help me when I'm going through such hurdles of faith - personally, eye-to-eye. I think that's the worst part.

Sigh, I wanted to write to you because your post soothed me. It let me know that others go through what I'm going through... and that Srila Prabhupad still encourages those who are stumbling and committing so many offense like I have been.

I hope you're doing well and that you continue to write,

2.
think what you're doing is incredibly amazing and inspiring. I thing ISKCON is an amazing organization. I remember there was an article printed back when we were in high school about Krishna Consciousness in Spin magazine (I think) and I remember thinking what an amazing thing to be a part of. I wish that I had gotten a chance to know you better in high school, but I myself was unstable, struggling to find a place to live, and didn't really want anyone to know what I was going through. I guess I was afraid of the possible rejection or humiliation from my peers. I basically kept to myself and tried to stay as invisible as possible. I don't think I ever really discussed my living situation with anyone at school, but I probably should have. I don't even know if you remember who I am, but I felt inclined to drop you a comment and let you know that what you are doing is incredibly inspiring.

3.
Balarama Chandra Prahuji, You are a true inspiration to me, as I have recently fallen down, seriously broken the principals I have no devotee association. We did meet breifly at your stay at Bhaktivedanta manor,but you probably don`t remember my fallen self. Keep posting as your everything I could wish to be, a simple and honest surrendered soul.

4.
Thank you Prabhu
Thank you for the inspiration.
You're such a solid, wise example for this bumbling fool who is trying to follow in so many footsteps.

See ya in a few! I'm ready for the Yoga Crew!

above water still.

2008-01-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Beleive it or not Im still above water!

Its really amazing how sometimes I can be totally beat up and torn to pieces. Then out of no where I am being bombarded with love and affection!

The past week has been another one of those weeks where I've been crying out of astonishment in reflection on the Lords blessings. I'm not quite the South Indian Brahmana pouring tears into the Bhgavad Gita. You know that story of Lord Chaitanya meting him and asking about his tears. He reveals that he is filled with emotion while thinking of Krsna's loving position as the charioteer driver of Arjuna. I'm not quite like that but some real feelings are there.

This present Kripalu trip is facilitating more emotional release than expected. I am so grateful. I am in awe of the potential of asana practice.

eat pray love (i like the book too)

2008-01-20T10:31:00.000-05:00

A friend told me the other day that the path of bhakti is not hard and fast but is soft and slow.

Im off to Kripalu again. Two weeks of another Yoga Intensive. This time I will return with my official certification.

After a most wonderful Starving Artist Lunch Program I threw my bags into the civic and sped up to Columbus to meet a close friend for catching up. I was overwhelmed with emotions hearing from and seeing such a beloved friend being pushed around in life. All I wanted to do was embrace her and tell her that I could take care of everything for her. A similar thing happened with my blood brother the other day also with a close friend who’s mother just got cancer. I wish it was so easy. That I could possess the ability to instantly care for and maintain others lives. This I know is impossible.

One day I met my Gurumaharaja in his room at New Vrindaban. He had just arrived from India and I was busy and did not get to greet him upon his arrival. He was sitting behind his little desk with his glasses on and just his desk lamp lighting his space. He was reading a old beat up edition of Krsna Book. After knocking, He invited me into his room. I bowed down and he called me over to him. He embraced me in his most comforting way. With his arm loving wrapped around my head he looked into my eyes and asked how I was. I didn’t answer. He could see that I was not in the best of spirits. He said to me, “ Balaramacandra, everyone is suffering in this world. It is our duty to inspire others to be enthusiastic in their suffering.”

After that emotion meeting with my friend I headed to the Columbus center to find a place to do laundry, sleep, park my car, and get a ride to the airport. I could have stayed with that student but that could only lead to trouble.

Immediately upon entering the temple I met Venkat Prabhu who was visiting from New York. We picked up Carl Prabhu at his house and went over to Naveen, Vrajbhakti, and Narahari’s house for ekadasi dinner. I ended up staying at their home that night. We were up to midnight catching up after so many months of not seeing each other. The next day I was over fed idly, sambar and chutney and dropped off at the airport.

A Kripalu class mate, Scott, picked me up in Albany and took me back to his house. The ride was wonderful. We shared so many stories about the past six week break between our yoga teaching intensives. I can’t believe six weeks have passed already! We did a little shopping at the grocery store and cooked up a wonderful dinner for the kids and wife. Playing with the kids reminded me of the past summer with my Gurumaharaja. I was the default child care person or beat up doll whenever disciples had to meet with Maharaja.

I am at Scott and Bridgette's house now and will head to Kripalu after my weekly conference call. We’ll make it there by 4 for yoga, check in, and dinner. Our first session starts at 7. Who knows what is going to happen in the next two weeks. I have my laptop with me this time so Ill stay on the blog.

Thanks to everyone who have been writing and calling letting me know that i should keep writing. I truly appreciate your love.

two weeks away...

2008-01-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

I was a bit saddened about having to miss the next two weeks of our college quarter. Our first two weeks were met with so much enthusiasm from the students. Each program had so much participation, much more than I expected. I love being with the students and sharing with each other our experiences of life.

My Gurumaharaj told me to just stay committed and steady. To do that would now be my challenge and that dedication would allow me to learn and progress in my service. That is a difficult thing to do. I often want to quit and roam the world allowing the winds(of my mind) to guide me. Somehow or another I “keep on keeping on”.

I have a problem, well I have many problems but one is I have a problem of dedication and appreciation. I never learned to see how others appreciate who I am or how others are so willing to care for me. We identified this problem many years ago and decided that staying at New Vrindaban and sticking to college outreach despite all hardships would be good for me. Maybe I might learn something.

While growing up, nothing was regular, nothing was steady, and no one was committed to caring for me. I never felt that any thing was worth my time because it was going to change. I never felt anyone actually cared for me because in due course they would leave. I meet problems in my relationships again and again due to this.

I was homeless for awhile in high school and just roamed around from school, to work, and to friends homes on my bicycle. I stayed wherever I could. Usually most friend's parents were equally or more out of it than we were so I could just slide in and out unnoticed.

A few weeks into my senior year I was at our local park with friends and my residential situation became a topic of discussion. Various friends felt that they should figure this out for me. Many stepped up and invited me to stay at there home if their parents approved. One friend named Tara Zandler(who was actually not that close at the time) said she was going to ask her parents. The next day she enthusiastically approached me at school and said her parents were willing to meet me and if they liked me they would let me stay with them under certain rules etc.

I went to their home that same afternoon to meet and we spoke for some time. After our meeting they agreed to let me stay with them. I was amazed that someone would be so willing to reach out to do something like that, especially without even knowing me! I became one of the family, well kind of. There were many stories that went with that experience over the next year before I graduated and went off to college. If you want I can tell you later. The family themselves were unbelievable. They really acted as God’s caretakers of His lost child.

Now that I reflect, I see that from that time until now so many individuals who were not “related” to me in any way have been caring for and guiding me. Over the past years of my life in ISKCON I can honestly say that I am always cared for. I am maintained physically, emotionally, and spiritually by those within this family of Srila Prabhupada. Others are always willing to love, it is up to me to accept and appreciate their love.

One day I was selling books in St Louis Missouri and we met with HG Maha Muni Prabhu. He told us a realization he had. He quoted the move “Breakfast Club”. I appreciated his ability to connect a life lesson with a movie I watched so many times growing up. He asked if I remembered the scene where the “prom queen” and the “goth girl” were stoned and in the restroom brushing each others hair. The “goth girl” looked up at the “prom queen” and stated, “ I didn’t know you could be so nice!” The prom queen responded, “You never gave me an opportunity to be nice to you.”

With our college outreach we are just trying to share what we are receiving. We are attempting to facilitate the growth of an environment where students can allow us the to share our family’s love with them. We experience college outreach to be “creating a favorable environment where students can associate with that love of Srila Prabhupada.” I pray that we can be used to do that in the smallest way.

More Humble Than a Blade of Grass

2008-01-12T15:44:00.001-05:00

Hare Krishna. These are two wonderful photos of His Grace Vaishesika Prabhu. He is inspiring the whole world with his unbounded enthusiasm. I am sure there are a few of you out there who will be glad to have them. I know I am always filled with joy upon seeing his loving face. I am also inspired to leave this computer and finish my rounds.

Midnight in a Perfect World.

2008-01-10T00:27:00.001-05:00

Midnight? the year is just beginning.

Vegan Cooking Workshop #1 2008

2008-01-08T23:01:00.000-05:00

Today was quite wonderful. I woke up and chanted japa with Sri Kishore Prabhu. JC came over for our first one on one yoga session of the year. I taught him pranayama and a moon series to add to his surya which he practiced last semester. Today we had lots of fun sustaining various asanas. This was new to him but I was comforted having someone to suffer with me. Yoga is definitely a love hate relationship.

After dropping him off at school I went on another prayer walk through campus. I sat for some time noticing the thousands of faces which I do not know. The thousands of souls who have not had a chance to hear about Krishna. I think this quarter I am going to start setting up a book table on campus. One week Ill do Wednesday and one week Ill do Thursdays. I miss book distribution!

After my walk I returned home and caught up on some email. Then I prepared an individual vegan pizza for lunch which made me fall a sleep for a good hour. After my slumber and a cold shower I headed out to town for some shopping. Its great going to the same store on the same days of the week year after year. I now know many of the employees at each store and have great conversations with each of them. Im trying to inspire all the high school grocery bag kids to start coming to our programs. They said they are into it but they have to ask their parents for permission.

I was planning to cook for only 60 people. On face book, only 30 confirmed so I didn't think it would turn out so great. I was wrong. I arrived at our location at 6:30 and already students started arriving to help out. Students just kept coming and coming. We prepared whole wheat pasta, sesame bread sticks, organic salad, dressings, pasta sauce, primavera vegetables, carob cake, and rasberry lemonande. There was so much help, that when i finally stepped up on my soap box for announcements it was exactly 8 pm! I couldn't believe it. We cooked the compete meal from scratch in one hour exactly! There were so many hands helping out.

Over a 100 students attended. I thought only 30-50 would come. It was our first one of the quarter and I didn't send any invites until the night before. No advertising. Simply Krishna. This is definitely a sign that this year is going to big huge. I have to brainstorm, how are we going to facilitate so many people in cooking?

By ten everything was cleaned up and I returned to the center to meet Ananda Vidya Prabhu. Krishna really blessed me by his association. Ananda Vidya Prabhu is my big borther. He has always watched out for me and encourages me in our activities.

The rest of the week looks busy. Please pray for us.

2008-01-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today I slept in until 8:30am. It felt great! Someone even commented to me later in the day in a small yoga session that my eyes weren't red, my face didn't look tired and overall I looked well rested. As Doctor Bronner say's, "the only two cosmetics you need are; enough rest and Dr. Bronners Magical soap!"

Then I listened to a lecture of Maharaja and he chastised me. I tried to justify it by something he had told me some time ago, "if you ever have to drive somewhere more than an hour you need to sleep at least seven hours." My realization is that it is true good rest allows you to drive safely. But, even then you still get tired if you are not a Starbucks customer.

In that lecture Maharaja was asked about over endeavoring. He said over endeavoring is when you take on so much service that you can not perform the basic instructions of chanting 16 rounds, sleeping well, attending Mangala Arati and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam. Ouch he got me. I am over endeavoring.

I did a bit of yoga, packed my bags, sought blessings of the Vaishnavas, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra then hit the road. I stopped to fill the ole 152,000 mile Honda Civic up with fuel and proceeded to drive the next 120 mile to Athens Ohio. I remember the good ole days when it used to cost 12 dollars to fill her up, now its $38.

Somehow I made it to Athens. Two things assist me in driving long distances and not falling asleep.

1. Frito Lay Brand Sunflower seeds.
Ever since I was a little boy I have been addicted to them. If any of you ever played little league baseball you may have the same taste. I am sorry for those who have never been introduced to the pleasure of eating salted sunflower seeds and having to crack them open, eat the seed and spit out the shell. Often some declare my stupidity for not simply buying preshelled sunflower seeds. You lose all the fun when you do that! Plus there is no activity to keep you awake.

2. Cell Phone with a headset. Whenever I get tired i just start calling everyone I need to. If It is late at night, I just call devotees on the west coast because of the three hours time difference. They can talk on and on with no disturbance if they are not at work. Today I spoke with a psychotherapist for an hour. They are great at listening so I could just talk and talk and talk!

When I arrived to Athens I immediately drove to a meeting at the United Campus Ministry center. There we discussed our Vegan Cooking Workshop using the space for the rest of the year. They were very supportive. I signed an agreement that we would pay $100 a month for access to the kitchen and dinning hall each Tuesday. I was given a key and left very happy. Having a steady and supportive place for one's outreach activities is a true blessing. I knew it would turn out positive because I found a parking meter with 2 hours of free parking when I arrived.

I went home to the Conscious Ohio Center to meet the great shock of the house being an amazing mess and my poor children were almost dead or dead(our house plants). Oh lord please bless them with eternal life.

Soon the other house mates arrived one by one and we finished up our cleaning. In the evening due to the most amazing weather I went for a prayer walk around campus. A prayer walk is a very powerful activity. I was introduced to it via my Christian backround. Its concept is you go to those places which you are to perform or act or serve etc and pray intensely. You pray to the Lord for whatever you may need. For those of us who do outreach. There is only one prayer, "Please Lord make me a servant of your peace."

Please do not underestimate the power of true prayer. If I appreciate one thing most about my parents and family is they taught me to humbly pray to the Lord. Thank you mom! the second thing is Bob Marley.

This quarter I'll try to blog about our outreach activities so you all will know whats up and you can se that we are not totally in as they say "maya".

If someone asks you how you are doing what do you say?

2008-01-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

I usually just say,"I'm doing great!" and then say something off topic.

I have a friend who answers that question with "I'm doing magnificent". He really means it. Thats why I love him. He can always see the blessings which the Lord is giving him daily. In his association I am forced to think positively.

I need association with like minded peers or at least with young people! AHHHHHH! I'm not a cave dweller. I like my personal time but I also need my people time and project time. I need action, movement. I am just counting the days until school starts again and the other boys come back home surcharged from their India trip. When I have too much time alone I can't seem to get anything done.

I feel like running, swimming, riding my bike, walking around, hugging cows, watching the sun reflect off the snow. (Snowboarding by myself is out of the question). It is just so cold my room seems like such a safe place that promotes such rejuvenating activities like bundling up and sleeping. Sometimes if I am on the transcendental tip there is reading and chanting.

Yesterday many people wrote me or called asking if I was ok. I guess my last couple of posts led others to believe that I was depressed etc. Their right. I am thankful that they care.

I wrote one friend and said that when I am at New Vrindaban I feel like I am in a hospital and my particular diagnosis is poison in the blood. (It's easy to see when you are around so many pure souls). For that there is only one old fashion solution of bloodletting. Blood letting is great because it quickly allows you to get rid of all of your old blood and forces you to create new blood. So New Vrindaban is the safe place(my home) where I can be frustrated, tired, faithless etc to the extent of not offending the devotees. I can go through the whole range of emotions and feel them out and take shelter. Then I can head back to work and serve fresh and rejuvenated with new energy and realization.

These are certain points on the body good for blood letting.

The following pictures are where I take shelter each day in New Vrindaban.
1. Prayer at Sri Sri Radha Vrindabancandra's lotus feet

2. Japa in the Brahmacari Ashram's renegade Tulasi garden

3. Cleaning my heart in service to Srimati Radharani's pots

4. Friendship with Gopal our new calf

New Vrindaban's life size Srila Prabhupada murti!

2008-01-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

I don't know if it is a secret, but New Vrindaban has been blessed with a life size, free standing Srila Prabhupada murti. One devotee was surprised to see the new addition. Then he laughed and said, "It is only appropriate, New Vrindaban needs two Prabhupadas."

somedays...

2008-01-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

"In the beginning there may be some failures. That is quite natural. Just as a child is trying to stand, he may fall down. But that does not mean he should give up the idea. Go on. A time will come when he will be perfect. A time will come when you'll be perfect, Krsna Conscious." SP Los Angeles, January 1, 1969

Some days are just harder than others. Especially if I am sleep deprived and don't eat well. Its amazing because most of my problems sprout because of these two things. Today I was directed to dress the Sri Nathji Gopal. I cant believe how frustrated I was. I wanted to walk out of the deity room and walk through the snow and just keep walking and walking and walking. If the deity is stone then we can do what ever we want to it. We can decorate the stone in anyway just for show just for the darshan of the public. If the deity is a person, if He is Krishna then there is no faking anything. We have to serve Him as a person. We have to reciprocate with the person Krsna. Anyways, I was totally disturbed by the whole morning. I feel as if I don't even know what happened, I wasn't there. At least I wish I wasn't. Even when I ditched the kirtan and the Sb class for my asana practice I couldn't relax. My mind was just screaming at me. I was trying to pray and set an intention but I couldn't, my mind was just loudly saying 'get your bag walk and start walking because you've lost'. I haven't gone anywhere because stuffing my face with fresh pineapple, raw carrot cake, reading the above quote form Srila Prabhupada, and listening to Shimshai(http://www.shimshai.com) made me relax a bit.

appreciation makes perfect.

2007-12-31T21:47:00.000-05:00

One morning silence overcame me as I was taking my breakfast. This beautiful painting of Lord Buddha captured my eyes. I was blessed with the vision of Lord Buddha as being a Person who was most contemplative and compassionate. My gaze could not be removed from His face. I saw the face of Lord Krishna, Lord Chaitanya, Srila Prabhupada and my own personal spiritual guide. I began to cry as I remembered a lecture about the Lords Avatars. In that lecture Lord Krishna's most compassionate self was glorified as being a Personality who would give up the opulences of the spiritual world and accept the clothes of a mendicant just to deliver the fallen souls.

Lately I have been meditating upon Krsna Consciousness being the path of appreciation. We don't love Krsna. We didn't do anything to deserve Him. Often we didn't even ask Him to be in our lives. Some how or another He is there. The goal of every activity possible in this existence is Lord Krishna. Is there anything left for us to do? The perfection of any activity lives with us now. What is there left to do? All that we can do is simply perform all of our activities with the mood of appreciation not with the aim of attaining something. Krsna only lacks the love of our human hearts. Hearts which He knows are filled with so many unwanted things. Yet the Lord eagerly desires for you to notice Him. He knows you don't love Him. He knows how attracted you are to this wonderful world and how busy you are trying to live. Compassionately, His love for you is not dependent up on your reciprocation. Accepting His love and trying to show your appreciate for His love is our life. It is a Krsna Conscious life and as repeated to me again and again this summer, "Enthusiasm in one's service is the display of one's intent to Love Krsna."

somethings in life are useful.

2007-12-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

In one dirgha breath I say.......
Today, in two different confirmations, I realized that anything that happened to me in life will be referenced in service. Specifically as a "teacher" any attempts for purification or any struggles I travel through will be referenced to assist others who go through he same difficulties. I am now more eager to conquer those most formidable enemies, push my edges, break through barriers, and to compassionately self observe myself so I can have the realizations to share with others on the same path. You know, like that Gandhi story about the sugar, the boy, and the weeks worth of time before Mahatma said, "boy, stop eating sugar."

Today, Naren Prabhu, Chase Prabhu and I went to Sri Venkateshvara temple in Pittsburgh and had special darshan of the Lord's flower outfit. I spent alot of time with Sri Andal devi. She was easily approachable. This is a photo which I illegally took to show all of you. This is the month where she is culturally honored.

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/alvars/andal/

Pretend I just called you....

2007-12-28T18:17:00.000-05:00

Pretend I just called you and you ask how I'm doing and I blurt out with an uncontrolled tongue....

Ive been in New Vrindaban for a week. Seven days in New Vrindaban makes one weak. I have not eaten one fresh vegetable or fruit since Ive been here. No salads nothing alive(if you are what you eat does that make me dead or fried). Ive eaten more wonderfully fried and sugary delectables than I ever could imagine. Not because I am a glutton but because those are my options. Fasting seems like a wonderful alternative. Water is the freshest thing I get here. Its bottled and shipped in from another state. I did get the inside scoop though, Jaya Prabhupada our resident cowboy has an amazing spring on his land. He is going to start refilling my bottles. I don't mean to sound negative but its true. I feel sleep deprived and physically tired. Waking up at 4, dressing the deities, morning program, yoga, cooking rajbhoga, and eating lunch. By 1 pm I'm a dead guy. Then I have to try to chant my rounds, work on various projects which need to get done asap, reading and preparing lectures, and talking to every friend devotee which I haven't seen in a month or longer and each asks, "how are you doing? you look tired." Then somehow or another if there is any energy left in this little body I put my ipod in my ears and start to sweep and mop the hallways. Then between 10:30pm and midnight I lay my head on my yoga mat and try to sleep. Today I woke up for mangal aarti but didn't go down stairs. I just hid in my room and chanted not feeling up to playing mridanga and singing any songs. I didn't leave the ashram until 12:30 when I went to see the cows and wash my clothes. I took pictures of potential spots for the desired Yoga studio and analyzed the possibilities of converting the Santee House into a sustainable eco house and cafe. Then I ate really spicy pasta, hung my clothes on the line, spoke with Gauranga Kishore Prabhu who had great news for me from Mumbai, taught Kamalavati how to edit movies(she did a great job!), ate some mahaprasad brownies and cashews with Soma Prabhu, mopped and swept the hallways(hope no one slips and dies), now I'm speaking to you. The conch shell is about to blow and I should go since I havent attended any temple functions today. Im not the best example wearing my dickies and hoodie, but it is a sure way to get out of having to give class to our guests when you are not in the mood of being a sadhu(or pretending to be).

by the way, Sri Sri Radha Vridaban Chandra are so beautiful they are waiting for you to come and see them.

An Expert Presentation about Your Life!

2007-12-27T17:40:00.000-05:00

http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html

Gita Jayanti!

2007-12-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

I hope all of you have a great Gita Jayanti. Im taking the "Chinese Bus" tomorrow after early morning Bikrams from Philly to NYC. I'll visit Eddie Sterns Ashtanga Yoga Studio to assist with their Gita Jayanti celebration.

http://www.ayny.org/puja.php

The studio cares for two altars. Sri Ganesha is cared for by Eddie Stern and Sri Sri Radha Damodar is cared for by HG Kaustubha Prabhu. Since both the Transcriber and the Speaker of Bhagavad Gita reside in the studio they are holding a nice celebration in honor of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. There is word that both HG Vaishesika Prabhu and HG Dravida Prabhu will be there. If anyone is in the NYC area please stop in!

Recently I have been in great appreciation for the New Translation of Bhagavad Gita by Garuda Prabhu(ACBSP). I highly recommend it for personal reading and gift giving. The essays in the back are very enlightening. Purchase it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Beloved-Lords-Secret/dp/0060754257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198074245&sr=1-1

If you are looking for music to inspire you or someone else to read Bhagavad Gita purchase the song "Sojourn of Arjuna" from Bela Fleck via the Itunes Store.

http://www.apple.com/search/ipoditunes/?q=bela+fleck+sojourn+of+arjuna

a slideshow

2007-12-17T19:23:00.000-05:00

I guess every three months I will post something.

2007-12-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of a picture of HH Radhanath Swami. Soon I hope to post pictures and stories of my recent travels and study of Yoga(asana) on the East coast over the past month. The picture has its origin in my life on the very day that I left New Vrindaban for my December travels. A close friend sent me a gift package with a yoga bag, a bead bag, some organic candy and this picture of Maharaja which was nicely framed. As I left the mail man came and he had the package! It was a nice blessing while I hit the road alone and nervous as to what laid in store. Maharaja so lovingly(tolerating my quick turns and singing out loud) accompanied me for the last thousand miles of travel. Im in Philly now sweating to Bikrams Yoga and chilling with my brother. Ill head back to New V on Saturday after a short trip to see the family in DC area. I now have a laptop computer so I have little to no excuse for not writingwithin from now on. Keep a look out!

three months over.

2007-08-30T00:36:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,
Obeisances to all of you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The three months of service to our Guru Maharaja are coming to a close tomorrow. We are most grateful for the opportunity to serve. Thank you all for the encouragement and friendship over the summer. We ask for each of your prayers that We can have this most blessed opportunity again and again.

We return to New Vrindaban for the Janmastami celebrations and on the 11th of September we commence our fall quarter of college outreach. We will be sharing much of our outreach activities which We hope you might find enjoyable.

If anyone would like to know anything about our summer travels please contact us. We will not post anything directly related to those experiences. We pray that all of our services thus forward are imbued with whatever we have received.

Today we said good bye to our dear partner, GKD. He has been blessed with the opportunity to serve at Goverdhan. We ask only for his prayers as he has ours.

Thank you for everything.

austerity.

2007-04-27T22:54:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, various personalities think my life is not austere enough. Would it be better to stick my head in the sand? Austerities are relative to an environment and a person.

One time I was riding on a bus in South India and I was very uncomfortable. I was trying to put my finger on why I was having such a hard time to be content with my environment. The leg room was two inches too short, the metal bars over the windows allowed my head to again and again bang against them, the television's volume was beyond deafening, opening windows only allowed hot air mixed with dust to enter, and the travel food was fried puris with hot pickle. The bus was always a few hours late leaving/arriving and if you had to "pass water", you had to get off the bus and squat down on the side of the road to do so. Why was I suffering and the other Indian boys not? I came to the conclusion that I was suffering because I have tasted comfort. I know what its like to travel in a bus which you can extend your legs, I know how proper air conditioning keeps one cool, I know what 7-11 can provide to a hungry traveler and i know what its like to get places as scheduled and paid for. I even appreciated American rest areas where you can relax in the grass, have a picnic, and now a days use free wireless internet. Those other Indian boys have never experienced anything else but similar bus rides. My mind was always frustrated thinking, "why is it not like it should be as in America?"

Another time in India I had Nutritional yeast and Braggs liquid aminos with me in Chowpatty temple. At that time I was just eating rice or chappati. I couldn't digest much. I would layer everything with braggs or yeast to give it a little flavor. One other brahmacari asked if he could try it. I looked at him with my eyebrow up saying,"you probably wont like it but go for it if you want." Then Govinda prabhu stopped the boy and said, "What will you do if you like it?" It was a wonderful point about comfort. What would he do if he liked it? What kind of trouble would he have to go through to satisfy his new found taste? Once we experience something we like we continue to desire to have it or expect to have it when we want. If we don't have the facility to obtain it then we will simply suffer in its absence.

Seeing this picture of this yogi I took in Rishikesh, left me thinking about the austerities we perform on a daily weekly basis to do our services. For me as an "American boy", following the regulative principles, chanting my 16 rounds, reading each day, speaking pleasantly, keeping good relationships, and sharing Kc with others is hard enough. I don't know what else I can do? All the American comforts keep calling me, emailing me, text messaging me, and standing before me with folded hands begging "how can we serve".

*** this week of preaching has left me up past twelve each night and right now even though I am back at the temple I can't get to sleep. Who will break first, my bad habits or me?

Back to Rishikesh

2007-04-20T20:24:00.000-04:00

Now that the weather is nice again I rekindled my yoga practice. It was long over due. The day just called for a good time out on the lake. Yoga by the lake in New Vrindaban is a true opulence. The birds were chirping, the sun was glistening off the lakes water and the swans were gracefully observing my actions. Over all a great opportunity to appreciate all the hard labor the devotees went through to create such an atmosphere. Its hard to believe so few of us are here to enjoy the fruits of that devotion.

The morning reminded me that I had to get back to finishing the postings from our India trip.

While walking about Rishikesh you get to see many wonderful things. One morning I met with some yogis on the street. They were not your normal new age Europeans but clan of yoga kids out to take your money!

As for the common man...

2007-04-19T22:38:00.000-04:00

Tonight at our Thursday gathering in New Vrindaban, Viko Prabhu revealed to me a nice verse which enhanced our last Bhagavatam quote about outreach.

BG 13.26

TRANSLATION
Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.

PURPORT
This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Krsna consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources, he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, he will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly, the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home.

My Inspiration...

2007-04-17T08:54:00.000-04:00

Please read this verse. I find Srila Prabhupada's words in the last paragraph particularly call out to all those in this movement trying to share what they have been blessed with.

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.16

vicakshano 'syarhati veditum vibhor

ananta-parasya nivrittitah sukham

pravartamanasya gunair anatmanas

tato bhavan darsaya ceshtitam vibhoh

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality, retired from the activities of material happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore those who are not so well situated, due to material attachment, should be shown the ways of transcendental realization, by Your Goodness, through descriptions of the transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord.

PURPORT

Theological science is a difficult subject, especially when it deals with the transcendental nature of God. It is not a subject matter to be understood by persons who are too much attached to material activities. Only the very expert, who have almost retired from materialistic activities by culture of spiritual knowledge, can be admitted to the study of this great science. In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly stated that out of many hundreds and thousands of men only one person deserves to enter into transcendental realization. And out of many thousands of such transcendentally realized persons, only a few can understand the theological science specifically dealing with God as a person. Sri Vyasadeva is therefore advised by Narada to describe the science of God directly by relating His transcendental activities. Vyasadeva is himself a personality expert in this science, and he is unattached to material enjoyment. Therefore he is the right person to describe it, and Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Vyasadeva, is the right person to receive it.

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the topmost theological science, and therefore it can react on the laymen as medicinal doses. Because it contains the transcendental activities of the Lord, there is no difference between the Lord and the literature. The literature is the factual literary incarnation of the Lord. So the laymen can hear the narration of the activities of the Lord. Thereby they are able to associate with the Lord and thus gradually become purified from material diseases. The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the nondevotees in terms of particular time and circumstance. Devotional service is dynamic activity, and the expert devotees can find out competent means to inject it into the dull brains of the materialistic population. Such transcendental activities of the devotees for the service of the Lord can bring a new order of life to the foolish society of materialistic men. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His subsequent followers exhibited expert dexterity in this connection. By following the same method, one can bring the materialistic men of this age of quarrel into order for peaceful life and transcendental realization.

New Vrindaban Bicycle and Adventure Club

2007-04-15T22:22:00.000-04:00

Announcing for the first time ever:
New Vrindaban Community Bicycle and Adventure Club

Join the Club!
For Only $25 Dollars you get:

Club T-shirt
Free bicycle maintenance/training
Opportunities for Organized Bicycle Touring, Hiking, and Camping
and more!

Man, Woman, Young, or Old! The whole family should join!
Membership is not limited to New Vrindaban Residents.

Contact
Balaramacandra das
347-414-2139
ridewithin@gmail.com

vaisnava seva...

2007-04-14T22:27:00.000-04:00

The strategic mission to take down and personally "serve" each of the evenings participants was successful.

joy.

2007-04-14T22:25:00.000-04:00

this is what a loving relationship looks like.

how's your bhajan?

2007-04-14T22:05:00.000-04:00

This family of young talented Vaisnavas is beyond belief. Anyone with doubts about the direction of our movement must hold your tongues and watch the future of our movement reveal its own glories.

Spiritual Community Architect.

Good things come in pairs.

Named appropriately.

The Sacred sound family(half...)

sacred association

2007-04-13T21:42:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was intense. A Vaisnava departed for Goloka from Pittsburgh and the following day some how or another we made it to DC. It was a small peek into the purpose of Spiritual communities. Actually, it wasn't a small peek, it was a huge eye opener revealing the significance of Iskcon; while living and dying Vaisnavas are our only hope. I thank Srila Prabhupada again and again for welcoming myself into this most amazing family.

The perfection of parenting is your children becoming Krsna conscious. As Prabhu was leaving this world his son led the devotees in chanting the holy names. This is not just a picture of a boy with a harmonium. It is a picture of Srila Prabhupada's movement being absolutely successful.

jhula

2007-04-05T23:18:00.000-04:00

Warning: monkeys will steal everything.

Rama Jhula is the south side.

Laxsman Jhula is the north side.

But the monkeys are on the wrong side. They wait on the bridge and snatch whatever you have especially fruit.

My graffiti past liked their name.

2007-04-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

new vrindaban east

2007-04-05T22:58:00.000-04:00

I had never been to Rishikesh before so I was surprised that our hosted had arranged for us to stay at an ashram which was just across the street from a place called "New Vrindaban East". Every devotee in related to New V mentioned to me, "when you go to Rishikesh go see Bhakti Yoga Swami." I was filled with appreciation for our home in West Virginia because it is so glorious that someone would so kindly name their Indian temple after our American temple. This shows Srila Prabhupada's potency in establishing holy dhamas! HH Bhaktiyoga Swami nicely cared for us while we stayed near by. He fed us nicely and provided a nice place for us to chant and dance each morning. Madhuban ashrama and our ashram, Kailash ashram were our places of morning sadhana before we would depart on our treks around the city and beyond. The sun would come out around 11am so we would chant read wash clothes and have breakfast then hit the streets.

athato brahma jijnasa...

2007-04-02T12:16:00.001-04:00

This is what Rishikesh looks like.

This is what a taxi ride to Rishikesh looks like

2007-04-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

train station

2007-04-02T12:02:00.000-04:00

Here are a few things you might see at an Indian train station.

This man only charges a dollar to carry your luggage on top of his head.

In NYC subways there are signs which say "Spring is chain snatching season".

This guy tried to run me over.

This was the office for foreigners to ask questions.

This is the hotel.

high tech low tech

2007-04-02T12:01:00.001-04:00

The taxis in Dheli run off of natural gas. Thats a good thing. When you have to fill up they make you get out of the car and wait in the rain. Thats a bad thing. I guess they have a high case of explosions and its safer when you stand next to the car instead of inside it. When there is a fire you run and grab these sand buckets and put it out that way. Everyone gets to be a fire fighter.

bahai...

2007-04-01T22:44:00.000-04:00

When i was a teenager i used to call my self a diest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism). Basically I rejected all organized religion as being false, cheating, etc etc... but still believed in God. I used to be a summer camp counselor for a wonderful organization called Anytown(NCCCJ). My Director was a Middle aged Jewish woman who was a Judge in the Arizona court system and was an avowed atheist. We got along really well and in a very motherly way she said," Boaz, i think you might really like the Bahai faith." That was the first time I ever heard of the religion. I did some research into the path and with the rest of the organized religions i pushed it to the side. Maybe because I couldn't pronounce the leaders name properly. After intensive searching, I found Iskcon, an unorganized religion, and surrendered. It was clear that Krsna was in control.

temple art.

2007-04-01T22:33:00.000-04:00

Who can see such pastimes? Who painted this?

This is the wall paper in the restaurant. I didn't know Indians could be so hip.

I can space and watch the lights change while in Bhagavatam class.

Delhi temple is filled with hundreds of paintings all originals and worth seeing.

dheli

2007-04-01T22:18:00.000-04:00

big city:big temple:thousands of guests:you are nothing special...I wont say anything more negative than that. The rest is highly positive and I will definitely return. I recommend everyone at least once in their life visit the Bhagavad Gita Experience, Light and sound show, the museums and the Robot show! I would see it everyday if I lived there except its 100 rupees per show. Its that good even for an American spoiled with all types of amusement parks growing up. The restaurants and the maha prasadam stands left me almost broke but worth every penny. After getting rejected from Iskcon guest house we stayed at the Krishna residency. Krishna's name was there but not his oppulences.

master minds

2007-04-01T10:33:00.000-04:00

Somehow or another I got the master minds(Eze, Sol, Nitai) to wander the streets of Navadvip with me in the late night. We picked up a mrdanga I had made earlier that day and examined the skills of local devotional craftsmen. I am always amazed at the amazing talent of Vaisnavas, whether they are working with computers or the natural elements. Either way I can not do what they do.

mayapur

2007-04-01T10:20:00.000-04:00

A short flight from Bhubenesvar took us to Kolkata. Here we took an evening taxi drive to Maypur. Jason swore on that night that he would never take an evening taxi to Mayapur again. I simply chanted Narasimha Mantras and went to sleep. The next time we went I also opted for a morning taxi rather than place ourselves in more danger than needed. Getting there did allow us to make it to the morning program on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. Huge festivities on this day. The morning program was one big party that lasted til midday and culminated in a giant feast! My favorite Bengali subji and mountains of rice! I highly recommend arrving to a Holy dhama on a festival day because the potency of such places is easily revealed. We met up with our New vrindaban family such as Soma Prabhu and Gauranga Kishore Prabhu and went to Yoga Pith and BSST's temple for their festivities and offer our respects. It was a great pleasure to be home again and in the company of thosuands of Vaisnavas. Mayapur is most wonderful. Jason had his first ever bath in the Ganga! We spent three days buying mrdangas, attending kirtans, staring at saintly vaisnavas, and wandering around beautiful Mayapur with friends whom i have not seen in verylong time. My new favorite activity, bicycle riding around holy dhamas. Its worth he purchase to buy a bicyle if you are there for more than a week or find one you can borrow. next time...

What we read is real.

2007-03-30T20:42:00.000-04:00

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur Samadhi

Unbelievable Beauty of TotaGopinath

Dinner Prasadam

Krsna! Krsna! Cleaning my heart at Gundica temple

surya samskar

2007-03-30T20:29:00.000-04:00

When I arrived to Bhubenesvar I was looking at the giant wheel carvings outside of the airport to be very surprised that the intricate carvings were of various sexual positions. Not thinking about it again, i didnt connect things til a month later in Mumbai. The wheels were duplictes of those at the sun temple. Mukunda Charan Prabhu was showing me pictures and when he came to the photos of the Sun temple outside of Puri he said, " this place is not for brahmacaris- the whole temple is shaped like a giant chariot and there are thousands of intricate carvings of the Kamasutra." When we went a few weeks before meeting him, they wanted 250 ruppees fro westerners to enter so we opted to not pay and simply walk around the temple and view it from afar. I guess I was saved from a few more samskaras. Some times not being allowed into temples may be a good thing.

Arrival in Puri was dream come true. Immediately i headed out to the beach to chant japa and remember everything i ever heard about its glories from my spiritual master.

red dawn

2007-03-30T20:18:00.000-04:00

When i was younger I used to watch a movie called "Red Dawn" which used to scare the hell out of me and give me night mares. It was a movie about the Russians parachuting into an American town and taking over. I always feared that day when I would see a Russian soldiers gliding down through the frame of my school window armed and ready to take over our American society.

I have only met a few Russian devotees over the years in America, but once I entered the Orissa area i began to understand the glories of Srila Prabhupada. He made a short few day trip to Moscow and planted a seed which has grown beyond belief. There were thousands of devotees everywhere! They were climbing over walls, getting chased by gaurds and eating all the prasadam in sight!

Tara was again and again disturbed when each temple refused Jason and I from entering, while he on the other hand could enter without a problem.

Bhubenesvar

2007-03-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

This is the Magazine which revealed the Dhama! All Glories to HDG Gour Govinda Maharaja

http://www.gopaljiu.org/Publications/MagazinesIndividual/7_Shiva1.htm

First you bath in Bindu Sarovar. Then you take darshan of Ananta Vijay. The devotees of Ananta vijay temple were very nice to our group. They allowed us to take darshan as long as we liked and we allowed to take as many pictures as we liked all around the complex. Then we feasted on the Lords prasadam! Wow! what kitchens! Just watching them make one offering was a great experience. I pray that our service to Sri Sri RadhaVrindaban Chandra can be so intense.

returned to sender

2007-03-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

When William and I joined the ashram in Tucson we immediately ordered passports. We had the idea that we would fly to India and not return being on the path of perfection and in a perfect place, India. A place where we can be free from all anxiety and attractions of this most disturbing place of America. Now I go to India and return knowing there is service here. I do feel I live in Mayapur, it is all of our home. I leave to serve where it is most needed and where Ive been directed to, New Vrindaban. So I am back after a short 7 weeks of pilgrimage. I hope all the prayers spoken in the past weeks will be answered as we need the strength, guidance and over all assistance while here in the USA. Its a scary place. The land of all my material desires. A place where I can fulfill each and everyone of my long cultivated sinful contemplations within moments. How fortunate we are that we have obtained service to the Lotus feet of Sri Guru, Lord Chaitanya, and Sri Sri Radha Vrindabancandra. I have faith that They are protecting and will continue to protect us. Being back in New Vrindaban I see how Thier Lordships are in control of everything here. Its a peaceful place, a whole five of us at Mangal arati. Four of us on the alter, three of us in class and all the Mahaprasadam you can eat for each meal. Let's see how Spring and Summer evolve. Maharaja lives in India and prays for us. That is our only hope.

more than meets the eye...

2007-03-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

During Day three in Vrindaban we bowed down to Goverdhan Hill and began our Parikrama. Today Tara and Palu joined us. They have become increasingly devotional and made the commitment to go all the way around Goverdhan. We started out at Kusum Sarovar and met HG Nityanada prabhu who cares for Kusum Sarovar and Bana Bihari temple. Kusum Sarovar is like new. They have placed new floors in the ghat and have removed the forest behind between the castle and Udhava kund. They are in plans of planting beautiful flowers as previously. Now that the forest is gone the monkey population has also dispersed. We started and ended here.

After a few hours Tara and Palu rented a Riksha and had the driver meet us later in the day. Tara peddled the riksha and his wife rode on the back and carried our bags and water. It was an intelligent move. After half of the parikrama, because of my flat feet and two days of intense barefooted walking, my ankles swelled up and brought great pain to every step. I was grateful because it made the parikrama a true endeavor and forced me to intensify my prayer. For two weeks after my feet remained swollen and I was still praying.

Mid way near Surabhikunj as we were dying in the heat of Goverdhan a most pleasant and innovative cloud of mercy approached. Puffing big black smoke behind it, a sugar cane walla drove up next to us. He had converted his sugar cane engine into a car slash sugar cane press. After three four cups we went on our way. There is nothing like a ten cent cup of fresh sugar cane juice. We finished by after noon and headed back to Iskcon.

As I exited our taxi I saw a sannyasi enter Prabhupadas quarters followed by a group of twenty people. I thought it was Dhanudhar maharaja but i couldnt tell so i followed them in. To my great pleasure it was HH Tripurari maharaja. Chaitanya, Blake and I spent Janmastami with him at his ranch in california. We took great inspiration from him and for the past two months I have been reading his Gita edition. His Gita has revolutionized my appreciaton for and has clarified so many questions i have had. I have become inspired in my devotional life by his most expert endeavor. After an hour long class i had the opportunity to thank him. I was beat but being our last day in the dhama I had to take advantage of Radha Shyama and Aindras Kirtan. I bought many garlands and a box of sanpapari(sp?) from Goverdhan and offered them to Radhe Shyama on behalf of various devotees and friends.

After Kirtan i was standing around and I saw Nisha from DC. Soon after Manish, and Vinay showed up and we went to dinner at MVT. It was my first time. Thanks guys. I had the veggie burger and half a pizza and a lime soda. All my austerieties became fruitful. It was so nice to see them in the dhama. Seeing such good friends in Vrindaban only increased our love for eachother. As we exited the restaurant we met HG Baladeva Vidya Bushan prabhu. For the next two hours we lounged in the hall way sharing many stories of our teachers and service to them. He's a great guy and a little wild. I mentioned I was going to Puri the next day and he became eager to get me a copy of Satsvarup Maharaj's book about Puri. As we walked out of MVT. I got attacked by a six and a half foot devotee. He wrestled me to the ground and Baladeva grabbed me in tagg team and they forced me to yell and scream as they molested my feet. I cant believe it. It was Gaura vani Prabhu. After the hearing so much of his past months adventures in India I was happy to see him at 11pm in Vrindaban. Baladeva coaxed him into roaming with us like mad men in search of that Puri book. First we headed to Aindras room. No one had it there and He was busy with his computer and writing his book. His preaching book is to come out soon! we roamed the alley ways for an hour or more and after waking up many deovtees in such a quest we left with as baladeva calls it" a Satsvarup knock off" it was Mahanidhi's Puri book. It was nice nonethe less to obtain a book, but the best was finishing off the trip in the wild companionship of Gaura Vani Prabhu and my new friend Baladeva Prabhu. I sold my alarm clock to GV went back to my room. Krsna's mercy i foooled aroud for enough time for the pizza to digest!I fell asleep at 1:30am and woke up at 2:30am to catch our Qualis to Dheli. 3 am is the best time to drive. No one is up yet and the roads are clear. Fill your cabbie up with chai and hell drive anywhere you have to go. We caught our plane and flew to Bhubenesvar.

you cant buy a ticket and get there...

2007-03-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

Vrindaban

Realization:
Jiva Soul(atleast me): Similar to Satan qualitatively but different quantitativly.
Even in the most holy places one's mind can ruin everything.

Vrindaban is paradise. Each visit springs forth the question, Why leave, you have so much to see and learn? It is home. An austere home. It was freezing. We had Three days to pack with activity and attempts at purification.

The Travel from dheli to Vrindaban was filled with the enjoyment of watching the bicycle riders hold onto the trucks, rikshas, cars, motorcycles, and ox carts in order to travel faster and with ease. I noted this and will later apply such intelligent acts.

Upon arrival to vrindaban we Checked into our guest house facility within Iskcons complex. Showering and washing clothes is always our first priority. One thing to remember, check to see if there is water before you tie your thread around your ear and use the toilet.

With great surprise We met up with Rupanuga Siddhanta Prabhu an old friend who I owe much of my early days of Krsna Conscious guidance. Among thousands I remember he told me a most illustrative example that has always inspired me. He said Grhasta ashrama is like an ox cart. If any difficulties fall on your path, you safely stop and either remove the obstacle or go around it and continue on. Then he compared a life or renunciation with driving a sports car. It is quick and fun, but if an obstacle falls on your path when you are driving 100 miles perhour it is very dangerous situation. When I was younger I used to read many books about rally car and formula one race car drivers.

Rupanuga arranged for us to be guided to the Gosvami temples that evening. Six Gosvami's Ki Jaya! It was so wonderful making it in perfect timing to see the various aratis and darshans of the most beloved Lords of Vrindaban. One shocker, as i entered the courtyard or Sri Sri Radha Damodar the center of the universe, as i was praying to Rupa gosvami and awaiting to see his most beautiful diety, i saw his samadhi in shambles, completely destroyed. I was left open jawed and disturbed. Another Indian inconvenience regretted. I guess they are building a new Samadhi in glorification of Srila Rupa Gosvami. At that time too Srila Prabhupadas quarters were locked up and closed to all. This week all court cases have come out in Iskcons favor and it has been reopened. The rest of the Darshans were sweet and filled with prayer. Oh Radha Raman when will we see you again?

The next morning Jason and I hit the parikram path barefooted with bead bags in hand. No one else was on the path. It was freezing. The ground made your feet go numb. I told Jason this is Vrindaban's mercy, your feet go numb so you dont feel the cuts from the rocks and then you step in cow dung so you dont get an infection. Jason turned back but i continued in the darkness.

This is one of my favorite activities while in Vrindaban. It really allows you to absorb the brahma murhurta energy of the city, the people and nature such as the moon over the Yamuna. I love being wrapped up in a chaddar, bare footed and walking in Vrindaban chanting Hare Krishna. It is a special feeling which is most priceless. You feel natural and accepted, being in Krishna's land with his associates.

Upon returning to the temple Jason, Rupanuga and I jumped into an ambassador and went to Varshana. We spent the morning roaming about with our Brijbasis pandit to Varsana, Terra Kadamba, and Nandagram. Actually we didnt go to Kanai Balai's temple because the Pandas have been quite rough and we didnt want to spoil our sweet morning of roaming about the dhama. Last year when I wen there it was Kartik. I was taking darshan and I saw i huge rat climb all over the dieties. In my mind i said “ oh sick, how can they let a rat climb all around llike that etec etc etc” then at that very moment i saw smoke coming from below my waist and my dhoti had caught fire from one of the arati lamps! Instantly I knew it was due to my offense so I bowed down and left immedieatly.

The evening we spent in awe of Aindras kirtan performance. When i was in high schol i spent much of my time going to all types of indie punk rock and hip hop shows. It was so exciting to see certain bands perform and get to meet them and support their lifestyle. Buy silk screened patches and 7 inches. Aindra and his 24 kirtan band is a trancendental example of such an aspect of youth needing to be satisfied. We can see that he is inspiring thousands of Krsna conscious youth around the world by steadily chanting for Sri Sri Radhe Shyama Sundar in most creative and energetic ways. Aindra Prabhu Ki Jaya! 24 hour kirtan band Ki Jaya!

Three days since I wrote this nonsense...

2007-03-06T08:48:00.000-05:00

Self Realized Chapattis

Catching up....
Sorry Sorry Sorry.
Its hard writing in India. Its hard writing anywhere. Some one told me this evening that they felt they have kept in touch with me and my mental state through reading the blogs over the past year. I hope that my mental state is not accurately revealed via these blog entrys. Maybe it is. Either way i am a fool.

I am definetly a person used to good technology. Either it has to be the best or its worthless. Even New V internet defeats India. I m not so tolerant of slow tech. It actually quite comforting to touch a Macintosh again. Actually when i was a wee boy my first computer was a mac II. On it I learned to type, program legotronics and do mathematics. Tonight Ive borrowed Nitai's computer so i could type up a few emails and blogs so when I get to the ole internet cafe i can be quick and to the point. atleast as quick as the computers can go. Over the past month it has been almost gauranteed that the computer I use will some how or another shut down mid email or the connection will die and the computer guy will try and try again while never admitting that it wont work. So usually I leave with the idea that maybe i shouldnt be using the computer in the holy dhama and should be chanting or reading rather than waiting for my login page to load. Waste of my life. I also figured out why they are called internet cafe's-because you can smoke as many cigarettes as you like while checking your emails or using up all the band with with a video conference to your girl friend back in europe.

Right now we have reached the last leg of our trip. We are in Mumbai and have just experienced the whirlwind festival of Gaura Purnima with HH Radhanath Maharaja, HH Kavicandra Maharaja, HH Devamrita Maharaja and HH Chaundramauli Maharaja and the Chowpatty congregation. Check their site for photos. www.radhagopinath.com

Before being here we flew five times and took ten trains twenty taxis or more... what to speak of rikshas or walking up and down or around hills or bowing down again and again and again and again and again. I think my forehead has developed a callous. Sick days-zero!!!!! but now the Mumbai cough has hit me. Im mobile but filled with mucus. Another notable experience, I made it the whole month without losing my shoes, until i arrrived Mumbai, on day two the shoes have gone awol. Ill be here for a week and a half more learning from and associatiing with Maharaja's servants. And of course eating a few self realized Chapattis. (this is a recently learned term for -Pizzas, a chapatti at full potential, coined by HH HDG)

Our previous schedule looked like this and I will give over view of each:
Vrindaban, Dheli, Bhubenesvar, Puri, Bhubeneshvar, Kolkata, Mayapur, Kolkata, Dheli, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dheli, Kolkata, Mayapur, Kolkata, Varanasi, and Mumbai.

ready to here what happened? Lets see what I can remember...

we good baba no ganja, no beedi...

2007-02-15T06:10:00.000-05:00

Awaiting Siva Ratri we are taking His instructions rather than following His actions. My mother used to tell me "do as I say not as I do." I used to think that statement was not the best but now I understand it to some extent.

We have many funny stories.... nagababas attacking Jason etc...coming soon(talk about culture shock!).

After Palitani we headed to Ahmedabad. Here we relaxed in the bangalo of our best friend Vinodcandra Bhai. It was his 71st Birth day so we had late night celebrations with his 60 close family members. Nice to see him holding the family together.

Hopping on a train to Dheli is always fun. We rode oppulently on the rajadhani express two tier sleeper air conditioned. You cant just buy a ticket to Vrindaban. Showering in a train is the best-true indian style. That is for intimate asociates only or those in the know.

When we arrived deelhi we met with our driver having an accident or sleeping in and he didnt come. We were left to haggle with the local pirates and get a ride to Vrindaban. Basically any taxi connection goes like this:

1) man dressed nicely with smile and corjually broken english approaches you.
2) He says hare rama hare krishna!
3) taxi?
4) mathura?-or other common destination
5) how many people?
6) you good price!
7) new car!-its always a old crappy car no matter what!
8) we say "no we want Qualis!"
9) he says "no qualis ambassador no problem nice car, first class."
10) but our baggage wont fit!
11) no problem big truck
12 no we want qualis
12) ok van but 200 more ruppee
13) no we go somewhere else
14) you ask someone else then they follow you and start yelling at the other
15) you are carrying heavy bags and are tired and just want to see the dhama...
16) They say ok here is you car...
17) they grab your bags throw them in squeeze you in thenthey ask for half the money
18) one guy puts it in his wallet with a big smile
19) then a fight breaks out
20) your sitting in the car wonderring whats happening
21) they are yelling -they are white epople why so cheap you idiot charge them more
22) then they dirve you some distance away and then say " this car is no good we are putting you in another better one
23) some more yelling goes on and you feel like you may be killed in a moment or so
24) then they shove you in worse car who they bought for half the price and your off
25) while on the road the man who's driving asks" so where are we going?"

Basically everything works that way...until you learn the look...

Mahadeva and Mahavira

2007-02-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

(Jason and I were walking to the Ganga right now and we decided to use the internet after our holy dip. Jason said maybe we might have to take another dip after words too. I agree!)

How do I explain the the signifigantly established worship of Lord Siva throughout India. What I recommend is you order Krsna Kathamrita Siva Issue 1 and 2 and then you may understand. Unfortunatley they are sold out but amazingly I have found one!!! Lord Siva Ki Jaya! At Somanath temple we amazed ourselves at watching the stone carvers and then took bath in the sea. Jason hesitated but after a little budbudaphenapanakam preaching we jumped right in. One little boy either planned on stealing our clothes or he watched them, either way he got a little Dwarkadish prasadam in exchange. The sevaks in the temple sell garlands in the front of the temple to offer. After a little parikram of the diety in off limits area we took darshan of the sevaks fixing old garlands for reselling. I guess flowers are that rare in Gujurat area you have to sell the flowers and offer the bhakti.

I have spent a few days travelling in Toyota's Qualis. Iam very attached now and think maybe its a good Idea to get on for the Usa. I think they are blessed by Lord Narasimha to make it through all obstacles safely.

In the evening we arrived to Palitani. Holy abode and take off point for enightenment in the Jain tradition. The most beutiful spot we went to on the trip. The day after we arrived was Nityanada Trayodasi. The rest of the God family was in Tirupati for the opening and to take darshan of Tirumala and Lord Balaji. We felt los tin theis world unfortunate to be there with al of you. WE woke up early and headed up the many kilometer mountain in the darkness follwing the sadhus and mainly the sadhvis. Remember 10,000 Jain female sanyassis. It was almost full moon and the mystic peacfulness of the climb and unlimited temples left us in nice meditation. Upon arrival at the top we enter hidden temples of Mahavirya and chanted our Vaisnava Prayers meditating the we were in Tirupati with the family and Gurudeva. Sitting til noon under the tree whcih countless sadhus attained liberation we chanted Harinam as everyone clad in white renunciate dress looked at the white man and I clad in saffron chanting with vaisnava tilak. were we the first? Nonetheless I hope to return it was most beautiful. The city is a vast arrangement of temples and castles built by kings. Jains are Kaitriyas and Krsna is supposed to be thier most worshipabble Lord in the Near future-thats the word on the steet. On the way down i befriended a most wonderful sadhu named Namaskara. 31 years old. We ran down the hill trying to care for his senior teacher who was carried down the hill in a palenqin. At the bottom i went to his ashrama dn spoke with the senior Guru for half an hour about renunciation and Bhagavad Gita. He wanted a Gita so Ill send him one asap. They fed me lunch and treated me very properly despite my truly fallen position. Im just a kid trying to make it in this world(as blake would say).

jason lost his crocs...

So I recommend you all go to Palitani. Connection is slow so i cant upload fotos so close your eyes and imagine paridise.

-bcd.

blind bhajan singers hit the streets.

2007-02-09T07:37:00.000-05:00

It seems to be a common profession for blind people to sing bhajans on trains, bridges, streets, roads, wherever. They are quite good and I think that it may be a blessing being able to just meditate on the Lord free from other distraction around you in the busy city life.

After Dwaraka we headed to Chorwad. I think it means "the Brititsh theives live over there over that wall". Its a small dilapidated business adventure in Gujarat. What remains are old castle ruins and fisher men. I spent the morning joining the village in their morning rituals of boating fishing and playing with dead eels. Despite their eating fish its was pleasant being with such simple loving people. Of course me and the kids got along well especially when the camera came out. Later we had coconuts cut by the 12 year old hatchet weilding beauty and then played hit the tire with the boys. Giant bats follwed us at night and the coral beach prevented us swimming in the arabian sea. Next stop-Somanath/Palitani.

India oh India

2007-02-01T00:45:00.000-05:00

Would you like a cart for your luggage?

10,000 Sadhvis versus 2000 Sadhus in on Jain path!

Proof! Jason in Dwarka

Beauty in Nagesvar.

The 20 or so hours of travel from New Jersey to Amhedabad was like having a fever which one is never quite comfortable this way or that way. Air India truly gives the taste of India before you hit the Mother Land. Bollywood erotic films, arguing with the stewards(customer is never right), rushing and pushing rather than lines, and those wonderful accents and pretending to not know english. We definetly looked forward to India and getting off that 6 story aircraft that smelled like tumeric or was that garlic and onions and Bacardi being passed around.

We arrived Amhedabad to what seemed like the New York stock exchange with a little more angst. A little slip of some American cash got us right through customs with little more than a wink.

One day in Ahmedabad sent us to the Large Iskcon temple, brief shopping, and a meeting with a few Jain sadhvis. Tara's neice renounced everything and now walks barefoot through India seeking enlightenment. Once a year she plucks out her own hair as well! This short visit left me great inspiration to be a little renounced while in India. To their level I dont think so. But definetly inspired by their mood.

We left the city and travelled to Dwarka. Here we visited the ancient Dwarkadish temple and stayed in Iskcon center established by HH Mahavisnu Maharaja. Their is one devotee taking care of everything. Cooking, cleaning, dressing, morning program, Bhagavatam class etc. Amazing soul. (Kind of like some places in America? India may not be that much difffernt.Bhakti is rare.) A great inspiration. He cooked for us for two days and placed us in the guest house with the most of care and attention. Our first holy dhama was reached on Ekadasi so our first stop of the India tour was most auspicious. One of the Pujaris at Dwarkadish temple took a fondness to me and left me with a maha garland right off the diety. A few prayers to Balarama and Dwarkadish sent us off to Bet dwaraka, which is an island in the Arabian sea. A most wonderful place to see and remember. The diety there is said to be very dear to Meerabhai and some say she merged into that diety. We bought some Gopi Chandan at Gopitila and returned to Dwarka city. The next day we left and headed to Nagaesvar and Chorwad.

Jason Tolerated the driving and learned about the signifigance of constant chanting and prayer while in India. The first few days were most amazing and appreciated. A lot more has happened but well leave that for later..... sick days-zero!

surprise appearance.

2007-01-24T13:59:00.000-05:00

thats vbd in a headlock

Generally when we show up at places, it is fun to just appear with little to no pre notice. This trip we were surprised to see a few people. Manish and Nisha had to work in NYc this week so they happened to be at the 2nd ave program. We found out that we will be in Amedbhad at the same time and Vrindaban at the same time too! Wow, great timing. Patra and dhokla here we come! Eight thousand percent PRof showed up on the scence cleaner than ever and brought us great joy. everyone remembers the 28 days on the bus this summer! Enough KC, Newmans and dirt to get anyone hooked! Yajna Purusa Prabhu is always eager to have us around, even though the ashram is now holding 15 brahmacaris and the Universally famous Pradyumna Prabhu(ACBSP) also got to meet my two kirtan brothers AKincina Krsna Prabhu and Pragnesh Prabhu. fun times fun times.

Today is Wednesday, the Appearance of Sri Advaita Acharya. Some how or another they grabbed me and made me give class. I think that it was a first. They are very senior and usually i just hide. I am a fool in comparison to them. In all ways each of the brahmacari's in NYc are superior to me and and I seek only their shelter and mercy.

Jason and i hit the NJ Transit back to Hamilton in the morning, ate a lunch of idli, washed our clothes and now waiting fo rthe evening to fall to do some pre travel shopping and end the eveing with a conference call Bg class. I really like doing these conference calls. I recommend all preachers start doing them. Its an easy ways to associate with many devotees at once no matter where you are or where they are. All you need is a phone. The other devotees in New Vrindaban who do congregation development have been doing them for years now. check them out at www.bhagavadgitaclass.com

Tomorrow off to India. Hare Krishna. Pray for us.

NYc beauty.

2007-01-24T13:45:00.000-05:00

There are many things in NYc which are beautiful, but Govindaji is "Reality, the Beautiful".

Mind your step.

2007-01-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

padam padam yad vipadam na tesam

mi familia

a little maya

like a rat that barks

chanting under mushrooms

NYc means Maya. There is danger at every step. Especially for me. Im attracted to it all. Luckily on this trip Jason, who is a perfect gentleman, accompanied me and gave all protection from my desires. Also it was really cold which curbed my desires to a small amount of inside activity.

We met up with my big brother Isaac (www.skullbrain.org)and his girl Kerri(http://www.urbancowgirlproductions.com) after getting the visa. They are very sweet to me and will do anything if needed at anytime. True family. We met up at the arch in Washington square park. I like it better with the Nyc rath festival of india overwhelming it. We headed to Red Bamboo soul food and filled up with veggie wings and soul chicken sandwhiches. Then we went to BH photo. That place is amazing. A NYC must see! better than ground zero. Its like going to Gan Eden, Jewish people everywhere. I had a good time. Reminded me of college life. Picked up some deep saturation color film for my new baby on the india trip, a titanium embodied contax g1! weve got the details worked out for the upcoming book, design, layout, graphic artist, and publisher. I just have to bring in the photos! Who is the demigod of photography? Is it Suryadev? I have to start worshipping quick. I havent touched a film camera for a few years. Lets see what happens.

We met up with the rest of the family- Cesar and the new baby, and the hairless Chijahua. Good times. The family experience is always needed sometimes. My brother is always appreciating KC so its nice to be with him. Some people dont get that.

Nyc-Visa Attainment

2007-01-24T12:52:00.000-05:00

January 22nd
Arrival was easy. Tara Dropped us off at the Ashram on First Ave. True Sanctuary from NYC life. We were greeted with a huge surprise of Advaita Acarya Prabhu(BTS) being there. After a long embrace we chatted into the midnight with Yajna Purusa Prabhu, Gadadhar Pandit Prabhu and Radha Vallabha Prabhu. Its nice to see our friendships being maintained and developed over the years. There are only a few of us out there and this team in NYc is definetly a stronghold. Any saffron clad boy in the Usa should take shelter in such a place. All glories to their Lotus like Ashram.

The Next day we headed off to the Indian embassy in the ice cold NYc street life. A few trains later we made it to the long line out front of the embassy pre 9 oclock opening. After soemtime we headed inside to obtain number one million something. I left to purchase some NYC bagels and chai. NYc sucks the money right out of your pockets. But thats just the way it is. Jason got called up and in a moment he was told to return in two hours and pick up the Visa. The next two hours we roamed about Central park freezing our japa fingers off. We took the blessings of Alice from Wonderland and returned to the mbassy to pick up the Visa. No problem all cleared and stamped! India here we go! Jason is establishing his determination to enter the Holy Dhama.

Narasimha's mercy.

2007-01-22T17:36:00.000-05:00

Narasimha's blessing

Prabhupada's Mercy

Balaramcandra is not in control.

Lacie

walking break.

So we left on Sunday to catch our train in Pittsburgh. Right when we left a blizzard hit and covered all the roads with snow. since it was sunday morning everyone being most pious people were at church so they didnt get out and plow the roads. If any of you have been to Nv you know West virginia is not a place for a Ford Focus to drive arround in the snow. Better you stay home. I came down stairs with my bags and Json asked are we actually going? With a confident yes we said a few good byes and headed to the car.

A few of our friends from Athens drove three hours to pick us up and drop us off another 1.5 hours to Pittsburgh. Great friends. While they were in New V. I showed them the temple and took them to the Palace. We had a great time playing in the snow, until we realized that we would have to drive to Pittsburgh in the same beautiful blanket. Amanda, JC, and Mark, interviewed us and grabbed footage to make a short documentary for Current Tv which is a popular tv station nowadays for youth.

On the trip out we had a few slide outs, a few out of control chanting sessions, and one getting stuck on a hill. Four of us jumped out and pushed the little car up the hill while we peeled out and slide somehow or another all the way to the top! It was video taped so maybe we'll see it on google video some day.

One interesting point was practically the whole ride we happened to be speaking all about Narasimhadev. Our friends were very interested our particular worship of thiis interstign personality. I think that His katha protected us from all danger.

We were late to our train. Lacie called us at 1:30 and said," Where are you I just watched your train leave without you? " She had secretly showed up with pizza Prasadam for our lunch while travelling. Nice. We got dropped of at her Bead shop oakland and made jewelry and chatted with the customers. I forgot how fun it was to work in resale. All day talking nonsense. Thats my style, and get paid for it.

Shyamasundar Prabhu had a program that evening so he mercifully arranged for us to get picked up by Gopal Prabhu. He even allowed me to speak, despite my hoody and pants outfit. We stayed the night at Pradumnya Prabhu's home adn his father Prasad dropped us off just intime in the morning to catch the train to New Jersey.

Train ride was normal. chanting, eating, reading, sleeping, chatting etc. Nothing as dynamic as a Greyhound ride and not as quick as a flight.

Right now were off to NYc for a day of Brahmacari sanga, Visa obtaining, lunch with the brother Isaac, and Tuesday evening program with the Manhattan vaisnavas!

Wish us luck, our last rip to NYc was very interesting and a little longer than scheduled.

Off to India!

2007-01-20T16:32:00.000-05:00

On Thursday January 25th
Jason and Balaramacandra head to Mother India. A big trip full of travel and purification. The itinerary looks like this...

Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Palitani, New Dheli, Vrindaban, Bhubenesvar, Jagganath Puri, Mayapur, Kolkata, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Then back to Mayapur for festival, and then off to Mumbai for Gaura Purnima, then to Udipi, Goa, and the Eco village in Karnataka, then back to mumbai and off to the USA. -Hare Krishna.

Jason spent a good part of December month working at a mall in California to raise money for the trip. Its a great austerity being trapped in a mall for three weeks. Jason is a mountain man built for the rural environments with little to no interest in Jingle bells and the mall spirit. Desiring to make his first trip to India he went all out and worked hard to raise more than enough money. Now he can spend three months of prayer in the wonderful embrace of Mother India.

Balaramacandra is now taking up the often recited mantra of Sankirtan devotees, "every year one must go to India to get recharged." With a yearly schedule of full time college outreach, festival organizing, Guru seva, and being 26 and having all his material desires hit him in the face full force, some how or another Krsna is bringing him back to His holy lands for parikram, bathing in holy rivers and taking shelter of the holy name free of any other responsibility. This will be best for all who he has to deal with on a regular basis in the Usa. His temple authority, his guiding teachers, his students and those Vaisnavas in his association have given full sanction, permission and blessings to travel once again.

We seek all your blessing and prayers for good health and the best of consciousness while travelling abroad. Please pray that offenses stay far away.

we'll post photos and stories as we obtain the chance.

Side route: New Vrindaban College Outreach

2007-01-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

Side route:
New Vrindaban College Outreach
This last Tuesday I had to say good bye to many students. Im leaving to India for the rest of the quarter and many of them will graduate while I am gone. They will leave Athens for good, get jobs and continue to grow into the wonderful people they are meant to become. I love them dearly, as i have known them for so long. I've see them each week and observed their personal evolution from their freshman year to now graduation. I've seen their ups and downs and they have seen my ups and downs. It was an emotional evening. My friends are leaving. I'm going to miss them, they have taught me so much!

In reciprocation, Krsna consciousness has effected so many of their lives in various ways. Some of our students have accepted Gaudiya Vaisnavism as their religion, some have taken up sadhana, some are living according to principles of purity, some just love to chant, some read Gita each day, some ask us for guidance in their life choices, and some hate us but can't figure out why they have to keep coming back each week.

Its been four years since we started college outreach from New Vrindaban. It started in 2003 under the guidance of Kuladri Prabhu. It was a lone brahmacari in New Vrindaban. Anada Vidya Prabhu our, beyond comparison book distributer, took me out to the colleges for book distribution the previous months and rekindled my desire to share Krsna Consciousness with the youth. He had left to India for his yearly trip so I was left all alone in New Vrindaban winter months to milk the cows, wash dishes, and mop the floors with my mind just thinking about those local colleges and sharing Krsna Consciousness. I meditated on old stories of my Gurmaharaja hitchhiking, driving beat up vans, chanting in the grass, giving lectures, distributing prasadam and opening centers. I heard how he used to travel to colleges each day of the week in a large circle through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. I learned about all the details of his travels, how he preached, how he started programs, how he slept, how he studied, how he chanted, and how he cooked and served each and every student with love. This is what I wanted to do and meditated on throughout the day.

Kuladri Prabhu would meet me each day and talk about Krsna. I remember we would just sit back with our arms resting over our heads and talk about what we've been reading and he would always tell stories about my Gurumaharaja. He always made sure I wasn't feeling lonely and that I was satisfied in my service. One day i asked him if I could start to travel and preach in colleges. With all the love of a kind father he was hesitant and discussed all the glories and difficulties of such a service. Especially being alone. He was all for it but was desirous that I find a partner to go out with, as that was best for a young brahmacari. Unfortunately there was no one. We even posted ads looking for others but no one showed up. Within the last year all our brahmacaris with the exception of Anada vidya had graduated ashrams and moved on to school, work or married life. Soon He gave a consession, that I could go but I had to be based out of Columbus and be here in New Vrindaban on the weekends. Nice arrangements were made that i stay with Krishna Balarama Prabhu, and Krishna Das Prabhu as they were single men and had a house near the temple. Kuladri allowed me to use the second sankirtan van which roared like a tank, got 10 miles to the gallon and which I loved and called Bhumi devi.

I had no Idea what to do but was confident that the Lord and Kuladri Prabhu would guide me. I sat down one day with Karnamrita devi and we looked at a map of colleges and we circled all the sweetest ones which my Gurumaharaja used to visit. I filled the van with books, instruments, bhoga, a table and flyers. I got all my warmest clothes, signed up for a cell phone and hit the road.

I traveled almost 100 miles each day visiting colleges, distributing books, setting up book tables, meeting students and professors. In no time I was invited to give lectures in classes, visit students in their homes and was distributing hundreds of books. Going out each day was not easy. At this time I barely knew anyone. So i camped out in the van by myself, ate by myself, drove myself, chanted by myself, distributed books by myself, ran book table by myself, and dreamed of the future by myself. All in the blizzards of the mid west. It was too much. I missed the dieties and the devotees. I lasted a month. Even though it was the number two thing which I wanted to do in this life, I knew I wasn't strong enough to do it by myself. I felt lonely and was getting disturbed. I didn't want to quit but I had no other choice, It was too difficult or I just saw it as too dangerous for me. Everyone warned against it but Kuladri Prabhu just said to try it out and see what happens, you can always come back. I wasn't a paramahamsa but just a young boy trying to stay engaged and please Srila Prabhupada. I called up Kuladri Prabhu very distraught and almost crying. He immediately just said to come home as soon as possible.

When I returned to New Vrindaban, my old friend, Atmanada Prabhu had just came back from India. I told him what I was doing and he was filled with excitement. He immediately wanted to join the fun and serve in this way. We spoke with Kuladri Prabhu and he explained that it must be Krsna's arrangement and that the college outreach must be meant to go on.

So in a few days we hit the road again and started actual programs in various colleges. We had no idea what kind of programs to start doing so we just tried a different type of outreach style at each college. We went to six different colleges in a week and Saturdays we stayed in New Vrindaban. We really wore ourselves out. But we were experimenting with how to communicate Krsna Consciousness with College Students and Professors. We held Bhagavad Gita classes, we utilized Radheshyam Prabhu's books for teaching, we held Kirtan nights, we held meditation groups, we held cooking classes, we tried so many things and everything we tried worked. Each type of class attracted certain individuals and each event was a success. Any problems came about due to our own limitations.

In due course of time, Atmananda Prabhu had to stop travelling, and I was left alone again. Fortunately by the end of Summer Narasinghachaitayna Prabhu, Gauranga Kishore Prabhu and Jagadish Chaitanya Prabhu also moved to New Vrindaban. Soon Bhakta William came, Chaitanya Prabhu, Jason Prabhu, and now Bhakta Chris have now come. Yugala Kishore Prabhu is also here. Some have left, some have come back and some will be back. Many more will come to help us. Gradually, with much pain to my heart, but with all neccessity others started to take over the various programs and some programs we have had to stop. With a gradually growing ashram of sincere and educated brahmacaris we have had to adjust our activities to spend more time with each other and serve in New Vrindaban.

After four years, other than the occasional programs about America, I mainly visit Athens Ohio. Each week, another devotee and I will travel the two and a half hours to Ohio University. We hold a cooking class each Tuesday night. We arrive at 6:30pm and leave at about 11:00pm. We usually sleep at around 1am after a full day of mangal arati, japa, diety seva, class, cooking for a hundred students, driving two and a half hours, teaching a cooking class, speaking with a hundred or so students, cleaning up, kirtan and driving to our house in Athens and calming down a bit with a few intimate friends. Its a full days sacrifice. One which I love and do not ever want to give up. I love the students and community which has developed around our cooking class. The students have called it Vegan Cooking Workshop, acronym VCW. I call it Vaisnava Culture Workshop-VCW. A place where one can learn to serve, learn to love and dedicate your every action to the Lord. Association with devotees is powerful. The process of Bhakti is inconceivable, and Mahaprabhu has his plans to purify everyone associated with this process. We hold a morning program of Japa, Gita, kirtan and breakfast each Wednesday. We spend the mid day with students for lunch at their homes, resting, studying, preparing lectures, and cooking dinner. Each Wednesday night we hold a discussion group which about 15 students attend. We gradually guide the students beyond their misconceptions of spiritual life, provide them proper Sastric based philosophy about themselves, this world, and God while teaching them how to apply knowledge to their lives. Students take up lives of purity and apply Sadhana to their daily routine. There are many things to say about each of our programs, but mainly it can be summed up by saying that I accept each of these students as my master and thank them again and again for providing the opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada's movement. I am indebted to each of them. I am crying as I pray that I will see them again and that Krsna remains within their lives in some way or another.

Regulative Jingles of Freedom

2007-01-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

We drove off to Atma prabhus house in golden valley. Here A few Disciples of HH maha Visnua maharajs reside. His Holiness is the main teacher who visits as well as Ganapati maharaja and HH Romapad Maharaja. All of their visits are rare and the devotees are always eager to have visitors. We stopped for the evening chanted for some time, had an arati for their Radhe Shyam dieties, and then had nice qinuoa kitchiri. After Prasadam we were entertained by the most melodic chanting of Ananta Vijay Krsna Prabhu (our MAHA MUFFIN creater). He is good at everything he does. He graduated with a degree in Music. Now on his spare time he records jingles about not smoking, not dringing, not eating meat and sells them to big nonprofit Corps for their advertising. He is really gifted. I look forward to seeing what he'll do in the future. As we arrived the house there was no snow, as we left there was a half a foot of snow which covered everything. Sai was wearing sandals and suffered greatly. Chaitanya scared the boys a little bit with his Michaigan teenage antics such as sliding around in the snow and turning corners out of control. Lots of fun considering we didn't die or fall into one of Minneapolis' ten thousands lakes.

Atma picked us up very early the next morning and dropped us off at the airport in more than enough time to catch our plane. Minneapolis finished.

Many of our students have graduated and have obtained jobs in little towns or in big cities that don't have temples or much association. Its a whole new area in our outreach considering that our students are now working people and are supporting us monetarily now. They are also preaching on their own and inviting us everywhere for programs. We all look forward to seeing what is going to evolve with these Krsna Conscious relationships which we have established in our youth.

The Divine Couple say Hello!

2007-01-20T16:06:00.000-05:00

The next day we nicely slept in and had a sweet morning of japa, kirtan, Srimad Bhagavatam class and a big breakfast of MAHA MUFFINS. One disciple of Maha Visnu Maharaja has a small business of making prasadam baked goods and sells them at coffee shops all over the city. He stays up all night baking and delivers them himself. This morning Atma Prabhu came over and dropped them off with Big Bhima. We feasted then fell asleep for three hours. In the evening we headed off to an evening program. Chaitanya led nice kirtan and I spoke for a few hours from second Chapter of BG. One older gentleman named Rama stopped the class towards the end and asked," so who is God Visnu or Krsna?" With the permission of the group we went into explaining the Tattva of Each. At the end he exclaimed," I'm convinced now, Krsna is Supreme." Others said each week he asks the same question but this week he finally surrendered. I was happy to be used in some service to eradicate his doubts. One little boy came up to me and I asked his name. He said his name and then exclaimed "I have two thumbs!" He had two thumbs on one hands and he gave me a high five. At the end of the program the kids came down and did a short spontaneous play of Krsna and Balarama entering Mathura city and meeting various personalities. It was nice meeting a new group of Vaisnavas and seeing how Krsna Consciousness and its Vaisnava culture is spread all over. Great job Atma!

The next day we slept in and had a similar morning program. At five oclock we headed to an evening where we met Gaura Shakti Prabhu(ASBSP) and many others. It was nice to meet Nitai Prabhu and his wife who are now new parents. I had not seen them in many years since they last visited New V. New Vrindaban is a special place to live because everyone comes there. So by living there and serving you automatically befriend thousands of Vaisnavas. This makes travel very easy. Hopefully travelling back to the Spiritual world too. We met Rama again and he was a funny character. We told us all about his proffession and we met his wife. Many unique stories and new friends.

Sunday was ekadasi. We made arrangements to meet Jimmy and Terri Divine. The are very dear friends to New Vrindaban. They have been visiting New Vrindaban for over thirty years now. When we told New vrindaban devotees we were going to Minneapolis the first thing they said was "You have to meet Jimmy and Terri!" I had met them three years previously at New vrindaban when I was younger and taking care of the cows. So this ekadasi was dedicated to meeting them. The whole house was so amazingly Krsna Conscious. Not only that but specifically New Vrindaban Conscious. They told us that they considered their home to be a New V sattelite center. Indeed it felt as if we were home. Their dieties were very beautiful and most notably they had a very small golden Nimai diety who was sleeping in a small bed. We chanted for some time while Terri made fresh Buckwheat waffles, seasoned potatoes, fruit salad and mango lassi. We were not feeling the pangs of Ekadasi today. We then looked at old picture books and heard unlimited stories. Then for the next three hours we watched Srila Prabhupada's chronological videos made by Iskcon Cinema. We were laughing, sleeping and drinking hot tea. It was nice to relax with our parents for some time. We finally left after taking the blessing of the Narasimha brain scan of Kirtananada Swami. They sent some jam with me to give Mother Gopa and Damodar Prabhu but it got taken away in security at the aiport. sorry. I did my best.

side trip: Minneapolis

2007-01-20T15:32:00.000-05:00

Talpasai Prabhu

Balaramcandra and Talpasai Prabhu

Cowherdboy Lila

1st house program of trip
Minneapolis side trip
January 11th-15th
I never thought I would have a reason to go to Minneapolis. When I was a child in the deserts of Arizona, I always wanted to experience the largest mall in the World which was located there. I think someone has stated that there is a larger one now in Canada somewhere. Either way we didn't go.

Chaitanya Prabhu and myself got dropped off at the airport by our old friend Brittany. She is a great girl who we've known for a few years now from our college outreach in Athens Ohio. She has always been more than supportive of our lifestyle and accepted us within her group of friends. She is known to go out of her way to help her Monkey friends. We dropped our car off at her house. At first we attempted to ask various devotees for assistance but for some reason no one could help us. We even offered to have a program but everyone declined. We felt a little awkward dealing with the devotees and unfortunately all my previous negative feelings about Columbus came back and I had to check myself with various uplifting prayers and meditations. So we called one of our students and she was more than willing to help us. She spaced out a bit on the drive and missed our exit but we made it on time since the plane's water pipes froze and they couldn't fix them. So we flew on a plane to Chicago with no water, no coffee, and no toilets. We just caught our connecting flight in Chicago and arrived to Minneapolis just on time.

The reason why we headed to Minneapolis was due to our very good friend Talpasai Prabhu being there. We've known him for about three years now. We met just after Atmanada Prabhu and I started college programs at the University of West Virginia. Shantanu Prabhu was also attending that program and had mentioned to Talpasai that a few brahmacaris from the temple were coming each week and explaining Bhagavad Gita , doing kirtan, and bringing the best Halava in the world.

Talpasai Prabhu was already reading a certain version of Bhagavad Gita, and chanting Visnu Sahasranam early each morning. He was already vegetarian and took no intoxication. After a few programs he started to chant and read Srila Prabhupada's Gita. His purports blew him away and he took up KC with great conviction. Immediately he bagan to teach others the glorious explanations of bhakti which Srila Prabhupada has given. Within due course of time he accepted the glorious Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as his worshipable Lord. He started an internet sanga group and started to share all his realizations with others. He practically held the whole program together himself and was dear to everyone. He did this for almost three years while he did his masters. Recently he obtained a job in Minneapolis and had to leave the close association of all his friends in West Virginia and New Vrindaban.

We promised him that we would visit once he got settled so this was our chance to fulfill our promise. He's working a most boring job and misses all His friends back home. He really has no interest to work anymore for money and is only doing so because the Senior Vaisanvas recommend he do so for some time.

Krsna nicely arranged he have very wonderful association with great Vaisnavas in Minneapolis. There is no offical Iskcon Temple yet there are many devotees scattered about who meet weekly for programs. Krsna even blessed him with a roommate named Laxsmipati who was nicely trained in Chowpatty's IIT Bace. He simply chants and reads Bhagavatam. Nothing else, no other interests, except his PHD work which comes second in his life.

So Sai picked us up at he airport via the Light rail system. Its a great way to beat the cold and the traffic. Minneapolis was zero degrees F. We arrived at his house and because he was at work all day he had not cooked dinner so I cooked for us all in a half hour or so. It was a great delight. I used to cook for him each week for over two years and now i had the chance to do it again. A college preacher really does develop a parental mood which is very satisfying. Chaitanya did joke that this is the kali yuga symptom where guests come to others homes and cook themselves. Later we had to drive ourselves too. We just didnt trust our south indian friend's blizzard driving skills.

Late in the evening Chaitanya's sister arrived at the amtrak station to be with us for the weekend and also Anandchaitanya Prabhu flew in for the weekend.

Arcata-Humbolt County

2007-01-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

Arcata-Humbolt County
August 13th

Is marijuana kind of like garlic or onions? Can we be a little lenient when on the road? Somehow we held strong despite all our previous samskaras and didn't touch a gram.

Today we finally traded in our "Penot Not War" wine bottle for some bicycle maintenance. It did come in handy. Within a few minutes of arriving we met up with all our german friends and performed kirtan. We even got our Pastor friend to chant. He liked it very much. AS we chanted many poeple came up and appreciated the kirtan and invited us to stay for a few days and do kirtan at their homes. Unfortunately we were on a tight schedule trying to make it somewhere for Janmastami. We made friends with the boys at the bike shop and they invited us to stay in the back yard on the half pipe. We took up their offer and upon entering we met three drunken english men also riding down the coast. They invited us to go out to the bars and enjoy Arcatas night life. We declined and also looked for a better place to stay. We went out to eat at a restaurant called Tranquility. Its all vegan and organic. We were so happy. Here we had dinner with our new friend Josh. He was telling us all about his easy going life. Basically he surfs every day and drives his car for free because its a biodeisal. Every few months he helps harvest marijuana from the local plantations and makes hash to sell. In this a his life is easy and he can enjoy without much disturbance. After dinner we walked around town for some time and checked out the "plazoids"-thats a name for the homeless kids and all the musicians who hang out on the downtown plaza begging for change to get drunk. At one time as I was leaving the bike shop with my bead bag in my hand and excited about all the positive reciprocation in regards to being Hare Krishnas in Arcata i saw someone very peculiar... He was dressed in a purple tshirt and a purple lungee. In one hand he had a purple bead bag and in the other he held Prabhupada's Gita. He was standing in the middle of the street literally cussing in an angry mood at all the people driving by. I quite confused and grabbed the other boys to see. we didn't know what to do? Should we beat him up? should we grab him and take the Gita and beads from him? what should we do? He was obviously setting a horrible example for devotees and he was clearly crazy? We ended up letting him go but for the rest of our stay in Arcata people were asking, " is that one guy with you?" Blake went to the local health food store and a young lady asked if he had a bicycle patch kit. He did and fixed her tire. She invited us to stay at her home. we washed our clothes, I stole some music from her computer and fell asleep after half an hour of kirtan. The next day sheet boy made it to town and bought us the supplies for pancakes and our new friend made breakfast. As we left I got my one and only flat of the trip. I completely forgot her name...but she did remind me of my godbrother Radharamanji? Oh RadhaRamanji where are you?We miss you!!!

Orick

2007-01-06T15:45:00.000-05:00

Crecent city to Orick.

We made it to California!!! Today we rode through amazing redwood forests and we landed in Chaitanya's most hated place on the whole trip. Orick! This was only after riding over some of the biggest hills todate. We were dying and Chaitanya's spokes kept breaking. We arrived and the only place to eat was some horrible diner or the grocery store. Some how we mustered up enough vegetarian items to make sandwiches. We hung out in front of the grocery store trying to figure out where to stay this evening. Speaking to a few drug addicts we decided to find our own spot. We met one boy who was riding a beach cruiser up the coast and carried a djimbe drum on the front of it. He somehow knew we were Hare Krsna's and started to tell us about his being in a "moon cycle" and was forced to travel by providence. Maybe we were also in our "moon cycle". We debated whether to sleep under the bridge or next to the river? Maybe behind the garbage can or rent a hotel? Then we found the most "perfect" spot... the roof of the volunteer fire department! We climbed up and wrapped ourselves in the sleeping bags thinking it would be a simple nights rest. Within an hour or so of falling asleep we woke up completely drenched with water. We had no idea that such heavy fog would roll in. It was if it was a Mumbai monsoon. We woke up the next morning and I met wo biker that were just vacating their hotel room. I became friends with them and asked them if we could use their bathroom to take a hot shower. They agreed and our morning started out well. There is nothing wonderful about Orick. Actually there is, that sign in the picture gets changed everyday but no one ever see's who does it!

Stuck in giant bodies.

2007-01-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how big a Redwood is?

One time a cobbler told Narada Muni," Of course I believe My Lord Narayana was threading an elephant through an eye of a needle. If he can place a huge banyan tree within a little seed why could he not do that?"

Seeing such large living entities reconfirms the greatness of God. These trees are dated to be at least three thousand years old.

Morning rituals.

2007-01-05T14:47:00.000-05:00

August 11th.
Today was a wonderful morning. We woke up, and with a short ride and hike we made it to the river. The sun was just coming up and the water was just cool enough to make the sun's heat enjoyable. Its a great oppulence to bath in a nicely flowing river. We all felt as if we were in the Himalayas on a trek to a holy dhama. We properly worshiped Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and had a nice morning program on the river bed. Why leave such a place? Why go back to the city?

movieksetra

2007-01-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

August 10th
Gold Beach to Illegal Camping at Jedediah Smith State Park.

Today we were quite excited. We had two choices. One, to ride across the Oregon border into California just to get state number two out of the way. Or two, ride into the Redwoods state park and get our first glimpse at the giant redwoods. This particular forest was the forest which Return of the Jedi was filmed. For young boys this was a great pilgrimage spot.

We chose the movieksetra. The ride was not too difficult but it was cold while entering the forest area. The roads were flat and we were surrounded by trees. we had no idea where we would stay as usual. We just kept the look out for a river for bathing. We stopped into the State park ranger station and the girl who worked there was celebrating her birthday. She was from Maryland and quite happy to speak with anyone from abroad about the park. She gave us good advice about where to "stay" and ride our bicycles through the best of forests.

We ended up riding on a dirt road for some time and it became pitch black. With our little bike lights we found a spot to camp just off the road. We had to be camp in such a way as to not get caught but the desire to have kirtan in this most wonderful place was too strong. We started playing the kartals, harmonium and mrdanga. a most melodious mahamantra filled the air and set the proper prayerful mood to remember great sages of the past and their meditating in the forest. At the very moment of our reaching a very calming place a ranger came driving right next to us. We all stopped abruptly and ducked down. Each of us was ready to accept our defeat and thouht up a million excuses for breaking the law. Fortunately, somehow he did not see us. We waited for some time, then chanted a bit more and fell asleep praying that ghosts, bears and ewoks don't disturb us.

Bandon to Gold Beach

2006-12-31T17:43:00.000-05:00

August 9th
Bandon to Gold Beach

Today I spent trying to ditch the family of bicyclist which were very near to us. I would have felt bad that a Middle aged dad, mom and their 10 year old boy would out ride me so i pushed a little harder than usual. Blake and I met up and went swimmimg mid day in an icecold beach which had signs everywhere"Do not swim! Do not Swim! It was hot and we needed a bath! We made it out safely. I spent approximately 3 dunks at about 2.5 minutes. Blake made it a clean 10-20 minutes. Blake heard that this was wild bear country so he started practicing climbing trees in order to hide his Kit Kats if needed. At some point we became the photographers for a huge biker gang who were cruising the up the coast. I think today we were quite tired. 60 miles up and down hills in the hot sun gave us nice sun burns and a good reason to drop dead when we made it to town.

raw kombucha-breakfast of champions

2006-12-31T17:22:00.000-05:00

August 9th
Balarama Jayanti

We woke up to a mystic morning feeling we were on a deserted Island which only prehistoric monsters roam. Until 8am or so we were the only monsters present. We rose about six and took ice cold baths in the ocean. I took a dip in one of the ponds and Chaitanya went for it and dove into the ocean. He thought it would be the only chance to swim in the Oregon coast since we are about to cross the border in a few days. Anyway it was invigorating! We spent the early morning in japa meditation and prayer to Lord Balarama. Half day fasting allowed us to spend til noon in Bandon beach having cowherd boy adventures through the caves, ponds, rock bridges and investigating the local wildlife. Extra day light reading was most enjoyabIe. Often we only read when its dark and we have to use our flashlights. I also collected nice shiny rocks to give my hippy friends like Ananga and Bobbitto. By their inspiration Raw Kombucha was the fast breaking drink of choice. energy boost! I highly recommend Bandon to anyone who wants a quiet getaway for maybe writing a book or just being alone to chant your japa or study. I look forward to returning someday. Very special place actually my favorite out of everywhere on the coast. I just love that early morning fog which hides the seastacks. Reminds me of fairytales. Did you know that one is always looking to "live-happily-ever after" because they are sat-cit-ananda! Live-cit(consciousness), Happily-ananda(blissful),Ever after-sat(eternal).

more bandon photos

2006-12-31T17:19:00.000-05:00

bandon photos

2006-12-31T17:09:00.000-05:00

Balarama's purna chandra...

2006-12-31T16:08:00.000-05:00

We arrived to Bandon the night before Balarama Jayanti. The moon was huge, bright and full white color. There was a blue ring which encircled it and made our evening most auspicious. We had no idea that we would be sleeping in a most mystical place. There were little to no houses or hotels near by. It was a bird sanctuary so there were no business' etc. We arrived and the fog had rolled in and left silhouettes of sea stacks to be viewed down the cliffs into the ocean. Chaitanya blindly climbed a sea stack not knowing what else to do on a most beautiful night. The moon shown brightly so we could see quite easily. We finsihed chanting our japa on the beach below, engaged ourselves in kirtan, spoke a lttle about Lord Balarama and offered our prayers to him that he may protect and inspire us while on this journey. On the day of my initiation HH Radhanath Maharaja told me that Balaramacandra is actually a name of Lord Nityananda. It is so because the moon(chandra) is representative of mercy and blessings. "balaram hoilo nitai" Lord Nityananda is non different than Lord Balarama. In Chaitanya Lila Gaura Ntai come to save the most fallen whether they deserve it or not. This is krpa... So the Mercy of Lord Balaram has decended and walked the earth as His very Self, Lord Nityananda. He goes knocking from door to door asking everyone to accept Krsna as their mother, father, worshipable Lord, their life and soul. He begs them to simply give up your sinful ways and chant Gauranga! Chant Hare Krsna! My Gurumaharaj said I must act as a servant to Lord Nityananda's mission. I prayed to Lord Balarama on this evening that I may be blessed with the opportunity to serve this order. Sri Balaramaji Ki Jaya!

satatam kirtayanto mam...

2006-12-31T15:46:00.000-05:00

bandon o bandon

2006-12-29T16:53:00.000-05:00

Entering Bandon.

One sad thing about Oregon is every so often you come across these tree graveyards. There are mountain side which all the trees have been clear cut for this "renewable resource".

As we approached Bandon we stopped and enjoyed the beautiful glades. Each day we would see various natural environments that just captured your minds. One time a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada," Prabhupada, do you think that that sunset is beautiful?" Prabhupada answered,"If you think that the sunset is beautiful wait til you see the artist behind it." We didnt think that Bandon was going to be one of our favorite places on the whole trip. We arrived to the town and it was a little place with just one small grocery store. We got some food stuff to eat and headed to the local Library to catch up on email . We got there a little late so only spent ten minutes there. We chatted with a golf catty for twenty minutes or so and he gave us the advice to camp on the beach in these little huts that he and his caddy buddyies go drinking at each night. We liked the beach idea but not the hanging out with his buddies idea. Caddying is a good job for anyone who likes to be the servant for very rich people. He get 80 dollars plus tip to carry a bag for four hours. We showed up at the beach and our jaws dropped seeing and feeling the environment. Most beautiful.

Redsport to Bandon

2006-12-29T16:10:00.000-05:00

August 8th
Reedsport to Bandon!
54 miles

Sheet boy appeared. We had no clean clothes so this morning we found a laundry mat and threw everything into the machine. Chaitanya put everything except a dhoti and chaddar and walked around this small town to chant his japa. The kids that lived across the street started yelling "hey sheet boy! hey sheet boy! The family even walked over just to see who he was and what the hell he was doing walking around in sheets. This nick name stuck with him until today. On the ride Blake took a break engaging himself in his favorite activity of eating reeses peanut butter cups and kicking a rock around. Those shorts are lycra not spandex, don't laugh! In Coos Head we met the local organic farmers at the co-op and they hooked us up with veggies for our mid day sandwiches. We stopped at the local thrift store for Blake to buy some warm clothes then we rode off to hit the seven devils. Seven devils are theses huge hills. We didn't even know what we were getting into when they started. Switching back and forth through neighborhoods we just kept riding and riding. The hills never stopped. It was like riding a bike in San Fransicso over and over again for hours. While riding we met our good friend from Germany. He was a priest who was taking a vacation like us. In Nitai's words "Bonified". He preached to us abut celibacy and the need to have good association in order to last th elong haul out of material life. His parish takes nice care of him and in turn he can take nice care of everyone spiritually. He was very joyful and we kept meeting him for the next week on the road. Oregon has one of the nicest bike routes . Practically didn't even need a map.

reedsport

2006-12-29T14:39:00.000-05:00

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Reedsport
August 7th

48 miles

We woke up to a most scenic view of sea stacks and sea bridges. I showered in the bathroom Indian train style with my lota. The other boys made friends with the local firefighters and used the showers in the fire department. We chanted and did yoga on the rocks and then ate whatever we had to eat. The day started with a ride up a big hill. The book said it was a "lumpy ride" but it was still tough. We rode the huge hill and took darshan of hundreds of sea lions. That was at the top of the hill. It was always a satisfying feeling to ride down a hill going 35 miles per hour and see others struggle up each hill. It as satisfying on our part but also we felt empathy knowing how big of a struggle it is to go up that hill. Poor chaps. Only they knew what kind of struggles we will meet in the miles to come and only we knew what struggle they would meet later in the day. The rest of the day was flat riding through sand dunes. It was hot and dry. Earlier yesterday we met a group of 7 girls riding from all parts of America. We met them and pedalled very fast as to not end up camping next to them. They were all pretty fast riders so we kept meeting up to them at various times. This evening as we pulled into our camping area there they were! How did they pass us? I guess when we stopped they rode and when they stopped we rode. Something like that. We kept meeting friends like this along our way. Before dusk we stopped at a local skate park and met a few of the skaters. Our favorite one was this little boy who talked a lot and skated with his feet strapped in innertubes. We rode into a camp ground and some old guy started to wave us over. I guess he knew what we were up to. We hesitated to come over but he called us again and again so we came over. he was a nice guy and asked us what we were up to. We asked about sleeping on the sand dunes and he said it was a bad idea and better we stayed with him. His name was mike and he was living at this camping spot for the past month. He sold sea shells that were painted on and made little to no money. He said we could stay with him and if anyone said anything he would cover us by saying we were his kids. He liked us a lot and offered us cheap sodas and bologna sandwiches. We told him all about ourselves and he was very interesed. He told us about his early life meeting Hare Krishnas and asked us to chant for him. We had hot tea and chanted next to the fire. I think this evening was the first and only time we actually used out tent. Other than that we just bivey sacked it. We slept that evening being quite scared since mike told us all about some wild racoon and wild cat that attacked a few people the weekend before. We chanted Narasimha Mantras and slept close together.

Yachats

2006-12-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

August 6th
Lincoln city to Yachats
50 miles

Cold ride today. Not difficult terrain. Saw prehistoric sacrificial arena called "Devils Punchbowl". Note the blood on the picture. Crossed a few bridges which are always fun and dangerous. A few whales appeared to enjoy the beautiful environment. Its wonderful to see pine trees on your left and the ocean on your right. Blake decided to eat all the Barbaras blueberry fig newtons. He even took a picture of himself doing so. Every aquarium on the way was closed. One enjoyable part of the trip was seeing the Kite surfers. An extreme sport where surfers strap parachute like kites to their bodies and travel at like 35 miles per hour three four miles out into the ocean and come back then fly ten twenty and sometimes fifty feet into the air. They come crashing back to the water and shatter their ankles. In Yachats we stopped in a small market and made our famous sanwiches and ate them in the parkinglot. We hung out with the locals and learned that we could sleep in the park. We ended up sleeping at the park on some rocks. I was scared of the thunderous waves so i prevented us from sleeping on the sand below. Sleeping there could have led us to our death while enlcosed in our mummy bags. It is a general rule that you shouldn't sleep so close to the water especially when its pitch black and you don't know where you are. Either the tide comes in or the sea monsters get you.

Hanumanji Ki Jaya!!

2006-12-28T22:47:00.000-05:00

kapi-dhvajah--one whose flag is marked with Hanuman

We needed protection and speed.
So our prayers were fulfilled and Hanumanji appeared by the Vaisnava's mercy.

Chapter 1. Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

TEXT 20

atha vyavasthitan drstva
dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte sastra-sampate
dhanur udyamya pandavah
hrsikesam tada vakyam
idam aha mahi-pate

SYNONYMS
atha--thereupon; vyavasthitan--situated; drstva--looking upon; dhartarastran--the sons of Dhrtarastra; kapi-dhvajah--one whose flag is marked with Hanuman; pravrtte--while about to engage; sastra-sampate--the arrows released; dhanuh--bow; udyamya--after taking up; pandavah--the son of Pandu (Arjuna); hrsikesam--unto Lord Krsna; tada--at that time; vakyam--words; idam--these; aha--said; mahi-pate--O King.

TRANSLATION
O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa [Krsna] these words:

PURPORT
The battle was just about to begin. It is understood from the above statement that the sons of Dhrtarastra were more or less disheartened by the unexpected arrangement of military force by the Pandavas, who were guided by the direct instructions of Lord Krsna on the battlefield. The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krsna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krsna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory.

trying, really trying...

2006-12-28T22:34:00.000-05:00

August 6th
We were really trying to leave but too tired....
Our napping provided just enough time for a very special friend to join the trip.....

Chaco golf.

2006-12-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

1st chaco golf tournament champion

Chaco golf...
So we made up a new game. Just like in that movie 2001 space odysey the apes figured out how to use the bones as tools and weapons, we figured out how to use our chaco sandals for sporting tournaments. chaco's are some of the best sandals ever. Some will disagree and vote for the brikenstocks or this sumer the hot sandal was the Crocks. The Crocks are too light for use in this sport and the birkenstocks just are not sporty enough. First we wished we had kites, because they looked quite fun in this windy place. We had zero dollars so that was out of the question. Next we wished we had a frisbee but it was actually too windy to use one anyways. We chanted for some time and then the light bulb appeared and I explained the new sport. Perfect. The rules are the same as frisbee golf. Pick a tree, stump, house, car, rock, hole, whatever as a marker. Bet on how many throws it'll take you to hit the mark then go for it. Make a line, back up a bit, then run and kick your heart out. the sandal is supposed to go flying off your foot and launch a good number of yard in front of you. Alternate kicks and see who hits the mark in the least number of trys. Its great fun. I recommend all of you get out there and start playing. We want to send a demo video to chaco and see if they'll sponsor us for free sandals. I think its a good idea and it can catch on quick!

ekadasi vrat: try to be krsna conscious.

2006-12-28T17:36:00.000-05:00

who am i? where am i? i lost my identity. i lost my whole memory.

URBAN TURBAN $19.95

brahmacari chooses computer, grhasta chooses puzzle.

Holy Dhama:Mother Yamuna has walked here.

Ekadasi means more chanting and reading.

August 5th Evening.
You cannot swim in Lincoln city. You can only fly kites, walk dogs, play on rocks, and chant japa. It is so windy that you can jump up in the air and you will fly a few feet from your original standing point. This ekadasi, we slept, played puzzles, caught up on email at the library, read, and people watched at the beach for some time.Teh guy at the health food store remembered me from two years before. At one point in during the day I almost fainted. Not from no grains but I thought I lost my japa beads again. I seriously looked through all my bags again and again and again and again and again. I didnt tell anyone for some time then later I did. I was depressed adn left to ask "what offenses did i committ?"Why did I lose my japa beads?!!! Brad said he would take me back to where we were this morning and we could back track everystep, but i was just going to accept my loss. I had lost my gurumaharaja's japa beads! Then before dinner i was prayng to the Lord for guidance as to how to cope with this loss, and chanted Gayatri mantra. During gaytri mantra insight came. I finished chanting went to a certain pouch I had and there they were, right where I left them. I felt Krsna just wanted to show to me that on Ekadasi I had to think about the holy name and Krsna more. In losing my beads I was immerssed in prayer and contemplation of my lowly position and the glories of the Lord. I placed my hand in my japa beads and headed to the beach for some chanting in solitude! Hare Krsna!