The Things We Must Learn to Grow

Really amazing day today, I am so blessed to be here and have these opportunities to meet some amazing, spiritually charged and empowered people here and on my travels.
Just have to shift through some weeds and you'll find the flowers. Just takes time and some effort sometimes. Everyone is on their paths, some are farther ahead, farther back, some not even close to being near a path. Though everyone is going in some direction whether it be up or down.

You can't just stay in one place in this world, and if you do something will always change eventually anyway, essentially your either growing or regressing. I rather keep on the path to growth.

People really make all the difference to me, I could be in the Sarabi desert with nothing but water and stale bread and be happy as long as I have good association around me, I'll be happy.
Association is SO important, for everyone. Just as you are what you eat, you are who you hang out with.
And just by being around and associating around some of these elevated, sweet, and kind people I feel my heart begin to change, the depths of my soul growing.

So it's August and for the whole month of August I'll be staying completely in New Vrindaban w/o traveling because Malati is out of the U.S currently traveling In Europe. So that means we got some fixed services here.

At the temple I clean the lobby every day (sweep, mop, take out trash etc), clean the temple book case (and other parts in the temple, I don't have to be asked to do that I just will...always needs dusting)
and other tasks. I've been given a lot of cleaning tasks which honestly I don't mind at all.
I really do enjoy cleaning , and it's gotten that way moreso since I've been here. The whole Kc way of looking at cleaning is so beautiful. Whenever you clean your cleaning the innards of you soul. That's why it feels so good to have a clean room. It's spiritually uplifting, and by cleaning it's helping others spiritually. That's the way I look at it and really helps the mood of cleaning.

I'll also be doing the 8:30 arti service by singing every night (most nights) I was asked too!
And whenever there's time I will try to help milk the cows and clean them with Jaya Prahbupada in the mornings. Another wonderful Prahbupada disciple.  And gardening.
New Vrindaban is full off them! You wouldn't believe how much nectar I've recieved, I really have to keep writing in here about my experiences so that they are shared and also never forgotten.

I also got the wonderful honor of cleaning the Palace of Gold and helping dress some of the Prahbuphada's there (there are three in total!) and I will be taught how. As well as giving Palace tours when they get really busy and ironing Prahbupadas chlothes and whatnot.
Chaitanya (works at the palace) is pretty much imparting whatever knowledge he has to offer. May Krishna bless him greatly, he's helped me survive my stay here so much and inspired me so much in Krishna consciousness already during my short stay here. Even though it's been a short time since we've associated in NV he feels like part of my family already. He said he considered me like a lil sister lol, sweet. I consider him like a big brother, much older than my current brother. We'll be making some raw food dishes (he used too be a raw food chief in Cal) with another devotee and hopefully learn how to make some raw foods and other dishes when I get back! Cooking, must start cooking and preparing meals more.

I have been so blessed to be able to have the honor of serving Mahraji here as well with another devotee (edict you know, have to always have someone else with you when serving or speaking with a swami).
He is one of those rare souls, a pure devotee pretty much on level with Radananath swami.
Such pure devotee's such as these just have this melting effect on your heart.
When I first heard him speak I felt such a strong urge to serve this person, never have had that before with anyone so strongly. Not ever, so it surprised me a bit but brought about a warm happiness as well.
(Advaita can inspire people in this way as well, we are more than fortunate to have his association and presence in San Antonio more than we know or are even aware off.)
And me, still being so new too the movement gets the honor of serving in some way, such an amazing spiritual master. Of course mind you the other person has much more experience so they've been teaching me what I need to learn on the side, about how to take care of the deities, the culture involved w Krishna consciousness and edict etc...there's a lot to learn that I am so unfamiliar with.
Slowly but surely I'm learning, like today for instance I went through a moment of retardedness and was eating an apple in front of Maraij while setting my foot inside his small temple. For people who are unfamiliar w/ Krishna consciousness don't worry about this lol, but for people who do know this is of course something that is a big no, no. Anyways, I was corrected very quickly of this by my other devotee friend and that wont be happening again...aye.
We've been taking care of his beautiful deities! They are definitely foresty, very earthy and so sweet.

The edict here can be overwhelming to me sometimes...I can understand why some people leave when they get deeper into Krishna consciousness....it can be rough sometimes.
But it's so worth it to stick through though! Oh I can't emphasize that enough. I know it seems difficult at first but doesn't anything good and worthwhile in this world take some effort? I mean some are lucky enough to get everything handed to them if their Karma is good enough but for many people they have to work to get what they have or get to where they are at in life especially spiritually, emotionally.
That is always the hardest to grow in, the most difficult to change.

Anyways, that is how the month of August is going. : )
It's been peaceful, some stressful testing times but overall I am really appreciating and enjoying my stay in New Vrindaban.

Tomorrow is Baladav's appearance day! Feast, Kirtan , music, and swan boat and fireworks at the end!
Woot, will update if I can about it tomorrow after it's done.
Hare Krishna , God bless everyone

No more procrastinating

So no more procrastinating, especially after today.
I've been putting of writing in my blog lately at least, because well I've been lazy lol.
At least the past 3 days I've had no excuse.

So many things have happened here since I last wrote, "Typed out" which ever you would like to call it.
Good things, testing things. I have at least three blogs I didn't even post yet because I didn't finish them, but I will. I just had to post about the inspirations and findings I've had today.
If I wait It'll just fade away like other memories we have, (though not always) they are at least not as strong. That's why documenting them is so very important. It helps us too see where we used to be till now.
Plus our realizations may help and or inspire others as well just as we were inspired.

So, first off as lovely as New Vrindaban Dham is my time here hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies (though there are some beautiful butterflies here). No, I have had my challenges here with other people, with the forces of nature, and especially with my own mind.
So yea, hasn't been easy but I can definitely say I have had A LOT of growth from being here such a short time. Only two months and I feel like a very different person than I was before I came.
New Vrindaban Dham is very purifying to say the least.

One of the reasons I am up out of Bed is because....BED BUGS.
That's right, the ashram rooms are full of Bed bugs.
And I have been getting bit the past month. Ok, lol Just saw a Raccoon poke it's head out the window here on the second floor...

Ok so, only realized what the bites were when someone pointed out to me two weeks ago that they were bed bug bites. Than I found one, and caught the demon as proof. So now there will be some serious spraying. Anyways, also realized some other things today. For one how important it is for me to take chanting serious. To REALLY take it much more seriously. It's not that I didn't necessarily before but I just so easily put everything else before it. Or at least a lot of things.
I'm really determined to put Chanting first, I am so tired right now...

I really have to go sleep.
I'll update more tomorrow...going to go sleep outside near the lake because I just can't take the biting anymore....throwing out that bed frame tomorrow. Just taking my pillow out there because I don't even have a tent or whatever. It's ok, I'll set my alarm for Mongalarti at 4:00 am...3 hours of sleep should be ok for right now.

Peace~ Hare Krishna Hare Rama