Just finished reading,"A Legacy of love"a biography about a truly beautiful person in every sense of the word. I was so moved. What is the point of this life if we just live selfishly worrying and carrying only about our own wellbeing? We already have enough of that in the world. What we need are people who care, people who see everyone as part n parcels of the whole and who want to help others with that knowledge. The effect we can have on others is like throwing a stone in water. And just like the ripples that come from the stone you can affect so many.
Hladini Devi Dasi, she was (still is) a devotee who joined the movement during Prabhupada's time (1969) and throughout the book talks about her development spiritually from the person she was in the beginning, when she first joined up, too how her life ended.
I was crying by the end of it, so moved.
It takes a lot to touch me deeply, sometimes I feel so covered over by this material world that I feel my mind grow dull and heart turn cold like stone.
But when I read about people like this, who lived their life for others, for God and served with so much devotion and love. My heart of stone becomes chipped away and some feeling comes once again.
And by some grace I am able to express some part of it.
She was truly used by God, by Krishna as a vessel of love to share with the world, with others.
And the way she left her body was defending the devotee's, by trying to protect them from being killed when she was helping the people suffering in Africa during the Liberian war.
If you put me in a situation like that where armed soldiers were screaming at a group of us to leave the temple and get ready to shoot us like dogs, I would have run like a bloody coward.
But Hladini went out with the other devotee's and till the end defended them and tried to help them, and sacrificed her life. Giving, selfless till the very end. And the thing is there were so many churches, other spiritualists who were (still are) attacked and brutally murdered as well.
Prabhupada is right, whoever thinks this place is a wonderful place is either ignorant or a madman.
It's easy to think this is a wonderful place too stay in. Especially when we are here in America with our cozy comforts and dome like protection media wise which keeps us stupid and ignorant of everything else going on in the world.
This is a horrible place and the more we realize this the more we can see how we need to be that change we want to see in the world.
How much purity, goodness is needed in this world and how many people are suffering, not only materially but most importantly spiritually, as we are not these bodies after all.
You can help feed the poor and help them medically in Africa and around the world but that only helps them on one level. These people are still left starving, starving for love.
There is a famous quote (one of the many) by Mother Teresa,
"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty."
Some people hate to hear it but that's why believing, loving God is so amazing and helpful too people.
Even if you don't believe in God you can't help but see how it helps people, the people who don't abuse it and become judging with it of course.
Whenever you do that, become judgmental and condemning that just destroys spiritual life to the core. Despite that nothing is more deeper and more impactful than a relationship with God, Krishna (another name for God).
Our relationships with others is a reflection of that to a lesser degree but can sometimes be so powerful to bring us out of this illusion.
Sometimes we need to be shaken up, to wake up from this humdrum life many times we all fall into.
We're all going to die, these bodies at least.
And part of the illusion of this world (maya) is that we think we have all the time in the world to change, to become better people and too help others.
But the truth is we don't.
We don't have all the time in the world, we don't know when we're going to die/leave our bodies.
As we grow older, time goes by quicker and disappears like sand in our fingers.
You can ask anyone over 25 and hear similar experiences.
Now is the time to change, NOW is the time to help others and connect if that is our desire.
And if that is not our desire than we should help ourselves so we can than help others.
What else than is the point of this life?
If not to connect with God so you can spread that love and mercy to others than at least on a more disjointed level help other based on some morale base.
If we just live to help ourselves in this life, work at our job, make our money to get us our nice Material pleasures (for us and our family) how is that helpful really?
I've always had this feeling like this, that's why I am so thankful for KC.
Still in Maya (illusion) but at least understanding to some extent how temporary this life is and what is really important in this world.
I hope to someday be an inspiration in some way in this world.
To be used as a vessel to spread this love, this mercy too, though I feel very unqualified to do so.
I hope someday I can be used to help others in this way as living just for myself is empty and meaningless to me. I'm by no means any saint and am as selfish as anyone else in so many ways.
I can only change myself and make myself a more selfless better person and than someday, maybe someday I'll be able to more selflessly serve and love others unconditionally.
I can only pray and hope for that someday.
Anyways, If this was inspiring to someone in some small way than I will be very glad.
Either way I just had to share this in someway. I am bad at keeping up with anything (haha) but this was just to inspiring to me to just ignore or save for later.
When your moved, your moved and best to record or share it before you just fall back into illusion again.
To our old ways of thinking, and being.
So thankful to be in Krishna consciousness, I hope everyone to find their joy in someway like I have in this life. Nothing satisfies me , sedates my hungering, my longing like Kc. Time and time again.
I saw the blue boy by the river Yamuna, and life has never been the same.
My material life is ruined, and for that I'm glad. Just enjoying for myself is so much more tasteless than before. Can never thank Prabhupada enough for bringing to us this gift of love and knowledge.
I only hope I can utilize it properly and distribute this gift in some way possible that will help people , at the least inspire them in some way.
We'll see what plans Krishna has for me.
Or what is more familiar to others , "what life brings me".
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
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
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
Friday, August 5, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New York Ratha Yatra Trip!
The first thing I did when I got back almost immediately was grab my bead bag, take off my shoes and walk barefoot on the cool grass in front of the temple while I chanted.
It is so nice tonight, the air is cool and a bit of a chill in the air which is just perfect.
You have no idea how much I love walking on the grass here In NV, West virginia....It's so amazing to walk on the soft cool grass here without stepping on any stickers, ant piles or rocks.
While I was chanting I walked feeling the earth underneath my feet and with the cool air I breathed in the smell of the Jasmine flowers as well mixed into the air with the smell of other fragrant flowers.
I took a moment to listen to the birds again and as it started getting dark fireflies started glowing across the temple grounds , and the crickets started chirping in.
I saw a beautiful male peacock walking around as well, finding things to eat (ate some flowers) and during my chanting paused to help a devotee find her knife she dropped.
It was very nice chanting today and so peaceful, I think chanting in the evening is one of my favorite times to chant. I'm awake enough and I love seeing the process happen of everything retiring from the long day into night. Just beautiful, I need to read more so I can come up with more descriptive words to describe these things I come to experience.
While I was walking in the cool grass and chanting I had such nice thoughts of Krishna walking in Vrindaban and how the texts mentioned how tender his feet was when he walked and how with a slight touch it changed color. And when I saw the peacock I remembered one of the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya I had heard over the course of the past week about how he went into ecstatic bliss over seeing a peacock feather because it reminded him of Krishna.
So all in all very nice to be back from New York city. Really did miss the beautiful nature here and sounds and smell of New Vrindaban. I could not see myself ever really living in New York, maybe visit for a few weeks but not more than that. To much hussle and bussle for me and smog.
Give me fresh air any day,and fresh clean grass to walk in. Even San Antonio I prefer over New York.
The New York Ratha Yatra was indeed ecstatic. The largest Ratha Yatra I have ever been too thus far, and still more to come! And one of the biggest that Malati told me today we'll be going too is in Canada! So what a treat haha I feel so fortunate and blessed.
I took lots of video and pictures from NY adventures I'll post on FB.
Ok so we left Friday @ 8 pm and made our way to NY city. Malati didn't go because she wasn't feeling well so we had to pay our own gas which luckily because we put in 5 people in the car it was only 40 per person to pay for gas (plus tolls) to and from NY.
It was a looong long trip to NY, took 12 hrs total (w/o stopping is only supposed to take 8 hr) because we decided to stop by Hersey chocolate factory on the way.
Which I was shocked by considering we are all devotee's I thought chocolate was not reccomended by devotee's etc...but all the girls eat it plus some of the maha from the NY ratha yatra cart was a chocolate cookie bar.... it was chocolate and not substitute.
So yea....I'm just going to eat chocolate personally.
Doesn't seem to be outlawed per say and as long as you don't go overboard with it I think it should be fine.
Herseys was like bathing in Maya lol
we all split a package of 30 bars lol...which i still have.
Than we finally arrived @ the house we were staying at in queens.
We slept on the floor in sleeping bags 3 nights (friday, sat and sunday night)
Friday we pretty much just came and went to sleep.
Sat we woke up and on the way to the broocklan temple stopped by Krishna and Balaram temple in Queens which is officially my second favorite set of deities.
There is just something so sweet about those deities I can't explain.
I really enjoyed seeing them so much.
Than we went to the Brooklyn temple go too see the deities and jaganath being sent off by car.
The festival was HUGE, three carts one for Balaram, subadra and one for Jaganathha!
Amazing, three huge Kirtans going on at each cart as it went down 5th avenue, one of my favorite parts about the Ratha Yatra were the three different flavors of kirtan.
There were over 3,0000 devotees there and at least 10,0000 people in general there.
I got some footage but i was so hard! Ran out of battery very quickly.
Afterwards got some maha off the carts and what was beautiful about the Ratha Yatra as well was that during the whole of it there was a beautiful light cool drizzle the whole time though later it poured temporarily.
The prashadum was excellent and hundreds lined up to eat.
Next day an 8 course meal for eckadashi to commemorate for a Devotee that had passed recently. It was very opulent feast for a fast...lol. Than kirshna das (sweet boy who gave me and Govinda Mohini a tour , the son of the man who let us stay in the extra house) gave us a wonderful tour of 2nd avenue and 23 street, we got to see ground zero, Prabhuphadas tree, matchless gifts store front (first temple/center for KC in U.S) and the bhakti center nearby. Than the after party @ Brooklyn temple!
So many devotees could barely fit in the room. Amazing kirtan, good feast.
During dinner was interesting, this russian devotee hit on me, and than a Ridvick piped in and explained to me what he believed in. I had barely just found out what a Ridvick was until someone told me. Even than no one was really explaining to me which was annoying. Finally Arya's wife told me some definition to it. Even than didn't really go deep into it. But it's enough to know to stay away from, Met some other nice devotee's than left. Oh and I found out they can have not only men but women stay at the ashram which is nice to know. Making some connections in case I ever plan on staying at different temples and where I can stay etc.
And than Monday long drive home, and back!
So that was New York Ratha Yatra in a nutshell. Once again another amazing experience.
I thank Krishna that I am here and experiencing all of this and try my best to not take for granted all I am experiencing.
~Kim
It is so nice tonight, the air is cool and a bit of a chill in the air which is just perfect.
You have no idea how much I love walking on the grass here In NV, West virginia....It's so amazing to walk on the soft cool grass here without stepping on any stickers, ant piles or rocks.
While I was chanting I walked feeling the earth underneath my feet and with the cool air I breathed in the smell of the Jasmine flowers as well mixed into the air with the smell of other fragrant flowers.
I took a moment to listen to the birds again and as it started getting dark fireflies started glowing across the temple grounds , and the crickets started chirping in.
I saw a beautiful male peacock walking around as well, finding things to eat (ate some flowers) and during my chanting paused to help a devotee find her knife she dropped.
It was very nice chanting today and so peaceful, I think chanting in the evening is one of my favorite times to chant. I'm awake enough and I love seeing the process happen of everything retiring from the long day into night. Just beautiful, I need to read more so I can come up with more descriptive words to describe these things I come to experience.
While I was walking in the cool grass and chanting I had such nice thoughts of Krishna walking in Vrindaban and how the texts mentioned how tender his feet was when he walked and how with a slight touch it changed color. And when I saw the peacock I remembered one of the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya I had heard over the course of the past week about how he went into ecstatic bliss over seeing a peacock feather because it reminded him of Krishna.
So all in all very nice to be back from New York city. Really did miss the beautiful nature here and sounds and smell of New Vrindaban. I could not see myself ever really living in New York, maybe visit for a few weeks but not more than that. To much hussle and bussle for me and smog.
Give me fresh air any day,and fresh clean grass to walk in. Even San Antonio I prefer over New York.
The New York Ratha Yatra was indeed ecstatic. The largest Ratha Yatra I have ever been too thus far, and still more to come! And one of the biggest that Malati told me today we'll be going too is in Canada! So what a treat haha I feel so fortunate and blessed.
I took lots of video and pictures from NY adventures I'll post on FB.
Ok so we left Friday @ 8 pm and made our way to NY city. Malati didn't go because she wasn't feeling well so we had to pay our own gas which luckily because we put in 5 people in the car it was only 40 per person to pay for gas (plus tolls) to and from NY.
It was a looong long trip to NY, took 12 hrs total (w/o stopping is only supposed to take 8 hr) because we decided to stop by Hersey chocolate factory on the way.
Which I was shocked by considering we are all devotee's I thought chocolate was not reccomended by devotee's etc...but all the girls eat it plus some of the maha from the NY ratha yatra cart was a chocolate cookie bar.... it was chocolate and not substitute.
So yea....I'm just going to eat chocolate personally.
Doesn't seem to be outlawed per say and as long as you don't go overboard with it I think it should be fine.
Herseys was like bathing in Maya lol
we all split a package of 30 bars lol...which i still have.
Than we finally arrived @ the house we were staying at in queens.
We slept on the floor in sleeping bags 3 nights (friday, sat and sunday night)
Friday we pretty much just came and went to sleep.
Sat we woke up and on the way to the broocklan temple stopped by Krishna and Balaram temple in Queens which is officially my second favorite set of deities.
There is just something so sweet about those deities I can't explain.
I really enjoyed seeing them so much.
Than we went to the Brooklyn temple go too see the deities and jaganath being sent off by car.
The festival was HUGE, three carts one for Balaram, subadra and one for Jaganathha!
Amazing, three huge Kirtans going on at each cart as it went down 5th avenue, one of my favorite parts about the Ratha Yatra were the three different flavors of kirtan.
There were over 3,0000 devotees there and at least 10,0000 people in general there.
I got some footage but i was so hard! Ran out of battery very quickly.
Afterwards got some maha off the carts and what was beautiful about the Ratha Yatra as well was that during the whole of it there was a beautiful light cool drizzle the whole time though later it poured temporarily.
The prashadum was excellent and hundreds lined up to eat.
Next day an 8 course meal for eckadashi to commemorate for a Devotee that had passed recently. It was very opulent feast for a fast...lol. Than kirshna das (sweet boy who gave me and Govinda Mohini a tour , the son of the man who let us stay in the extra house) gave us a wonderful tour of 2nd avenue and 23 street, we got to see ground zero, Prabhuphadas tree, matchless gifts store front (first temple/center for KC in U.S) and the bhakti center nearby. Than the after party @ Brooklyn temple!
So many devotees could barely fit in the room. Amazing kirtan, good feast.
During dinner was interesting, this russian devotee hit on me, and than a Ridvick piped in and explained to me what he believed in. I had barely just found out what a Ridvick was until someone told me. Even than no one was really explaining to me which was annoying. Finally Arya's wife told me some definition to it. Even than didn't really go deep into it. But it's enough to know to stay away from, Met some other nice devotee's than left. Oh and I found out they can have not only men but women stay at the ashram which is nice to know. Making some connections in case I ever plan on staying at different temples and where I can stay etc.
And than Monday long drive home, and back!
So that was New York Ratha Yatra in a nutshell. Once again another amazing experience.
I thank Krishna that I am here and experiencing all of this and try my best to not take for granted all I am experiencing.
~Kim
Friday, June 10, 2011
On The Way To The Big Apple
So were leaving today for the big apple (a.k.a New York etc) I have to pack...but it's only for three days so not that much.
So Malati Isn't feeling well so it's just 5 girls going now, packing In Malati's car.
To my (and the other girls disappointment) the gas is actually not going to be paid for because Malati isn't going...*sigh* So that will be 40 or 50 our of my pocket more.....
We were really surprised by this...it's not like me or the other helper (us two at least) are making any income. And thought that she would be nice enough to do that or at least help with it.
Ah...oh well.
I heard sometimes you can do odd jobs around here, so we'll have to see about that so I can get some cash flow...I've already spent quite a lot of dinero on just things I needed (q tips, shampoo, condit, washing clothes,etc)
Blah....Money.
So yea, we'll see what happens...there this beautiful sound of the birds outside chirping...especially this one right outside my window...
Ok time to boil corn for the trip! Will inform when I come back of the venture to New York Ratha Yatra!
Haribol
~Kim
So Malati Isn't feeling well so it's just 5 girls going now, packing In Malati's car.
To my (and the other girls disappointment) the gas is actually not going to be paid for because Malati isn't going...*sigh* So that will be 40 or 50 our of my pocket more.....
We were really surprised by this...it's not like me or the other helper (us two at least) are making any income. And thought that she would be nice enough to do that or at least help with it.
Ah...oh well.
I heard sometimes you can do odd jobs around here, so we'll have to see about that so I can get some cash flow...I've already spent quite a lot of dinero on just things I needed (q tips, shampoo, condit, washing clothes,etc)
Blah....Money.
So yea, we'll see what happens...there this beautiful sound of the birds outside chirping...especially this one right outside my window...
Ok time to boil corn for the trip! Will inform when I come back of the venture to New York Ratha Yatra!
Haribol
~Kim
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Itinerary list for this summer!
This is a list of all the places I'll be traveling w/Malati and doing here In New Vrindaban while I'm here!
.
MAY 28/29 BALTIMORE RATHAYATRA
JUNE 3RD LEAVE FOR ATLANTA RATHAYATRA
JUNE4/5 ATLANTA RATH
JUNE 10TH-12 NYC RATHAYATRA
13(RETURN TO VRINDAVAN)
JUNE 18TH 24 HR KIRTAN NEW VRINDAVAN
JUNE 23 RATHA YATRA IN COLUMBUS
JUNE 24TH-30TH DETROIT TEMPLE (24TH WEDDING, 28-30 RADHANATH SWAMI INITIATIONS)
JULY 9TH NEW VRINDABAN (WEST VIRGINIA) RATHAYATRA
JULY 15TH-17 TORONTO, CANADA RATHAYATRA
18(RETURN TO NV)
JULY 20TH COLUMBUS
JULY 22-23 DETROIT RATHA YATRA
JULY 24 GITA NAGARI
SEPTEMBER 3RD NV JANMASTAMI (KRISHNAS B DAY)
4TH FAST TILL NOON
SEPTEMBER 17TH-18TH BOSTON RATHAYATRA
SEPTEMBER 19-23 ART CLASSES KC
SEPTEMBER 24TH PHILLI RATHAYATRA
So that's pretty much everything that's going on, big things at least.
I'll be back in October lol...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
From the heart
It's raining In New Vrindaban, West Virginia right now. I could see the storm clouds coming in. It's only 11:33 am in the morning and it looks like 8 pm in the day. Still, it's so peaceful hearing the rain fall while I type at the desk here in my room.
There's something beautiful about rainy days, and sometimes it's very reflecting as well.
Ahh...what a rare opportunity to just sit down and reflect. Typically I would be doing service right now but Malati is giving us a break since we had such a long drive yesterday.
I'm still going to see if they need help though to make sure after I clean up here a bit.
I've been posting a lot of what's happened here and there but really haven't had a chance to post something really deep/heart felt yet. Well, I mean there are pieces of it here and there but I just haven't got a chance to write spiritually whats going on inside, rather than just outside.
I am taking this whole trip seriously and know this isn't just a whole funtastic trip full of adventure and wonder. The main reason I'm still here, is because of God. Yea, traveling's fun, meeting new people is great but that's not what keeps me here. I really desire to develop a deep relationship with God and greater love than I have even now. A more selfless love. In other words too become a less selfish, self centered person and in that love of God share the unconditional love with others.
The more I've stayed here the more I've realized how selfish and self consumed I am, how "fallen" (as I've heard many say in Krishna consciousness say) and how conditioned I am.
It's frustrating, the more I am here the more flawed I find I am (and though it sucks) that's a key when you know a cleansing process is working. It's just like with the body similarly. If you go through a body cleansing process do you notice how you get sick first before you get better? The body is detoxifying and that's what this trip is for me, a spiritual detoxifier. Oh yes, there is some relief, but there is also some yuckyness apart of the mix too.
We can't better ourselves if we only see the good things about ourselves.
We have to be able to see all that ugliness to and face it.
Look at that ugliness in the mirror and accept it, understand it's there and work through it.
Thank God for the training I have gotten from the temple in San Antonio, and help from the Devotee's from San Antonio, but from Dallas too (shout out to Lavanga and her husband, my spiritual parents <3 in Kc that have helped support my existence in this movement as well). Both of which this trip would have been WAY more difficult to deal with and understand. Advaita das is a great teacher and I owe a lot of this knowledge and experience to him. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here hands down.
I would have ran out the door assuming all these people were mad half way in this trip, lol.
Also every single warning he has ever given me, advice to have while I am here and even just advice while being at different temples has been used and utilized. Not even joking. I have met so many different types of people here and run into so many situations already that before would have really been a challenge for me but now are way easier to handle and understand.
Thank you Advaita Prahbu!! May Krishna bless the San Antonio temple and you for your great service!
Brady prahbu as well, who has so a lot of endurance and is serving so nicely there, and Brian for telling me about the temple, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have even walked through the temple doors.
I make sure to tell good things about Advaita and the San Antonio temple/preaching center w/e wherever I go (at the diff Ratha Yatra festivals too) and give credit. Though not many people here know there was such a center in San Antonio, lol.
It's ok, I still put in a good word anyways and spread the word.
I wish I had some dvd's to sell for the temple! I know I could have sold quite a few already.
So yes, Krishna really helped prepare me to come here and experience this, if I didn't have all those experiences In Dallas and San Antonio I would have been way overwhelmed here and wouldn't have handled it correctly or understood everything as well as I do coming now.
Being here and staying at a community like this takes discerning. People are people but Krishna is Krishna. That's is something to remember.
I hope when I get home too make a complete revamping off my life.
In terms of what I eat, how I live. It's so nice to just have few things to worry about, it is true. The more stuff you have the more anxiety you have over taking care of it, keeping it, protecting it (that can go under the animalistic tendency to defend). I'm a lot healthier after being here too, I don't have low Iron anymore (if you pull your eye lid down and its red that's good, pink or white is low Iron in your body.) and my body is regulating more since I'm going on a more regular sleeping schedule and eating schedule. I didn't realize how important it is for us to eat every day at the regular times, it really helps your body regulate better.
I may write some later. Right now I'm going to rest a bit than see if they need any help.
Feeling a bit feverish at the moment, probably just need to drink more water.
~<3 HK
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