Around and about

Here are some pictures around and about the math.

Gate to the Spiritual World

The Mandir and my sari

Beside the Sevak Bhavan and that is Srila Gurudeva's car!

Devotee Tata Sumo

Flowers for Krishna!

Ok got chastised last night by Kesava saying that if I don't write everyday, it is very bad.... So I will really try... promise. This morning Srila Gurudeva went to the roof to have a look at the garden up there. While he was there Saraswati didi and I cleaned the veranda. Isha from England just brought a new vacuum cleaner... wonderful... it actually cleans. Amazing how much dust come out.  The whole canister was full. 

When I started Srila Gurudeva was still in the room. Funny how one forgets how to push the on button when being watched by the Guru of the Universe..... 

I am sitting outside the veranda on a guard chair trying to wake up. It is a chilly morning, but inside is very warm and sleepy. At one point, I fell asleep for a second and knew that I had to get out for a while. Srila Gurudeva is resting.

Last night was huge party night in Dum Dum... I think it was the last day of Saraswati Puja because folks were- with drums, clangers and really really really really loud bollywood style music -dumping their used up deities into the pond, teen number tank. This went on until 1230 am.

Why does the music have to be so loud. Is that really necessary? Even now there is incredibly loud music blasting from some house nearby and has been since 6 am.... why?

I fail to understand why the music has to be so loud and why the electric is never quite done in hotels, houses, etc... and why when there is a refresher coat of paint they just paint over whatever is on the wall. Little pieces of string, blue tac, bugs... if the gheko didn't move, they would paint over him too....

I am having a not understanding moment.... morning....

Money Square

I had the opportunity to go to Mani Square (pronounced Money Square) shopping mall today. It is, like, a mall. A real mall with escalators and a food court and stores and stuff. AND Baskin Robins 31 flavors with mint chocolate chip ice cream... :-D yay. Most things are western prices... but I got a really cute kurti top for 299 rps which is about 8 bucks. There is a Reebok store and a swatch watch shop and subway sandwiches. ... I actually, no kidding, forgot I was in india several times. Then I noticed I wasn't wearing jeans like EVERYONE else. They have an IMAX theater that I think I must go to at some point.

Then, coming out of the mall and turing right... there is a tent and hut slum with people picking through piles of garbage to find stuff to sell and use... ya, still india. There was a cow and a rickshaw right outside the door... so strange. India is such a land of extremes... like POVERTY and WEALTH, filth and shining marble palaces, beauty and hideousness... sickness and health... life and death.... it is all there in the open for one to see. Gives a perspective on the temporary nature of this world... and the incredible attachment to things material.

Srila Gurudeva is mercifully sitting in the room next door, and I am on shift. TTYL

Dandavats to all.

Wow, my face is red

I just came from the veranda to share a very embarrassing story with you all!

I was standing by as Chinmoydeva Prabhu was helping Srila Gurudeva pick out some fruit for a snack. His Divine Grace selected an orange and Chinmoy went to the kitchen to prepare it. Srila Gurudeva then turned to me and asked for some grapes. I ran into the kitchen to wash and rewash the grapes, pick out the best ones and make sure they were not sour. Gurudeva called out after ages of washing and I ran in with the grapes… no spoon or fork or anything… ok, this isn’t the bad part. Thankfully He had a fork that He was using for the orange. He ate some grapes and asked me for an apple. I again ran to the kitchen. Saraswati didi peeled and cut the apple much more quickly than I could have and then I brought it out. When I came out, Srila Gurudeva had moved closer to the end of the room so I brought the apple there… not thinking that he didn’t have a table. Jamuna Priya didi motioned for me to go get the table so I grabbed it and knocked it over sending the grapes and oranges all over the floor…. That would be the embarrassing part. My face was the color of the carpet (for those of you who haven’t been to the Kolkata Math Veranda… RED). Jamuna and Saraswati didi helped me out and brought the table/helped clean the floor and then sent me in for another grape washing bringing time… by the time I brought them, Srila Gurudeva didn’t want them…. Ya….. I am a klutz.

Srila Gurudeva is so merciful. I can’t believe I am here. I have a theory: I must be really bad so His Devine Grace wants to keep me out of society and is keeping me close to him so I don’t disturb the real devotees. He Himself is so merciful that he can tolerate me.

>>>>>>>>> I was going to post this immediately but the internet has taken 20 min and hasn’t loaded the website yet. I give up.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It is now the next morning. Srila Gurudeva is resting. Ramchandra and Kalachand prabhus are sitting outside doing guard duty. Iti didi (from SLC) is getting ready to go to Nabadwip for a few days. She is only here for like 9 days and two of those she was sick, so time is short for her and she is taking a Tata with Satyabama from Italy.I am glad she is getting the opportunity to go.

It is really nice to have her here. She is a very nice devotee and is loving Kolkata! She says it feels like home... strange girl. I took her to VIP sweets... maybe that has something to do with it. :-)

back in Kolkata

So, we arrived back in Kolkata yesterday. Gurudeva decided Tuesday night and we left 6 am in Wednesday. I am a little sad to have left Nabadwip, but at the same time happy to be back here. Here everything is more convenient and Srila Gurudeva is closer to the doctors and hospital. 

The trip down was fun. Srutasrava prabhu drove! In the care were myself, Nakul Prabhu, Krishna Shakti Prabhu, and from Russia. We joked and talked... and tried not to get killed or to kill anyone. There was a guy brushing his teeth by the side of the FREEWAY and almost walked in front of the car. Cows, chickens, stupid people and the idea of "my huge loud indian truck is bigger than your car, so if you don't get out of my way I will squish you" kept the ride interesting. We arrived about 9:30 am to smog and filth... BUT the store with grapo fizz is a five min walk away AND there is wireless internet!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!
I wish you all (and me) a year of increased seva, sadana and love for Sri Guru and Gauranga!