Srila Gurudeva has been in high spirits the last few days, singing and speaking slokas. He gave the first darshan in ages yesterday, and at one point looked at me and asked, "if I play mrdanga, is that exercise?" LOL. I said a big YES. He didn't play yesterday, but did for about 30 seconds today. I have it on my phone video and will figure out how to post.
He has been speaking to individual devotees and giving instructions and affection. Avadhut Maharaja has been helping so much here and Srila Gurudeva really loves him. He smiles and gets life when Avadhut Mj comes in the room.
Kamala Naini (I don't know how to spell her name) came in to see Srila Gurudeva yesterday. She is helping a lot with the cows in Nabadwip. When asked if she could come, He said... "kamala? Cow mother?" soooo sweet. He was incredibly affectionate with her and when she got up to leave He called her back.... she started to cry.... and he reacted in a way I have never seen...
The way he was with her I have never seen. We just don't know who we are dealing with when we deal with devotees. She is a seemingly normal girl (I think about my age, maybe a little older) from Venezuela who loves to take care of the cows. She is lovely, but obviously she is soooooo much more than what I am seeing. I have to remember this always.... I don't know who I am talking to... only Gurudeva can know. He is so affectionate with some devotees that seemingly are doing wrong.... but I really don't know who they are or what their purpose is here. It was a good lesson for me... I hope I remember it.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Nepal
So, I went to Nepal on Thursday.
It was an adventure. Vishaka didi, Divyasari didi and myself went on an overnight train three tier ac. We got those stupid side seats, which on this train are made for hobbits only right next to the bathrooms.... mmmm yummm. I got top bunk and I couldn't even stretch out my legs... or curl up because the bunk bunk is too narrow. It was also Ekadasi.... all this said...
IT WAS A BLAST. I haven't been on the trains in about 12 years and usually went sleeper class. This was like the Ritz in comparison. I love the rocking too and fro feeling and I slept like a log... a slightly cramped, uncomfortable log... but since I haven't really been sleeping, it was great. Woke up in the morning thinking I slept through my stop (New Jalpaiguri, right outside of Siliguri, west bengal)because there was a stop after... but I was good and the train was late... so we still had several hours. We broke our fast with Jaganath Prasad that Divya just brought from Puri, and then ate the rest of the Cliff bars rai and sudar sent (thanks guys! Love you!!!!!!!)
When we arrived we went to the ticket office to change the other ladies' tickets back to Kolkata to the two teir AC car on the Darjeeling Mail, and then got a 500 rps taxi van thingee to the border. Along the way it was all green and then came the amazing tea plantations... sooo perty.
The guy in the Indian immigration shack was lovely and so were the guys in the Nepali immigration. I found out on my way out of Nepal that the Gentleman in the Indian immigration is from Nabadwip!
We walked into Nepal over a bridge. I hear on a really clear day one can see the Mountains... like THE mountains... the Himalaya.... but it was not a clear day. But there was a nice cool breeze and the air was fresh... butthey wouldn't let me take pictures... a Nepali army guy stopped me. There was a sign entering Nepal that was sooooo classic and I really wanted a picture, but there was an army bunker under it and no pictures were allowed. It said something like "we encourage racial discrimination". FUNNY.
Me in Nepal
It was an adventure. Vishaka didi, Divyasari didi and myself went on an overnight train three tier ac. We got those stupid side seats, which on this train are made for hobbits only right next to the bathrooms.... mmmm yummm. I got top bunk and I couldn't even stretch out my legs... or curl up because the bunk bunk is too narrow. It was also Ekadasi.... all this said...
IT WAS A BLAST. I haven't been on the trains in about 12 years and usually went sleeper class. This was like the Ritz in comparison. I love the rocking too and fro feeling and I slept like a log... a slightly cramped, uncomfortable log... but since I haven't really been sleeping, it was great. Woke up in the morning thinking I slept through my stop (New Jalpaiguri, right outside of Siliguri, west bengal)because there was a stop after... but I was good and the train was late... so we still had several hours. We broke our fast with Jaganath Prasad that Divya just brought from Puri, and then ate the rest of the Cliff bars rai and sudar sent (thanks guys! Love you!!!!!!!)
When we arrived we went to the ticket office to change the other ladies' tickets back to Kolkata to the two teir AC car on the Darjeeling Mail, and then got a 500 rps taxi van thingee to the border. Along the way it was all green and then came the amazing tea plantations... sooo perty.
The guy in the Indian immigration shack was lovely and so were the guys in the Nepali immigration. I found out on my way out of Nepal that the Gentleman in the Indian immigration is from Nabadwip!
We walked into Nepal over a bridge. I hear on a really clear day one can see the Mountains... like THE mountains... the Himalaya.... but it was not a clear day. But there was a nice cool breeze and the air was fresh... butthey wouldn't let me take pictures... a Nepali army guy stopped me. There was a sign entering Nepal that was sooooo classic and I really wanted a picture, but there was an army bunker under it and no pictures were allowed. It said something like "we encourage racial discrimination". FUNNY.
Me in NepalWe wandered around the border town for a while......
Nepali Rickshaws
wandering
,before we found a Hotel for the ladies, we ate some so/so lunch and then I asked Robin (pictured above checking in the pink ladies) to arrange a car back to Siliguri for me.
I got a really nice AC car, got to the train station, waited around for three hours. The Darjeeling mail is a nicer train than the one we took up. I was on the bottom bunk and the only eventful part of that trip was the snoring family with baby who seemed to think it was ok to talk loudly at midnight while perching on my bunk while I slept.... IN WHAT UNIVERSE IS THAT OK????
I got back to the temple at about 8 am and went directly to see Gurudeva. I gave him my present of Nepali tea... he smiled and then said, Tea?? I said yes and Sinatani didi asked him if he wanted some and he said YES! Yayy.... my present was accepted and I have been allowed back into India until September... mission accomplished.
Nepali Rickshaws
wandering
,before we found a Hotel for the ladies, we ate some so/so lunch and then I asked Robin (pictured above checking in the pink ladies) to arrange a car back to Siliguri for me.
I got a really nice AC car, got to the train station, waited around for three hours. The Darjeeling mail is a nicer train than the one we took up. I was on the bottom bunk and the only eventful part of that trip was the snoring family with baby who seemed to think it was ok to talk loudly at midnight while perching on my bunk while I slept.... IN WHAT UNIVERSE IS THAT OK????
I got back to the temple at about 8 am and went directly to see Gurudeva. I gave him my present of Nepali tea... he smiled and then said, Tea?? I said yes and Sinatani didi asked him if he wanted some and he said YES! Yayy.... my present was accepted and I have been allowed back into India until September... mission accomplished.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Gaura Purnima Kolkata
A few pictures from the festival a few days ago.
Srila Gurudeva let me take this picture of him in His new cloth and garland, and then asked me for a copy!!!!!!!
Their Lordships
cooking and preparation went on all day under the direction of Mangal Maharaja
Srimati Tulasi Devi all decorated Holi Style
Moonrise over teen (3) number tank
FestivalAnd Earlier in the day..........
These kids were hiding and ambushing people with colored water--- Holi!
Splattered people with random crow
More Splattered people
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