After a good period of freezing weather we had a thaw and rain.   This soaked up the ground making it heavier and a slip occurred.  Slip is local jargon, it is what they would call a mud slide in places like California.

The road down into Viola is totally blocked.  Here is Soma checking it out.

This is the scene on the lower side of the slip. That is a road underneath the mud.

The top of the slip is all the way up by the grazing area behind the Palace, where the Kulimela held events. The flat part is right behind Soma. This is between the end of the paver walkway back of the Palace and where the Buddhapada was. A lot of  what slipped on the topside  was fill from when the area was leveled during the Palace construction.

Here is a view of the hole it made in the forest.

About 15 years or so ago I built a fence along the forest line so the cows in the barn by the temple would have a pasture. Even though the ground slipped away from underneath it the end posts were braced well enough that the fence remained intact.

The browner color at the bottom of the post is where it used to be in the ground.  It is suspended in the air now.

When we were checking out the slip, we saw Gopal down in the forest. With the road blocked, he can’t get down to the water and sewage treatment plant without going way around on Sand Hill Ridge and that is a lot of miles out of the way.

It is essential he goes there because our system  operates under state and federal regulations and one requirement is daily testing of both the potable water  and  treated sewage. Without compliance we would be shut down.

There is an 100+ old logging road that goes through the forest so Gopal,  even in the subfreezing weather,  was taking his ATV down to do the sampling. A tree had fallen so although he could get down, his normal way back up (it is a very steep hill, almost a cliff in places)  was blocked and he got in a bit of a bind so we went over the hill to offer him a hand.

He manged to get it going again and turned back down the hill to take the long way around.

Tejo and he have the “whatever it takes” attitude necessary to keep the water flowing for the devotees and Deities.

The slip doesn’t affect normal access to New Vrindaban so don’t change any plans to visit. If New Vrindaban to you is a long grey strip with the Palace and temple at the end,  you wouldn’t even notice the slip had happened,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama
Rama Hare Hare. All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!  Camp:ISKCON
Mombasa,Kenya. Mob 00254 726210683
(blog:http://mahavishnuswami.wordpress.com)

Dear Sacisuta Nitai Das,

Please accept my blessings!All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you for your letter.

>
> I am fine here. And am sure the festival is moving ahead successfully.
>
> I am to renew my request if you are planning to come  on 17th
> February ? If it is possible any how we will consider  ourselves very
> lucky to be blessed with your presence. We are aware that you are involved
> with even greater service to Krishna. But there was some possibility you
> had said, for early closure of the festival making it possibe for your
> visit to Patna a feasible one. Kindly let us know.

Thank you for reinviting me but it will not be possible I am afraid. Please
excuse me.I will then be in the thick of the Festivals. By Their Lordship’s
Grace  I will be in arriving in Kolkata on 27th February and proceeding to
Mayapur.
>
> There is one more reason I am writing this letter to you. Four days back I
> got a call from J. He was desperately asking for your Mobile
> number so that he could have contacted you. He wanted to sing a ‘Bhajan’
> and wanted you to listen. he was pleading and insisting that he has
> attained some proximity with and special connection with Lord Krishna -
> and therefore without any formal training he could sing ‘Bhajans’ very
> well. Some time later he reached the temple and insisted for singing
> Bhajan before Dieties. After some time devotees allowed him , but he was
> disappointed because PP Prabhu did not pay proper attention to his
> singing. He wanted to dial your number  so that you couls have heard him
> singing . My repeated advise that you will be available in India
> towards end of the month and he can have plenty of time to sing to you had
> little effect. And finally he emmotionally broke down. I advised his
> family members to consult a psychiatrist if possible so that his agitation
> can ease.

They may help him .
>
> It was surprising to see his urge . His eagerness desperation was
> pleasantly encouraging. to some extent I was overcome as well .

Of course in any condition to enthusiastically glorify Krishna is wonderful
and not evil. But in ISKCON it is not appropriate (see reasons below in PS)
>
>  But I kept thinking that he is emmotionally unstable. This is not a good
> sign of a balanced mind . He was displaying lack of control and lack of
> patience . And therefore it may not be really a spiritual phenomenon. Was
> it a psychological aberration ? Because his family members believe that
> after his father’s demise a few years back he is showing such traits whose
> intensity and frequency is gradually increasing.

Our mental disturbance is also  a result of prievious karma.
>
> I want to know whether such desperation is really a sign of spiritual
> trance ? Is it  possible to feel ecstatic with Divine love of Lord within
> such a short span of time ? Is this situation comparable to some
> indications described in Caitanya Caritamrita ? Or I am not able to
> understand him properly ? Kindly advise me and guide me.

I like to associate with J and he has helped me in a friendly way many
times. But I have also witnessed J become very emotional and convinced he
is in a state of divine communion with Krishna.I never felt very much
convinced by this display because he always tends to keep himself aloof and
critical of the devotional standard of the devotees . He feels he is
a better devotee who has a ” better education” or standard of living
something.In other words he was still puffed up in a neophyte way with his
birth and money.Real spiritual advancement is  shown when a devotee
respects and appreciates the other devotees  even though they may appear
“less educated”.Such devotees never want to show off that they are more
advanced than other devotees.Rather an advanced devotee wants to serve the
other vaishnavas feeling they are more advanced than themselves.I am sure
his display caused quite a disturbance for the temple.

Srila Prabhupada set the standard of spiritual progress in
sadhana bhakti and taught us about chanting determinedly 16 rounds per day
and following the regulative principles and attending the temple programmes
and going on samkirtan.These are the real signs of genuine advancement.
Spiritual realisation is not to be taken cheaply. One can legitimately hope
and pray for an honory degree to be bestowed upon oneself by the University
but still one should also enroll and follow the course and qualify for such
a degree by proper study and service. If J is  fortunate  then he may
one day start practicing like a normal ISKCON devotee does and make good
progress.

So called Krishna darshan or bhava is also not some cheap thing for
attracting public attention to oneself.Even it is said in NOD that a true
devotee will try to cover his spiritual emotions to avoid any chance of
cheap adoration.I certainly like J but he is still very difficult to
guide because of his  willful strong ego, physical jaw pain and  attachment
for an independant lifestyle with his mother. I pray that he can get over
this sahajiya tendency and start seriously chanting his rounds in a truly
humble way. I believe he still only chants one or two rounds.PP
did well to  pay little attention to him. I never see PP showing off like
this although he is doing so much service and has dedicated himself
completely to Srila Prabhupada’s mission despite many inconveniences. I am
adding below as a PS some quotations from Srila Prabhupada about these
things.

Let us all pray to Their Lordships and all give our sincere blessings and
mercy that J can become a standard devotee , get over this sahajiya stage
and come to a level of  rendering  humble service  and chanting his rounds
nicely in the association of devotees . He can become a great asset to
our community when he  gets more free from his bodily concept of life.
>
> I am all fine here. Siddharth is coming back to Delhi on 7th Feb. And will
> leave again on 27-28th for US.We intend to organize a feast in temple on
> February 10th before we start the wedding ceremonies of siddharth. What
> else can we do further.Kindly bless the children if it not possible to be
> here in person.

Krsne Matir astu to Siddhartha and his wife. Please convey these blessings
and have kirtana and prasadam at the ceremony .They are certainly allready
fortunate to have been brought up in a devotee family like yours. You have
done your very best for them.When they get to USA (where?) by Their
Lordships Grace they may meet the devotees and appreciate their association
more seriously when the honeymoon with Western culture wears off.
>
> mahesh Pandit Prabhu has come back to Calcutta yestarday.  I met him
> today. Will be in Patna on 17th. He conveys you his regards and obeisances
> at your lotus feet.

Thank you for contacting MP.I look forward to being back in India with you
at Mayapur  Festival and afterwards. Thank you.

Hoping that this finds you all well in Krishna Consciousness,

Your wellwishing,

Mahavishnu Swami
PS (Please excuse the diacritical marks errors because the version of
Bhaktivedanta Folio is  corrupted.

The Gosvämis carried out the preaching work of devotional service on the
basis of an analytical study of all confidential Vedic literatures. This was
in compliance with the order of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Thus one can
understand the most confidential devotional service of Våndävana.

PURPORT
This proves that bona fide devotional service is based on the conclusions of
the Vedic literature. It is not based on the type of sentiment exhibited by
the präkåta-sahajiyäs. The präkåta-sahajiyäs do not consult the Vedic
literatures, and they are debauchees, woman-hunters and smokers of gaïjä.
Sometimes they give a theatrical performance and cry for the Lord with tears
in their eyes. Of course, all scriptural conclusions are washed off by these
tears. The präkåta-sahajiyäs do not realize that they are violating the
orders of Sré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who specifically said that to understand
Våndävana and the pastimes of Våndävana one must have sufficient knowledge
of the çästras (Vedic literatures). As stated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.2.12),
bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä. This means that devotional service is acquired from
Vedic knowledge. Tac chraddadhänäù munayaù. Devotees who are actually
serious attain bhakti, scientific devotional service, by hearing Vedic
literatures (bhaktyä çruta-gåhétayä). It is not that one should create
something out of sentimentality, become a sahajiyä and advocate such
concocted devotional service. However, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Öhäkura considered such sahajiyäs to be more favorable than the
impersonalists, who are hopelessly atheistic. The impersonalists have no
idea of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The position of the sahajiyäs is
far better than that of the Mäyävädé sannyäsés. Although the sahajiyäs do
not think much of Vedic knowledge, they nonetheless have accepted Lord Kåñëa
as the Supreme Lord. Unfortunately, they mislead others from authentic
devotional service.CC Madhya 1.35

———————————
So the above verse means that as soon as one will chant the name of Lord
Caitanya he will feel a transcendental ecstasy. All of us should wait for
this stage of life. The transcendental ecstatic symptoms certainly become
manifested in a devotee’s body, but they should not be exhibited amongst
common men. When Lord Caitanya met Ramananda Roy, both of them felt this
ecstasy by embracing one another. But as soon as Lord Caitanya saw that
Ramananda Roy was in the company of some outsider brahmanas, He checked
Himself. This is already described in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
The transcendental symptoms of ecstasy certainly are auspicious, but they
are not for advertising to others. One should not advertise directly or
indirectly that one is feeling like this. They should be checked. Otherwise
one will gradually become sahajiya or one who takes spiritual advancement as
something materially manifest. Actual spiritual advancement means detachment
for everything material. So our activities are nothing material. Detachment
from material activities, means attachment for spiritual activities,
devotional service. After all, our energy has to be utilized, so when it is
materially detached it means with greater enthusiasm our spiritual
activities increase.. Letter to: Makhanlal — Los Angeles 3 June, 1970

———————————————–
The symptoms of highly developed devotional service, which are exhibited by
the pure devotees, are sometimes imitated by those who are not actually pure
devotees. This is described in Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu. Without devotional
service to Krsna, one may have some motive in exhibiting such symptoms, but
it should be known that the symptoms are not actual. Sometimes those who are
not conversant with the science of devotional service are captivated by the
exhibition of ecstatic symptoms, but those who are in knowledge of the
science of devotional service do not accept such symptoms as the all in all.
These symptoms only mark the beginning of devotional service. That is
accepted by learned devotees. TLC 14: The Ecstasy of the Lord and His
Devotees

—————————
Elevation to this stage of ecstasy can be possible in two ways. One way is
by constant association with pure devotees. The other way is by the special
mercy of Kåñëa or by the mercy of a pure devotee of Krsna. Elevation to the
ecstatic stage of life is generally attained through association withpure
devotees, while elevation to that stage by the special mercy of Kåñëa or His
devotee is very rare. The purport is that one should execute devotional
service rigidly in the association of devotees so that there will be
certainty in raising oneself to that ecstatic position. In special cases, of
course, there is special favor from Krsnaa, and although we should always
expect that, we should not sit idly and simply wait for Krsna’s special
mercy; the regular duties must be performed. It is just as when, sometimes,
it is found that a person who never attended school or college may be
recognized as a great scholar, or an honorary degree from great universities
may be offered to him. But this does not mean that one should avoid school
and expect to automatically receive an honorary degree from some university.
Similarly, one should devoutly execute the regulative principles of
devotional service and at the same time hope for Krsna’s favor or for His
devotee’s favor.  NoD 17: Ecstatic Love

————————————–

premera svabhäva yähäì premera sambandha
sei mäne,‘kåñëe mora nähi prema-gandha’
TRANSLATION
Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, its natural symptom is
that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. Instead, he always thinks
that he has not even a drop of love for Krsna.
PURPORT
Sréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Thäkura comments that persons who are
actually very poor because they possess not even a drop of love of Godhead
or pure devotional service falsely advertise themselves as great devotees,
although they cannot at any time relish the transcendental bliss of
devotional service. A class of so-called devotees known as präkåta-sahajiyäs
sometimes display devotional symptoms to exhibit their good fortune. They
are pretending, however, because these devotional features are only
external. The präkåta-sahajiyäs exhibit these symptoms to advertise their
so-called advancement in love of Krsna, but instead of praising the
präkåta-sahajiyäs for their symptoms of transcendental ecstasy, pure
devotees do not like to associate with them. It is not advisable to equate
the präkåta-sahajiyäs with pure devotees. When one is actually advanced in
ecstatic love of Krsna, he does not try to advertise himself. Instead, he
endeavors more and more to render service to the Lord.

 CC Antya 20.29

——————–

One therefore has to raise himself from the position of kaniñstha-adhikäré
to the platform of madhyama-adhikäré. The madhyama-adhikäré is described in
Srimad-Bhägavatam (11.2.46) in this way:

éçvare tad-adhéneñu
bäliçeñu dviñatsu ca
prema-maitré-kåpopekñä
yaù karoti sa madhyamaù

“The madhyama-adhikäré is a devotee who worships the Supreme Personality of
Godhead as the highest object of love, makes friends with the Lord’s
devotees, is merciful to the ignorant and avoids those who are envious by
nature.”

This is the way to cultivate devotional service properly; therefore in this
verse Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé has advised us how to treat various devotees. We
can see from practical experience that there are different types of
Vaiñëavas. The präkåta-sahajiyäs generally chant the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra,
yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication. Although such
persons may chant the holy name of the Lord, they are not yet properly
purified. Such people should be respected within one’s mind, but their
association should be avoided. Those who are innocent but simply carried
away by bad association should be shown favor if they are eager to receive
proper instructions from pure devotees, but those neophyte devotees who are
actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are seriously
engaged in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master should be offered
respectful obeisances.

In this Krsnaa consciousness movement a chance is given to everyone without
discrimination of caste, creed or color. Everyone is invited to join this
movement, sit with us, take prasäda and hear about Krsnaa. When we see that
someone is actually interested in Krsna consciousness and wants to be
initiated, we accept him as a disciple for the chanting of the holy name of
the Lord. When a neophyte devotee is actually initiated and engaged in
devotional service by the orders of the spiritual master, he should be
accepted immediately as a bona fide Vaiñëava, and obeisances should be
offered unto him. Out of many such Vaiñëavas, one may be found to be very
seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the
regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on japa
beads and always thinking of how to expand the Krsnaa consciousness
movement. Such a Vaiñëava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikäré, a highly
advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought. N ectar of
Instruction oI

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama
Rama Hare Hare. All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! African Festival
Tour.  Camp:ISKCON Nairobi,Kenya. Mob 00254 726210683
(blog:http://mahavishnuswami.wordpress.com)

Dear Ram Nitai Das,

Please accept my blessings!All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you for your letter.

> Maharaj,as you may know I am nota wordsmith but will try my best to
> express myself as best I can.
> In my minds eye I have the vision of me climbing a rockface.Everytime I
> try to get agood footing or grip the rock turns to sand and crumbles
> through my fingers and I scramble and slip and scurry on the
> rocks.Immediately above me I see you holding a rope and telling me to
> “grab the rope,grab the rope,grab the rope!.I am stubborn as a mule and
> dont take your advice,am I frightened to give up what grip I have on my
> rockface?Do I not have the strength and courage to jump for the rope? Why
> dont I just gab the rope,grab the rope,grab the rope?? I only know I am so
> greatful that you are there holding the rope and dont get fed up telling
> me to grab the rope.I see the top of the mountain,but know there is along
> way togo,please dont leave me here scrambling and falling.

Thanks for the offering.Of course I do’nt blame you for having full faith in
my offered rope.I am a very imperfect representative of Srila Prabhupada.

It reminds me of the vedic story where a man is fallen into a  dry well pit
and beneath are poisonous snakes,but he is holding onto some branch.Above at
the well’s edge is a snarling tiger if he attempts to pull himself out.You
probably know the story.But on the branch is a beehive dripping honey which
he enjoys very much forgetting his miseries.That is material life.

There are nice morning walks where Srila Prabhupada explains:

Therefore without God consciousness, nobody is qualified. Nobody is
qualified. Everyone is damned, condemned. [break] …asato dhävato bahiù. By
mental speculation he will simply prolong his material existence, that’s
all. And that is troublesome. Material existence means just this. The dog is
material existence. It is a standard of suffering. But he does not know.
Under illusion he is thinking that “I am very happy.” So everyone is
thinking that “I am very happy,” but he’s in condemned condition. The pig.
He is eating stool, living in a filthy place, but he is getting fat because
he is thinking he is very happy. This is called illusion. You are thinking,
“Oh, what a nasty condition. This animal is eating stool and living in a
filthy place.” But he is thinking that he is very happy. Unless he thinks
like that, he cannot live in that condition. That is called illusion. He
does not know what is the actual high standard of happiness.

Prajäpati: Highest standard of happiness, Srila Prabhupäda, is simply to be
in your association.

Prabhupäda: Back to home, back to Godhead, that’s all. This is highest
standard of happiness. We are trying to take everyone to that place. Yad
gatvä na nivartante tad dhäma paramaà mama [Bg. 15.6]. Morning Walk –
December 13, 1973, Los Angeles

——————–

Nitäi: Well, they think that instead of being beaten that they’re having
fun, that it’s pleasurable.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Unless he’s…

Nitäi: They think, “Let us have all the pleasure we can.”

Prabhupäda: That is another mäyä’s illusion. Unless he thinks it is
pleasurable, how he can tolerate? Just like the pig, eating stool. Everyone
is thinking, “Aoww”, but unless he thinks pleasurable, how he can eat? That
is another concession of mäyä. Praksepätmikä, ävaraëätmikä. He’s covered by
illusion. He is accepting the most abominable thing, but he’s thinking, “I’m
enjoying.” This is called mäyä.

Nitäi: Sometimes we tell them that this life is only full of miseries, and
they say, “What do you mean?”

Prabhupäda: No, that is their foolishness. That is their foolishness. They
do not know, they do not distinguish what is misery and what is happiness.
They have no sense, no brain. That is their foolishness.

Nitäi: So we can convince them by pointing out…?

Prabhupäda: They cannot convince them because they are so rascal, so
foolish, that they have no brain to understand what is the distinction. They
have no brain. Just like cats and dogs. That is their fallen condition. Yes.
Sudämä: They believe that this misery is good.

Prabhupäda: Yes, that I have explained. Unless they believe it is good, how
they can be put in to miserable condition? Just like some of the thieves.
They go to jail. They think, “It is very nice. We haven’t got to earn. We
are getting food here, free of charge. Yes, it is very nice place. It is my
father-in-law’s house.” (laughs) So unless they believe, how they can
tolerate such tribulations? The worm in the stool, he believes, “This is
enjoyment.” You take it from the stool, put it here, no, it will go again.
It thinks it is pleasurable. That is their position. Therefore they have
been described as müdha. Na mäà duskrtino müdhaù prapadyante narädhamäù [Bg.
7.15]. When they believe it, “Oh, it is not good,” that is their good
fortune. Then they are fortunate. That is explained by Sri Caitanya
Mahäprabhu, ei rüpe brahmäëòa brahmite kono bhägyavän jéva. When they come
to that fortunate position, that is first-class.

Nitäi: How does one become “bhägyavän”?

Prabhupäda: Bhägyavän, opulent… If you earn money, you become bhägyavän.
Bhägyavän means… The word has come from bhagavän, and bhaga means
opulence, six kinds of opulence: riches… Aiçvaryasya samagrasya véryasya
yaçasaù çriyaù (Viñëu Puräëa 6.5.47). So one who possess all these things
not exactly like Bhagavän, but partially, according to his position, he’s
called bhägyavän.

Nitäi: But in this verse that you just quoted, ei rüpe brahmanda brahmite
kono bhagyavän, how does one come, become to the stage of…

Prabhupäda: We are making them bhägyavän. We are giving them service, how to
become bhägyavän. We are spending our blood, gallons of blood, to make them
bhägyavän. This is the sacrifice of the devotees. Just like you are poor.
Somebody, rich man, comes, “All right, take one million dollars from me.”
You get immediately rich. So it is the devotees’ sacrifice that they’re
becoming… Just like Väsudeva Datta. He requested Caitanya Mahäprabhu, “My
Lord, you have come. Take away all these people, unfortunate people, back to
home, back to Godhead. If You think they are so inglorious, they cannot be
taken, then give me all their sins to me. I shall suffer. You take them.”
That is Vaisnava. They are sacrificing everything for these unfortunate
rascals. Therefore they are becoming very, very dear to Krsna. Krsna says,
na ca tasmän manuñyeñu [Bg. 18.69]. Those who are sacrificing everything for
giving, making fortunate these rascals, they become immediately very, very
dear to Krsna.

Just like, if a rich man gives his money for public welfare, immediately
he’s recognized by the government, “Yes.” He’s given some title. Why?
Because he has given his possession for the benefit of the public.
Similarly, the devotees, they are distributing their possessions to these
unfortunate people. Therefore he’s immediately recognized. That is the
process. But devotee does not want any recognition, but he knows that “My
Lord wants this rascal to go back to home, back to Godhead. So let me try my
best.” He knows the mind of the master; otherwise, why the master comes and
canvasses, sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja [Bg. 18.66]? He
has no business, but He wants that “These rascals are suffering in this
material condition. They are My part and parcel, My sons. Let Me try.” And
devotee understands that “My Lord wants it. So let me do it on His behalf.”
Therefore devotee is so dear. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna…  Morning Walk –
January 18, 1974, Hawaii

————————-

> I know this is probably not standard format for a vyasa ouja offering,but
> I can only say what I feel,I am not great at flowery words.I hope you
> accept it with the love intended,

Thank you.Will we meet in Mayapur? I arrive there on 27th Feb by Krishna’s
grace and then just before Gaura Purnima I have to go Delhi then Hardwar for
another boat trip with some white water. When you return UK?

Please give my best Hare Krishnas to Rama Narasimha Prabhu and co.

Hoping that this finds you all well in Krishna Consciousness,

Your wellwishing,

Mahavishnu Swami

PS February 10th is my passport birth-certificate birthdate That is the
solar calender.Actually my “Vyasa Puja” is every year sandwhiched between
Isvara Puris Dissappearance Day and Shivaratri.That is the Lunar Calender.

GRANDMA’S LETTER

…the other day I went up to a local christian book store and saw a “Honk
if you love Jesus” bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a
thrilliing choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I
bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought
about
the Lord and how good He is and I didn’t notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus, because if he hadn’t honked,
I’d never have noticed.

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus. Why, while I was sitting there, the
guy
behind started honking like crazy, and when he leaned out the window and
screamed “for the love of God, GO! GO!” What an exuberant cheerleader
he was for Jesus.

Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started smiling
and waving at all these loving people.

I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love. There must have been
a
man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a
sunny
beach…

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up
in
the air. When I asked my teenaged grandson in the back seat what that meant,
he
said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

Well, I’ve never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and
gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing, why even he was enjoying this religious
experience.

A couple of people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got
out
of their cars and started walking towards me.

I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I
noticed the light had changed.

So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through
the
intersection.

I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the
light
changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the
love
we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave
them
all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

My wife occasionally emails me links to photos of big fluorescent poodles, of dancing bananas singing about “peanut butter jelly time.” I assume she thinks I need some culture.

Today, she sent one that I found mildly disturbing—an animated video of a kitten superimposed over a heart singing “I love you, I really, really do, more than ice cream.”

The tune itself was creepy, but in a compelling sort of way. It sounded like some very drunk people–perhaps drinking toilet cleaner cocktails, very late at night—had recorded it.

The animation was also twisted and low-fi; the little kitty’s “mouth” was an animated black hole that changed shape to simulate the mouthing of actual words, except it kept on morphing and morphing whether the cat was singing or not.

“What did you think of that video?”

“It looked like a front site for terrorist meet-ups.”

I wash and reuse Ziploc bags.

I shouldn’t capitalize “Ziploc” because not all the bags we use are Ziploc brand.

Anyway, I wash and re-use “those bags” bags for a long time. I don’t throw them away, unless they get holes in them, or if they get greasy inside. Nothing is less fun to clean that a “Ziploc” bag with greasy interior.

Tonight I was washing a batch of bags, and drying them out with cloths. I have a whole system for it.

Then I began thinking, “Is this a total waste of time? How much money am I saving by eternally reusing these freaking Ziploc-type bags? How much time do I have left? Will I look back at the end of my life and say, “I may have regrets out the wazoo, but boy, I’m sure glad I reused my Ziploc bags?”

Then I thought I should start chanting hare krishna. If I’m totally wasting my precious time drying out Ziploc bags, at least I should I chant so the time won’t be a total waste;

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. . .”

My wife was standing next to me, cooking South Indian dosa.

“Why are you chanting just now?”

I explained about the bags.

Despite the myth that American media is liberal,  news of the worldwide boom in renewable energy  continues to be excluded from news reports. Here is a sample:

Suzlon Gujarat Wind Park Ltd. (SGWPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzlon Energy Ltd., has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state government of Gujarat, India to develop up to 1.5 gigawatts (GW) * of new wind capacity in the state.

The MoU builds on the friendly investment climate for the wind sector created by the recent “Amendment of the Wind Policy 2007″ announced by the Government of Gujara

Flinders Station

I just got back from the city, a few hours ago. I went there to try out some night photography. It was nice to wander around those places in city that I never knew existed. Anyways, it was getting late and it was time to get back home.

I hailed a taxi from a spot near the above station. As I climbed into the car, I immediately concluded that the driver was from Punjab - his “bangra” music was on. And loud.

Me : Hi…
Driver : Hello…
Me : I need to get to…..do you know the Hare Krishna temple?
Driver : Ummm…yeah…no….let me see the directory….
Me : Its at….
Driver : Is it at Port Melbourne or South Melbourne?
Me : South Melbourne
Driver : Albert Park?
Me : Yeah…
Driver : I think I know where it is…

And he moved the gear, released the breaks and we zoomed past the wild Valentine’s crowd that was building up on the streets. I decided the time was right to check my pending SMSes on the phone and I left the driver alone. Half way into the ride, I glanced up and I noticed the fare meter.

Me : Why is the fare blinking?
Driver : Oh…don’t worry about it.
Me : But the fare is not increasing…we still have a bit more to go
Driver : Oh…its OK…I turned it off.
Me : Really? Why did you do that?
Driver : Because you are going to the Hare Krishna temple

I was surprised. I was delighted. I was moved. Also, I love when concessions and freebies come from nowhere!

Me : That’s very very nice of you…are you sure..the fare is not a lot. It’s almost half the actual rate.
Driver : It’s alright…exactly 2 years ago, I came to this temple when I first came to Melbourne…
Me : Really? That’s fantastic…Did you have prasadam then?
Driver : Yes…I did…
Me : It would be great if you continued your visit here…
Driver : Yeah…
Me : If you come, I will give you 2 extra gulab jamuns during the prasadam time !
Driver : Ha ha ha..surely I will come now !

With that, I reached the temple. It was getting close to midnight. The driver happily accepted the low fare, said good bye and went away. I stood there watching him go. And I couldn’t help thinking about the incident and if I would have done the same if I was in his position. Perhaps not. In that respect, that taxi driver was far more advanced in character than I will ever be.