Vaishnava seva ki jay- catching happyness

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Today when i was chanting, the pujari asked me to turn on the CD player and the amplifier as he liked to hear some bhajans while making flower garlands in the templeroom. First i didnt succeed and gave up, wet from sweat... but at the third attempt i really looked into it and finally found the switch to switch on and the plug to plug in... the pujari was so happy and his happyness was catching. It's so valuable to serve each other and treat with respect.

Haribol

Jagannath-Express

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!
dear diary,
today the brother of Tulasi das, Haridas, has arrived from Bengal. i asked Tulasi, wheter he came by train or by bus. He answered: "by train, Jagannath-Express!"
It's exhilarant to see how spirituality is still imbedded in every day's life in India. We western devotees (actually all mankind) should do this more often too.
Thank You Nityaananda, that we have an express to go back to Godhead in the Nityaananda- and Gauraanga-Mantrarajas!

candlelight-Arati

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!
dear diary!
Finally i am writing again...
Did buy a bicycle, to explore the region. One of those without gears... and did get a sunburn on the first ride. The sun burns without mercy and its very hot.
We had tonight no electricity and a romantic candlelight-Arati without amplifier... liked it a lot. It was so peacefull and virtuous.
Haribol!

nectarean association

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!
The new Pujari Premananda das is a bright and sprightly devotee. He doesent know much english, but he tries to speak, and sometimes a whole tirade comes from his mouth :) His hearty nature and nectarean association are very inspiring to me.
Thank You, oh Lord, for this advanced devotee and that i am allowed to have his association. Please help me Nityaananda, that i can get some of his natural way of Krishna-conciuosness.
Thank You.

newspaper distribution indian style

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!
Today i was watching my indian collegue, and i would like to describe what happened :)
Ok, he arrives on bicycle and stopps in front of our neigbours gate, grabs a rolled newspaper out of the basket on his cycle and throws it well aimed at the balconydoor on the first floor, where it lands with a loud sound on the balcony. And off he goes again.... :)
Hare Krishna

spiritual craw

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krischna!
after a long break, today there will be some posts.... :)
Often i have an encounter with a craw when i am on parikrama around the temple or on the roof. Then i will chant loudly in front of it, cause that craw has no fear. Very attentively the craw is listening the mantras Nityaananda, Gauraanga and Hare Krishna, today it even caws after each mantra, as if it wanted to chant. i think it is a devotee, which has in this life a body, which is not suitable to chant the holy Names. The whole incident reminded me of brother Francis from Assisi, who even preached to the birds.
Please Lord, let us use this body and its rare option to serve You wisely and chant Your holy Names. Let us live peacefully with all living entities, and be aware of the fact that we are all spiritual souls. Let us please live the simplicity and naturality of St.Francis.
Thank You.

The personal Impersonalist

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!
dear diary!
Today i went to Tota Gopinath with a devotee named Shiva. On our way back we met an older Sannyasi or Brahmacari wearing safran. It was a Shivaite which could be seen at the way he had his tilak. He was greeting us first with folded hands. A very personal impersonalist.... there are also impersonal personalists, but i dont want to write about them now. It became clear to me that impersonalism and personalism are the two sides of the same coin, both is existing and belonging togheter.
ॐ नमो शिवाय! हरे कृष्ण!