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Have the company of saints and become good!
26th of April, 2007 - 12:56
The following is a touching poem by Balarama dasa, a medieval Gaudiya Vaisnava poet, found in Manohara-bhajana-dipika. Poems of this genre are known as the dainya-bodhika, expressions of one's own wretchedness. The expressions of one's pitiable condition are generally drawn against the canvas of the glory of that which was to be attained.
Aksaya-tritiya - Entering the New House
19th of April, 2007 - 17:43
While much would have merited writing, the blog has been dormant as of late for absence of time and presence of distractions (or rather, attractions!). Today, however, a note must be put in as the time has come when we're finally moving into the new house. With the help of several kind Vaisnavas who have extended themselves in lending us the missing balance required for the house, a great deal of work has been accomplished over the last two months.
Respectful Distance
4th of April, 2007 - 5:44
From recent correspondence.
Being preoccupied with the flaws of others is not edifying for a sadhaka. Where one perceives flaws, from there one should keep a respectful distance. What is the meaning of a respectful distance, or the meaning of respecting from a distance? It means that you should go as far as it takes for you to be able to maintain a respectful attitude. We gain nothing from fostering disrespect in our hearts, it does nothing but eat our bhajana away, mouthful by mouthful.... 
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Aksaya-tritiya - Entering the New House
Posted: 19th of April, 2007 - 17:43
While much would have merited writing, the blog has been dormant as of late for absence of time and presence of distractions (or rather, attractions!). Today, however, a note must be put in as the time has come when we're finally moving into the new house. With the help of several kind Vaisnavas who have extended themselves in lending us the missing balance required for the house, a great deal of work has been accomplished over the last two months.
 — The main house of two rooms, kitchen on the left and Malati's room on the right, from two weeks back. — While the full construction isn't complete by a stretch, and while even this first phase that merits for about half of the original plan still has a fair deal of plaster to be thrown around and surfaces to be polished, it has come to a point where we can actually move in. Provided the woodsmith gets his act together and actually gets the doors in place, that is! Living in the assumption he will, we'll be doing Thakur's puja and ghata-sthapana (invocation of tirthas into water pots), beginning tomorrow morning at 7.30 AM, which is the hour on which the subha-muhurta for griha-pravesa falls on. I will report on that in more detail once it's over and have the appropriate photos included.  — The basement in progress, a view from two weeks back. My room will be built atop here whenever we raise the funds required. — I have a fair collection of images on the actual construction as well, and will be organizing them in due course for everyone curious on what building a house here means in practice. In waiting for that, as with most things right now, patience is a great virtue. It'll come around in due course! The bottom line and main point of this message is to ask for all Vaisnavas to extend their good wishes for our endeavors to settle here in Vraja for a life of bhajana. Please, all of you pray that we may be able to stay here in the company of Vaisnavas and bring our bhajana to its fulfillment. I asked Babaji Maharaja today for his best wishes for our bhajana and Vraja-vasa, requesting that as the tithi is called aksaya, undecaying, that our bhajana in the kutir we built for it would be undecaying and ever-growing as well. May this request be extended to all of you as well!
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