ARRIVAL OF SPRING

It is mid June and mating season. It looks like the woodpeckers have developed a multi-unit high rise in the still standing but long gone cypress tree.

There are more and more adult woodpecker couples arriving every day to carve out their living space and take up residence. 

There is a great flurry of activity as they are preparing for the arrival of their offspring. 

And needless to say lots of...rata tat tat... rata tat tat... as construction is underway.  

Deep in the forest

There is a palace of gems.

IF I WANT TO BE A DEVOTEE OF KRISHNA

 

In the Ādi Purāṇa there is the following statement by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, addressed to Arjuna: "My dear Pārtha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee." No one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. One must approach Him through His pure devotees. (Nectar of Devotion 12)

So if I want to be a devotee of Krishna let me serve His Pure Devotees. Jaya Tulsi devi maharani.

The wall made from discarded brick roof tiles (that I found by the side of the road) surrounding Tulsi's garden is finished. It really came out nicely. During heavy downpours like there is here from time to time the area tends to flood. But with the wall and some extra build up of grass and soil all around the outside the flooding should by-pass Tulsi. We'll know soon enough if this helps. But the wall does keep the invasive plants and creepers from overtaking Tulsi. 

I planted some small succulents around the outer edge of the inside of the wall. They don't have impressive blooms to speak of. They have unusual foliage. Just to keep Tulsi company. So it is "very green" in the garden.

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TODAY WAS EKADASI

Today was Ekadasi. I didn't follow nirjala, just fasting till noon and no grains or beans. It seems on Ekadasi I get a huge craving for grains and beans. Maybe it is just the psychology, knowing I won't be taking any that day. So there is that aspect of restraint. 

But there was another experience today. Ekadasi is meant for increasing hearing and chanting. So I decided not to do anything. There are a million and one projects underway and everywhere I look there is something that needs to be done, paint the screens, finish Tulsi devi's wall, put in the light kit on the ceiling fan... on and on.... So I had to say no. No grains and beans and no projects. Hearing and chanting only. It was very austere on both accounts. 

Ekadasi is a special day. I want to honor Ekadasi more and more

BEYOND THE MIND AND HIGHER THAN THE INTELLIGENCE

Deepak Srivastava Yesterday at 12:40 pm Silver: 3556
Of late I am getting a feeling that Godhead is a state of mind rather than a physical place. The following verse needs thorough understanding. SB 12.5.11-12 ahaṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma  brahmāhaṁ paramaṁ padam evaṁ samīkṣya cātmānam  ātmany ādhāya niṣkale daśantaṁ takṣakaṁ pāde  lelihānaṁ viṣānanaiḥ na drakṣyasi śarīraṁ ca  viśvaṁ ca pṛthag ātmanaḥ Hare Krishna REPLY	Like (1)  Report Offensive  Block this user

Manju Sharma Replies to Deepak Srivastava Yesterday at 06:09 pm Gold: 8843
Deepak, please explain the meaning of the verse for those who can't comprehend Sanskrit...Hare Krishna. REPLY	Like   Report Offensive  Block this user

Deepak Srivastava Replies to Manju Sharma Yesterday at 07:15 pm Silver: 3556
I have intentionally not explained since different people have given different meaning. My interpretation is that Parakshit Maharaj on hearing the Bhagwat discourse attains that state of mind where the worldly matters symbolised by Takshak Nag does not matter to him. This state is Vaikunth rather than a place by the name of Vaikunth....Hare Krishna REPLY	Like   Report Offensive  Block this user

Meena Devi Dasi Replies to Deepak Srivastava Yesterday at 11:53 pm Silver: 3102

Yes. A physical place as we are accustomed to perceive, Godhead is not, and yet out of compassion from time to time The Supreme Godhead will manifest so that we may perceive "a physical form." Yet it is higher than the mind also. The mind is also physical, subtle physical.. Beyond the mind and even the intelligence there is another field of activity for the spirit. yuñjann evaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī niyata-mānasaḥ śāntiṁ nirvāṇa-paramāṁ mat-saṁsthām adhigacchati Bg 6.15 http://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/6/15?d=1 Hari bol... REPLYDELETE

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WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO TULSI DEVI?

Sometimes I feel so much anxiety. If something happens to me what will happen to Tulsi devi? 

By the Lord's mercy I have some nice facility to serve Her. Southern Florida is warm all year and She is growing nicely in the little garden, which seems to constantly expand in different ways. 

I have to watch every penny but I found some roof tiles that were discarded by the side of the road. They are making a great outer wall to keep the grass from invading. Only about half way through with the wall. 

The more I do to make Tulsi devi's garden as nice as possible the more anxiety I have that what will happen if circumstances change. Actually it is not an "if" circumstances change...in the material world circumstances always do change and something will happen to me (material body). But what can I do? I have to try to serve Tulsi devi. 

Maybe if my anxiety becomes great enough it will be enough to carry me back home Back to Godhead where there are no disturbances like birth, death, old and disease.