more spring and ghost stories

Here in New Braj we are Above the Clouds you know, metaphorically, but sometimes like today it seems we are Inside the Clouds ( but that would be another blog).  if you look closely at that old thermometer it is registering 34 degrees. cold.

Somehow Spring show's her determination:

and the Manzanita are in bloom just above Srila Gurudeva's garden. 

the pines are enormously fragrant:

but generally its a cold, dark, winter's day...which reminds me of the cool ghost story Prana Kisore prabhu told in last night's class.

Prana K. was giving a comprehensive class on anugatya, the concept of always being under the shelter of Guru and vaisnavas. he told how Mahaprabhu showed by example how to always be under guidance and them gave examples of those who did not remain in anugatya. then in the course of telling harikatha he said that once Srila Sridhara Maharaja said that if we do bhajana and follow the instructions of our spiritual master so many gaurdians will come to help us, seen and unseen. gaurdians such as tulasi and ekadasi. and then he told this story:

"This is the story of Vikanas Maharaja the disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura.  He was such an exalted devotee that even as a child the village gurus decided that no one was qualified to initiate him. So as a young man he was determined to find his guru so he went to the cremation grounds to meditate.  after some time some apsaras came to disturb him (why do they always do that?) and then a giant Brahman rakshaka ghost appeared and said, "I WANT TO EAT YOU!" 

Vikanas Maharaja replied, "Why? why would you want to eat me? you were a brahman how can this be?"

and the ghost replied, "GIVE ME THE RESULTS OF ONE OF YOUR EKADASIS!" 

So VM did give him the results of one of his ekadasis and ** POOF** the ghost became liberated.  As he was floating away to his destination he called out to VM, " Your guru is in Mayapura Dhama and his name is Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (shoot, forgot the caps, the ghost speaks in caps, anyhow).  That's how he found his guru. this was told in Srila Gurudeva's presence by Krsna Kripa Brahmacari also a disciple of SBSS.

the moral of the story is that is we are sincere then we will be guided by gaurdians seen and unseen, and if your going to do your meditations in cremation grounds make sure you have some ekadasis in your pocket!

posting from Above the Clouds at New Braj Dhama. ys, gopanandini dasi