The Mystic Krewe of Barkus-

The mysic Krewe of Barkus is the Mardi Gras Krewe that puts together New Orleans dog parade. Perfect for Dog worshipers but by far the smelliest parade so far. To attend (and enjoy) this parade you must be accompanied by either a child or a dog- preferably both. People and their dogs walk the parade route- throwing what? yep. plastic dog turds. They also throw the traditional neck beads and dog treats. It seems to be a family favorite. Dog owners dress there dogs in thematic costumes. This year the there was Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark. My personal favorite ”Float” was titled- A street Dog named Desire meets Raiders of the Lost Bark” This was a wagon decorated like a street car. Riding on the street car? 10 mini-dachshunds dressed like Harrison Ford. (It was clearly a recycle of last years event A street Dog named Desire- but at the time, I didn’t know this)

       
You can watch footage here:
http://videos.nola.com/nola/2008/01/krewe_of_barkus_2008.html

My advice for anyone who decides to attend this event next year… most dogs are short- So get there early so you can actually see the parade and watch where you step.

Math-man and the Sri Yantra. January 23, 2008- Chicago Illinois

I was sitting in the Chicago airport, on a rather long layover, when a out of nowhere, a stranger approached me and said “Hi. I was wondering what you are working on…because I work in math. I think I can help you.” I immediately thought- “hey- what are the odds?” Those word rolled around in my head, over and over, as I looked down at the sketchbook, ruler and protractor sitting on my lap. I looked up at this masked stranger and said “REALLY? you work in math? Really! have I

been waiting for you.” He didn’t get it until I showed him the picture of Sri Yantra I had been working on. Sri Yantra is a notoriously complex geometric design. It consists of nine interlacing triangles surrounding a center point called a bindi. It is the mother of all other yantras. He had never seen a sri yantra before- but he immediately recognized it as sacred geometry- he said he thought he could help me figure it out. We worked on it for over an hour- but

we figured it out. I am now able to reproduce it, again and again. THANKS MATH-MAN! YOU SAVED THE DAY!

mississippi half-step uptown toodleloo blues

I just met Nola.

I just met Nola. She is a pretty French lady who has been down on her luck. She has had a bad run of things recently- suffered all kinds of abuse. So far- she and I are off to a pretty good start. My Nola ain’t no crook- she just gotta bad reputation.

They guy I sat next to on the plane last night- gave me a strong warning. He works for the sheriff’s office a couple of counties over. He said this year they are calling in the national guard and the city has put up observation towers so they can monitor the criminal activities during Mardi Gras. He mentioned some murder, mugging, and rape statistics and then he told me where I should go for a tasty doughnut like breakfast food.

The airport immediately reminded me of the Bombay airport (minus the taxi cabs and guys who carry suitcases on their heads) I think it is the baggage claim area that reminded me the most of Bombay- and that’s all I will say about that. I guess you will have to see it to believe it.

Donkey in the goshalla

Remincient of the story of the slaying of the Dhenukasura Demon by Balarama-

The cowherd boys were complaining that the presence of the donkey in the Goshalla was a little unorthodox. Jaya Prabhupada das- a resident of New Vrindaban said “In my country we just don’t do this.” Jaya Prabhupada, who has been working with the New Vrindaban Cows for 3 years, went on to explain “we don’t put cows and donkeys together”. Donkeys have a tendency to kick (the cows). This endangers the well being of the other animals. “If a cow has horns, like Surabhi, she is able to protect herself from the donkey but if not… we are in trouble.”

The donkey’s presence in the Cow Protection barn began 2 years ago when Bodhisattva, a 7 year old standard gelded jack, first came to New Vrindaban. He started out living out at Bahluban with the large herd. When it was discovered that donkeys have a low toleration the cold weather- shelter was needed. Last winter Bodhi moved out to the Big barn and then relocated to the goshalla- on a trial basis. Tapah Punja das, the owner of the donkey, said the donkey makes a nice addition to the farm because donkeys can pull carts and do precision cultivation. “Unlike Oxen, which are slow and cumbersome, donkeys can walk a straight line” said Punja. He went on to say, “We got the donkey because they are great for herding. The cow herder gets more respect from the animals when he is higher off the ground”

Donkeys, known in the wild as burros, are used in many types of trekking. The are easily able to carry moderate loads in the mountainous regions. Last summer when Jaya Prabhupada found himself without a vehicle- Jaya Prabhupada was spotted happily trotting out the back road to work at the “Big barn” on Bodhi. At lunch time, during the warmer weather, one can see Bodhi parked at the apartment building accepting carrots from the children and waiting for Jaya Prabhupada.

However useful the donkey might be- the controversy over whether or not Bodhisattva should live with the cows still exists. Should the donkey live with Krishna’s cows? One New Vrindaban resident stated; “We have a donkey out there- passing his “not so pure stool” along side the stool of the cows? He will contaminate the entire place. We offer that milk to Krishna?” Another resident said, “If the donkey might hurt the cows- what is he doing out there?”. The majority of the people in the community feel that Bodhisattva is a nice guy who should be given a chance. Mother Dhara said, “well he does his service, and keeps out of trouble- we should leave him alone and let him live where he wants”

Jaya Prabhupada said “In the beginning (of his stay in the Goshalla)- He would guard the doors. He wouldn’t allow the cows to enter the Goshalla. I thought OK- this is it. I am going to have to move him but this was not possible. He is stubborn as a mule.” Jaya Prabhupada consulted Tapah Punja who told Jaya Prabhupada he would take care of it- to “give Brody-sattva one more week in the Goshalla.” Jaya Prabhupada- his face lighting up in ecstasy, “I was surprised! He is a cow now!” Jaya Prabhupada was delighted to report that “This morning- it was AMAZING- one of the cows, Kamadenu, was licking the Donkey. They have accepted him as one of their own.”

All work and No play makes Jack a dull boy…(The Shining)

Bird in a cage, huh? what is that analogy- you know the one… Srila Prabhupada uses it- we hear it all the time- jeez, I don’t remember. Well anyway, I took this photo in the Saint Louis Temple. The devotees there had this life size statue of this guy dressed in a tuxedo polishing a cage containing a dead bird. huh. I guess the analogy is something like- We learn from scripture that service to the material body, without caring for the spirit soul, is like saving the coat of a drowning man or like polishing the cage of a bird while neglecting to feed the bird.

Sometimes it is used in conjunction with the verse from the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.84.13):

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah

“Anyone who accepts this bodily bag of three elements [bile, mucus,
and air] as his self, who has an affinity for an intimate relationship
with his wife and children, who considers his land worshipable, who
takes bath in the waters of the holy places of pilgrimage but never
takes advantage of those persons who are in actual knowledge–he is no
better than an ass or a cow.”

No better than an ass or a cow? Hummm, we have an ass here in New Vrindaban- Brody the Donkey. (or is he a mule?) Brody thinks he is a cow. No one has the heart to tell him otherwise. During the milking time, he just lines up with the cows and makes his whinny noise- expecting someone to come along and give him the grains that are given to the cows… and the rest of the day he just hangs out in the pasture with the ladies. According to Brody, it is better to be a cow than an ass…I’m guessing thats not really the point of this verse…

At least the goats know that they are goats. They act like goats- they associate with goats. They are not trying to sneak out the Peacock Pen and say “Hey Guys- Haribol! Look at me! I am a peacock!” Do you know why? Although goats are notoriously sneaky and underhanded animals- a goat cannot pretend to be something he is not.

OK so here is something to think about…

If you permit an Ass to associate with Cows- he will inevitably develop qualities of a Cow.

Goats? Goats will always be goats.

Some people just don’t know any better.

snow tracks

peacock tracks in the snow

5am: new vrindaban

Initiation…

Hare Krishna Prabhus!

Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Acaryadeva! During the weekend of December 14- 19th Srila Acaryadeva visited New Vrindaban. On Saturday December 15th 2007, at 8:30pm, in the presence of Sri Sri Gaur-nitai, and the assembled Vaisnavas I was given initiation! Mahalakshmi devi dasi. Here are the details surrounding the rest of the visit…

On Friday afternoon, I met Srila Acaryadeva, Sadaputa Prabhu, and Brahmatirta Prabhu at the Pittsburgh airport. It is a long trip back to New Vrindaban, and I enjoyed having the association of such esteemed devotees. They were arriving for the ISKCON ACADEMY of ART and SCIENCES conference. As we were driving down the road, Srilq Acaryadeva said,” So you getting initiated… when do want to do it?” I had been told be Arya that He had said he wanted to do it Friday night- but I said, “I don’t know- how about tomorrow?”

Srila Acaryadeva was in high spirits in the association of his god brothers. The mood changed as we arrived in New Vrindaban. Shortly after we arrived at the home of Srila Acaryadeva’s hosts- who would arrive? Garuda Prabhu. Due to the constant banter and bickering between the two Godbrothers- the atmosphere then went from “high spirited” to absolutely hilarious- and remained so for the next 72 hours. The devotees at New Vrindaban were anxious to have the association of Srila Acaryadeva, and a crowd started to gather as news spread of his arrival. The darshan went on until 10:30-11:00pm. Srila Acaryadeva spoke about the origin of specific Christian theological points and common misconceptions about the “historical” Jesus. The following morning, Srila Acaryadeva gave Srimad Bhagavatam class.

Following breakfast- Srila Acaryadeva, Bharata dasa, and I went for a long walk along the country roads of New Vrindaban. We had gone out several roads leading toward Talavan, and we were walking on the main road near Bahulaban when it started to gently rain, so we decided that we’d better start walking back. The wind started up, and one thing led to another- and we were walking briskly down Hare Krishna Ridge through sleet and a freezing rain storm.

 

It was very cold and as pellets of ice bounced off his face, Srila Acaryadeva explained that because he was from California he was enjoying the weather. In my opinion, it was almost intolerably cold. The snow and freezing rain would continue for the rest of the afternoon and early evening.

After our walk Srila Acaryadeva attended the second half of Saturdays conference, and I went home to get ready for my initiation. It was freezing, and had been raining, so when I left my apartment to go to my car to pick up Srila Acaryadeva at the temple- I was trying to be fast, because I didn’t want to be late… I slipped on the ice- and fell into a mud puddle, I messed up my sari and smashed my knee… it was swollen. I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital. Like the White Rabbit in Alice In Wonderland- I couldn’t be late. I couldn’t be late… I was going to be late… to meet Gurudeva… Oh no!!! So I got in the car, and drove up to temple to meet and pick him up- whoa! I wasn’t late, the meeting hadn’t ended… thank Krishna.

However, As soon as I walked into the temple, I started to cry. My knee really hurt, and I had messed up my sari… and his was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, but it was turning out to be a disaster… when the meeting ended, I was still a mess. Yatiza got a towel and wiped the mud off of my sari, Brahmatirtha Prabhu helped me before Maharaja came out of the meeting. When the meeting had ended Brahmatirta told Acaryadeva of my mishap… I put ice on my knee and they took my car up to the house. I told them that I would be up in a little while… I thought the initiation was canceled. Arya said she called Acaryadeva and told him that we should reschedule. I thought it was rescheduled.

I went up to the house and devotees started to show up. So Srila Acaryadeva said, Well are we doing this initiation? I said definitely! I was sad because I had already told some of the devotees at the temple that we were going to reschedule for the following day. I had calmed down and the sari wasn’t that big of a deal- but my knee really hurt and I had it elevate and iced the entire time.

Acaryadeva and Garuda went into the study… It definitely wasn’t the run-of- the mill Hare Krishna initiation… there was no Kartals or Mrdanga- it was a charming party with wonderful live classical music. People moved around the room chatting and catching up with one another. Yaitza played 3 or 4 Mozart pieces on the cello- it was beautiful. Garuda and Maharaja returned from the study, and Garuda prabhu said, “Send up the smoke” Gurudeva announced, “Ladies and gentlemen- the pope has been chosen” And the Garuda prabhu said, After much deliberation We have chosen a NAME!!” So I said to Garuda, “what is it, aren’t you going to tell me?” He shouted- “Swami! She’s trying to get me to tell her!” So the two of them sat down and proceeded with several minutes of witty banter regarding how they chose the name, and the list of things that were suggested, mostly Sanskrit jokes- when Malati interrupted and said, “can’t you just get on with it? I mean, really…..” the then Maharaja said, Ok without further ado- lets’ get on with it! Should I say something about diksa, Malati? it was unanimous- he gave an amazing lecture lasting for 45 minutes.

 

then he gave me my vows
I said that I would abstain from Illicit Sex, Intoxication, Meat eating and Gambling… And I vowed that I would chant a minimum of 16 rounds of the Maha-mantra everyday. Rati helped me by putting on my neckbeads…

 

Acaryadeva gave me my beads and my name, saying… “drum roll please… your name will be Mahalakshmi devi dasi“- chuckling- he said,”get it? mega-bucks!”( So afterward, I asked Garuda, so what where the other choices? He said, “well Maharaja wanted to name you Shirley, but I wanted Good-golly-miss-molly.”) I looked at Malati, and it appeared as though a sigh of relief had come across her face when He said my name… Mahalakshmi…

We had a lot of fun. We joked around for a while, took prasadam, and later Maharaja and Yaitza played the overture to Handel’s Messiah. Maharaja played a Casio key board brought by Rukmavati (no piano was available). Maharaja and Yaitza played other pieces, Garuda said it was “SSOOOOOO BAAAAAADDDD!” and “The worst he had ever heard”- he had only thought about jumping out the window three or four times… And then Srila Acaryadeva said, Mahalakshmi tell your Uncle Birdie to shut up… and then we had an estatic kirtan.