KnotsBerry Farm Amusement Park

Today our trip was to KnotsBerry Farm Amuesment Park. It was pretty good. The rollercoasters were nice too. But after the second rollercoaster I went on I was starting to feel sick. The heat rose pretty high today. I felt nauseous and had a headache. Rollercoasters never make me sick I knew it was the heat that was doing it to me. So we had to stop for lunch which helped my stomach but my headache still lingered. Later in the afternoon I was feeling a bit better to continue. Before the park opened however, I chanted some rounds and even had my beadbag with me throughout the whole day. I even chanted a bit while waiting in line. I know amusement parks are definately maya so I tried to chase her away by chanting quietly.

There was one ride there that I love. It was called the Boomerang. This rollercoaster goes forward and backwards including going upside down at that. It is the same exact ride as The Mind Eraser at Geauga Lake. It brought back some good memories. Ghost Rider rollercoaster reminded me of the Mean Streak back at Cedar Point. Then we watched a funny western stunt show before we left which reminded me of the Batman Show in Six Flags when it was in Ohio.  So I thought this trip was okay for the most part and I still stayed Krishna Conciousness as much as possible and tried to have some realizations but I didn't have that many. I only thought that bringing my bead bag with me that has Krishna on it maybe the people there would see it and get some benefit just by seeing Krishna's picture on the beadbag alone. So I hoped I helped them in some way, even if it was only for a second.

Along the California Coast

Yesterday my dad and I drove along California's beach coasts. We stopped at quite a few beaches. The first beach we stopped at had a high tide so we could not go walking down there. But the funniest thing happened while we were over looking the water. Seagulls were flying pretty close above our heads, and while my dad wasn't paying any attention, a seagull pooped right on his arm. I ended up laughing. Somehow I knew that was going to happen.

Then the second beach we stopped at we got out of the van and went to take a walk on the beach. It was about a 2 mile walk up and down the beach. The breeze felt nice, it was chilly in the beginning, but warmed up later. There were other people there as well. We also watched some surfers too in the water.  But that qoute by Srila Prabhupada came through me again. I read that when Prabhupada was on his japa beach walk he pointed to the surfers and he told his devotees "Even surfing is maya." That was why I was hesitant on skiing because I dont know if Srila Prabhupada would have said skiing is maya or not too.

Then we stopped at a beach called Aliso Beach. We stayed there for four hours. I tried to make Radha and Krishna out of sand. I was trying to stay Krishna Conciousness as much as possible.  So Krishna was on my mind the whole time we drove down along the coast. I had some trouble on how I could make Radha and Krishna out of sand and I told my dad "One way or another Im going to make Krishna out of sand, and stay Krishna Conciousness" He didn't say anything really. But he kept teasing me about a tsunami coming in and stuff to mess me up which it did happen once when the wave came in pretty close and I had to start over. So I said to my dad jokingly "Hey you jinxed me!!!!!!!" And then he still continued to tease me about it, but Krishna didn't let him get away with it this time. I was able to finish my project in the sand for Him.

Then lastly we passed by Laguna Beach. I wish  I could have written down the address for the temple there. Had I known we were going to drive by Laguna Beach I would have gone to the temple near by there. So next year if I come out to California again I will make note of it.

Another Mountain Trail in San Diego

Just the other day I went on another mountain trail walk. It was a pretty steep mountain trail at that. The steepest one I've travelled. I had some difficulty with the steep hills due to my leg hurting me and it was kind of hard to breath as well but by the time we go to the top to where it flattened out I was able to walk easier. My dad and I took my Aunt's dog Mojo with us along on the trail. My dad let Mojo off the leash so that he can run around some. But half way through the trail, Mojo ran off! We thought we had lost him. We had a light snack at the top while we tried calling out for Mojo. Dad had to call my Aunt twice. She told us to keep calling for him. I called for him too but I also chanted some rounds too taking it a good opportunity to chant outside, over looking the view of the town down below. I also prayed to Krishna to help us find Mojo. The bushes smelled like mint.. I think they have wild sage out there. Finally my Aunt came to help look for Mojo who was still lost in the bushes out there. So we split up to look for him. About five minutes after we started on our way, Mojo comes running behind me. I thanked Krishna for helping us find him so that we could go home as it was getting late and the sun was setting. So we all got back safe and sound. Dad kept Mojo on the leash the rest of the way so that Mojo wouldn't go running off. The walk took about an hour an a half total but we lost an hour due to trying to find the dog. But over all it was a very nice trek along the mountain side.

Mangal Aarti/Not going back to my old life ever again

This morning I woke up to chant my rounds and watch mangal aarti on the live webcam. How I miss going to mangal aarti physically in the temple. It really does help to boost your spiritually energy by attending mangal aarti at 4:30am. Most people believe that getting up early is poison or hurting the body but it's not. If one goes to bed early and sleeps 6 hours that is more than enough. Meditating on Krishna( who is God) in the morning is like one's morning coffee. To help one get the day started. So I can see why caffeine is not needed lol. I woke up at 3am this morning, before anyone else at my aunt's house.

The only thing I miss is my service at the temple. It is NOT slave work. Working in a fast food restaurant like I used to WAS slave work and underpay,calling me all hours of the night to come in to work and taking advantage of me, and wasnt making enough to support myself. Some people want me to go back to the life I used to live but do they really want me to go back to living beyond my means? I didn't make enough money to support myself? All I know is restaurant work and I don't want to go back to work out there and having to worry about bills. My mother will not take me back in nor will my other family members.I am on my own. I am 27 years old and can make my own decisions I took shelter of Krishna(God) He is taking care of me.  I refuse to go back to my old life. Krishna got me out of living locked up in a house for 15 years not being able to see friends or family and living in a house that was surrounded by boxes and sleeping on an old mattress with boxes around my head that could have fallen on me, and that house was filthy at that. And people want me to go home to that life again? No way. I have more freedom now living in a temple to where I am free to travel and see the world where as if I went back home I cannot due to financial reasons. I can live a normal life even in the temple. Other people who cannot see this I am sorry for them. I am living a wonderful life as a Hare Krishna devotee.

Attending mangal aarti at 4:30am keeps me thinking postive and thankful for what Krishna has done for me and now I have to repay Him back by doing these services with love and devotion and I love serving Krishna. I can work at my own pace for Him.

San Diego Temple

Well I managed to go to the other temple near by in San Diego. This time I made it to the 12 noon Aarti. It was wonderful to see Srila Prabhupada and the Deities. It made me to forget about all the bad things happening outside the temple. I felt completely at peace once again. That IS where I belong is in a temple with peace and quiet and not being tempted to fall back into my old ways again which were very stressful. Living the life of a devotee makes one peaceful. Now that I look back Im glad I gave up all of what I used to do for a simple life and Im enjoying it. Its like early retirement for me lol. You got the freedom to travel and visit places as long as you want, you don't have to worry about bills hanging over your head. All you have to do is serve Krishna's devotees and Krishna Himself And Krishna will take care of us in return for the services we give Him with love and devotion. I feel most comfortable at the temple in Toronto with the devotees there and I can't wait to return back. I believe that is where I am happiest.

Anyways the day at the San Diego temple was very peaceful and quiet. I met a few devotees there and they invited me to have lunch with them. It felt so good to have prasadam from the temple again. I relished it. And once again Krishna knew I was coming because this time there was sweet rice!!!!! Krishna knows I love sweet rice LOL. Thank you my dear Lord Krishna for letting me have some of that! All glories to You! Sweet rice is my favorite type of dessert at the temples. I could have three or four helpings of it and Im bouncing off the walls ha ha! Its better than what most people do now days like drink and smoke...I can get hyper by just eating sweet rice which is pure and of course has only rice, cardomom powder, milk, and sugar, NO intoxicants like alcohol and all that other garabage people do now a days.

And outside where we were eating I got to see sweet Tulasi. She was in Her greenhouse. And She looked so big and pretty. Her leaves were so green and full as well. Made me happy to see Her. Tulasi is a very special Holy plant.

This thursday I am going back to the LA temple again. I will post more later.

My Visit to the Los Angeles Temple

I cannot tell you how very happy I was to be in the temple yesterday with devotees like myself. I felt like I could breath again because i  am around people who share the same interest with me about God and spirituality. At least in a temple devotees there love Krishna. And as soon as I stepped into the temple I sure did feel Lord Krishna's protection. Lord Krishna I know would not let anything happen to me. He's already shown me that He protected me on the way here to California when I was stranded at the airport but He got me through it. And if something did happen, He would be showing His mercy to me by helping me to rely on Him more.

I had gone upstairs to the gift shop first while I waited for the next Aarti service. I got a nice 10 inch murti figurine of Krishna and two books about Lord Nrsimahadeva. Then I went downstairs and had lunch. Krishna must have known I was coming...there was pasta for lunch lol! I sat in the Govinda's restaurant and there was another soooo very cute murti figurine of Krishna next to the table I was sitting at. It was the same place I sat at last year when I was there. I  just wanted to sit next to Krishna lol. Here is a picture of Him. It felt like I was sittign there having lunch with Krishna just like the cowherd boys used to do that.

After awhile I sat and studied the Bhagavad Gita for an hour looking for some comforting verses about being away from the temple and devotees. Im still going over Ch. 6 Text 30. That one seems to be the most comforting, so Im doing my best to try to see Krisnha everywhere since He is God and can see everything we do. I also wrote in my notebook as welll for my blog to post here to pass the time.

Then finally i headed into the temple. I chanted some japa  rounds and for a few minutes sat quietly enjoying the peace and quiet and the wonderful smells of incense in the temple. When 4:30pm came around, I anxiously went up to the altar doors. I was anxious to see Krishna's beautiful Lotus Feet and His beautiful Lotus Eyes. His Lotus Eyes do show a l ot of love to anyone who comes into the temple to see Him. It's very nice to see God in this way as a Deity since we cannot physically see Him with our materially covered eyesight. But Krishna is mericful and allows us to see Him in this form. He can appear in any form He wishes.

When the doors opened I found that the Deities were wearing a very pretty green outfit. Lord Jagganatha was looking cute as He always does. Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda was looking very nice as well, and Radha and Krishna well, They just took my breath away. I stood there for a good 15 minutes taking Darshan of Them. Radharani looked so pretty with a gold trim around Her vail and she had a flower basket in her hand. I love it when She holds a flower basket in Her hand. And Krishna well, He always looks beautiful no matter what outfit He's wearing. :) Here are some more pics to show you:

Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda

Lord Jaggantha below here in this pic

And Radha and Krishna the Divine Couple

Also after the Aarti I was talking to a nice mataji there. Her name is Karuna. I wasn't sure if she was an initiated Prabhupada disciple or not. But she was very kind to me. She asked me what my name was, where I was from, and who my guru Maharaj was. I also told her I felt homesick being away from the temple and she said for me it's definately a sign of a devotee. I love being in the temple and I'd hate to leave it. I don't think I'll shall be leaving the temple any time soon after I get back. I'll be going back to the temple where I live but I have to get back to the Toronto temple as soon as possible as I am much happier there. I miss going to Mangal Aarti in the temple in the morning.Anyways Karuna Mataji had given me some Maha prasadam(food that was offered to God Himself) which was fruit and some sweets to take home I thought that was very kind of her. I hope I can see her again if I go back to the LA temple again.

Lack of Devotee Association This Week

Since I've arrived in California I've had lack of devotee association. I try my best to keep in touch with devotees through email and phone as much as possible. It is difficult being outside the temple where you feel different from everyone else and have to remain silent about beliefs. I guess Krishna put me through this austerity to force me to think of Him more and so far it's working. I've been trying for days to get to a temple, hopefully that will happen tomorrow by visiting the LA temple to fullfill my guru Maharaj's request.
I had talked to my guru over the phone the other day and he said the feeling of separation was good and that it also feels like a fish out of water. That's what I had felt like for the past week in a half. Like it was hard to breathe without being around devotees and seeing Krishna in the temple. But again Krishna is forcing me to think of Him more and to rely on Him.

Sometimes I have to learn things the hard way. But now I've been learning who I can talk to and who I can't and it seems only through devotees I can truly relate to. It's all a learning experience. We all commit offenses which is why we are here...to learn from our mistakes and try again. Believe me I've probably commited a lot of offenses but still Krishna is kind and has helped me to learn from them. That is why there are devotees who are more advanced to help other devotees to avoid commiting offenses, and to also to learn how to help others do the same. Devotees are taught to be as humble as possible. But there are many people who misunderstand devotees and take it the wrong way. But we have to take it as humility and a lesson to be learned for those who misunderstand devotees. I try not to preach to others because too many people would misunderstand me and take it the wrong way. I let someone who is in more knowledge and higher authority to preach since I am in no position to do that. Because since I have done that the less offenses I have committed.

So devotee association is very important because it teaches one to be humble, and live a simple and pure life.