24 Aug 2008 Wiesbaden, Germany
Category: Nature
As you know from the last days in the diary, the Yamuna in Vrindavan is rising up and flooding parts of the city. Today I heard that it is still raining and the water level is increasing. In the Ashram they cooked lots of food today, made packages and boxes and went to the areas affected by the flood to distribute them among the people who have lost their belongings in the flood. The people grabbed what they could get, you can see this on the pictures. You can even feel that they really need it. It is very good and gives a good feeling that we can help them.
Today is Krishna’s birthday, which is called Janmashtami. It is celebrated all over the world by those who love Krishna. Lots of pilgrims come to Vrindavan to celebrate this day on his birthplace. There are rituals and celebrations in each temple, no, not only in the temples, in each house. They feel that Krishna is born in their house and celebrate it. I talked with my father, too, and we wished each other a happy Janmashtami. He was also in celebration mood and said: “Don’t worry about the situation of the flood. It is still raining but everything is okay. It is also written in the scripture: Yamuna was rising when Krishna was born. And when Yamuna touched his feet the water went back again. It will sink again from tomorrow, you will see, tonight at 12 o’clock.”
I feel very happy how Indian people cope with this kind of situation. Even in this kind of catastrophe they accept the situation and don’t panic. Here I see often, even in less critical situations, that people get stressed and panic. But today Vrindavan is in celebration mood even if the water in the streets. We also celebrated the birthday of Krishna here in Wiesbaden together with Thomas, Iris and an Indian friend.
I am very thankful to those people who helped in this time. We have also announced their names on the website. I would like to ask you again to contribute your help. Each cent or penny will be help for those who need it.
Click here to help and to see more pictures
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Tags:: Birthday, Celebration, Charity, Nature, Vrindavan, Acceptance, Flood, Krishna, Scriptures, Yamuna
3 Comments
Posted By Swami Balendu
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Happy birthday Krishna. I know many pray to him in this time of need during the flood.
Reply By Joseph on December 30, 2010 03:07
My gosh, that giant bin of chapati makes me miss the Ashram. The best and healthiest food in town! I send my love to all of you.
Reply By Becca on October 25, 2010 02:08
Swami Ji, I'm very glad to have been a welcomed guest in your home during the floods. It lightened my heart to be a part of the joyful relief you provided to your neighbors.
Reply By Korin Y. on October 25, 2010 02:03
Today was the last day of the school year 11/12. The children got their report cards, the olde...
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I personally like the God of nonbelievers more than the God of believers. He is a thought, a good thought, is in my heart and in my mind. I made him myself. I created him how I wanted him to be. He is mine. That is why I love him and why I also believe in him.
SourceYou learn in school how long it takes for light to travel from the sun to us and how much power it takes for a rocket to go to the moon. But still you believe that any man has the power to make gold out of nothing or harm you with his black magic?
SourceFull-time schools - are we turning our children into robots?
SourceMany people think of God as a very distant, unreachable power. For them God is not close and their prayers are very formal. A prayer is something special and can be in many forms, not only certain words. But you need closeness, your heart should be in your prayer.
SourcePeople have to develop their consciousness and stop killing animals to fill their stomach. They have a soul like us and god is in them, too.
SourcePeople prefer making religious donations rather than charity donations to secure a seat in heaven by giving to a preacher or temple.
SourceSave your energy by not talking when it is not really necessary.
SourceI have found my purpose and meaning of life simply in bringing happiness to others. This is what makes me happy.
SourceDon't force yourself to fake happiness!
SourceYour 'inner voice' is a combination of your feelings and your experiences, a way of your subconscious mind to tell you what would be good. It is nothing divine.
SourceAtheists have done something that is not very different from what Buddha has done – they formed just another group with a different belief, the belief that there is no god.
SourceWe need to learn to say no instead of having a formal attitude that keeps us from being honest and expressing what we really want.
SourceHow can gurus who love the material, silver and gold, call themselves Paramahansa? A true Paramahansa is not interested in wealth.
SourceReligious preaching is a performing art, not a divine act.
SourceIn western culture sharing is not important. People divide and own. This is mine and that is yours. This is my car; that is your house. It is the ego of owning something. There is too much individuality. Share with others!
SourceScriptures were written by men, in a male-dominated society, when war, killing and fighting was a daily occurrence, when people were tortured, women were beaten and slaves were being held. You cannot call that holy.
SourceIf you only drink in company but don't want to, realize that this urge comes from outside. Why is the outside controlling you and brings you into a situation that you don’t want? Be strong in yourself.
SourceSpirituality is not a hobby like playing the piano for which you sometimes have time and sometimes not. Spirituality doesn’t cost time. It should be natural. Why do you think you are only spiritual if you practice at least one hour of meditation per day and lots of Yoga exercises? You can be spiritual in eating, cooking and sleeping, too.
SourceReligion makes women inauspicious and depicts them as usable objects, as second-grade citizens who belong to men and should obey.
SourceNot any belief is good or bad, no person is good or bad and no place is good or bad. It is only your perception.
Source
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