Inspired

10 Things that Rocked My World During the Festival of Inspiration '07:

1. Mahatma Prabhu's powerful presentation on keeping commitments and honoring vows. As a result, I have decided to get "re-initiated" (by the same Guru!) and re-new myself at the lotus feet of my Gurudeva. Oh, and I still can't shake that image of finally being face to face with Lord Krishna and Him saying "I don't know if I can trust you..." Blew me away.
2. Saturday morning kirtan-- Vish, Gauravani, Sarvajaya... dancing like I haven't danced in a long time... feeling the holy name in every aching muscle and drop of sweat.
   
3. Yadunath & Co. with their "Sense Enjoyers Anonymous" sketch.... priceless. You have not truly lived if you haven't heard Ekendra Prabhu's Bhakta Igor saying "Telewizion" or "Krishna should pop me like bubble."
4. Being in awe watching Gaura (as frontman for his band The Fews) belt out heartfelt, confessional, rocking songs.
5. The brief but undeniably wonderful time spent with Karnamrta... standing around outside a tent in the takes-you-by-surprise cold West Virginia night, delaying the inevitable, saying goodbyes repeatedly, wishing she could stay longer.
   
6. Seeing Balaramacandra walking around with a megaphone announcing $1 ice cream sales, and then getting bombarded by frenzied kids waving dollar bills at him.
   
7. Chanting circle and "japa-hoppa" with Caitanya, Mehek, Sneha, Gopisvari, and Krsangi.
8. Spending my birthday having a killer ekadasi feast and chatting with Parijata, my "sister from another mother" -- somehow she and I have a bond and a kinship that I can't really explain, but I think we felt it, even way back in 1996. She is my original communications guru, an inspiration, and a big sister and great friend in every sense.
9. Three words: Gourmet to Go.
   
10. Being around devotees that remind you, just by the looks on their faces, that it is possible to be Krishna conscious in this life.
    

(Bada Hari prabhu Bhagavatam class, Friday morning)


(Bada Hari and Ananta - inspired, and inspiring others)


(Anuttama Prabhu reps communications at the IC table)