Evening in Gokul

Mother Yasoda said, ‘Child, when you take care of the cows far away in the forests or the caves of Govardhana Hill, and you see dangerous wild animals, then you should meditate on the ancient Supreme Person, Lord Narayana, and he will protect you.’ As Lord Krsna heard these words, it was only with great [...]

Non-Chronological Bus Tour Memories: These Feet Were Made For Walking

Also – apologies, I just realised that the short story I posted in this blog, was only draft 1 – sorry! The proper final draft is now there, as well as here: somu-draft-3.doc

Lotuses for Christmas!

A week ago, I found two things, that sparked a stream of memories from December last year. One, was the business card of a photographer called John Moran – the other, two lotus seeds, in an old tin.
Both were collected when I spent last year’s Christmas holiday in Alachua, Florida. Having gone on [...]

These Are Few Of My Favourite Things

I made a new set on Flickr of some of my favourite photos…I don’t have a very good camera, but over the years I’ve taken some that I really like.
Click to go to a slideshow of the set.

In case you’re interested…

Here’s what I finished today, for one of my creative writing modules this term. My poetry portfolio, including an essay on the haiku of Matsuo Basho and a reflective commentary on my own poems. Also, there’s a short story I wrote last year called ‘Somu’ about a momentous day in the life of a musician [...]

Book Distribution – Falling Off The Horse

Not a real one. A big, high, mental one with a beautiful shiny saddle and a braided tail. Yes, yesterday I did the first book distribution I have done since I was four years old (yes, I have the pictures to prove it).
The ambition to contribute in some way to the Christmas book marathon had [...]

Painting Lord Krishna – BBT Art Seminar 2007

For the duration of my stay in Vrindavan I was fortunate enough to attend the first ever BBT art seminar, taught by the legendary artists, Ramdas Abhirama das and Dhrti dasi. The course was run over three weeks in an apartment block, just down the road from the Krsna Balarama temple. On the first day, [...]

Ten Reasons to Be Happy

Since I came home from India I’ve been suffering from a bit of the old V.I.S.S. (Vrindavan Induced Separation Syndrome). So along with the winter drizzle, a general gloom has settled in. I feel barely any enthusiasm towards my university degree; demotivated, procrastinating like crazy every time I sit down to do some ‘work’. [...]

O Christmas Tree!

trnad api sunicena, taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniya sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready [...]

I Am Not My Hair

Several girls I know have shaved their heads completely. Hehe. I like that for a first sentence.
Most of the girls I know that did it gave up their hair at Tirupati in South India. There, devotees of Lord Venkatesvara ( Vishnu), surrender their hair in devotion to the Lord. The temple thensells the hair for [...]