I have written four posts about the monkey who is presently visiting Amritapuri. Early in his visit, he stole eggs from the western cafe. Since then, he has tried many times to steal more eggs. He obviously considers them to be a delicacy.
He hangs around the cafe even when eating food he has found in the vicinity.
My son believes the monkeys around the ashram are more bark than bite. If they show you their teeth, you should show them yours. If they growl at you, you should growl back. If you combine these actions with a stick, the monkeys will probably run away.
On this particular day, it was obvious that the monkey was determined to get in the cafe. It watched Satvamrita closely. He began to carry a broom so he could shoo the monkey away whenever it came near the door.
Watching Satvamrita. Looking for opportunity to steal eggs. Watching from stairs. Getting tired of this.
When it became convinced its efforts were futile, it started to yawn. Soon after that, it wandered off. Time to look for an easier place to get dinner.
Getting tired of this. Big yawn. Tired and bored. Even bigger yawn.
Vedavati is loving her new Samsung M10 phone camera. She used her macro lens when she took this photo. She was surprised when it looked like the flower was floating in the air.
Vedavati bought a new phone. That means she also has a new phone camera! She said: I am loving the new camera. Not so sure about loving the different style of spell wrecker.
This fall, Sreejit wrote a musical inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s Drum Major Instinct sermon. Chaitanya decided to use one act of it during the 2018 Amritapuri Christmas Eve cultural events. Sreejit played the role of a preacher in the performance. The words of the song that they used for the event was adapted from a portion of Dr. King’s sermon.
Sreejit as preacher
Here is the soundtrack:
The lyrics:
I know of a man about whom I’d like to discuss and maybe you’ll find that he walks among us
this man, you might know him, he was great indeed he needed not a PhD to help those in need.
Born in a small village his parents were poor his means were quite meager yet his intellect soared
and though his mind did roar the poor he still loved because there was no one he felt he was above.
there was no one he felt he was greater than because all were brothers and sisters guided by the Lord’s own hand
This is his story, he came to fight for the whole world ‘cause God was their birthright
This is his story he came to win he came to forgive the world of its sin.
This is his story.
He learned his father’s trade to build houses while knowing his Father’s plan to move mountains
at thirty he couldn’t stop talking – adamant – that all who could hear heard the new commandments
about a father who loved all his children and would cradle them independent of their wisdom
He never wrote a book, he never held office he never had a family, he never went to college he never owned a home, he never traveled more than 200 miles from the place he was born
with his words he rocked many boats – fearless – their egos he refused to stroke He did none of the things that the world would raise above all else and heap upon praise
but his greatness, was accepted ‘cause the Lord’s light within it was reflected
His greatness was protected ‘cause the Lord’s light within it was reflected
His greatness was protected because the Lord’s light within it was reflected
His greatness was protected because the Lord’s light within it was reflected
And when he looked at you he didn’t see social status When he looked at you he didn’t see black or white He didn’t see man or woman good or bad all he saw was his family in God’s holy light. When he looked at you… When he looked at you…
there was no one he felt he was greater than because all were brothers and sisters guided by the Lord’s own hand
This is his story he came to fight for the whole world ‘cause God was their birthright.
This is his story he came to win he came to forgive the world of its sin.
A few days ago, I stopped by a Naga Linga tree that is located near the student dining area in Amritapuri. I had taken photos of the same tree in August 2017 and September 2018. I snapped the photos below on January 3, 2019. There are more blooms on the tree this time, but not that many more. I wonder what month all of the buds are open. I sure would like to see it then.
I noticed that some, but not all, of the blooms were a brighter color than in previous years.
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”-William Shakespeare
Living, Learning and Letting Go 