First times

This started out as the first comment that I ever left on someone else's blog, after a day I was closing window on my desktop and saw how prodominantly others people comments appear on the original message(unlike facebooks discreet comments window) I then realized that my original comment would provide a good base for my own blog celebrating the first times.

Hearing  her story has reminded me of my first day in India, November 17th 1998 after hours of travel to be called from my bed, just I had set upon it for rest, by the Bells of Krishna Balaram Mandir. The persistant messengers of my Lord calling me to see Him, I didn't know where to go evenso I followed thier resonant ring until I found shadows to follow to the light. the short 6 months that I had spent in Vrindavan I had experienced more life than the 18 years that preceded it. I had arrived as an american and as the time came for me to leave I felt that I was now leaving my original place of origin, I vowed to return to my eternal home to live and reside not just visit very soon that day was 25th april 1999. It took 10 years, a full decade plus 3 days 28th April 2009 until i had the fortune to return, what was this fortune? to be stripped of all my wealth, pride health and plan for "MY" life, seeking shelter a dry shore to take refuge as I was cast at sea in the ocean of material existence battered by the repeated wave of reaction for my miss deeds. I returned again 7th oct 2009 to my my service in vrindavan and jaipur to the ashram where I now had responsibilites to a vllage I was now a values member I now have cows and a future herea purose that will always call me back. It amazes me to hear of the powerful transformations occurring in a parallel existance to my own, how Gods hands out His mercy to so many without ever being diminished by it providing every one their own localized experience of His Grace simultaneously. How we can pass some on on the street and and issue so many judgments about someone not realizing that in a way they are just like me, they know what i know maybe even better, as this was the case in june of this year, when I met the author of this fine article and her side swoop of bangs, I judged the book by its cover, and thus had missed this extraordinary story, an honest search for something real.