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Our Virtual Ashram

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Western casual is fine. You 'have' to take something. Fruit is nice, as is a houseplant if it's a housewarming.

Thanks... we (my family) never went anywhere "empty-handed, even if an invitation says not to bring anything. I wasn't sure what. I like the houseplant idea.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
How so? I gotta hear this! :D
The two cultures I know of who, in my opinion, go overboard with hosting a guest, or bringing too much stuff when they come to your house, are the South African Hindus, and the Mauritians. (French plus Tamil, both do that) My friend would come by to give us a ride, and bring 5 mangoes, some lychee, some grapes, etc. If he came back that evening, he'd do it again. I'd gorge. Same thing here though if somebody passes. The house where he/she lived or was associated with gets so much food they have to throw most of it out. It's really nice and all that, but doesn't take into consideration at all what the individual actually wants or needs. If Boss dies tomorrow, I'd do quick cremation, than go on a very long drive to Florida or further just to avoid it.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I thought it might be that... we've known people too that would make you gain 10 lbs in one evening. :D
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I thought it might be that... we've known people too that would make you gain 10 lbs in one evening. :D
I find it perplexing actually. An actual good host (or store clerk, or car salesman) does what the guest wants, not what the host wants. We have some friends like that. Boss went sari shopping with one and she kept picking out saris, saying, "This is what you want!" If a clerk does that to us now, we walk out. I'm sorry, but I get to decide what I want. I'll leave you to decide what you want. It's like proselytising, but over material things rather than belief systems.

Must be an interesting psychological trait.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Must be an interesting psychological trait.

Strong personalities. Really. My sister is like that. When she tells you you'll love something, you will. Whether you do or not. :rolleyes: Most of us in my family have pierced tongues. Not from a tattoo or piercing shop but from biting them. :D
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Short term pain, long term gain.

Speaking of pain, and you know all about it, I put the back out again. It's a repeat performance. I was moving 6 wheelbarrows a day of dirt, and had stuck to that limit for quite awhile. Then a 'kid' (aged 40) came along last Saturday and just volunteered to help. So I worked alongside him for awhile, just to be encouraging. So after about 15 loads in a couple of hours, I'm feeling it. Next day ... well you know the story. Ganesha says I need 2 weeks or so off. So stupid, as I do know better.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Omigosh, yes, I do know. I've been getting some spasms lately. I hope you feel better soon. Definitely listen to the Lord and take it easy. He probably just gave your back a tweak to make you slow down... y'know, those little obstacles he puts in our way as well as removes. I think he's been sending me messages too, on the road. Lately I've been having to slam on my brakes a little more than I think necessary. All because I think I'm going just a little too fast and not really paying attention.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Omigosh, yes, I do know. I've been getting some spasms lately. I hope you feel better soon. Definitely listen to the Lord and take it easy. He probably just gave your back a tweak to make you slow down... y'know, those little obstacles he puts in our way as well as removes. I think he's been sending me messages too, on the road. Lately I've been having to slam on my brakes a little more than I think necessary. All because I think I'm going just a little too fast and not really paying attention.


I've done this to my back enough times to know better. Old hat. Good thing is I know it'll get better. It's also less painful than the other kind, which is when you jar it or twist it suddenly by stepping off a step, or into a hole. That kind(for me) takes longer to heal. I won't stop working, just slow it down.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I've done this to my back enough times to know better. Old hat. Good thing is I know it'll get better. It's also less painful than the other kind, which is when you jar it or twist it suddenly by stepping off a step, or into a hole. That kind(for me) takes longer to heal. I won't stop working, just slow it down.

Yep, He's warning you. Probably pulled or overstretched muscle, or even over-contracted it. I like the disposable hearing pads like Therma-Care. They last way more than the advertised 8 hours. The twisting is the killer. It's how I herniated my discs originally... snow shoveling... twisting under load. I have to tell myself I'm not 25 years old anymore. Then I tell myself to shut up, I don't want to hear it. :D
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Yep, He's warning you. Probably pulled or overstretched muscle, or even over-contracted it. I like the disposable hearing pads like Therma-Care. They last way more than the advertised 8 hours. The twisting is the killer. It's how I herniated my discs originally... snow shoveling... twisting under load. I have to tell myself I'm not 25 years old anymore. Then I tell myself to shut up, I don't want to hear it. :D

It's tough, being really active, coaching, landscaping, etc. I was gonna do the chainsaw trick on about 8 fair to middlin' size trees this Saturday. Looks like April now. I love the chainsaw. Makes me feel young.

Backs are funny though. You never really know what's gonna do it. This summer the neighbour gave me a bag of concrete. I thought it would be smaller (50 lbs) one, but it was heavier, more like 80, and I just walked it over here, back was fine the next day. So who knows? The priests have to do the kumbhams reaching out in front of the body. That has to be tough too.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
It's tough, being really active, coaching, landscaping, etc. ...

The priests have to do the kumbhams reaching out in front of the body. That has to be tough too.

I hear you... it kills me that I'm "not the man I used to be". :( But I can walk, so that's a plus. :)

The priests must be conditioned to it. I only recently started doing a full aarti with the panchaarti diya in my puja. Even though it's little (this is the exact one), holding and circling it for the 5 mins. of the song was making my shoulder sore. I seem to be getting used to it. It's a movement I never did, even in the gym. I also sometimes hold it with 2 hands. So, I think they're used to it. I see pictures of the gigantic ones at the Ganga Aarti at Varanasi. Those things are hyoooge and must weigh 1/2 ton. :eek:


51hRtQYGXSL._SX355_.jpg

ceremonia-aarti.jpg
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
And their hands go above the shoulder which will be more difficult. But Varanasi had a tradition of gyms (Akharas). Every child would attend one.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I hear you... it kills me that I'm "not the man I used to be". :( But I can walk, so that's a plus. :)

The priests must be conditioned to it. I only recently started doing a full aarti with the panchaarti diya in my puja. Even though it's little (this is the exact one), holding and circling it for the 5 mins. of the song was making my shoulder sore. I seem to be getting used to it. It's a movement I never did, even in the gym. I also sometimes hold it with 2 hands. So, I think they're used to it. I see pictures of the gigantic ones at the Ganga Aarti at Varanasi. Those things are hyoooge and must weigh 1/2 ton. :eek:


51hRtQYGXSL._SX355_.jpg

ceremonia-aarti.jpg
There are bigger ones than these. What's amazing to me is how efficient they can light them, and how they stay lit, as the wick bowls aren't that big. Beautiful imagery all the same.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
There are bigger ones than these. What's amazing to me is how efficient they can light them, and how they stay lit, as the wick bowls aren't that big. Beautiful imagery all the same.

I know... I have a hard time with lighting my little one. :D I have round wicks - they look like tiny onions - and regular wicks. It seems to take forever to light them. I can only imagine how long it takes to light the big ones that look like Christmas trees. When I use regular wicks I cut them to about 1” and roll them tight like toothpicks. It seems to make them burn better. But at any rate, those priests have a gift.
 
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