Jubilation!

A rare and very welcome visit from Gopi-manjari and her family is expected this weekend.

Gopi was one of the 'pillars' of the Belfast temple for several years, before ruthlessly deserting us to live in America. She's still badly missed. So it will be a happy reunion on Sunday, also with her husband, Lalita-madhava and baby son, Madhava.

Gopi will give the talk at the Sunday Feast, this Sunday. As you might expect from the photo, her talk will be on the subject of Yoga - the relationships between the different kinds of yoga, and how they can be used to support the topmost jewel of Yoga - bhakti. Gopi will sit in a normal cross-legged position while giving her class.

Gopi teaches yoga in Washington DC and introduces her students to the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita and the practise of kirtan as an important part of their yoga practise. If you happen to live in Washington you can find her here: Hot Yoga.

So, come along, if you can, to hear Gopi speak. Lalita-madhava, will lead us in kirtan afterwards, for the refreshment of our inner selves. We look forward, as always, to seeing you!

Sunday, 17th June.

Class - 4.00 p.m.
Kirtan -4.45 p.m.
Vegetarian Feast - 5.20 p.m.

Krishna the Chiropracter.

Even a visit to the chiropracter can lead to thoughts of Krishna! On Monday I went to have the atlas-bone at the top of my spine 'fixed'. The atlas-bone is the very topmost bone of the spine, which supports the head; when it becomes out of alignment with the head, it can cause the whole spine to become crooked, which had happened in my case, making walking and sitting painful.

The treatment took only ten minutes, but I walked out of the treatment room feeling straight and walking with ease. And then I remembered the story of Krishna, meeting the hunchback, Kubja, in Mathura. She had offered Krishna some freshly made sandal-wood paste to cool Him down in the heat of the sun. Krishna was pleased with her loving attention and to reciprocate with her, He pressed her feet with His toes, caught her by the cheeks and gave a quick jerk which straightened her out. Well just see! Krishna was the first chiropracter!

And while waiting for my appointment, I read that the atlas-bone is so called because it holds the whole weight of the head, just as Atlas, in Greek mythology, held the heavens on his shoulders. I thought of Atlas, muscles straining with effort, oppressed by that great burden and compared the image with that of Sri Ananta-Shesha, the form of God as a many-headed serpent, who holds the Universes on the top of His heads. And does this so effortlessly, that it's described that the universe feels to Him like a mere mustard seed - He barely notices that it is there, only as a slight tickle on top of His head.

The contrast was amusing. I appreciated the understanding of God offered by the Vedas. God is mighty hard to fathom, but these images help us get an inkling of His wonders.

(Photos:top, of Atlas; below, of Vishnu reclining on Ananta-shesha.)