Cementing Relationships
Another first today, mixing/using portland cement...just a few handfuls - I know it is toxic, but the insurance co. demanded I install railings, and I had no other options appear before me - so forgive this small eco  issue.

What I thought would be a real challenge, mixing/using cement, leveling the posts in both directions - securing them in place till the cement dried...turned out to be the easiest job to date on the porch railing. We’ll see tomorrow how it all worked out.

Then off to town. Laura, who was my real estate agent, helping me get this ashram location, told me a few weeks ago that there was a ‘Buddhist woman in town who was excited to learn you were moving in; she asked you to come and bless her house...you’ll know her house when you drive by.’’

Well today I was in town and it seemed like a good day to visit this woman. Sure enough, driving past a house, I noticed a radiantly beautiful Buddhist mandir (temple) on the front lawn, and a car with Tibet bumper stickers in the driveway. So I pulled over and visited.

Alberta (Mandir is her Sanskrit name), is building the most inspired temple (I’ll ask if I can post a photo of it). She is an extraordinary spiritual artist - her mandir, her car, her home - it is something quite special. She is someone quite special.

Her vibrant, colorful drawings include intricate details. She has a 35mm plastic film canister covered in lotus mandals, waves, and inside is a scroll with 13,200 oms for “Forever Blessing All Beings Everywhere”.

Turns out she was a student of Sri Brahmananda Saraswati (when he was still Dr. Mishra) - of Ananda Ashram in Monroe, NY. This is the same person who gave me a letter of introduction to my Guruji - they were guru-bhais (brothers), meaning they both had the same Guru, Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha.

So we were spritual family. Then she tole me something even more wonderous - that there were quite a few disciples of Sri Brahmanandaji who now live here in town. So lo and behold, I have spritual family 5 minutes away from my new ashram location! God truly works miracles when you align your wishes with God’s wishes for you.