Preparation and perseverance

For the goodnight today I began with the example of the preparation needed for making dosa or aapam in contrast to the little preparation needed for making upma. The former needs a longer preparation while the latter takes very little time to be cooked and served. Applying this to life, I told the Brothers that most things in life need long term preparation. For only then the results would 'taste' and 'be' the way they are supposed to be. Only such as these will have a lasting effect for we have been 'involved' in their 'making'. I also added that study and growth in spirituality (the former is very much a part of the latter, as far as I am concerned) is something that needs such long term preparation. No one just gets up one fine morning and is a bright scholar or a saint. These require daily and sustained effort. Only then will the resulting fruit be worthy and precious. Or else it would be like a dosa prepared with rice flour mixed just a while ago... it would be anything but a dosa.

At the temple

While I was at the temple the other day, watching the various ceremonies (waiting for the sanctuary to be opened after lunch), I was wondering what would be the reaction of several of my friends, if they were to be with me watching what I was observing. For some it would have been a great source of entertainment. Quite a few would have made some fun of it. There would be a sizeable number who'd watch the whole procedure for it certainly is a rare occasion. I also was observing Sai Ram, a Brahmin himself. He was all reverence and respect for everything. I guess, if Sai Ram were to get his friends to the Church one day, he would also find some similar reactions like those I had in mind.

Praise and worship...

Yesterday morning the readings were quite interesting and so was Fr Tom's homily. He focussed on the use - or abuse - of the tongue. Citing the Psalms and Proverbs, he spoke of the three vices accumulated due to the improper use of the tongue: lies, flattery and boasting. He was quite frank in sharing his experiences here at the seminary, where Brothers would boost him up, or flatter him for some petty permission or favour. He stated that all these three vices lead one to sin, the sin of selfishness.

Later during the breakfast Fr K.T. was laughing away saying, "Praise and worship" and I really didn't catch him till I understood the context in which he was using the phrase. He was using that phrase as a euphemism for the readings and the content of the homily of the day. Brothers are really good at this 'buttering'. However, they don't try it or even dare try it with some whom they perceive as 'hot' - their 'butter' melts, not the person!

Kids in the temple

An interesting observation Satyam (our driver) made while we were waiting for some of our group members to arrive and watching the inflow and outflow of people from the temple was the following.

Someone vows and someone else is tonsured! This was in the context of the numerous people who shaved their heads in the temple vicinity. More specifically, Satyam said this in the light of small children being completely tonsured. Certainly they have the least bit of knowledge as to for what they are loosing their hair lock. All that they know is that they went to the temple.

I tried my best to capture the scene but was unable to since we were caught up with the line and I could not go back. The scene here in the photo is that of a couple of families performing the pooja. Right at the end of the line, beside the parents who were busy and engrossed with the ritual, were two children who were the least interested in what was going on beside them. They were busy with their comics book!

Talupulamma Talli Temple

The other temple that we visited today was the Talupulamma Talli temple near Tuni. The temple is popularly associated with the blessings of newly purchased vehicles. On asking one of the Priests there we were told that Talupalamma was a local goddess who shot to limelight when people began to believe that she appeared in the present location where the temple is built and blessed all those who sought her protection for a safe journey.

No wonder all over the place, on every stone, tree, wall, door or pole one finds the registration numbers of the vehicles painted. They are all over the place.

The Priest also added that initially there was no water available on the hill and the

neighbourhood. Once the goddess appreared there emerged a spring which is since then perennial. The amount of water remains the same in any given season or time of the year. Furthermore, couples longing for a child too are a regular visitors category to this temple.

The temple itself has a good look from far and is picturesque - set against the backdrop of the hills and built at a height and in between two mountains. Another thing that I noticed and felt good about was the availability of waste bins in very many places. Even if people did not use them as they should, at least the temple authorities did make the provision for proper waste disposal. Huge trees too have been preserved and used as places under which the pilgrims can sit and prepare their meals.

At Annavaram

Today was quite a day... I escorted our staff (seven of them) for a picnic to Annavaram. For half of them it was a pilgrimage and for the rest it was a picnic. However, what's important is that they felt happy and nice about the day out. I did what I could, constantly reminding myself that what I think is 'picnic-stuff' is not on their menu of 'picnic-ingredients'. So I let them decide the place, mode, strategy and all things possible. I merely accompanied and financed the trip. At the end of the day, I gather that they were happy about the day out.

A few interesting things that I could not but notice of the place. (Of course, know that I belonged to the latter half of the group). There was more than just the sanctum sanctorum to view. Luckily there wasn't much of a crowd. And added to that the best part of the queue was that it stopped progressing half way through right where we were: it was lunch time. And so we waited for half an hour. That gave me time to view the pooja (ceremonial rite

) being performed by the Hindu Priests in the temple for couples. Sai Ram, tells me that nearly a 1000 Priests earn their livelihood in the temple campus.

The other amusing thing was that there was a longer queue to purchase the prasadam than to visit the inner sanctuary. Later having tasted the prasadam I realised the secret. Perhaps it will take a little longer for people to 'taste' the divine. thing was that there was a bigger queue to purchase the prasadam, than to pay homage to the God, Satyanarayana! Later having tasted the prasadam, I

That Satyanarayana is a god formed out of the merger of the Trimurti - the top is Vishnu, the middle part Shiva and the lower part of the body is that of Brahma. That's the first time I heard that.

(That's our staff: Appa Rao, Sai Ram, Satyam, Annapurnamma, Edulamma, Kasi and Paidamma)

The Kondadaba sky

A photo of our Community chapel and in the backdrop is the clear blue sky cut with a line of smoke emitted by a sonic plane which has been doing some rounds of the area of late. I wonder which is the nearest airbase for such areal maneuvours.

The countdown begins...

The countdown for the conclusion of the academic year commenced in one form yesterday when we began to dedicate a day for each of the third and final year students. Officially we close for the year on March 21, 2012. However, two batches (first and second years) will continue to stay and complete their exams and get back to their dioceses - or homes - for their summer vacations on April 12, 2012.

The idea of remembering and specially praying for the individual has some good thing about it. Furthermore, as a reminder and an added means of information, a photo and some biographical details of the concerned Brother are displayed on the notice board specially dedicated for this end. The second and first years have decided to get the necessary information and do the needful for this.

Of dogs and ...

The latest issue of the National Geographic magazine has the main article dedicated to dogs. It was interesting reading (as always) with the addition of the photos of the variety of dogs. However, what I really found very sensible and apt was that the last page of the article was dedicated to the 'common street dog' found in practically all developing countries, in abundance. The article aptly labels it 'no breed dog'. It made sense because this is the most widely known creature associated with the word 'dog'. The rest are mostly special cases! Last evening and this morning I 'escorted' our German Shepherd, Ginger to a house in Kothavalasa for crossing with their dog and everytime someone saw the dog in the jeep, they were all 'wow'. Children who frequent the Seminary and know Ginger, upon seeing it in the vehicle, would immediately jump with joy and shout, "Ginger." And all along the way there are hundreds of 'ordinary' dogs and nobody ever looks at them.

Yet that species is one of faithfulness and loyalty.

5 crores in five days?

At Pendurthi (a place nearly 8 kms from here) the whole main road and the highway junction is beautifully lit up with intricately prepared light arrangements. I'm told that it is the wedding celebrations of the son of a political leader. I was also told that he is spending 5 crores for a five day celebration of the marriage. What a colossal waste of money! Certainly only politician can do such a crazy stunt.