Sunday, December 16, 2007

Sun. Dec.16/07 - Toronto, Ontario
Even though weather was restricting with a major snow storm warning last night a fair attendance made it to Meadowvale Theatre for the dramatical presentation of “Rolling the Dice”. You might say it was a gamble challenging the storm but will find brave people. I have always found extreme climatic calamity to be a humbling experience. Fatalities do hit us though. Police reported no less than six hundred car accidents in the area for Saturday night, and that is certainly unfortunate.
“Rolling the Dice”, was a catchy phrase that we used to utter to the nuance of unhealthy activity. There are usually calamitous results that arise from high stakes involved with the current casino craze. This story, an ancient one, is an excerpt from the epic “Mahabharat” and it does discourage such games of chance. In ancient India, Ksatriyas, warriors, were known to gamble as well as hunt, drink, and womanize. The more virtuous warriors kept such activities to a minimum level. Such was the nature of the Pandava clan who were obliged by invitation from their blind emperor and uncle to participate in what became a rigged game.
There is a world apart between lifestyles of monks and warriors and I, a modern-day monk, assumed the role of the blind Dhritarastra for this drama. I know that many of my acquaintances found a delight in watching their swami dressed in a fancy turban and Kingly garb and playing out a passionate role. Shammy Sohal as Duryodhana, Praveen Bakshi as Vidura and others did a splendid job with their parts. Feedback told me that the message was clear. Gambling is bad news.
Such reflections on the previous night’s performance struck me while trudging through deep snow. My walking partner, Jagannatha, a monk from Miami, was noticing the joyful play people put themselves into amidst the white fluff. It sure beats gambling.
2kms.