Saturday, October 18th, 2008 - Mumbai, Indian
A young monk (brahmachari) from Nepal offered to take me to Juhu Beach. There we found hundreds upon hundreds of people taking to the beat of the feet on the sands of Juhu. Waves from the Arabian Sea fold gently over the large bay expanse . There were ample greetings from walkers when they cast their eyes on our robes. They are familiar with us.
The hospitality is beyond compare at Iskcon’s Juhu, atleast for us visiting global facilitators or leaders. It’s not just the fact that most of us are monks, that attention or respect is commanded but whether we like it or not most of us are the elders. In India elders are given a reverential place in people’s hearts.
I pray that secularism will not put a deep hole in the culture of India as some values are currently eroding. I think of the image of a model, male or female, on the cover of a Parisian, poster or magazine and it speaks tons about fashion but about “me”. There is no room for “us”.
Family and communities are challenged the world over by the secular “me-ism”. It’s time to love again the people around you and love yourself less.
7 Km
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