Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Markham, Ontario

Involve the Experts

Devotion to the Supreme is an open expression of love. There are multiple ways to express it. There is a need to practically regulate the various expressions. Here’s an example:

Chaitanya the great master of chanting, out of his sheer popularity, was receiving many many offerings of personally prepared food by his followers. Upon receiving a prep his assistant was asked to store it and He would eat it later. As a monk Chaitanya regulated eating and did not succumb to the level of gluttony. He did not want to show disrespect to the cooks and donors so He procrastinated the eating. When the stalk pile of food increased to an extent that it was ridiculous and followers hounded the assistant for Chaitnaya’s opinion on the taste of their prep, His assistant became anxious. “I don’t want to tell white lies, that you had eaten and liked what they cooked.”

So Chaitanya agreed to sample the food and of course enjoyed the love of His people through eating what they had prepared. The job got done and “feedback” reached the donors ears. Thank God, the sanyassi (monk), Chaitanya, had a friend to regulate things expertly.

In relation to this story I have seen over the years many people come to offer their devotions to the various temples. In each community you have a number of people who all want to contribute to the temple’s décor based on individual taste. If there is no regulator you end up with a hodge –podge of interior decorations. Seeing this trend I had decided that one person or small committee be assigned to encourage the participation of others in their devotion to the cause but one decision must be made as to colour, accessories, ornaments, furniture, etc. otherwise you have a mess. So an artistic committee was formed and the matter was settled for the temple.

The evening brought us to the home of Subha Vilas where a few of us more senior devotees were asked to tell of vintage tales of devotion. Nostalgia seems to warm hearts.

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