Out and Late
Havana, Cuba
“Five or six years ago a group of over-zealous Krishna devotees while engaged in street chanting were rounded up by police and sent back home, expelled from the country,” so Janardan and I were told by a couple, followers of the Paramahamsa Yogananda Society. From which country the devotees came, it wasn’t so clear. The couple were quite excited though to see the saffron clothes and expressed their full appreciation for Srila Prabhupada’s books, “Rajavidya” and “The Science of Self Realization”. I anticipate they will come to see our program, a first time “Festival de la Coultura Vedica” on the 26th.
The policy in Cuba is that permission is granted to any cultural presentation provided one applies in the appropriate way. People do practice various approaches to spirituality here in Cuba. In the building next to me a Baptist group sang “Hi ho!” from Snow White’s the seven dwarfs in the afternoon and by the evening it was Christmas carols. One block east of where I stay, the Methodist Church opens its door on Sundays for parishioners who burst out songs in praise of Jesus.
A tenant below my apartment caught my attention on my way out walking. He introduced himself as an eye and throat specialist. In perfect English, he expressed that he knew I represented an ancient culture and admitted that his country could learn so much from the ancient tradition of India. One thing that Cuba can’t learn from India is to be on time for functions. Three of our performers came late for practice. Our Canadian contingent was punctual along with three locals, but the balance, well, I guess you joke about it a bit. It’s volunteer work and nothing is contractual. You can only quote from “The Gita” where God says, “I am time” and try to honour it. If anyone has a solid solution for the notoriously late, please share it with me. I would be grateful.
4 Km
No comments:
Post a Comment