Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Bravery amongst the Monks and Devotees

Downtown - Toronto, Ontario

Nasty might be the best way to describe the weather of this day. It was overcast, cold rain with wind whipping around corners of buildings. Our group of chanters took shelter of some awnings anchored off The Bay building, a popular shopping store. The public rather liked the chanting and to some extent expressed their approval of our bravery in doing what we were doing. I had the privilege to lead in the chanting.

One of our girls, Shyama-Mohini, demonstrated her loving boldness by approaching cab drivers that would naturally stop in front of The Bay. Cab drivers are one group of career people who are rather receptive to listen to difficult concepts.

Taking the lead of a second party of chanting promoters was our guest, Vaisesika from San Jose. He and seven other troupers, if you will, entered a lower income bracket building on this dreary day and went door to door. The intent was to show a BBT book about spiritual philosophy. One elderly Vietnamese women courageously opened her door only to be greeted by 8 people with tall 6‘ 2” Vaisesika as the alpha male determined to deliver a smile and behind it a book of such value that gold cannot buy. She took their visit as a blessing and accepted the book followed by her donation.

After sometime Vaisesika’s party merged with ours for additional mantra power. When it came time to disperse I decided to walk back to get some daily exercise in. It became a contemplation time so I reflected on the topic of boldness, an issue Vaisesika brought up over breakfast. It was a relief to hear that in our ashram in San Diego a determined Mahatattva, a monk also of tall stature discourages the use of words like “lord”, “sin” and “preach” in formal talks. There are other words on his list.

For years I have cowered at the word "preach" as a part of a discourse and when the words comes up at a GM meeting I feel like running out of the room ( I just may threaten to do so in the future). Why? Well it’s so terribly Victorian old school dated evangelically fanatical and condescending. The word “Lord” an adjective to denote an honorific title is not worthy of someone with a status like Krishna. Here again you have a word which implies something imperialistic. It may be a word that worked 100 years ago but it “ain't” working anymore (pardon my English).

I admire the tall monk from San Diego for his boldness in boycotting such obsolete terms in his ashram. Boldness had come to my thoughts. And then I thought of our guru, Srila Prabhupada and his bravery in taking the risk of a sea-sickeness journey at a prime 70 years of age.

That’s inspiring! It’s all bravery!

4 KM