Friday, September 9th, 2011

Song on Street and Sand

Miami, Florida

The Hispanic Cuban boys danced salsa-like in front. Poised in front of them were the girls in an attempted two rows, with smiles, penetrated through the cafe and bar evening crowds at the Coconut Grove. Behind the dancers were positioned the rest of us boys in a subdued sway. As champagne, whiskey, brandy and beer poured out, either swirled around before consumption or just plain downed the throats of such enthusiasts, our parade presented another world. The maha-mantra pulsated with the drums. With the courtesy of Krishna I led the maha-mantra, "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" to which all of the processionists responding.

This is, of course, grass roots Hare Krishna stuff and it feels just downright great. We were stirring the crowds and adding flavour to the evening.

Once that was accomplished, over and out, Jim Goswami drove me to Harbor Island, a super-posh district, but what we could see was merely an occasional glow at the beach as lightning burst from behind the darkest of clouds in the night. There we chanted the softened version of kirtan, collective chanting. Japa is the utterance of Krishna names with the assistance of meditational beads. This is also a grassroots aspect of Krishna devotionalism. With great chanters of the past to remember - saints such as Bhativinod Thakur and Haridas Thakur, our day, or rather, night, was filled with their mercy.

10 Km