Cuba's Alright
Havana, Cuba
Transportation to various sat-sang speaking engagements has been kind of fun. Vintage cars as cabs have been our way of getting around apart from the walks along the Malecon, Havana's north side sea wall. A 55 Dodge model took us from Matanzas to Havana and once arrived, a 57 Ford model continued the service, compliments of Iksvaku. They are not in a souped up condition and their exhaust sends black clouds in the air so it's a mixed triumph and defeat experience, but an experience nevertheless.
There are meagre hints of Christmas tinsel and Hanukkah celebrations hardly can be seen or heard, yet a party spirit pervades the atmosphere. The Ecological Park got busy on Havana's west end with families taking advantage of the green space. Kids are up in fashion in Cuba with the Emo look disproving the myth that Cuba is totally cut off from the rest of the world.
A modest group of 20 people formed a circle upon the grass at the park to undergo a session on 9 Devotions. Well received! The dominant factor we discovered about our group was that since our goal is to exit from this world for the other-worldly scenario, to earn this privilege, we need to get along with each other. A consensus was that we didn't want to see dissension, that as a small group starting up a Krishna bhakti culture here in Cuba felt they couldn't afford to have neophyte tendencies to disturb us.
A second meeting of the group was at the home of a mother, son and daughter in law. They are so eager to learn so it came natural and unplanned for me to introduce to them the mantras of the text, "Brahma-samhita". We sang and sang, "Govinda adi Purusham Tam Aham Bhajami" which means "I honour Govinda (Krishna) the original person."
Can I say one more thing about Cubans aside from their receptivity? They look in great physical shape.
9 Km
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