Saturday, 10 March 2012

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Under the Moon
 
Toronto, Ontario
 
I can't say I'm disciplined for having taken to bed so early the last two nights. Jet lag forces it. The beauty of it is you get to rise early, to meet the good wakening air at 2AM and do that mantra meditation while walking the combined grid-and-curve streets of Rosedale.
 
This all happens under the moon - a full one, timed to lie there in sync with the appearance of the golden avatar.

The golden avatar is Sri Chaitanya, a second coming of Krishna. Krishna appeared at the end of a measured epoch called Dwapara. Then the age of Kali began, an approximate five millenia ago. Sri Chaitanya is Krishna returned. His birth, 526 years back, was noted to be like the moon in the sense of a cool emission over the feverishly crazy world of today.
 
Sri Chaitanya is also described as having a moon's complexion, bright and beautiful.
 
I looked up at that great disc. It is a watchful eye over the planet. It seems to acknowledge us while we generally ignore it. He follows you no matter how far you walk away. In my own perception the moon appears sad at times even though he's in his fullness. It sometimes looks as if he'll shed a tear. I'm sure he's looking down saddened at our behaviour.
 
Artists usually depict Chaitanya's face as round like the moon is now. He's never gaunt-looking. Artists also often capture a tearful Chaitanya who's feeling a separation from Krishna.
 
As I walked those quiet streets under the moon I passed by the odd solo pedestrian. I wonder if the moon was in their thoughts?
 
8Km

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