Out With The Down And Out
Miami, Florida
For a change I decided to walk down the poor route. Right near Coconut Grove you have this enclave of low rental low real estate properties. There are even empty lots. Who in their right mind would invest in an area like this?
It was after the Sunday program at ISKCON Miami that I opted for a less comfortable, perhaps, less safe space. A place which doesn’t reek of money like the affluent shops and posh drinking joints of the Grove. Perhaps I was taking a risk in the dark like this passing by people on drugs, drink, or just being down and out. Somehow the test of this moment had me feeling more God dependant, and for this reason I was actually feeling not so bad off.
One woman who was quite high on something, followed me for some distance and began talking to me after having a loud conversation with herself. She was coherent enough and just asked which group I belonged to, so I said, “Hare Krishna.” That rather ignited her further on as she couldn’t stop saying the name over and over again. For others it was easy to get some little remark from them, “Hello”. I guess they see me as a minority figure as they are – a person of common ground. One young chap, however, just looked so ashamed as he looked the other way.
My stay at Virginia and Day Juncture at the ISKCON centre nearby, had been interesting. Louis Lumis, recently met one of our members. He had been homeless. Now, he takes his mantra beads everywhere he goes, feels clear headed, and feels joyful over the new turn in his life. Sergio also had a serious drug issue just a year ago. He came to our open house vegetarian feast and felt so good about his life slowly coming together.
At the feast where there was chanting and an initiation ceremony, I met briefly a broad spectrum of people, many of whom are professionals. Quite the opposite end of the social status that I had met later.
People are people, rich or poor, healthy or ill; they all have the same spiritual need. After all, we really are all very much the same, we are spirits. Thank God!
I would like to congratulate the initiates, Steve, has a new name, it’s now Sri Dhama, Anna is now Ananda Rupa, and last but not least, Tony is now Tirtha.
May the Source be with you!
4 KM
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