Houston,Texas
Blending Walking and Talking
Somehow or the other our quickly assembled drama troupe pulled off an appreciated "Little Big Ramayan". Then after the performance, as a way to wind down, I took to the sidewalk nearby. With me was Manoram, whom I've travelled with for several summers on the youth bus tour. It was a few minutes of time permitted to be kind to the feet, nay, the body. We went down a few quiet streets, as quiet as it gets on a Saturday evening in a Houston suburb. Turning a corner at a bar towards Shepard Ave, Manoram and I could hear dance music. The sound of voices and the tinkle of glassware for drinks. People are addressing their social needs, "said Manoram.
"Yes," I agreed. "Humans need the Lord to be sociable. It is the way we are. The question is, ‘Aren't there better ways to do it than taking substances?’ We are fortunate in our Krishna culture to be able to fulfill this need through kirtan chanting, through drumming and dance and great food.”
Manoram continued to express himself, "Through alcohol people drop their tensions, they are always uptight.”
“People have a lot of insecurities and don't know how to contend with it all," I said. "We all suffer from lack of inner strength. That's why people also feel the need for spiritual discipline.”
Manoram and I reached Shepard Ave. at Grace Church with its neon sign in pink lumination. And on our return walk we hopped onto a new topic, "How to make spirituality relevant to a public that's in a flux between happiness and distress – dualities?"
Our conversation went on...
The walk, the talk, blend well together provided it's a quiet street where you can hear each other speak and there's no eclipsing of conversation over the traffic. It's therapeutic to think of and for the world. Great way to end the day.
May the Source be with you!
3 KM
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