Friday, Febuary 28th, 2014

Mayapur, India

They Snarled

They snarled and growled.  I'm referring to dogs.  Then they, only two or three, would have a biting fight which would last as long as you could say, "Lassi!"

Stray dogs do enter the dham (sacred space), particularly when they have more freedom, at night.  This is regular routine.

On a dusty trail where I walk daily, a man fell from a tree and broke his wrist.  This is the time when sap is collected from date trees.  Like in Canada where we tap our maple trees to collect its juices in late winter, in India this local tree is tapped and its liquid is gathered in terra cotta pots.  Local men climb these rather smaller trees which are cut in sections for their easy access.  One man who's been at the tapping for years had slipped and fallen the tree's height, doing serious enough damage to his arm.

Such things happen even at the dham.

A young boy from our community was walking just outside our Mayapur retreat when a man on a motor-bike hit him.  It was another one of those injurious accidents that could have been avoided.  Such mishaps do occur.

Also, every year it is announced that everyone be cautious about bathing in the Ganges because almost every year some pilgrims whose intent is to cleanse in her holy waters, actually get swept away by her current, never to be seen again.  

Why I bring up these unfortunate incidents is because we are all living in the mundane world where bad luck is likely to occur, regardless of how strong your devotion is.  In fact, such testing times are ideal opportunities for faith to expand and grow.  The world is full of calamities.  These can be favourable in the execution of spiritual life, provided you take advantage of the wholesome attitude that goes along with it

May the Source be with you!

7 KM