Toronto, Ontario
Dharma Protects
My destination point isn’t usually a tattoo parlour, but
it was today. Down the street I
went. I turned degrees, opened the door,
walked to the receptionist who said, “He’s in today, just go to the second
floor.” Up the stairs I ascended and
into one of the cubicles. There he was –
the chief.
Owner and operator is Cuban born, Jovany (AKA Jamuna
Jivan), who was my cook in 2007 during a walk through northern Ontario. He’s become adept at the artistry of
tattooing, and he’s in the middle of crafting.
And no, I’m not there to get a tattoo.
Monks in our order use temporary tattoos with something called tilak, an earth based substance which
washes off at each shower. And if not that,
the sweat will erase it.
Jovany was working on a young man’s bicepted left
arm. The design looks great, if I must
say so. The owner of the arm, which is
pivoted under a pillow with work in progress, is Faris, who hails from the
middle east. Jovany stopped his work
when he saw me and presented his obeisance right there in front of me, while he
uttered, “This is my guru.”
The two of us got to talking while Jovany kept working on
Feris’s arm with gorgeous armour like design.
Jovany was talking about life and its bumpy surprises. I indicated that if dharma is executed, then there is always protection. Feris then got into the conversation, “So,
what’s dharma?”
“To follow the duty which is natural to you. When a person is dutiful then it’s beautiful,
righteous.” I elaborated, of
course. Feris mentioned that he’s
originally from Dubai, to which I responded, “Oh, I’ve been there. I walked a good stretch one morning in that
city, but I was restricted from wearing my robes and had to settle for civies
(civilian clothes).”
Our conversation went on with me doing most of the
talking, and while watching the penning of ink into Feris’s skin. With one glance I noticed a poster of Ghandi
on the wall with a caption that read, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world
blind.” This hinted at karma, but our
talk stuck to dharma, which
ultimately leads to good, inherent reactions of karma.
Feris, the client, was listening intently. So was the chief, Jovany. I’m not sure that most tattoo parlours get
into deep discussions. At least, the
other cubicles seemed a bit mundane in spirit when I passed by them during my
exit from the shop.
It was a walk and a talk well worth being part of. I think I’ll browse around more in the tattoo
making department in the future.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
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