Toronto, Ontario
Fill the Day
The start of today was kirtan. The middle of the day also called for kirtan. Then at the farewell bidding of the day there was also kirtan.
Kirtan refers to the celebration of sound. For those few of us who reside in our ashram we have the good fortune to be attending the first of the day’s chanting session at mangal arati. A half a dozen people come from outside our building. Most of the residents in our area are $1 million-plus homes. It makes it hard for our community members to even consider living near their place of meditation. Again, those of us who are practically able, are lucky.
Most mornings Manoj plays a soft roll on the drum. Nick plays a sweet, light clang on kartals (hand cymbals). The rest of us sing making this all a glorious welcoming to the day.
My second and third portions of celebratory sound were at Bhakti Lounge on Dundas Street. For the guru, Srila Prabhupada, young members, all born after his departure in ’77, sang the standard Guru Vandanam and then proceeded with their version of what’s called Vyasa Puja. Each one of the hardcore members, numbering about ten came forward to read (from a glowy gadget) their own scripted words to express their thanks. When it came to kirtan time, I was frankly concerned the floor would cave in when these jumping enthusiasts and the singing and drumming made that floor shake a bit. Below us is a chicken-eating restaurant. I’m sure eating clients chewing on their birds would not appreciate some monk suddenly landing on their table.
The final kirtan for the day was at our 243 Avenue Road location, again this time with three hundred folks ecstatic with letting the sound of Krishna’s name be of a powerful force that pushes maya, illusion, far away. Wish you could have been there.
May the Source be with you!
7 KM
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