Saturday,
September 3rd, 2016
Montreal,
Quebec
Full
Circle
After
a grand day at Complex Desjardins for a second consecutive day,
and after happily hearing Patrick Bernard sing and play out the maha-mantra from the stage, I decided on
my usual form of wind-down. I would walk
back to the ashram on Pie IX
Blvd.
That
meant, once I left the main entrance of the mall, I turned right on Rue Sainte-Catherine O. It also meant meeting the three modes of
nature—goodness, passion and ignorance, and not necessarily in that order. I now left what seemed like the spiritual
world.
Let’s
say, that from that entrance, in a relatively central core of the city, a large
volume of passion (rajas is the
Sanskrit term) can hit you in the face.
There’s traffic and people bustling. Not but a few blocks from there
continuing westbound, where streets are pedestrian-free, at the Gay Village,
there is another brand of passion. And
so Brhat, who comes here with chanting parties quite regularly, said of the
area, “The people respond here very well.”
Considering that it’s night now, that also stokes up the rajas power a bit more. Folks dress-up here in a rather non monk-like way.
Finally,
I come to more quiet quarters. Montreal
is known for its many magnificent churches, and you do pass the occasional
one. Ahhh! Here I have a feeling of meekness as I view their
towering stature. I also realize much
devotion has been rendered in such territory.
I’ve touched goodness (sattva).
Further
on, and the neighbourhood opens up to an ignorance element (tamas).
Prostitutes stand at corners until clients appear. Drugs, alcohol and depression join hands
together. This is apparent in general in
speaking about this neighbourhood. I
wish I could do something.
After
a sojourn, I turn a corner at Pie IX and
land myself in transcendence. Yes, here
is the ashram and the temple.
May
the Source be with you!
6
km
No comments:
Post a Comment