Santa Clara, Cuba
Some Things Work
Not everything works
perfectly here in Cuba. All was set for
a yajna, a small fire ceremony, within a building
called the Video Club. Two followers of
Krishna were to be blessed with brahman initiation,
and one person, an aerobics/martial arts teacher, Denis, was to receive his
first initiation. Participants,
including two priests, were preparing themselves for the event, by changing
into the traditional dhoti, kurta and
chaudar. There was no change
room. All had to make due.
The toilet to the
building didn’t flush. No water came out
of the tap. The soap dispenser had
bleach water in it. The air conditioner
was out of order.
Just as we were about
to begin the ceremony, we were informed that no forum like this was to take
place in a public facility for nine days during the mourning of Fidel Castro.
The twenty or so
people in attendance were ready to adjust and move pronto
to Denis’ residence to hold the yajna
there. No complaints. Everyone was so cooperative, and the ceremony,
held in the back shed, was ermoso
(beautiful). Sarees were hung to adorn
the tin and barnwood slat walls of the shed.
Wool strings were used as make-shift brahman
threads for the 2nd initiates and Denis went home (oops! This is his home.) with a new Sanskrit name, Dhanvantari, the name of the avatar who
is known for his ancient healing powers.
The Krishna community
is growing at incremental paces in Cuba.
This is progress, as we see a pluralism of communities populating this land which
currently is undergoing a very slow birth rate.
May the Source be with
you!
4 km
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