Havana, Cuba
A Day at Lessons
It is yearly that I get to do a presentation at the Episcopal division of the university. I've gotten to know professors both active and with emeritus status, although their names sometimes escape me. The department head came by to listen. He approved. I was asked to speak on the relevance of the Gita. For most students, it was introductory. I highlighted two forms of mantra meditation mentioned in the Gita—japa and kirtan. I asked all to stand and to move with the sound of Ananda's drum and the sound of the mantra. I can say honestly that the students and teachers were ‘lit’!
The second opportunity for playing the teacher's role was once again, in the tunnel, the "Vivarta Teatro." In a unified effort, Prana, Ananda and I gave lessons, practically, in harmonium, drum and kartals respectively. We divided the tunnel space in three and carried on in teaching these essentials. Followers in Cuba have little access to training so it was very gratifying to see some progress made in this department.
Daily I make it a point to walk, and in the last two days it involved reaching our destinations by way of legs and feet while carrying our instruments. Walking to an area where supposedly you get wifi proved unsuccessful as far as getting connected and caught up with correspondence. Such is Cuba. While this may be a downside, optimism comes from the people themselves. You sit on a park bench and they come to you. One man, Eduardo Martinas, was trying to understand what I eat. With sign language—since my Spanish is weak—I described a pineapple. He finally got it. We had a good laugh.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
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