Wednesday 20 October 2021

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Yorkville, Toronto

Whistling is Okay?

 

When I made my way back to the temple/ashram last night on Hazleton, a young fellow in front of me was whistling away like crazy. It was a happy tone, like the ones you here guys do on an outside job in a joyful spirit. This whistler was truly in his own bubble and went at it for the duration of a block and a half while walking.

I was reminded of an incident in the Toronto temple back in the early 80’s, when a group of us were practicing some manner of whistling as part of a theatrical exercise. In the middle of our ordeal a Hindu couple burst into our room with the most alarmed look. They tried to stop us. “No! No! No! You can’t do this. This will attract the bhutas (ghosts).”

Okay, so we stopped making our noise and over the years I got to know that many cultures have this thing about whistling, especially in the night, as it attracts evil spirits. I suppose Hindus believe it. I learned some Slavic countries believe that whistling invites poverty. In the older British ways, perhaps derivatives from Celtic ways, ghosts would be aroused. Also in Turkey, there is a similar superstition.

On my walking through the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, I heard one man whistling to “When the saints go marching in…” while he was loading a vehicle. He seemed so upbeat and chipper. It didn’t look like he was fearful of evil coming. It was in the day time.

For myself, I never was a good whistler. I don’t have the wind perhaps. I can’t even blow the ceremonial conch properly. Woe is me! Anyways, I guess I won’t be guilty but I am lousy at whistling. I hope one day I’ll hear Krishna’s flute at some state, the ultimate source.

May the Source be with you!

3 km




 

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