Monday, 26 September 2022

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Cleveland, Ohio

Kiss Your Face

“Let the sun kiss your face,” suggested Madhavananda, as we were in the water for a second day. The sun was bright. The water clean. Temperature perfect. We were catching that vitamin D from Surya (sun). Receiving a pat from Vayu (wind) — a soft one. Varuna (water) was circulating our blood and toning our muscles. All this at a place called Edgewater Park.

The real recreation, however, came from devotee-bonding in the form of a picnic. All the stalwarts of Cleveland that I know appeared on the scene under a designated tree with the best food that outdoors has ever seen. The seagulls were envious over the savories in the form of potato pakora, the famous nuggets from Agnihotra, and various salads.

More important was the kirtan to follow. Once fueled you have to discharge and do it right, so the drumming went on by Boris and others. I asked Dayal to take the lead in singing. After all he is the well-known Don Foose of straight-edge music. The whole group of us participated and it was a diverse one of Afro, Euro, and Indie background. So attractive. People came to stop, watch and join in. We were a community that drew the other recreationists toward us.

I had the blessing of talking to the group about Prabhupada’s significance to the world and, in particular, to the American people who were the first takers to Krishna Consciousness. Even for the talk some came to hear our message from a nearby picnic table. We all finally dispersed before the moon had a chance to kiss our face.

May the Source be with you!

3 km




 

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