Friday, November 25th, 2016

Habana, Cuba 

Disappointing Points

At the Indian Embassy, Vijayalakshmy Sunderrajan had a chat with us shortly after we offered a gift of the thirty-volume book Srimad Bhagavatam, and she told us something about India.  Statistics show that India is No. 2 in the world in regard to diabetes.

“After?”  I asked her.

“I believe it’s the U.S.”

That wasn’t too pleasant to hear about for either of the two countries.  My heart goes out especially to Mother India.  And how we love thee!

Then Janardana, who was with us, remarked, “One report I heard is that, just ten years ago, 70% of India was vegetarian.  Now, it has slid down to 30%.”

That, I would say, is disappointing.  I believe that, in some way, India has been the champion for a commitment to dharma (obligation), and is envied the world over for its strong sense of spirituality.

Are these signs of Kali, the lord who reigns over darkness, infiltrating?

At one of the Cultural casas (homes) in Habana, I attended the function called “Namaste.”  The topic of discussion, led by Professor Maria T. Montes de Oca Choy, was the city of Bombay.  I also had an allotted time—a wholesome fifteen minutes—to promote the jewel of a text, Srimad Bhagavatam, to an audience of thirty-five people.

“India had for centuries been under the subjugation of foreign invaders, yet at the heart of Indian culture, bhakti (devotion to the Divine) has allowed for resilience.  It survived so much oppression.”  After my presentation, I pondered current trends in India.  It seems that a strong “me” culture can threaten and take the shine away from so many great values upheld for millennia.

May the Source be with you!

8 km

Thursday, November 24th, 2016

Habana, Cuba 

Tradition

It has become quite the tradition (within the nine years I’ve been coming to Cuba) to take that stroll along the seawall known as Malecón and to the Morro Lighthouse, which, according to local devotees, had been a look-out for pirates in the days of yore.

Four of us walked next to the wall with care.  The ocean’s waves tend to crash against that wall and create a major splash onto pedestrians, and in spots, to land four lanes over onto the major thoroughfare of Habana.

We passed by the U.S. Embassy with the stars and stripes flapping.  There is also the grand Hotel National, the place frequented by Mafia, decades ago.

“Such as Al Capone?” I asked Janardan, one of the native Cubans, but now running our temple in Madrid.

“Oh yes!”  he said.

History!

Well, I spent quite the time speaking with devotees of Krishna over the topic of a recent history, of some controversy, regarding the attire of western dress versus what some called Hindu dress.  Extreme positions had been taken, and I simply took the stance that you can privately, and now even publicly, dress whatever way you like.  I walk all over Cuba in an uncompromised apparel of swami clothes.  The public is curious, even respectful.

Our group also visited the Indian Embassy and met Vijayalakshmy Sunderrajan, who was clothed in traditional saree.

Evening time gave us the second opportunity for kirtan, and we sang in traditional Sanskrit.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016

Habana, Cuba 

Books

After a walk of a brisk nature, on Bloor Street in Toronto last night, I gave my sister Rose Ann a call, wishing her a Happy Birthday.

“Rose Ann, do you remember when in 1963, you and I had walked home from school together, it was announced that U.S. president John F. Kennedy got assassinated that day, and we were wondering what this would mean for the world in which we live—this crazy world?”

“Yes,” she said, “I remember it well.”

“Well,” I said to my 59 year old sister, “we’re still around.”

That indeed was an incident to remember.  Now, today, time did not allow for walking as I was in flight to Varadero, Cuba, and then in car to Habana for an evening sanga (gathering of talks and song).

It was interesting at the airport’s customs.  I stood in line for inspection while officers were looking at the various cereals a Canadian couple brought along for their stay in Cuba.  An official came and inquired about the box I had on the trolley.

“Just some books.”  He went away with a blank stare.  A woman followed and asked the same.  I gave the same answer.  This repeated itself with a third person.  Finally, I was called to a table of five inspectors.

“Books,” I said. “A set (of Bhagavatams) for the Indian Embassy.”  I was asked to open the box  With strain, I tore the tape off.  They looked and were amazed; couldn’t make head nor tails.  Then I said, “Yoga. Books on yoga!”  They nodded and said, “Si!”

I was cleared.

May the Source be with you!  (What is the force that compels one to do wrong?)

0 km

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

Toronto, Ontario

  

Seeing Those Before Me

In my humble opinion the following is worth repeating, an excerpt from our script, “Krishna Is” and it is a poeticized segment of the exchange between warrior, Arjuna, and wise Bhagavan (God). Author Bhaktimarga Swami.

ARJUNA:    Seeing those before me causes me to shiver.

  To lift my bow is as though I had never.

  Hairs stand on end, mind is reeling.

  I’m confused, it’s new, this kind of feeling.

 Sri Krishna, I just cannot fight.

 There’s something here that is not right.

KRISHNA:  Arjuna, you’ve lost your sense of duty.

                     A man of defense renounced a warrior’s beauty.

                     For the wise there’s a different point of view

                     Of eternity—no birth, no death—known by few.

                     Consider the world, which is full of duality.

                     Good and bad is its only reality.

                     The major point is to not lament.

                     The soul is forever, that is my comment.

                     Moving through bodies from young to old.

                     From old to young, the circle does unfold.

ARJUNA:    Krishna, what is the force that compels one to do wrong.

                     If you could please include this in your song.

KRISHNA:  It is desire, born of passion—then wrath

                    That keeps us covered and obscures the path.

                    Perform your yoga, and your sacrifice

                    For the creator and then all will be nice.

ARJUNA:   Krishna, yoga can be tried for controlling the mind.

                    But the mind is an instrument of a different kind.

                    I’m fine if asked to harness the wind.

                    But the mind cannot be anchored or pinned.

KRISHNA: Begin the process; take it easy and slow.

                    In the end, there’s freedom; the soul will then glow.

ARJUNA:   You are my teacher, mentor and guide.

                    It was no mistake to have you on my side.

                    I have come to consider about you there is more.
                    It’s your cosmic form I wish to explore.

KRISHNA: The form is manifest when we have the eyes.

                    Otherwise there’s the tendency to despise.

                    I reveal it to those whose devotion is clear.

                   When friendship is firm, I then come quite near.

                    It is surrender through service that is so sweet.

                    It is surrender that is illusion’s defeat.

ARJUNA:  Oh Krishna, my doubt is now gone.

                    I believe the fight should definitely go on.

KRISHNA: Arjuna, my song is old but alive.

                    You have your free will, but now let me drive.

May the Source be with you!

6 km