Thursday 17 March 2011

Monday, March 14th, 2011

A Different Place

Ahmedabad, India

It was 21 years since I came to this city. In 1990 the ISKCON temple was at the edge of town. According to Yasomatinandan, the general co-ordinator for the temple, there are now shoppnig malls in every direction, at each side of the building. The location of our centre is now in the heart of this bustling place in Gujarat.

Gujarat is that state in India which has the most affinity towards Krishna. I am greeted at the airport with a kirtan, a group of devotees chanting. It's hospitality from here on- warmth shown over top of the heat. It's 40 degrees Celsius. Yes, dualities are realities.

A high point of the day was the stroll with Travis. We championed an incredible 1.5 kilometres when our cab driver needed a break for chai (tea). A low point was when he drove over a dog. It wasn't the drivers fault. He was the most careful driver I ever had the pleasure to travel with. The dog did live according to Travis. I just didn't have the guts to look back.

I had missed the party of actors. They arrived after a two day train ride from Kolkata to Ahmedabad, the east to west coast ride. They endured the trip. I had instructed them to keep conducting kirtans on the train. And that's what they did. It's a formula for anyone on a tedious train ride or for anyone who's grounded.

My grand total for today on foot is a humble 2 kilometres.

2 KM

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