First day of the official opening of the new center with a well-attended inter-faith gathering of VIPs. I spoke on Gita 5.29. Somehow they started giving a garland to each of the (many!) speakers without having prepared enough garlands for *all* the speakers. So I rushed and gathered thread and needles, and flowers, any flowers, flowers from anywhere, flowers from the trees, finally flowers from some decorations on the very temporary altar (collected surreptitiously with my back to the audience), and gathered people and whew! We were glad when the Muslim Imam spoke on and on and on and on giving us time to make garlands! Everyone got a garland!! Lesson on how to easily turn a potentially favorable friend-building event into an ocean of bad feelings.... only honor some of the VIPs in front of all the VIPs! One young man from India (a country where they are very conscious of social position, respect, and insult) thanked me several times for saving the reputation of the center. I thought, again, how insignificant I am--when I am dead (like the rats body I saw on the sidewalk) the world will go on without any change. Somehow I get to sometimes be an instrument of the Lord. Grateful! And beautiful bhajans, at the beginning with harmonium and mrdanga, then with guitar and mrdanga, and then Indra Pujas lovely daughter Gaurangi did Bharata Natyam (which made me miss Campakalata Fiorentino!!) and then some prasadam from one of the restaurant chefs, and then the walk back to where I am staying. Walking on a Saturday night through the main street--Paulista--of Sao Paulo and todays a holiday. Typical major street in a major city. Dense crowds of mostly young people unencumbered by children go out to shop, eat, drink, and stroll in the warm weather. But the police! So many police in riot gear, many with shields, many with helmets and faceguards. Why riot gear? The street scene was as peaceful as any in London or mid-town Manhattan on a Saturday night. Why riot gear? Freaky! And, I realized why I saw that, um, interesting public display the other day near where Im staying. Its one of those neighborhoods. Ah, the advent of Kali! Multiply what Ajamila saw by dozens, and twist it too, tightly away from the good and pure. A good sight to encourage detachment from the world and aching for Krishna. On the positive side, along the side street to the apartment were so many fragrant flowers. Night blooming? Maybe, since I hadnt noticed them in the daytime before. I picked some to put by Govardhana as He goes to sleep. Good night from Sao Paulo!
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 00:05:31 +0000
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