Saturday 9 August 2014

Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

Last Day

The last day’s visit to this extraordinary place in the Canary Islands was crowned with a ceremony.  Cuban born, Janardan, accepted his 2nd initiation this morning.  He’s a smart young guy and has won a scholarship for mathematics at the University at Madrid, he’s studying and teaching.  His accepting the brahminical initiation allows him some privileges in our community.  In Cuba and in Spain, people love when he gives a class in bhakti yoga. 

Both Yadunanda Swami and I spoke on the importance of brahminical input into human society.  Some of the points made are as follows:

1)      A brahmin aspires to understand both energies of matter and spirit.
2)      A brahmin is a visionary and shares his/her vision, working towards an improved world.
3)      A brahmin is a guru for the community and acts as teacher, trainer, guide, coach, mentor (cheerleader, even) in the spiritual sciences.
4)      A brahmin always endeavours to be clean, honest and see through the eyes of wisdom (shastra).
5)      A brahmin may be cold with himself, as in being austere, but is warm with everyone else.

While I took personal time with Janardan before and after the fire ceremony to honour his achievement, there were other people who wanted personal dialogue, this I obliged.  It did consume the day.  Also a final stop at a gorgeous plot of land that is the future site of a temple and cultural centre.  Before the ride to the airport, a small assembly of devotees had last goodbyes while we were reading quotations and memories about our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  In a sense the day was not complete because I found no  minutes to put on some walking shoes and blaze a trail.  My feet felt antsy going on the plane.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM (I’m embarrassed)

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