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
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