Temples & Totems
On Friday night I accepted an invitation to attend an unusual event. It was at the local heathen temple and some very saintly looking chap from India was in town for one night and would give one performance of meditation music – at least that’s what the brochure declared.
I must confess to feeling a bit odd and out of place as a friend and myself ascended the hill with this grand and interesting temple atop. I have those sort of preconceived notions that any nation who worships gods with lots of arms is bound to be a nation of pickpockets – so I left my purse in the car.
We were politely instructed to remove our shoes and take them to the Shoe Room. The shoe room was very smelly.
The man of the hour was late and I had plenty of time to observe the audience. Lots were in saris – most overweight women who probably could not have fitted with any comfort into anything western. The overweight women were mostly white – except for some Americanized Indians. There were the typical tend-to-be-skinny and liberal political activist white men with balding heads and ponytails. I had secretly hoped that there would be food to eat because I happen to like Indian food - I think about food a lot lately because my fridge is so bare. There was no food.
Finally, with the sound of singing and chanting, accompanied by a fellow or two with interesting outfits and hairstyles, the man arrived. People rose to their feet and I must say there was something rather Ghandi-ish about him that commanded respect. He certainly did look saintly. He tottered up to the stage (he looked very old) and sat on this big, winged white chair. He mumbled some sort of prayer and then closed his eyes and put his hands together for a while. I was in direct line of ‘fire’ and although I was seated really close to the back I felt a rather wonderful energy move through my body.
And that was where the magic ended. He began to play very odd look instruments very, very badly. So badly that I felt as though I was in school listening to the sounds from the 3rd graders music rooms. The poor chap may once have been an incredible musician but alas, no longer. But, then again, maybe I just don’t know that kind of meditation music. It was, however, cool to experience the whole vibe of everything and see the saintly man and all those funny instruments.
I did do some research on the web about this man and found his music - I think it was performed and recorded when he was a bit younger. Click here!
posted by Unknown @ 1:00 AM
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