Blog 21 - Blessing Day

February 1st, 2015, was the day the Universe decided to give me everything I could possibly need in a day.

At the Temple a large celebration was taking place to commemorate the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, a faithful companion to Lord Chaitanya.

My day started with my promised five rounds of chanting and meditation (before my mind began to wander and I fulfilled its desire to check my e-mails!!)

Next I was invited to perform morning arti at the home of Mataji while she prepared the ingredients for the mornings cooking. 

Everyone at the temple had been invited to make a selection of small dishes that would be offered to the Deities during the celebrations and then fed to the assembled devotees after the morning class.

Small pots of paste and spices were mixed and stirred as Mataji explained what we were going to do. I have no idea what the names of all the dishes are but at the end of an hour we had ten prepared dishes that were transferred into small containers to take with us to the temple.

We arrived with our containers full of food, to find the celebrations in full swing even though it was only 9.30am. The two bronze Deities of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityanada had been removed from the alter and were being loving washed in front of the congregation. Milk and honey were poured over their bodies before water was poured to rinse their bodies clean.

As I watched the brahmans perform their task with looks of pure devotion upon their faces, I was reminded of Lisa and Steve when they bathed Baby Emelia with such care and gentleness.

As the cleansed Deities were returned to the alter to be dressed, I sat on the floor along with everyone else to await the morning class.

A video of A.C Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada had been prepared for us to listen to as he spoke about the mercies of Lord Nityanada.

Film clips of him in the 70's filled a large screen as his voice narrated story after story. I was reminded of how new to the West yet how old from the East this philosophy is.

After class the songs began as congregational chanting filled the room.

Over the course of my life I have had the honour to enquire and engage in many of the worlds religions and one of the main thoughts I have become aware of is how similar they all are.

98% of the teachings are the same whether you are following the path of Islam, Buddha, Christ, Jehovah or Krsna.

The names we have given to God, the Creator or Creation in general, are human invented words that vary depending on what part of the world we live in. In the same way that a man is called by different names dependant of what land you are in. ….....

All religions declare there is but One God, the name may vary but there is only one god.

(Even in Hindu culture where there appeared to be many gods but there is still only One Supreme Controller, Visnu.)

All religions say chant the holy name. Whether it is daily on a rosary, or the 108 beads of India or five times a day intoning the ninety nine names of Allah, even if it is only once a week in a church or meeting hall, praising the name of god is said to bring peace to the heart. (even devout atheists have been know to say “Oh my God!” at moments of need, shock or surprise!!)

Being grateful for all we have, can take the form of offering food on an alter, saying grace before a meal, offering thanks on our knees or in silent prayer.

Sitting on a beach watching the sun set or walking in the hills.

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Looking at our new born child or grown children. All forms of gratitude for the things around us ultimately go to the universe and its creator (and that can be theoretical science for some).

Being kind and considerate of our neighbour is possibly the hardest request made in all religions and beliefs. We all wish to believe we are kind and considerate, that we are the good guys and it is the others who are wrong.

We all seem to believe that by being right we somehow know better than others, are superior and need to 'help' other see the error of their ways.

Our intentions may be pure even loving but our very concern can cause conflict and in extreme cases suffering for not only our loved ones but nations as a whole.

There are many ways to perform these services or duties, these are the doctrines that diversify the beliefs.

But at the core, the belief in something bigger than ourselves, is universal.

I was once told a wonderful story comparing religion to Vitamin C.

We all require Vitamin C to live. Without it we eventually get sick or in extreme cases, can die. 

But one person may adore oranges and eat them to excess, another person may like grapefruit just once a week, still another likes mangos when they are in season and grapes when they are not.

As long as we get the vitamin in whatever form we find appealing, we will be healthy.

As long as we have a belief system, be it a personal god or impersonal energy, spiritual or scientific, with the tolerance to allow each person their choice of fruit, the world will be a loving place.

The mood within the temple was blissful.

Down stairs in the large meeting room food brought by the large crowd was laid out beside the food cooked on the premises. 

A feast awaited everyone as dish after dish was served in generous quantities onto our plates. Even by asking for 'Only small please' I ended up with TWO plates overflowing with food, one sweet, one savoury.

As I took my place on the floor to eat I marvelled at the generosity of people. When everyone gives a little we all end up with a lot.

It was 1.30 when I eventually left the temple and headed to the airport to catch my flight to Langkawi.

The flight had been so reasonable that I had treated myself to a Premier seat at the very front of the plane. 

People gathered in the lounge awaiting our departure but as yet no plane awaited us at the end of the walk way.

Our flight was due to leave at 16.25 and at 16.05 no plane had arrived. I was going to be very impressed if we left on time!

At 16.10 a plane pulled up to the extending walkway and the usual flurry of activity took place as luggage was removed, the plane was refueled and passengers disembarked.

Being the ONLY passenger in Premier I was the first to board and was amazed at the speed at which the plane was readied to receive us. 

Within moments the rest of the passengers were seated and our departure was announced.

It was 16.25 exactly, I was very impressed!!!

I have never flown Premier class and I must admit it was fabulous!

Leg room to die for, seats that reclined so far back I was embarrassed to sit in such a lazy way for such a short journey and no-one else in my entire row!

I was fed banana chips and a drink and settled to enjoy the flight.

Being a day flight I was eager to watch the passing landscape from my lofty view point and was pleased to note we were following the coast up the side of Malaysia.

Rivers snaked their way to the ocean catching the sun in shimmering brilliance as we passed.

Large areas of red dust marked construction areas, rows and rows of fuel tanks were fed by tankers moored up at deep jetties with miles of connecting walkways.

Clouds dotted the sky and although I could clearly see the coast line, I couldn't work out where the demarcation line of the ocean and the sky was.

A large storm cloud cast a shadow far out to sea but even there the sky and the water blended together in a surreal merging of worlds.

An hour later we left the Malaysian coast behind us and headed out across the sea to the islands.

My arrival in Langkawi was even better than my departure.

I was first off the plane, I had an escort to passport control and was the first person through the gate!

As I had no bag to collect I was out of the airport in less than five minutes only to find a wonderful gentle man by the name of My Hadi Yusop awaiting me!

As the last ferry to go to Pulau Tebu had gone for the day, my hosts at the island had arranged for Mr Hadi to collect me and had arranged some accommodation for me. From our e-mails I had understood that Mr Hadi would simply be transporting me to a hotel near the harbour but within a few minutes we turned into the most amazing Homestay.

A wooden building, built on stilts, it was a place of incredible beauty after the high rise of Singapore.

I was shown a simple yet spacious room that had a shared bathroom and toilet across the hall.

This room was mine for free my host announced!

I was to make myself at home and tomorrow we would arrange for me to go to the island!

This sort of hospitality was more that I had dreamed of.

Soap and towel were laid on the bed, aircon, tv, tea and drinks were all at my disposal!

I was given a quick tour of the grounds and invited to relax!

I dropped my bag to the floor of my room and marveled at the gifts of the day. I had received a cooking lesson in Indian spices and methods, participated in a wonderful festival of colour and music, had eaten enough food to feed me for two days, had traveled first class to the most beautiful of islands and was now a guest of a wonderful Muslim family who wanted to care for my every need!

How much better could a day get?

I was about to find out!!

*****************

The lady of the house knocked gently on my door.

Was I resting, she enquired or would I like to join her while she went to the market to buy fish for the evening meal. Eager to explore the area I jumped at the chance to accompany her.

We drove a short distance to the market where we searched for the octopus she wanted to serve for the evening meal.

There was none but there was the most enormous fish on a table!

We scoured the market without success so she bought two other fish instead. During this time I had explained I was a vegetarian who didn't eat meat or fish. 

My host asked what I would eat that evening to which I replied some salad would be more than enough for me as I had eaten a large lunch.

We returned to the Inn to deliver the fish and vegetables to her husband and, still most concerned about what I was to eat that evening, she invited me to the night market across the road to look at the food selection there

Row upon row of street food was on display. Sweets, fish, fruit, clothes and sundries.

My host asked repeatedly if I would like to try each of the foods as we passed, her generosity and caring nature overwhelming me with kindness.

We picked up some spiced chick peas and some desserts before heading back to the house.

Again my hosts surprised me with their attention and generous nature as they offered me bottled water, cut up the foods for me to try and asked questions about my life.

Filled to capacity with food and attention I returned to the night market to take some photos.

I had been informed that there was no shop on the island and as I walked I made a mental note of the things I would need to buy.

Unfortunately I was also so full of food that the very thought of buying more at this time was too much.

I resolved to buy fresh in the morning and returned to the house.

In the outside kitchen area five men were busily chopping cooking and frying the accumulated food stuffs into what can only be described as an outdoor feast!

“Who will eat all this?” I asked looking around at the no more that eight people in the yard.

“Oh anyone who wants it”, replied my host with a shrug. “My cousin likes to cook!”

She nodded towards a smallish but solid man who was busily stirring some meat in a large wok. I smiled and sat back to enjoy the evening air.

One of the other guests from Kuala Lumpa joined us at our table with a large bag of mangos.

These she pealed and sliced before offering plates of the arranged fruit to every one around.

The mango was sweet and juicy and even though I was full I found myself taking 'one more' and 'just one more' each time I was offered!

I asked my host about going to the island the next day. Was there a bus I should catch to the jetty and where should I go afterwards.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed, “You will go with my cousin here”.

I looked at the small man still cooking away in the kitchen area. “He is going to the Island?” I enquired, “Do you know what time?”

“Ask him” she beamed.

I stepped forward to talk to the smiling man only to discover that he was here to help his cousin, (my hotel host), and his partner, (my workaway host) build cabins at the resort I was going to be volunteering at!

We would leave just after lunch if that was OK with me and he would offer me a bed, pillow and blankets at the resort in exchange for a few hours work.

He asked if I wanted a house or an open house to stay in.

I asked if he had mosquito nets, “Of course,” he replied.

“Then I would like an open house, ” He beamed at me and the questions of the world were settled.

I retired to bed at 11pm while people quietly ate food and talked under the full moon.

There are days when we are happy to be alive, there are days that pass without much thought at all, and there are days when we are aware of every blessing and wonderful act that passes our way and can truly reflect on how blessed we are.

Today was one of those days!!!