a few thoughts from the Toronto program, part 2

[Guest guest]

a few more thoughts, as I watch the Toronto Argonauts

CFL game (they're getting smoked by the BC Lions!)

 

today I've been reading Ananthasree's

http://www.ammaschildren.com/ blog.. also share her

post-Amma sadness and pain, though my experience is

not nearly as intense.. but my Amma doll's sari is

getting a workout wiping my tears.. fortunately I

don't get deathly sick during Amma's programs.. like

Ananthasree, i couldn't help but notice the number of

western devotees who seemed very pious, precious and

self-righteous, or on big-time ego trips.. had to

resist calling them on it, as i do have a low

tolerance for bulls***.. like the child in the story

who blurts out "but the emperor isn't wearing any

clothes"!

 

have to say I enjoyed being in Chicago more than the

Toronto program.. mainly because there wasn't wall to

wall seva as a card-carrying member of the host

satsang.. and it seemed more mellow.. rather than go

on to Iowa, I spent a couple days after the Chi-town

devi bhava hanging out in the Loop, riding the CTA,

taking in Taste of Chicago, and going to a White Sox

game.. nurturing myself with some non-Amma things..

also the weather during Amma's Chicago visit was as

perfect as it gets: sunny, low 20s© or mid-70s(F),

with little humidity.

 

beyond the amma post-partum depression.. the heat,

humidity and smog are really getting to me.. those who

came up here for the Toronto retreat no doubt debunked

the old urban myth that Canada has 11 months of winter

and one month of lousy snowmobiling.. this summer's

been too #%$%$ hot & humid! well into the

90s(F)..can't wait for September! fall can't come

soon enuf.. not only for the cooler temps.. I get a

blast checking out the new crop of Class of 2010

frosh.. college football games on Saturdays.. baseball

pennant races really heating up.. 9/27 Amma's

birthday.. even the High Holy Days (I don't go to

synagogue, but Rosh Hashanah and the first night of

Navratri often coincide)

 

if you recall my rant a few weeks ago about Toronto

becoming a decaying, crime-riddled, drug-infested

cesspool.. most of those who came for Amma's Toronto

program likely didn't see much of this.. unless you

arrived by bus or rail and took public transit from

the Greyhound terminal or Union station to the Parque

and/or Sheraton, your only impression of this city as

you drove in on the 401, 404 or 407 was god-forsaken

car-addicted suburban sprawl, endless industrial parks

and big-box malls, virtually indistinguishable from

any US city except for the occasional Canadian flag..

i have almost the same feelings for Toronto as

Ananthasree has for New York City.. to quote the old

Eric Burden & the Animals song "we've gotta get out of

this place/if it's the last thing we ever do!" ..would

move outta toronto in a heartbeat if I could (i.e. a

suitable job offer)..would be much happier in a

university or college town with enough intellectual

and spiritual stimulation, but without the crime,

drugs, decaying infrastructure and feral creatures

foraging on the streets.. Ann Arbor comes to mind, as

a native Michiganer.. i was born in Detroit, but

didn't live there long enough to become a Tigers, Red

Wings or Michigan Wolverines fan!

 

keval

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

on 7/29/06 9:45 PM, Mike Brooker at patria1818 wrote:

 

> would be much happier in a university or college town with enough

> intellectual and spiritual stimulation, but without the crime, drugs,

> decaying infrastructure and feral creatures foraging on the streets..

 

Move to Fairfield, Iowa. Or if that¹s too small for you, Iowa City. Or live

here and drive up there for cultural events. Fairfield is sometimes referred

to as ³Silicorn Valley.² Very entrepreneurial. You might find a good job

here. Cool place to live, IMO.