with Sri Ganesh

- 24-07-08:

This morning as I was sweeping out by the gate, Vijayakumari, on her way to work, stopped to talk. She told me of the story of this shrine again – she is close friend, I think, with one of the grand-daughters or daughters, of the founder -; but this time, the undercurrent was very negative, as if to explain that, no matter what, this place is doomed… That even though Sri Ganesh’s stone image had been installed on the advice of the Shankaracharya of Kancheepuram (the previous one) who was the highest and most respected authority on Hindu lore and traditional knowledge, the man to whom this advice had been given had perhaps not followed it exactly, or else something else had interfered, with the result that the man died paralyzed and his son also died and the son’s progeny all had terrible troubles (one of the daughters was even burned to death by her husband, two others converted to Christianity, another died and the last – her friend – struggles through life… And to further underline her point, she went on to refer to Kusum’s agony – Kusum who, if she had been protected and blessed by Sri Ganesh as she should have, would have died a peaceful death – and to all the troubles that ensued and all the opposition I myself had to face… and therefore, it was only “natural” that, through the building of this new Highway, more destruction should take place… This, of course, has made me ponder and wonder… I tried to remind her of the difference between a superstitious, bargaining approach to the divine and an authentic sadhana, but she was, today, simply bent on proving I’d better be detached and accept the inevitable loss and karma…!

Sri Ganesh, You express perfect Balance And equality Always; whatever Happens within the Whole You integrate it

Into a new Equilibrium And the power

Of a new harmony, If only men would

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