Monday, January 28, 2013

Shahnayee: A prayer for peace

I love congregations. Whether it be a prayer service, or rock concert. That feeling of oneness and unity for a single cause always gets me. I often feel we are living through times of great upheaval and strife; and finding simple, solemn, peaceful moments in the midst of this chaotic quagmire is such a welcome respite.

Last August, my aunt and uncle held a special prayer service for Y and me at the Vedanta Society of Toronto. This place has been one of those constants in the fluctuating timeline of my life. One thing I appreciate about VS above all -- apart from the people -- is the peaceful hush that always surrounds the shrine. Until VS, I had never been to a temple that truly exudes the power and grace of what we perceive as god, with a quiet but reassuring force. It is all goodness.

It was a short ceremony with some devotional singing, reading and a worship. But above all what really struck me was the kindness and generosity of everyone who attended. Y and I feel we got a glimpse of what our big day will look like, and it was a humbling one. All those people, came out for us. The positive energy was palpable. It was my first time experiencing something like this. Truly transformational.

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