Friday, 28 December 2007

Virag: Marry Christmas

I woke up on the morning of the 24th thinking that this is the first time in my life, when I am not pressured to celebrate Christmas. I thought it is an interesting situation, lets find out what do I actually feel about it.

You would think that in India, where less than three percent of the population is Christian Christmas passes without notice. But as Kusum our host said, India understands secularity differently: they celebrate the festivals of every religions of India. So, when we arrived to the Prakalpa office in the morning, a Christmas card and a present waited for us. And a small Christmas tree. This was really sweet and put me right into Christmas mood for a couple of minutes, but the rest fo the day went normal. We had guests for dinner, so we made our effort to cook some Hungarian cum India meal ( I must say Indians are very peculiar about their food...my God, they want to put masala in everything!) and we received a real India 'Marry Christmas' cake. It was fun, and very very assertive of them to celebrate with us. We also lit candles and called the family: after two months heard their voice for the first time. It was a lovely day and evening with lots of love and caring, but I kept thinking: what is it that is important to me about Christmas? You can and should do this thorghout the year and not just Christmas. Is there anything beyond that at all?

We tend to forget during the feasts and shopping spree that it is Jesus who we celebrate. He is very important for me ever since I have seen and read things about him that were condemned by the Catholic church. The latest was from Sri Yogananda Pramahansa who refers to Christ as one of the greatest avatars, God incarnations and says that the great masters of India mould their lives by the same idea that animated Jesus the 'Yogi Christ'. So how should I celebrate him how could I reach him on his birthday? Through the thick veil of consumerism, fake filantropy and without the blessing of the Catholic church?

Yogananda says in his Autobiography that the outward manifestation of the omnipresent Christ consciusness is 'Aum' the Word, or the Holy Ghost: the invisible divine power, the only doer, the sole causative and activating force that upholds all creation through vibration. Aum the blissful comforter is heard in meditation and reveals to the devotee the ultimate Truth.

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you." (John 14:26, Holy Bible)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey virag
belated merry christmas....n yes when u r with vinnani(thats kusum for u)expect to celebrate each day,let alone festivals...and its a great thing that we indians could get u into ur christmas mood....
by the way remember me?.am moon..we met at vinnanis(kusums) place...

love you
moon

Kay said...

Hey.,..

Didn't we end up marrying Christ sometime too..
:)

I'll make sure to write a blog on the way we Indians commit the faux pas in writing the language..sometimes it just creates really funny situations..

Thanks for the Lovely dinner!!!