Chapter 14: The Sunday Service
During my childhood I went to a private Catholic school. Since I wasn’t baptized, they often told me I’d go to hell, but they endured my presence in the school because I was, or so says my father, one of the top students of the school. However, baptized or not, I had to go to mass occasionally… I believe those may have been the worst moments I spent at school! I don’t remember a thing of what they were like, but I do know that I dreaded those services: the threat of two hours of intense boredom on Sunday was worse for me than that of eternal hell for not being baptized!
A year ago, when I was already long set on dedicating my life to the spiritual path, my dad (who, by that time, was visiting us in Granby) was invited to a mass at the Catholic Church the Colombians of the town go to. Because of my strong spiritual inclination, I decided to give the Church and its services another chance! Unfortunately, I spent most of the service trying not to fall asleep; the best parts by far were the songs, but people sang dryly, with no devotion. After having the same experience again shortly after, in another catholic mass, I decided not to question anymore the wisdom I had acquired when I was a child!
On my visit to Ananda Village, however, I did look forward to the Sunday Service. I had no fear of being disappointed, because I knew I wouldn’t be… and I wasn’t!
When I arrived to the Hansa Temple (a little late) they were doing the Ceremony of Purification. In this ceremony, you basically write on a little piece of paper something you want to offer to God (my paper read, of course: “My whole being”, what a thrilling prospect!), or something you want to improve on yourself. Then, you step forward to be blessed by Guruji through ministers of Ananda, and finally you burn the piece of paper with a little candle there is behind the blessers, on the altar. I can’t tell exactly why, but found the ceremony charming and inspiring in its simplicity.
After the purification, we started to chant and/or sing. I cannot describe the difference between these chants and those I had endured at the Catholic mass! Here, everybody sang with such devotion that the power of the chants became almost palpable! My heart was so thrilled that my voice got shaky with emotion quite a few times, and an occasional tear managed to make its way down my cheek, those rebel tears I hurriedly hid!
Here’s one of the chants we sang. I did not know it then, but now it’s one those I sing the most often!
Thou art my life, Thou art my love,
Thou art the sweetness which I do seek.
In the thought by my love brought
I taste Thy Name, so sweet, so sweet.
Devotee knows how sweet You are.
He knows, whom You let know.
Once the singing ended, it was time for the sermon, given by Asha. What can I say? She’s a wonderful speaker, and she’s so funny! One can’t possibly fall asleep while she speaks, the total opposite of the ministers of the Catholic services I’ve been at! Asha’s sermon can be seen here.
The final part of the service is the Festival of Light. I’m afraid I can’t remember too much of what it’s about, however, because by this time I was fading off already (not because of the service! remember: this was on Sunday) and I could hardly understand anything of what was said. I did get into the line to receive a blessing, though!
Unnecessary to say: I left the temple with the feeling that this was something I would certainly look forward to every week!
Previous: Chapter 13: Sadhanas
Next: Chapter 15: Healing Prayers
