Would you reinvent the Sunday Feast?
Social · asked by user [] · 2009-02-06 · 1 answers
A recent article by Candidasa Prabhu (link not available, currently his site is hijacked) asks reader to give opinion on how to change Sunday Feast.
"So, using that picture of the typical guest, how would you reinvent the Sunday Feast with a fresh outlook, unencumbered by past traditions? Things that might be changed: name, time, music, types of events, sequence of events, physical layout of the room(s), decoration of the room(s), devotee numbers, devotee dress & accessories and devotee language & attitude."
"So, using that picture of the typical guest, how would you reinvent the Sunday Feast with a fresh outlook, unencumbered by past traditions? Things that might be changed: name, time, music, types of events, sequence of events, physical layout of the room(s), decoration of the room(s), devotee numbers, devotee dress & accessories and devotee language & attitude."
user [343] · 2009-02-08
Reinvent? It has already been re-invented or somewhat lost. When I first attended a Sunday feast back in the 70s it was like stepping into the spiritial world. The Temple and the devotees were surcharged with energy, the talks were amazing, they had plays/dramas, very kool kirtans and the feast itself was amazing. The prasadam consisted of rice, paneer subji, kofta balls or pakoras, chutney, chapati or puri, salad, sweet rice, gulab jamuns and a lassi drink, and when you tasted the prasadam you could taste the spirtual energy, you went home feeling charged up with spirtual energy. And of course the deities were amazing. I must add as well the devotees were so poor back then they went to the food markets and found half rotten pumpkins and chopped off the rotton half, and the rest was fine. But the bhakti, the simplicity, the sincerity and the focus seemed so different to what it is today.These days when I go, the few devotees I see appear to be somewhat morose or un-inspired, the talks are not very interesting, they give no feast at all, there is a restaurant where you can pay for your prasadam (which I dont mind) but it doesnt even taste like prasadam anymore and the dishes dont even seem fresh. The deties are still amazing and charged with spiritual energy (being non-different from their spiritual forms). That is all I go for these days is to see the dieties. I must also add this is my experience in my home town it is not necessarily the case everywhere.
The sunday feasts I remember before I joined Iskcon were amazing, they transported you to the spiritual world and going back to the karmi world created such a contrast for me that I decided going one sunday a week was not enough I had to join Iskcon and make this a 7 days a week 24 hours a day.
So for me I would love for people to experience that I did back in the 70s and these Sunday feasts back then seemed to be very much the same as what Srila Prabhupada first started giving at the first temple in the USA, the matchless gift shop he rented.