RiversGrace

Navigating the Sacred and Mundane

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The Namesake



I went to see this movie alone last Friday. With ten minutes til showtime, only one seat left in the theatre. It's got my name on it. And I find myself sitting next to four people from the ashram. As I make my way across their feet I say, "You're Fred, right? I remember you from the ashram. 1989." He looks at me sort of stunned. "Yes, I was there."

Beautiful movie. I love Mira Nair, her eye, her depth and sensual clarity. If you liked Monsoon Wedding or Mississippi Masala, go see The Namesake.

Very poignant for me as the topic of my name is making strange things happen.

The next morning I drive River out to Stinson Beach, over the mountain from Mill Valley to the coast. I'm an hour away from home waiting outside a cafe for my friend when an Indian man walks up with his baby granddaughter. He tells me her name and I spell it back to him correctly. Surprised, he looks at me wondering how I am familiar with Hindi. "My name is Prema," I say, "I lived in India."

He wants to know where but I just say Bombay. He wants to know exactly where. I tell him the name of the village. He throws his arm up smiling and repeats the Sanskrit greeting of our teacher's lineage. He escorts me to his table to meet his wife. She asks, "Were you in India in 1989?" I nod yes. "Me, too. You look so familiar. I know I saw you there."

The joke is not lost on me. I start thinking about my teacher intently and suddenly meet two people from India in two separate locations. It's like that - you get hit over the head with synchronicity until it becomes ridiculous to wonder.

8 Comments:

Blogger holly said...

Whoa! One trippy thing after another this week. past and present split the seem until everything runs together. definately this is the time to be writing this story.

8:09 AM  
Blogger kario said...

The energy here inside this circle is just too much to ignore. We have conjured up some magic and so long as we are open to receiving it it will keep coming. I am so happy to be a part of all this!

Love.

11:01 AM  
Blogger Jerri said...

Synchronicity and the elasticity of time has been on my mind today. Then I come here and read your experience of it.

This story is incredible. But, as you say, it becomes ridiculous to wonder.

Blessings for the journey.

12:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, it's amazing how these things work, isn't it? I love reading your story as it unfolds... Love it.

And I will see this movie as soon as I can. I love Mira Nair, too. Thanks.

1:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeh, how many times do we have to get hit over the head before we "get it"?

And the circle goes 'round and 'round.
Love
Suzy

2:04 PM  
Blogger Kim said...

It's amazing when the universe does this! And even more lovely in your telling.

I loved that book and am looking forward to seeing the movie.

7:27 AM  
Blogger Carrie Wilson Link said...

I hear that! What starts as a tap on the shoulder turns into a brick to the head!

8:59 AM  
Blogger Monica said...

I love it. This is what I have to learn over and over and over again. Thank you, Prema.

11:21 AM  

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