A Joyful Practice

Funkensonntag 2023 February 26, 2023

Many blessings to all, and especially to those observing Lent or “Forgiveness Sunday” during this “Season for Non-violence” and all other seasons!

Some elements of the following have been previously posted.

“Think of a space in your heart, and in the midst of that space think that a flame is burning. Think of that flame as your own soul and inside the flame is another effulgent light, and that is the Soul of your soul, God. Meditate upon that in the heart. Chastity, non-injury, forgiving even the greatest enemy, truth, faith in the Lord, these are all different Vrittis. Be not afraid if you are not perfect in all of these; work, they will come. He who has given up all attachment, all fear, and all anger, he whose whole soul has gone unto the Lord, he who has taken refuge in the Lord, whose heart has become purified, with whatsoever desire he comes to the Lord, He will grant that to him. Therefore worship Him through knowledge, love, or renunciation.”

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– quoted from “Chapter VIII: Raja-Yoga in Brief” in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 1, Raja-Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

In Belgium, northern France, and parts of Germany and Switzerland, the first Sunday of Lent is referred to as Funkensonntag. Sometimes translated as “Spark Sunday” or as “Bonfire Sunday,” it is a day when people build Lenten (bon)fires in order to burn their Christmas trees and other debris left over from winter. Effigies of the Winter Witch and Old Man Winter are also tossed into the bonfires and thus the tradition becomes a way to welcome – even hasten – the arrival of Spring.

In the Orthodox Christian traditions, which use a different calendar than Western Christian traditions, today is Shrove Sunday, the last Sunday before Great Lent. It is also known as “Cheesefare Sunday” and “Forgiveness Sunday,” which puts extra emphasis on fasting, prayers, and letting go of past transgressions, sins, animosity, and rivalries.

According to the Gregorian calendar, today is the anniversary of the birth of the “Man in Black,” Johnny Cash, who was born February 26, 1932. Since the “Season for Non-violence” word for today is “Listen,” I remixed the playlist accordingly.

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