In the historic Red Square in Moscow, two notable landmarks compete for attention – the 16th century Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the 1930 Lenin’s Mausoleum. The issue of which to visit first is a quandary for both history enthusiasts and pilgrims. After visiting Russia a few years ago, I faced a similar decision during a short trip to India last week. The dilemma was whether to visit old friends from my activist days or pay respects at a lesser-known family temple.
The family temple was neither a grand place of worship nor widely visited. The surroundings were overgrown with weeds and moss, and the temple itself was unkempt. The upkeep of the temple was minimal, but it held significance for me as I needed to resolve some unfinished matters with the deities there.
The highlight of my visit was a chance encounter with an 11-year-old boy who assumed the role of a priest at the temple. His meticulous and skilful actions caught my attention, and I watched in awe as he carried out his duties with ease and efficiency.
I wanted to express the purpose of my visit to him, but ended up requesting him to bless some sacred items for me. Without saying a word, we exchanged the items and a nominal gift. This encounter evoked memories of another young girl I had met at a temple in India, who had taught me valuable life lessons in a short period.
After visiting various places of worship around the world, the encounter with the 11-year-old boy at the family temple made a profound impact on me. Despite his young age, he exuded an air of wisdom and responsibility that transcended his years.
His role as a spiritual guide and his Zen-like nature left a lasting impression, highlighting the stark contrast between his traditional upbringing and the digitised childhood experienced by many others. Despite not possessing any technological gadgets, it was evident that this young boy had a direct connection with the divine.
This unexpected and unique encounter underscored the significance of traditional spiritual practices and the wisdom that can be found in unexpected places.
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I have over 10 years of experience in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. I have attended numerous conferences and events around the world, and my work has been featured in major publications such as CoinDesk, Bitcoin Magazine, and Yahoo Finance.
