We got just a handful of visitors, but a couple very special ones!
A former student of mine from CCS (College for Creative Studies), appeared before me.
He graduated 2004-ish I believe. I was his teacher his Freshman year and we had kept in touch throughout his time at CCS. I attended his graduation from CCS. We kept in touch for a couple years afterward, however, it had been a good 10 years since I had last seen him or connected.
When I looked up and saw him standing there, it was as if no time had passed.
"CLARENCE !" I exclaimed.
I gave him a big hug
and I was so overjoyed to see him,
to see him anywhere would have been nice,
but to see him at VEGFEST - wow!
During my time at CCS, I would advocate a Vegetarian diet to my students.
In my digital media and animation classes (Flash based) I showed the Meatrix animation.
I showed it not only because I felt the techniques were relevant for the animation but because the content and message are so important, especially for young people to know about factory farming and how they can choose to NOT cause harm (practice of Ahimsa) to animals and the environment.
Clarence was accompanied by a beautiful young lady, Mishae, who may have been the Shakti behind his presence at VegFest. After I hugged Clarence, Mishae asked for a hug from me as well. A sweet soul. I liked her right away.
Literally moments later a young man approached.
He stood in front of me smiling and said,
"Do you know who I am?"
I replied, "from Baker College"?
I was THE full-time faculty teacher and CHAIR of the Graphic Design Department at Baker College in Flint from 1996-1999. He nodded yes.
"Cameron?" I asked.
He said Yes. So there stood two young men, who I knew when they were boys really, 18 years old, standing before me. They both, saw that House Of Yoga was at the Festival and made it a point to come see me. The three of us talked and reconnected.
At the end of the day,Clarence returned, because he had "one more question." This was always how he was as a student.
He said, "What's up with your name?"
I responded, "Durga Devi?"
"Yes," he said.
So I did my best to explain. The name was given to me, and "Shiva Das" to Dave,
about 2 years ago by Sharada Devi and Bhagavan Das who are our teachers of Bhakti (devotion) through Mantra.
I told Clarence that I have been having difficulty fully embracing the name as it is a huge responsibility. That Durga is the mother of it all! Everything that exists. And I wasn't sure if I could live up to that. Durga is strong, fierce, loving. One description Bhagavan Das uses is "She who takes away difficulty."
He looked at me and smiled. He said, "you are already doing it, they gave you the name because they see that, and they want you to see it too."
The STUDENT does become the TEACHER.
I was very moved by his sensitivity and insight and remembered why we had developed a special bond back when I was his teacher at CCS.
This was the highlight of my day at VegFest. And of course reconnecting with the ISKON Temple and Hare Krishnas!
I know I will see Clarence again very soon.
Sarva Mangalam,
Durga Devi
