The meditating cat.

In the living room yesterday, Gunther cat sat in the sun meditating.  I smiled when I looked more closely and noticed his tilaka on his forehead. I guess if Madonna wore a cross while wearing a bra outside her shirt, then I shouldn't scold the kids for testing cultural waters by playing around with the meaning of the tilaka.  If you think about it, who better to wear a tikaka than a cat who sits around all day meditating . He probably has had more deep thoughts than all of us combined. One thing is for sure, Miles the dog probably shouldn't wear one because he hasn't experienced much enlightenment in his happy go lucky life.  All he thinks about is kibble.  I have a friend that started meditating recently and she tells me she is seeing things more clearly now than ever before. This little view in my living room made me wonder about the real meaning of the red dot. I'll foolishly admit I had to go onto wikipedia to find out more about the world view behind the symbol. "The symbol of the tilaka symbolizes the third eye, or mind's eye, that is associated with many hindu Gods and the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment." I determined that it must in fact be a tilaka because Gunther is boy, and I think that only males wear them. What we see on beautiful Indian woman is a bindi, which I think signifies their marital status or a special event in one's life. But in the same way Madonna made the cross a fashion accessory, many Indian woman now wear it to be fashionable. I have a Facebook friend that I met at a photo seminar last year, who photographs Indian weddings. She has the most beautiful photos. When you see the brides in colorful attire with their faces and body painted in fantastic art, you are immediately drawn in by their vision of beauty. When I look at her photos, the bindi on the bride's head seems to draw you directly into the bride's soul.  I often find myself looking at her work trying to expand my own world vision. Perhaps someday, I'll get to see the beauty of India, but for now, the closest vision of India sits on my couch basking in the warmth of the sun through the window.  When you live in podunk, it is a stretch to understand other cultures from around the world.  Perhaps the next time we schedule a trip to Disney, we should reconsider and book the next flight Bombay.  For now, to Wikipedia I go to solve life's  many mysteries. 

Indian music about being aware of boys. I wish I understood the lyrics.