I wouldn't know where to begin when entering

[Jainarayan]

Namaste.

You are right about the compassion and courtesy. As I mentioned in a couple of the posts while you were away, one of the priests in particular has apparently taken a liking to me. I see him most often. He makes a special effort to come greet me after the usual namaskars, and we exchange a few pleasantries.

Last week at aarti a few people cut in front of me for waving the light. So I just stood back, not wanting to be pushy. After all, that I was there is what God cares about. But the priest wasn't satisfied with that... as another person reached out for the plate with the lamp on it he noticed I had not gotten the plate, getting cut off by other people. He put his arm out to the person who was cutting in front of me, with a somewhat disapproving look on his face as if to say "enough of pushing this guy back". He motioned to me to come take the plate. I smiled and nodded to him and waved the light, passing it on.

I didn't take it personally that I was cut off; it only shows that people really are alike wherever you go. Rarely does anyone mean to offend, people just don't think. I think the queue, or "receiving line", as we say for approaching the bride and groom at a wedding, is a better way than just having people in a jumble. There were times that even after receiving prasad, people just stayed where they were instead of moving back.