About Humility
Toronto, Ontario
I had asked a good friend of the Krishna Conscious Movement, an active member, Michael O'Regan, if he could prepare a presentation for the resident monks and sisters in the temple, to say something about the early days.
As part of his presentation, he read a poem he wrote while residing for some time with devotees. Everyone liked it a lot. Here it is! It's about humility:
"Ou Sont Les Humilities d'Anton"
Whatever happened to my humility?
I used to be so humble.
I was more humble than a stone,
More humble than a tree.
I could have won prizes for my humility!
In fact, and I say this with all humility,
I was one of the most humble people around.
I was so proud of my humility.
It gave me a secret inner glow
Just to know how truly humble I was
Compared to everyone else.
I revelled in the depths of my humility.
And it wasn't as if it came easy to me.
True, I had a lot to be humble about,
But then it isn't easy to become humble
When you're as wise and beautiful and
Talented as I am.
It took years of work.
I trod the wavy line between humility and
Humiliation, power and love, love and power,
And eventually I achieved my goal.
I had it all!
I was humbler than the humblest.
The earth was not low enough for me.
I was lower than the lowest.
I had reached the apogee of humility!
I could'a been a contender!
Then it all slipped away...
Where did it go?
Where did it all go?...
Michael O'Regan
12 KM
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
Toronto, Ontario
I was cautious not to put pressure on the foot. Doctor's orders! So at least for today I minimized leg movement. It is an austerity. Fortunately within the confines of the tempe building there are plenty of rooms with duty bound services in which to walk to and fro. There are stairs to climb. The distance between the rooms which are spacious become lengthy.
A shipment arrived from Quebec and in it's container the English version of "The Teachings of Krishna" authored by Pierre Corbeil (aka Visnurata) and published by IQ press. I had the pleasure to pen the preface. It was an honour to be part of a project that offers a synopsis of the 18 chapters with 700 verses of the sacred Bhagavad-gita.
In the forward, author Corbeil explains the purpose of this publication:
This book is directly inspired by the Bhagavad-gita-the "song of God"- a compilation containing the teachings of Krishna, faithfully translated from Sanskrit by Srila Prabhupada without changing their meaning as so many did before him. These teaching are of cardinal importance, and it is not our role to interpret the wording to our whims or our limited understanding. We should rather accept them as presented and try to fulfill our human mission, which is to reconnect with our spiritual self and cultivate the divine consciousness that will bring us closer to the Absolute.
I was cautious not to put pressure on the foot. Doctor's orders! So at least for today I minimized leg movement. It is an austerity. Fortunately within the confines of the tempe building there are plenty of rooms with duty bound services in which to walk to and fro. There are stairs to climb. The distance between the rooms which are spacious become lengthy.
A shipment arrived from Quebec and in it's container the English version of "The Teachings of Krishna" authored by Pierre Corbeil (aka Visnurata) and published by IQ press. I had the pleasure to pen the preface. It was an honour to be part of a project that offers a synopsis of the 18 chapters with 700 verses of the sacred Bhagavad-gita.
In the forward, author Corbeil explains the purpose of this publication:
This book is directly inspired by the Bhagavad-gita-the "song of God"- a compilation containing the teachings of Krishna, faithfully translated from Sanskrit by Srila Prabhupada without changing their meaning as so many did before him. These teaching are of cardinal importance, and it is not our role to interpret the wording to our whims or our limited understanding. We should rather accept them as presented and try to fulfill our human mission, which is to reconnect with our spiritual self and cultivate the divine consciousness that will bring us closer to the Absolute.
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Wart Souls
Burlington, Ontario
I hate to face it but there are about twenty-five planters’ warts that have taken hold of my left sole. When soaking my feet in water and submerging them for a good hour the crowns of the big and small toes appear to swell up to resemble cauliflower floweret’s. I had take a trip to the doctor in Burlington for his diagnosis. He had tackled my first wart ever in ‘96 on my first walking marathon, after a distance of 8,000 kilometers. Every other step on the right foot on that journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic was a step on a wart, which is a soul taken birth as a virus. It is a rather loathsome birth, wouldn’t you say?
In any event my doctor hacked away at Old Charlie Wart who made his appearance once again and took him out at the root this time. Good-bye Charlie and don’t come back! Prior to the dig, the doctor injected a freeze which required an anchor person for me to clench fists with. The prick forced out the name of God and it also pushed poor old Josh who was holding onto me in another direction. Subsequently we all had a good laugh including my driver Devadatta. To our pleasure one cauliflower was harvested for now and more gardening will continue until the field lie fallow. For now “stay off your feet as much as you can” said the doctor who will inspect the foot (which is far from looking like a lotus) in a matter of a few days.
3 KM
Burlington, Ontario
I hate to face it but there are about twenty-five planters’ warts that have taken hold of my left sole. When soaking my feet in water and submerging them for a good hour the crowns of the big and small toes appear to swell up to resemble cauliflower floweret’s. I had take a trip to the doctor in Burlington for his diagnosis. He had tackled my first wart ever in ‘96 on my first walking marathon, after a distance of 8,000 kilometers. Every other step on the right foot on that journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic was a step on a wart, which is a soul taken birth as a virus. It is a rather loathsome birth, wouldn’t you say?
In any event my doctor hacked away at Old Charlie Wart who made his appearance once again and took him out at the root this time. Good-bye Charlie and don’t come back! Prior to the dig, the doctor injected a freeze which required an anchor person for me to clench fists with. The prick forced out the name of God and it also pushed poor old Josh who was holding onto me in another direction. Subsequently we all had a good laugh including my driver Devadatta. To our pleasure one cauliflower was harvested for now and more gardening will continue until the field lie fallow. For now “stay off your feet as much as you can” said the doctor who will inspect the foot (which is far from looking like a lotus) in a matter of a few days.
3 KM
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Krishna and Cricket
Brampton, Ontario
I decided to walk from Woodbridge, a relaxed and well-kept residential community, to the Krishna center in Brampton with a passionate cricket player. If you can fancy that. I had my deep saffron on and he had his blue cricket team uniform on with his team’s cap and shoes. Where we drew similar lines was in the bead bags which each of us carried in the right hand. Motorists noticed. Some honked for the cricket sportsman, some for the monk and some for both. We engaged in personal meditation of chanting. We also broke into conversations, with my cricket friend a little over half my age he asked for some clarification on spiritual topics. Reciprocally I asked about the nature of the game cricket.
After fifteen kilometers which passed by like lightening flashed we terminate our walking together. I wished him well in the game with the hope to win while I proceeded to speak before the community of devotional enthusiasts. Incidentally my cricket friend loves to chant and for him to complete a round on beads is like making a winning strike.
I had come to learn that another member of our Toronto community was a professional cricket player in India (actually world famous) but he came to Canada to start a new life.
My conclusion on this is that you will find sportsmen who are also crazy about God.
The message in Brampton for the community seemed to hit a home run when we suggested that God is not just interested in your offerings of food, flowers, water, donations and so on. There is also an interest on his behalf to see your offerings of tolerance, perseverance, patience and kindness. The kind of stuff for a cricket player or anyone for that matter.
Brampton, Ontario
I decided to walk from Woodbridge, a relaxed and well-kept residential community, to the Krishna center in Brampton with a passionate cricket player. If you can fancy that. I had my deep saffron on and he had his blue cricket team uniform on with his team’s cap and shoes. Where we drew similar lines was in the bead bags which each of us carried in the right hand. Motorists noticed. Some honked for the cricket sportsman, some for the monk and some for both. We engaged in personal meditation of chanting. We also broke into conversations, with my cricket friend a little over half my age he asked for some clarification on spiritual topics. Reciprocally I asked about the nature of the game cricket.
After fifteen kilometers which passed by like lightening flashed we terminate our walking together. I wished him well in the game with the hope to win while I proceeded to speak before the community of devotional enthusiasts. Incidentally my cricket friend loves to chant and for him to complete a round on beads is like making a winning strike.
I had come to learn that another member of our Toronto community was a professional cricket player in India (actually world famous) but he came to Canada to start a new life.
My conclusion on this is that you will find sportsmen who are also crazy about God.
The message in Brampton for the community seemed to hit a home run when we suggested that God is not just interested in your offerings of food, flowers, water, donations and so on. There is also an interest on his behalf to see your offerings of tolerance, perseverance, patience and kindness. The kind of stuff for a cricket player or anyone for that matter.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
Easy Encounters
Toronto, Ontario
The chemical smell from the freshly applied floor varnish was too much to handle. I had to get out of the temple building. So out I went towards my destination of Victoria Park on Danforth ave. We are talking about, “on foot”. Of course.
A stationary cyclist said, “Hey those clothes are cool! I mean it! They must be real comfortable.”
Further on a couple of happy beer sippers sitting outside a bar asked for my attention. “I hadn’t seen you guys for a long time. I thought you closed down.”
“Not a chance”, I remarked. “We’re still around. In fact our second and third generation is proving to bear the torch we are giving them.”
“That’s good.”
“But pray for us” I requested as I handed out cards to the upcoming Ratha Yatra, an outdoor event. “We’re in trouble if the garbage strike continues and ferry operations are closed to get to the island.” They said they would pray for us and I thought that was extraordinary.
I also met Julian form Iraq. He was curious. “I got up at 1:30 am with my head to the floor praying to Allah. Were you up then?”, He asked.
“I usually am as a matter of fact”, I told him.
“Where do you believe God is?” he pressed on.
“Everywhere” , I responded.
“Do you really believe that”
“Yes”.
“So do I”, he said.
We shook hands and made friends.
My next encounter was a white man sitting outside at a café with his family. He beckoned me forward so I came close. “Do you have any literature?” Embarrassed to admit not having even the smallest pamphlet I could at least satisfy him with a card- an invitation to Ratha Yatra/Festival of India.
The greatest brief meeting of all was when some folks offered a respectful obeisance to the swami, me, at the start of a busy bridge. Their heads went straight to the ground. It turns out they just returned from a wedding and then while driving spotted the robes. They were from Atlanta and New York.
What a great day of encounters!
20 KM
Toronto, Ontario
The chemical smell from the freshly applied floor varnish was too much to handle. I had to get out of the temple building. So out I went towards my destination of Victoria Park on Danforth ave. We are talking about, “on foot”. Of course.
A stationary cyclist said, “Hey those clothes are cool! I mean it! They must be real comfortable.”
Further on a couple of happy beer sippers sitting outside a bar asked for my attention. “I hadn’t seen you guys for a long time. I thought you closed down.”
“Not a chance”, I remarked. “We’re still around. In fact our second and third generation is proving to bear the torch we are giving them.”
“That’s good.”
“But pray for us” I requested as I handed out cards to the upcoming Ratha Yatra, an outdoor event. “We’re in trouble if the garbage strike continues and ferry operations are closed to get to the island.” They said they would pray for us and I thought that was extraordinary.
I also met Julian form Iraq. He was curious. “I got up at 1:30 am with my head to the floor praying to Allah. Were you up then?”, He asked.
“I usually am as a matter of fact”, I told him.
“Where do you believe God is?” he pressed on.
“Everywhere” , I responded.
“Do you really believe that”
“Yes”.
“So do I”, he said.
We shook hands and made friends.
My next encounter was a white man sitting outside at a café with his family. He beckoned me forward so I came close. “Do you have any literature?” Embarrassed to admit not having even the smallest pamphlet I could at least satisfy him with a card- an invitation to Ratha Yatra/Festival of India.
The greatest brief meeting of all was when some folks offered a respectful obeisance to the swami, me, at the start of a busy bridge. Their heads went straight to the ground. It turns out they just returned from a wedding and then while driving spotted the robes. They were from Atlanta and New York.
What a great day of encounters!
20 KM
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
The Power of Association
Toronto, Ontarion
One of the boys in our community was having a bit of a substance abuse problem. Knowing of his culinary and gardening skills I thought,” here is a man of expressiveness and creativity. “If only I could engage him in the dramas for the festival two weeks away. Most people just need to keep busy and be enveloped in positive activities and especially if there is some latent talent there.
So I tried him out and gave him a script. His reading was natural, articulate and full of emotion. I thought, “A star is born!” He struck me that much. “Leading man material perhaps. “
It is relieving and exciting when you come upon a gifted person. The trouble he had from the start was being in bad association. From what I could see his parents are together and are caring and loving. So they were not the problem. It was just as the saying goes, “got mixed up in the wrong crowd”.
Most of us are like the chameleon - we take on the colour of our environment. Or to express it otherwise as put in the Bhagavatam that association is like a crystal which reflects whatever it is in contact with!
To correct the effect of bad company start associating with good company.
6 KM
Toronto, Ontarion
One of the boys in our community was having a bit of a substance abuse problem. Knowing of his culinary and gardening skills I thought,” here is a man of expressiveness and creativity. “If only I could engage him in the dramas for the festival two weeks away. Most people just need to keep busy and be enveloped in positive activities and especially if there is some latent talent there.
So I tried him out and gave him a script. His reading was natural, articulate and full of emotion. I thought, “A star is born!” He struck me that much. “Leading man material perhaps. “
It is relieving and exciting when you come upon a gifted person. The trouble he had from the start was being in bad association. From what I could see his parents are together and are caring and loving. So they were not the problem. It was just as the saying goes, “got mixed up in the wrong crowd”.
Most of us are like the chameleon - we take on the colour of our environment. Or to express it otherwise as put in the Bhagavatam that association is like a crystal which reflects whatever it is in contact with!
To correct the effect of bad company start associating with good company.
6 KM
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Mustard Seed Matter
Toronto, Ontario
In Bengal, mustard seeds are highly cherished for their flavour in seasoning while the oil extract is used for preserving, cooking and also as a massage oil and hair gel. On each fortnight of ekadasi, the eleventh day of the moon's wax and wane, devout Hindus in Bengal and some surrounding areas fast from grains and seeds of certain plants. Mustard seeds are forbidden to be used internally or externally on this day.
One of our residential monks hails from Assam, and spent time serving in our centres in India with Bengali monks. When one of our cooks tossed some mustard seeds in his prep, the monk expressed concern, "This is not right!" The communication wasn't the best. So the issue came to me and I spoke with the monk who works very hard, by the way, and with enthusiasm.
"My dear Prabhu (devotee master), our teacher, Prabhupada, asked his students to fast on this special day from grains, which includes corn, peas and beans. He never got so detailed to the point of a mustard seed. He was practical and always emphasized devotion."
If you travel to India, every district has its' own rules about this day. In some places, they abstain from spices altogether. That is not the standard that our guru gave us. I once asked one of his cooks, Yamuna, a lovely senior female disciple, about what standard our guru went by in dealing with this matter. Here's what she told me:
"He accepted whatever was the standard of the region he was in when it came to eating. The main thing he stressed was the devotion put into the cooking."
With that explanation, the intensive listener accepted and agreed to not disagree over any mustard seeds again.
"Our relationship development with our fellow servers is most important," I added.
For an evening wind-down walk, I came upon Michael Jackson fans singing and playing his songs with instruments. There's one called "ABC". The lyrics are simple. I guess people like it. Sometimes we just have to revisit the basics. Work on relationships and communication.
10 KM
Toronto, Ontario
In Bengal, mustard seeds are highly cherished for their flavour in seasoning while the oil extract is used for preserving, cooking and also as a massage oil and hair gel. On each fortnight of ekadasi, the eleventh day of the moon's wax and wane, devout Hindus in Bengal and some surrounding areas fast from grains and seeds of certain plants. Mustard seeds are forbidden to be used internally or externally on this day.
One of our residential monks hails from Assam, and spent time serving in our centres in India with Bengali monks. When one of our cooks tossed some mustard seeds in his prep, the monk expressed concern, "This is not right!" The communication wasn't the best. So the issue came to me and I spoke with the monk who works very hard, by the way, and with enthusiasm.
"My dear Prabhu (devotee master), our teacher, Prabhupada, asked his students to fast on this special day from grains, which includes corn, peas and beans. He never got so detailed to the point of a mustard seed. He was practical and always emphasized devotion."
If you travel to India, every district has its' own rules about this day. In some places, they abstain from spices altogether. That is not the standard that our guru gave us. I once asked one of his cooks, Yamuna, a lovely senior female disciple, about what standard our guru went by in dealing with this matter. Here's what she told me:
"He accepted whatever was the standard of the region he was in when it came to eating. The main thing he stressed was the devotion put into the cooking."
With that explanation, the intensive listener accepted and agreed to not disagree over any mustard seeds again.
"Our relationship development with our fellow servers is most important," I added.
For an evening wind-down walk, I came upon Michael Jackson fans singing and playing his songs with instruments. There's one called "ABC". The lyrics are simple. I guess people like it. Sometimes we just have to revisit the basics. Work on relationships and communication.
10 KM
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July1st, 2009
OM Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada became a nation as we know it in 1867. Today is the birthday and one of our able youth’s, Vrajabhumi who hails from the small town of Norwood arranged for four carloads of us Krishna enthusiasts to make the journey to Ottawa, the nations capital. There as every year devotees from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto converge to chant to the public in the midst of baskers, break dancers, marching bands and the like.
As soon as we arrived at the war memorial near Pariliament Hill I had a chap who works for the Department of Native Affairs say, “Hey I just saw you on T.V. last night, on Vision TV. “ To my recollection I had been interviewed at a studio in Vancouver last fall and that was what this fellow was reffering to. I recall before the interview I asked what kind of questions they would be asking?
“First of all we were going to bring up the topic about the charge laid against your founder Swami Bhaktivedanta on child abuse,” said the interviewer.
“Excuse me but our leader / founder is a clean as a whistle. I think you have your information a bit confused, “ I retorted.
“oh, well, I guess we’ll skip that one, ‘ said the popular broadcaster. He brought up another topic which escapes me now, but was one of controversy with Krishna Consciousness and some distorted view so I again declared, “That’s misinformation.’
“Okay, so we’ll also leave that one out.”
I had not seen a playback of the interview but in the end the show went well and so the response from the public in Ottawa confirmed this by people telling me so. In fact I felt proud to be in the company of singing and dancing devotees to a very participatory crowd making some kind of affirmation that Krishna Consciousness is not a criminal culture but a tradition of happy and genuine spiritual expression.
By the way the national anthem here is called, “Oh Canada!”. We have our version, “OM Canada!”.
7 KM
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada became a nation as we know it in 1867. Today is the birthday and one of our able youth’s, Vrajabhumi who hails from the small town of Norwood arranged for four carloads of us Krishna enthusiasts to make the journey to Ottawa, the nations capital. There as every year devotees from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto converge to chant to the public in the midst of baskers, break dancers, marching bands and the like.
As soon as we arrived at the war memorial near Pariliament Hill I had a chap who works for the Department of Native Affairs say, “Hey I just saw you on T.V. last night, on Vision TV. “ To my recollection I had been interviewed at a studio in Vancouver last fall and that was what this fellow was reffering to. I recall before the interview I asked what kind of questions they would be asking?
“First of all we were going to bring up the topic about the charge laid against your founder Swami Bhaktivedanta on child abuse,” said the interviewer.
“Excuse me but our leader / founder is a clean as a whistle. I think you have your information a bit confused, “ I retorted.
“oh, well, I guess we’ll skip that one, ‘ said the popular broadcaster. He brought up another topic which escapes me now, but was one of controversy with Krishna Consciousness and some distorted view so I again declared, “That’s misinformation.’
“Okay, so we’ll also leave that one out.”
I had not seen a playback of the interview but in the end the show went well and so the response from the public in Ottawa confirmed this by people telling me so. In fact I felt proud to be in the company of singing and dancing devotees to a very participatory crowd making some kind of affirmation that Krishna Consciousness is not a criminal culture but a tradition of happy and genuine spiritual expression.
By the way the national anthem here is called, “Oh Canada!”. We have our version, “OM Canada!”.
7 KM
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Heaps of Garbage
Toronto, Ontario
One of our members put it very bluntly, “The unions are destroying everything.” Referring to the most recent strike for garbage collection. “They are rascals,” said another acquaintance. “In such cash strapped times as these and receiving forty dollars per hour, how dare they.”
When perishable items remain hanging around stanching and taking up space it’s no wonder that tax payers start beefing. Someone else said that unions were formed to protect the worker but the times of oppression are by-gone and the situation has gone in reverse. The public is left at a stranglehold until negotiations unfreeze the strikers demand.
That’s the simple and one sided end of the story. It is a side that I have been sold on. Mind you much can be said about the public’s lack of thriftiness, being non-frugal and so very wasteful. I’m sure that you’ll agree that a monk’s message should always include putting out a good word for Mother Nature and it’s seed-giving Father.
I will give credit to the people of this city and many places with garbage strikes that they try to shove a throw away item into a city bin even though overloaded because strikers refuse to pick up the garbage.
Somehow in this world of discontent, this world of throw- out we have managed to do that with GOD-throw Him out. As I walk Yonge st. I’m saddened to see the pile ups and that the Wind-God doesn’t hold back on the distribution of trashed items.
The whole thing wreaks of greed. It’s stronger than the smell of garbage.
Will someone please light up some incense?
6 KM
Toronto, Ontario
One of our members put it very bluntly, “The unions are destroying everything.” Referring to the most recent strike for garbage collection. “They are rascals,” said another acquaintance. “In such cash strapped times as these and receiving forty dollars per hour, how dare they.”
When perishable items remain hanging around stanching and taking up space it’s no wonder that tax payers start beefing. Someone else said that unions were formed to protect the worker but the times of oppression are by-gone and the situation has gone in reverse. The public is left at a stranglehold until negotiations unfreeze the strikers demand.
That’s the simple and one sided end of the story. It is a side that I have been sold on. Mind you much can be said about the public’s lack of thriftiness, being non-frugal and so very wasteful. I’m sure that you’ll agree that a monk’s message should always include putting out a good word for Mother Nature and it’s seed-giving Father.
I will give credit to the people of this city and many places with garbage strikes that they try to shove a throw away item into a city bin even though overloaded because strikers refuse to pick up the garbage.
Somehow in this world of discontent, this world of throw- out we have managed to do that with GOD-throw Him out. As I walk Yonge st. I’m saddened to see the pile ups and that the Wind-God doesn’t hold back on the distribution of trashed items.
The whole thing wreaks of greed. It’s stronger than the smell of garbage.
Will someone please light up some incense?
6 KM
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