Sun. Apr. 20, 2008 – Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia
This is indeed one of my favourite spots. It’s so peacefully set against the ocean and so rustic with a down home feeling. I had urged everyone along amongst our visitors to make it there for a mid-morning sadhana, chanting discussion and breakfast. Eight of us blocked ourselves from a coarse breeze while absorbing sun. the inlet within the cove was interesting. Two geese, likely males, of slightly different colouration had a remarkable battle in a contest for power. For several minutes they severely beat each other with harsh wing blows. As spectators we were awed by their endurance of strength. Finally on came out victorious proudly on with his swim while the other was made meek by the defeat.
In the evening spiritual enthusiasts came to the Halifax centre for Krishna Consciousness as followers of Siddha Yoga, the Act of living folks, Yoga teaches and people of no particular affiliation come to encounter a cohesion of culture. We primarily chanted. There was no feeling of bashing wings or anything of the sort amongst us. I guess humans can also shine at times, stay out of trouble and be good to each other. In fact Sunday is ideal for people to engage in mantra power. Even Maya, the personification of vice, would have melted amongst us.
Those of us who flew (by aircraft) for the weekend bid each other farewells before departing for the morning.
The doctor from Miami told us of how he had difficulty at the border and how at customs they were not familiar with Krishna Consciousness. He was questioned and questioned to a point of near exhaustion until someone from customs said, “Do you have something to do with the walking monk, the guy who walks across Canada back and forth?” Finally with this reference point he was allowed to enter.
7 Km
B L O G S P O T
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Sat. Apr. 19, 2008 – Halifax, Nova Scotia
It became apparent to me that people in Halifax like to see someone in roes. With a sleepless night I decided to walk off the sleeplessness at 3 AM while chanting on my beads to the downtown district. The formula that works here is get physically tires and mentally calm. As I passed by several busy events or locations where the young converge it was with some surprise that someone from the crowd would bow and/or offer a pranam (hands folded). Giddiness usually doesn’t allow for much serious dialogue but the odd person that was able to hold some sobriety did wish to talk and ask what I’m doing and why at that hour.
Some visiting devotee friends flew in this weekend from Miami, Winnipeg and Toronto to contribute to the “Golden Moon Festival”. Our practices for “the Gita” drama paid off. The performance went well. A local bhajan group “Suryabandra” were enchanting using a variety of instruments including sitar and harp. The actors who had completed there stint had keen interest in Vedic culture as they were questioning the philosophy that they just finished acting out. This to me was a sure sign that transformation through drama is an effective tool.
The program culminated in chant and dance in free style. What an incredible bunch of people they were.
10 Km
It became apparent to me that people in Halifax like to see someone in roes. With a sleepless night I decided to walk off the sleeplessness at 3 AM while chanting on my beads to the downtown district. The formula that works here is get physically tires and mentally calm. As I passed by several busy events or locations where the young converge it was with some surprise that someone from the crowd would bow and/or offer a pranam (hands folded). Giddiness usually doesn’t allow for much serious dialogue but the odd person that was able to hold some sobriety did wish to talk and ask what I’m doing and why at that hour.
Some visiting devotee friends flew in this weekend from Miami, Winnipeg and Toronto to contribute to the “Golden Moon Festival”. Our practices for “the Gita” drama paid off. The performance went well. A local bhajan group “Suryabandra” were enchanting using a variety of instruments including sitar and harp. The actors who had completed there stint had keen interest in Vedic culture as they were questioning the philosophy that they just finished acting out. This to me was a sure sign that transformation through drama is an effective tool.
The program culminated in chant and dance in free style. What an incredible bunch of people they were.
10 Km
Monday, 21 April 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Our two monks in Halifax, Nitai and Dwija, have organized a 'Festival of the Golden Moon' for the weekend and that's what brings me here. It is their first annual event and highlights mantra chanting and devotional theatre. When I arrived on the previous day we had decided spontaneously to hold the city's first outdoor chanting session this Atlantic harbour city has ever seen for the Spring Street musicians, but our group is the only group to perform out-on-the-seaside-air music of a mystical sort.
Under the sun (and not the moon) off of Spring Garden Street the drumming of monk Karuna, who also arrived here from India, we provided a happy tone. If the Beatles had not been labelled as the Fab Four, judging from the passerby, who expressed that the chanting was pretty fabulous, we may have adopted that name. As we packed up our instruments, a group of four women had expressed their surprise that Krishna monks were still around and that we were not extinct.
A woman today clicked her camera while I was on a random stroll (for air). Bubbling with enthusiasm, she voiced a loud "It's good to see you," after she took a picture. I thought more dialogue would ensue but she just kept walking and let out those two liberating words, "Hare Krishna!"
Nitai had publicized through various media outlets that we would need volunteer actors for the moon festival and by some amazing grace, 12 people showed up. Today is the second night of practice for the drama "The Gita." Most of them are not terribly familiar with mantra chanting, but they are now learning a mantra for this show from chapter 4 of the cherished Bhagavad Gita. The verse begins Yada Yada and explains the reason for Krishna's descent to the world. It's Krishna's "yada yada yada" line but bears greater significance.
10 kms
Our two monks in Halifax, Nitai and Dwija, have organized a 'Festival of the Golden Moon' for the weekend and that's what brings me here. It is their first annual event and highlights mantra chanting and devotional theatre. When I arrived on the previous day we had decided spontaneously to hold the city's first outdoor chanting session this Atlantic harbour city has ever seen for the Spring Street musicians, but our group is the only group to perform out-on-the-seaside-air music of a mystical sort.
Under the sun (and not the moon) off of Spring Garden Street the drumming of monk Karuna, who also arrived here from India, we provided a happy tone. If the Beatles had not been labelled as the Fab Four, judging from the passerby, who expressed that the chanting was pretty fabulous, we may have adopted that name. As we packed up our instruments, a group of four women had expressed their surprise that Krishna monks were still around and that we were not extinct.
A woman today clicked her camera while I was on a random stroll (for air). Bubbling with enthusiasm, she voiced a loud "It's good to see you," after she took a picture. I thought more dialogue would ensue but she just kept walking and let out those two liberating words, "Hare Krishna!"
Nitai had publicized through various media outlets that we would need volunteer actors for the moon festival and by some amazing grace, 12 people showed up. Today is the second night of practice for the drama "The Gita." Most of them are not terribly familiar with mantra chanting, but they are now learning a mantra for this show from chapter 4 of the cherished Bhagavad Gita. The verse begins Yada Yada and explains the reason for Krishna's descent to the world. It's Krishna's "yada yada yada" line but bears greater significance.
10 kms
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008 - Toronto, Ontario
I had flown in from Thunder and asked my pick-up driver, monk Devadatta, to leave me walking a distance to the Toronto ashram for at least part of the way via Cedarvale Park Ravine. The day was clear and sunny. Woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, robins and squirrels were as busy as humans outside this green region. I had meditated on the good hearts that I worked with for the past weeks on the production "The Age of Kali" which was a huge success. The Yoga-fest at Thunder Bay was reported in the main paper "The Chronicle Journal" with front page coverage, a huge photo, as well as plenty of written content on page 3 with more photos. A CBC moderator, Mary Jean Courmier, hosted the show which was organized by our Dr. Jani. These were Tai Chi demonstrations and yogic postures presented.
Our troupe of actors did excellent and climaxed the show. In the lobby after the show, spectators were asking about the drama's philosophical content such as "How does Anger have it's place when one pursues the path of peace?" "Obviously in your play Anger doesn't die but is transformed, so how is that?" and "What is Illusions role after agreeing to serve God's will?" I was thrilled to hear that the drama provoked thought and wasn't just a platform for entertainment.
I decided to continue walking to meet with Devamrita Swami, a New York born monk, who travels the world speaking about Krishna Consciousness. He is in Toronto for ten days and is fully booked at venues for speaking engagements.
It is always a pleasure passing time in discussion with Devamrita Swami who shares similar views with me on strategies for challenging the kingdom of maya, the world of gross materialism.
8 kms
I had flown in from Thunder and asked my pick-up driver, monk Devadatta, to leave me walking a distance to the Toronto ashram for at least part of the way via Cedarvale Park Ravine. The day was clear and sunny. Woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, robins and squirrels were as busy as humans outside this green region. I had meditated on the good hearts that I worked with for the past weeks on the production "The Age of Kali" which was a huge success. The Yoga-fest at Thunder Bay was reported in the main paper "The Chronicle Journal" with front page coverage, a huge photo, as well as plenty of written content on page 3 with more photos. A CBC moderator, Mary Jean Courmier, hosted the show which was organized by our Dr. Jani. These were Tai Chi demonstrations and yogic postures presented.
Our troupe of actors did excellent and climaxed the show. In the lobby after the show, spectators were asking about the drama's philosophical content such as "How does Anger have it's place when one pursues the path of peace?" "Obviously in your play Anger doesn't die but is transformed, so how is that?" and "What is Illusions role after agreeing to serve God's will?" I was thrilled to hear that the drama provoked thought and wasn't just a platform for entertainment.
I decided to continue walking to meet with Devamrita Swami, a New York born monk, who travels the world speaking about Krishna Consciousness. He is in Toronto for ten days and is fully booked at venues for speaking engagements.
It is always a pleasure passing time in discussion with Devamrita Swami who shares similar views with me on strategies for challenging the kingdom of maya, the world of gross materialism.
8 kms
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday, April 11/08 - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Never trust April! Spring seemed to have sprung but no! I paced in the home of Dr. Jani’s for 2 hours while chanting on beads from 3am to 5am. I looked out the window. Snow had receded since I arrived and almost vanished. I rested for two more hours then looked out and to my surprise witnessed a blizzard with snow swirls. The weather was bad. City buses were cancelled so it was a serious storm. Expect the unexpected and be as prepared as you can.
Ninety six years ago the Titanic was on the second day of its fateful journey. For that massive vessel (for it’s time) to be obstructed was not expected. Nature took it by surprise as we all know. Nature continues to puzzle all of us. Certainly this aids in dwarfing our big egos. Nature says, “Don’t get too comfortable! Don’t get too arrogant!”
Since I plan more walking pilgrimages for the future health becomes an issue so to be as prepared as possible I had arranged with Dr. jani for a full medical check up. Results are due to come.
Never trust April! Spring seemed to have sprung but no! I paced in the home of Dr. Jani’s for 2 hours while chanting on beads from 3am to 5am. I looked out the window. Snow had receded since I arrived and almost vanished. I rested for two more hours then looked out and to my surprise witnessed a blizzard with snow swirls. The weather was bad. City buses were cancelled so it was a serious storm. Expect the unexpected and be as prepared as you can.
Ninety six years ago the Titanic was on the second day of its fateful journey. For that massive vessel (for it’s time) to be obstructed was not expected. Nature took it by surprise as we all know. Nature continues to puzzle all of us. Certainly this aids in dwarfing our big egos. Nature says, “Don’t get too comfortable! Don’t get too arrogant!”
Since I plan more walking pilgrimages for the future health becomes an issue so to be as prepared as possible I had arranged with Dr. jani for a full medical check up. Results are due to come.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday, April 11/08 - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Never trust April! Spring seemed to have sprung but no! I paced in the home of Dr. Jani’s for 2 hours while chanting on beads from 3am to 5am. I looked out the window. Snow had receded since I arrived and almost vanished. I rested for two more hours then looked out and to my surprise witnessed a blizzard with snow swirls. The weather was bad. City buses were cancelled so it was a serious storm. Expect the unexpected and be as prepared as you can.
Ninety six years ago the Titanic was on the second day of its fateful journey. For that massive vessel (for it’s time) to be obstructed was not expected. Nature took it by surprise as we all know. Nature continues to puzzle all of us. Certainly this aids in dwarfing our big egos. Nature says, “Don’t get too comfortable! Don’t get too arrogant!”
Since I plan more walking pilgrimages for the future health becomes an issue so to be as prepared as possible I had arranged with Dr. jani for a full medical check up. Results are due to come.
Never trust April! Spring seemed to have sprung but no! I paced in the home of Dr. Jani’s for 2 hours while chanting on beads from 3am to 5am. I looked out the window. Snow had receded since I arrived and almost vanished. I rested for two more hours then looked out and to my surprise witnessed a blizzard with snow swirls. The weather was bad. City buses were cancelled so it was a serious storm. Expect the unexpected and be as prepared as you can.
Ninety six years ago the Titanic was on the second day of its fateful journey. For that massive vessel (for it’s time) to be obstructed was not expected. Nature took it by surprise as we all know. Nature continues to puzzle all of us. Certainly this aids in dwarfing our big egos. Nature says, “Don’t get too comfortable! Don’t get too arrogant!”
Since I plan more walking pilgrimages for the future health becomes an issue so to be as prepared as possible I had arranged with Dr. jani for a full medical check up. Results are due to come.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thurs, April 10/08 - Thunder bay, Ontario
After days of overcast weather the sun decided to be present which fueled my interest to walk to the city, a distance of 22km. Now that is not a marathon for me and it merely became a wish. I settled for a brief trek from Dr. Jani’s house until he picked me up. While taking those steps along the highway motorists honked so with that plus the spring in the air my passion for cross country hauls became ignited once again.
My late mornings to mid-afternoons are spent in an apartment occupied by two students of Lakehead university. They are the ones on marathons. One of the boys sat at his desk for 14 hours straight with his studies for exams. Student life can be stressful. We have all heard of some of the negative side effects of assignment build up.
Some of the volunteer actors for our “Age of kali” are students and they are feeling that this project which is extra-curricular is helping them unwind.
A prominent artist from the area, Derek Khani, is playing the lead role, and he decided to come to the apartment to get a bit of personal attention and a bit of coaching.
I have been attention myself to a remarkable book, “Salted bread”. It is a biography of a religiously persecuted Krishna monk who endured two years imprisonment under KGB suppression in the late 80’s. This book is an easy read and is overall most inspiring for anyone on the devotional path.
2km only
After days of overcast weather the sun decided to be present which fueled my interest to walk to the city, a distance of 22km. Now that is not a marathon for me and it merely became a wish. I settled for a brief trek from Dr. Jani’s house until he picked me up. While taking those steps along the highway motorists honked so with that plus the spring in the air my passion for cross country hauls became ignited once again.
My late mornings to mid-afternoons are spent in an apartment occupied by two students of Lakehead university. They are the ones on marathons. One of the boys sat at his desk for 14 hours straight with his studies for exams. Student life can be stressful. We have all heard of some of the negative side effects of assignment build up.
Some of the volunteer actors for our “Age of kali” are students and they are feeling that this project which is extra-curricular is helping them unwind.
A prominent artist from the area, Derek Khani, is playing the lead role, and he decided to come to the apartment to get a bit of personal attention and a bit of coaching.
I have been attention myself to a remarkable book, “Salted bread”. It is a biography of a religiously persecuted Krishna monk who endured two years imprisonment under KGB suppression in the late 80’s. This book is an easy read and is overall most inspiring for anyone on the devotional path.
2km only
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Tues, April 8/08 - Thunder Bay, ON., Canada
I’m in this northern city to take part in this “Yogafest” this weekend. My “in” with this festival is as a director for “The Age of Kali”. It entails volunteer actors from the local community, some of which are students and some that have had little or no acting experience. The Yogafest will show yoga demonstrations, chanting sessions and the drama followed by sumptuous food, prasadam.
I am hosted in the home of Dr. Jani who is the fourth doctor to take a keen interest in my still exciting spider bite at the neck region. It has been three weeks of bearing the bite which up to now has not itched. Two large abscess had developed and have been nurtured by these doctors who saw to it that like two volcanoes, the lava was sure to flow. It was a case of pus in the plus. My early morning jaunt was in the Neebing area just outside Thunder Bay where winter still lingers. Fortunately walking done under different conditions has earned me a freedom to have comfort even with little depth of clothing. It is learning to become freer from bodily perception. I am thrilled about that but less so about my attentiveness to the chanting that accompanies the walking.
As for the chanting of the Maha Mantra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, said, “ I have no attraction for the sound of transcendence.“ In all His humility he persisted in chanting while feeling he could not approach the divine in the proper frame of mind.
5km
I’m in this northern city to take part in this “Yogafest” this weekend. My “in” with this festival is as a director for “The Age of Kali”. It entails volunteer actors from the local community, some of which are students and some that have had little or no acting experience. The Yogafest will show yoga demonstrations, chanting sessions and the drama followed by sumptuous food, prasadam.
I am hosted in the home of Dr. Jani who is the fourth doctor to take a keen interest in my still exciting spider bite at the neck region. It has been three weeks of bearing the bite which up to now has not itched. Two large abscess had developed and have been nurtured by these doctors who saw to it that like two volcanoes, the lava was sure to flow. It was a case of pus in the plus. My early morning jaunt was in the Neebing area just outside Thunder Bay where winter still lingers. Fortunately walking done under different conditions has earned me a freedom to have comfort even with little depth of clothing. It is learning to become freer from bodily perception. I am thrilled about that but less so about my attentiveness to the chanting that accompanies the walking.
As for the chanting of the Maha Mantra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, said, “ I have no attraction for the sound of transcendence.“ In all His humility he persisted in chanting while feeling he could not approach the divine in the proper frame of mind.
5km
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Brampton, Ontario, Canada
I was occupied with a wedding in the morning. Congratualtions goes to Aravind who married Tosita. Aravaind is a young man who engaged in one of my plays at Lakehead University. While one person is married another soul is conceived into a womb, another one is born and still another passes into a new body. Yesterday one of the members of the Toronto centre perished. Paval was a polish immigrant who was a humble man who always demonstrated a passion for bhakti, devotion. Cancer struck him and forced him to move on to continue on with what he had been doing. A simple but positive person is always an asset to a community. He will be sorely missed.
After a talk at the Brampton centre and before another in Toronto I ventured down one of those ravines common enough in the area. The winter is making a closure and many people are outdoors today, walking, biking, or pushing strollers.
One woman I met in the ravine was walking backwards. This captured my interest so I asked her if she is following a trend. “In China people have been doing this for centuries. They say it draws out longevity and activates both the right and left side of the brain.”
I would not argue with that. At least she was going forward in a backward way.
7km.
I was occupied with a wedding in the morning. Congratualtions goes to Aravind who married Tosita. Aravaind is a young man who engaged in one of my plays at Lakehead University. While one person is married another soul is conceived into a womb, another one is born and still another passes into a new body. Yesterday one of the members of the Toronto centre perished. Paval was a polish immigrant who was a humble man who always demonstrated a passion for bhakti, devotion. Cancer struck him and forced him to move on to continue on with what he had been doing. A simple but positive person is always an asset to a community. He will be sorely missed.
After a talk at the Brampton centre and before another in Toronto I ventured down one of those ravines common enough in the area. The winter is making a closure and many people are outdoors today, walking, biking, or pushing strollers.
One woman I met in the ravine was walking backwards. This captured my interest so I asked her if she is following a trend. “In China people have been doing this for centuries. They say it draws out longevity and activates both the right and left side of the brain.”
I would not argue with that. At least she was going forward in a backward way.
7km.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Thurs. Apr. 3, 2008 – Burlington, OntarioDr. Kishor Singh had hosted a very special guest to his home and I am honoured to be in the association of an early taker to the consciousness of Krishna, a California born monk by the name of Indradhyumna Swami. His particular portfolio is as a director of large scale festivals. Most recently he was on a tour in Australia with his “le carnival spiritual” which includes bhajan singing, classical Indian dance, martial arts, a Ramayana drama depiction and a philosophical presentation by himself. For years he has run a successful Polish Festival of India Tour and collaborate with a mega – event “Woodstock” in Poland. Audiences are getting a dose of entertainment and a hike in the individual’s spiritual bank account. You can call this spiritual credit. The term for this in Sanskrit is sookretee, spiritual benefit.
Tuesday, April 1th, 2008
Tues. Apr. 1, 2008 – Toronto, Canada
Today’s walk took me to Yonge St. along with companion Patrick who frequents the temple. We were set to stop at Dundas Square, the corner of Yonge and Dundas, to meet up with monk Yajna Gauranga. This Ukrainian born renounciant faithfully goes to this major crossroads to distribute the books by Srila Prabhupada. Generally he takes to this task in regular civilian attire as the public is comfortable that way. Because of his firm belief in what is found in these metaphysical books he holds a strong commitment to make friends and offer an alternative approach to life by encouraging them to leave the corner with a book in their hand. Daily he is finding out that results do come despite the bleak winter of this year.
Unfortunately Patrick and I could not locate him and so we veered off to walk by the former temple, a rented house at the time, at 187 Gerrard St. where I had joined in ’73. Our exercise and meditative walk ended up being nostalgic as well.
The fresh air of Canada is welcoming to me. Although travels to various parts o f the glove always offers a newness to a visitor there is nothing like the feeling of stability one’s home offers. And that must be the way it is with the soul’s final destination in the spiritual world.
12 Km
Today’s walk took me to Yonge St. along with companion Patrick who frequents the temple. We were set to stop at Dundas Square, the corner of Yonge and Dundas, to meet up with monk Yajna Gauranga. This Ukrainian born renounciant faithfully goes to this major crossroads to distribute the books by Srila Prabhupada. Generally he takes to this task in regular civilian attire as the public is comfortable that way. Because of his firm belief in what is found in these metaphysical books he holds a strong commitment to make friends and offer an alternative approach to life by encouraging them to leave the corner with a book in their hand. Daily he is finding out that results do come despite the bleak winter of this year.
Unfortunately Patrick and I could not locate him and so we veered off to walk by the former temple, a rented house at the time, at 187 Gerrard St. where I had joined in ’73. Our exercise and meditative walk ended up being nostalgic as well.
The fresh air of Canada is welcoming to me. Although travels to various parts o f the glove always offers a newness to a visitor there is nothing like the feeling of stability one’s home offers. And that must be the way it is with the soul’s final destination in the spiritual world.
12 Km
Thursday, March 27th, 2008
Thurs. Mar. 27, 2008 – Over Africa and the Atlantic
Yesterday was Saritha’s funeral. Bless her soul! The newspapers are carrying headline captions in regards to her passing. Naturally the event was of a very serious nature. Thus far we are informed that it was murder and a senseless one. Within the community there is mixed sympathy and apathy. Almost everyone you talk to has had crime inflicted on them in one form or another. I remember at one rehearsal for a drama that I directed here two years ago one of the community sctors arrived late because on his way over he was mugged. Another fellow playing the monkey hero, Hanuman, also came late because when he left the house for the driveway his car was missing all four tires. This is South Africa, a land of saints and swindlers. Somehow or other I came each year to this place of dualities. Somehow there is a big attraction here with the colossal festival, a combatant to the negative energy that exists.
I am spending little time on my feet today. For the following 24 hours it was time in the air – so little walking on foot but plenty of mental walking. I have on my mind rich thoughts about future projects to come. It is difficult to rest on the plane but my mind explodes with creative thoughts on how to advance a spiritual culture with cultural spirituality.
0 Km
Yesterday was Saritha’s funeral. Bless her soul! The newspapers are carrying headline captions in regards to her passing. Naturally the event was of a very serious nature. Thus far we are informed that it was murder and a senseless one. Within the community there is mixed sympathy and apathy. Almost everyone you talk to has had crime inflicted on them in one form or another. I remember at one rehearsal for a drama that I directed here two years ago one of the community sctors arrived late because on his way over he was mugged. Another fellow playing the monkey hero, Hanuman, also came late because when he left the house for the driveway his car was missing all four tires. This is South Africa, a land of saints and swindlers. Somehow or other I came each year to this place of dualities. Somehow there is a big attraction here with the colossal festival, a combatant to the negative energy that exists.
I am spending little time on my feet today. For the following 24 hours it was time in the air – so little walking on foot but plenty of mental walking. I have on my mind rich thoughts about future projects to come. It is difficult to rest on the plane but my mind explodes with creative thoughts on how to advance a spiritual culture with cultural spirituality.
0 Km
Friday, 4 April 2008
Tuesday, March 25th 2008
Tues. March 25, 2008 – Durban South Africa
It is one thing when nature attacks us and another when people operate out of order. The crime rise is critical. Less so is the abscess forming on my neck. A lump of sorts, likely the result of a spider bite, takes prominent hold on my right side. Virtually painless, the reaction to some biting creature that likely occurred in my sleep warrants a visit to the doctor. His diagnosis was that it was a serious enough infection and needed attention. A cut, clean up and antibiotic treatment was to address the problem. Thank you Dr. Vinod. He does not charge monks.
I was thrilled to give the class on the Bhagavatam today. In it was the description of the humiliation of Duryodhan, a prominent character of the “Mahabharat” epic. Duryodhan was notorious for his ploy. We read and discuss his behaviour to remind us of what we should not be doing. As humans we have choice of behaviour – spiders do not.
15 Km
It is one thing when nature attacks us and another when people operate out of order. The crime rise is critical. Less so is the abscess forming on my neck. A lump of sorts, likely the result of a spider bite, takes prominent hold on my right side. Virtually painless, the reaction to some biting creature that likely occurred in my sleep warrants a visit to the doctor. His diagnosis was that it was a serious enough infection and needed attention. A cut, clean up and antibiotic treatment was to address the problem. Thank you Dr. Vinod. He does not charge monks.
I was thrilled to give the class on the Bhagavatam today. In it was the description of the humiliation of Duryodhan, a prominent character of the “Mahabharat” epic. Duryodhan was notorious for his ploy. We read and discuss his behaviour to remind us of what we should not be doing. As humans we have choice of behaviour – spiders do not.
15 Km
Monday, March 24th 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008 – Durban, South Africa
Shocking are the details I hear of the crime that people endure. On my eighth or rather ninth visit to South Africa I have witnessed a high level of kind-heartedness as on previous stays here. The community in Durban in particular, appear to be especially over-extending themselves to traveling monks, the swamis. There is, however, this dark side to human life at this southern tip of this huge continent.
Theft is common as well as rape and murder. In order to ransack a home an organized crime group may poison your guard dog, release a substance that paralyses the occupants, then pillage and if need be murder. These activities are commonplace. Just this last Thursday one of our women from Pretoria, Saritha, who came to Durban for the festival, was found raped and murdered and her body found on the side of the road. She was 36, and, was a dedicated woman to our mission, especially in the area of book distribution, that is, on the mission of sankirtan, spreading God consciousness.
Our little drama group dedicated the last of the weekend’s performance in her honour. “The Age of Kali” epitomizes the symptoms of the current times and the actors were in full form giving notation of the gravity of the situation.
It is a culture shock somewhat to me but murder is so everyday that, an oblivion has set into the social fabric. Apathy pervades our planet as senselessness increases. We are missing something on the earth we reside on.
7 Km
Shocking are the details I hear of the crime that people endure. On my eighth or rather ninth visit to South Africa I have witnessed a high level of kind-heartedness as on previous stays here. The community in Durban in particular, appear to be especially over-extending themselves to traveling monks, the swamis. There is, however, this dark side to human life at this southern tip of this huge continent.
Theft is common as well as rape and murder. In order to ransack a home an organized crime group may poison your guard dog, release a substance that paralyses the occupants, then pillage and if need be murder. These activities are commonplace. Just this last Thursday one of our women from Pretoria, Saritha, who came to Durban for the festival, was found raped and murdered and her body found on the side of the road. She was 36, and, was a dedicated woman to our mission, especially in the area of book distribution, that is, on the mission of sankirtan, spreading God consciousness.
Our little drama group dedicated the last of the weekend’s performance in her honour. “The Age of Kali” epitomizes the symptoms of the current times and the actors were in full form giving notation of the gravity of the situation.
It is a culture shock somewhat to me but murder is so everyday that, an oblivion has set into the social fabric. Apathy pervades our planet as senselessness increases. We are missing something on the earth we reside on.
7 Km
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