Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Tuesday, July 8, 2008: Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada

A young African monk and I walked down Water Street, in this first official resort town in Canada. The sun was very present, throwing happiness on everyone. We passed some pedestrians who in soft tones uttered, " Krishna.com!" It was the first time we had heard that mantra. Likely these folks spotted the signage on our buses earlier on.

A fellow in a pickup stopped and said the traditional slogan, " Hare Krishna?" as a question.

"That's right!" said Jaya Keshava, the African monk. The man's response was, " Welcome!"

For all of us on the bus tour, the whole fifty of us, people in this quaintest of towns, were extremely friendly. Whether young or old, the inquisitive level towards higher consciousness was way up there. One youth came to ask questions while we were waiting for the Whale Watching ship to pull up. He ended up acquiring Japa (meditation) beads and learning the entire mantra. Casually our young men and women perused the town, browsing through shops. Shop owners had so much to ask and so much to say about what goes on in their lives. We did spot whales. Rob Carney, who lived as a monk, in our New York ashram for a year, twenty years ago, shares the whale watching business with his wife Jo Ann. They were great hosts on the ship. On board were live starfish but what really held my interest today was people ~ good people. Even the mayor waved from his office during a town council meeting.

4km