Saturday 10 January 2009

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada

Two cousins, Canadian males, had spent a full year in this spectacular valley of solitude since I last saw them. The actual name of the village near Ashcroft is Saranagati, within Venables Valley, and I could see that the good association these young men in their twenties have had here greatly benefited them. Most of all, I'm impressed with the transformation of the two.

Dillon, who hails from Kelowna, like a lot of young kids growing up through teen years, took his share of lack of self identity, depression moments. He told me he was the class clown at school and then went to introversion. He found solace in dance, the current trends of hip hop style, popping and krumping. He's good at it and has just begun offering lessons to the primary school in the valley. It's his passion and residents of the valley encourage him on this art form, channelling it in the service of the Divine.

Rob, who lives with his cousin in a rustic home in this bear country, is an absolute gentleman. He told of his big drinking binges prior, and how he is now gloriously clean from that influence. He's working a steady job and is also steady with a female friend looking forward to a life settled in a spiritually centered atmosphere. Rob was kind to drive a young devotee, Nitai Priya, and I to the valley from Vancouver.

Walks were short but peaceful being very much away from the humdrum madness of city life. If I could endorse it once again, atmosphere and company make all the difference in shaping a person's life.

6 Km

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