Monday 23 March 2009

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

MANTRAS AT THE CATHEDRAL

Toronto, Ontario

Since the catfish injury, I have adjusted my schedule cancelling morning walks for afternoon walks. I am relishing the ‘wee hours’, if you will, for japa chanting in the temple room with other monastic members. I am happy to see some slight progression made by the efforts of resident dwellers who meditate on the mantra together.

This togetherness was also felt by our small afternoon walking party at a time when the passions of the day start to wind down for some of us. We made our way to St. Michael’s Cathedral and were surprised to see a decent turnout of afternoon prayer people. Our group of three made ourselves at home at a pew to chant Hare Krishna while others were kneeling at prayer and moving to an icon, then to light a candle. The earnest plea of help or praise which one can call either prayer or mantra is the same intent to the same powerful person.

While sitting at the pew, I felt inner peace recalling the morning’s presentation by Ksircora, a lovely god sister, disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who told her story on coming to Krishna. The session called “Those Were The Days, My Friends!” gave her this week’s spot to talk. She mentioned that she and her friends were looking for the Truth in 1974. This took them through psychedelic journeys. When they met a young monk on Yonge Street to tell them of the glories of Krishna, they got sold on the concept. It drew some warmth and memory when she said that young person was me.

5 Km

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