Winnipeg, Manitoba
My early trekking was on Clearbrook Circle, in a suburb of Toronto. It
was dark out, weather was mild. I was curious to know, is it really a circle in
the street? I ventured on that route, and sure enough I went round and around
and around.
En route to Winnipeg on a two hour flight I had army dudes all around me
as co-passengers. They were mentally poised for a hockey tournament with
competitors from Manitoba. I was poised for a Gaura Purnima festival at the
ISKCON Centre at 108 Chestnut Street, Winnipeg. By that I mean leading the
chanting and delivering a talk.
It was obvious what would be the subject, the topic. It was none other
than addressing the life and contribution of Sri Chaitanya. To an attentive
group I had rolled out details on Chaitanya's life, and ending with speaking
about this glorious monk's final 18 years on the planet. Five centuries ago, He
inaugurated the method of kirtan, public chanting, in the last precious
years in Puri, Orissa, He was very lost to another world. By His behaviour and
state of mind He demonstrated that He was not of this world, and by blazing
this trail He was trying to say that we, all of us wandering souls, belong to
an existence beyond what we can see and touch.
He was encouraging transcendence, that ultimately we do and think beyond
this mundane world. He gave us hope that there is a domain of true freedom
where the soul makes a touchdown and scores to a status of liberation.
Before He passed away (and that happened mystically) He left us with
lots of hope. He died before dying, so to speak, meaning that we prepare
ourselves for the final moment of departure from this world. He placed His
energy and love in thoughts of Krishna. He chanted as much as could be, and
illustrated that this is what's to be done in order to mentally and spiritually
poise yourself for the great world to come.
8 Km
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