Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Happy For Daruka

Mayapura, West Bengal

The hero amongst our group from Canada was Daruka from the pilgrimage point of view. Daruka has been my trusty back-up driver on the previous walk across Canada. Now, here in Mayapura, I'm in the back seat, so to speak, and he's doing much of the walking. For the last one week he has courageously been taking to the trail with 7,000 other pilgrims roughing it up.

Today was the last day and all five camps converged at Mayapura. Everyone you meet from the walks returns a bit redder and ruddier, more sweaty, and maybe a few pounds are lost and they all come back with smiles.

Maha Mantra and I have been confined to the drama practice but Daruka took full advantage of using foot power where he normally can't when he's with me in Canada.

One thing about India is that whichever direction you take, some major event occurred somewhere- an event of a spiritual nature. India, with it's rich and evolved history and culture, has put so many places on it's map. Canada, being a relative 'new' place just doesn't have the same status of pilgrimage. Let me correct myself. Canada's indigenous people's did make much history for thousands of years. Much of this has become obscured.

For five centuries now and even prior to Mayapura and the Nadia district has left an impressive mark. Now with the international interest, this venue for spiritual intensity is very heightened.
I'm happy for Daruka that he was able to come to India to taste the element of what a vairagi, or yogi, goes through. It may not sound like an incredible distance but 10 to 15 kilometers in 37 degrees celsius weather under the sun makes it double or triple the stretch. Daruka hasn't been out of Canada very often, but now he's done what the Canada geese do- fly where it's warmer for the winter. Only he has taken more to the spiritual component than any flock of geese might.

I explained to Jaya Gaura from Guyana that in ancient times vacation meant 'pilgrimage.' That old notion is coming back. It's being experienced here in Mayapura.

8 KM