On and Off the Hill
Saanich, BC
It takes a good hour and 45 minutes to go from the mainland of Canada at Tsawwassen to arrive at Vancouver Island, Swartz Bay, by ferry. This I did, along with 3 companions – Vishnu Gada, who has been around in devotional service since the early 70’s, and two young men, Ananda Murti and his brother Yogendra, who have roots from New Delhi, India. We were, I like to think, a chipper group.
At Swartz Bay, Toshan Krishna, a retired member of the Canadian Forces, and before that a brahmachari monk who travelled with me as an assistant before I became a swami, was our host.
He cooked up some scrumptious spaghetti at his home and then lead us to Bear Hill, a not so steep mound of rock, trees, moss, and other natural matter. The climb was a little more than the two teenage bros were used to. They asked for breaks as we ascended to the summit. So much for the computer generation.
They excelled, however, when it came time for kirtan at Toshan’s. Interchangeably they played sweetly on mrdanga drum and harmonium. We were a small group which included Madhhu Pandit and Anand, both are. students/disciples of our guru, Srila Prabhupada. The chanting captured our hearts and minds, as it is destined to do. As the strong moon was above our heads, this chanting put a perfect closure to the day, just as chanting opened the day at pre-dawn. The chanting provides a protection to our active hours in daylight, and it is something which helps temper the craziness of the mind and the turbulent waves of the senses.
We had also included in the kirtan, the song, Guru Vandana, words that honour the guru. It is a morning practice that was missed today due to catching the ride on the ferry. It was a day with the guys and our island venture was fulfilling.
6 KM
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