That’s Right, Dave!
Burnaby, British Columbia
In the course of a chilly walk this evening, I met Dave
by the Chinese convenience store on Marine Drive. He was cozily bundled up in a parka and hat
to cover the ears. I still could
recognize him though.
Dave was the guy that drove me to my accommodation after
a grueling trek, day 4, of my first cross-Canada walk in ’96. I
targeted and achieved a 47 KM walk that
day. Dave was the guy who drove me in
his second hand black Cadillac. He was
unique, observing the asphalt moving under you with the car in motion
because
of the rust that eroded the floor to create holes. Dave was the guy who
was very fond of his
dog, a massive specimen who sat in the back seat. The next day, Dave
was also the guy who gave
me a small plastic bag of cayenne pepper to put in my socks,
guaranteeing me
that it would help pick up speed while walking.
You know, honestly, I bought into it, and poured the stuff inside. My soles
were a little fiery that day. At least with the mix of rain those
white
socks turned saffron – my colour.
Dave was also the guy who let me reciprocate with his
generosity by teaching him a verse from the Gita. It goes like this:
rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam
It’s funny, after all these years, Dave retained it in
his memory banks, so as soon as he saw me, he recited it, right in front
of the
Chinese boy behind the counter, and he recited it quite well. I was
quite proud of him. We went for a mutual hug. I didn’t ask for the
English
translation. Even if he knew it, letting
the sound linger in Sanskrit was just good enough. However, I will take
the opportunity to
present its translation:
“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets.
It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self
by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is
joyfully performed.”
I thanked Dave for his gestures of the past. Even his reciting was a gift to the
ears. He let me know that his dog, since
then in ’96 passed on, while he had planned to continue going on.
“That’s right, Dave, your soul will.”
May the Source be with you!
8 KM
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