Toronto,
Ontario
The Raw
Thaw
Snow! Ice!
Slush! Water! That’s what you get on a day like today. It’s the raw thaw. And
it’s okay. It’s an adventure going through it all, as I traversed Yonge, Bloor,
Bathurst and Dupont streets.
I feel no
regrets not being in a car. I’m happy on my feet. There’s something sweet about
it.
As I went
(direction West) with a blinding sun in the eyes, I could make out a toqued
chap coming towards me, hands in pranama.
“How are
you Maharaja?” said he.
“Oh it’s
you, Jiva-nuga!” I responded.
Immediately
my thoughts raced to the past. He’s a fine human being. His roots are from the East
(New Brunswick) and he had joined the ranks of monks in the West (Vancouver)
years ago. While he’s no longer a man of the cloth, and chose to reenter
civilian life, his time in a brahmacarya
regimen really benefitted him.
I’ve always
liked Jiva, he’s as honest as you can get. He’s quiet and mild, but strong of
body and skilled with his hands.
With the
sun to my left shoulder, now going North-bound on Bathurst, I met another
pedestrian, an acquaintance. It was Kathleen O’Connell, widow to Professor
Joseph T. O’Connell, pioneer in many ways for helping establish wholesome
dialogue between leaders of different faith groups.
Before his
departure, Kathleen told me that Joseph recently set up a comparative religious
course in the University of Dacca in Bangladesh. His office was right next to
the fundamentalist Islamic group. With his charm, wit and intellect, Joseph
managed to build a bridge of communication.
He was also
thrilled, back in 1968 in Boston, to meet our guru, Srila Prabhupada, during the embryonic stage of a promising bhakti movement.
It was
great meeting Kathleen. She was watching her steps, as I was, to evade slush
and water pools as we parted our ways. It’s my assumption that she’s a walker
and doesn’t mind the adventure that goes along with it. You don’t get this kind
of interaction when buzzing around in a car.
May the
source be with you!
5 KM
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