Monday, September 1st, 2014

Montreal, Quebec

Good Place and People


About 30 of us pilgrims walked, almost waltzed, down Prince Arthur in the McGill University area.  We stopped in front of one residence, by Sumir’s arrangement.  He functions as the coordinator of our chanting party today.  I objected to singing and drumming in front of someone’s home at 11 AM on Labour Day. 

“I know this is the building that Prabhupada (our guru) stayed for the summer in ’68, but I have some apprehension about us being in someone’s face.  Maybe people are still sleeping, it’s a holiday.”

Sumir assured me that it’s okay.  The front door to the handsome looking home opened, there, appeared a smiling woman.  She waved us in, so a small contingent of three entered and stepped in.  There we met the family that was expecting us.  Sumir explained to me, “It’s always on Labour Day that we do this.”

We met Matt, the lady’s husband, a cello player and teacher at McGill.  They are the home owners.  He’s also good friends with John McLaughlin of the Maha Vishnu Orchestra.  He asked us which year was it that our guru met John Lennon and company.  It was from the downstairs quarters that our guru lived here, and then spent time training six of his students in harmonium, mrdanga (drum), karatalas,  and voice, before dispatching them to England when they met the Beatles. 

“It was in around ’69,” I suggested to Matt. 

In any event, it was great to be in that spot.  The couple mentioned that they’ve been to the other three duplicates of their home which are all in an attached row, but, to quote them, “But no place has the same good vibes as this home.”  It was implied that a very special person had been living here. 

So after our visit, we continued the walk with kirtan on the grounds of McGill.  The security, lead by three people, approached our man in the front and inquired.  I guess the grounds do not permit assemblies of different kinds.  When they saw how harmless we were, and that we were ‘just passing through’, they let us off the hook.  They were taken by the good vibes.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM