Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

Tuesday,  June 23rd, 2015
St. John's, Newfoundland

By the Lake! By the Temple!

The previous night's successful event at Memorial U. was such that you wonder if anything gets better than this.
The agreement for the morning was a walk around Quidi Vidi Lake and so some of the listeners of last night came, like troopers, to join in that event.  Even a rep from "The Telegram" newspaper showed up to take photos of some of us doing the most simple thing - walking.

What great views...and then my favourite...the cove at Quidi Vidi Village itself with the picturesque charm of an old fishing enclave.  It was something to melt your heart.

Weather was "the pitts" as they say, rainy, cold.  It's hard to tell its summer.  Again, the warm hearts of the Newfoundlanders make up for the elemental conditions.

There was a fine follow-up by attendees at the Hindu Temple.  As we pulled in that evening for what I thought might be a weak turn-out, I became pleasantly surprised to see a good many vehicles in the parking lot.  Once inside, I was happy to see a circle of sitting people already in the thrust of kirtan.

Once settling down I opened up by speaking about what someone might call the universal truths.  Listed as "divine" attributes in chapter 16 of the Gita, I relayed the twenty six qualities mentioned.  They go as follows:  Fearlessness, purification of being, cultivation of knowledge, generosity, self-controlled, sacrificial, Vedic study, austerity, simplicity, non-violence, truthfulness, free from anger, renounced, tranquility, aversion to fault-finding, compassion for all, free from greed, gentleness, modesty, determination, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy, and not expecting honour.

Explanations were well received.   What I have to say about the rest of the program is, "Wow, how they danced, how they chanted!!!"

May the Source be with you!

4 km