Monday, October 19th, 2015
Rural Valley, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania People
Bill was right on the road to greet me. He shook my hand and I remarked that he’s got farmer’s hands, big and callous-like. It was a compliment of course and he took it that way. “Well, more like coal miners’ hands,” he said in good fun. We talked and I could see he was a very God conscious man. In fact, he asked for a blessing since he’s having kidney issues. He removed his hat, I placed my right palm on his forehead and recited a Sanskrit mantra for protection. He was grateful.
I also came upon two country folks at the side of their yard. Two gentlemen. They had been looking with an eager eye as to what I was all about. Handshakes again. “I’m Bhaktimarga Swami, Swami for short. I’m a monk and I’m walking. I started from Boston.” Surprised, they were. They offered iced tea. We chatted. One of the fellows said, “Only Catholics have monks, right?”
“Actually, there’s a whole history of monastic life within Hinduism and Buddhism, big time.”
I asked them if they were familiar with Hare Krishna and the response was no. I asked if they had heard of Broadway’s production, ‘Hair’.
“Yes!”
And so that was their reference point.
Further down the road I met some teenage Amish girls with dresses and bonnets. They were gathering walnuts on the side of the road. I could see they were shy.
“Hello, how are you? What do you do with them?”
“We make pies with the walnuts and cakes.”
“God bless,” I said.
Not but ten minutes later on in my walk, there was a team of horses, two in number, that were yoked to a wagon standing stationary at the side of the road. Right next to them, in a corn field, was an Amish farmer along with two women who were manually breaking off corn and tossing it into the wagon. I asked if he could toss me one for a souvenir, so he did and suggested that they are good for corn bread.
“Thanks, God bless.”
In Pennsylvania country I see it’s much to do about family, food, work, and God. That’s good.
May the Source be with you!
21 miles / 33 km
Rural Valley, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania People
Bill was right on the road to greet me. He shook my hand and I remarked that he’s got farmer’s hands, big and callous-like. It was a compliment of course and he took it that way. “Well, more like coal miners’ hands,” he said in good fun. We talked and I could see he was a very God conscious man. In fact, he asked for a blessing since he’s having kidney issues. He removed his hat, I placed my right palm on his forehead and recited a Sanskrit mantra for protection. He was grateful.
I also came upon two country folks at the side of their yard. Two gentlemen. They had been looking with an eager eye as to what I was all about. Handshakes again. “I’m Bhaktimarga Swami, Swami for short. I’m a monk and I’m walking. I started from Boston.” Surprised, they were. They offered iced tea. We chatted. One of the fellows said, “Only Catholics have monks, right?”
“Actually, there’s a whole history of monastic life within Hinduism and Buddhism, big time.”
I asked them if they were familiar with Hare Krishna and the response was no. I asked if they had heard of Broadway’s production, ‘Hair’.
“Yes!”
And so that was their reference point.
Further down the road I met some teenage Amish girls with dresses and bonnets. They were gathering walnuts on the side of the road. I could see they were shy.
“Hello, how are you? What do you do with them?”
“We make pies with the walnuts and cakes.”
“God bless,” I said.
Not but ten minutes later on in my walk, there was a team of horses, two in number, that were yoked to a wagon standing stationary at the side of the road. Right next to them, in a corn field, was an Amish farmer along with two women who were manually breaking off corn and tossing it into the wagon. I asked if he could toss me one for a souvenir, so he did and suggested that they are good for corn bread.
“Thanks, God bless.”
In Pennsylvania country I see it’s much to do about family, food, work, and God. That’s good.
May the Source be with you!
21 miles / 33 km
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