Mike Got Me
On The Mic
Mike got me
on the radio airwaves today. An interview by him on CHMR at the university had
all to do with ‘What does it mean to be a monk; to be in the renounced order?’
And ‘What is this maha-mantra that The Beatles used to sing?’ Our
conversation went on for a good 20 minutes, and it ended with us singing ‘Hare
Krishna’. So, it was Mike, his girlfriend, Laura, my assistant, Rikin, and
I, who all chanted Hare Krishna as part of the broadcast.
Not bad for
a music station to do that.
I was also
slotted in for a talk and a kirtan at the Hindu temple where a good
number of people came a second time around. The western crowd swelled the
place, and I guess it surprised the Hindu community, who were actually
delighted. I really felt I was on Cloud 9, the questions people asked were
tantalizing.
A woman
asked, “We are trying through bhakti to not be selfish, but what can you
say about taking care of our own spiritual life first, is that not selfish?”
A young man
asked, “How do you know when you get to the point of karma yoga, acting
without attachment?”
To the
woman I confirmed that charity does begin in the home, “Get strong first, and
then help others.”
To the man
I suggested that spiritual advancement is not a solitary endeavour, we need
guidance, we need a mentor who can monitor – a guru.
Amongst the
wonderful people that came, I also conversed, during prasadam, with a
woman who lived as a nun for 6 years in a convent. She admitted it wasn’t the
happiest of times for her.
I reflected
back to a question Mike asked over the mic about my lifestyle as a monk. “I’ve
enjoyed every minute of my 43 years thus far. I don’t expect that to change.”
May the
Source be with you!
6 km
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