Friday,
September 23rd, 2016
Kitchener,
Ontario
Cremation
Within Creation
Rush
we did, in our monk van, to Kitchener, for a funeral and cremation. Brihat was our driver, and on board was Nick,
Gordon, Keith and myself. Gangotri, an
86 year-old, caring kind of devotee,
was the deceased person we attempted to revere and respect in the best way
possible, in a send-off to a new realm.
To
put it in more simple terms, those of us family and friends participated in the
last rites for Gangotri’s soul’s journey to a better place. The event went smoothly. As usual, soft
chanting is what truly makes the program—any program—sweet. It created an atmosphere of comfort, and kept
feelings of separation subdued. The
Pillay family was pleased.
As
a monk who has a considerably large base of congregations across Canada,
participation in events including last rites, weddings, birthdays and samskaras (purificatory rites of
passage) is a willing obligation to fulfill.
Bear
in mind that there should also be time set aside for some trekking. Along with the boys, after the cremation and
a meal, we ventured off to a trail along the Grand River near Conestoga
College. What a change of terrain this
area is, compared to the north, where I was one week ago. Here, it’s a softer wilderness where
apparently native folks, at least the Mohawk, flourished in the 1800’s. They had the river—which was the source of
all their needs—food, travel, water, etc.
The Creator looked kindly upon them.
May
the Source be with you!
5
km
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