Wednesday, August 17th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario
I Want to Give
I pondered the activities of the few days since I’ve
come back from the U.S. walk. I looked
at the catching-up that had to be done.
I followed the program which begins at 4 a.m. in the ashram and appreciated the great privilege
that it is. I answered phone calls,
tended to e-mails, Instagram, etc. and
planned a drama for next week’s major fest, Krishna’s Birthday. I sat in a meeting for brain-storming, did
some counselling, pep talks, and delivered classes.
What was missing? What was not included in the life of a
responsible Krishna monk?
“Of course!” I
thought. An idea popped into the head. “Hari
Nama is what is amiss!!”
“Hari Nama”
is the short term for public chanting.
It was an easy sell for the few ashram
residents around. It appears it is not
on the regular schedule for some reason or another.
Our small group of six meandered through the Annex
neighbourhood,
headed for destination Bloor Street, a block from the Bata Shoe Museum. A patch of grass that forms a serene parkette
became our asana
(seat). Once we got
to drumming and chanting, we realized what had been vacant
from our daily regimen.
It is this sharing of sacred sound that gives us life.
Not so long ago my Irish friend, Pragosh, told me about one of his favourite songs by Neil Young,
born in this grand town, Toronto. “Heart of Gold.” Interpret the lyrics as you like. The song begins with, “ I want to live/I want
to give.”
May the Source be with you!
5 km
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