Winnipeg, Manitoba
House With a Purpose
The house is a 1974
structure with a split level feature on the main floor. The basement, which I haven’t seen, is rented out to students. Visvambhara and Maha Sundari, a couple from India,
reached Winnipeg a little over two years ago, got employment and were, this
last summer, ready to purchase the above dream house, situated in the St. Vital
section of Winnipeg.
“We liked the
location. There’s southerly
windows. The main entrance is in the
east (which, according to Vastu
scriptures, is auspicious). Also,
there’s a park across the street where we can chant in the summer,” said
Visvambhara.
The plan is to run the
house like a meeting place, where people can come to learn of the technique
of devotion to Krishna—hence the name Bhakti Village.
I was hosted by the
couple. They fed me my favorite—wraps. We also spent a good portion of the day
re-arranging furniture, pictures and deities in order to maximize the use of space for those coming to bhakti sessions.
Morning and evening segments were spent in
devotional readings and discussions. The
morning session was powerful. We read
from Canto 2 of the Bhagavatam, regarding
a dying king. Emperor Pariksit had one
week to live and so he was advised to put karma kanda behind him forever.
This refers to physical and royal pleasures. Even religious piety was to be rejected and
substituted for a fixation or meditation on the Source of the world. Bhakti,
or divine love, was to occupy his last moments.
The Bhagavatam tells that he succeeded.
May the Source be with
you!
5 km
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