Hastings, Ontario
The Need to be in the
Country
There is nothing that
beats going to the countryside, and better still, hanging out with a family of
bulls and cows. A small troupe of us
made the drive to Govardhana Farms for the experiential slowing-down of
things. Fil and Sukayanti, a
hard-working, serious couple, determined to make rural life work, hosted us for
the lunch of the year, with their “beyond organic” tomatoes from their
September harvest. With the tomatoes, we had a reincarnated
spicy, piping hot soup.
The couple’s darling
twin daughters are up and walking after a year of human laps, floors and bed
surfaces to offer them support. The herd
of thirteen bovines, plus looking after each other and the twins, is quite the
load. They are country bumpkins to a
certain extent, but with the added sophistication of chanting and overall
divine outlook. Their spiritual life
means a lot to them. They rise early for
daily mediations on the mantra before
braving the chores.
We met Dr. Walsh, the
local veterinarian, who paid a visit to nurse one of the bulls, sick with pneumonia. The barn is a sure shelter for the guy and
the rest of the group, comprised of Holsteins, Jerseys and more.
We stepped into plenty
of plops; generous droppings of antiseptic substance. Overall, our connection with these huge
mammals offered us a fine form of therapy.
Rubbing the flabby skin under their necks is the fun and comfort they deserve.
Recently, someone in the city
asked me, “What’s with the cows in your tradition?”—alluding to why they are so
revered.
“One reason,” I said,
“is, being
in their company forces you to slow down.”
May the Source be with
you!
7 km
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