Toronto, Ontario
Walking
Through the New and Old
Now, this nice brahman (priest) by the name
of Ramanada invites a group of us monks, residents of the ashram, to his home in Markham, one day every year for pizza. The delight is on for the eight of us. We are enthusiasts for the change of
pace. Many slices went down the tubular sections
of our bodies, in addition to some good home-made soup.
Yes, it was a knock-out, and a little
snooze on the couch—well-deserved for the hard work of consumption.
Ramananda and I talked about country living
where there’s more green and peace. We
were actually more than dreaming. It is
not just a concept but a step away from reality. All that’s required is to conscript another
small number of like-minded souls to buy into or commit to a plan.
Incidentally, Karuna, a younger monk in the ashram, and I walked, out of curiosity,
to Sherborne Commons, off of Lake Ontario.
It will be this year’s site of one of North America’s largest Chariot
Festivals. The usual spot, the Toronto
Islands, are flooded due to excessive rain.
Here’s what we discovered as we ambled
through neighbourhoods, and then back to the ashram. The city is serious
about creating green spaces for families in the downtown area. Of course, everyone’s out and about because
it’s summertime. The smells are
great. The colours are green and
rich. Mind you, the concrete does exist,
but it is broken by patches of play and relaxation areas.
The city is wisening up. Also, I led Karuna to 187 Gerrard Street—now
a house—formerly a temple of forty residents, where I joined in ’73. Going down a good Memory Lane is worth the
walk.
May the Source be with you!
8 km
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