Oakland, California
2
Days 2 Go
Our day began on top of the hill, or
mountain, just as we had left it the day before. The weather, however, posed a new front. Yesterday it was sunny and fine, but this
morning at 4:45 it was drizzly and breezy.
Anuttama, Hayagriva and I spiralled down by way of streets until we
reached the lowest level of traffic. No
forests met us today, nor desert or countryside. No hawk flew over our heads, which has been a daily occurrence. But homes and traces of the concrete jungle
were now in our midst with the cloud cover persisting.
And that’s how it was all the way to the
Oakland ferry dock. It was but a quick
seven mile trek before the barrier of the bay met with us. Walking is not permitted on the Oakland
Bridge over the bay but that was okay.
It was time to see Anibal, coordinator of the Antioch Senior Center. There I gave a message, over the microphone,
extolling the glories of pilgrimage to the 60 year olds and above.
Anuttama left for D.C. and the three of us
were off to see Guru Das, student of Prabhupada and someone who had been in San
Francisco during the “Summer of Love” and when Hare Krishna had its beginnings
on the west coast. At Stow Lake, the
founder of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, used to go for his morning walks. Guru Das told us that when Prabhupada made
his visit here and an entourage would follow, he would speak about nature, as
this area is like a piece of Vaikuntha—heaven.
“When he would get his massage, he would speak about history… He also let me know that anyone can ‘rub oil’. You go out and preach.”
May the Source be with you!
7 miles
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