Friday 22 September 2017

Wednesday, September 20th, 2017

Omaha, Nebraska

At Om-Maha!

“Do you speak English?” asked the young father of two kids active at the playground.

“Yes, I do!”  I said.

“Are they smudging?” he asked, referring to the two monks, my helpers, Hayagriva and Marshall.  They were sitting on the grass.  

I simply replied, “They are actually chanting.  It’s like sharing a peace pipe.  They are purifying the atmosphere with ancient Sanskrit mantras.  It benefits both the persons singing and those who are listening.”

“It’s very peaceful, soothing,” remarked the man, who identified himself as Andrew.  He’s been struggling with life, has been to rehab but has been straight and sober for two years and three months.  When he told me of this victory, I congratulated him.

“The chanting is something that grounds an individual.  Here is my card with the mantra on the back.  I just finished a cross-country U.S.A. walk and have been chanting a lot of it.”  I also gave him the book, On Chanting, and a second one, How to Make a Deal With the Universe, which I had an extra copy of and is authored by Rami Bleckt, a friend and bhakti yogi.   https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Deal-Universe-English/dp/5990198752 

Andrew was most appreciative and I was pleased to have met him.  “Please keep in touch.” 

I had also been keeping in contact with another young father, Josh, who came over to the park—Westwood Heights—to see me.  He also partook of the apparent “smudge.”

More chanting took place in Omaha, in the company of Bhaskar, where we had gathered last summer as I was making my way on foot to the west.  It was a great day on wheels and in the park.  I managed, however, to squeeze in two miles on foot.

May the Source be with you!

2 miles

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