Ujjain, India
Feet to Forest
It was a frivolous
moment but one that flared up naturally after hours of rather formal
meetings. My door was open. I had guests over, when two monks, actual
buddies, came inside.
Sivarama Swami, one of
them, looked down at my feet and remarked, “Those are the feet that did all
those miles.” I could see what was
coming. Both he and B.B. Govinda Swami
impulsively grabbed my right leg.
Sivaram Swami took that foot and gave it a love bite. He passed it on to B.B. Govinda Swami who then
gave it a big kiss. All was done in good
fun. A little embarrassed, I was, but I
was happy they came to bring a phase of light-heartedness to the evening. My guests had a good laugh at the casual nature
of it all.
Who said monks can’t
have a little fun?
I did have the good
fortune to speak with my Russian monk friend, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, who is
suffering from insomnia, but is now improving.
He said over the phone that the compounding of administrative
responsibilities had taken its toll.
“For over four months I wasn’t getting any sleep,” he said, but now he’s
on a slow recovery, thank God.
The opportunity also
came up, yesterday, for me to deliver the Bhagavatam
class. The verse was regarding the
Pracetas, yogis who had meditated, submerged in water, and when they came out
of their trance they saw the world around them in thick tree cover. From their yogic power, they invoked from
their mouths fire and wind with the intent to deforest certain areas. Some, the god of the moon and herbs,
protected and challenged them. I
received compliments from the class. I
felt quite dreamy after that.
May the Source be with
you!
6 km
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