Monday, 8 January 2018

Friday, January 5th, 2018

Saranagati, British Columbia

Family Life in the Valley

You might wonder if a monk has any interest in family values.  The answer is a resounding, “YES!”  At least this one finds it a favourite topic.  My hosts, Partha and Uttama, and I carried on with a casual discussion on the strength and stability behind a solid family unit.  Everyone wants it but the rate of separation within couples is astounding.

“Let’s get behind it,” is their method,  and I might add, that to their credit, they are world travellers who present seminars on successful marriages.

One admirable couple in the valley are Mark and Sunny who are putting the finishing touches on their own designed home atop a mountain.  Mark has built it himself with local materials—pine, fir, cedar and more.  Their two kids are loving their domain.

Bala Krishna and Hari Lila, living at the north end of the valley, are the most progressive growers of edible plants.  Called Bhumi Farms, their endeavour in living the organic life and providing fantastic veggies and fruits is enviable.  Of course, at this time of year one resorts to more root cellar food.  A visit to their patch and pad of Krishna consciousness is what I always look forward to.

From Bhumi Farms, I trekked—yes, the roads have been cleared—to Manu and Satarupa’s place, another home on the way to rustic completion.  Manu is a fine cook.  I was a little overzealous on the local “Fear the Heat” peppers sprinkled on my soup.  Some dilution of the prep made it less intense.

Gopinatha and Ananda from Colorado are into health, and presented a talk on the panacea of good diet to include chanting.  Their experiment, where they surveyed volunteers on chanting the maha mantra over a period of time, produced remarkable results.  They shared that with us in the Govardhan School.

Good Stuff!

May the Source be with you!


6 km


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