Sunday, 18 March 2018

Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Gainesville, Florida

Conflicts We Face

As we all know, the world is full of conflict.  Conflict was the major topic of discussion at the Krishna house in Gainesville this morning.  Thirty students and facilitators are accommodated with living quarters in this flourishing little nook within the city.  There’s more than one houseful, in other words.

From Canto One, the story arises about the Yadu Dynasty, and they, being the most powerful empire of the time, were unconquerable.  By divine arrangement (if you will), the dynasty’s demise involved rice wine and its consumption, in group dynamic, which led to a flogging to the death of each other.  There was conflict ‘within’, which is where our thoughts brought us to, in so far as a point for discussion. We all struggle internally with our minds, perhaps even more than we receive pain externally.  It was interesting.

At evening time, Ananta and I walked his neighbourhood’s backroads to reach the home of Janmastami.  There we met for a converging of families.  For the children—I sat them in front of me; adults in the back—I read and ‘charaded’ the chapter of “Killing the Dhenukasura Demon.”  This arrangement pumped up the kids to no end.  The magic of this situation is that parents and others also feel part of the fun.  Kirtan and pasta were also featured.

I received a call from Daruka of Winnipeg, my trusty back-up man for cross-Canada walks of the past.  His mum, Marilyn, in her late 70s, is having a difficult time, physically.  I told him I would appeal to readers of this blog to offer prayers for this “strong woman,” as he put it.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

No comments: