Thursday, January 10th, 2019

Spence's Bridge, British Columbia

The Valley and the Bridge

Jaya Govinda let me off at the juncture of the Trans Canada Highway and Venables Valley Road.  I put it to him like this: "If I don't walk now, I won't get a chance later."  He understood.  So from there I slowly ascended to a higher altitude by way of a country road which was slippery in parts.

At this late morning time, the sun was peaking in intensity.  I actually began to sweat despite the snow all around, and unpeeled my coat, but still perspired in the process of walking.

I came to some realization regarding meeting people.  Stay on the road and eventually motorists will take that road you're on.  They'll stop and talk in a small place like this. In the past I would walk from door to door to make a monk's visit, but I see now that you stay on the main trail and the world comes to you.

Now outside Venables Valley I know only a few folks.  Satarupa, a resident, kindly arranged a talk at the Spence's Bridge community hall, next to the Garuda Inn.  There's a hundred and fifty residents here, and the town is known for creating the Granny Smith's apple.  Far out!

Twenty-five or more people turned up, come from the valley, to hear a session of "Tales from Trails."  So, you have a mix of those who are informed of bhakti yoga and those who are not.  At Q and A time, a man from the valley asked, "What do you think of when you're walking?"

Answer (in short) was, "I contemplate on my three phases of time.  What I did that shapes me now and what I do now that shapes my future."

May the Source be with you!

6 km