Montreal, Quebec
Sunday Openness
I took Kalakanta and Fernando to the botanical gardens, which is slightly more than a stone's throw from our temple darshan on PIE IX Blvd. in Montreal. Nice place. I come here all the time; yet at the entrance, two officials asked if we have our tickets.
"No!"
"That's twenty dollars a person."
Oops! I thought, then I voiced my decision to reverse, and so we ventured along the adjoining trails and parks where pedestrians from just about any different background put palms together for a "namaste" if they knew how to say it.
What was once old farmland is now a network of green thoroughfares—no cars, thank God.
We also joined the team of monks who routinely go down Ontario Street for public chanting. In front of the Pharmasave store, we sat to bellow out the mahamantra with mrdunga drum, cymbals and harmonium while under a tree. One of the boys became a target from a bird above. Mercy to him. But it was the pedestrians here also who pleasantly received us now through our singing and playing.
The final piece of chanting happened at the temple, where folks are happily habituated to coming to the Sunday Open House. At the front door I met two women who showed up for the first time, a result of meeting our boys who were chanting on the street.
Kalakanta delivered his last class while on his eastern Canada tour for promoting back to the land and animals lifestyle. It was good. https://www.instagram.com/p/BxwrODEA68P/?igshid=1bid2ylxk1yr9
May the Source be with you!
5 km
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