Toronto, Ontario
Young Men Coming
A young man came to visit for the first time. He said he's chanting all the time, even at work, on a low-decibel level, of course. He's getting a really good feeling from the maha-mantra, and that's why he's making that commitment.
He asked me about living like a monk and trying it out. "I'm thinking about it," he said. Naturally I encouraged him and suggested he consider a short term session, a weekend or so, for starters. I gave him things to contemplate. He's interested in it all. He's Hispanic.
Another young man, of Gujarati descent, came to talk. "I wanted to confess to someone and get some advice about sin." It was a great thirty minutes just hearing about his personal concerns, and how he was going through what young men want—position, gain, owning, belonging and love. We chatted about things that he could not open up to fully with parents. That's natural because everyone needs a mentor, big brother, counselor-type in life, especially young males before they take on the world, and even after.
My advice was to keep dharmic-centered and ultimately bhakti-centered. In other words, oblige oneself to duty and responsibility to others, and then to the self. Exercise focus in these areas.
It was another day of over-castness and drizzle, but in between the light-sprinkle segments, I managed to walk within the neighbourhood doing a few loops on local streets and in alleyways.
May the Source be with you!
4 km
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