Sunday 7 July 2019

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Okay!

Okay! It became a strain to find a driver to take us to Bellevue Square Park.  In our ashram, there are lots of drivers, and vehicles in the driveway, but no one was available to carry our instruments for a kirtan to any park.  Often times the things you search for are right under your nose. I looked out the window to where there is a city-block-long green space.  Problem solved.  "That park, although not as dense with people as we would like, does have some foot traffic.  I say we carry our instruments across the street and we are good to go."

I mustered up interest from Ananda, and that was all we then had for musicians—Ananda and I.  On the way along through the dog-park section, we found Jai Sri, who’s in his 60s, one of our other ashram dwellers, on the park bench reading the newspaper next to his bicycle.  Cycling in a daily routine for him.

He closed the paper quickly upon seeing us.  "Oops!"  Monk looking at the news?  Is it allowed?

Yes, it's alright.  Scan the articles.  Capture their essence.  Avoid getting too sucked in.  So for the first time in twenty-five years, I saw Jai Sri sit down on the grass with us chanting.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BzhIYX2g9sK/?igshid=123xf6a5p65lh

Ten minutes into the chanting and a local guy, middle-aged Erin,  is walking by.  He notices us, approves of us and shows it with a thumbs up.  I ask him to come forward with a gesture of my hand and he responds.  He sits down, pulls out bongos and joins us.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzj5u9jARLj/?igshid=1icjwserriiz9    When our session was complete, I invited him over to our Govinda's for dinner.  He agreed.  We made a friend.  He probably reads the newspaper.

May the Source be with you!
8 km

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