Etobicoke, Ontario
With My Modest Backpack
A fresh and pretty snowfall blessed the city of Toronto in
the morning, leaving a cover of whiteness.
By mid-afternoon, the under layer was being melted by a follow-up warm
sun. The conditions were favourable
enough to do that walk in a westerly direction toward Etobicoke.
I donned pants, t-shirt with the OM insignia, and a jacket,
while my devotional apparel was tucked inside my backpack. (The Western wear was to protect my
devotional clothes from snow wetness and possible salt.)
I'm proud of that backpack; had it for twenty-four years
since my first power walk in '96. Sewn
onto this modest backpack is the image of a maple leaf, a map of Canada and footprints
stretching across. I was hoping people
would notice—at least one person. But
soon sunset and darkness prevailed during my four-thirty-start walk. Who really could even see it?
Once the sun had left us, the running and melting snow
became still, before changing its constitution into a hard and slippery
dynamic. Careful footing was necessary
in spots. Although a possible fall was a
reality, I still felt much more safe than any of those motorists whizzing
by. Of course, it is Friday afternoon,
and traffic is really more like a snail race.
By 6:30 p.m., Jay Ling had found me at Dufferin and Castlefield,
at a shop called California Sandwiches, and then driven me to Gaurav's
home. The occasion? A sangha of sorts. He and his wife have a 2 &1/2 month-old baby, Partha, and a gathering of
families had come to see, eat, read and chant.
I showed off my backpack.
May the Source be with you!
7 km
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