Monday 2 December 2019

Thursday, November 28th, 2019


Toronto, Ontario

A Gale: Before and After

The decorated Christmas tree came crashing down.  A metal barrier at a construction site also collapsed to a horizontal position and lay there.  Clear plastic bags flitted in the air, here—there.  It was surreal and it was happening within a certain solitude.  A strong gale whipped through the downtown where I was walking.  It was 3:30 a.m.

I needed that walk.  It has been a sleepless night.  The hike through the gale inserted energy while I held onto my dhoti (lower garment). 

I entered the Krishna temple/ashram, only to find peace and a form of stillness.  Dakshin, an early-rising monk, sat there in his japa meditation.  And then the day went by, with my moving about and up to various tasks.  Some talking.  Some mopping.  Some encouraging.  Some eating.  Some napping (to catch up on some sleep).

Govinda's Dining Room (inside the temple) was hopping.  People came for the tranquil meal.  A Bengali family came in with their friends and fairly newborn.  She received her first grains.  The room became more boisterous in a pleasant way.

Now it was time to walk the same route as earlier.  It was 6:30 p.m., and also dark.  The Christmas tree was put up erect again (Yorkville).  The metal barrier also was hoisted up (Yonge).  And the clear plastic bags seemed to have made a landing somewhere.  (Bloor).

I come back home to the ashram to get my luggage in order.  I'm leaving for Edmonton tomorrow.  We'll so some "Tales from Trails" there.  I will explain the reason we walk and how the optics can reveal both movement and stillness.

May the Source be with you!
6 km

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