Tuesday 3 March 2020

Friday, February 28th, 2020


Noida, India

Sweet Papaya, Sweet People

It's papaya season and it shows.  For breakfast, we were provided with chunks of the fruit, in addition to grapes, chicu (sapota) and apples.  About one kilometre away from the ashram, where we're staying, is a home for male bhakti-yoga practitioners.  They have a unique program designed for younger men who are not monks, but rather are preparing themselves for the world by going to work at an office, or going to school.  It was here that Corrado, Anuttama and I had our papaya and other fruits. 

As I was delivering one of those "Tales from Trails" classes, some of the men, of which thirty live in the house, were departing and reporting for duty.  In general, people like hearing about my walking adventures because they appreciate the simple and sometimes the tough-and-fun nature of it.  People ask, "When are you gonna write a book?"

I held a second class for monks in the ashram.  Some are in saffron, other in white, depending on the stage of their training.  They are delighted in foot travels.  At question time, it was exhilarating to hear what's on their minds.  One of the boys asked, "You say many of us will be married in the future.  How do we prepare for that?"

I expressed that we must be honest with ourselves.  "Most of us will not keep up with celibacy for our whole life."

My third and last class for the day was at Buddhimanta's home.  He is the president of the temple.  He invites many families to a weekly sangha.  So I talked about how valuable is a family.  "You get the chance to serve each other in a family bond."

May the Source be with you!
4 km 


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