Thursday, May 27, 2021

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

The Last Straw/The Last Verse

 

It happens frequently enough — poor Wi-Fi reception. Every Thursday I conduct a class hosted by a sweet couple in Florida. Practically every week, over the course of my call, which is actually a Bhagavad-Gita class, I get disconnected and end up disappointing both those on the call and myself. This is a managerial problem that must be solved. The class unfortunately had to terminate, so far as my delivery was concerned. However, two people on the call, Murari Gupta from Florida and Gaurachandra from Calgary, both initiates of mine, stepped up and continued the class.

 

Our lesson was from 9.34 of the Bhagavad Gita, which, in many ways, offers sound advice with regard to meditation and it’s practical follow up. The message is that regardless of what happens we are encouraged to remember Krishna and all his transcendence; whether it be His form, His activities, His relationships, His home, etc.

 

When all else fails in the realm of looking for refuge then we look to the embodiment of God in full beauty, warmth and kindness.

 

The verse is a grand wrap-up to a powerful chapter entitled “The Most Confidential Knowledge.” By the entire chapter we are encouraged to absorb ourselves with Krishna’s presence in all things and in all we do. Although I feel somewhat disappointed, I should not fail to remember Him.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

BhaktiArts Hub S.O.S.

 

It was our fourth time together. You may have heard of Vande Arts, an arts initiative driven to create a camaraderie among bhakti artists. Well, you might say that this next reincarnation of that direction is called BhaktiArt Hub S.O.S. Shaping Our Soul is a piece of our vision statement.

 

Through Zoom our group of a few, for starters, is comprised of Gaura Vani, the bhajan singer, a sweet couple from San Antonio, Texas by the names Bhagavan Narada and Naradi, Govinda Gopal from Jersey City, Pariksit from Vrindavan/Toronto and myself. It’s a nice team representing North America for the time being. We are wishing and praying for success.

 

Our crew firmly believes that culture changes through the medium of the arts. If the thrust is bhakti or devotional promotion, then love can prevail. All the current members have proven to produce or facilitate artistic expressions in the field of divine arts. It is an exciting initiative and, I’m sure, one that our guru, Prabhupada, would be pleased with. Whether through music, dance, drama, film, fine art or graphic art, all have a significant role to play in adjusting the consciousness of a needing world.

 

I’m glad to be involved.

 

Our push at the temple towards fundraising for Mayapura and Bangladesh is not over. My assistant, Sarthak, filmed myself for an appeal to help in matters of supplying food and medicine to those in need. I ended the day at the park chanting my gayatri mantras.

 

May the Source be with you!

2 km

 

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Room at 243, Toronto

 

The Day of the Lion

 

Today is all about the lion avatar known as Narasimha. I was happily busy with delivering five classes on the subject today. This fearsome-bodied, lovable creature is a hero for many – a Divine protector.

 

The story of the advent of this extraordinary superhero centers around a child abuse situation. The guilty party and cult mastermind of what you could call “the evil empire” is a fellow by the name of Hiranyakasipu. Hiranya implies the man’s thirst for wealth and Kasipu refers to his lifestyle of womanly pleasure.

 

He begot four sons and Prahlad, one of the boys was different from the others. That was a compliment. Prahlad was under the duress of his father who just could not tolerate his son’s allegiance to God. The boy’s adherence to a power greater than his own father was just infuriating. Unacceptable! That is where the gap began. Prahlad was considered a troublemaker when in truth the real trouble maker considered everyone else outside of himself as such.

 

Tyrants always find themselves in a bubble. It is remarkable what they can achieve through conquest as they do. One single ego can draw an irreversible following of fools. It was just a single scratch from the super hero, Narasimha, who burst out of a pillar, that dissolved the evil empire.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Monday, May 24, 2021

Arnstein, Toronto

 

Escape

 

I managed to keep a proper social distance from moose, bear and cougar while in the north country for the day. My companion, Jivan Mukta, and I escaped from the big city for a three-hour venture to a marvelous 200-acre property he just purchased, near Algonquin Park, for a potential yoga retreat site. En route we did witness a mishap. A young moose did get killed by a motorist. Sad news, but this is a reality when the world of modernity comes face to face with the natural world.

 

But back to pleasantries. The plot of land has many gorgeous features including much waterfront being edged at Lake Bain. There’s 200 acres of sprawling, rolling-hills with a mix of trees, areas of clearing meadow punctuated by ambient rock of the Cambrian. The place is remote, in a way, and that accounts for the clean air and water. However, some cities, Sudbury and Northbay, are situated at a close enough distance. The call of the white-throated sparrow dominated the ether while other signs of wildlife are abounding. Some scant was found; the excrement of some creature, perhaps coyote.

 

We scouted the area, on foot, and then sat by the waters edge for kirtan, after which we munched on wraps of a deliciousness only to be had in the outdoors.

 

It was just perfect; Krishna’s mercy. We pray to be back again sometime soon and make our way to a Muskoka project in Huntsville.

 

May the Source be with you!

3 km