Sunday 27 February 2022

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Roxborough St., Toronto

Gabriel

Gabriel is from a small town in Ontario – St. Mary’s – and he now resides in Toronto while making the effort to be with us on a daily basis, in the morning. He comes in through the door after leaving his shoes in the designated shoe room before entering the large temple room. He then offers his prostrations before the deity of Prabhupada, our guru.

After fetching a sitting mat, he plants himself firmly on it; sitting squarely in a close-to-lotus position. With beads in a bag, he fingers through the tulasi-wood beads, chanting japa.

Japa” is a word found in the ancient text, Bhagavad-gita, and it becomes intrinsic in the regulation of a devotee’s life. It can, in fact, be his life-line.

Gabriel was asked about his consciousness with Krishna and he answered saying, “There are many aspects to the life-style that are particularly appealing. Especially japa chanting.” With those beads of 108 in number, he focuses on chanting the mantra for deliverance.

Gabriel is a great tambourine player and, at the time of kirtan, chanting, he let’s loose with the instrument adding a great dimension to the overall devotional sound. After the kirtan chanting, he relishes listening to the daily class on the book, Bhagavatam. He always asks a question or comments on the talk, which indicates his keen interest in the philosophy. I also know that eating a great breakfast at the end of the morning program is a grand finale for him. It tops it off.

May the Source be with you!

1 km


 

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