243 Ave. Rd., Toronto
Bhakti Academy
It was a grand fest to honour
Lord Ram. From the quarters where I stay in the temple/ashram complex I could
hear, one floor below, the beautiful chants, a talk delivered by a visiting
friend from Florida, Kalakantha, that triggered applause, and the sounds of
drums and bells.
“I’m missing it all,” I
contested, due to my inability to walk around. I’m crutch dependent.
I opened the doors to hear more
and perhaps peak at the crowd from an above angle and then it hit me – an
immediate whiff of collective bodies. The temple room below is so jam-packed
with people. It was much like the crowds on Krishna’s birthday. “Happy
Janmasthami!” At least it felt like that.
People were just so thrilled to
be together again after the two-year light-and-hard curfew.
Anyways, I had to close the door.
The body-smell was a slight-bit noxious.
So back to Kalakantha. He’s a
real gentleman, and he came all the way up to Canada to help us structure a
Bhakti Academy in Toronto. It is a three-month training of bhakti for
younger folks who are working, going to school, or want the full-on experience
of a monk’s life.
We so much wanted to offer this
program after months and months of renovations in the basement. We wanted to
make our place more of a learning centre as opposed to just a place of mantra
and worship. So Kalal is laying the ground work. We are grateful.
May the Source be with you!
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