Port Coquitlan, British Columbia
Cool/Warm
It gets fairly interesting when
the boiler breaks down and you sit in a frigid space. I’m talking about our
temple hall in Burnaby, where I’m staying. In sacred places like Vrindavan,
India, you just don’t have central heating, therefore a pilgrim will naturally
feel a chill. As pilgrims do at these times of year, they wrap themselves in
coats, scarves, mits, and chauddars (shawls). It’s the norm to bundle up
in the winter.
What compensates for the chill in
the air is chanting and reciting the Bhagavatam. To get the most out of
the book is to act as a facilitator – open up with the verse of the day by
reciting it in Sanskrit, then explore the transliteration of each word, read
the purport, establish a theme to speak on, then finally allow others to engage
in the discussion. This is where the real warmth comes in. We are bundled
together to discuss what’s really important in life. In Burnaby, I find the
community participates well in Bhagavatam discussions. At least it makes
my day.
A good chunk of this afternoon
was spent doing reading work; the making of an audio version of the book The
Saffron Path. I’ve done recordings before in studios. They sometimes are
below comfort, temperature-wise. Sometimes I find them a trite stuffy and hot.
In one sense it doesn’t matter. The absorption in the subject matter is what
counts. The subject is Krishna.
May the Source be with you!
4 km
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