Water and Sand
The Beaches, Toronto
Jonathon from Florida, Madhavendra who's local and I took to the boardwalk, a slightly over 2 km trail along Lake Ontario, there and back. I'm always impressed with the folks you meet there. They're friendly. The air is relatively good. It's peaceful. Waves gently lap against the shore.
What I admire of these people is their determination towards fitness. A daily yoga team was in action, weight-lifters at Balmy Beach club were strutting their stuff, dog walkers were at their duty, finally joggers whizzed by us. I guess we fit into the category of being "japers", meaning our threesome were engaged in chanting japa, (chanting on beads). This we did while walking. We were getting fit in two ways. The walking explains itself. And secondly, there's the chanting. This is where it gets interesting.
We hear that chanting purifies. What Madhavendra relayed to us was that once a psychologist had done a brain-scan of him while chanting japa and took note on the monitor that the squiggles on the graph were very unique. Apparently a part of the brain was activated that he had never seen before. I guess that unique segment of the brain was doing some exercise.
It might be daring to say but we were exercising a body component that others on the boardwalk were not.
One thing that others did not do was to take a dip in lake Ontario. I did a solo on that. The water's chills explains the reason for the solitary endeavour. This was done not as a way to show off but reenacting a childhood pastime. It was invigorating as much as it was to chant on a wooden trail where our guru, Srila Prabhupada had walked 36 years ago. Swimming in the waters of the Great Lakes and lying on her sands have always been the places where I would wonder, "Where is God?" and "How does He appear?"
10 Km
B L O G S P O T
Friday, 10 June 2011
Monday, June 6th, 2011
We Met
Toronto, Ontario
This man walks his dog every day religiously. I've seen him at his daily regimen for about twenty-five years. Occasionally we stop and chat. He's in his sixties and expressed mechanical issues with his body. Each time we talk I learn more about him. I was delighted to hear he's a big time artist.
"I was with a community of forty artists. The camaraderie was quite phenomenal. That closeness of communication terminated in the late eighties. The computer came and everyone became alienated. The good company was over."
Being at that age it is common to gripe about things, to ponder on the times you were comfortable.
We spoke about the golden years or what we knew of that twenty year time frame from past was from 1945 to 1965. "dad worked and provided for everything. The mortgage was easy to pay off. Mom looked after our personal needs. You had a brother, a sister, a dog, a cat and a car."
"Unions were strong then," said my friend whose name I haven't yet got to know.
We talked on. He wanted to know about my passions for walking: "What's your purpose for the cross nation walks?" he never bothered to ask before.
"I walk to create a spiritually friendly environment, to encourage people to consider the spiritual side of life." I didn't express fully the words I wanted to. I would like to say, "To create a sankirtan friendly environment." (Sankirtan meaning a spiritual synergy particularly to do with chanting)
Essentially the idea is to let the public see a monk (the more monks, the merrier) and to then strike a curiosity which is innate in all of us. Spirituality is a human right.
Our last piece of conversation entailed my friend recently being visited by a follower of Jehovah who was sold out on the end-of-the-world doomsday scenario. We both agreed that it's not just religious zealots that prescribe to Chicken Little theories. Y2K was a corporate ploy that wreaked of the same deceptive odour.
"It's a great way to make money," said my friend chuckling as we parted ways.
9 Km
Toronto, Ontario
This man walks his dog every day religiously. I've seen him at his daily regimen for about twenty-five years. Occasionally we stop and chat. He's in his sixties and expressed mechanical issues with his body. Each time we talk I learn more about him. I was delighted to hear he's a big time artist.
"I was with a community of forty artists. The camaraderie was quite phenomenal. That closeness of communication terminated in the late eighties. The computer came and everyone became alienated. The good company was over."
Being at that age it is common to gripe about things, to ponder on the times you were comfortable.
We spoke about the golden years or what we knew of that twenty year time frame from past was from 1945 to 1965. "dad worked and provided for everything. The mortgage was easy to pay off. Mom looked after our personal needs. You had a brother, a sister, a dog, a cat and a car."
"Unions were strong then," said my friend whose name I haven't yet got to know.
We talked on. He wanted to know about my passions for walking: "What's your purpose for the cross nation walks?" he never bothered to ask before.
"I walk to create a spiritually friendly environment, to encourage people to consider the spiritual side of life." I didn't express fully the words I wanted to. I would like to say, "To create a sankirtan friendly environment." (Sankirtan meaning a spiritual synergy particularly to do with chanting)
Essentially the idea is to let the public see a monk (the more monks, the merrier) and to then strike a curiosity which is innate in all of us. Spirituality is a human right.
Our last piece of conversation entailed my friend recently being visited by a follower of Jehovah who was sold out on the end-of-the-world doomsday scenario. We both agreed that it's not just religious zealots that prescribe to Chicken Little theories. Y2K was a corporate ploy that wreaked of the same deceptive odour.
"It's a great way to make money," said my friend chuckling as we parted ways.
9 Km
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Snap!
Toronto, Ontario
"Snap! Crackle 'N Pop!" It wasn't the sound of rice krispies exploding in the cold milk that I heard. I don't eat that stuff.
At 4 AM the sound came from above - with a thunderous volume. The gods were displaying a light and sound show. The threatening rain was a deterrent to my venturing too far away on foot from the ashram as the rowdy party ensued above.
The sky was the stage for a real drama, short, but real. The cracking with resounding echo and strobe effect that I physically witnessed seemed a precursor to the reading of this morning's Bhagavatam verse.
Our small band of monks, about a dozen, sat down to hear about a major conflict between one of the gods and a demon. the demigod, Indra, wielded his thunderbolt weapon in the battle against Vitrasura, a demon of extraordinary valour. According to the text, Vrtrasura out shone Indra while in action by the use of his eloquent philosophical insight and his expert use of weaponry. Tridents, clubs, and thunderbolts were divine weapons employed in the field of action. Sparks flew. You could just imagine the fireworks.
Vrtrasura's strength was so intimidating that all the gods were retrieving. It became apparent to him that they were avoiding the struggle of battle. "Struggle should be welcomed" was our message to the monks after the reading. And our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had emphasized that in order for there to be victory it must be preceded by struggle.
What we learned from the display of explosions in the sky and the Bhagavatam message on ground level was that in this world there will be clashings. In the choice of battles, particularly the battle of mind and senses, must be accepted and in the end may we be victorious.
8 Km
Toronto, Ontario
"Snap! Crackle 'N Pop!" It wasn't the sound of rice krispies exploding in the cold milk that I heard. I don't eat that stuff.
At 4 AM the sound came from above - with a thunderous volume. The gods were displaying a light and sound show. The threatening rain was a deterrent to my venturing too far away on foot from the ashram as the rowdy party ensued above.
The sky was the stage for a real drama, short, but real. The cracking with resounding echo and strobe effect that I physically witnessed seemed a precursor to the reading of this morning's Bhagavatam verse.
Our small band of monks, about a dozen, sat down to hear about a major conflict between one of the gods and a demon. the demigod, Indra, wielded his thunderbolt weapon in the battle against Vitrasura, a demon of extraordinary valour. According to the text, Vrtrasura out shone Indra while in action by the use of his eloquent philosophical insight and his expert use of weaponry. Tridents, clubs, and thunderbolts were divine weapons employed in the field of action. Sparks flew. You could just imagine the fireworks.
Vrtrasura's strength was so intimidating that all the gods were retrieving. It became apparent to him that they were avoiding the struggle of battle. "Struggle should be welcomed" was our message to the monks after the reading. And our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had emphasized that in order for there to be victory it must be preceded by struggle.
What we learned from the display of explosions in the sky and the Bhagavatam message on ground level was that in this world there will be clashings. In the choice of battles, particularly the battle of mind and senses, must be accepted and in the end may we be victorious.
8 Km
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Sunday, June 5th, 2011
Are we losing Our Attraction?
Vaughan, Ontario
At the work place of one of our members a large room designed specifically for a satsang program (spiritual gathering) was the venue for our chanting session. It was predominantly a Punjabi group. One elderly man, 92 years of age, posed a question:
"Is the movement of Krishna Consciousness losing it's attraction for the people of non- East Indian origin?"
My answer: "Certainly there is a great amount of enthusiasm experienced among Indian people for devotion to Krishna. It is natural for them, as Krishna devotion is inherent since childhood. The first people to take to this process when the Krishna movement started in the west were youthful Jewish and Christian Americans. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, ignited this awareness with their help. However, in more recent years there has been, by circumstance, an emphasis towards catering to devotional immigrants.
"My particular observation is that the world is changing and that the novelty and wonder that Krishna Consciousness provided in the sixties somewhat waned. Our administrators in Krishna Consciousness haven't always stepped up to move with the world of changing attitudes. The interest in spirituality has always kept alive. The marketing has been weak.
"Recognizing this weakness a few thoughtful persons in the local area decided to take a fresh approach such as opening an Urban Edge Yoga Centre, offering vegetarian cooking classes, conducting intimate chanting groups and Gita classes geared towards a new audience. There has been some level of success in this endeavour. Some attendees at Urban Edge have taken to the process very seriously.
"There is hope for more international involvement."
After a rather full day of speaking, counselling, sharing and cleansing I lay down to rest at 11 PM, but I couldn't go to sleep. I couldn't understand, why the restlessness? It suddenly dawned on me. I hadn't walked, not even a few metres. I had taken a long ride from Ottawa. So I pulled off the bed covers and went for a walk until becoming tired.
7 Km
Vaughan, Ontario
At the work place of one of our members a large room designed specifically for a satsang program (spiritual gathering) was the venue for our chanting session. It was predominantly a Punjabi group. One elderly man, 92 years of age, posed a question:
"Is the movement of Krishna Consciousness losing it's attraction for the people of non- East Indian origin?"
My answer: "Certainly there is a great amount of enthusiasm experienced among Indian people for devotion to Krishna. It is natural for them, as Krishna devotion is inherent since childhood. The first people to take to this process when the Krishna movement started in the west were youthful Jewish and Christian Americans. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, ignited this awareness with their help. However, in more recent years there has been, by circumstance, an emphasis towards catering to devotional immigrants.
"My particular observation is that the world is changing and that the novelty and wonder that Krishna Consciousness provided in the sixties somewhat waned. Our administrators in Krishna Consciousness haven't always stepped up to move with the world of changing attitudes. The interest in spirituality has always kept alive. The marketing has been weak.
"Recognizing this weakness a few thoughtful persons in the local area decided to take a fresh approach such as opening an Urban Edge Yoga Centre, offering vegetarian cooking classes, conducting intimate chanting groups and Gita classes geared towards a new audience. There has been some level of success in this endeavour. Some attendees at Urban Edge have taken to the process very seriously.
"There is hope for more international involvement."
After a rather full day of speaking, counselling, sharing and cleansing I lay down to rest at 11 PM, but I couldn't go to sleep. I couldn't understand, why the restlessness? It suddenly dawned on me. I hadn't walked, not even a few metres. I had taken a long ride from Ottawa. So I pulled off the bed covers and went for a walk until becoming tired.
7 Km
Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Some Happenings!
Ottawa, Ontario
"How is your dharma doing?" asked the white-haired Caucasian man over the sound of our kirtan. Our small chanting processional group was stopped at a red light when the question come to my ear.
"Absolutely gone. I'm doing my dharma right now. And how is your karma?" I asked him.
"I guess I'll be coming back," he said admitting his succumbing to the world again through the process of reincarnation.
"That's what happens to us."
"How do you know for sure?" he was curious. "Can anyone testify to that?"
"There are those who have come back."
Half joking he said, "I'd like to meet them," when the light turned green permitting both pedestrian and motorists to move.
We were near the Rideau Centre and the market square of Ottawa when the exchange took place. It's always interesting to see and hear people's reactions. Also earlier on in the town of Russell, where Anthony and I stayed overnight, a japa walk got someone really inquisitive. Coming toward me from behind in this sleepy hollow town the motorist slowed down substantially to catch a view, forged ahead and did a U turn just to make sure he saw what he saw.
A second motorist stood arrested at a blinking red. There was no traffic whatsoever to wait for. Only until I got close enough did the driver make a 45 degree turn, then stop, rolled down the window and say, "Now you have a good day, eh!"
"I sure will, and you likewise."
If someone asks if I like this kind of attention the answer is a resounding, "Yes". It's not that I reek self-aggrandizement here. I'm not particularly photogenic. I'm happy people are taking notice to the tradition of renunciation. I believe it provokes thoughtfulness and inspiration.
17 Km
Ottawa, Ontario
"How is your dharma doing?" asked the white-haired Caucasian man over the sound of our kirtan. Our small chanting processional group was stopped at a red light when the question come to my ear.
"Absolutely gone. I'm doing my dharma right now. And how is your karma?" I asked him.
"I guess I'll be coming back," he said admitting his succumbing to the world again through the process of reincarnation.
"That's what happens to us."
"How do you know for sure?" he was curious. "Can anyone testify to that?"
"There are those who have come back."
Half joking he said, "I'd like to meet them," when the light turned green permitting both pedestrian and motorists to move.
We were near the Rideau Centre and the market square of Ottawa when the exchange took place. It's always interesting to see and hear people's reactions. Also earlier on in the town of Russell, where Anthony and I stayed overnight, a japa walk got someone really inquisitive. Coming toward me from behind in this sleepy hollow town the motorist slowed down substantially to catch a view, forged ahead and did a U turn just to make sure he saw what he saw.
A second motorist stood arrested at a blinking red. There was no traffic whatsoever to wait for. Only until I got close enough did the driver make a 45 degree turn, then stop, rolled down the window and say, "Now you have a good day, eh!"
"I sure will, and you likewise."
If someone asks if I like this kind of attention the answer is a resounding, "Yes". It's not that I reek self-aggrandizement here. I'm not particularly photogenic. I'm happy people are taking notice to the tradition of renunciation. I believe it provokes thoughtfulness and inspiration.
17 Km
Friday, June 3rd, 2011
New Words
L'Orleans, Ontario
Here's a new word - "Prunch". It rhymes with "brunch" which means eating in between breakfast and lunch or late morning. Since those of us in the Vaishnav tradition eat sanctified food known as prasadam, we took the liberty to consider that time of day and the type of food we consumed to be called "prunch". It was delicious!
Anthony and I were hosted at the home of Kacper and Vraja in the town of Russell. Avocado and tomato salad wrapped in chappati bread, excellent kichari, a mung dahl with rice and veggies, also smoothies and mango. This kind of meal, this "prunch", means a lot to Anthony. It's not that he's on the spiritual trail as a food fiend. Being with him now for the last week has allowed me to understand that his affinity for Krishna goes beyond the cravings of the palate. He's keen with the philosophy, food, friends and realizes the natural phenomena of karma.
With walking through the town of Russell and hitting a bike trail, a former railway line, you could see signs all over the place; signs which read "Dump the Dump NOW!" Apparently the town is being proposed for a dump site and residents are not swallowing the idea. I spoke with Anthony and Kacper about karma being like trash. "You try to dispose of it but no one wants your dump. You have to take care of it yourself."
A second walk for me with the boys was along the Rideau River in Ottawa at Strathcona Park. Just before a great meal (should we call it 'prinner' instead of dinner?) Anthony spotted a black swan. It took our attention as it did a woman about 60, who started to converse with us. She had heard of kirtan and how it curbs karma.
Our evening led us to a community centre in L'Orleans run by a Transcendental Meditation group. They had completed their session of meditation when we sat in a circular fashion with invitees for kirtan. It began soft and low in pitch and gradually built up pitch level, volume and even the stance, from lotus pose to standing and dancing. It was a small group, nine of us but quality folks they were, to the exception of myself. Let's exercise modesty.
After kirtan we enjoyed snacks or pracks.
10 Km
L'Orleans, Ontario
Here's a new word - "Prunch". It rhymes with "brunch" which means eating in between breakfast and lunch or late morning. Since those of us in the Vaishnav tradition eat sanctified food known as prasadam, we took the liberty to consider that time of day and the type of food we consumed to be called "prunch". It was delicious!
Anthony and I were hosted at the home of Kacper and Vraja in the town of Russell. Avocado and tomato salad wrapped in chappati bread, excellent kichari, a mung dahl with rice and veggies, also smoothies and mango. This kind of meal, this "prunch", means a lot to Anthony. It's not that he's on the spiritual trail as a food fiend. Being with him now for the last week has allowed me to understand that his affinity for Krishna goes beyond the cravings of the palate. He's keen with the philosophy, food, friends and realizes the natural phenomena of karma.
With walking through the town of Russell and hitting a bike trail, a former railway line, you could see signs all over the place; signs which read "Dump the Dump NOW!" Apparently the town is being proposed for a dump site and residents are not swallowing the idea. I spoke with Anthony and Kacper about karma being like trash. "You try to dispose of it but no one wants your dump. You have to take care of it yourself."
A second walk for me with the boys was along the Rideau River in Ottawa at Strathcona Park. Just before a great meal (should we call it 'prinner' instead of dinner?) Anthony spotted a black swan. It took our attention as it did a woman about 60, who started to converse with us. She had heard of kirtan and how it curbs karma.
Our evening led us to a community centre in L'Orleans run by a Transcendental Meditation group. They had completed their session of meditation when we sat in a circular fashion with invitees for kirtan. It began soft and low in pitch and gradually built up pitch level, volume and even the stance, from lotus pose to standing and dancing. It was a small group, nine of us but quality folks they were, to the exception of myself. Let's exercise modesty.
After kirtan we enjoyed snacks or pracks.
10 Km
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
To Ottawa
Highway 401/416, Ontario
Anthony and I descended the temple stairs of the temple to walk to the UTS University of Toronto School where we would be picked up by a student teacher for the overnight car ride to Ottawa, a smooth four and a half hour sail on asphalt. We chose to save money, which in my case doesn’t belong to me. All that you do in the life of a monk is to function on behalf of your guru. Nothing belongs to you, even the funds that you carry or hold in the bank belongs to the guru. You do what you can to be frugal.
Instead of spending $78 on a one-way bus fare or $100 plus on a train or $300 on a plane, if you can spare $30 for a shared car ride then that’s what you do. The principle is nirmana, nothing is mine.
When Anthony and I did reach our pick up spot to meet the driver, Patrick, we hauled our meager luggage into his automobile’s trunk after which Anthony graciously insisted on paying my $30 as well as his. Another passenger, Carrine, drove along with us. Patrick noticed my robes, a freshly dyed new set of clothes, but my vocation didn’t interest him and so c’est la vie, that’s life. Being a Phys Ed student and teacher he did take some interest in my marathon walks across Canada and other countries. But the conversation went only so deep. So be it.
Some folks tread deep waters. Some wade in where it’s shallow.
Before dosing off I reflected on my last impressionable image as Anthony and I left Govinda’s Dining Room at the temple. Under the facilitation of instructor, Rami Bleckt, seventy Russian enthusiasts of the Ayur Veda science sat with eyes closed chanting the maha-mantra “Hare Krisha Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. “
I believe they were absorbing their peace.
4 Km
Highway 401/416, Ontario
Anthony and I descended the temple stairs of the temple to walk to the UTS University of Toronto School where we would be picked up by a student teacher for the overnight car ride to Ottawa, a smooth four and a half hour sail on asphalt. We chose to save money, which in my case doesn’t belong to me. All that you do in the life of a monk is to function on behalf of your guru. Nothing belongs to you, even the funds that you carry or hold in the bank belongs to the guru. You do what you can to be frugal.
Instead of spending $78 on a one-way bus fare or $100 plus on a train or $300 on a plane, if you can spare $30 for a shared car ride then that’s what you do. The principle is nirmana, nothing is mine.
When Anthony and I did reach our pick up spot to meet the driver, Patrick, we hauled our meager luggage into his automobile’s trunk after which Anthony graciously insisted on paying my $30 as well as his. Another passenger, Carrine, drove along with us. Patrick noticed my robes, a freshly dyed new set of clothes, but my vocation didn’t interest him and so c’est la vie, that’s life. Being a Phys Ed student and teacher he did take some interest in my marathon walks across Canada and other countries. But the conversation went only so deep. So be it.
Some folks tread deep waters. Some wade in where it’s shallow.
Before dosing off I reflected on my last impressionable image as Anthony and I left Govinda’s Dining Room at the temple. Under the facilitation of instructor, Rami Bleckt, seventy Russian enthusiasts of the Ayur Veda science sat with eyes closed chanting the maha-mantra “Hare Krisha Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. “
I believe they were absorbing their peace.
4 Km
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Young Man, Sanjay
Woodbridge, Ontario
The story today is ultra simple, about a young man, Sanjay, whom I've known for about 20 years. He's not interested in monastic life, in fact, when I visited his family last January it was an engagement event. Now he's happily married. He voiced to me last night that he needed a monk's blessing in order for the relationship between himself and his new spouse, Shivi, to be a solid one.
At that time, in January, I mentioned the need to keep the spiritual centre in place and everything would be alright. I'm sure Sanjay walked into the wedding venue thinking it is an important walk exchanging vows and for uniting the couple and making the commitment.
I'm very happy for the two of them. As a belated wedding gift, I gave Sanjay a music CD, Ekalavya's "Inspiration Explosion" an excellent upbeat fusion piece. I particularly wanted Sanjay to enjoy the first track, which echoes, "Chant, chant, chant/ Chant the holy name/ your life, life, life/ Will never be the same."
I urge Sanjay to give some portion of the day to chanting. He has received Krishna Conscious literature in the past, has access to meditation beads. I certainly don't want to pressure or impose but implore, I will. What is it that will ground him in a deep way apart from wife, house and kids? Just a tiny bit of sadhana (spiritual workout) will make all the difference towards establishing a good physical and spiritual balance.
6 Km
Woodbridge, Ontario
The story today is ultra simple, about a young man, Sanjay, whom I've known for about 20 years. He's not interested in monastic life, in fact, when I visited his family last January it was an engagement event. Now he's happily married. He voiced to me last night that he needed a monk's blessing in order for the relationship between himself and his new spouse, Shivi, to be a solid one.
At that time, in January, I mentioned the need to keep the spiritual centre in place and everything would be alright. I'm sure Sanjay walked into the wedding venue thinking it is an important walk exchanging vows and for uniting the couple and making the commitment.
I'm very happy for the two of them. As a belated wedding gift, I gave Sanjay a music CD, Ekalavya's "Inspiration Explosion" an excellent upbeat fusion piece. I particularly wanted Sanjay to enjoy the first track, which echoes, "Chant, chant, chant/ Chant the holy name/ your life, life, life/ Will never be the same."
I urge Sanjay to give some portion of the day to chanting. He has received Krishna Conscious literature in the past, has access to meditation beads. I certainly don't want to pressure or impose but implore, I will. What is it that will ground him in a deep way apart from wife, house and kids? Just a tiny bit of sadhana (spiritual workout) will make all the difference towards establishing a good physical and spiritual balance.
6 Km
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Have a vision
Toronto Ontario
Back in the city again and the world of passion play. People have forsaken jumpers and jackets in response to a record heat for this day, 41 Celsius or more is the reported high. The question is, "who isn't outside this evening, walking or cycling?" People are finding a new gravity in parks and green spaces. Condo dwellers abandon their boxes. Shade is truly appreciated. All races, genders and ages are out and about. For a time (from 7pm-11pm) I did not feel alone, rather I was surrounded by people everywhere. I hate to use the analogy but humans are like mosquitoes. When hot weather hits we wake up from our slumber and go out doing our business. Some people in fact do suck blood.
Anthony took to walking with me. He's in his early twenties and is serious about his spiritual life. He has some vision and sees himself playing a major role in advancing Krishna Consciousness for himself and others.
Anthony and I walked through Queens Park. A young Buddhist monk cycling and wearing shades gave a nod of respect. We reciprocated. I guess he has some vision for himself and sees beyond his sunglasses.
We bumped into a friend. He shared a story. "You can use it if you want." He said.
"Two men were walking. One was blind, the other not. The one who could see said to the blind man, 'There is something worse - going on in life without a vision.'"
11 Km
Toronto Ontario
Back in the city again and the world of passion play. People have forsaken jumpers and jackets in response to a record heat for this day, 41 Celsius or more is the reported high. The question is, "who isn't outside this evening, walking or cycling?" People are finding a new gravity in parks and green spaces. Condo dwellers abandon their boxes. Shade is truly appreciated. All races, genders and ages are out and about. For a time (from 7pm-11pm) I did not feel alone, rather I was surrounded by people everywhere. I hate to use the analogy but humans are like mosquitoes. When hot weather hits we wake up from our slumber and go out doing our business. Some people in fact do suck blood.
Anthony took to walking with me. He's in his early twenties and is serious about his spiritual life. He has some vision and sees himself playing a major role in advancing Krishna Consciousness for himself and others.
Anthony and I walked through Queens Park. A young Buddhist monk cycling and wearing shades gave a nod of respect. We reciprocated. I guess he has some vision for himself and sees beyond his sunglasses.
We bumped into a friend. He shared a story. "You can use it if you want." He said.
"Two men were walking. One was blind, the other not. The one who could see said to the blind man, 'There is something worse - going on in life without a vision.'"
11 Km
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Monday, May 30tth, 2011
Turns His Back
The Canadian Shield, Ontario
In his book, "Miracle On Second Avenue" Makunda Goswami quotes Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" :
... "Tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Where to the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then onto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend."
This description of Mukunda's past of "turning his back... Scorning the base degrees" is very much the story of everyone's life who joined the Swami, Srila Prabhupada, in his Mission in the late sixties and seventies, myself included. In deliberation of past errors I personally feel very relieved to put sin behind and feel no compulsion to revisit it outside the occasional mental perusal.
As our drama/kirtan group drove back home via the Trans Canada Highway through some real vistas of splendour, of lakes, forests, and the most ancient rocks in the world I dwelt on the point Mukunda made. He shunned yesterday's illusions and looked to tomorrow's realities. Actually I have always admired Mukunda as an outstanding monk and devotee. Come to think of it, I have so many "cool" brothers and sisters. They are such savvy saints.
5 Km
The Canadian Shield, Ontario
In his book, "Miracle On Second Avenue" Makunda Goswami quotes Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" :
... "Tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Where to the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then onto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend."
This description of Mukunda's past of "turning his back... Scorning the base degrees" is very much the story of everyone's life who joined the Swami, Srila Prabhupada, in his Mission in the late sixties and seventies, myself included. In deliberation of past errors I personally feel very relieved to put sin behind and feel no compulsion to revisit it outside the occasional mental perusal.
As our drama/kirtan group drove back home via the Trans Canada Highway through some real vistas of splendour, of lakes, forests, and the most ancient rocks in the world I dwelt on the point Mukunda made. He shunned yesterday's illusions and looked to tomorrow's realities. Actually I have always admired Mukunda as an outstanding monk and devotee. Come to think of it, I have so many "cool" brothers and sisters. They are such savvy saints.
5 Km
Sunday, May 29th, 2011
Stealing Blankets?
Thunder Bay, Ontario
I trekked down Golf Link Rd. when the local police approached me. It was a black police cab that pulled over. The officers were curious.
"Hello!" Said the passenger police. I was wearing my thick saffron hemp robes with my chauddar (monk's Shawl) wrapped around my upper body to address the morning chill.
"We got a report that someone was walking down the road with stolen blankets from the hospital," continued the officer. "But I guess..."
Before he could say it's a false alarm I cut in with an amused defensiveness while looking at my robes, "I'm actually a monk and these are my robes."
They then burst into laughter. I relayed how I was suspect as an escapee from a penitentiary where the inmates wear orange and on another occasion where I was suspect of being lost from a psychiatric ward. The report then was that I was with another person (it's true, another monk) and that we were old ladies.
The police laughed even more being informed that I go through this kind of stuff. We conversed and they went on their way wishing me a good stay in Thunder Bay.
At the Yogafest held at Lakehead University, friends from the New Age circles turned up. The event featured astanga yoga, laughter yoga and even japa yoga. One woman there Karen, is a teacher of ballet skiing. Serge, an elementary school teacher, has been reading the books of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, and appreciating their contents. Sweet folks!
It was so much a day of laughter and smiles. To culminate the program the bhakti (devotion) portion came into the hands of our troupe. Our drama, "The Jaganath Story" called for the entrance of the three deities of Jaganatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra; each appearing on the stage in a mystical way. As anyone who is familiar with them knows, there is something euphoric about these images. They sport oceanic smiles and with their varied colourations people came after the show with remarks came approving the point that God comes to represent the white races in the form of Balaram, the black races as Jaganatha and brownish pigmented folks as Subhadra.
At least that's how it came to be interpreted.
For my intro as emcee, I told the story of the suspect blanket thief and everyone had a good laugh.
15 Km
Thunder Bay, Ontario
I trekked down Golf Link Rd. when the local police approached me. It was a black police cab that pulled over. The officers were curious.
"Hello!" Said the passenger police. I was wearing my thick saffron hemp robes with my chauddar (monk's Shawl) wrapped around my upper body to address the morning chill.
"We got a report that someone was walking down the road with stolen blankets from the hospital," continued the officer. "But I guess..."
Before he could say it's a false alarm I cut in with an amused defensiveness while looking at my robes, "I'm actually a monk and these are my robes."
They then burst into laughter. I relayed how I was suspect as an escapee from a penitentiary where the inmates wear orange and on another occasion where I was suspect of being lost from a psychiatric ward. The report then was that I was with another person (it's true, another monk) and that we were old ladies.
The police laughed even more being informed that I go through this kind of stuff. We conversed and they went on their way wishing me a good stay in Thunder Bay.
At the Yogafest held at Lakehead University, friends from the New Age circles turned up. The event featured astanga yoga, laughter yoga and even japa yoga. One woman there Karen, is a teacher of ballet skiing. Serge, an elementary school teacher, has been reading the books of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, and appreciating their contents. Sweet folks!
It was so much a day of laughter and smiles. To culminate the program the bhakti (devotion) portion came into the hands of our troupe. Our drama, "The Jaganath Story" called for the entrance of the three deities of Jaganatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra; each appearing on the stage in a mystical way. As anyone who is familiar with them knows, there is something euphoric about these images. They sport oceanic smiles and with their varied colourations people came after the show with remarks came approving the point that God comes to represent the white races in the form of Balaram, the black races as Jaganatha and brownish pigmented folks as Subhadra.
At least that's how it came to be interpreted.
For my intro as emcee, I told the story of the suspect blanket thief and everyone had a good laugh.
15 Km
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