Uptown Yonge
Toronto, Ontario
I walked uptown Yonge St. It’s clean, respectable; less raunchy than the downtown.
One security guard physically picked-up a beggar to move him on outside a bank. The beggar was reluctant. I didn’t wait for an assumed “scene”. I kept moving. Other than that element I liked the place. Why?
Well, here, small businesses seem to thrive. There isn’t that franchised/chain store feel to the place. There are still a lot of little fishes (businessmen) here and I hope a big fish doesn’t come to swallow them all. Residential side streets seem to like it that way. Here, a small family business has a chance. That is, if rents don’t kill you.
Further south I saw another homeless person, a woman that makes only two). She sat under a shaded mulberry tree. The berries had spattered all over the place and I could see that she was indifferent. Sitting there coyly she asked for change. It was a contrast to the proud middle class feel of her surroundings.
“Good morning!” Said two young guys outside a fancy paintball shop. “I mean, Good afternoon!” Corrected the one after looking at his watch.
I half-turned and returned with a smile saying, “Whatever!” implying whether this or that, let there be “good”.
And you know, it was lunch hour so when I started the trek on Yonge just after being picked up at the airport, the east side had shade. That’s where I blazed a fun trail. After one o’clock with the sun’s travel, the shade moved to the west side. I then crossed the road to move under building shadows.
Whether this side or that side, as long as you move, right? Whether rich or poor as long as we are human, we take to spiritual obligations, right? Yes, as long as we are human, we don’t neglect our dharma, our spiritual side. Right?
10 Km
B L O G S P O T
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
Christian Goodness
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
He mentioned it to me once before. “We are attacked by weapons of mass distraction.” Such were the words Father Kevin McGee who oversees three parishes in Saskatoon and who became our guest of honour at our Bhakti Show. Father and I were speaking after the event about “the nature of the beast” in today’s world while feasting over Prasadam (sanctified food). I consider him one of my Brahmin friends. He insists I call him Kevin.
I first met Kevin five years ago at a tourist information centre in North Battleford just after trekking a good 40 kilometres for the day. My support person, Garuda, and I were warmly treated by Kevin in his rectory in Saskatoon. We broke bread together and it felt like moments of sanctity as in the event of “The Last Supper”. I say that because after a hard push under the Prairie sun at the above mentioned distance that day it was, in fact, the last meal of the day.
He played “Good Samaritan” at a two-way score by accommodating Garuda and I for that night. We had been “roughing it” at camp-sites and then due to Kevin’s hospitality, we had it comfortable.
Back to our dialogue; we both agreed that self-centeredness was a disease and whether you feel attacked or not it’s YOU as the individual that makes the choice whether to be enslaved by it or not. I asked him what his biggest challenge is for the communities he oversees and here’s where we concurred again. “Most folk don’t try to go inward”. Distractions do persist.
Besides Father Kevin, a modest one hundred people came, a mixed group of local people, came who are teachers (Brahmins again) and some from the Hindu community. In fact our program took place in Saskatoon’s Hindu temple, which is nice that Kevin did come as our esteemed guest.
7 Km
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
He mentioned it to me once before. “We are attacked by weapons of mass distraction.” Such were the words Father Kevin McGee who oversees three parishes in Saskatoon and who became our guest of honour at our Bhakti Show. Father and I were speaking after the event about “the nature of the beast” in today’s world while feasting over Prasadam (sanctified food). I consider him one of my Brahmin friends. He insists I call him Kevin.
I first met Kevin five years ago at a tourist information centre in North Battleford just after trekking a good 40 kilometres for the day. My support person, Garuda, and I were warmly treated by Kevin in his rectory in Saskatoon. We broke bread together and it felt like moments of sanctity as in the event of “The Last Supper”. I say that because after a hard push under the Prairie sun at the above mentioned distance that day it was, in fact, the last meal of the day.
He played “Good Samaritan” at a two-way score by accommodating Garuda and I for that night. We had been “roughing it” at camp-sites and then due to Kevin’s hospitality, we had it comfortable.
Back to our dialogue; we both agreed that self-centeredness was a disease and whether you feel attacked or not it’s YOU as the individual that makes the choice whether to be enslaved by it or not. I asked him what his biggest challenge is for the communities he oversees and here’s where we concurred again. “Most folk don’t try to go inward”. Distractions do persist.
Besides Father Kevin, a modest one hundred people came, a mixed group of local people, came who are teachers (Brahmins again) and some from the Hindu community. In fact our program took place in Saskatoon’s Hindu temple, which is nice that Kevin did come as our esteemed guest.
7 Km
Monday, 4 July 2011
Saturday, July 2nd, 2011
Kids again!
Regina, Saskatoon
I never saw so much enthusiasm. It was a total impromptu event (chanting) but right when we found an extra hour these two kids went to work full steam ahead distributing books in the park. The kids were Hrisikesh, 9, and his little sister Ragalikha, 5, The books (or pamphlets to be more accurate) were “The reservoir of Pleasure” by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the grassy and tree-canopied place was Victoria Park in down town Regina, Saskatchewan’s capital.
As soon as a person could take a stroll through the park the two young joyful kids would dart out, like a bullet, come up to the casual stroller and deliver the literary piece with the biggest smile you ever saw, of course.
As an observer I was delighted and so were my comrades from Winnipeg. We were watching the fun while chanting in a circle arrangement rested on the grass.
Oh! The mosquitoes were horrendous but that didn’t matter. Our mood was that people’s blood was being sucked by the consumer mode of existence and here was a jovial kid offering an alternative back at life via the publications. We were smiling. The recipients didn’t know at first what hit them before graciously receiving.
Those two little kids set the mood for a great evening at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum Auditorium. There, our drama troupe, Swami Productions, presented “Nandulal”, “The Telemarketer”, and “Chaitanya’s Verses”, dramatically pieced to move the audience.
The program ended on the note of the same activity -- chanting. As Emcee I asked all to leave their chairs, some forward toward the stage, and loosen up, “Sway the feet. Sing the mantra. Ignore the mind. Clap the hands.”
We became kids -- enthusiastic kids.
9 Km
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Friday, July 1st, 2011
Above Water
Watrous, Saskatchewan
It had become a somewhat of a recreation day. After all it’s a national holiday. Canada as we know it was born in 1867 on July 1st. You’ll usually find me near Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, chanting with a group of Krishna monks and laypersons.
This year kirtan for me was at little Manitou Lake, a body of water which has similar dynamics to the Dead Sea. Upon these healing mineral waters your body floats. One eager devotee swam the entire width of the lake, leaving the rest of us most anxious. The anguish fuelled the kirtan. Our prayers were answered as the devotee was detected from out-of-range (due to the size of the lake) to visibility and finally back to safe shore.
It was an above-water experience. This topic of staying afloat become a sustained theme. Three of us temple dwellers visiting Saskatoon for devotional performances conversed about how each of us was raised by our parents. In the case of each of us our parents are sustaining life-long partnerships. Mine are deceased but saw through a 40th wedding anniversary. God bless them!
We spoke admiringly of our loved ones and how they held us offspring as number one objects of duty and affection. They lived “sacrifice” to the book. Divorce was not a consideration for them. It was “old school” type of thinking. They --our parents-- kept us always above water. You know, there should never be a day without gratitude.
8 Km
Watrous, Saskatchewan
It had become a somewhat of a recreation day. After all it’s a national holiday. Canada as we know it was born in 1867 on July 1st. You’ll usually find me near Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, chanting with a group of Krishna monks and laypersons.
This year kirtan for me was at little Manitou Lake, a body of water which has similar dynamics to the Dead Sea. Upon these healing mineral waters your body floats. One eager devotee swam the entire width of the lake, leaving the rest of us most anxious. The anguish fuelled the kirtan. Our prayers were answered as the devotee was detected from out-of-range (due to the size of the lake) to visibility and finally back to safe shore.
It was an above-water experience. This topic of staying afloat become a sustained theme. Three of us temple dwellers visiting Saskatoon for devotional performances conversed about how each of us was raised by our parents. In the case of each of us our parents are sustaining life-long partnerships. Mine are deceased but saw through a 40th wedding anniversary. God bless them!
We spoke admiringly of our loved ones and how they held us offspring as number one objects of duty and affection. They lived “sacrifice” to the book. Divorce was not a consideration for them. It was “old school” type of thinking. They --our parents-- kept us always above water. You know, there should never be a day without gratitude.
8 Km
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
I Took to the Highway
Edmonton, Alberta
I took to the Trans Canada highway for a stretch. It's a long road (the world's longest) that I have become familiar with. It appears to be an endless ribbon of pavement, two lanes, sometimes four lanes, and in some busy locations like Montreal it spans to much more than that.
On Calgary's east end where I trekked for a bit it is a hectic #2 to Montreal with six lanes and is referred to as 16th Avenue.
Near Barlow Trail my ride came to pick me up for the journey to Edmonton and beyond. A Fijian couple transported our little bhakti drama troupe to the radha Govinda Cultural Centre where we were greeted by two angelic-like Bengali monks. They fed us and yet we had more time to kill (the ego) before our next driver came to take us on the last leg of the day's journey to the city of Saskatoon. We sat down for a session of verse memorization (always a good exercise for those who need to learn lines). From the Bhagavad-gita you have this string of many verses to choose from. The Gita is like the highway, a ribbon with many points of interest. Out of the seven hundred verses we chose 10.30 from the chapter entitled "Opulence of the Absolute".
The message is deep, especially the phrase kalah kalayatam aham, "Of subduers I am time." Time tends to calm all things. Time puts all to rest.
6 KM
Edmonton, Alberta
I took to the Trans Canada highway for a stretch. It's a long road (the world's longest) that I have become familiar with. It appears to be an endless ribbon of pavement, two lanes, sometimes four lanes, and in some busy locations like Montreal it spans to much more than that.
On Calgary's east end where I trekked for a bit it is a hectic #2 to Montreal with six lanes and is referred to as 16th Avenue.
Near Barlow Trail my ride came to pick me up for the journey to Edmonton and beyond. A Fijian couple transported our little bhakti drama troupe to the radha Govinda Cultural Centre where we were greeted by two angelic-like Bengali monks. They fed us and yet we had more time to kill (the ego) before our next driver came to take us on the last leg of the day's journey to the city of Saskatoon. We sat down for a session of verse memorization (always a good exercise for those who need to learn lines). From the Bhagavad-gita you have this string of many verses to choose from. The Gita is like the highway, a ribbon with many points of interest. Out of the seven hundred verses we chose 10.30 from the chapter entitled "Opulence of the Absolute".
The message is deep, especially the phrase kalah kalayatam aham, "Of subduers I am time." Time tends to calm all things. Time puts all to rest.
6 KM
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
The Street, the Lake, A House
Barrier Lake, Alberta
Prairie dogs are actually cute looking gopher like creatures that burrow holes in the ground. They let out this sharp squeak of a sound when they sense danger. That's just what several did upon seeing me, not in unison like coyotes or wolves howling, but at interval spurts.
"Squeak!" stated on warning the others. "Monk on the lose," was my interpretation. It triggered more to do the same.
Two crows, apparent proprietors of a group of blue spruces, hang around the same area where I trek along 68th Avenue each day. They perch on their branch, fuss a bit, soar higher to a municipal lamp post.
What other images came today?
Well, a couple necking at Barrier Lake, a chosen venue for them and us. Our Calgarian hosts, Radha Madhava, Svarti and their daughters took to their first summer break. Along the lake's trail, the man and woman, with firm intent remained in strong embrace, unphased by us passersby. It came to my head, "I could have been there, certainly had done that, but put such entanglement behind."
Along with a city slickin' lot, we picnicked on lasagna so good and then trekked an uneven terrain until we reached a wind-free nook to sit and chant. The group of us then piled worn boulders to form inookshooks of Vedic deities, Jaganatha, Baladev and Subhadra.
My actor devotees, Laghu, Gour and and I practically became a deity threesome, stiff after a quick dip in the glacial waters. It's all fun in nature's domain. And in the evening an enthusiastic group back in Calgary heard our message from the Gita's Chapter 10 in a domestic setting. Also fun!
I found it most interesting that a follower of Zoroastria-turned-Vaishnav had spent the day with us. Pracetanna has ancestors committed to Zoroaster who appeared in the world 6th century BC. When Pracetanna explained this Persian-based tradition to me I could understand that the transition from sun-worship to Vaishnav ways was not extreme.
6 KM
Barrier Lake, Alberta
Prairie dogs are actually cute looking gopher like creatures that burrow holes in the ground. They let out this sharp squeak of a sound when they sense danger. That's just what several did upon seeing me, not in unison like coyotes or wolves howling, but at interval spurts.
"Squeak!" stated on warning the others. "Monk on the lose," was my interpretation. It triggered more to do the same.
Two crows, apparent proprietors of a group of blue spruces, hang around the same area where I trek along 68th Avenue each day. They perch on their branch, fuss a bit, soar higher to a municipal lamp post.
What other images came today?
Well, a couple necking at Barrier Lake, a chosen venue for them and us. Our Calgarian hosts, Radha Madhava, Svarti and their daughters took to their first summer break. Along the lake's trail, the man and woman, with firm intent remained in strong embrace, unphased by us passersby. It came to my head, "I could have been there, certainly had done that, but put such entanglement behind."
Along with a city slickin' lot, we picnicked on lasagna so good and then trekked an uneven terrain until we reached a wind-free nook to sit and chant. The group of us then piled worn boulders to form inookshooks of Vedic deities, Jaganatha, Baladev and Subhadra.
My actor devotees, Laghu, Gour and and I practically became a deity threesome, stiff after a quick dip in the glacial waters. It's all fun in nature's domain. And in the evening an enthusiastic group back in Calgary heard our message from the Gita's Chapter 10 in a domestic setting. Also fun!
I found it most interesting that a follower of Zoroastria-turned-Vaishnav had spent the day with us. Pracetanna has ancestors committed to Zoroaster who appeared in the world 6th century BC. When Pracetanna explained this Persian-based tradition to me I could understand that the transition from sun-worship to Vaishnav ways was not extreme.
6 KM
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Monday, June 27th, 2011
Liquid Beauty
Calgary, Alberta
Last night our actor devotees, Laghu Hari and Godrumagoura, presented the play, "Liquid Beauty". It was a new rendition of an ISKCON classic which I helped to script. It was presented to a group of seventy people crammed in the basement of Radha and Svasti's home.
Here is the story as presented by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, found in the book, "Science of Self Realization".
Once a man who was very powerful and strongly built but whose character was very doubtful fell in love with a beautiful girl. The girl was not only beautiful in appearance but also saintly in character, and as such she did not like the man's advances. The man, however, was insistent because of his lustful desires and therefore the girl requested him to wait only seven days, and she set a time after that when he could meet her. The man agreed, and with high expectations he began waiting for the appointed time.
The saintly girl, however, in order to manifest the real beauty of absolute truth, adopted a method very instructive. She took very strong doses of laxatives and purgatives and for seven days she continually passed loose stool and vomited all that she ate. However, she stored all the loose stool and vomit in suitable pots. As a result of the purgatives, the so-called beautiful girl became lean and thin like a skeleton, her complexion turned blackish and her beautiful eyes sank into the sockets of her skull. Thus at the appointed hour she waited anxiously to receive the eager man.
The man appeared on the scene well dressed and well behaved and asked the ugly girl he found waiting there about the beautiful girl he was to meet. The man could not recognize the girl he saw as the same beautiful girl for whom he was asking, indeed, although she repeatedly asserted her identity, because of her pitiable condition he was unable to recognize her.
At last the girl told the powerful man that she had separated the ingredients of her beauty and stored them in pots. She also told him that he could enjoy those juices of beauty. When the mundane poetic man asked to see these juices of beauty, he was directed to the store of loose stool and liquid vomit, which were emanating an unbearably bad smell. Thus the whole story of the beauty-liquid was disclosed to him. Finally by the grace of the saintly girl, this man of low character was able to distinguish between the shadow and the substance, and thus he came to his senses.
This man's position was similar to the position of every one of us who is attracted by false, material beauty. The girl mentioned above had a beautifully developed material body in accordance with the desires of her mind, but in fact she was apart from that temporary material body and mind. She was in fact a spiritual spark and so also was the lover who was attracted by her false skin.
8 Km
Calgary, Alberta
Last night our actor devotees, Laghu Hari and Godrumagoura, presented the play, "Liquid Beauty". It was a new rendition of an ISKCON classic which I helped to script. It was presented to a group of seventy people crammed in the basement of Radha and Svasti's home.
Here is the story as presented by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, found in the book, "Science of Self Realization".
Once a man who was very powerful and strongly built but whose character was very doubtful fell in love with a beautiful girl. The girl was not only beautiful in appearance but also saintly in character, and as such she did not like the man's advances. The man, however, was insistent because of his lustful desires and therefore the girl requested him to wait only seven days, and she set a time after that when he could meet her. The man agreed, and with high expectations he began waiting for the appointed time.
The saintly girl, however, in order to manifest the real beauty of absolute truth, adopted a method very instructive. She took very strong doses of laxatives and purgatives and for seven days she continually passed loose stool and vomited all that she ate. However, she stored all the loose stool and vomit in suitable pots. As a result of the purgatives, the so-called beautiful girl became lean and thin like a skeleton, her complexion turned blackish and her beautiful eyes sank into the sockets of her skull. Thus at the appointed hour she waited anxiously to receive the eager man.
The man appeared on the scene well dressed and well behaved and asked the ugly girl he found waiting there about the beautiful girl he was to meet. The man could not recognize the girl he saw as the same beautiful girl for whom he was asking, indeed, although she repeatedly asserted her identity, because of her pitiable condition he was unable to recognize her.
At last the girl told the powerful man that she had separated the ingredients of her beauty and stored them in pots. She also told him that he could enjoy those juices of beauty. When the mundane poetic man asked to see these juices of beauty, he was directed to the store of loose stool and liquid vomit, which were emanating an unbearably bad smell. Thus the whole story of the beauty-liquid was disclosed to him. Finally by the grace of the saintly girl, this man of low character was able to distinguish between the shadow and the substance, and thus he came to his senses.
This man's position was similar to the position of every one of us who is attracted by false, material beauty. The girl mentioned above had a beautifully developed material body in accordance with the desires of her mind, but in fact she was apart from that temporary material body and mind. She was in fact a spiritual spark and so also was the lover who was attracted by her false skin.
8 Km
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
Widening Your Consciousness
Calgary, Alberta
The community of devotees here enjoyed the premiere of our bhakti variety show. Slightly over an hour long, our no-name show was delivered by our little drama troupe, unofficially known as Swami Productions, to congregants at the Radha Madhav Cultural Centre on Edmonton Trail. They laughed, cried, clapped and stomped. What was normally allotted as a time for pravachan (discourse or talk) was actually replaced with drama, comedy and dance. The effect was powerful. Philosophical truths and devotional sentiments struck brains and hearts.
I was restless after the show. Adrenaline, I guess. I used to walk from the downtown, the Cultural Centre's address, to the NE of Calgary off of 68th Ave, via Memorial Avenue, I guess you could say I scouted a small portion of Calgary's endless suburbs.
The city has a vision, otherwise, it wouldn't plan to have such a wide median between the existing road (68th) and the sidewalk. Clearly, city planners anticipate expansion of the road. Since the 70's this oil rich province and now with the discovery of the controversial tar sands of Alberta's north, there has been incredible economic growth. The prairies have unlimited space for growth. As long as oil is sought after with a persistent supply and demand, Alberta, the province, will continue to boom.
I would like to see expansion but of a different nature. Widening the scope of a higher consciousness is what Alberta could use. Some of the remarks from the youth affectionately lodged towards me were, "Hey Orange Man", "Buddha" and "Peace be with you, Man!"
As trivial as these remarks may be, their good nature behind them can indicate that expansion has begun.
7 Km
Calgary, Alberta
The community of devotees here enjoyed the premiere of our bhakti variety show. Slightly over an hour long, our no-name show was delivered by our little drama troupe, unofficially known as Swami Productions, to congregants at the Radha Madhav Cultural Centre on Edmonton Trail. They laughed, cried, clapped and stomped. What was normally allotted as a time for pravachan (discourse or talk) was actually replaced with drama, comedy and dance. The effect was powerful. Philosophical truths and devotional sentiments struck brains and hearts.
I was restless after the show. Adrenaline, I guess. I used to walk from the downtown, the Cultural Centre's address, to the NE of Calgary off of 68th Ave, via Memorial Avenue, I guess you could say I scouted a small portion of Calgary's endless suburbs.
The city has a vision, otherwise, it wouldn't plan to have such a wide median between the existing road (68th) and the sidewalk. Clearly, city planners anticipate expansion of the road. Since the 70's this oil rich province and now with the discovery of the controversial tar sands of Alberta's north, there has been incredible economic growth. The prairies have unlimited space for growth. As long as oil is sought after with a persistent supply and demand, Alberta, the province, will continue to boom.
I would like to see expansion but of a different nature. Widening the scope of a higher consciousness is what Alberta could use. Some of the remarks from the youth affectionately lodged towards me were, "Hey Orange Man", "Buddha" and "Peace be with you, Man!"
As trivial as these remarks may be, their good nature behind them can indicate that expansion has begun.
7 Km
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
A Teenager Wants To Grow
Brampton Ontario
The young teenager didn't want to be left out. His two older sisters were taking the bold step towards receiving diksha, a spiritual initiation. I agreed, as their candidate guru, to arrange for the future procedure for July 17th to be conducted at the Toronto Islands. One of the sisters, Patsy, has a career, and is married. Nalini, is single, and just a bit younger, has been following in the footsteps of her Dad, in business.
Their younger bro., Sanatan, didn't want to be left behind. He has been chanting a prescribed 16 rounds on his meditational beads for some time, a prerequisite for diksha. In addition from any intoxicants, does not gamble, or engage in illicit sex, and avoids eating meat, fish or eggs.
When I met Sanatan's father whose name I remember clearly as Willy back in the early ninties there was some resistence to tossing the meat out of the diet. Literally "throw out" were words strongly suggested by a friend of mine, who told Willy of his freshly bought chicken lying in the fridge's shelf. Willy reluctantly took the bird's dead body out of the fridge and tossed it in the garbage. As soon as the coast was clear, Willy, who was a new comer to Krishna Conciousness, went to the supermarket to purchase another chicken when my friend left the home.
It took sometime for Willy and family to adjust but gradually such dead animal body parts were kicked out of the diet. At the time of conversion Sanatan wasn't even conceived. To this day he doesn't know what chicken tastes like, let alone a drumstick. Lucky him.
"Why can't I jump on the band wagon with my sisters?" he thought.
So with encouragement from his dad, now Vaishnav by name, his mom, Janaki, Sanatan asked if he could be initiatied along with his sisters. After analyzing his situation I said, "Yes, why not?"
Sanatan was happy that he would now have officially, and in spirit a guru. According to the Gita to advance spiritual life one seeks the aid of the guru.
7 Km
Brampton Ontario
The young teenager didn't want to be left out. His two older sisters were taking the bold step towards receiving diksha, a spiritual initiation. I agreed, as their candidate guru, to arrange for the future procedure for July 17th to be conducted at the Toronto Islands. One of the sisters, Patsy, has a career, and is married. Nalini, is single, and just a bit younger, has been following in the footsteps of her Dad, in business.
Their younger bro., Sanatan, didn't want to be left behind. He has been chanting a prescribed 16 rounds on his meditational beads for some time, a prerequisite for diksha. In addition from any intoxicants, does not gamble, or engage in illicit sex, and avoids eating meat, fish or eggs.
When I met Sanatan's father whose name I remember clearly as Willy back in the early ninties there was some resistence to tossing the meat out of the diet. Literally "throw out" were words strongly suggested by a friend of mine, who told Willy of his freshly bought chicken lying in the fridge's shelf. Willy reluctantly took the bird's dead body out of the fridge and tossed it in the garbage. As soon as the coast was clear, Willy, who was a new comer to Krishna Conciousness, went to the supermarket to purchase another chicken when my friend left the home.
It took sometime for Willy and family to adjust but gradually such dead animal body parts were kicked out of the diet. At the time of conversion Sanatan wasn't even conceived. To this day he doesn't know what chicken tastes like, let alone a drumstick. Lucky him.
"Why can't I jump on the band wagon with my sisters?" he thought.
So with encouragement from his dad, now Vaishnav by name, his mom, Janaki, Sanatan asked if he could be initiatied along with his sisters. After analyzing his situation I said, "Yes, why not?"
Sanatan was happy that he would now have officially, and in spirit a guru. According to the Gita to advance spiritual life one seeks the aid of the guru.
7 Km
Friday, June 24th, 2011
About Love + A Couple
Mississauga, Ontario
I am reviewing a book, "Heart and Soul Connection" by the Grihastha Vision Team which is a Vaishnava guide to marriage, service and love. It will be released in the coming months. In a section planned by Uttama Dasi on the subject of arranged marriages I found something interesting she said regarding a study on arranged marriages.
"A study by Dr. Robert Epstein published in the January/February 2010 issue of Scientific American Mind had some interesting observations. Among other things, it noted that in most countries marriage relationships are entered into based on bodily attraction and feelings of love. Unfortunately, those feelings decreased rapidly within 18 months. In many arranged marriages of India, he discovered that although feelings of love were not a component in the beginning of an arranged marriage, those feelings quickly grew. It is understood that if compatible persons are matched, love can develop. He observed that after 10 years of arranged marriage, the feelings of love were often twice as strong as the more common types of marriage that had been based on initial "chemistry".
Uttama remarks that this demonstrates that love can develop from mutual service.
Mutual service, not necessarily an arranged marriage but compatibility -- yes, is the case of a young married couple, Vibhu and Shastyna, who invited me to their new home in Mississauga. It's a thirty year old building but has been nicely cosmetically treated by Vibhu. What some colours in the form of paint will do?
In any event, here is a sweet couple, who both liked kirtan, Krishna and gulabjamoons (an Indian sweet). They've been married now for two years and the relationship is "good" says Vibhu who drove me and two devotees back to the ashram after a fine ceremony, a blessing for their new home.
I'm really happy for them.
Om Tat Sat!
6 Km
Mississauga, Ontario
I am reviewing a book, "Heart and Soul Connection" by the Grihastha Vision Team which is a Vaishnava guide to marriage, service and love. It will be released in the coming months. In a section planned by Uttama Dasi on the subject of arranged marriages I found something interesting she said regarding a study on arranged marriages.
"A study by Dr. Robert Epstein published in the January/February 2010 issue of Scientific American Mind had some interesting observations. Among other things, it noted that in most countries marriage relationships are entered into based on bodily attraction and feelings of love. Unfortunately, those feelings decreased rapidly within 18 months. In many arranged marriages of India, he discovered that although feelings of love were not a component in the beginning of an arranged marriage, those feelings quickly grew. It is understood that if compatible persons are matched, love can develop. He observed that after 10 years of arranged marriage, the feelings of love were often twice as strong as the more common types of marriage that had been based on initial "chemistry".
Uttama remarks that this demonstrates that love can develop from mutual service.
Mutual service, not necessarily an arranged marriage but compatibility -- yes, is the case of a young married couple, Vibhu and Shastyna, who invited me to their new home in Mississauga. It's a thirty year old building but has been nicely cosmetically treated by Vibhu. What some colours in the form of paint will do?
In any event, here is a sweet couple, who both liked kirtan, Krishna and gulabjamoons (an Indian sweet). They've been married now for two years and the relationship is "good" says Vibhu who drove me and two devotees back to the ashram after a fine ceremony, a blessing for their new home.
I'm really happy for them.
Om Tat Sat!
6 Km
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Tinsel in Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
This weekend the International Indian Film Academy awards will be held in the city. It's the first time Bollywood's equivalent to the Oscars are held outside of India. Canada is excited about it. The event promises to pump millions into the economy. Excuse my monk sarcasm but I imagine there will be glitzy pagentry, like Hollywood, and will not do much for boosting enlightenment. I wonder if ever there will be awards for art some day?
How do I know about what's on? Well you catch glimpses of it here and there. I've heard there are other versions of Hollywood in the world. Pardon me, but the cynical swami won't hold back on cursing those mechanisms that promote the in-your-face NO NO's that any _ollywood can produce. Frankly I can be more entertained by staring at a piece of birchwood, maple wood or oakwood or a piece of driftwood. Hollywood/Bollywood, NO! I feel relieved of the craving to play into the tinsel trap.
Thank God I've got my own superstars, such as Devamrta Swami and Baddha Hari, who are in town for purposes of more wholesome presentations of bhakti and kirtan. I also have my own outlet for artistic expression. After a lip-smacking meal with the two guests we sat down for a dance presentation by Godruma Gaura based on Chaitanya's verses. Later in the evening along with Gaura and Laghu Hari of South Africa we laid out our dress rehearsal for the play "Nandulal", the story of a blind saint. The presentations have moral fibre which is a lot more than high budget films of porn and corn can offer. One day we might be able to give vaishnav arts a chance, a chance to hit mainstream.
If by some fluke I meet a Bollywood megastar this weekend I will be most happy to talk to that person about the benefit of spiritual contents in art forms and in one's life.
10 KM
Toronto, Ontario
This weekend the International Indian Film Academy awards will be held in the city. It's the first time Bollywood's equivalent to the Oscars are held outside of India. Canada is excited about it. The event promises to pump millions into the economy. Excuse my monk sarcasm but I imagine there will be glitzy pagentry, like Hollywood, and will not do much for boosting enlightenment. I wonder if ever there will be awards for art some day?
How do I know about what's on? Well you catch glimpses of it here and there. I've heard there are other versions of Hollywood in the world. Pardon me, but the cynical swami won't hold back on cursing those mechanisms that promote the in-your-face NO NO's that any _ollywood can produce. Frankly I can be more entertained by staring at a piece of birchwood, maple wood or oakwood or a piece of driftwood. Hollywood/Bollywood, NO! I feel relieved of the craving to play into the tinsel trap.
Thank God I've got my own superstars, such as Devamrta Swami and Baddha Hari, who are in town for purposes of more wholesome presentations of bhakti and kirtan. I also have my own outlet for artistic expression. After a lip-smacking meal with the two guests we sat down for a dance presentation by Godruma Gaura based on Chaitanya's verses. Later in the evening along with Gaura and Laghu Hari of South Africa we laid out our dress rehearsal for the play "Nandulal", the story of a blind saint. The presentations have moral fibre which is a lot more than high budget films of porn and corn can offer. One day we might be able to give vaishnav arts a chance, a chance to hit mainstream.
If by some fluke I meet a Bollywood megastar this weekend I will be most happy to talk to that person about the benefit of spiritual contents in art forms and in one's life.
10 KM
Friday, 24 June 2011
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
He Accepted
Toronto, Ontario
My day winded down with a walk through the park and with a frequent visitor to the temple who wanted to seriously take up spiritual life on a full-time basis, in other words become a monk. Knowing his personal situation I recommended that he take his time.
"Why not try 'monk for a weekend' first?", I suggested.
The person has a steady job and I personally don't believe in encouraging people towards making sudden jumps because based on experiences people often bounce back as fast as they came in for reasons of not being mentally prepared. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. In this particular case it just may prove in time that the aspirant has a genuine calling.
In a flashback at looking at myself I will declare that I have had no regrets about my radical departure to monistic life. At age 20 I had a promising first year in college in fine arts. There was one month left to go to complete that semester and that first year. I made an abrupt decision one afternoon while walking on the shoulder of a road after due deliberation. I couldn't forget those guys, those monks that I met. I couldn't forget the books by Srila Prabhupada, those mystical works of literary art. The food. It was vegetarian and delicious. I was swept away by it all. It was all so natural for me.
I informed my art teacher about my decision. I packed my bags, went to the ashram in Toronto, moved in and never looked back. But that's my story.
"For the time being, hold on to what you have and keep Krishna in the centre," I advised my friend.
He accepted the advice.
8 KM
Toronto, Ontario
My day winded down with a walk through the park and with a frequent visitor to the temple who wanted to seriously take up spiritual life on a full-time basis, in other words become a monk. Knowing his personal situation I recommended that he take his time.
"Why not try 'monk for a weekend' first?", I suggested.
The person has a steady job and I personally don't believe in encouraging people towards making sudden jumps because based on experiences people often bounce back as fast as they came in for reasons of not being mentally prepared. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. In this particular case it just may prove in time that the aspirant has a genuine calling.
In a flashback at looking at myself I will declare that I have had no regrets about my radical departure to monistic life. At age 20 I had a promising first year in college in fine arts. There was one month left to go to complete that semester and that first year. I made an abrupt decision one afternoon while walking on the shoulder of a road after due deliberation. I couldn't forget those guys, those monks that I met. I couldn't forget the books by Srila Prabhupada, those mystical works of literary art. The food. It was vegetarian and delicious. I was swept away by it all. It was all so natural for me.
I informed my art teacher about my decision. I packed my bags, went to the ashram in Toronto, moved in and never looked back. But that's my story.
"For the time being, hold on to what you have and keep Krishna in the centre," I advised my friend.
He accepted the advice.
8 KM
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