Three Sisters
Canmore, Alberta
Three Sisters are a tri-peaked mountain set east of Canmore. A local person describes them as guardians of the valley. To me they appear like three nuns standing at the threshold of a convent.
We are at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, you can’t find a more heavenly place to talk about lofty things. Even though our Inn where our meetings are held are within a valley, our true purpose for coming together is to attain sangha (each other’s company). Like minded, our group is. We are all not only from the same country, Canada, but we all have the same spiritual passion. This passion goes twofold. Each and everyone of our attendees carry a concern for his or her own destiny. We seek love for Krishna and liberation from this world. Our second passion is generated towards the world. We wish to share what we know about Vedic knowledge, which in truth, is meant for everyone. To share that wealth of information requires planning. On the second day of our gathering, our group representing fourteen official centres, big and small, are speaking on how to improve the guardianship of both our own individual souls and those of others who are seekers of the truth.
For those who come to this touristic area of mountains and wildlife, it is advised to be wild smart regarding elk, bear, coyote and cougar, to learn how to avoid encounters, and how to handle attacks. Similarly, we have our souls to protect from self serving agendas that come from within.
It seems the Three Sisters are there watching over us during our break period to remind us of how important guardianship is.
12 KM
B L O G S P O T
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
Canmore, Alberta
Meals and Walks
It was a long day yesterday and it included a great meal at the end, a grainless one. Traditionally every fortnight, we honour a fast from grains and also accept a turkeyless meal (it’s Canada’s Thanksgiving Day weekend, yet we are staunch vegetarians). The evening also included a talk I gave from the Gita, 9.26, at the Radha Madhava Cultural Centre. We acknowledge in this verse the type of food items acceptable to our Lord Krishna. Food of a sattvic (mode of goodness nature) is what is preferable. Veggies, fruits, grains, nuts, and lacto foods. The emphasis for offering food is on the intent, bhakti is a word that appears twice in the verse. What is bhakti? It is intense love, devotion.
For walking, my host, Gaura Chandra, an Italian born Krishna devotee, took me on a trail in the Monterey neighbourhood of Calgary’s east end. Prairie breezes were low, but were there. A second trek was held in Canmore, a small city nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of the Bow Valley. Meaningful meetings of the Canadian ISKCON AGM were conducted at the Ramada Inn. We discussed great topics, both fun and sensitive, such as working in the cohesive spirit, to education of sexual misconduct on the pastoral level. Another great meal was provided, reaching our tummies, and it had a definite thank you status. It was sattvic and flavourfully good. In the room next to us at a banquet wedding meat was served, offering a different kind of odour. Interesting juxtaposition!
Generally at this time of year, it does come to mind that thanksgiving needs to be redefined somehow.
8 Km
Meals and Walks
It was a long day yesterday and it included a great meal at the end, a grainless one. Traditionally every fortnight, we honour a fast from grains and also accept a turkeyless meal (it’s Canada’s Thanksgiving Day weekend, yet we are staunch vegetarians). The evening also included a talk I gave from the Gita, 9.26, at the Radha Madhava Cultural Centre. We acknowledge in this verse the type of food items acceptable to our Lord Krishna. Food of a sattvic (mode of goodness nature) is what is preferable. Veggies, fruits, grains, nuts, and lacto foods. The emphasis for offering food is on the intent, bhakti is a word that appears twice in the verse. What is bhakti? It is intense love, devotion.
For walking, my host, Gaura Chandra, an Italian born Krishna devotee, took me on a trail in the Monterey neighbourhood of Calgary’s east end. Prairie breezes were low, but were there. A second trek was held in Canmore, a small city nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of the Bow Valley. Meaningful meetings of the Canadian ISKCON AGM were conducted at the Ramada Inn. We discussed great topics, both fun and sensitive, such as working in the cohesive spirit, to education of sexual misconduct on the pastoral level. Another great meal was provided, reaching our tummies, and it had a definite thank you status. It was sattvic and flavourfully good. In the room next to us at a banquet wedding meat was served, offering a different kind of odour. Interesting juxtaposition!
Generally at this time of year, it does come to mind that thanksgiving needs to be redefined somehow.
8 Km
Friday, October 7th, 2011
Looking At Me At The Zoo
Calgary, Alberta
Seeing the various life forms at the Calgary zoo, we had a chance to see where we were at at one time. Further more, as we left from one continental pavilion to the next, anywhere from Africa to South America, Asia and elsewhere, we also saw all the places we likely resided at in previous lives.
For instance, at the gorilla section, our small contingent of devotees made connections with those hairy boys and girls, despite the pane of glass between us. One ape with powerful arms rapped his knuckles against our barrier which gave me the opportunity to mirror his move and leaving a half an inch of glass between us smacking our knuckles together. And as I chanted to him, I looked into those mischievous and restless eyes and I imagined myself being in that body. I was there before. Moving on to the North American wildlife section, we leisurely made it to the cougars, when one came rather close with a narrow double fence distancing us. He was agitated. Maybe hungry. I felt that same hunger before.
When we came upon the three Mongolian camels, my ticket donour, Gaura Chandra, noted how those three guys with their two humps were instantaneously drawn to the saffron colour of my robe. They ran towards me, no one else. Were they projecting into their future perhaps? Will they become confirmed monks wearing such garb? Who’s to say?
There’s something adorable about each of the creatures we viewed, and I guess that’s the reason for the attraction. We had visited something familiar, we were looking at me, a mirror.
The Bhagavad Gita states that we (our souls) channel through different bodies. The text endorses that our future senses will be grouped around the mind and our state of consciousness. And what we admire today could be our preoccupation when we die, which could determine our next life. The same Bhagavat philosophy makes it clear that someone was a human and then became an animal because of his state of mind at death, as in the case of King Bharat, who became a deer. Our goal should be to end this vicious cycle of repeated birth and death. The message is that we attempt to steer our consciousnesses toward thoughts of the Divine.
6 Km
Calgary, Alberta
Seeing the various life forms at the Calgary zoo, we had a chance to see where we were at at one time. Further more, as we left from one continental pavilion to the next, anywhere from Africa to South America, Asia and elsewhere, we also saw all the places we likely resided at in previous lives.
For instance, at the gorilla section, our small contingent of devotees made connections with those hairy boys and girls, despite the pane of glass between us. One ape with powerful arms rapped his knuckles against our barrier which gave me the opportunity to mirror his move and leaving a half an inch of glass between us smacking our knuckles together. And as I chanted to him, I looked into those mischievous and restless eyes and I imagined myself being in that body. I was there before. Moving on to the North American wildlife section, we leisurely made it to the cougars, when one came rather close with a narrow double fence distancing us. He was agitated. Maybe hungry. I felt that same hunger before.
When we came upon the three Mongolian camels, my ticket donour, Gaura Chandra, noted how those three guys with their two humps were instantaneously drawn to the saffron colour of my robe. They ran towards me, no one else. Were they projecting into their future perhaps? Will they become confirmed monks wearing such garb? Who’s to say?
There’s something adorable about each of the creatures we viewed, and I guess that’s the reason for the attraction. We had visited something familiar, we were looking at me, a mirror.
The Bhagavad Gita states that we (our souls) channel through different bodies. The text endorses that our future senses will be grouped around the mind and our state of consciousness. And what we admire today could be our preoccupation when we die, which could determine our next life. The same Bhagavat philosophy makes it clear that someone was a human and then became an animal because of his state of mind at death, as in the case of King Bharat, who became a deer. Our goal should be to end this vicious cycle of repeated birth and death. The message is that we attempt to steer our consciousnesses toward thoughts of the Divine.
6 Km
Friday, 7 October 2011
Thursday, October 6th 2011
Identifying the Wrong In Us
Toronto, Ontario
This morning our little Bhagavatam group talked about some sins that spiritual practitioners can commit. It has more to do with attitude than an incident of offense, pre-meditated upon or an accident.
The basics of our discussion was the story of the poisoning of the child born of King Chitraketu and Queen Krtadyuti. Here was an obvious offense laid against an innocent child. It was cold blooded murder! We identified crime as such found common amongst the more physical ksatriyas (warriors in the Vedic context). Six aggressive acts committed in the field day of warriors are 1) administering poison 2) stealing riches 3) stealing land 4) stealing another's wife 5) burning another's property and 6) using a lethal weapon to an unarmed person.
Our discussion zeroed in more on subtle offenses, perhaps what brahmins (priests) may be found guilty of. For an exercise we were looking at what to be prudent about in the execution of temple/ashram services, the category we, as a group, more of less fall into.
The number one cardinal sin according to our consensus was criticism of those on the devotional path. Another was the attitude of cynicism. Another sin was stubborness or the unwillingness to bend to time, place and circumstances. Another was to bear a permanent grudge. Taking into account a saying from Chanakhya Pandit, "the beauty of a brahmin is in his ability to forgive," there is the need to let go and bury the hatchet.
Jealousy, contempt, self-righteousness are all symptomatic of our current age. We are encouraged by the Vedic message to become clean in what we do and at least attempt to transcend the lowly tendencies.
8 Km
Toronto, Ontario
This morning our little Bhagavatam group talked about some sins that spiritual practitioners can commit. It has more to do with attitude than an incident of offense, pre-meditated upon or an accident.
The basics of our discussion was the story of the poisoning of the child born of King Chitraketu and Queen Krtadyuti. Here was an obvious offense laid against an innocent child. It was cold blooded murder! We identified crime as such found common amongst the more physical ksatriyas (warriors in the Vedic context). Six aggressive acts committed in the field day of warriors are 1) administering poison 2) stealing riches 3) stealing land 4) stealing another's wife 5) burning another's property and 6) using a lethal weapon to an unarmed person.
Our discussion zeroed in more on subtle offenses, perhaps what brahmins (priests) may be found guilty of. For an exercise we were looking at what to be prudent about in the execution of temple/ashram services, the category we, as a group, more of less fall into.
The number one cardinal sin according to our consensus was criticism of those on the devotional path. Another was the attitude of cynicism. Another sin was stubborness or the unwillingness to bend to time, place and circumstances. Another was to bear a permanent grudge. Taking into account a saying from Chanakhya Pandit, "the beauty of a brahmin is in his ability to forgive," there is the need to let go and bury the hatchet.
Jealousy, contempt, self-righteousness are all symptomatic of our current age. We are encouraged by the Vedic message to become clean in what we do and at least attempt to transcend the lowly tendencies.
8 Km
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
A Clumsy Great Day
Toronto, Ontario
It was an awkward day being my birthday, when devotees from around the area came to present an over-the-top kindness. Maybe that's harsh for me to say, but following a tradition of praising a guru is more than a western-born person can sometimes stomach. Devotees feel that they want to offer their thank-yous on this one day of the year so I surrender to that sentiment. Their words are genuine and heartfelt.
Complications arise when you feel that compliments come every day of the year. However, our guru, Srila Prabhupada, very clearly established a culture of appreciation and I will declare it most emphatically that in the secular world the average person is not honoured, appreciated and encouraged enough. This phenomena is what seems to lead to rampant depression and a feeling of not being respected and loved.
The reality today is "where is family, friends or community to lean on?" Worst still is if you do have people around you yet the infrastructure appears selfishly hollow inside. You can be in a building with people and feel no closeness.
I can say proudly that I don't feel alone, never in my state of Krishna Consciousness this last 38 years. I believe to have true family because there is that R-E-S-P-E-C-T (as Aretha Franklin sings). My dilemma is whether I return it in a mutual way. I don't think I can fairly determine that.
I really do value my association or company of friends. They are indeed 'kind'. Jagannatha Misra and family gave a pair of five finger Vibram shoes to aid in my walking expeditions. Others gave as well. Much appreciated! Ramachandra, a devotee from London, Ontario, gave me his time. We trekked on a loop, passed the Brickworks and back with perfect 20 degree Celsius weather.
All in all, it was a great day. My short address to those who came to the gathering was, "Please have compassion and share the wealth of Krishna with others."
12 Km
Toronto, Ontario
It was an awkward day being my birthday, when devotees from around the area came to present an over-the-top kindness. Maybe that's harsh for me to say, but following a tradition of praising a guru is more than a western-born person can sometimes stomach. Devotees feel that they want to offer their thank-yous on this one day of the year so I surrender to that sentiment. Their words are genuine and heartfelt.
Complications arise when you feel that compliments come every day of the year. However, our guru, Srila Prabhupada, very clearly established a culture of appreciation and I will declare it most emphatically that in the secular world the average person is not honoured, appreciated and encouraged enough. This phenomena is what seems to lead to rampant depression and a feeling of not being respected and loved.
The reality today is "where is family, friends or community to lean on?" Worst still is if you do have people around you yet the infrastructure appears selfishly hollow inside. You can be in a building with people and feel no closeness.
I can say proudly that I don't feel alone, never in my state of Krishna Consciousness this last 38 years. I believe to have true family because there is that R-E-S-P-E-C-T (as Aretha Franklin sings). My dilemma is whether I return it in a mutual way. I don't think I can fairly determine that.
I really do value my association or company of friends. They are indeed 'kind'. Jagannatha Misra and family gave a pair of five finger Vibram shoes to aid in my walking expeditions. Others gave as well. Much appreciated! Ramachandra, a devotee from London, Ontario, gave me his time. We trekked on a loop, passed the Brickworks and back with perfect 20 degree Celsius weather.
All in all, it was a great day. My short address to those who came to the gathering was, "Please have compassion and share the wealth of Krishna with others."
12 Km
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
Old Men and Peace
Toronto, Ontario
When someone comes to town more for pilgrimage than tourist sightseeing, I like to take them to the Beaches boardwalk where our guru in the summer of '75 did walk. A visiting family from Florida and a devoted member of ISKCON's Detroit chapter came to spend a few days. What a blessing to have great guests whose motives are to grow within!
On the perfect Indian summer day, we took to the trail shared by others who had come to enjoy the sunshine and the placidness of the lake.
(Pardon me for being a trite too mundane as one reader to this blog felt spiritual content was lacking. The intent here is to keep the blog new-comer friendly and to see it as a springboard to reach greater spiritual heights. Anyways, here's the mundane-ness and you can judge for yourself if it inspires or not.)
While we took to the trail of the purest of all souls, Srila Prabhupada, we saw an elderly group of men lawn-bowling. We also saw an ancient man soaking in the sun at a bench. I thought of the peace they were seeking. I also thought of that marvelous poem read to a group of us spiritual leaders at an interfaith gathering. Coordinator, J.W. Windland, read Maya Angelou's poem, "A Brave and Startling Truth" and its reference to peace. Here it goes:
And the aged can walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse
Another stanza:
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms
That was delivered on the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and now to us.
At the event I had the pleasure to speak on the topic of peace as presented in the Bhagavad-gita. The message there is a step above.
11 KM
Toronto, Ontario
When someone comes to town more for pilgrimage than tourist sightseeing, I like to take them to the Beaches boardwalk where our guru in the summer of '75 did walk. A visiting family from Florida and a devoted member of ISKCON's Detroit chapter came to spend a few days. What a blessing to have great guests whose motives are to grow within!
On the perfect Indian summer day, we took to the trail shared by others who had come to enjoy the sunshine and the placidness of the lake.
(Pardon me for being a trite too mundane as one reader to this blog felt spiritual content was lacking. The intent here is to keep the blog new-comer friendly and to see it as a springboard to reach greater spiritual heights. Anyways, here's the mundane-ness and you can judge for yourself if it inspires or not.)
While we took to the trail of the purest of all souls, Srila Prabhupada, we saw an elderly group of men lawn-bowling. We also saw an ancient man soaking in the sun at a bench. I thought of the peace they were seeking. I also thought of that marvelous poem read to a group of us spiritual leaders at an interfaith gathering. Coordinator, J.W. Windland, read Maya Angelou's poem, "A Brave and Startling Truth" and its reference to peace. Here it goes:
And the aged can walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse
Another stanza:
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms
That was delivered on the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and now to us.
At the event I had the pleasure to speak on the topic of peace as presented in the Bhagavad-gita. The message there is a step above.
11 KM
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Bah to the Auto
Toronto, Ontario
Something seemed unpleasant on Mount Pleasant Avenue. It was traffic.
I was trekking on it and these mean machines were whoozing by. By that I refer to the regular very ordinary automobiles - all of them. Usually I am numbed by traffic. It is an accepted part of urban life, yet it comes to me in spurts of annoyance when I think, "I don't need this assault." The sounds of engines were never attractive to me, nor the shape of design of them, not even in the best of days when those souped-up fifties and sixties models conquered roads in days gone by. I never cared for carbon-monoxide nor the space a car greedily occupies nor the fact that they kill animals, birds, and humans. Their roads ravage nature and have caused a major shift in the negative layout of people dispersement, bluntly called 'burbs'. Cars are shiny coffins, boxes of impersonalism and have taken the lead at concerns over energy supply. The list goes on.
I snarled within, feeling knots or cramps inside just thinking about the hazardous lifestyle the automobile has created. It was thought that a car would eliminate horse dung issues plus noise of the horses hooves clomping on the concrete or cobblestone but it wasn't a good substitute, not in the least.
Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, said, "In human society the normal way to travel is by foot, horse, bullock-cart, camel or elephant. Those modes of transportation have been around since time immemorial. Only in Kali-yuga do we have motorcars, and this motor car will not last very long. When the petrol dries up, what use are your motorcars?"
I believe there is a whole lot of people that are on that page of thinking. Perhaps it's a minority that will be like a moon's waxing. I also believe in tolerance, but not when the damage is so astronomical. Only my chanting wile walking offers personal damage control - my grumbling.
11 Km
Toronto, Ontario
Something seemed unpleasant on Mount Pleasant Avenue. It was traffic.
I was trekking on it and these mean machines were whoozing by. By that I refer to the regular very ordinary automobiles - all of them. Usually I am numbed by traffic. It is an accepted part of urban life, yet it comes to me in spurts of annoyance when I think, "I don't need this assault." The sounds of engines were never attractive to me, nor the shape of design of them, not even in the best of days when those souped-up fifties and sixties models conquered roads in days gone by. I never cared for carbon-monoxide nor the space a car greedily occupies nor the fact that they kill animals, birds, and humans. Their roads ravage nature and have caused a major shift in the negative layout of people dispersement, bluntly called 'burbs'. Cars are shiny coffins, boxes of impersonalism and have taken the lead at concerns over energy supply. The list goes on.
I snarled within, feeling knots or cramps inside just thinking about the hazardous lifestyle the automobile has created. It was thought that a car would eliminate horse dung issues plus noise of the horses hooves clomping on the concrete or cobblestone but it wasn't a good substitute, not in the least.
Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, said, "In human society the normal way to travel is by foot, horse, bullock-cart, camel or elephant. Those modes of transportation have been around since time immemorial. Only in Kali-yuga do we have motorcars, and this motor car will not last very long. When the petrol dries up, what use are your motorcars?"
I believe there is a whole lot of people that are on that page of thinking. Perhaps it's a minority that will be like a moon's waxing. I also believe in tolerance, but not when the damage is so astronomical. Only my chanting wile walking offers personal damage control - my grumbling.
11 Km
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011
What Sunday Should Be!
Duntroon, Ontario
Naturopath healers, professional runners, massage therapists and yoga practitioners were amongst listeners to my trekking pastimes in this small town near this Blue Mountain ski district. The time passed by rapidly as I was unfolding the various adventures of walking to the extreme. As usual I interweave philosophy into the presentation. "You must know your audience," as they say, so with this group I had come to understand that most of the participants had some "Vedic" connection, and hence, I could speak rather comfortably using the word sattvic, for instance, and eventually the word "God" and "Krishna".
When speaker and audience are on the same page there is a sense of harmony. Many questions came regarding the practical aspects of the marathon walks as well as the spiritual intent behind them. There were young children present and they also maintained a level of attention that was unparalleled. The chanting session we held at the end went over very well and refreshments to follow were for the health conscious.
My real good friend from Poland, Mahasrngha, cooked pasta for me and baked a delicious carob cake to be shared by all. Rami Bleckt, our host and ayur-veda astrologer, demonstrated his love by staging the event in his home. A real gentleman!
I was contemplating on the thought of Sunday evening being this way for the whole world' that a sense of community be the real experience for the entire human race and that real joy could be felt by all.
As Krishna states in the Gita, "susukam kartum avyayam." Chanting, honouring prasadam (sanctified food), some words of wisdom are all happily executed.
1 Km
Duntroon, Ontario
Naturopath healers, professional runners, massage therapists and yoga practitioners were amongst listeners to my trekking pastimes in this small town near this Blue Mountain ski district. The time passed by rapidly as I was unfolding the various adventures of walking to the extreme. As usual I interweave philosophy into the presentation. "You must know your audience," as they say, so with this group I had come to understand that most of the participants had some "Vedic" connection, and hence, I could speak rather comfortably using the word sattvic, for instance, and eventually the word "God" and "Krishna".
When speaker and audience are on the same page there is a sense of harmony. Many questions came regarding the practical aspects of the marathon walks as well as the spiritual intent behind them. There were young children present and they also maintained a level of attention that was unparalleled. The chanting session we held at the end went over very well and refreshments to follow were for the health conscious.
My real good friend from Poland, Mahasrngha, cooked pasta for me and baked a delicious carob cake to be shared by all. Rami Bleckt, our host and ayur-veda astrologer, demonstrated his love by staging the event in his home. A real gentleman!
I was contemplating on the thought of Sunday evening being this way for the whole world' that a sense of community be the real experience for the entire human race and that real joy could be felt by all.
As Krishna states in the Gita, "susukam kartum avyayam." Chanting, honouring prasadam (sanctified food), some words of wisdom are all happily executed.
1 Km
Monday, 3 October 2011
Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Rejection/Acceptance
Toronto, Ontario
Yesterday when our small party of 6 went in procession south on Avenue Road, a well dressed man in his, my guess, 60’s, addressed us as idiots. We didn’t respond. We were chanting and playing instruments while in procession. I was a little irritated by the remark, but left the negativity behind me, and immersed myself in blissful chanting. From thereon, responses by the public were phenomenal. When I described brief negative encounters to a group at a devotional gathering in a Markham home, they were rather surprised. “Someone would call some saintly folks idiots?”
Rejection is to be expected. So is acceptance. Accept both. This world is dual.
In a beautiful pastime to do with Krishna’s friends, these cowherd boys were somewhat disappointed when they were refused food for Krishna when requesting some from Brahmin priests. One time a reporter asked our guru, Srila Prabhupada, “How do you deal with a world that sometimes rejects you?” He made a remark that you simply go on with what has to be done. There can be so many discouraging factors to deal with. It is our dharma, or duty, to keep us on track, even though rejection may be in the air.
Now, there’s this annual event in the city called “Nuit Blanche” where streets are blocked off for pedestrian friendliness. Art displays go on into the wee hours of the morning. It’s quite the party. Well, after our Markham program, a group of us, 20 or so, decided to wedge ourselves into Nuit Blanche with our drums, deities, conch shells, incense, balloons, and anything else artistically expressive. It was done. Boy! How we were accepted! People loved it.
8 Km
Toronto, Ontario
Yesterday when our small party of 6 went in procession south on Avenue Road, a well dressed man in his, my guess, 60’s, addressed us as idiots. We didn’t respond. We were chanting and playing instruments while in procession. I was a little irritated by the remark, but left the negativity behind me, and immersed myself in blissful chanting. From thereon, responses by the public were phenomenal. When I described brief negative encounters to a group at a devotional gathering in a Markham home, they were rather surprised. “Someone would call some saintly folks idiots?”
Rejection is to be expected. So is acceptance. Accept both. This world is dual.
In a beautiful pastime to do with Krishna’s friends, these cowherd boys were somewhat disappointed when they were refused food for Krishna when requesting some from Brahmin priests. One time a reporter asked our guru, Srila Prabhupada, “How do you deal with a world that sometimes rejects you?” He made a remark that you simply go on with what has to be done. There can be so many discouraging factors to deal with. It is our dharma, or duty, to keep us on track, even though rejection may be in the air.
Now, there’s this annual event in the city called “Nuit Blanche” where streets are blocked off for pedestrian friendliness. Art displays go on into the wee hours of the morning. It’s quite the party. Well, after our Markham program, a group of us, 20 or so, decided to wedge ourselves into Nuit Blanche with our drums, deities, conch shells, incense, balloons, and anything else artistically expressive. It was done. Boy! How we were accepted! People loved it.
8 Km
Friday, September 30th, 2011
“No” Signs
Toronto, Ontario
One of the ladies in the community here said in a rather familiar way, “Oh Maharaja, you look so bright eyed and bushy tailed!” Appropriate remark? Certainly it wouldn’t fly in a traditional context, but her intent was really good. “Yes, I feel great, having tackled two provinces, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on foot. I’ve shed some karma and some pounds.”
I appreciate that she was at least consistent when she said, “You’ve got sun on your head and stubbles on your chin.”
Again, well intended. Doctors inform me that after a marathon withdrawal symptoms usually occur. But I can’t claim marathon status this time. I only went for two weeks, and a little less than 30 km per day, which is 10 km less than on the other previous cross Canada treks. I would say though that the legs get a little antsy, and want more than a mere 7 km I did today. Sadly, I have to submit to being back in regular mode. On day 1 of being back I took to the streets of the Rosedale neighbourhood, my original training grounds if you will. Funny to see signs of objection, like anywhere else in the country. This morning it was a sign pegged into someone’s front yard that read, “No Mega Quarry”. In Nova Scotia last week a sign I saw last week on someone’s property read, “No Fracking”. In the north, earlier in the summer, angry home owners set plaquards in their sod that read, “No Wind Turbines”. Behind some of these protests, the Nimby principle applies, “You can do what you want to do but ‘not in my backyard’”. It seems folks are ticked about something.
The posting of “No Smoking” is a common message everywhere. And I give that a thumbs up. But being who I am, a renounced person in a spiritual order, I would love to one day see signs that read, “No Illicit Sex”, “No Gambling”, “No Intoxication” and “No Meat Eating”. That would be a lot to ask of such a campaign. Just one serious attempt that one of the above four would save lives of self destruction, I believe.
If I was ever voted in for political office I would urge in this direction. That would sound scary to a secularist. I can just hear the protests now. I would then bargain for at least discouraging the above kind of bad habits. Let’s settle then for me being some modest spiritualist, trying to promote these values of abstinence and replace them with positive engagements. If even a tiny sector of society could adapt to less self gratification, the impact would be enormous.
7 Km
Toronto, Ontario
One of the ladies in the community here said in a rather familiar way, “Oh Maharaja, you look so bright eyed and bushy tailed!” Appropriate remark? Certainly it wouldn’t fly in a traditional context, but her intent was really good. “Yes, I feel great, having tackled two provinces, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on foot. I’ve shed some karma and some pounds.”
I appreciate that she was at least consistent when she said, “You’ve got sun on your head and stubbles on your chin.”
Again, well intended. Doctors inform me that after a marathon withdrawal symptoms usually occur. But I can’t claim marathon status this time. I only went for two weeks, and a little less than 30 km per day, which is 10 km less than on the other previous cross Canada treks. I would say though that the legs get a little antsy, and want more than a mere 7 km I did today. Sadly, I have to submit to being back in regular mode. On day 1 of being back I took to the streets of the Rosedale neighbourhood, my original training grounds if you will. Funny to see signs of objection, like anywhere else in the country. This morning it was a sign pegged into someone’s front yard that read, “No Mega Quarry”. In Nova Scotia last week a sign I saw last week on someone’s property read, “No Fracking”. In the north, earlier in the summer, angry home owners set plaquards in their sod that read, “No Wind Turbines”. Behind some of these protests, the Nimby principle applies, “You can do what you want to do but ‘not in my backyard’”. It seems folks are ticked about something.
The posting of “No Smoking” is a common message everywhere. And I give that a thumbs up. But being who I am, a renounced person in a spiritual order, I would love to one day see signs that read, “No Illicit Sex”, “No Gambling”, “No Intoxication” and “No Meat Eating”. That would be a lot to ask of such a campaign. Just one serious attempt that one of the above four would save lives of self destruction, I believe.
If I was ever voted in for political office I would urge in this direction. That would sound scary to a secularist. I can just hear the protests now. I would then bargain for at least discouraging the above kind of bad habits. Let’s settle then for me being some modest spiritualist, trying to promote these values of abstinence and replace them with positive engagements. If even a tiny sector of society could adapt to less self gratification, the impact would be enormous.
7 Km
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Monks Farewell!
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Today was time allotted for parting words with the brahmacari monks. Under the good direction of Nitai Ram, most of these men (numbering eight) were novices three years ago. Since their joining they have gained experience at distributing books by our guru, Srila Prabhupada. They have learned cooking, cleaning, giving classes and in the case of one, learned to do havans (fire sacrifice), how to record expenses and income, how to play the drum and other instruments and lead chanting sessions.
We reflected on the grass at the historic Citadel. Experience was our basic theme for the day. Practically all of these young men had their experience at gratification of the senses, but they had changed upon the life of devotion and it was game over – a new experience. Now, with time, direction and trial and error, and a lot of persistence, they have blossomed from the experience.
If you look for a job and you send in a resume which lists that you have some years of experience at some task, that says a lot.
In the morning I led a class and discussion about the experience of twelve great mahajans (teachers) and how in their association one becomes trained or at least learned by taking direction from their messages which are recorded in the book, Bhagavatam.
These boys, our brahmacaris, are enviable. They work well as a group. I’m going to miss them. We spent some time together walking and chanting such as at Phoenix Rising Yoga Centre last evening. May their experience place them in a position of devotional empowerment. They will bear the torches that we currently hold in our hands.
10 Km
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Today was time allotted for parting words with the brahmacari monks. Under the good direction of Nitai Ram, most of these men (numbering eight) were novices three years ago. Since their joining they have gained experience at distributing books by our guru, Srila Prabhupada. They have learned cooking, cleaning, giving classes and in the case of one, learned to do havans (fire sacrifice), how to record expenses and income, how to play the drum and other instruments and lead chanting sessions.
We reflected on the grass at the historic Citadel. Experience was our basic theme for the day. Practically all of these young men had their experience at gratification of the senses, but they had changed upon the life of devotion and it was game over – a new experience. Now, with time, direction and trial and error, and a lot of persistence, they have blossomed from the experience.
If you look for a job and you send in a resume which lists that you have some years of experience at some task, that says a lot.
In the morning I led a class and discussion about the experience of twelve great mahajans (teachers) and how in their association one becomes trained or at least learned by taking direction from their messages which are recorded in the book, Bhagavatam.
These boys, our brahmacaris, are enviable. They work well as a group. I’m going to miss them. We spent some time together walking and chanting such as at Phoenix Rising Yoga Centre last evening. May their experience place them in a position of devotional empowerment. They will bear the torches that we currently hold in our hands.
10 Km
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