Sunday, September 9th, 2012

Out In Nowheresville

Euronium, Ontario

Once again I'm King of the road. Highway 11 is a road less travelled. I see no buildings; there are few human-made landmarks to the exception of the Arctic water shed sign that reads that we are 1640 ft above sea level, and where waters at this point flow North and not East. The landmarks in this area are natural markers - trees and certain rocks, certain shaped lakes that are all distinct from each other. A certain bend in the road could also be a definitive landmark. It's all just natural raw beauty. Hardly touched by humans.

A couple stopped, pulled over and started to talk. They had read about my trek in the paper. They informed Daruka and I that there is no real town Euronia: two or three houses maybe. Once it was a major railway stop, as every 60 kilometres or so the locomotive had to stop for some kind of refeuling.

The couple remembers seeing Krishna monks in Amsterdam, years ago. They were surprised to see me in Nowheresville! The gentleman said, "These trees and plants and rivers and lakes really speak to me." How right he is. They are all living organisms afterall.

Daruka and I left for Kakabeka falls for a picnic/chanting session with our community members, including Chuck and Roberta who drove four hours from Deluth. What does anybody know about Deluth? As far as I know, it's claim to fame is that Bob Dylan came from around there. Daruka's cousins also joined in for the gathering.

Oh! Talking of family, I don't want to sound too redundant on bear topics, but Daruka and I witnessed a family, Momma and three cubs, crross the road in front of us. Oh! They would have liked our picnic - food that was rich and tasty. Above all it was prasadam, food prepared and offered with bhakti, devotion.

27 Km

Talking to dutch couple on Hwy. 11

 

4 bears by Shebandowan

 

Discovery Wilderness Centre cottage

 

Sunrise on the lake

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

I Carried the Can

 

Kashabowie, Ontario

 

I carried a can. It was empty. Of course, I had eaten the contents. It was peanuts and cashews, a common snack for hikers. It certainly is my brand of trail mix.

 

I carried this can for some distance, some kilometres. There's a reason for that: I don't like to do what I see other's doing. Some people so carelessly toss Tim Horton's coffee cups out of their window. I don't like to do that. It may have looked like this can I was carrying resembled a begging bowl. So be it. It could possibly be part of a monk's regalia. It doesn't really matter what it looked like to the motorist. This can served its purpose, and as a personal policy, I will wait until I meet Daruka who will save it and deposit it to a recycling bin when he gets a chance.

 

At a side road off highway 11, which is my trail for several days, was this curious red fox. But in the end, he wasn't really interested in me, or my can, nor were the many chipmunks who made squeaking sounds like crazy, with their cries announcing my intrusion. I envy these guys; there life seems to be quite free of worries. There life is simple: they carry no shopping bags, carts, crates, bins or cans for their carrying purposes. Everything is done with their teeth. They take only what they need for food and winter storage. How lucky and how free!

 

In the afternoon, Daruka and I went back to the city after walking through true tranquillity. Helen has a yoga studio, wherein 40 people came for kirtan chanting. That's impressive because it was publicized at a last minutes notice. And while the One to whom we offered these mantras, enjoyed, we (the chanters) also enjoyed singing Hare Krishna. People offered donations. Shucks, I should have used the can!

 

Our evening was well arranged for accommodations. Dan, whom I met a few days before, informed me of his wilderness discovery resort. With excellent lodging facilities over Lake Shebandawan. Out of the goodness of his heart, and that of his partner Wanda, we were comfortably set in cabin three, with no charge.

 

We call this service - devotional service.

 

30 Km

Friday, September 7th, 2012

I Open the Door

 

Shebandawan, Ontario

 

I open the door to a starry sky, when condensation caused a dripping from Daruka's car. Days are warm, while nights are cool, which accounted for a similar drip from our hosts' eavestrough. I waited outside the home of our accommodation at Dr. Jani's house until Daruka appeared to drive me to the place of the previous day's finish line.

 

September is the best month for trekking. Today it warmed up to about 20 degrees Celsius. Kids are waiting by the road for the school bus pick-up. Traffic moves north and south on this stretch of the highways 11 and 17 merger.

 

A local TV broadcaster came to film and interview me. She expressed off-camera how she really believes in the meditative walk. She runs everyday to have time for herself. I gave her a mantra card, letting her know that this is the mantra that I chant while stepping along across this vast land.

 

At a convenience store where they sell salt and sugar goods, I popped into this isolated place to meet Daruka who was parked there. The store owner, a woman, mentioned she saw me earlier on the road. "You're a real head-turner. I was driving and I couldn't believe that I saw a monk." She was friendly, and I guess you could say eligible to receive our complimentary book Chant and Be Happy by BBT books.

 

Before a second and third installment of walking today, Daruka took me down this abandoned logger's road as the quiet place to nap. It was a good three kilometres back to the main road trekking through an area of deforestation. Not all that you see along the main highway tells the truth. Tucked away in behind the tourists' eyes are hectacres and hectacres of ravaged forest.

 

A major highlight for the day was being pursued by a group of young teens. Dr. Jani and I were walking along the park on Riveria Road when these young fellows spotted us. The robes I wore drew their attention. They ran to us, and they were inquisitive like anything. When they asked, "Are you a monk?"

 

"Yes I am - all of me," I said.

"We've never met one before. Can we take our picture with you?"

 

"Sure."

 

I admitted to them that I know no martial arts, although friends of mine do.

 

"I teach mantra-meditation," I told them, and they understood that it was for inner peace. I shared the maha-mantra with them. They went on their way. That was fine.

 

Dr. Jani and I then spotted a bear next to a stream. Within the Thunder Bay city limits was this furry guy. I stared at him and he at me. He turned the other way and dashed off. He was not ready to receive the mantra.

 

39 Km

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

Souls that Came

 

Murillo, Ontario

 

Susanne DuBeau was the first person to talk to me today. I moved with a steady stride along Alder Road toward Murillo when Susanne pulled over with her Canada Post vehicle. In a sense, we were playing leap-frog with each other. She would drive past me and then stop at one of those outdoor post box stations, slide mail into individual post boxes. At this point, I passed her until she drove to the next station. In this way the procedure went on.

 

Labelled on the side of her van was a pitch for surrendering to Jesus. When I first read that I thought, "Oh Boy, here we go - an attempt at trying to convert me." But now, Susanne was sweet. She offered a ride which I naturally could not accept. We chatted, and I surmised that, yes she was the real thing, she was being like a real Christian - friendly and kind, and like her name implies, beau means beautiful. She is a beautiful soul.

 

The next souls to see me were suspicious ones. They were two officers, slightly apologetic upon seeing me, the one policeman said, "Now theres a situation here were someone called in saying you were an escapee from the nearby youth correctional services. They all wear orange, you see!"

Thunder Bay Police pull over suspected escapee

 

I could not contain myself from laughter, "The last time I came to the Thunder Bay hospital area, someone spotted me walking and called the police under the suspicion that I was a patient, taking off with some hospital bedsheets (referring to my robes)." At that stage, the two cops could also not contain themselves from knee-slapping laughter.

 

I met another soul who happened to be walking pass the police and I. He was an older soul - or at least his body - who dedicates 2 kilometres to walking. I caught up to him after the police departed. I told him of my cross-nation pilgrimage and he told me of all the flooding that happened in the area earlier this summer. He mentioned how water levels rose and how fish were crossing the road. "It was on YouTube!" he said.

More souls came my way, including Brent from the Chronicle Journal. I complemented him since this was the fourth time trekking through, and he has been there since the very start. When he first came to see me, it was 1996 on my first walk. Now when he pulled over and, with camera in hand, I said, "So Brent, we must be friends by now." He said, "Yes we are!"

 

34 Km

 

Interview with Brent from the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal in Murillo

 

Kakabeka Falls

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

The Speed of Optimism

 

Terrace Bay, Ontario

The towns people in Terrace Bay are on an emotional high. For some days now, they are feeling relieved. This tiny place, located more or less at a cliff`s edge overlooking Lake Superior, was looking practically doomed when their pulp and paper plant was going under. It looked like the place was going to close down. But then the company was bought up by a well-established Bierla firm from India. New hope came to this town of population two-thousand. In fact, three pulp and paper plants in Canada were recently purchased by the Indian firm.

 

Vinod Tiwari, the general manager of the revived business, he so graciously looked after Daruka and I when he heard we were coming to town. He was conscientious, direct, and confident in his interaction with us. I asked him how he hopes to succeed with the business. "We just have to be very professional," he said with conviction.

 

At least a dozen of his management team I had met in some rented apartments for breakfast, which was Indian palau, while others helped themselves to the American fare of cornflakes and milk. Most of them are on a few weeks stay in Canada to reorganize the pulp and paper plant. All of them moved with the speed of optimism to and from the designated kitchenette for the morning meal. While they were munching or crunching on breakfast, the Asian television network was on the TV monitor, with some guru delivering a message on his brand of spirituality. There was nothing mundane about the management team and how they carried themselves. In fact, one of the fellows I found engaged in a physical workout (no gym required) in the misty air of the morning while I was on my morning walk.

 

Now I will choose to reserve my personal opinion about the paper industry and its impact on the environment, but I simply want to bring up the point about their positive attitude. If only I could apply my spiritual life with the enthusiasm these men had for making their new prospects. It was admirable and a source of inspiration to meet and greet them. And, they treated my like a sadhu.

 

And for the few moments that we sat at the breakfast table, they took a keen interest in hearing what I had to say. They were respectful and they were good listeners. I guess you could say that some of these qualities are recipes for success in life.

 

9 KM

CanWalk 4 - - Itinerary for September 2012

Sept. 6- Resume walk from Thunder Bay to Kakabeka Falls
Sept. 7- Finmark
Sept. 8- Shebandowan
Sept. 9- Kashabowie
Sept. 9- Huronian
Sept. 10- Kawene
Sept. 11- Atikokan
Sept. 12- Calm Lake
Sept. 13- Seine River Indian Reserve
Sept. 14- Rainy Lake
Sept. 15- East of Rainy Lake Causeway, Fort Frances
Sept. 16- Emo
Sept. 17- Pinewood
Sept. 18- Rainy River

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Consider That

 

Terrace Bay, Ont.

 

Daruka and I covered approximately 1400 Km easy. It was mostly by tire, partially by ferry over water, and fortunately for me I managed to put in 10 Km on foot. From Owen Sound to Terrace Bay we travelled in the land of Boreal forest.

 

When taking the two hour ferry, the Chi-Cheemaun, over Georgian Bay's waters, I took the opportunity to interact with passengers. A good percentage were from Europe - Germany, the U.K., Austria, and of course there were Canadians. The Europeans, in particular, expressed awe at the size of the space. To them, seeing that we have such vast wilderness at our disposal is an opulence; while they see it also poses some inconvenience. When asked, "What are you doing?" I expressed that I was in the middle of walking this huge space. It then sparked an interest in the culture of renunciation; not that they were ready to become monastic people, they appreciated the spirit behind it.

 

One couple, with their child, were going on a camping expedition. They were eager to hear about tips on how to contend with bears, since I have some camping experience. A fellow on the ferry, who is from the North, had a solution, "Use your shot-gun! There's too many bears any ways. They are a problem. They have to be under control, but the government stopped the bear hunt." Although he was protesting, he did so in a mild way. He's actually a nice guy.

 

Apparently, a doctor was recently killed by a bear, but people must know that such an incident is very rare. If we abide by the philosophy that every time a wild animal kills there should be an open-hunting season, then why not apply that to humans? In other words, every time a person murders another person, then should we make an injunction: kill all people? Maybe there's too many people. Consider that!

 

10 Km

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

From the Gita

 

Owen Sound, Ontario

 

From the Gita, a group of us buckled down to learn the verse 5.18. It was done in a fun way. It had to be - half of us were kids!

 

The place was Harrison Park in Owen Sound - a town of 22, 000 and voted the number one place in the nation to retire. It's quiet, clean, low crime, no big industry, and there is natural beauty all around. Our group was in a gazebo near a water pond of black and white swans. After a chanting session, I felt it necessary to deliver some message of truth for everyone's sake.

 

In the verse, Krishna speaks about equal vision. Regardless of species, all living beings have an equal spirit. We all had a good time learning this verse. I suggested to the members of the rock band Rajasi, who were there, that why not take this cool message with it's catchy Sanskrit phrases and incorporate it into their next song. The idea was liked.

The outing at this park and other areas around, are a weekly feature for local familes. Rajesh, the local coordinator, plans to keep them going and hold indoor programs thoroughout the fall and winter. This type of activity, the drumming and chanting, and the picnic of prasada (blessed eatibles) is an ideal program for the people of the Earth. It involves everyone. The thirty of us and other "curiosos" huddled in a grouop, circled around Gaura who sang and played on his harmonium.

Owen Sound was a stopover for Daruka and I, who are taking a three day's pace as we drive to the head tip of Lake Superior to continue the walk that's so dear to us. It will then be a two-week trek to the Manitoba border, through bear, loon, rock and lake country. It is a sparsely human-populated area. Dash, rugged, raw and beautiful. Everything is there to remind you that this world is very dangerous and that there is a great diversity and oneness of spirit presided over by the Creator.

 

9 Km

Sunday, September 2nd, 2012

Three Girls and a Guy

Toronto, Ontario

 

On my meditation beads, going southbound on Yonge Street, at one street juncture a group of four young people also arrived at the street corner when the light turned red. One of the girls from that group tried to convince the other three to (what you call) jaywalk, and cross the street on a red light. The others were apprehensive. She said, "Let's go!" One of them stepped forward, but her boyfriend pulled her back. They were confused. I offered some advice.

 

"Can I suggest that you just be patient?" They turned their heads towards me and listened further. "There are three ways to live in this world." The lights now turned green. All of us moved forward, proceeding to step up onto the curb after crossing. They appeared to have listened to me, and they were quiet. As I said, "The first way to live is to be very thoughtful. The second way is to be very passionate and to give little forethought before taking action. And, the third way is to just be downright lazy." The three perspectives on life, as we learn from the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita, seemed to grab the attention of the three young women and one young man.

"Which of these three ways is superior?" I quizzed them. One of them responded with, "The first one!"

 

"Right," I said, "to be thoughtful."

 

The changing colours of the lights are there for a reason. If we are not thoughtful, there are usually unfortunate repercussions for our lack of thoughtfulness.

 

From there on, the one girl who was initially so focussed on crossing on the red light, decided to walk next to me and she went on inquiring about my vocation, who I represent and so on. In this way, we walked several blocks in conversation.

 

I believe she became more thoughtful.

 

9 Km

Saturday, September 1st, 2012

Reunion

Toronto, Ontario

Most of today's motion happened on a double-decker bus. Two of such conveyances were arranged for the reunionists, Krishna devotees, or the class of the 70's. We took a drive to 40 Beverly Street, a stately home still standing in the downtown and which was our first rented-home location as a centre for raising consciousness. The second drive took us to 187 Gerrard St. East, a house situated in the Cabbagetown section of Toronto, a vintage Irish community. Finally, the buses, packed with approximately 30 of us baby-boomers and just as many or more of the newer generation, made our way back to our current spot at 243 Avenue Rd., a former huge Methodist church.

To celebrate the history of accomplishment, the transition of moving to successive larger buildings (indicating our growth) as well as to reaffirm that we are still here, we chanted happily from the open-tops as we drove through the Saturday night crowd. The bar and cafe crowd received the mantras very well and they waved back reciprocally showing their approval.

Today was largely time spent in mingling with each other, telling of the old days when ISKCON was at the cutting edge of society in its promotion of virtually new concepts of mantra chanting, vegetarianism, reincarnation and so forth. Since the first appearance of Krishna Consciousness in 1969-70 in this city there have been incredible challenges to establish ourselves. It was only through the sincere and bold efforts of a creative and youthful bunch like this that we were bound to set root and to succeed.

0 Km

Friday, August 31st, 2012

The Corn Path

Clandeboye, Ontario

There is this awesome maize located near my sister's place at Kent Bridge. A farmer's family have turned their field of maize into a maze. This may sound absolutely corny, but it's true. I went there myself to see and experience a piece of the labyrinth, a complex network of pathways which has been designed from an aerial stand-point as a shaped image of Chief Tecumseh. Rose Ann, my sister, and I met Ingrid whose entire family head up the project of fun. People come here to walk the trail which lasts for about an hour. I offered to Ingrid, if she would wish some mantras to be chanted as a small inauguration since today was opening day. She graciously accepted and hence you can say that this place has a-mazing grace.

Rose Ann and I along with our Auntie Bop left for a funeral, the passing of Pete Groenwegen, my cousin. He had led a good life as a dairy farmer, family man and man of faith. The funeral ended up being an intimate family reunion where four of my siblings attended. Reverend Desjardin conducted the service. He is a pleasant people person.

I took a train from London (Ontario) to Toronto. It was one of the hottest days of the summer and the train car I entered had a defunct air conditioning. Time passed by quickly while speaking with Sara, a cyclist, spiritualist and TV broadcaster by profession. Once arrived in Toronto I was driven to the temple/ashram to attend another reunion but one of a different kind. It was a monk-and-nun reunion, I mean to say, a gathering of the men and women who forty years ago surrendered their lives to take up the devotional path here in Toronto. Amongst the attendees tonight were B.B. Govinda Swami, Laksmimoni and Devi Deva.

The chanting in the evening was so enchanting.

9 Km

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

To The Guru

Sandwich, Ontario

The time I’m not on foot during the day is spent in rest, in dialogue, reading, writing or eating. I should not fail to mention, however, one most important function executed usually in the morning. As Daruka drives me to the spot from where I left off the day prior, we make a point to express our gratitude to our guru. “Gurvastakam” is an eight verse song which praises the guru. Daruka responds to my lead on the song. He is getting good with the pronunciation of the Sanskrit words while struggling with a few here and there. It is a privilege to sing this each morning as we give credit to the master for our spiritual development.

Frankly, I would not be here on Riverside Drive, east and then west, on foot, meeting and greeting people and encouraging them in spiritual life if it were not for him. So I am grateful to our master, Srila Prabhupada.

I made my way from this outstanding water fountain to beyond the Ambassador Bridge. A mere 10 kilometers was left to complete the last leg of the southern Ontario region. I kept in view of many motorists on their way to work. One of them, a hospice care-taker, pulled over and asked if I was a Buddhist.

“No, I’m a Hare Krishna monk.”

“Is there anything going on in the city?” he asked.

“No, but across the river, in Detroit, at the Fisher Mansion we have a temple. I’ll be willing to come to Windsor anytime to present a workshop.”

"Thank you!” and he went on his way carrying a card with my website.

I felt guilty inside that we do not have established a centre in Windsor in order that the good people here could raise their consciousness in the bhakti tradition. I wish and pray that the day soon will come when a responsible couple could come and open up a centre.

One last point: life is a razor’s edge. A little inattention and damage may come. As I was walking along Riverside, a woman pulled out of the parking lot and was so focussed on watching traffic in order to turn. She did not see me and moved forward. The bumper nudged my thigh, I braced the car’s hood. She kept going until I waved. This met her with surprise. She then went to apologize.

10 Km