Thursday, February 20th, 2014

Mayapura, India

The Innovative Monk

He was very strict with himself.  It was his birth anniversary today.  Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is the guru of our guru and had been celibate all his life, that would make him a life long monk.

 

This morning we heard not about his austere nature but more about his innovation and creativity in drawing the masses towards spirituality.  Born in the eastern part of India, Orissa, he had established from that section of India a mission called "Gaudia Math" ending up with 64 branches or chapter.  When it comes time to 'display' or put on exhibits on spiritual life he taught big and did big.

 

Imagine a carnival set up for a fair which was inclusive of the latest pop music (we are talking about the 1920s), a popular theatre troupe with professional entertainers, wrestling, boxing and innocent amusements.  All featured on a square mile lot near the Ganges, this secular entertainment constituted half of the space while the second half demonstrated spiritualism.  There was also a luxury cruise arranged for dignitaries and along there were books on display by gurus of various denominations and followings.  Meat was also served and ready for the VIPs, he had just about everything in place to lure the masses.  Successful he was.  Outgoing with ideas? Yes very much so.

 

Bhaktisiddhanta was not just a monk he was an intellectual.  When it came time to deal with Britished ruled India, his eloquent use of the English language surprised statesmen and VIPs from that community with his use of language and erudition.

 

British imperialism was the strong hold in India and the social political climate of the time was to have the British leave forever.  Subash Chandra Bose also known as Nettaji was a powerful revolutionary at the time and he approached Bhaktisiddhanta about his recruiting so many bright young men and that they would be much better put to use in the army.

 

Bhaktisiddhanta, however, refuted any attempt by others to discourage the mission of spreading higher consciousness.  He also had a reputation as the Simgha Guru (Lion Guru) as challengers of philosophy and theology would be intimidated by him.  He was a powerful speaker and physically was a towering figure as well.

 

He stood up for the truth in the most absolute way.  He was staunch with himself and liberal when communicating in a growing world of liberalism.  We have the greatest reverence for him.  His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura "harmony is possible only when one has attained a firm footing in the dharma or the function of the soul".

 

May the Source be with you!

 

6 KM

Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

Two Gals!

Mayapura, India

 

Lakshmipriya ! and Vishnupriya !  These are two names of two elephants that have their own campus complete with several acres of space which include a variety of trees.  They have their own tank for a bath and lots of dust from the ground for relieving themselves from heat.  Dust is something they generously help themselves with by the use of their trunks.

 

A small contingent of us Canadians, on foot, went to check them out.  It was dawn and they were nurturing each other (with their trunks once again).  Keshava who was with us from Toronto expressed his love for the mammals.  "Since I was a kid they were my favourite animal".  He also went onto to say that they were a matriarchal dominant species.  They lead the herd while the bulls are out doing other things.  "I guess he meant mating."

 

One thing I had picked up sometime in the past is that the male's reproductive organ can weight put to 50 pounds, so I have heard about the herd.  Perhaps its in reference to African Elephants, I'm no Elephant guru, I admit.  In Vedic context the famous elephant Airavata who carries the demigod Indra.  Gajendra is another hero, a bull who enjoyed in the water with his lady Elephant friends when a crocodile came to attack him. He struggled in that water trying to free his leg from the clamped down jaws of the reptile.

 

They say Elephants are smart.  This one - Gejendra was moved to prayer and eventually got liberated with Vishnu's help.  Vishnupriya, the name of the one of the Elephants we were looking at means "the one who's dear to Vishnu."

 

Of course, there is Ganesh, adorably known throughout the world as the remover of obstacles on the path of devotion.  In other words he's good luck!

 

It was a terrific walk seeing the two lovely ladies in their big, big bodies - worth the walk.

 

May the Source be with your!

 

6 KM

Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

Packed

Mayapura, India

 

I share a small room with two other people 20 and 35 years my junior. We get along.  We are working together on the drama project, so there some commonality there.  One of the follows is married.  The other is hoping to be.  We even tolerate each others snoring.

 

Mayapura is full with pilgrims.  We share a room not necessarily out of choice.  Its OK! As I said, I get along with my company, at least during our sleeping and shower time.

 

When its breakfast and lunch I meet with the other pilgrims who come from all over the world: China, South America, UK, Germany, USA, Canada, Austrailia, Bali, Thailand, etc.  I minimize time on eating and go from table to table to meet everyone, in fact I can't get around to everyone.  There are eight hundred people sitting and enjoying the meal.  The luncheon room at the ISKCON Leaders Sanga, ILS, is just huge.  My reason average one minute of time per table is greeting.

 

This 'greeting' is a segue into the seminar I attended on the world famous Krishna Love Feast.  The reason for this seminar was to step-up the quality presentation at these feast that have attracted people for decades.

 

One of the main thrusts towards improving the Sunday Krishna Love Feast is in the warm greetings.  In some places the program tends to be lagging behind, to that we might celebrate the phrase, "if you are looking for a breakthrough, try breaking your routine!"

 

Its all about people, isn't it?  And India if full of them, one billion.  Things can be tight in a country full of people.  Its a great place to learn tolerance.

 

May the Source be with you!

 

5 KM

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Where It Started              

Mayapura, India

 

Srivas Angan is the birth place of kirtan in the modern age. The home of someone by the name of Srivas Thakur is the location where just over five hundred years ago ecstatic chanting occurred. But it was not until four and a half centuries later that kirtan made significant inroads to the world outside south-east-Asia.

 

This afternoon a group of perhaps just over 150 people processioned to this place. The people- where did they come from? They hail from all over the world just as one of the saints Bhaktivinode predicted that Americans, Russians, Germans and more would converge at this sacred place and give glory to the one responsible for birthing the sankirtan chanting movement. That person was Sri Chaitanya.

 

It was an uplifting rhythm trek with kirtan that brought us to the Angan. This is the real way to execute pilgrimage, with song. I had the honor to lead the chanting on the way over but had to leave at some point, only to be somewhat annoyed. The traffic is aggressive here. Trucks, cars, scooters and bicycles rule the Bhaktisiddhanta Marg, the road with a width of an average North American driveway.

 

What will this mean ten years from now, in terms of traffic congestion?

 

I met my dear spiritual sister, Sishaka, on my return walk. She is an avid walker and cyclist. She expressed some concern about the energy of traffic on this pilgrimage trail.

 

As India gets more and more modernized and her national pride continues to surge while trying to catch up with the rest of the world, it might be smart to look at safe traveling trails.

 

What made the procession different  was the police escorts. In their presence there was traffic control. I love the police for this reason. They were backing the Pilgrimage and that's commendable.

 

May The Source Be With You!

 

5 KM

Sunday, February 16th, 2014

New Delhi, India

Missing But Found

It’s always an honor to speak about walking icons.  Before me were dozens of resident brahmacharis (monks), I talked about this young prince who actually ran away from home, perhaps walked.  He felt some neglect from his parents, a stepmom and biological father.  He was only five. 

He took to the wilderness and also the trails of sadhus (sages) and finally found a suitable place for his meditation. He met his guru there - Narada Muni, who gave him a mantra.  "om namo bhagavate vasudevaya".  From this mantra he becomes powerful as an ascetic and a medium to communicate with the Divine.  With his strong conviction and encouragement from the aforementioned personalities he had gone through an internal cleansing.  After a brief six months practice of both astanga and bhakti yoga, he decided to leave his place of meditation and return back home on foot, back to the palace actually.  The missing child came home.  Troubles and miscommunications were reconciled.  A regretful father and his two mothers (even the nasty stepmom) had regained consciousness, so to speak.

I had been telling the boys from our little drama troupe after their terrific performance before a packed house at the temple that there is nothing more unsettling for me than when I see these bills posted, like at a bus station, of missing persons.  Mostly they are kids or teens.  In our Vancouver community one teen was last seen on a bus.  He never made it home and police have not heard hide nor hair of the unfortunate young fella.

Practically, in most cases these missing persons did not go for a walk to achieve enlightenment.  Your imagination can go wild on what may have happened to such souls.

Dhruva's story was a happy one.  He had anger issues from time to time.  For the most part he championed those frailties and became a great leader.  It was a pleasure to talk about one of my most favorite walking heroes, Dhruva, to a group of great bhakti yogis. 

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Saturday, February 15th, 2014

Missing But Found

New Delhi, India

Its always an honour to speak about walking icons.  Before me were dozens of resident brahmacharis (monks), I talked about this young prince who actually ran away from home, perhaps walked.  He felt some neglect from his parents, a step mom and biological father.  He was only five. 

He took to the wilderness and also the trails of sadhus (sages) and finally found a suitable place for his meditation.  He met his guru there - Narada Muni, who gave him a mantra.  "om namo bhagavate vasudevaya".  From this mantra he becomes powerful as an ascetic and a medium to communicate with the Divine.  With his strong conviction and encouragement from the aforementioned personalities he had gone through an internal cleansing.  After a brief six months practice of both astanga and bhakti yoga, he decided to leave his place of meditation and return back home on foot, back to the palace actually.  The missing child came home.  Troubles and miscommunications were reconciled.  A regretful father and his two mothers (even the nasty step mom) had regained consciousness, so to speak.

I had been telling the boys from our little drama troupe after their terrific performance before a packed house at the temple that there is nothing more unsettling for me than when I see these bill posted, like at a bus station, of missing persons.  Mostly they are kids or teens.  In our Vancouver community one teen was last seen on a bus.  He never made it home and police have not heard hide nor hair of the unfortunate young fella.

Practically in most cases these missing persons did not go for a walk to achieve enlightenment.  Your imagination can go wild on what may have happened to such souls.

Dhruva's story was a happy one.  He had anger issues from time to time.  For the most part he championed those frailties and became a great leader.  It was  a pleasure to talk about one of my most favorite walking heros, Dhruva, to a group of great bhakti yogis.

May the Source be with You!

4 KM

Saturday, February 8th, 2014

To the Hill

Vrndavan India

The sun hadn't yet met Vrndavan until late. The six of us who took that popular pilgrimage around the celebratory and sacred hill, Goverdhan, were rather okay with that. Given the time of the year (days are short) in the northen hemisphere) and the overcast that stubbournly hung for a while, it gave our treck more energy retention.

 

Maha Mantra and Fil, both from Canada were on this trail for the first time, Nrsinghananda and Mukunda from the U.S had hit the dust here before. I've relished the six hour trek in the past (eleven years ago was my last) but it was our New Zealander, Kala, who appeared to be the expert, knowing the trail, he became our guide.

 

The 6:15 AM starting point was momentous at some juncture in the road, a mere few kilometers from Vrndavan. Which got us there by cab, from there our 22 KM trek commenced with the magic of Goverdhan itself unfolding delectibly before us.

 

Goverdhan is more like an escarpment flounting its ancient work and trees. The rock takes on hues of orange and violet, big and small. From a birds view Goverdhan assumes the shape of a peacock. At its edge are some quaint and significant temples. It is home to hundreds of bird, monkeys and nilagava, a blue deer- like cow, famous from the time of Sri Krishna Himself. At one point we admired the various animal communities enjoying breakfast together- green parrots, pigions- pigs, monkeys and cows. Pilgrims from all over India recognized our crew. They addressed us with a Hare Krsna which goes to show that Krishna Consciousness is becoming well established in India. Interaction with fellow foot travelers was inevitable.

 

Our vist to Radha Kunda, a particular watery haven was also memorable, one you get beyond exception. One aggressive apparent resident guide, was a very high strung, in your face guy who was mostly rupee conscious. I asked him to sit down with me, next to the sacred water. He did. " Now let us go over the mantra together," Hare Krishna..." I would not get past the first two words with him. I figured that if the mantra could meet his pan-chewing, never-seen-a-tooth-brush for teeth that there could be some benefits. As we sat together I asked him to chill, politely, and even stroked with my hand over his back a minute long massage just to get him on his good side. To no avail did he calm and left without a coin to his keep from us.

 

Our pilgrim group terminated this trek where literally thousands of pilgrims were, on this trail daily. We were happily fatigued, visited numerous temple along the way, chanted mega-numbers of mantra, interacted with folks, loved each others company and admired being by a hill that once Krishna lifted to protect his devotees from torrential rains, demonstrating his affection for the spiritually-based

 

May The Source Be With You!

 

23 KM

Thursday, February 6th, 2014

Brussels / Delhi

In The Air

 

Our flight attendant, who is training to be a pilot and whose surname is Krishna, interesting to chat with. He regularly chants on his meditation beads as the two of us passengers were doing.

My companion to India is a young monk, Maha Mantra, who hails from Pickering, Ontario. We were both learning from our attendant about flying. For instance the engined plane we were on with Jet Airways has the bulk of its fuel in the wings, "More so than fuel in its belly," as he put it. We didn't know that.

We were watching the guys outside de- Icing the plane. Apparently the aircraft doesn't get off the ground when the wings carry some resistance for instance the ice. Despite all the engine power, the size of the wings and quantity of fuel the mechanics are such that the plane won’t get off the ground with all the ice on it.

From Brussels to Delhi a new team of flight attendants came on board. This time Anish, took over the shift of taking care of people's need. I always learn something about hospitality from these people. I've seen incidents when their patience is tested. According to Anish, “When someone has had just one drink too much he/she can go over the top with their behavior. At that point, we the flight attendants can never get angry," he said. Anish was curious about the Bhagavad Gita. He had been on old truth that applies even to modern times.

"Right you are," I explained to Anish, who is a young father, you learn first how to submit to your own psychophysical nature. Do as you are obliged. The second and final lesson is about submit to the will of the Supreme. "The first attitude blends into the second."

Take care Anish and Krishna from earlier on!

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Friday, February 14th, 2014

Noida/Delhi, India

Minimal Enjoyment                

Walking today was once again at a minimum due to circumstances.   A cold rain hit the area.  I have neither the clothing nor the footwear appropriate to withstand the elements outside.  Besides, I wanted to experience the atmosphere of a new sacred  space , a new building or temple, now officially open, in Noida.

Local residential monks and lay-members were huddled closely together benefitting from each other's body heat, in addition to sweaters and chauddars, as they sat in happy mediation.  It was 5:30 AM when after the first part was completed, that every five minutes a person would be bringing in a blast of cold wet air into the place of meditation.

I took to a circular-shaped pacing route in the room before settling in a chair. It was then my hour to deliver the Bhagavatam class, the third one since arriving in India.  From Canto 5 the message of the "Forest of Material Enjoyment" alludes to pleasure.  This is misleading, however, because duality is the actual reality.  Much pain is infused into the physical world and many people on the planet are steeped in it through war conditions where fear has over taken them. For millions of people the bare necessity are not met. One Vaishnava saint wrote about enjoyment in the material world proclaiming it to be minimal and liking it to taking a few drops a water while in a parched dry desert.

All around challenges become a preoccupation with little peace.  Even in the effort to create sacred space a disturbance welcomes itself.  To make the point more clear read next paragraph.

Our stay in Noida was over and we cabbed our way to Saint Nagar district in New Delhi where we booked our selves at the ISKCON guest house. We had time to catch up on rest, read, write and have darshan, the viewing of the deities of Krishna.  In the temple room a digital sign keeps rolling out the message for pilgrims, "Beware of pick pockets!"

So while we find ourselves in an apparent safe haven, there are still things to worry about - the worry of theft.  My pilgrim friends have lost in the past their shoes, phones, wallets, ID cards, etc. The point is, as long as we reside in this world it is a rarity to find complete, total, cent percent comfort.  Hence we must surrender to the spiritual.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

Nodia, India

Walking/Flying

As out little drama troupe was in the midst of our practice for the Hindi version of "Gita: Concise”, an interviewer came, a Ms. Singh from the Delhi Times was informed about my being in town and that a story about  "The Walking Monk" might be interesting; she was gracious.

The usual questions came about why, where and what's next?  To put it briefly I told her about the value of pilgrimages, about the countries I've ventured through on foot and about doing Route 66 in the U.S. as a major undertaking from New York to San Fransisco.  I also told her of the many visits to elementary schools this last summer while walking through the Canadian prairies along with Daruka, my associate, and a parrot.  The teachers loved the notion of getting away from computers and games to see a bigger world, a bigger picture.

After the interview and drama practice I enjoyed some down-time reading through the pages of a new book by Lokanath Swami, "In Conversation With Srila Prabhupada".  I'm sure that my admired monk friend, the author, doesn't mind me pulling out an excerpt that got my attention.  It's to do with a walk he was on with our Guru, Srila Prabhupada on November 13/1975 Bombay/India:

"As Srila Prabhupada quickened his steps and we hurried along behind him, we glanced upwards to the clear Juhu beach sky and observed a flock of geese flying through the air in complete synergy with each other. Srila Prabhupada stopped, dug his cane steadily into the ground and commented,"’Yes… fast, these birds.  Airplane cannot do that.’

I inquired, ‘How do the birds determine the direction of their movement without clashing into each other?’

Srila Prabhupada responded, Informing me, ‘Yes, they have got intelligence.  You are thinking they have no intelligence. They have got complete intelligence.’

I acknowledged Srila Prabhupada’s explanation and pushed the discussion further.  ‘How do they all decide together to turn either right or left without clashing?’

Srila Prabhupada replied with authority, "That is intelligence.  You do not know that if you are given airplane, so many… immediately, at least half a dozen will be finished. That means you are less intelligent then the birds, at least in the matter of flying.’

Those who were there to hear the remarks… were highly amused.”
 
May The Source Be With You!
 
0 KM

Wednesday, February 12th, 2014

Noida, India                 
 
What Needs Doing                  

 

One journalist, G.S. Tripathi writes, "The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is a primary source of eternal knowledge. Bewildered by the challenges before him,  Arjuna seeks Krishna’s intervention in removing his ignorance and leading him on the path of righteousness.  In response, Krishna talks about the immortality of the soul, knowledge of eternity and the transient, supremacy of action bereft of desire for it fruits and the necessity of being equipoised under the spell of the duality's of life." 

 

While so many reverential and celebratory activities are going on with the opening of a new temple, and this eventful day of saint/avatar Nityananda, our drama troupe is focused for our evening performance of  "Gita:  Concise".  I had the privilege to partake in the ancient abhishek rights for installing murtis (beautiful images of Krishna).  The balance of the time, however, was with the guys in our troupe who committed to the full eighteen chapters presented in a nut shell. 

 

While introducing the drama to a crowd of hundreds, I confessed to giving not much time to the puja, or the rituals. My puja has been to the members of the troupe, who are my deities, in a sense. 

Mukunda, who is a new fellow for me to work with and who plays the role of Arjuna, told me between practices, "I'm really getting absorbed in the part and trying to comprehend my characters dilemma".  Maha Mantra, who has got the dance steps down in the production, is like the pillar of knowledge of props and costumes and just how to "rhythm it”  on the stage.  Fil had manifested as the details person.  Goura is the dependable person Krishna, and Kish is my co-voiceover person.  Manoj is perfectly cast a Ganesh.  We have all become inter dependent in the endeavor, learning from Krishna's message that a warrior-type focus is necessary in the discharge of duty. 

While our Aussie sound man, Damodara Pundit, Kish and I are on the side-lines to do our job. Our stage boys wowed the crowd when finally our turn came for a marvelous cultural show. 

Pulling a production together in India at an outdoor pandal (marquee) program isn't often an easy task.  Only if you “focus focus focus " are you likely to succeed at anything.  Still, the Gita teaches, "Do not be attached to the fruit of the work, but to paying attention to the execution of what needs doing."
 
May the Source be with you!
 
3 KM

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

Noida, India 
 
Dusty Street  
         

 

While I had a chance, I went for a stroll on a dusty street and made friends with a cow.  I made enemies with dogs.  I tried to follow the old and wise directive, "Let sleeping dogs lie”.  I was trying to do just that, but one of the mutts was awoken by my foot steps, and that was it. They blasted out their barking.

 

I also tried to connect with a pedestrian youth by saying, "Hare Krishna!" as it's common enough in India, but he remained resolute in his purpose.  He noticed me for sure, but he had been plugged in with a white i-pod, so I didn't matter. 

 

I did befriend a Chaukidhar, a security person with uniform and stick, near someone’s lot.

 

You will sometimes succeed in friend making, other times not. 

 

The big news in India is about a tigress out in the wilderness who claimed her eighth human victim in a rural area. The last one was a 78 year old man where remains were found by locals. "Gruesome!"  “Sad karma!" were my thoughts.

 

I was chanting japa during this time of the short stroll and mentally addressing or taking note of all the interactions both repelling and attracting which were all very real. Then a moment of truth gripped me in the course of the walk, in the course of the chant – “I have so much cleaning to do."  Nothing in this was to do with laundry but only to do with the internal cleanse.  It hit me like a ton of bricks. 

 

There is all kinds of trash within all of us that needs nullification. The individual endeavour to "clean house",  so to speak,  the human obligation.  I can’t fault a pack of dogs for barking or a hungry tiger on the prowl, or even judge a youth for being in his own little world.  Even when petting the cow at the flabby neck her response wasn't 100% courteous.  I have got my own inebriety to work on.

 

So, absorb myself in the mantra as best I can and carry on. 

 

May the Source be with you!
 
3 KM