Brampton, Ontario
Exceptional Departure
It was quite auspicious how he passed away. It was at the Sunday Open House program at ISKCON Toronto Centre when people were attending the service known as arati, that one of our long time members, Naresh Meham, suffered a heart attack. It happened in the midst of everyone chanting, when the sound vibration of the maha mantra was at its optimum in devotion. Today I attended his cremation in Brampton along with other members of our ashram, with loving family and friends. Surviving are wife, Vibha, his daughter, Lisa, and sons Harsh and Mohit.
Naresh had collapsed in the middle of the temple room. Naturally, everyone responded. It was unusual but auspicious at the same time. The regular pattern of the Sunday Open House begins with chanting in front of Krishna deities, followed by some announcements, and then a talk is delivered on the message of the Gita before a delicious feast is dished out. But on that day, April 27th, no talk was given. The chanting persisted in its place in honour of Naresh. There are a few occasions where the timing of departure was like this. Naresh’s last conscious moment was in front of Krishna while in the company of the devoted and while in the presence of sacred sound. He died several days later in the hospital.
I recall other souls who left under somewhat similar circumstances. A Bengali pujari (priest), whose clothes caught on fire during his service experienced similar providence. He did not survive from the burns which came to him during a Diwali festival. There was also Michael O’Regan, who was with us for years and who rendered so much help with our mission, especially in the ‘70’s. At the same time at the Sunday Open House, Michael, who had physical challenges, was called to go home I guess you could say. His last conscious moment was before his Krishna friends during the time of the arati.
On today’s walk I had time to contemplate what is fortunate and what is less fortunate in terms of departing circumstances. We can all go at any moment. I can be hit by a car while crossing the street and it may be my moment. Will I be in a good state of mind? Will I have the sound of transcendence going through my ears when my soul is pushed on?
These are things to think about.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
B L O G S P O T
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
Halifax / Toronto
Bringing In The Sun
While in Halifax, a woman running a boarding house stood outside her building when Nitai and I, in robes, walked by her. Her immediate reaction was, “Well, are you guys going to give me some sunshine today?”
Strange thing is, we did, or someone did after a cloudy day’s start. She had demonstrated true Nova Scotia hospitality, invited us in, and wanted us to meet one of the tenants of her group home. As we started to converse, sun did start to leak through the window. We were treated to orange juice and coconut water. This would not be an analogy, but perhaps the young fellow that we met, Jonathan, needed someone to shed light on his life. Nitai and I took the opportunity to encourage Jonathan, give him some hope, since he was struggling with problems at home and the reserve. Jonathan is native and is from the Ojibwa First Nations. I hope he will carry some light with him. Darkness in the form of drug abuse and so many social issues have taxed him.
Now, I’ve arrived in Toronto. The sun has been shining here. In the shine I took a second trek of the day just to give a break to some desk work that I was at. In the course of my walk, a house painter who hails from Columbia shouted, “Ram! Ram!” He conveyed to me that he has so many friends back home who are practicing the mantra. This was good news because it was the mantra that acts like the sun. It has the power to touch something filthy, clean up the place that’s trashy and remain uncontaminated. In that way the mantra and the sun are antiseptic and prophylactic.
May the Source be with you!
12 KM
Bringing In The Sun
While in Halifax, a woman running a boarding house stood outside her building when Nitai and I, in robes, walked by her. Her immediate reaction was, “Well, are you guys going to give me some sunshine today?”
Strange thing is, we did, or someone did after a cloudy day’s start. She had demonstrated true Nova Scotia hospitality, invited us in, and wanted us to meet one of the tenants of her group home. As we started to converse, sun did start to leak through the window. We were treated to orange juice and coconut water. This would not be an analogy, but perhaps the young fellow that we met, Jonathan, needed someone to shed light on his life. Nitai and I took the opportunity to encourage Jonathan, give him some hope, since he was struggling with problems at home and the reserve. Jonathan is native and is from the Ojibwa First Nations. I hope he will carry some light with him. Darkness in the form of drug abuse and so many social issues have taxed him.
Now, I’ve arrived in Toronto. The sun has been shining here. In the shine I took a second trek of the day just to give a break to some desk work that I was at. In the course of my walk, a house painter who hails from Columbia shouted, “Ram! Ram!” He conveyed to me that he has so many friends back home who are practicing the mantra. This was good news because it was the mantra that acts like the sun. It has the power to touch something filthy, clean up the place that’s trashy and remain uncontaminated. In that way the mantra and the sun are antiseptic and prophylactic.
May the Source be with you!
12 KM
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Monday, May 5th, 2014
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Last Day in Halifax
The hearty daffodils stand in all their glory. Even in the dark, early hours, they transcend without sunshine and with mouths wide open. Raccoons screech at each other – a fight no doubt. I can hear them, but I can’t necessarily see them. For years in my travels I’ve heard their sounds, predominantly their whimpering. Then the birds pick up with their morning welcome songs. It’s all awesome, and it really beats the noise of the maddening traffic, when passions kick in and the nocturnal peace that’s punctuated with raccoon party fights is all done. This transition of sound and activity is my observation for many years now on early morning early walks.
Corey and Theresa had us over for lunch. Once again, I’m impressed what a little training has done for younger folks such as the youth. Corey, in particular, travelled with our east coast monks one summer and is now enjoying the lasting and favourable effects. He whipped up this fabulous meal for a group of us. His service mood was excellent. The apartment he and Theresa share is a small oasis of sacred books by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. They have a modest but beautiful shrine of Krishna deities. They keep a clean place. I see a smooth assimilation of Vedic culture in their lives. I’m happy for this young couple who might otherwise be prone to stay on the grid of sense gratification.
With it being my last day in Halifax, I called on a small ad hoc meeting amongst faithful followers to discuss vision and organization for the sharing of Krishna Consciousness in this neat old city. There’s a rich history here of the acceptance of waves of immigrants at this natural and national port of entry, of taking a major blow when explosives from the harbor went off a century ago, flattening the city, and of a ready response to burying hundreds of corpses, victims of the fateful Titanic. I think we can fit Krishna into the multiple experiences of Haligonians, residents of Halifax.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM
Last Day in Halifax
The hearty daffodils stand in all their glory. Even in the dark, early hours, they transcend without sunshine and with mouths wide open. Raccoons screech at each other – a fight no doubt. I can hear them, but I can’t necessarily see them. For years in my travels I’ve heard their sounds, predominantly their whimpering. Then the birds pick up with their morning welcome songs. It’s all awesome, and it really beats the noise of the maddening traffic, when passions kick in and the nocturnal peace that’s punctuated with raccoon party fights is all done. This transition of sound and activity is my observation for many years now on early morning early walks.
Corey and Theresa had us over for lunch. Once again, I’m impressed what a little training has done for younger folks such as the youth. Corey, in particular, travelled with our east coast monks one summer and is now enjoying the lasting and favourable effects. He whipped up this fabulous meal for a group of us. His service mood was excellent. The apartment he and Theresa share is a small oasis of sacred books by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. They have a modest but beautiful shrine of Krishna deities. They keep a clean place. I see a smooth assimilation of Vedic culture in their lives. I’m happy for this young couple who might otherwise be prone to stay on the grid of sense gratification.
With it being my last day in Halifax, I called on a small ad hoc meeting amongst faithful followers to discuss vision and organization for the sharing of Krishna Consciousness in this neat old city. There’s a rich history here of the acceptance of waves of immigrants at this natural and national port of entry, of taking a major blow when explosives from the harbor went off a century ago, flattening the city, and of a ready response to burying hundreds of corpses, victims of the fateful Titanic. I think we can fit Krishna into the multiple experiences of Haligonians, residents of Halifax.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM
Monday, 5 May 2014
Sunday, May 4th, 2014
Halifax, Nova Scotia
May the Fourth
After a leg journey’s venture along the North West Arm of Halifax Harbour, I decided to sit a few minutes out at the Saint Mary’s Boat Club dock. I was there in meditative pose on a bench, and without him noticing me, I observed a Mariner coming in to the shore. I guess that’s what you could call a guy in a kayak. He came to dock and took meticulously to the care of his boat. He hosed it down and set it upright after propping it on some stilt stands, and then slipped it over to wash the salt water. Then he wiped it dry very lovingly and did so twice by flipping it again. He executed the same for his oars, and all this was done before he set it in place stacked up with hundreds of other kayaks. Such devotion.
I wish I had that much bhakti, devotion, for my paraphernalia. God knows, as a monk, I own little, but whatever I have, I should treat it like gold, like this guy treats his sporting goods.
Not but two hours later, I saw Nitai Ram, who is such a real brahmin (priest) treat his paraphernalia with similar prudence and care. Nitai Ram, along with Fernanda and Nina, set up this beautiful havan kund (small fire arena) for a fire ceremony on Nina’s initiation. Nitai’s execution of the ritual was just fantastic. It was impressive, like the kayaker’s handling of his equipment.
I’d like to congratulate Nina on her new spiritual name which is, Nirmala. It sounds like Nirvana. It means one without pride. Her parents drove all the way from Saint John, New Brunswick.
My second major destination was to a kirtan kattha session (chant and talk) located on Hollis Street across from the Wired Monk Café. I avoided cars as much as possible on this gorgeous, fresh and sunny day. While on foot at Robie Street, two young guys across the road were sitting on their lawn chairs in the front yard sipping pop. They beckoned me to come to see them, so I crossed the street. We started to chat. They were interested in my monkism, and finally invited me into their home to go through their whole house and in to their back yard, and to “bring in good energy” as they put it.
They told me they are musicians and I told them I do Sanskrit mantras. Spontaneously they took to recording my recitation of the mangala charana mantras, while Michael hit the keyboard for a sitar twang. And the other fellow (forgot his name), made percussion sounds. It was a jamming on the spot session for sure.
On this day I saw devotion coming from different directions; a little bit like, if I could use the term, “angles from angels”.
May the Fourth be with you!
10 KM
May the Fourth
After a leg journey’s venture along the North West Arm of Halifax Harbour, I decided to sit a few minutes out at the Saint Mary’s Boat Club dock. I was there in meditative pose on a bench, and without him noticing me, I observed a Mariner coming in to the shore. I guess that’s what you could call a guy in a kayak. He came to dock and took meticulously to the care of his boat. He hosed it down and set it upright after propping it on some stilt stands, and then slipped it over to wash the salt water. Then he wiped it dry very lovingly and did so twice by flipping it again. He executed the same for his oars, and all this was done before he set it in place stacked up with hundreds of other kayaks. Such devotion.
I wish I had that much bhakti, devotion, for my paraphernalia. God knows, as a monk, I own little, but whatever I have, I should treat it like gold, like this guy treats his sporting goods.
Not but two hours later, I saw Nitai Ram, who is such a real brahmin (priest) treat his paraphernalia with similar prudence and care. Nitai Ram, along with Fernanda and Nina, set up this beautiful havan kund (small fire arena) for a fire ceremony on Nina’s initiation. Nitai’s execution of the ritual was just fantastic. It was impressive, like the kayaker’s handling of his equipment.
I’d like to congratulate Nina on her new spiritual name which is, Nirmala. It sounds like Nirvana. It means one without pride. Her parents drove all the way from Saint John, New Brunswick.
My second major destination was to a kirtan kattha session (chant and talk) located on Hollis Street across from the Wired Monk Café. I avoided cars as much as possible on this gorgeous, fresh and sunny day. While on foot at Robie Street, two young guys across the road were sitting on their lawn chairs in the front yard sipping pop. They beckoned me to come to see them, so I crossed the street. We started to chat. They were interested in my monkism, and finally invited me into their home to go through their whole house and in to their back yard, and to “bring in good energy” as they put it.
They told me they are musicians and I told them I do Sanskrit mantras. Spontaneously they took to recording my recitation of the mangala charana mantras, while Michael hit the keyboard for a sitar twang. And the other fellow (forgot his name), made percussion sounds. It was a jamming on the spot session for sure.
On this day I saw devotion coming from different directions; a little bit like, if I could use the term, “angles from angels”.
May the Fourth be with you!
10 KM
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Saturday, May 3rd, 2014
Charlottetown/Halifax
Three Provinces
I’m smack in the middle of what’s called The Gentle Province, in the tiny city of Charlottetown which has real live Canadian historical significance. Here, papers were signed in 1867 declaring confederation. A nation was born which would shape into a huge country with thousands of trails.
Sobha was host to our party of four, Nitai, Fernanda, Nina and I, who made the trip for the satsang program at Sobha’s home. Sobha is involved in the government’s accounting and advisory department, and we suggested a portion of the budget be set aside for kirtan chanting projects. It’s wishful thinking. With a smile, she agreed that kirtan has rehab and therapeutic effects that are socially advantageous.
In the early morn, while all were asleep, including Sobha’s exotic fish and gerbil, I took a morning walk off to that confederation building, the ocean docks, and the theatre where the popular “Anne of Green Gables” is performed on stage. All was good.
On the return journey to Halifax, Nova Scotia, I would jump out of the car when we stopped for a refueling. Down the highway I’d go until the car’s stomach was happy and ready to move forward. I suggested a second stop at Amherst, New Brunswick, where we could all stretch legs and get some japa meditation in. In the course of that walk, I met Jonathan, a local bloke. I praised him for his heroism – walking instead of zipping around in a car. But he didn’t quite get what I was talking about.
In Halifax, and in our third province, we converged for a gathering at Savitri’s in her condo. Savitri is a Dutch born lady in her retirement now. She recently got hit at the knee by a motorist. It took its toll on her skeletal structure, but she’s strong willed and is going to be fine.
I’m not sure if I were to meet Jonathan again that I would be able to convince him of the automobile’s evil side. Just how many people get killed annually global wise by the magic machine? India alone claims 100,000 lives a year. Conservative figures I’m sure. I wonder what the collective stats look like. It would be a number right up there with cancer, heart related diseases, mental disorders, etc. I’ll bet you that it’s a big figure. Sorry, but I’m not supposed to gamble.
May the Source be with you!
13 KM
Three Provinces
I’m smack in the middle of what’s called The Gentle Province, in the tiny city of Charlottetown which has real live Canadian historical significance. Here, papers were signed in 1867 declaring confederation. A nation was born which would shape into a huge country with thousands of trails.
Sobha was host to our party of four, Nitai, Fernanda, Nina and I, who made the trip for the satsang program at Sobha’s home. Sobha is involved in the government’s accounting and advisory department, and we suggested a portion of the budget be set aside for kirtan chanting projects. It’s wishful thinking. With a smile, she agreed that kirtan has rehab and therapeutic effects that are socially advantageous.
In the early morn, while all were asleep, including Sobha’s exotic fish and gerbil, I took a morning walk off to that confederation building, the ocean docks, and the theatre where the popular “Anne of Green Gables” is performed on stage. All was good.
On the return journey to Halifax, Nova Scotia, I would jump out of the car when we stopped for a refueling. Down the highway I’d go until the car’s stomach was happy and ready to move forward. I suggested a second stop at Amherst, New Brunswick, where we could all stretch legs and get some japa meditation in. In the course of that walk, I met Jonathan, a local bloke. I praised him for his heroism – walking instead of zipping around in a car. But he didn’t quite get what I was talking about.
In Halifax, and in our third province, we converged for a gathering at Savitri’s in her condo. Savitri is a Dutch born lady in her retirement now. She recently got hit at the knee by a motorist. It took its toll on her skeletal structure, but she’s strong willed and is going to be fine.
I’m not sure if I were to meet Jonathan again that I would be able to convince him of the automobile’s evil side. Just how many people get killed annually global wise by the magic machine? India alone claims 100,000 lives a year. Conservative figures I’m sure. I wonder what the collective stats look like. It would be a number right up there with cancer, heart related diseases, mental disorders, etc. I’ll bet you that it’s a big figure. Sorry, but I’m not supposed to gamble.
May the Source be with you!
13 KM
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Friday, May 2nd, 2014
Charolottetown, Prince Edward Island
From The Speaking Tree
I had landed in Halifax at 1:15 AM, caught some rest at the
home of hosts, Mukunda and Hladini, and found a few minutes to stroll with
monk, Nitai Ram, before a drive to Charlottetown where we took part in a satsang,
spiritual gathering. On the ride over we stopped at the border of Prince
Edward Island to catch up on internet stuff. There, we googled a
newspaper article that appeared on April 27th, 2014 with the New Delhi Times, a
section called The Speaking Tree. I was honoured to be featured there as
a person who is promoting pilgrimage. And here it is:
Walkathon To Eternity
The Canadian-born BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI believes in walking in
the great outdoors to find the Truth. REENA SINGH spent a morning with the
‘Walking Monk’ in Noida at the inauguration of a new ISKCON temple.
He’s a self-confessed walking addict who says he got
attracted to Swami Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement 41 years ago because it
was ‘radical, daring and different.’ Bhaktimarga Swami began walking in 1996,
when he wanted to do something really big as a tribute to Srila Prabhupada’s
centennial celebrations, and he hasn’t stopped since. He’s walked across Canada
thrice and is due to finish his fourth walk soon. Born John Peter Vis, the
61-year-old Canadian has also walked across Ireland, Israel, Guyana, Mauritius,
and Fiji Islands and is planning yet another marathon walk in 2016 from New
York to San Francisco.
He walks all mornings, 35 KM or so at a stretch and
spends nights at camp sites. In between, he stops at schools, senior citizen
homes, libraries and yoga studios and among Hindu communities, delivering the
message of the Bhagavad Gita and conducting meditations.
Parikrama And Pilgrimage
All along, he also promotes being one with nature and says
that many countries — India, Russia, Europe, Ireland, and South and Central
America — have a rich heritage of parikrama and pilgrimage. “It was common in
ancient times for young people to set off on a vision quest in solitude in a
kind of walking meditation. Across the globe, there is a history of people
travelling light, looking for a kind of transformation, an inner cleansing. We
must look at this walking culture of our ancestors more deeply and realise the
value of it,” he says.
“We now live in an automated society and so hardly ever
travel on foot,” he rues. “My aim is to go to every town and village — meet
people and get inspired by what they do, and try to inspire them. A support
person checks on me once in a while and ensures that I am still alive and that
I haven’t been eaten up by a bear! The whole idea is to gain a sense of
resistance and take in whatever comes of its own accord — cold and hot weather,
rain, snow, mosquitoes, flies — to walk through the dualities and to gain
strength,” he says.
“What resonates with a lot of people when you get past that
half century mark is that you have to spend a little more time in simplicity.
Walking aids in that endeavour. My message is that we are the spirit, not just
the body. Moreover, we were designed for walking, not flying, or even running.
In many societies, there is a tradition of walking and leading a monastic
life,” he says.
Was there opposition from his family when he took to the
Hare Krishna way of life? “I am still Roman Catholic, and I still believe in
God. I have only added to something I was already practising. So while my
family was taken aback at first, later they were proud of me. I keep in touch
with my siblings and all of them walk with me when I come to their
neighbourhood — in dhoti, kurta, chadar, japa mala, tilak, and my Crocs!” he
says with a laugh.
He admits western audiences don’t know eastern philosophy,
but things are changing now and they are opening up to vedic concepts and
eastern thought.
“To the western community, I also talk about my experiences
on the road, tales from my treks and then teach them mantra meditation. Then, I
literally pass on the hat, and donations pour in,” he says, when questioned
about how he funds his walks. “People believe that if they feed a monk,
something good will come of it,” he adds, with a twinkle in his eye.
His message is that the way to make spiritual progress is
not just to establish your own inner temple or to visit a church or mosque.
Spirituality isn’t limited to that. The world itself is a temple. “I get close
to God when I am walking. Walking has a natural rhythm, you take in the great
air, everyday is an adventure and when you are out there with nature, you get
enlightened. That’s why the ancients did this. Why deprive ourselves of this
today,” he asks.
“It’s my hope that city planners will plan great trails
where people will have great experiences. It’s the ultimate experience to walk
and travel light — it’s not going to Las Vegas, Disney World or Paris. It’s
going on your feet and seeing the big Imax screen all around you — of nature,
itself.”
Hair-raising Tales
With children, his approach is different. He talks more
about his hair-raising experiences, of being attacked by wasps on the behind,
his one-time interaction with a hungry bear…. “If a truck hadn’t trundled along
at that point in the morning, I would have been toast — breakfast — for the
bear. It was a humbling experience,” he adds.
Teens think monks are cool — the result, perhaps, of seeing
so many Kung Fu movies, he explains. “A newer generation has sprung up and they
are open. They admire my carefree, car-free lifestyle,” he says. “Of course,
children need something exotic too — and my support person comes along with a
real Amazon parrot on his shoulder — that’s a real attraction. I talk about the
journey, the pilgrimage, what’s it about, how many pairs of shoes it takes to
walk across Canada — four of them. I give them some numbers to crunch on. They
love that,” he says.
Educators look forward to his visit. “The biggest challenge
now is to get kids away from computers and out of the house. It’s inspiring for
them to hear that someone is walking across Canada. Many of them are locked
into their own little communities and our Project Walk tells the kids that the
globe is big and there is so much going on outside,” he adds.
When he is not walking, he busies himself with theatre and
is a well-known director of theatre arts. He has made Gita concise — and
presented all 18 chapters of the Gita in a language people can understand. It
includes two fusion dances showing Krishna’s dynamic virat rupa, or cosmic
form, complete with music and rhythm in both English and Hindi.
May the Source be with you!
3 KM
Friday, 2 May 2014
Thursday, May 1st, 2014
Alachua, Florida
It’s May Day, Eh?
It’s rare to see anyone on foot in this area, but that’s what I saw on this ultra quiet sandy road. The sun was just making its appearance when I came to a stretch with Spanish moss dangling from giant trees. Coming my way was a young black girl in reddish, but humble attire. Before I had a chance to utter any greeting, she uttered a clear, “Hare Krishna, it’s May Day.”
“Yes,” I replied, “and you have a good one.” I turned around after we crossed each other wondering about her destination and also her connection to that Divine personality we know as Krishna.
So May has begun with a day that will not be repeated ever again according to the calendar for planet Earth. “Cherish it, then,” I thought, “and contribute to making it unique.” That uniqueness began for me with sitting side by side with a friend and delivering this morning’s message from the Bhagavatam together. Tamohara is a very respected brahmin in the community. He was scheduled, according to a roster, to give the class, but by his kindness, me being a guest, the idea came up that we share the teaching. The fact that we broke from routine makes the start of this day different.
What were some of the bullet points, or sutras that summarized our message on this May day? (In my own words)
1) Improve your sravanam (listening)
2) Don’t take provocation or argument so seriously
3) See the God factor in whatever occurs
4) At least mentally register the little miracles of the day
5) Adjustment and change cures the disease we call stubbornness
One more item that I would like to add about uniqueness on this day has to do with a visit to an old Canadian friend, Mahavir. We enjoyed brunch together and at that time I became an honourary member of the Hare Krishna Motorcycle Club. Yes, indeed, I got plopped on top of one of those mean machines, and I’m sure he snapped a few shots to promote the worthy mission of Hare Krishnas on motorcycles.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
It’s May Day, Eh?
It’s rare to see anyone on foot in this area, but that’s what I saw on this ultra quiet sandy road. The sun was just making its appearance when I came to a stretch with Spanish moss dangling from giant trees. Coming my way was a young black girl in reddish, but humble attire. Before I had a chance to utter any greeting, she uttered a clear, “Hare Krishna, it’s May Day.”
“Yes,” I replied, “and you have a good one.” I turned around after we crossed each other wondering about her destination and also her connection to that Divine personality we know as Krishna.
So May has begun with a day that will not be repeated ever again according to the calendar for planet Earth. “Cherish it, then,” I thought, “and contribute to making it unique.” That uniqueness began for me with sitting side by side with a friend and delivering this morning’s message from the Bhagavatam together. Tamohara is a very respected brahmin in the community. He was scheduled, according to a roster, to give the class, but by his kindness, me being a guest, the idea came up that we share the teaching. The fact that we broke from routine makes the start of this day different.
What were some of the bullet points, or sutras that summarized our message on this May day? (In my own words)
1) Improve your sravanam (listening)
2) Don’t take provocation or argument so seriously
3) See the God factor in whatever occurs
4) At least mentally register the little miracles of the day
5) Adjustment and change cures the disease we call stubbornness
One more item that I would like to add about uniqueness on this day has to do with a visit to an old Canadian friend, Mahavir. We enjoyed brunch together and at that time I became an honourary member of the Hare Krishna Motorcycle Club. Yes, indeed, I got plopped on top of one of those mean machines, and I’m sure he snapped a few shots to promote the worthy mission of Hare Krishnas on motorcycles.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Wednesday, April 30th, 2014
Lacrosse, Florida
Who Am I?
Paul Gauguin was known to have signatured some of his finest
works of art, captions like, “Who Am I?” “Why Am I Here?” and “Where Am I
Going?” It’s the same profound remarks about quest that my artist friend,
Adideva, slaps onto his thought provoking art display pieces which he takes
around to art shows and now, Festival of India events. These smart art
sculptures are featured in different localities like Nashville and New
York. Now, he’s offering to go to Canada with these unique statements of
art based on the Bhagavad Gita philosophy. That’s one of the reasons he
brought me to his studio as the Canadian connection to the Festival of India,
apart from being just a nice guy. He has lined up in his studio hundreds
of Buddha, Jagannatha, Narasingha and Ganesh, which the public loves to
purchase as talisman good luck pieces.
Adideva, as I mentioned, is a super nice guy who likes to
share this higher consciousness and thought provoking questions with as many
people as possible in a world which has a growing interest in protection from
fear and evil. Thank you, Adideva, for sharing your beautiful bhakti
works.
Today I did trek the 5 KM stretch to and from the local ISKCON
Centre where I spoke about protection from evil. And let us bear in mind
that it’s evil which is more dominant within than without that we need to
address. I had the honour to speak at a second session, a basic
Q&A’s at the Krishna House in Gainesville. Time was very demanding
today, and if I didn’t have my walks dispersed between visiting obligations,
then I might turn more evil than I already am. There’s enough of that in
me already.
Pace yourself, balance yourself, monitor yourself. And
on top of that, ask, “Who am I?”
May the Source be with you!
9 KM
Tuesday, April 29th, 2014
Alachua, Florida
It Started With A Cardinal
I spotted a cardinal bird, which is a sign of spring.
“It’s a female,” said Manorama, who’s quite the outdoorsy type. He knows his wildlife and his herbs. “The male’s colour is more intense,” he explained more. “The cardinal is a very aggressive bird, it’s been known to hop on to your rear view mirror and poke at it when seeing his reflection. He takes that mirror image as a competitor, and so he pecks away at it very hard, at the mirrored object, to the point where he hurts himself and gets all bloody.”
Manorama was giving a mild lesson on this red bird’s dynamics in the midst of our discussing this summer’s youth bus tour. “Great lesson about nature,” I thought. Nature is harsh.
My hosts in this district of Alachua are Ananta Sesa and Vaishnavi, both of South Indian origin. They reside with their two sons, Aravind and Gopal. They had arranged a picnic in the town’s park which has a typical Floridian forest trail. Jagannatha, Vaikuntha, and son, Dhira, along with one of the very few monks in the area, Janudwipa, took to the trail with me, at least a small portion of it. Conversations began about large temple constructions going on in various places in the world. We were talking about the expansion of Krishna Consciousness in places like India, Russia, Eastern Europe, pockets of South America and Africa, where there is exponential growth. North America seems to be lagging behind a little bit in terms of growth.
When we look at a response in North America from the public, it is rather good. People are either curious or just downright friendly, but not always so committal. One thing to admit to is that our marketing approach needs some adjustment. I’ve seen it work in places like Gainesville where young people are joining what we call, Krishna House.
Our evening wrap up occurred at the very home where I’m staying. A host of people from various backgrounds, including some neighbours, showed up. After kirtan, we discussed the nature of the mind, since that is what we all contend with on a daily basis.
I opened up the discussion to all. This is food for thought.
The mind:
1) The centre of the senses.
2) The sixth sense.
3) The subtle sense.
4) It is fickle.
5) It is like a switch.
6) It’s either a friend or a foe.
7) It possesses a good and bad side.
8) It’s a storage unit of thoughts.
9) A river of thought.
10) It can elevate you when controlled and degrade you when it controls you.
11) It can enslave you.
12) It is a connector.
13) It is the reigns of the wild horses (senses) pulled by the driver (intelligence) of the chariot (the body) and bewilders the passenger (the soul).
14) It’s a rascal, a monkey, a clown.
15) It’s like money, here today, gone tomorrow.
16) Befriend it and it works in your favour.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
It Started With A Cardinal
I spotted a cardinal bird, which is a sign of spring.
“It’s a female,” said Manorama, who’s quite the outdoorsy type. He knows his wildlife and his herbs. “The male’s colour is more intense,” he explained more. “The cardinal is a very aggressive bird, it’s been known to hop on to your rear view mirror and poke at it when seeing his reflection. He takes that mirror image as a competitor, and so he pecks away at it very hard, at the mirrored object, to the point where he hurts himself and gets all bloody.”
Manorama was giving a mild lesson on this red bird’s dynamics in the midst of our discussing this summer’s youth bus tour. “Great lesson about nature,” I thought. Nature is harsh.
My hosts in this district of Alachua are Ananta Sesa and Vaishnavi, both of South Indian origin. They reside with their two sons, Aravind and Gopal. They had arranged a picnic in the town’s park which has a typical Floridian forest trail. Jagannatha, Vaikuntha, and son, Dhira, along with one of the very few monks in the area, Janudwipa, took to the trail with me, at least a small portion of it. Conversations began about large temple constructions going on in various places in the world. We were talking about the expansion of Krishna Consciousness in places like India, Russia, Eastern Europe, pockets of South America and Africa, where there is exponential growth. North America seems to be lagging behind a little bit in terms of growth.
When we look at a response in North America from the public, it is rather good. People are either curious or just downright friendly, but not always so committal. One thing to admit to is that our marketing approach needs some adjustment. I’ve seen it work in places like Gainesville where young people are joining what we call, Krishna House.
Our evening wrap up occurred at the very home where I’m staying. A host of people from various backgrounds, including some neighbours, showed up. After kirtan, we discussed the nature of the mind, since that is what we all contend with on a daily basis.
I opened up the discussion to all. This is food for thought.
The mind:
1) The centre of the senses.
2) The sixth sense.
3) The subtle sense.
4) It is fickle.
5) It is like a switch.
6) It’s either a friend or a foe.
7) It possesses a good and bad side.
8) It’s a storage unit of thoughts.
9) A river of thought.
10) It can elevate you when controlled and degrade you when it controls you.
11) It can enslave you.
12) It is a connector.
13) It is the reigns of the wild horses (senses) pulled by the driver (intelligence) of the chariot (the body) and bewilders the passenger (the soul).
14) It’s a rascal, a monkey, a clown.
15) It’s like money, here today, gone tomorrow.
16) Befriend it and it works in your favour.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Monday, April 28th, 2014
Orlando, Florida
Cleanse For Glory
Angelo and I and a few other individuals made our way to Main Highway with meditation beads in hand, and then down to a quiet road which accesses the ocean. It was my second trip here this morning. A police cab was parked on that road very close to the water’s edge. On my first venture over here, however, alone at 4 AM, it was a parked car that likely facilitated two lovers. Who knows. I’m not that curious.
Angelo had remarked that he like the fact that he parked ourselves (I mean buttocks) to a concrete block to be by the waves for gaining a sense of peace. I concurred saying, “Chanting by the sound of moving water can do a lot to clear the cobwebs of the mind.”
My visit to Miami terminated. Goodbye, Miami, and hello Orlando.
Here, I was driven to the new home of Abhimanyu Arjuna for a housewarming event, Vedic style. Raghu, a young priest from near Gainesville, drove the distance to perform the homa (fire ceremony). For Jamie and Chuck, who are local yoga instructors, viewing the ceremony was a new experience. Again, here was a ritual, like the chanting by the ocean in the morning, which serves to cleanse or purify the consciousness.
Considering the materialistic world in which we live with all its crazy demands, we need all the help we can get. It’s important to remind ourselves and each other in a regular manner that we consider to make our exit from this life after a good cleansing. Who wants to leave this world with a bad or sick heart? No one in their right mind would want that. It’s principles of forgiveness and gratitude that permit a glorious parting. That’s why all the chanting, purifying rituals, wholesome interaction, etc., make a difference in changing the shape of our destiny.
May the Source be with you!
7 KM
Cleanse For Glory
Angelo and I and a few other individuals made our way to Main Highway with meditation beads in hand, and then down to a quiet road which accesses the ocean. It was my second trip here this morning. A police cab was parked on that road very close to the water’s edge. On my first venture over here, however, alone at 4 AM, it was a parked car that likely facilitated two lovers. Who knows. I’m not that curious.
Angelo had remarked that he like the fact that he parked ourselves (I mean buttocks) to a concrete block to be by the waves for gaining a sense of peace. I concurred saying, “Chanting by the sound of moving water can do a lot to clear the cobwebs of the mind.”
My visit to Miami terminated. Goodbye, Miami, and hello Orlando.
Here, I was driven to the new home of Abhimanyu Arjuna for a housewarming event, Vedic style. Raghu, a young priest from near Gainesville, drove the distance to perform the homa (fire ceremony). For Jamie and Chuck, who are local yoga instructors, viewing the ceremony was a new experience. Again, here was a ritual, like the chanting by the ocean in the morning, which serves to cleanse or purify the consciousness.
Considering the materialistic world in which we live with all its crazy demands, we need all the help we can get. It’s important to remind ourselves and each other in a regular manner that we consider to make our exit from this life after a good cleansing. Who wants to leave this world with a bad or sick heart? No one in their right mind would want that. It’s principles of forgiveness and gratitude that permit a glorious parting. That’s why all the chanting, purifying rituals, wholesome interaction, etc., make a difference in changing the shape of our destiny.
May the Source be with you!
7 KM
Sunday, April 27th, 2014
Coconut Grove, Florida
A Small Band of Us
A small band of us trekked to the ocean, and on our way we passed by a pizza shop which looked to be a 24/7 outfit. The owner of the shop came out and broke out into a chant when he saw us. It turns out that he knows one of our boys, a monk who passed away no less than two years ago.
“I love that guy,” said the pizza man with his hand to his heart.
“You mean, Siddha Vidya, my god brother monk?”
“Yeah, that’s the guy, that’s his name,” he said. “I’ll make some pizzas for you guys,” and we declined saying it’s a little early in the morning. It was 5:30 AM.
Those of us who walked together knew of this extraordinary soul – Siddha Vidya, who made an impression on so many people with his visits to shop owners. He made so many friends with all the people he had met.
Now, we continued on through Peacock Park, where hippies frequented, played Frisbee and enjoyed the food and fun that Krishna monks provided in the ‘70’s. Vishnujana Swami, a most renowned monk of his time, drew the crowds.
Much later in the day, or let’s say at 1-ish, a second group of us made our way to the docks for a boat ride and swim. The operator of the boat called “Pearson” with the Shake A Leg establishment, was one of those guys that used to hang out at Peacock Park with the Krishnas in the ‘70’s. Being sensitive about our needs, he took us to a beach area away from the sex, drugs, and rock and roll scene, bless his heart. Hence, we played hard in the water. I still prefer fresh water though. Jambavan, from Michigan, was with us, and told about his father’s t-shirt, which held a caption in support of the Great Lakes, where there’s fresh water. The caption read, “No Sharks, No Salt, No Worries”. When I asked the operator of the boat about sharks in the area, his facetious response was, “Whoever amongst you is a poor swimmer, just keep him near you.”
The evening wrapped up at the ISKCON Centre with Jambavan and I doing a duet on the Gita’s message. I will also say that the kirtan that preceded it was electrifying.
May the Source be with you!
8 KM
A Small Band of Us
A small band of us trekked to the ocean, and on our way we passed by a pizza shop which looked to be a 24/7 outfit. The owner of the shop came out and broke out into a chant when he saw us. It turns out that he knows one of our boys, a monk who passed away no less than two years ago.
“I love that guy,” said the pizza man with his hand to his heart.
“You mean, Siddha Vidya, my god brother monk?”
“Yeah, that’s the guy, that’s his name,” he said. “I’ll make some pizzas for you guys,” and we declined saying it’s a little early in the morning. It was 5:30 AM.
Those of us who walked together knew of this extraordinary soul – Siddha Vidya, who made an impression on so many people with his visits to shop owners. He made so many friends with all the people he had met.
Now, we continued on through Peacock Park, where hippies frequented, played Frisbee and enjoyed the food and fun that Krishna monks provided in the ‘70’s. Vishnujana Swami, a most renowned monk of his time, drew the crowds.
Much later in the day, or let’s say at 1-ish, a second group of us made our way to the docks for a boat ride and swim. The operator of the boat called “Pearson” with the Shake A Leg establishment, was one of those guys that used to hang out at Peacock Park with the Krishnas in the ‘70’s. Being sensitive about our needs, he took us to a beach area away from the sex, drugs, and rock and roll scene, bless his heart. Hence, we played hard in the water. I still prefer fresh water though. Jambavan, from Michigan, was with us, and told about his father’s t-shirt, which held a caption in support of the Great Lakes, where there’s fresh water. The caption read, “No Sharks, No Salt, No Worries”. When I asked the operator of the boat about sharks in the area, his facetious response was, “Whoever amongst you is a poor swimmer, just keep him near you.”
The evening wrapped up at the ISKCON Centre with Jambavan and I doing a duet on the Gita’s message. I will also say that the kirtan that preceded it was electrifying.
May the Source be with you!
8 KM
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Coconut Grove, Florida
These Trees
The three of us, Angelo, Ananda Rupa and I, took to the
sidewalk along Main highway. The name is somewhat misleading, it’s only a
two lane expanse of asphalt in the Coconut Grove area, and it runs along the
Atlantic Ocean, separated by a lean stretch of land with high end properties
and private schools. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had strolled here on
this very sidewalk under the banyan trees. Nice place. “Trees” was
the topic of our discussion. In regards to the story of the pracetas, yogis,
who had submerged themselves in water, as their venue for meditation.
They came out of the water after an extended time of trance, and noticed that
the land they once knew was overgrown by trees. They then arranged for
clearing these forests, and like most projects conducted by man, it was taken
to the extreme. The moon objected to the destruction, to quote, “Soma,
the king of the moon and the king of all vegetation, forbade the pracetas (from
further destruction) since they, the trees, are the source of food for all.”
Trees are so essential for our sustenance in so many
ways. As the day rolled out, the trees at Cocounut Grove at Virginia
Street, provided a welcoming shade for our mini Festival of Chariots. The
sun was baking us alive, so we, the participants, took shelter of the coconut
trees as the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, were carried out by
priests. The kirtan resounded and was energetic. I did tolerate
some tone deaf chanting leaders. There was a glorious comment that came
out by a Catholic mother of one of our devotees. She was told that this
drumming and singing was our version of high mass. She found it quite
lively.
Our brief procession culminated under the shady mango tree,
where dance, song and slide show, were on display on a stage. Once again,
the tree did so much to offer relief to our situation. God bless our
trees.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM
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