Saturday, August 9th, 2014

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Change Within the Change

On a trail you’ll never see the foliage along the way to be the same as before.  Plants come up to replace old ones.  New invasive ones will eventually be invaded.

It was only three weeks ago that I was walking this trail in prime farmland and it was not hard to see the transitory nature of what happens along both sides of me.

Humans seem to always respond to the plant dynamics. For instance, the blackberry bushes come in like an army.  It’s vines hug (or choke) trees.  They climb fences and start to crawl on the trail or rail.  Someone will come along with a serious cutting instrument to fight back the invasion.  It appears to be one siege after another on behalf of both sides.

It looks like some people give up the comfort and just let nature in the form of colder weather get the aggressors to tone down.  Perhaps it’s like letting old age take to natural course, to subdue youthful passions.

Today also brought me to Stanley Park as it did so may other people.  I was impressed with a man who, as an artist, balanced irregular shaped rocks upon other rocks turning the nook along the beach at English Bay into a gallery to view with awe.  No double, a strong wind or a strong wave will change that and make it disappear.  Hence, a rearrangement of the physical continues on. 

This was my observations our humble chanting party breezed through the crowd along the attractive beach.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Friday, August 8th, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

A Fight in the Tree


Fierce fighters they were.  One block from our ashram were a family of four ‘rascal raccoons’ as some people would call them.  They were cussing and snapping at each other off of narrow branches from a single tree.  It was 4 AM, they would not let up.  It was a real show, or rather, a show down.  It halted my short trek, it was a station break for me.  Entertainment at its best.

Seeing those guys lunging at each other was  a simple reminder that species outside of humans usually occupy themselves, in and amongst other things, with this kind of fare – fighting.  Oh, there are plenty of testimonies given by people of spiritual things that animals sometimes enact.  Some of those creatures demonstrate great qualities of benevolence and virtue, such as the dog’s loyalty, which is a far cry from what you find in many humans. 

A raccoon’s snarl, such as what I heard and witnessed when seeing those perfect rows of jaws jutting out, was a family feud performance.  It seems to be quite common amongst these guys.  I believe we all have aggressive little raccoons in our head. 

Aggression was probably the theme of our drama practice this evening.  As the director, I was bringing out the raccoon in everyone.  Aggression is what the scene calls for.  I applaud my tree friends, the raccoons, taking the lead in showing this passion.  The rehearsal was good.  By the way, you really get to know people when you ask them to surrender who they think they are and when they’re trying to be someone else.  Deep down inside we are humble entities and naturally take a service role.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

Three Workers


I heard some talking going on from across the street and slightly above.  I turned my head as a natural response.  Three guys in hardhats at a construction site were looking right at me.  One was brown bodied, one was white, and the third was oriental. 

The brown guy offered pranams (palms together).  The oriental guy looked at the brown guy doing pranams and engaged in a smile, while the white dude who was standing in the middle did a little head toss.  I reciprocated with their responses which were triggered by my being there.  Whatever dialogue went on between the three of the workers, I was not privy to.  I know that the initial reaction from them was favourable and respectable. 

I went on my way towards my destination to a gathering of vintage Krishna folks, where we would enjoy each other’s bonding.  To the program, I, as usual, tend to take note of reactions from people.  Indeed, cyclists and pedestrians responded rather positively, apart from the three workers.  I see that greeting someone is a kind of service that people are obliged to indulge in.  There is that social need in extending neighbourly gestures.  Let’s face it, life can be extremely grim if it wasn’t for small traces of lightness that’s inserted within.

A “Good morning! “ “Hello!  How are you?”  Or just delivering a smile.  Maybe a “Namaste”, a “Hare Krishna”, go a long way to leading people towards improving the quality of life.  Of course, it really helps when you have a unique set of duds on that puts the thought of spirituality in the mind.  It makes the greeting that much more interesting. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Madrid, Spain

Fast In and Fast Out

It’s a first for me in Madrid, we had a few hours to kill, so to speak.  No better place could be found, but any place where there’s devotion, right?  Arrival time to Madrid was early and a nice person, temple commander of this ISKCON Centre came for the pickup of a monk and his travelling assistant, Mohit, to that place of devotion.

It’s Europe, you know, so everything is tight in the developed part of the city.  Whether it be kitchen, bedroom, toilet, eating space, it’s tight, but smartly tight.  European architecture?  Beautiful! 

I gave a talk, had no time for a walk.  Temple is quaint, devotees sweet, time to depart.  Our car smashed into the door of a truck.  Quickly, Mohit and I had to switch to a cab. 

In fast forward, over the Atlantic, came the arrival into Canada.  We were greeted by a smiling Maha Bhagavat, a member of our Toronto community.  At his home, we munched on wraps.  Instead of a nap at his home, I vied for a stroll via Finch Avenue down on Leslie Street and then Eglinton Avenue. 

When I walk, I take it all in, I observe, I smell, I experience, I nod (to people), I notice the concrete, the grass, the apple and plum trees, the Rivers.  I see cracks in the sidewalk, and I see solid spots.  I see below me and above me and the front of me, especially when crossing the road.  I have no radio, no box in which to be crammed as in automobile.  I am free and I watch prisoners of cars go by me.  I’m free up to a point until I get picked up to get brought back home.  Then, it’s a different kind of freedom, because I’m with spiritual people.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

Last Day

The last day’s visit to this extraordinary place in the Canary Islands was crowned with a ceremony.  Cuban born, Janardan, accepted his 2^nd initiation this morning.  He’s a smart young guy and has won a scholarship for mathematics at the University at Madrid, he’s studying and teaching.  His accepting the brahminical initiation allows him some privileges in our community.  In Cuba and in Spain, people love when he gives a class in bhakti yoga. 

Both Yadunanda Swami and I spoke on the importance of brahminical input into human society.  Some of the points made are as follows:

1)      A brahmin aspires to understand both energies of matter and spirit.
2)      A brahmin is a visionary and shares his/her vision, working towards an improved world.
3)      A brahmin is a guru for the community and acts as teacher, trainer, guide, coach, mentor (cheerleader, even) in the spiritual sciences.
4)      A brahmin always endeavours to be clean, honest and see through the eyes of wisdom (shastra).
5)      A brahmin may be cold with himself, as in being austere, but is warm with everyone else.

While I took personal time with Janardan before and after the fire ceremony to honour his achievement, there were other people who wanted personal dialogue, this I obliged.  It did consume the day.  Also a final stop at a gorgeous plot of land that is the future site of a temple and cultural centre.  Before the ride to the airport, a small assembly of devotees had last goodbyes while we were reading quotations and memories about our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  In a sense the day was not complete because I found no  minutes to put on some walking shoes and blaze a trail.  My feet felt antsy going on the plane.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM (I’m embarrassed)

Monday, August 4th, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

Near the Top


We were near the top on the surface of the crater at the National Park of Del Teide Mountain.  The actual peak is at 3,178 metres, and as I understand it, it is the tallest elevation point in Spain.  Patita Pavana, our jolly and fearless leader, who runs the Tenerife Krishna centre, said this is where the latest Planet of the Apes was filmed.

A few of us from the local centre took to walking and to some steep hiking on the pourous rock of this most interesting volcanic area.  When the last active volcano leaked its lava, the residents of one town took refuge in a cathedral.  The red hot substance flowed down on either side of the building, which remained intact.  And hence, the sheltered believers were saved. 

The terrain is wild looking like the badlands of the US and Canada.  We were at this location at the most intense feature of the sunset.  The play of the sun’s colour, plus the array of volcanic sediments, was a feast for our eyes.  Fortunately the government conserves this upper portion of the mountain.  Either in your ascent or descent of the mountain, you can also see productive agriculture going on with grape vineyards and potato fields.  Wild fig bushes grace the side of the road. 

After this long day, and the late night festival of the previous day held at the downtown of Playa De Las Americas, our small group treated ourselves to seeing and exploring this gorgeous piece of Mother Nature and Father God. 

The Earth has beauty everywhere, but we were going ape over this special summit in the world.  I really aspire to walk up the mountain peak one day, as others have done.  I would chant all the way.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Sunday, August 3rd, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

So How Was It?


If it wasn’t for the procession in the downtown of Tenerife, in honouring, once again, the Chariot Festival, I would have not got any walking in today.

So, how was that, anyways?  The festival?

Just great!!! 

The thump of the djembe saved the kirtan.  The traditional clay bodied mrdangas (drums) of Bengal don’t always have the power to deliver when the air in the atmosphere’s just not right.  Humidity works against the desired sound you want.  The ends on either side of the mrdanga gets too slack.  For the quieter bhajans done indoor, mrdangas are terrific, but I haven’t seen them work well for most cases for outdoor events.  Yadunandana Swami lead the chant.  Then I was given the mic to complete singing on the route in a rather densely pedestrianed area.  If I’m not mistaken, the rich come here, mostly from the mainland.  Though, we’ve heard that the recession has hit Spain really hard, and that the country has this high unemployment rate, this doesn’t really show in Tenerife.

But, back to the beat.  Any Latino blood seems to flow towards a rhythmic thump, and this was so obvious in the public’s response.  The public always looks for something new and different.  What else could you do besides sitting in a bar or café outside, or checking out a super Flamenco dance?  How about watching a bunch of Hare Krishnas jump to a thump?  I guess it’s entertaining for the casual tourist.  Not only watching us, but clapping and trying to sing is what we found people doing.  These are the symptoms that determine a good program.

Our stage show completed by 1 AM.  Everyone was tired, happily. 

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Saturday, August 2nd, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

Those Who Were Sleeping


Those who were sleeping outside in their camping wear woke up to the sound of our chanting.  A group of us were firmly planted by a cliff’s edge by the ocean, as were the Friday night party folks who were nestled in those sleeping bags.  The volcanic rock formations of unique configurations were the backdrop to our morning chanting and discussions.  A couple of fisherman came to us and really complemented us for our drumming and singing. 

Yadunandana Swami, a Spanish born, Barcelona raised boy, was my companion in leading the chant.  He’s ten years my junior, he’s clean and honest.  We made the trek from our flat at Club Paraiso, and along with Mohit of Calgary, hit our desitanation point where we met other local devotees of Krishna.   We chanted and talked.  The group wanted to hear of walking adventures I had, and so I obliged them before we dipped into those pristine waters at the base of the cliff where sea turtles do frequent.  At least at Tenerife’s water, you have multiple creatures.  It’s land that has less variety, so it seems.  I asked about wild game and locals say, “Rabbits are about the largest animals you’re going to get around here.  Next to them are lizards.”  I do see lots of doves and hear them quite amply. 

Life is laid back here and relaxed.  Personally, I was restless about my lost luggage, so with a ride, I went to the lost and found at the South Airport.   My lost luggage was found.  The queue for that lost and found stall consisted of grumpy travellers, as you can imagine.  Personally, I was relieved. 

I’ve learned that it always does good to stick your fingers in the bead bag and do some mantra chanting to cope with the agitation of all sorts and kinds.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Friday, August 1st, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

No Trails But Devotion


Vacationers come here for the moderate temperatures.   The sun, the ocean, the clean air, the fancy shops, the night life.  It’s also not a bad place to reside in.  I find the trails to be fun, although, the southern part of the island is rather barren.  The volcanic matter that is dispersed everywhere is thrilling to a person who hails from the lowlands of central Canada. 

No, I didn’t hit any trails today, demands of time brought me to the downtown core where under a tennis court on a basement level is the local learning and devotional centre for ISKCON.  I lead some chanting and delivered a class on the importance of planning and how it is indeed integral to advancing in devotional life.  For breakfast, we had an old favourite for Krishna pioneers in the west, a prep called ‘utma’, veggies in a semolina base.  

The rest of the day was occupied in drama practice.  At downtime, the author of that delicious prep, Patita Pavana, told me of the miraculous work of one of my Cuban students.  She had a man who had been crippled for 20 years, walk again.  She actually healed him.  When I asked how it happened, he expressed she was a healer, used Reiki technique, and chanted mantras.  When I asked her personally about her healing abilities, she said, “I did nothing.  Power’s in the mantra.  I was a medium and all I did was enter into a mantra.  She began to recite the mantra that she was using, something that a number of us are familiar with. 

“Jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Adwaita, Gadadhara, Srivas, Adi  Gaura Bhakta Vrinda“ .  No doubt love and concern was applied to the client.  She chanted these mantras.  The crippled man first experienced some convulsions and then walked out of his wheelchair, never to come back.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

Trek By Ocean


At the still dark hour, our small walking party had gone the way of a small port and beyond.  There we passed hippie homes made of leaf structures.  We trekked through a rocky coastal trail.  Young Balaram, who in the arms of his mom or dad (they shifted), also made it through the rough terrain.  Cacti will catch your cloth, as it did mine, so you trek the worn path with caution.

Tenerife is known for its excellent bananas, but along this trail, according to our guide, Patita Pavana, the orchards failed here, and so we’re left with what looks like ancient ruins which were actually territorial dividers. 

The sun broke through.  Before our swim (and it was Mohit’s first dip in an ocean ever) we had a serious sit down on sand.  There, our party of a dozen sang our standard gaudiya songs in honour of guru and Krishna.  I also spoke by way of a Kindle device on a verse from the book, ‘Bhagavatam’, on the allegorical tale of King Puranjana.  A brahmin comes to visit a grieving queen.  This brahmin represents the best friend, amigo.  Analogously, the friend also refers to the witness in the heart, the Paramatma.  Traditionally, yogis aspire to reach this stage of Paramatma perception.  We also discussed the role of guru in one’s life, in addition to the need to gain incredible focus to be successful in spiritual life. 

Our talk and swim terminated when at least two members of our party were to meet their job obligations.  We returned on the rustic and barren trail on this moderate morning of low 20’s Celsius.  And then careful of the clingy cacti.

Hours of the evening were taken up in our drama practice - preparation for the Chariot Festival to take place on Sunday.  We are having a blast.  A bhakti blast.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

Tenerife, Spain

I’m In Spain


I’m in Spain, or to be more specific, in Tenerife, to meet students of mine from Cuba.  I will deliver some classes in the science of bhakti and also pull together some drama for the weekend Ratha Yatra Chariot Festival. 

In a resort area of Tenerife’s south coast, I’m accommodated in a quiet apartment across from the “Rhythm and Booze Pub”.  The twisty, windy streets are interesting from a walking perspective.  People are nice, “Hola” is how you address everyone, even tourists from Germany, Britain, and of course, Spain.  Residents in this area of Paraiso are posh and you’ll also find squatters at the beach nearby.  One devotee from Madrid suggested that these are gypsies who have set up camp. 

There are also Indian shop owners here.  I entered a boutique shop called “Shanta’s”.  The clerk is a man from Rajasthan, or that part of India where gypsies originally hailed from.  He was nice, a little surprised to see a Caucasian swami in his shop.  We talked.  It was his pleasure and mine. 

Prasadam (sanctified veggie food) is provided by Cuban born Julan Yatra, as well as the special maha prasadam, or remnants of the Krishna deity from the local ISKCON temple. 

In the walking that I pursued today, I also came upon a Tibetan temple.  I poked my head inside but did not enter.  I was content to just look.  A Spanish fellow said in a local language, something like, “You can enter at your own leisure.”  I indicated that, “Everything’s okay.”  He came back with a warm, and in American lingo, “Whatever!”

All is fresh and great for me in this one of seven islands known as the Canary Islands.  I stick by the maha mantra wherever I am.  As I walk I chant “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014

Dublin/Tenerife

Loosing Things


In the course of travel, as you may have experienced, you could lose something.  The last time I came to Ireland, indeed with the intent to walk it from Belfast to Cork, I misplaced an umbrella.  An umbrella is much needed in this greenish land.  It rains a lot.  I did accomplish the feat (on foot by the way).  This umbrella had sentimental value for me.  It was a gift that was handed to me by a First Nation’s person (a Native) in Cape Breton, Canada, during a rainfall while I was trekking.  It was particularly big, one of those golf course types.  In my forgetfulness, I left this token of kindness in the overhead compartment of the aircraft.  Regrets!  Oh well! 

I also lost my japa meditations beads in Havana.  They were actually stolen right from my person.  A young guy mistaking the pouch with beads in it to be a money bag, just ripped the pouch and beads right from around my neck and dashed off in a hurry.  I’ve had those beads in my possession since I became a monk in 1973.

That became a lesson in detachment of mind.  After a search for either the culprit, and/or beads, I just had to ‘let go’.  The beads were gone forever.  I hope the thief has made good use of them and has taken up mantra meditation.  That would be of some resolve.

Now, in the shuffle of luggage from Toronto to Dublin, and then to Tenerife, my luggage of robes and personals can’t be found.  It’s not hopeless, the luggage is retraceable.  Now, is there anything worse than losing such things?  Well, there is the consideration that if you lose your reputation or people take stabs at it, it can become very hurtful.  I take personal pride in being somewhat principled, and in being a monastic person with some decent character, though far from perfect.  When accused of promiscuities over the internet, of doing something that has no foundation whatsoever, it can be painful.  I won’t get too specific here.  I will bear the pain and invoke whatever compassion I can toward the accuser. 

In all circumstances, I would say a person should never lose a grip on dharma (duty), integrity and compassion.  Hold on to these for dear life. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM (Except for the walking within 3 airports.)