Thursday Feb 25th, 2016

Thursday Feb 25th, 2016
Mayapur, India

Heavy Rains

Heavy rains had come the night before leaving pools, puddles, and minor flooding.  You had to watch where to walk.  An outdoor shopping mall with devotional paraphernalia could not be accessed.  It was one big mud river, so it seemed.  The mall was set up as a tempting maze. It was the route to the food.

The food - oh yes - the food.  It comes across as delicious each time.  During the ABM an extra 1300 people need to be fed.  The prasadam (sanctified food) draws the crowds twice a day.  I get the chance to walk from table to table and connect with the South Americans, Chinese, Africans, Europeans, Indians, and even the Americans.

I enjoyed the seminars on rural living and how to get there, as well as a seminar on

guru/discipleship.  I also received, from the maze I was talking about, a copy of the annual Padayatra news.  From a booth, Gaurangi, from France handed me the glossy journal.

Overseeing this publication is Lokanath Swami, a monk from India.  He is credited for

conducting padayatras (walking festivals) in India and around the world.  There’s a forty-year history of these events which usually includes a bullock cart and a party of walking chanters.

It was Lokanath who told me of the Padayatra journal featuring this humble servant on the cover. Actually he told me, “You are left, right, and centre.”  The main story is the feature of my walk in the north-east of the USA last fall.

What an honour this is!

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, February 24th, 2016

Wednesday, February 24th, 2016
Mayapur, India

We All Suffer

Albert Schweitzer had once indicated that the happiest times are when you are in good health and in bad memory.  He was quoted by Tamohar, my dear friend from Florida, who conducted a seminar on why people suffer, even those who are spiritually devotional.

First of all, he began to explain, that some people enter a spiritual domain with unrealistic

expectations.  Suffering continues for people as a residual effect from karma in the past.  As we sometimes hear Christians say, 'Accept Jesus and all your sins will go away.'  Now that may happen but it may take some time.

It cannot be assumed that you go, 'Abra Kadabra' and, poof, all that's negative has disappear. Krishna states it very clearly that the physical world in which we live is wrought with dualities-- extremes.  What we need to consider is that the spiritual process that we have adopted offers us the tools whereby we can learn to maturely accept difficulties.  We learn how to cope.  And when we exercise COPE there will be HOPE and we'll never have to say NOPE.

You will never have to refuse a challenge, which may come in many shapes or forms.  The mature way to receive a challenge, or oncoming suffering, is to say, 'Here is a test that the Universe (God) is giving me, and for all the wrongs I've done I deserve much worse.'  This is a healthy attitude.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016
Mayapur, India

Coming Together

The local dentist, Keshava, who resides for some time with us in Canada, arranged a get-together for bhakti-yogis from Canada.  It’s an annual reunion.  It bonds us as a unit in a small segment of the globe.

We know that the ultimate end our true identity is one of being a spirit soul.  'I am not this body.' I ultimately have no ties with race, gender, creed, or nationality.  Still at the same time while we roam through this world, in this body, there is an identity related to the land in which we are born.

It is hoped that every individual contributes to the land in which we live.  There is an expectation to fulfill some obligation; whether one is a spiritual seeker or not.  The relative practical reality is that we have a body which is conditioned in some way.

So here we are, a few people who came together-- people who are karmically linked-- to do some spiritual things in union. We ate prasadam together. We chanted together. We chatted. We had a good time.

The Russians do it, the Bengalis do it.  The Chinese do it, etc.  Why shouldn't those from the land of the maple leaf come together?

We all look for reinforcements in life.  Even those on the spiritual path require

encouragement. You do not advance on just your own strength.

When walking this morning I was considering the mechanics of my body, especially the legs, and how that part of my anatomy has so many components, each component assisting another. Even my eyes have to be somewhat watching what's ahead.  If there's a depression or a pothole on the way, when I see it coming I will connect with the brain and hence make adjustments in the mechanical operation of things.  These are all helpers.

Comradery is essential in achieving a surge of inspiration.  Assistants or helpers are there for us to take advantage of.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Monday, February 22nd, 2016

Monday, February 22nd, 2016                                       
Mayapur, India

Some Items                   

A whole group of tourists from Australia came to the sacred grounds of Mayapur.  I was the fortunate one to meet with them.

"How do you like this place?"

"Very interesting!  It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be," remarked one of the folks.

"It's still growing.”

“And where are you from?"

"Canada! I said.  You've been?"

“Oh yeah, we went to the Falls (Niagara)".

From a social perspective they were keen to learn but the spiritual component did not seem to concern them so much, so I wasn't about to push it.  It was great that they came.

Meetings for our AGM have begun and the greatest relief after the meeting was to get over to Uttam's place, which is a fruit vendor spot.  There I get my dose of cold freshly squeezed banana-pineapple juice.

The air was less musty today.  When the sky is clear then the date-ras drink is also clean, with the least amount of fermentation.  That drink also fuels you.

The brightest spot in the day appears to be the moments when Tulasi puja takes place.  Tulasi is the holy plant that Krishna devotees revere.  I'm often asked to lead the chant in her honour.  I do believe that by this worship we are making the ultimate green statement.  The other most important feature is to connect with each other.  Most people require the human/devotional factor.

Not to be neglected!

May the source be with you!

8Km

Sunday, February 21st, 2016

Sunday, February 21st, 2016                             
Mayapur, India

Suds in the Ganges           

A small contingent of us from Canada met with Mother Ganga (the river of course), to enjoy the cooling effects of her holy waters and to pay homage at the same time.  Every year when you go for her darshan (sacred viewing) you will notice a slight shift in her course.  The main concern for us as we approached her eastern bank was, "Will she be safe?"

Every year a person is losing their life to the Ganges; her water are swift.  Eddies swirl in any direction. The incredible silty mud underneath can pull you in and cause you to sink into its depths, leaving you unable to pull away.

Fortunately there is a designated "safe" area.  Other bathers were there.  My good friend, Ghosh Thakur, from British Columbia, and I observed that the world is there.  We met people from Brazil, Argentina, Europe, America, Russia, Australia, and of course locals.  Despite the signage giving clear directions not to "soap up" in the sacred waters, people do it anyways.  This became a cause for concern and irritation.

"No soap! No soap!"  I cautioned two middle-age men who lathered up from waist to head.  "Big aparadha!"  Aparadha means offence.  I pointed to the Brazilians who had smeared themselves with mud as they were standing by the shore.  "This is the way.  No chemicals.  Ganga Mata doesn't want."

To manufacturers of smelly formulas for a so-called cleanse, all I can say is "look what you've done. You’ve convinced simple people that this is a standard.  When will you become environmentally responsible?"

May the Source be with you!

7Km

Saturday, February 20th, 2016

Saturday, February 20th, 2016                                      
Mayapur, India

News from Mayapur 

Nityananda, long-time associate of Chaitanaya, was born in the late 15th century in the village of Ekachakra, some distance from Mayapur.  Today was His birth anniversary.

Amongst a host of credits, Nityananda was a great teacher of Hari-Nama, the chanting of the name of the Divine.  On this half-day fast, a gathering of the majority of the town of Mayapur assembled at the Pancha Tattva Hall for a ritual of Abhisekha, which is a bathing ceremony to honour Nityananda in His brass deity form.  At that time a lead singer said something before he began the song.  "Everyone sit down!"

Now, that didn't seem right to me. "Sitting down during a chanting session?” was my personal query, 'on the day of Nityananda, the explosive dancer?  What are we coming to?"  Some hours later I heard that three swamis (monks) in our order were all recovering from surgery-- from cancer or some other ailment. Their names are Jayapataka, Gunagrahi and Kadambha Kanana Swamis-- all dear friends.  To hear especially about my Dutch friend Kadambha was news.

One more piece of information that was new to me was hearing of the population of Mayapur.  From a mere almost zero population about 50 years ago to the present there's a blossoming of 5,000 people.

May the source be with you!

10 Km

Friday, February 19th, 2016

Friday, February 19th, 2016                                                                          
Mayapur, India

Deliberate 

I had a set plan for walking once we arrived at the Mayapur retreat, an annual retreat which includes pilgrim trips to the regional area, kirtan sessions, drama presentations, and AGM meetings.  The walk got cancelled in place of an emergency - meeting-something which occurs from time to time.  The call of duty comes first.

Once freed from dutiful tasks one gravitates to one's love.  In my case it's assembling young folks and engaging them in theatrical practice.  The samadhi auditorium, where we practice, practically becomes a gym.  We were engaged in stretching and loosening up limbs all in preparation for an action-filled, high-energy performance.

But before all this physical stuff was set in motion I did spend my time in brahminical moments.  It was Vaisesika, friend and motivational speaker (no less a devotional one), who gained a captive audience in the outdoor grounds of the householders' district.  There he spoke about key words that have everything to do with a person's spiritual advancement.

For instance both the noun and the verb "deliberate" have substantial relevance to a devotee's life. To be “deliberate" in our intentions is to have strong conviction. To "deliberate" is to be analytical and to be introspective, a rather necessary probing into oneself.  Both words appear to have some co-relation.

After deliberating on a matter you should become deliberate in what needs doing.  And what needs doing is to get serious about our Krishna Consciousness.

May the Source be with you!

0 Km

Thursday, February 18th, 2016

Thursday, February 18th, 2016                          
Dubai, UAE

Destined for India                             

Destined for India on Emirates Airlines are Corrado, Balarama, Mandala, and myself.  Next to me in seat 72E is young Mohammed.  Now what do you think a young, 9 year-old from Pakistan would be doing for those hours on a plane?  Yes, you guessed it.  He would not be praying (necessarily).  This young lad, whom I easily made friends with, was on for the long haul doing games with his hand-held device.  He didn't mind if I interrupted him so I could get a word in.  On occasion we did high-fives. I showed him how to offer pranams.

 Actually I was the one praying.  I dozed off at times, as did he.  I relished going over chapters 17 and 18 of the Gita and managed to slip in watching Robert Redford in "A Walk In The Woods," based on the novel of a retired man and his companion taking to the Appalachian Trail, starting from Georgia and going north.

Mohammed's mom and sister were sitting behind us.  I found the great opportunity to render him some service.  He made me feel like a granddad.  At one point he had a nose-bleed so I fetched him some tissue.  When he went to sleep I adjusted his chair to recline more and covered him with a blanket.

It was indeed nice to know Mohammed.  He really didn't ask me any questions.  He was just being himself, rather a fidgety nine year old.  I just saw a young Krishna in him.  When it was time to disembark we parted while giving each other a unique form of Props (fists gently smacking together).

Some hours were lost due to time zone change, but a friendship was gained.

May the Source be with you!

0 Km

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016                         
Toronto, Ontario

Surya is From Siberia                      

Surya is from Siberia and he totally understands winter dynamics.  So I took him along down to the ravine where trudging through snow is a fun reality.  Your pace is slowed down somewhat and the calves of your legs strain a bit more than usual.  It's all okay because the snow is bright and today brighter still, from the sun's powerful presence.

Surya and I did minimal talking, but lips did move as we made our daily commitment to chanting with the aid of our beads.  It is a personal and perhaps private engagement with the sacred power that exists within and without us.  Shastra, the sacred Vedic texts, reveal to us that there is a holy presence of Krishna as paramatma in the heart, while another aspect of His divinity is present in the elements.

I do not find it difficult to perceive the sacredness in this environment, where the crisp and the clean of all the naturalness on the trail cannot conceal itself, even if it tried.  This place, where we tread, is a real escape from urban madness.  Both Surya and I felt at peace.

The only annoyance was the cell phone in my pocket, as it would vibrate and light up at times. It's understandable.  In a matter of minutes I'll leave for India.  Yes, it's hours away before the doors open at the Kolkata Airport to the musty airs.  There’ll be no more snow but for brisk air, for the first few days in February, there will still be an evening coolness.  And there, in Mayapur, we will dance up a storm in the temples of delight.

 

May the Source be with you!

7 Km

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016                           
Toronto, Ontario

Tuesday in Three Parts                 

I recall as a kid growing up when Dad or Mom would put the coffee on.  I never cared for the smell in the air, but it was kind of fun hearing and seeing the substance percolate.

Life at the temple/ashram is like a coffee percolator.  It gets really lively.  There is a buzz.  It sometimes comes in spurts depending on the time of the day.  When you plug in things start happening.

Steve Davies brought his students over.  This is an ongoing visit from the boy’s school from Cresant High up the road.  These are quality students and they give life.  They showed up in the morning.

The evening blossomed also with a visit from cross-Canada walker, Michael Oesch, and his partner Saskis.  He’s working on a documentary about what you learn from foot travel.  He also showed me a new book “Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act” by Dan Rubinstein.

Michael always brings on enthusiasm to an atmosphere.  He’s a spiritual person, so whatever already is considered enthusing in the atmosphere of the temple becomes further ignited.

Now, about Tuesday afternoon.  I couldn’t help recalling the lyrics from the Moody blues on the song

“The Afternoon/Forever Afternoon”

                                            Tuesday, afternoon,

                                         I’m just beginning to see,
                                          It doesn’t matter to me,
                                          Chasing the clouds away.

                                           Something, calls to me,
                                    The trees are drawing me near,
                                           I’ve got to find out why
                                         Those gentle voices I hear
                                            Explain it all with a sigh.

                           I’m looking at myself, reflections of my mind
                            It’s just the kind of day leave myself behind,
                          So gently swaying thru the fairly-land of love,
                        If you’ll just come with me and see the beauty of

                                                 Tuesday afternoon.

                                                 Tuesday afternoon.

May the Source be with you!

3 Km

Monday, February 15th, 2016

Monday, February 15th, 2016                                 
Scarborough, Ontairo

The Yays and Nays                 

 I like trains.  At least modern trains offer leg room space.  There’s no traffic jams.  You are close to the ground.  The scenery is Tops.

My train ride on VIA from Montreal was all of those things.  Still, my conclusion on the best mode of  travel is with the feet on the ground.  After hours of uploading community theatre on YouTube (look up THE WALKING MONK DRAMAS) I took that much needed trek in the silence of night.

“Silence,” I thought, “while walking is sacred.”  As much as I like trains I also like silence at times.  And here are some quotes:

“We will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”                                                         

             - Martin Luther King

“A True Friend’s Silence hurts more than an Enemy’s Rough Words.”               

                                                       
“Open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than the silence.”

“Silence is the most powerful scream.”

“SPEAK only when you feel that your words are better than your SILENCE.”

“To hear, one must be silent.”                                          

         - Ursula K. LeGuim

“Silence speaks WHEN words can’t.”

“Your silence doesn’t mean that you quit. It simply means that you don’t want argue with people who just don’t want to understand.”

“Having the maturity to know sometimes silence is more powerful than having the last word.”

         - Thema Davis

 

May the Source be with you!

Sunday, Feb.14/2016

Sunday, Feb.14/2016                      
Montreal, Quebec

Adwaita Valentine                  

Last Sunday it was below the average attendance at the Sunday Open House because of the Super Bowl on TV.  For some, the Super bowl becomes more important than “Haribol!”

This Sunday the attendance was a bit down due to the lower than average temperatures outside.  With the wind chill factor at 35 below Celsius, it became discouraging for some regulars.

Still, with about 150 guests I’m not complaining; I’m the person giving the presentation.  It was part slide-show, part-speaking about one of our luminaries in the lineage of bhakti, Adwaita by name.  The slide-show featured events and experiences along the walking way.  I was relaying to the crowd the touching moments of last autumn’s walk though New England, New York, and New Jersey.  Well received.

Since it was the birth anniversary of Adwaita, a contemporary of Sri Chaitanya, it was appropriate to speak about him.  He was largely responsible for invoking the presence of Chaitanya to the world by the power of his desire, his heart. 

It was rather an interesting observation, that in my earlier on reading of the book “Chaitanya Charitamrta” in a morning class, the word “heart” appeared multiple times.  Coincidental, you might say, as today is also Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

May the Source be with you!

0 Km