Saturday, March 4th, 2017

Delhi/Amsterdam/Toronto

On the Way

I went through the terrors of traffic in Delhi.  A sweet devotee of Krishna, Satya Narayan, who lives, works and prays, all within one block of the temple, was my driver to the airport.  I’m going back home.  He told me something a friend said, “In India the people are very loving but they are not human.  In many countries they are human but not necessarily loving.”

When I heard this statement regarding life in India and particularly how traffic and space is handled, I was quite inclined to agree with words of such profundity.  As we fought traffic, dodging and charging in mayhem, I looked out my window, peering at some of the drivers.  There’s a sweetness, an air of optimism on the faces that I could detect.  And I felt confused and ambivalent seeing cheerfulness in chaos.

“Ignorance is bliss,” I moaned out to Satya as we continued on in the rat race.  Satya, himself, smiled.  Maybe I’m too much of a grump, but no, scripture tells the truth of Kali-yuga, the present age of darkness.  Should I pretend all is well?  I just feel right “calling a spade a spade.”  The honking, the aggression, the sudden shift of lanes, the regular bottle-necking of vehicles, and all in the areas of road construction brought to a halt during the night.

“Visions of hell,” I thought.  I chanted, but the madness did not go away.  I said to Satya, “This is now, but what about ten years from now?  Do you think auto-salespeople will stop selling their cars?  No!”

Satya kept smiling and truly shared with me the woes of what we were witnessing, only I was more depressed about it.

Eco-villages, let’s get going!

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Friday, March 3rd, 2017

Noida, India

Good Behaviour

I gave two classes at this new centre, a gorgeous temple—really.  Both classes gave emphasis to good behaviour.  The boy saint, Prahlad, exemplified this as we explored a verse from Bhagavatam, Canto 7.  In the evening, we highlighted Chapter 3 of the Gita, text 12, which carries the message of Karma Yoga.

Just yesterday, Gopal, a master mrdunga drum player, showed me, on his phone, actor Vin Diesel in an excerpt from a recent film—name unknown to me (“Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk” by director Ang Lee).  He plays the role of a soldier who encourages another one.  To paraphrase, the lines read:

“You know the Hindus believe in their ancient text that you do Karma yoga—do your duty in the spirit of detachment.  This, Krishna tells His warrior friend Arjuna before a great battle.”

“Oh, yeah,” says the second soldier, “the blue dude?”

“That’s right, Krishna, the blue dude.”

It’s nice to know the message is getting out in the mainstream.  Karma means “action.”  Yoga means “a connection with the Divine.”  The action of detachment demonstrates good behaviour.

In the room I was given in the guest facility, I noticed I was not the only occupant.  Between the mosquito screens in the window frame, a couple of pigeons had taken up residence.  Three eggs lay in that space, along with what looked to me like a roosting mama. Papa was coming and going, checking on things.  It looked to me like they were doing some sharing together.  Perhaps even portraying good behaviour.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

Thursday, March 2nd, 2017

Vrndavana, India

Grad Event

Bats were flying in their usual silent way and monkeys were busting balloons.  It wasn’t a circus act.  The hairy climbers made it to the edge of the awning over the stage.  One in particular grabbed the multi-coloured balloon arrangement and with his sharp finger nails went systematically from one bust to the next.  There was one stubborn balloon, the last one, that wouldn’t burst, so very cleverly, the monkey sunk his teeth into it, giving it the biggest bang of all.

We were in stitches laughing at the unrehearsed show.  The final deflation brought an uproarious applause.

Below the awning was the stage, where thirty grade twelve students from the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School were about to receive their graduation awards.  It is a boy’s school.  The cultural program was a traditional Gotipua dance by primary boys. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotipua

Very on-the-spot, I was made the Guest of Honour for the event, and was asked by the organizers to hand out certificates along with godsisters, Malati and Madri, to the worthy recipients.  I was also asked, spontaneously, to lead a kirtan.  “Your wish is my command,” I said to the person making the request.

It was a rouser of a kirtan and the participation in the chanting and dancing, almost reached the excitement of the monkey popping the balloons.

This was my main active event of the day.  My gout has taken a turn for the worse, just when inflammation was on the decline.  The obstinate foot is looking much like a balloon.

“Hey monkey, do you want to take a bite?”

May the Source be with you!