Sunday, April 7th, 2019

Owen Sound, Ontario

Country Energy

This morning, I introduced a couple—whom I'm going to marry in November—to the land of Georgian Bay.  He is Raul from Argentina, and she is Judy from Cuba. They were wowed by the beautiful countryside, and then the quiet town of Owen Sound, itself.

At the Hanna home, we chanted, kids and all, and that was wonderful.  Good eats. Then the bunch of us proceeded to trek a side-trail to the Bruce Trail.  Markers are made with blue stripes painted on the trees, moving from tree to tree. We ended up at these cute waterfalls, and a shelter for gorgeous birds: pheasants and so on.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_Wm6LgmNn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1js0w7yeshktf

Owen Sound was once home to famous Canadian artist, Tom Thompson, and Billy Bishop, an aviation hero.  This day’s heroes were people on family outings, who had come out of hibernation after a long and weird winter.  Of course, you saw the occasional couple, hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm, strolling about.  Actually almost everyone was out because it was clearly the first good Sunday of the year.

It's quite the drive from the city of Toronto to Owen Sound; a good two hours-plus, and we thank Nanda for being the principle driver.  It is so important to reach out to families and instill within them a bit of higher consciousness.  The Hanna kids are of such high energy, and it was great to see them sit quietly, hearing about the childhood pastimes of the blue boy.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Saturday, April 6th, 2019

Oakville, Ontario

Packed Day

I could get no foothold on a walking trail today. My movement was by car to various locations.  All four places were people's homes.  There is a thirst to hear a swami talk.  It is part of pastoral duty to offer encouragement to community members. Usually they come to you. Sometimes you have to go to them.

My first visit, along with assistant, Connor, was to a household in Woodbridge, where friends came to huddle and eat. Mind you, we not only did that, but I also told stories that were real/surreal and had occurred within my lifetime as a monk; stories of ghosts—friendly and not so friendly—who had come to visit ashrams, and temples, and even appeared on a ferry during my first cross-Canada walk. Whether telling of hobgoblins is a deviation from pastoral obligations, or not, at least I can say I had a captive audience that was told in the end to “chant your mantras.”

The next home, we went to, was in Brampton, with Keshava.  It was brief, and only cranberry juice was accommodated within the belly.  The former home had stuffed us to the neck.

Visiting Rajesh, whose wife, Sundesh, had just passed away last November, was meaningful.  We were there to comfort him.  Losing a life partner, and a good one at that, is tough.

Finally, another fair-sized gathering took place in Oakville, at the home of Kasyapa, who held together our outreach centre in Saskatoon for years.  We spoke about caring for people in death and despair.  We also packed in the prasad, blessed food.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Friday, April 5th, 2019

Vaughan, Ontario

Hitesh and I

Hitesh and I went zig-zagging east-west on residential streets right near the ashram. We took that whole hour to talk much about things we had gone over before.  A review—such as:

1) Politics are everywhere and it begins within.  It starts with the mind, which has two political parties—the 'yes' party, the 'no' party, and perhaps a third—the 'maybe' party.  In Sanskrit, the terminology expressing acceptance and rejection is sankalpaand vikalpa.

2) We also dwelt on the topic of the beauty of diversity.  Hitesh was saying that he liked Toronto for its variety of people from all over the world. He also liked the fact that all the monks, or swamis, whom he knows, each bring a different flavour or mood to the culture.  

"Wouldn't it be bland if we were all the same?"  I asked, and he agreed.  Diversity, but unity in the point that we all say the same thing conclusively.

3) Walking is therapy.  Hitesh is going to go for surgery soon, on his knee. His therapist says he should keep up the exercise and not just be idle.  The body is made for walking, and walking is the best form of mobility. You see so much in the course of a stroll.

With this last remark both Hitesha and I stopped to lean over an iron fence to observe three robins go worm-and-bug hunting.  All three moved in a similar fashion.  It was a ‘hop’ or a ‘bob.’  Humans walk. Robins bob.

What a remarkable epiphany!

https://youtu.be/lRyVZ_GUjG8

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Thursday, April 4th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Thursday Afternoon 

Thursday afternoon.  It's sunny.  People are out.  It's winter-coat weather, but not for me.  I feel lucky, rather free.  Here on Bloor Street, at a time when the westerly sun streaks through, all appears so perfect.  People are out and about.  

Not all carry happiness with them, though. Some look glum.  An elderly woman struggles with every step, with stick in one hand and hope in the other.  Some are aware of their surroundings.  Others are in a chat with someone elsewhere, with wires protruding from their ears. They are in another zone.  

There are hipsters.  There are the ordinaries.  Some carry bags of groceries and bags of commodities of anything under the sun. Some bring along pet dogs, or perhaps it's the reverse.  The odd pigeon lands, gyrates, poops, then takes off.  

One man recognizes us, perhaps others too. It was obvious from him.  He said, "Hare Krishna," with the biggest grin—and nod.  

A beggar woman expressed a desperate look all over her face.  A beggar man expects compassion from us—from Connor and I.  Well, we were dressed as if we were givers, with devotional stuff on, beads, and me with robes, dhotiand kurta.  I take my japabeads and hold them in the air as if to say, "This is all we've got. Depend on the spirit."  

I don't know about Connor, my walking partner, but I feel like I'm with all the Bloor Street people, and yet aloof at the same time.  A sudden burst of joy overcomes me.  I think of guru, Prabhupada, and I feel so fortunate to be doing what I am doing—being a Vaishnava, walking in freedom.  I turn a corner at Avenue Road.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4-vRTAmbg/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1sxlw8gfuy849

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Talk In The Park

A conversation like this does take place from time to time when trying to pull someone out of the world of maya, matrix, illusion.

"But the taste is so good!" says the newcomer.

"What taste?" I ask.

"The meat.  I like it.  I've grown up with it all my life."

"That may be, but do you know that you are killing, and you are implicating yourself in negative karma?"

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"You are taking a life.  There's violence.  You are in the market of death.  Have you seen the sad eyes and heard the gruesome cries of the creatures suffering? They are like us biologically and psychologically.  They have feelings."

"But it's so strong—this maya that you talk about," says the person, guilty yet in some way innocent.

"I agree, but if you diet on a higher taste, it becomes easier to give up the more lowly tastes.  As you say, 'maya is strong,' that's true.  That's because maya is coming from a strong source.  Let us recognize that strong source and explore who or what that is.  It's worth the adventure.  It can even be fun.  Also, let's try loving the animals and not loathing them.  We are not cavemen that we have to resort to clubbing an animal to death.''  http://www.krishnapath.org/Library/cookbooks/The_Higher_Taste.pdf

And so the dialogue may go on.  Raymond and I had a mock talk at the park bench.  It was very real.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019

Picton, Ontario

A Look At a Hog

Off we went to another farm initiative; this time a set of twins, Graham and Dhyana Chandra, have decided to leave the city, buy a plot of land with house, barn and workshop, and settle there.

Jai, Connor and myself dropped in to inform the identical twins of the upcoming Spring Farmer's Conference just outside of Montreal.  Our purpose was to give them a boost after a long winter, which was actually spent in Panama.  In any event, we encouraged them and a mutual reality manifest.  From their harvested stash of tomato sauce, Graham and Dhyana made these wonderful pizzas, and also shared with us their local maple syrup poured on bananas (not local).

I asked them whether their huge pet, Prema the pig, is a vegan or vegetarian. Their response was: "Yes, she lives on dated baked goods from the supermarket, in addition to some of the organic harvest."  Pizzas from that same source are also something Prema pigs out on.

"What is her worth?" someone may ask, from the perspective of a meatless dieter.  The twins have found her snout to be an excellent shovel which turns over the soil for the almost perfect garden.

"That is brilliant," I thought.  I'm beginning to appreciate more the contribution of a creature that I had formerly placed an opinion on as purely looking "gross" and not in the least bit "sexy."  The Creator has a good plan and good function for all.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzQ0rkASnq/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=hrs4r3nbs1fv

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Monday, April 1st, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Another Century

I should have asked for his name.  He was precious.  Connor and I were on a mid-afternoon walk through Rosedale when an elderly gentleman in a trench-coat and hat, and carrying two bags of light groceries, came to a full stop to look at my monk's clothes.

"That must be really warm," he assumed.

"Well, yes it is and walking keeps me warm." I handed him a Walking Monk card.

"Where are you coming from?" he asked.

"From an ashram, a monastery."

"Well, I'm 99, and I'm ready to go (as in leaving this world).  Is there anything I can learn from your place?"

"Surely.  We say that we are not these bodies; that we are spirits, and that we have an obligation to the supreme spirit," I said as I pointed up above us to the blue sky with the odd white cloud.  I told him of our scrumptious food and how he's invited.  We had more exchanges, but of all the sights and sounds Connor and I encountered, in this very settled neighbourhood of gorgeous homes and mature trees, our friend stood out.

He was light-humoured, old and wise, a collectors item.  I'm glad there's still people like him around.  I know his type and could have spent a couple of hours with him.  As I said, he's precious.  I hope he lives another century.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvv33FAgjs6/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=wsyr5pmlaqt

May the Source be with him and you!

7 km

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

Scarborough, Ontario

Wild Mind

Okay!  So I did some pacing in the Toronto temple room before heading out to the ISKCON Scarborough Centre.  It's quite interesting that the Toronto Yoga Show is so popular, and as a result, we are churning out a huge amount of prasadam from our kitchen, and are the most in-demand food booth on site.  Our pot washers are going steady at it in the kitchen.  Plenty of water gets used to the point where only a small amount of H2O made it up the pipe-line for my shower.

In any event, after my shower, I went for the outing to Scarborough to deliver a class in bhakti-yoga from the Gita. From Chapter 10 Verse 8, I spoke some about Krishna's role in relation to other avatars, and how He is the ultimate yogi in addition to being the source of avatars.  Or as many teachers have said, he is the original candle that lights all the other candles.

Incidentally that image of a candle is so profound. In a second class, delivered back at home base in Toronto, I raised the point about being like a candle or flame that is situated in a windless place.  That flame projects high and erect, and so is an excellent metaphor for the mind of a successful yogi, as opposed to a person whose mind is not focused. It is like a flame where a slight breeze by a window causes it to flicker.

An important aspect of training in bhakticonsciousness involves the control of the mind. It is not easy, but at least one who tries to harness it, has a better chance at happiness due to that effort being used to tame the mind which is usually turbulently wild.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvteBVSADuw/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=10ueqfl529yzn

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Saturday, March 30th, 2019

Thornhill / Toronto

The Uber Man

Ruben was our Uber driver to get to the Prasher home. From Africa, but now in Toronto, he took a real liking to Connor and I and our lifestyle.  During our conversation, we spoke about books. Ruben seemed rather intelligent, yet admitted that he didn't read big books.

"Well, what's your favourite book?" he asked Connor.

"The book called Bhagavad-gita,” said Connor, and as he said it, I happened to be reading a passage from a copy I had brought with me while sitting in the back seat.

"Here," I said, "is this too big?" as I handed him the book I would read from at the Prasher's.

"No, this isn't too big.  Thanks a lot."

Once we arrived at the new and posh home in Thornhill, we invited Ruben to have a look inside.  The Prashers were only too happy to accommodate him for a few minutes before we began our kirtanchanting.  Ruben was taken to an elaborate altar.  He knew Ganesh and the story of his life.  Ruben was happy and went away with a plate of samosas and sweets, and then our kirtan began.  It was nice.

A trip to the Yoga Show, later, was the second visit for the weekend.  Another of our temple kirtangroups led the chanting and drumming.  I decided to begin a dance.  Surprisingly, those either lying there or seated in the lotus position, got up and began to engage in dancing as well.  Exhibitors and yoga attendees popped over for a look.  I conducted a simple folkish-type set of moves.  I believe it was a very different display for them, not just stretches.  Saturday Night Fever-ish, it was.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BvrOKlwgldJ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=oikow286k1ek

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Friday, March 29th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Walk to Yoga

Stephen, Connor, and myself  headed straight south on Avenue Road to the Yoga Show.  Yes, it was happily on foot that we stepped, and it was very much in a straight line, except for a curve at Queen's Park, and then a clean right at Front Street to get to the Convention Centre.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BvokoHzg2gZ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=xafr76165h3k

The weather was absolutely conducive for the trek. Optimism was in the air.  After all it was Friday night.  We made a few-to-view stops, one was at "The Rising," an inspirational sculpture made of stainless steel, by Zhang Huan.

Okay, so we entered the building with our passes in hand, and in the atmosphere you could hear the chant, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya."  It was the sweet voice of Amala Purana, a student of mine, that permeated the spacious area in the hall of tall walls.  People were seated, immersed in the good sound, hearing and chanting.

Then Amala picked up the tempo, with Billy, her husband, on the mrdunga, and Dinanath, on kartals.  I stood up to start the dance.  I was introduced as the monk who walks countries.  Some people responded by raising themselves to the erect position, and then swaying from side to side while singing, "Hare Krishna!"

It was magical.  When the stage event was over, people mingled.  It's uncanny how, over the years, you get to know a lot of folks from the New Age community.  They are a unique and sometimes chic bunch.  It's fun to be in their presence.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvmmb43A_i3/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1xmulvmnqd50u

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Two People

Richard Longley, a well-educated lovely man and journalist, spent two and a half hours with me, asking a few questions.  Of course, he was curious about my long walks, but his real purpose in visiting was to take photos of the temple and restaurant, and view how we are utilizing a space which was once a Methodist Church.

Richard has written a number of articles for "Now" magazine, articles particularly centered on heritage buildings. In any event, he liked what he saw and heard, about us and our space.  He really enjoyed the prasadam, the blessed meal, at Govinda's.  Let's watch for the upcoming article in the "Now."

My day was full, and by the end of it, I had the pleasure of strolling my feet down Yonge Street.  It's always the young on Yonge whom you see, and one of them got interested when he saw my robes.  A conversation, not unlike others I've been involved with, ensued.

"Buddha?" he asked.

"No, Krishna!" I said.

"Christian?"

"No, Krishna!"

"Oh, Hare Krishna!"

"That's right!"

"I've seen you guys."

"Great!  Here's my card.  It has a mantraon it."

"A what?"

"Amantra, and it's for purging, for healing."

"I could use that," he said, "I've just got over a hundred charges laid against me, including theft and insulting an officer."  

That's where the conversation got really interesting.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Indoor Ecstasy

Although the weather was just perfect for a stroll, I was confined to our building, the temple.  That is not a bad deal, necessarily, because there are at least four sections of the place where I can conveniently pace back and forth to compensate for an outdoor absence.  I usually chant at that time.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkA8ynF6NE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1tbicusswsist

What kept me pleasantly locked-in today, was the attention I needed to give to people's needs.  I look at that as not a chore, but rather a score.  I see it as opportunity, and it's always a pleasure to help someone.

Today, human needs took the shape of hearing from a person in distress.  A second person was one of those sincere seekers who had that genuine spiritual craving—with questions.  In both cases, with the two individuals, it was necessary for me to practise good listening skills.

Good listening or good hearing is the first of nine devotional activities.  The other eight are listed by the great boy-saint, Prahlad, as chanting, recalling the positive, humbling service, adoring sacred images, praying, acting as servant, befriending God and engaging in sweet surrender.

A good portion of a human's obligation to the world is to cultivate these nine functions of a divine nature, which should bring out the best in an individual.  It is not good enough just to say, "I'm an avid walker."  Building character is a big part of the bhakti-yogalifestyle.

May the Source be with you!

5 km