Saturday, October 26th, 2019

 Toronto, Ontario

Everyone Must Find Their Fit

Security cameras are being installed in our temple.  It makes a thief think twice about lifting something of monetary value, or otherwise.  Some people have no qualms about taking from a spiritual place.  It is desperation that leads a person to such wrongdoing.  The decision to go the length of drilling into walls and in-laying another set of cables for cameras was made as a pro-active measure. 

While the workmen were going about their business, some of the members of our community were honoring their guru’s birth anniversary with song, praises, and prasadam.  This high-spirited event was followed by “An Evening of Bhakti”, held in the same temple room.  Seventy to eighty people came to participate in a mellow version of kirtan.

About two months ago, I asked Amala Purana, a music teacher by profession, to take the lead with the musical arrangements and be the main person behind the mic.  She has been doing a marvelous job.  It is just the service she has needed.  There is a place for everyone in the area of seva, service. She has found her perfect fit.

In our morning discussion, the topic was brought up that Krishna, with all His wisdom, has designed the world in such a way that everyone has a function and a particular contribution to make.  Krishna’s contemporary, Uddhava, became a noted advisor and counsellor to many of the nobility in the time of Vedic culture. 

This particular point became obvious during the “Bhakti” evening, when our master cook, Dwarkanath, demonstrated his expert culinary skills.  “Try this,” he said, as he poured some coriander coffee from a pitcher. I sipped. It was divine.   

May the Source be with you!

1 km 

 

Friday, October 25th, 2019

Toronto/Brampton

Baby God and Men In Black

All over the world, there is a Damodara buzz going on. Damodara is a name of Krishna, referring to His mother chastising Him for His naughty behaviour. This event is meditated upon by offering lit ghee wicks before the images of Krishna and Yashoda.

While this warming ritual is taking place for one month globally, Vidyanidhi hosted this sweet program tonight. He’s one of our followers, an architect from Brampton.  Many newbies, or first timers, came for the song, lights, and food. Ajamila, my Bengali friend, led the kirtan in his outgoing, soulful style.

To get to Vidyanidhi’s home–a mere forty kilometres from our downtown ashram–I decided to go for a head start on foot. “Please pick me up, Jaya. I’ll be going north on Bathurst.” On Bathurst, you find many Jewish folk honouring the Sabbath. It is the weekly day of rest, observed from sundown on Friday until the three stars are visible in the sky on Saturday night. One way of observing this sacred day is by going to a synagogue or Jewish worship centre. So, in my trekking north in anticipation of Jaya showing up, I passed by numerous men in black with black hats.

They were nice to me. I was nice to them. We tried to exchange a nod, a smile, a word or two. It was the beginning of a brief relationship on the spiritual platform.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Thursday, October 24th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

Some Foot Care

I have decent track shoes, but was lacking in the easy slide-in-and-out type of sandal. They are essential because I’ll soon be off to milder climates, like Argentina and Cuba. So, I walked up Yonge Street to the store, and made my choice.  I also needed indoor, temple footwear which will be easy to remove. Our building has rooms such as the temple room, where footwear is prohibited.

It’s all about footcare.

I was reminded of the story in the Ramayana, where both the wife and brother of Rama were so sensitive to the destination of Rama’s feet that they vowed to walk in front of Him through the thickets, where sharp stones and thorns could do damage. Their names were Sita and Laksmana, respectively.

We know Rama didn’t necessarily need their protection. They declared His soles to be too soft, but for Him, enduring austerity was what He really thrived on. In any event, the sentiments projected toward Him were about care and personal service.

Once I arrived back at the ashram after asking for a lay-away of my chosen sandals, I took some time to care for my feet directly. Some epsom salts would do the trick! I’ve also been putting some ayurvedic treatment on the corn on the base of my right foot. Believe it or not, I’ve had that silly thing with me since my first cross-nation walk in ’96. It doesn’t really hurt. It’s just there, and I just want to ask him to take a hike.

May the Source be with you!

4 km