Friday, May 1, 2020

Rosedale, Toronto

May Day 2020

I consider one of our members a hero today.  It is May Day and to many people it’s special, a declaration that spring is most definitely here.  Whether intentional or not to mark this nature’s affirmation, Mahabhagavat, from Willowdale, walked the 18 kilometre trek from his home to the temple/ashram.  He prepared himself early this week for the Friday task.

I was happy to greet him outside where his good wife and son drove up to do the finish.  It was a great victory and I hope he does more of this.

While I was waiting a young woman, Sesha, was working at the juncture of Roxborough and Ave. Rd., the corner of our ashram.  With hard hat and safety vest on she recognized me from 20 years ago when her mom taught Sunday school.  Sesha, along with another male worker, are working for the city painting white stripes on the street for traffic efficiency.  It was so good to see her grown up and being full of enthusiasm for Krishna Consciousness.

I had just spoken to Cameron from Hamilton by phone.  He’s a young father, had stumbled upon a copy of Prabhupada’s, “Science of Self-Realization” some time ago in Victoria and is now sold on this culture of bhakti.

By providence I met all these positive people.  May Day was good.  Perhaps as a last mention of connecting, on some level, when I managed to squeeze in 45 minutes for a walk in Rosedale I was moving along on a street of 4 to 5 million dollar homes.  In the front veranda of this one person’s home were some guests all sipping on wine.  The home owner saw me and not facetiously, but seriously, invited me to come in and have some wine.  I declined but I appreciated the fellow’s kindness.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Toronto, Ontario

As I Sat…

As I sat on the wooden stairs I struggled to get my sandal onto the right foot. “Something seems different,” I thought.  “Why isn’t it fitting?  The clasp isn’t closing?  Maybe my extra-thick sock is restricting it?”

Well, it didn’t take long before I could see the problem.  I’ve gotten the wrong shoe on the wrong foot.  My evening trek wouldn’t have worked out.  Now, how did it come to this?  All I could think of was that it was a rough day.  With three long conference calls and on top of that—dealing with four families, each who lost a loved one to disease (only one from Covid)—it made the day very demanding.  I felt mentally some drain of energy.  No wonder I couldn’t see the right from the left.

My response to all of this was to go for that walk and evening isn’t a bad choice of time.  All except take out restaurants and convenience are closed for business over the virus.  I ended up having Bloor St. almost to myself.

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna…“ I went chanting on my beads.  As usual the few pedestrians find it unique to see a monk with his beads in hand.  My beads particularly dangle.  I do like to show them off. Who actually prays on the street?  It’s so rare to see.  Hey, he’s got on a good-looking pair of sandals!

I don’t mind being that oddball—anything to excite a soul and incite it into the slightest quest of truth is a good thing.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Ramsden Park, Toronto

Death All Around

I met one of our neighbours with a mask and pet dog to accompany her just before entering the park.  She recognized me and expressed gratitude at our temple’s participation at the 7:30 pm noise-making in support of medical workers combating the virus.

“I wish we could get all the neighbours to partake,” I said.  “What do we do to get it to that point?”

The woman, blondish and short-ish, spoke through her mask.  “I am emailing most of them.  I don’t have all their addresses.  What’s yours?”

I volunteered to get my email card as it’s just too difficult to remember.  Bhaktimargaswami@gmail.com is just a little irregular.

“Just put it on my porch,” she suggested honoring the standard distancing discipline.

“Okay!”

As I entered the park I thought more about loss of life.  One of our members, 92, contracted covid–19 two weeks ago.  He was not doing too bad for his age until the invisible demon came along.  He passed away two days ago without his family being there due to restrictions for safety.  Quite sad, really.

Another member, Nimai Chandra, about to turn 90, died recently.  He served in our local temple ashram for several years as a brahman priest.  I won’t be able to go to the funeral.  Although the virus didn’t take his life and although a handful of family members will be attending, the risk for my going is too high.

The great Vedic king Yudhisthira delivered that enlightened message, “Everyone sees death all around but I don’t think I will die.  This is the greatest wonder.”

May the Source be with you!

5km