Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Ramsden Park, Toronto

Third Leg

 

We hear that we have a third eye. We may also hear that some of us (myself included) have a third leg. I graduated from two crutches to two walking poles and now to one single walking cane —my third leg. Progress is being made in the healing department. There’s hope for sure.

 

I must say I envy those who can walk the Camino in Spain for pilgrimage purposes. I hear of people championing the Bruce Trail, that rocky up-and-down arduous foot path that runs through southern Ontario. In the US enthusiasts tackle the Appalachian trail; on the west it’s the Pacific Trail. And where I took to the national trail in Israel, we came to some real challenging, almost impossible, trekking trails.

 

It is definitely in my plans to challenge a trail again; on two new knees, when that happens. Pilgrimage or parikrama, as they say in Hindi, it’s so much a sleeping giant in our world. I’m wondering if COVID-19 has affected an increased number of pedestrians? I don’t know.

 

One thing I can say about expanding the experience is that both this and last summer we have increased the number of procession festivals. Places like Moncton, Fredericton, Scarborough, Kingston, Stratford, Milton, Brampton, Vancouver and Toronto have enjoyed great summer social events in the form of Ratha Yatra, all in the northern zone, where I serve. To those managers, hats off!

 

May the Source be with you!

1 km

 

Monday, August 16, 2021

Ramsden Park, Toronto

A Slight Mix Up

 

I had myself set up at a picnic table with a majestic blue spruce to my back. I was just beginning with a Zoom call and connecting with our Ottawa admins. I popped my two-day-old walking cane on the table. Like all meetings, virtual included, we start by reciting prayers to the guru, our founder, Srila Prabhupada.

 

That was completed and then a decent looking man appearing to be in his 60’s came over to grab for my cane. He thought it was his. I placed my grip on it.

 

“Oh!” He looked back and saw his actual stick where he left it before picnicking with his friends. Anyway, they look alike.

 

“I’m sorry!” He said.

 

“Think nothing of it!”

 

“Now you’re a monk?” He inquired.

 

“Yes, I am.”

 

“It was bad enough karma to take someone’s possession, what to speak of taking from a monk. I can’t imagine.”

 

Pulling away from my phone and the meeting in session, I suggested to the gentleman, “Sir it’s nothing to worry about. We all make mistakes.”

 

He clutched his own cane and helped himself down the hill to the street level. Come to think of it, more people use walking canes or sticks than are willing to admit. The cane is a third leg that helps support any imbalance. It’s like life. You have a guru that keeps you from a falldown.

 

May the Source be with you!

1 km

 

Sunday, August 15, 2021

 Scarborough, Ontario

A New Way?

 

This weekend the Scarborough ISKCON team held their Ratha Yatra, starting at 6:30 AM on Saturday and completing near midnight. What I’m hearing from some of the different centres we have is that the Covid approach to this festival may be better than the usual way of doing things. Several items make the event more favorable such as:

1) It reaches more people as a vehicle with Jagannatha inside, goes to the neighborhoods where people get curious

2) Less-to-no permits required

3) Easier to organize

4) A better fund and friend raiser

5) There may be more arguments.

 

The managers of the various centers need to collaborate and to analyze the situation. I’d be curious to know the end result.

 

Normally I would be attending the Vancouver Chariot festival on this weekend but Covid has changed that, besides I’m still going through a knee healing. Also, enthusiastically the place of Shakespearean theater in Canada, Stratford, was also seeing this event in the suburbs by masked men and women. Again, a plus for this approach is that if you can’t go see God, then God (Jagannath) will come to see you.

 

It looks like Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, likes to get around. Can’t blame Him. He also doesn’t care for lockdowns. He likes His freedom.

 

Freedom is such a magical word and it can be put into practice.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Saturday, August 14, 2021

El Dorado Park, Brampton

 

A Joke, A Park and the Mantra

 

One of our newcomers, Ralph, sent me the following. It’s hilarious. Although I’m not fond of automobiles I got a good chuckle from this. Thanks Ralph.

 

“Pan handler is going door-to-door asking for money and goes up to this one house to ask for money when the guy says, ‘I’m not going to give you money for nothing. You have to work for it.’ He says, ‘If you paint my front porch then I’ll give you money.’ Pan handler agrees. He then finished painting and goes back to the owner and says, ‘I finished painting. Oh, and by the way, it’s not a porch it’s a Ferrari!’”

 

That was a knee slapper. Only thing is I wouldn’t slap my knees these days, especially the one going through a healing process – the left one.

 

At El Dorado Park in Brampton where devotees were to have yoga and kirtan, I met my physio guy, Paramahamsa. With me now using a single cane (I graduated from crutches to walking poles and now a cane) this walking doctor of mine, coached me a bit during the yoga and kirtan. That was great.

 

Then a group of us scooted over to High Park in Toronto for a killer kirtan. Ajamila lead and had to settle for me as the mridanga drummer. Sweet melodies though.

 

While at the park I also ‘Zoomed’ a class to a group of devotees in Windsor. From chapter 11 of The Gita perhaps the most important sloka (verse) is number 54. Check it out!

 

May the Source be with you!