Friday, January 28, 2022

Brampton, Ontario

Working on the Feet and Teeth

 

It may sound familiar to you. You’re at the dental clinic for a cleaning of the teeth and before you get in the chair the very friendly assistant starts talking.

 

I was just hanging my coat in the cubical when she started the conversation with a question. “What are you doing this weekend?”

 

“Well, one thing is I’ll be going to Hamilton, to Hess Village, the trendy part of the city, to conduct some mantra meditation.”

 

“Oh, is that what you do?” She was curious seeing my monk’s attire.

 

“I’m a teacher of bhakti yoga.” By now I’m reclining in the dental chair and she continues to be nice.

 

“I’ve done yoga. It really makes you feel good. But haven’t done it for a while. Do you travel a lot?” By this time I’ve been given the usual protective dark glasses to wear. Then, just before her fingers enter my mouth, I answer.

 

“I’m usually in India by now.”

 

“That’s interesting.” She says, but I can’t say too much more. She’s busy looking at my teeth and has begun the cleaning process. When I get a second I blurt out, “I do travel on foot. I did Canada four times.”

 

She’s impressed and continues to work at the plaque on my teeth so, again, I can’t say much more. At a breathing moment I slip in, “I’ve also done the States and a few other countries.” Back into the mouth she goes.

 

“That’s quite the feat!” she remarks.

 

And at the first opportunity I say, “A feat with the feet.”

 

May the Source be with you!

2 km

 

Thursday, January 27, 2022

The Balcony, 243

Symptoms of Transcendence

I decided to pace along on the temple/ashram’s balcony floor and in the course of it, chanted some rounds on my beads. The japa, or chanting, with a good dose of faith, is the means to elevate my consciousness. Altering consciousness is a lifetime endeavour, if not several lifetimes.

For our meditation, I would like to bring to the readers attention verse 2.54 from the Bhagavad-gita.

Arjuna said: O Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

PURPORT BY PRABHUPADA: As there are symptoms for each and every man, in terms of his particular situation, similarly one who is Krishna conscious has his particular nature – talking, walking, thinking, feeling, etc. As a rich man has his symptoms by which he is known as a rich man, as a diseased man has his symptoms, so a man in transcendental consciousness of Krishna has specific symptoms in various dealings. One can know his specific symptoms from the Bhagavad-gita. Most important is how the man in Krishna consciousness speaks, for speech is the most important quality of any man. It is said that a fool is undiscovered as long as he does not speak, and certainly a well-dressed fool cannot be identified unless he speaks, but as soon as he speaks, he reveals himself at once. The immediate symptom of a Krishna conscious man is that he speaks only of Krishna and of matters relating to Him. Other symptoms then automatically follow.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Downtown Toronto

Day Snow Walk

 

I walked on ice, asphalt, rock-salt and snow

This is much like the make up of the world we know

They are elemental surfaces that exist under our feet

Diverse they are in colour, texture along the snowy heap

 

When walking in the winter you see less folks on the prowl

They are seasonal movers like some choosy night owl

The quiet is conducive for good meditational time

Which might get interrupted at a snow bank climb

 

Snuggled in coat, pants and favourable footwear

It becomes an exercise in breathing fresh air

I look down, I look up, then come to a halt at the light

Giving attention to the amber, red, and green so bright

 

My legs, limbs, and lips are also on the move

It’s not a cold shiver but a mantra the monks approve

Har Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

 

May the Source be with you!

May the snow be with you!

 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Downtown, Toronto

Night Snow Walk

I was on Bloor St. and those pretty snowflakes were twirling down. That excited three young men, perhaps international students from India, whom I passed by. I know they were excited. I could see it on their tan faces, as they were clicking away and with some selfie efforts, they were taking in what they could of the magic with white lit lights all edged along the night street.

I thought for a moment as to whether I should introduce myself being that they likely would respond well. I did not have my devotional attire on. It’s too cold for that. I was snuggled in my new winter parka and I was in more of a meditative mode; chanting and praying for hospitalized acquaintances, so my missionary instincts were a little dormant at the time.

I carried on and there was a stretch on a side street which had a narrow carved-out pathway in the snow. A young woman was at one end of this narrow passage way. I was at the other. We both had stopped at the same time. There was room for both of us. One of us had to go first. “You go!” she said politely.

“No, please?” I insisted.

“It’s alright.”

“But, I’m from the Old School,” I urged with a slight bow of the upper body and a gesture of the hand. In other words, “Ladies first.”

She responded with, “Oh!” as if to say “that’s different.” So, she moved first with a smile.

 

May the Source be with you!

7 km