Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Queen’s Park, Toronto

Beware of Bad Rap

 

On the wedding day of Krishna’s parents, King Kamsa led the chariot of the newly married couple through the crowds when a prophetic voice from the skies revealed his fate; being slain by their eighth son, who would be Krishna. Kamsa became very defensive, unsheathed his sword and was prepared to behead his sister right on the spot. Vasudeva, Kamsa’s new brother-in-law, stepped into action holding back Kamsa’s sword-held arm. The crowd was in a panic. Vasudeva tried to reason with the impulsive king.

On several angles of whisper into the tyrants’ ears, the wise Vasudeva tried to convince Kamsa of his wrong doing. “Think of your reputation.” “This is your sister.” “It’s her wedding day.” “A true warrior doesn’t slay a woman.”

Reputation’s preservation became the theme of our Gita Discussion Group this night. In Chapter two of the Gita Krishna reminds his friend, Arjuna, that reputation is important, and since Arjuna contemplated on walking out on responsibility that prestige would be majorly hurt. “Dishonour is worse than death!” Krishna declared.

Who really wants to go down in history with a bad rap, a bad reputation? So, from the story of Krishna’s relatives and the story of His friend, we can takeaway the message that dignity has a place in culture.

 

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Monday, January 31, 2022

Queen’s Park, Toronto

Hard Times/Strong Men

 

A few of us created another Zoom Gita Study Group, with a west coast crew. It was our orientation day, but I must not forget to include three families from Saskatchewan, where they are encountering a terrific snow blizzard. “Not to worry,” I ensured Vivek and Amee. When the freak of nature rears its ugly head, we go into our holes and there’s nothing better to do on a wintry night than to cuddle around the comforting words of Bhagavan.

I want to thank those who joined today, and for every alternative Monday, while east coast enthusiasts occupy the other Monday.

What about central U.S. and Canada? Already underway.

The Gita perspective is a draw. Perhaps it has an appeal during these interesting times. I was reflecting on our time today during my walk tonight. You’ve heard the saying:

Hard times create strong men,

Strong men create good times.

Good times create weak men,

Weak men create hard times.

I have yet to see our hard times creating strong anything. When we come out of pandemic hiding, then we might see something. As far as the above saying goes, this cyclic pattern reminds me of the demigod/demon dynamic we read about in the Puranas. In general, people do get complacent when things run relatively easy. Are the current times rocky? To some degree, yes. Come then strong people. Let’s especially speak on being spiritually strong.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Hamilton, Ontario

About Dad

Shortly after my father passed away in 2008, I wrote a poem in his honour, a way of saying “Thanks!” It will be his birthday on the 1^st of February. He was born in the Netherlands, the place of tulips, in 1919. As a member of the Vaishnava tradition, bhakti yoga, we have a natural obligation to feel for our parents who did so much for us. Here’s my poem:

About Dad

Dear Creator

 

You struck a good balance

When you linked the leaf and petal

Came a man of heart and muscle

Smooth as silk, hard as metal

 

With pride he told his pastimes

Of a place of windmills and dikes

Which fueled life then and there

With feet on skates and feet on bikes

 

Folks then bore brutal war

Watched the stock market crash

Lost jobs but not nerve

Convictions could never be smashed

 

He left the land below sea level

For a promised place remote

Atlantic waters rippled by

On a real and wanderlust boat

 

He married a lady called Rose

Life was of both fragrance and thorn

They begot two guys ‘n two gals

Then twins were newly born

 

He walked us down the outdoor trails

But inside told of birds and bees

He gave us each those daily chores

And how to milk those cows with ease

 

He grew those plants with a green thumb

Toiled decades on the assembly line

With different strokes he cracked those jokes

He was just fun-loving all the time

 

Patience he learned in a very hard way

He gave us our choices in life

Our music was not to cope with

It gave him some stress and strife

 

His was a life full of colours

Sporting half beard and wooden shoes

He was extraordinary, yet ordinary

An upbeat dad you thought to never lose

 

His heart froze in the land of the petal

His body lies in the land of the leaves

Oh Creator, rest his soul in heaven

For he was born to give and please

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

Saturday, January 29, 2022

Brampton, Ontario

Day With Families

Nimai picked me up. We left for Brampton to see Pavan at his home. That makes two families joined together, and me.

A Chinese meal was on the menu, all cooked by Pavan and all offered to Krishna to become prasadam; blessed by the best. We chanted. We studied. It was the beginning of the Gita, made interactive through Zoom with a group from Niagara Falls.

Why was there a need for another rendition of the Gita when other renditions were already there? The introduction of Bhagavad-gita As It Is poses the question. It came from an American woman. Prabhupada’s response in the very text explained that most renditions failed to carry the spirit of the great book, which is actually a dialogue. In our studies with the group from The Falls, we hope to capture that spirit, which is one of surrendering love.

Speaking of dialogue, outside our study, the two families and I dreamed of summer plans. Perhaps a trip to Pelee Island for a weekend of water fun and bhakti. How about vegan marshmallows cooked over the beach campfire? And the next morning, after a good sleep, we arise, swim, chant, and indulge in discussion on the Bhagavatam.

We’ve done it before. We’ll do it again. When covid clears, we’ll do things again.

May the Source be with you!

2 km