Monday, February 28, 2022

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Prayers for Those in Ukraine

To the staunch devotees in Ukraine

Great bearers of surprise and pain

We offer humble prayers to you

May the hardship you now go through

Be short-lived and strengthen

Your conviction while serving to lengthen

The need to bond in Krishna’s love

Which the world is short of

We all attest to human misunderstanding

Which requires a major disbanding

As we are spirits and not the flesh

May we all be given the chance to refresh

There’s much power in divine song

Which helps overcome what goes wrong

We are with you praying for protection

And offer our support in His affection

            -Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sunday Funday

Ryan and Daniel were kind to drive me around. Ryan brought me to the hospital once again to see Shyamesvari, a cancer patient, and her back-up partner, Savyasacin. Daniel took me to the seniors at Ramsgate to see retired professor Shankar. Both visits went well.

Angiras then brought me to the dance studio (not to dance, but yes in our own way) where our bhakti group meets weekly. Iskcon has a lively bunch at this location. Young families with some elders. I missed Corey, the unicyclist, but he’s been coming. I was also hoping to see Brian Crawford, who works for the city in the Child Protection department. Savitri is a sweet elderly Dutch lady, 76, who’s in hiding until Covid diminishes. Yogendra, a local school teacher, and family came. He plays a mean mrdanga drum.

There is a very positive presence of Indian families, all fairly new to the city. They want to hear and learn. What was unique about today’s presentation, based on the Gita’s 9.15, was having our Cleveland, Ohio, crew present on Zoom. The verse, along with its two previous verses, outlines the qualities of a topmost yogi or bhakta. It is implied that one is very dedicated, but how can this possibly be achieved? How will spotless purity become a reality for us neophytes?

The answer is in the texts themselves, especially in 13 and 14. Items, such as the points made, when applied can lead to success. 1) avoid delusion, 2) take shelter of divine energy, 3) keep busy in devotion, 4) praising the Supreme, 5) demonstrate conviction, and 6) taking a humble position.

By the way, the Halifax group is not afraid to dance. Dancing is not listed in the six, but it still counts.

May the Source be with you!

 

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax, Here I Am

Sanjay is from Nepal but he has the look of an indigenous person from North America. It is simply an observation. He has a humble disposition and he was willing to walk with me for a short stretch in the Timberlea district where I’m staying, at the residence of Angiras and Anchal. It is gorgeous with nature all around. This walk constituted a second stroll for the day; the first one being along the harbour at Dewolf Park, which is also appealing.

One of the main reasons for the trip here was to visit Savyasacin whose wife, Shyamesvari is stricken with a rare cancer. I’ve known her for 22 years. She hails from South Africa, and, since I’ve been going to Durban to participate in their big Chariot Fest, I’ve had the great opportunity to work with her and others from S.A. in the dramas. She is indeed talented while also being a good devotee of Krishna.

My day was full with folks and phone (Zoom Gita Chats). What was important was the chance to visit Shyamesvari and her husband in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. A call came in at 2 am that she had only a few hours, and so we rushed off to the emergency to meet her and then her family, three young daughters and her mom. It was touching. Savyasacin has been the most supportive hubby. So much love between all of them. I left the hospital room after a meaningful kirtan hoping all would be well.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Friday, February 25, 2022

Halifax, Nova Scotia

No Dull Place

It was a long walk in Terminal 3 to get to Gate B2, destined for Halifax. I was nice and early. I seated myself at the passenger’s lounge when I met Tracy. She was looking for a nibble to eat or a coffee, but no shops were open; that’s how early it was. Before she went on the search, she said something that was beyond the call of duty. It was a question. “Can I get you something?” I was touched and appreciatively declined. I’m just a stranger but she overlooked that.

“Thank you but no, I honestly have no fire in my stomach in the morning.”

Tracy came back with a coffee. It took a while. She was curious about my affiliation.

“Hare Krishna.”

“Oh yes, I’ve met them before.” And then she expressed a few things about us. “Peaceful, vegetarian…”

She went on. “Yah know, I’ve been dealing with family and there has been a lot of grieving. I recently discovered, through the channel of ‘Ancestry,’ that one of my siblings was switched for another baby at birth. That was in the ’60s, and the hospital where it happened had the records missing.

I imagined this was traumatic for her and her family. She concurred that it was. Zone 1 passengers were being called for boarding. I was in Zone 3. Tracy was before me. I was thinking that the world presents such interesting twists and turns; from meeting friendly folks to the reality of someone having ill intentions as a nurse or doctor in a hospital. This world is no dull place. It’s a circus that makes you laugh and cry.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Thursday, February 24, 2022

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Letters on Cooperation

I just wanted to share a letter that Prabhupada, our guru, wrote 50 years ago about the right attitude and the right action. So much of our spiritual advancement depends on attitude. Written to his disciple, Jayapataka Swami, but applicable to all.

“Yes, the co-operative spirit of working together without any argument is especially prominent in Mayapura, more than other places in India. Therefore, you are successful, and the work is going on quickly to completion. That is because all of you working there have become very much attached to the dust from Lord Chaitanya’s lotus feet, and because you have got such deep personal interest with that engagement of work, you want to see that it is done nicely without any hindrance of selfish motivation, never mind all kinds of conditions of the material nature. That idea has become prominent for all of you, it is bigger than maya’s idea, therefore maya cannot interfere to make you quarrel or other things. But you especially are to take the credit. From the very beginning you wanted that place, and you got the land, got money from me, and now you have built the place by your concentration of energy. That is wanted. If there is some discrepancy anywhere, some non-cooperation, fighting, or if the work is slow or not to the standard, it is to be supposed that the person or persons in charge are not very much attached to Krishna. That means they will discriminate: my engagement is not good, other’s engagement is good, like that. They do not know the secret of surrendering to Krishna.”

(May we pray for the Ukraine).

May the Source be with you!

3 km