Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Red Deer, Alberta

A lesson in Discipline

We had a sweet conversation with Sveta on our evening walk. The topic of discipline came up. The dusk hour in summer invokes mosquitoes. We just began swatting them when Sveta spoke about discipline and asked my take on it.

“Discipline is so necessary for all of us. Where there is discipline, there is order. Where there is order there is safety. Where there is safety there is peace. Where there is peace there is contentment. Who doesn’t want to be happy?”

Sveta liked hearing that. Along with us on this suburban trail trek was Thomas, Vanipriya, Satyavrata and Gaura Jivana. Some of our group caught the message by ear. Some of us walkers were contending with loud engines from cars roaring by and couldn’t hear.

We had all come out of a sanga program; another book launch of The Saffron Path. Naturally I spoke about road experiences but quoted the Gita left and right. After all, walking isn’t complete in life unless you have that spiritual purpose. The Gita has always been a reference point for me. I like to think that putting one foot before the other is like a folding of one lesson over another. The great text is full of great direction, encouraging us to carry on.

I did speak to Alyssa from the local red deer online news and I was telling her about the introspective nature of walking. And, speaking of discipline, those of us on the trails and sidewalks were definitely feeling the austerity. The mosquitoes were ravenous in their appetite. We cut short the trekking after 2.4 km.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Calgary, Alberta

At a Prairie Suburban House

It was quite awesome to see the number of people come in the evening for prasadam and to hear about “Tales from Trails.” Radha Madhava and Svasti hosted the dozens of families in their home on the north east end of town.

I was just completing my weekly “Gita Chat” on Zoom, as we delved into chapter 3, verse 10, talking all about yajna (sacrifice) and its prevalence. Then I shifted gears to get on another Zoom call with my siblings as we usually do when there’s a birthday among us. Today it was the celebration of our twins. Paul and Pauline turned 60, I believe just yesterday, so we had a blast with domestic chat.

But the crowds came in and I had to be excused and tend to them. The place got packed inside and out and I thought, This is sublime. Mind you, although I was the guest speaker, I accept the honour of doing this and my presentation is made in Krishna’s service. The power-walking executed in the past was done on behalf of Krishna and his rep, our dear Prabhupada, founder of our growing Krishna conscious movement. I’m proud to be part of it.

I made it clear that the evening was a book launch for The Saffron Path. I believe every family went home with a copy. The back cover reveals somewhat of the book’s content: “From being stalked by a grizzly bear to being mistaken for an escaped prison inmate. The walking monk braves the elements and adventure across the globe to bring you the tails only trails can tell.”

May the Source be with you!

4km

 

Monday, July 25, 2022

Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta

Adventure in Alberta

Four of us set out to step in the mountainous woods of the Rocky Mountains. Even for a Monday, because it is summer after all, the big draw to nature is one. My companions, Radha Madhava, Nanda Gopal, Vallabha Hari, and I took to trail walking along the Bow River, which has an admirable aqua colour. Banff is a town, a tourist trap, where the mighty river flows. It is a place of respectable folks. It appears pedestrians, locals and visitors, show courtesy to a monk with greetings as I pass by. It doesn’t matter who offers the first nod, me or them.

At Lake Louise it was the first time for all of us to canoe this iconic natural wonder. It’s a pricey venture, but not on the grounds that I am a five-time cross nation walker (which includes the US walk); one canoe rental was for free at two passengers per boat. Vallabha and I rowed the whole length, a mere two kilometers, and back. What a sight this place is! It’s definitely one of the wonders of the continent.

A picnic amidst boreal trees and a swim in Lake Johnson topped off our afternoon venture. Nature was all around us giving a big hug of sorts. A special feature was bumping into the boys, Maduha’s men, who venture right across the US and Canada, as part of the Festival of India team.

To my wonder and surprise news came that the short film, “The Embassy” won a prize by film Festival Crown Wood in the “Best Western Film” category. This is a dramatization of a dialogue between Krishna and Duryodhana, prior to the Kuruksetra War. Jayho!

May the Source be with you!