GUYANA AGAIN

Sunday, January 8th, 2023
Georgetown, Guyana

Things are changing in Guyana. When I took American Airlines from Trinidad to Guyana, a mere one-hour flight, I noticed passengers who were in unmistakably Latino. Apparently, people from troubled Venezuela are migrating. Oil was discovered in Guyana, and so the rush is on. I was told Cubans are also making inroads.

Upon arriving in Georgetown, I noticed there are fewer lotuses in the canals. The country is taking action and clearing these lovelies that clog the plumbing. What else? Well, new roads are being built. And finally – finally – sidewalks for pedestrians are laid out like never before. That was always my pet peeve about Georgetown. One thing that hasn’t changed – the seawall – a great place to walk along or walk on. This wall was constructed by the Dutch a century ago.

At the Railway Embankment Road is located a fine Iskcon Temple next to Georgetown University. The main brain behind the project is Prabhupadadev, who acts as a priest for spiritual functions such as this morning’s havan, fire ceremony, wherein four devotees received their first initiation. The new names are Aryan, Minakshi, Satvika, and Bhanupriya. Sanjay and Saya Saci received their second initiations.

In two places, Georgetown and Crane, we did some kirtan leading and delivered messages from the Gita. The whole idea behind these spiritual practices is to clear the complicated network lurking in our heart and mind like the vegetation that clogs up the drainage system.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

FOLLOW A DISCIPLINE

Saturday, January 7th, 2023
Longdenville, Trinidad

When facilitating a “Kirtan Standards Workshop” like the one we conducted for thirty or so people, the two themes I like to emphasize are “Prabhupada’s standards” and “inclusiveness”. I have had a good support by others on the past, the likes of Dhruva from Calgary, Rukmini from Toronto, as well as Kevala Bhakti.

What the attendees here in Trinidad gained from this workshop, amongst many benefits, is some clarification on what our acharyas or teachers in our lineage have preferred in the way of mantra chanting. It is important to follow a discipline in any field while adding a sense of artistic license. We want to be careful about making additions in our approaches because the whole system of mantra delivery is for our purging. When we add to a system it can easily become diluted or watered down to the point of losing integrity.

The general approach to chanting is without motive, or if anything, it is to please Krishna.

The group in Trinidad who listed and interacted in this workshop of a mere four hours had a good time. So did I.

My stay in Trinidad seemed brief, but it was enriched by the good company here. It was sad that walking was practically no option. No walking trails means where I was staying and the main road was terrible, and I say that with no exaggeration. I wish there were standard workshops arranged for pedestrian and motorist friendliness.

May the Source be with you!

TEMPLE – BEACH – TEMPLE

Friday, January 6th, 2023
Longdenville, Trinidad

“Now, how am I going to scale that formidable gate? It looks like someone forgot to leave me a key for that safety lock that I see before me.” These were my thoughts. I gave a sight push to the gate, but nothing was budging. I wanted to make it on time for 4:30 am meditations at the temple.

Okay! I surrender. I did the climb and that seven foot gate was kind to me afterall.

Then I hit the road, or rather, the moon crater terrain. The roads are so bad here. Locals say it’s because huge trucks are allowed to access these roadways built only for light cars.

Anyways, I made it to the temple meditations. So my day started off fine with changing and delivering classes. The 9 am timeslot was scheduled for a drive to the excellent beach at Mayaro. There, the devotee community bonded over water fun, picnic prasadam, and casual chats. This is important.

Finally, 5 pm was the time marked for initiations for eight great souls. The names given to these wonderful candidates – Vinay Vishnu, Aja, Ranchor, Buddhi Manta, Rama Avatar for the man, and Leenakshi, Nandita, and Sriya for the women. A happy kirtan, a talk on bhakti collaboration, a fire ceremony, and to top it off, ‘doubles’ – a chickpea spread over bread. All went well.

I refuse to walk through the potholes on my return to the residence where I’m staying.

I learned that this 70-year-old swami didn’t have to jump over any gate. It was open all the way. I just missed out on swinging it open the right way.

May the Source be with you.

CHECK IN

Thursday, January 5th, 2023 Miami/Trinidad

Toronto was full of fog and a challenge occurred when the lights at the airport’s runway needed cleaning (so they say). This delayed our departure somewhat and we arrived in Miami a bit later than anticipated. It was a struggle to get to my gate for the flight enroute to Port of Spain via American Airlines.

Because of tightness of time, my check-in didn’t make it. A moment of anxiety. It sure was nice to see the bhakti gang again after two years or more. I was greeted with smiles and a garland of petit marigolds.

The roadway is very familiar to me. I walked it, good God, some years ago, right from the Port of Spain Airport to the Longdenville temple. I passed by mom-and-pop shops, stalls where they sell a favourite fast food called ‘doubles’, clothing shops, and even a brothel called ‘Swami’s Bar’, and the countryside as well.

I was cheered with prasadam, blessed food from the devotees of Krishna in the form of Radha Gopinath. I saw that renovation to the temple offered a fresh new look. The temple itself became filled with devotees doing what we like–kirtan chanting. We sat and highlighted the importance of speaking positively about each other, bringing out the best in all of us. A good source for this topic is Bhagavad-gita 10.9.

Check it out.

Which reminds I’ll have to check out my last checked in.

May the Source be with you!

APPRECIATION PRODUCES GOOD VIBES

Wednesday, January 4th, 2023
243 Avenue Road, Toronto

A fabulous chicory drink, chow mein, Gauranga potatoes (a delicious ISKCON favourite), and kulfi were the special features of an appreciation dinner for the cast and crew of Big Fish Little Fish. It’s always important to say ‘thank you’ for any services rendered, however fun, fair, or foul they sometimes are. Service is service, and it is the most valued type of action that exists in the world.

The demigod serves or assists the Supreme Godhead, life partners serve each other, those that give birth to others serve their children, and when of age, the children serve their parents as they mature in years. It’s all about service which is the main feature of bhakti yoga.

At the ashram we have a cleaning company that comes in to address the needs of floors, windows, washroom, etc., and the head fellow of the cleaning business, Byron, says he loves coming here. He has a contract with many places. He has an opinion about our facility. He loves it because, as put in his own words, “Everyone is so kind to me. They smile and make friends with me and my staff.” It looks like he has picked up on thew good vibes of the ashram. He feels he’s appreciated. I was glad to hear that stick out amongst all the places that employ him.

Everyone needs encouragement through appreciation and so a reference for that is found in the Gita, 3.26.

May the Source be with you!

OAKS, SHOES, AND AN ATTEMPTED THEFT

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023
Oakville, Ontario

A river by the name of Sixteen Mile and a quaint downtown where oak trees are known to have had a past and a present were two of our destination points for the day. Madhava drove us to the Medicine Shoppe for me to acquire, of all things, summer sandals, the walking on air type, to prepare for my coming Trinidad/ Surname/Guyana trip. I was in need of warm weather footwear. My cooler brand of shoes are serving my feet well, but it is time to slide in to 30°C atmospheres.

In Toronto we are experiencing in the plus conditions. There is more reain than we are accustomed to and I stuck by the cooler footwear (or that which handles the more frigid weather) when doing some japa meditation in the evening. I was basically doing some awning-hopping to keep dry from drizzle. It was in a safe neighbourhood–Rosedale, however, thieves do make their rounds.

One disheveled-looking fellow, however, was checking out every single door of these high-end shops, right where I could see him, as a witness, had he the chance to pilfer or steal. No shame in him. I envied him somewhat, though, because he likely gets a lot of walking in in the course of a day. He’s doing better than me in the walking department.

My day and night proved right because of the shoe purchase, the bit of outdoor exposure, plus the bhakti classes I gave. You can’t go wrong in listening and speaking about the Supreme. Krishna is always worth dwelling on and working and living for.

May the Source be with you!

GOING WEST WITH THE GITA

Monday, January 2nd, 2023
Mississauga, Ontario

Mississauga is an Ojibwe word which means ‘river of many mouths’. To reach Mississauga in a most practical way is by automobile going west of Toronto, not nearly as romantic or adventurous a means of transport as in the days of our Indigenous – on foot or canoe.

Mahadeva, Annapurna, and I, made our way on a set of wheels to the home of Lobsang, his good wife, teenage son, and a trusty dog. It became a sangha, a gathering of Gita enthusiasts. This group comes together monthly by Zoom, and also monthly in person. Today it’s in person. I have been combing the Gita with this assembly for some time now on our second year. We are still early the game of the Bhagavad-gita’s teaachings, chapter one, catching the theme of a warrior’s duty in the matter of protecting family traditions.

So, there we were in the living room sitting with family people, all scoring fairly well in their mutual looking out for each other. I feel quite safe in such an environment. We had great Ekadashi prasadam – grainless, sacred food. Starting the New Year like this doesn’t get better.

I felt the same sort of safety in a Zoom class with devotees from the big stretch of Manitoba to British Columbia. It just so happens that this group is analyzing the same section of the Gita, all so much to do with honouring values and protocols and assessing what is and what is not sin according to the standards of Sri Krishna.

A healthy outlook always is obedience to code. We just need to learn them.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

FAVOURITE LINES

Sunday, January 1st, 2023
Yorkville, Toronto

Our play, Big Fish Little Fish was a smashing success, a real crowd-pleaser. Congrats to the actors and technical people. Some of my favourite lines in the play are as follows:

Little Fish to Big Fish: What if we just switched roles for a little change?

______

Maya to Little Fish: What you need is an education.

Little Fish asks: Education? Is it a liquid?

______

Mr. Fastbuck to Little Fish: Whether you’re taking a loan or taking a leak, you have to do it all on me… I mean THROUGH me! I own them all. Twitter smitter. I even own Elon Musk.

______

Mr. Highlow (the drug dealer) to Little Fish: I’m a merchant of the people. I sell a high product for a low price. My business is pharmeceuticals. Im’ a man of the people… You take the pink pill to go up. You take the blue pill to go down. You take both and you go sideways.

______

Maya to Little Fish (in retaliation): I was going out to have a hamburger, but now I’ll have some fish and chips.

______

Big Fish to Little Fish: Welcome home, Little Fish, it’s good to have you back!

May the Source be with You!

3 km

 

BETTER THAN EVER

Saturday, December 31st, 2022
City Hall, Toronto

Our annual kirtan, perhaps the best of the year in terms of participation and intensity, was something we were all geared up for. We huddled in the ashram’s temple at 243 Avenue Raod where I gave a pep talk and some guidelines for kirtan performance.

“It’s going to be very busy at Old City Hall (our usual spot for New Year’s), more than the ordinary. The post-covid explosion is a reality these days. And the weather is mild (4 degrees). Hold on to your musical instruments. The crowd is a bit tipsy (from drinking) and things get excited, a little rowdy, even. Sing loud. Smile.”

Our very ready troupers and I softly chanted our way through quiet Ramsden Park at 11 pm before we reached the underground train, the TTC. It is several stops before we reach Queen Street, the location of the changing. Each time the subway train stopped to pick up more commuters, the doors would open to the multitudes while the train was already packed. You could hear a sudden woefulness from the crowd both inside the train and out. It was hilarious. You couldn’t pack anymore people in. IN fact, the train couldn’t move further for the already sardined conveyance. We decided to walk the rest of the way. No problem.

When we arrived at our spot, the magic began. Sound took over and our drums, djembe and marching drum got everyone adrenalined.

Oh! It was great and the mantra resounded. Better than ever!

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

A PROJECT OF JOY

Friday, December 30th, 2022
243 Avenue Road, Toronto

I am very encouraged by the crew we have to help me in my services to guru and God. Cooperation, humility, good listening, good advising, good intelligence are some of the ingredients that make our product. The main ingredient is bhakti. It is that agent that causes ‘the cake to rise’ or our consciousness to rise.

Our product or project is our production. Drama. Theatre. Teatro. A play called Big Fish Little Fish!

Not only are we experiencing the blossoming of talent, but intelligence as well. A number of young people from our community have come forward to volunteer and it’s making a big difference. When casting people for certain acting roles, I have had to do some personal digging. It involved phone calls, or something asking so-and-so to ask so-and-so to see if he/she would like to get involved.

The personal touch usually works and that’s how the flow of volunteers happens. I know that if I ask, I’ll get a response. If I don’t inquire or invite, nothing will happen. Everything will be quiet. There will be no growth.

I see that here’s a lot of enthusiasm and energy exploding around our little theatre project. My realization around this matter is that there should be a branch of a thespian element within our bhakti culture. Such a venture should be highly supported.

May the Source be with you!

TO OTTAWA

Saturday, January 21st, 2023
Russell, Ontario

Roman is a trusty driver, great behind the wheel and most reliable for the trips that I need to take. This morning we were set out to Ottawa for the first fundraising dinner to revamp our temple on 212 Somerset E., a few short blocks from the Parliament Buildings. Vya is a resident of Ottawa and has been a member of the Toronto Bhakti Academy. She came for the ride and the event.

As usual, the more northeast you go from Toronto, the more snow. The stuff is pretty to me. Russell is just a winter wonderland. The program began. The menu was set. The venue was the “Bhakta Prahlad Montessori School.” I was introduced and spoke about the story of Krishna and friend, Sudhama, who was living in modest circumstance. His small hut was transformed into a gorgeous mansion. Hence, the topic was transforming our current facility into a more substantial place along with a restaurant and living quarters for members.

The evening rolled out pleasantly. Great food. Great presentations. Great fundraising. Pledges came to $263,000. Not bad for a first crack at it. I am so proud of this group and its leadership headed by Krishna Dulal.

The New York Central Recreational Trail runs through Russell and the next town of Embrun. Both Roman and I tacked this wintry route. All is good.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Stouffville, Ontario

Art to Give You a Start

There they were, like kids in a candy shop. The Bhakti Academy crew joined me for a visit to a household in Stouffville. The proprietor, Ajay, handed me a copy of the Krsna Art Book, which I passed on for viewing to BA for their perusal. They were enthralled.

Page after page illustrates and summarizes pastimes of Krishna, which are full of energy, mysticism and holiness. Thus, the group was huddled about the book, a coffee-table sized gorgeous publication. It was the first time they had viewed such a masterpiece of material.

In general, art attracts. Colour, texture, images and emotions project forward and stir the observer. Our guru, Prabhupada, called these works of art, depicting Krishna’s activities, as “Windows to the spiritual world.”

When I called Vivasvan from Detroit, who was my major support person at the start of my US walk, he mentioned he had gone to that gallery to see the seventy-five works of Van Gogh on display.

“How did you like the exhibit?” I asked.

“It was quite wonderful,” he responded.

The whole world is attracted to art, some of it is tasteful, some of it isn’t my cup of tea. I have one friend who collects rejected articles and reassembles them, redefining the materials. I haven’t seen his work, but am looking forward to the time he does an exhibit.

In any event. Art moves people and if it compels the public to a spiritual journey, th en it’s doing its job.

May the Source be with you!