I Will Pursue It!
Burnaby, British Columbia
Nipuna, Chaitanya and I tread the same route as yesterday. We saw the same cyclist as we saw the previous day, and at the same juncture. We also saw a pedestrian on crutches on the same trail at the same time as yesterday. The sky hadn't changed over the two day period. It remained overcast. In other words, the sky was the same. We were walking and we were chanting. Of course, it was the same mantra as yesterday. We would not dare change that.
I had come to visit Vancouver, seeing many of the same community members, all rather happy. There were a host of young kids, very new to me. And I saw changes in some of the more senior folks. Some middle-aged had intensified their hair color. I guess one person had a fresh dye job. Another person's hair had been solid with one shade and now that has been broken up with grayness leaving a pleasant salt and pepper effect. So I noticed some adjustments.
There is the usual crowd, but there are also new faces including a woman who was formerly a Mountie officer, turned yoga teacher, and is now practicing bhakti yoga. It is certainly a welcome sign to see young and new people coming to explore a higher conscious experience. It came to mind that as we journey through life, we encounter the old and the new, the usual and the fresh. Tomorrow, I will meet with young members of our community and conduct a workshop with them.
An idea sprung up. On the Burnaby property, there are a number of senior citizens living there. Why not give them some attention as well? I am thinking about starting up a one night a week program for them where they assemble in the temple room to engage in hearing and chanting. Such a program would be welcome. It seems like the right thing to do.
I will pursue it and accommodate the new and the usual.
7 KM
B L O G S P O T
Monday, 31 May 2010
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
You Are What You Have Thought
Burnaby, British Columbia
It makes sense to follow the trail under the skytrain as it acts as a canopy from the rain. It was actually a drizzle...mercy for the plants. B.C is known as a place of lush greenery. It's flag is marked with the image of the sun which is somewhat misleading. It's a mild climate.
My walking partner, Nipuna, and I passed by a housing construction crew as we left the shelter of the skytrain. One worker was warm with a greeting, and another was just a little shy of being grumpy. It's my speculation that 50% of people who rise in the morning get up on the wrong side of the bed and the other 50% are excited about the day.
Nipuna and I proceeded on. We stopped briefly to read what had been spray painted on the pavement near where we were standing. In bold black it read, "You are what you continually think about." I thought it was a profound statement, echoing a message from the Bhagavad-Gita. For instance, in verse 8.6 Krishna states, "yam yam vapi smaran bhavam...Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail."
In other words, if you are constantly processing hate for example, this mood will move you in the next term into a body suited for expressing aggression. If one is motivated by love and kindness, then a body suited to embody these qualities will be the end result. The warning about what you consume is obvious. That word of caution holds true for what enters the mind and the mouth.
It was George Bernard Shaw, who stated, "You are what you eat!"
8 KM
Burnaby, British Columbia
It makes sense to follow the trail under the skytrain as it acts as a canopy from the rain. It was actually a drizzle...mercy for the plants. B.C is known as a place of lush greenery. It's flag is marked with the image of the sun which is somewhat misleading. It's a mild climate.
My walking partner, Nipuna, and I passed by a housing construction crew as we left the shelter of the skytrain. One worker was warm with a greeting, and another was just a little shy of being grumpy. It's my speculation that 50% of people who rise in the morning get up on the wrong side of the bed and the other 50% are excited about the day.
Nipuna and I proceeded on. We stopped briefly to read what had been spray painted on the pavement near where we were standing. In bold black it read, "You are what you continually think about." I thought it was a profound statement, echoing a message from the Bhagavad-Gita. For instance, in verse 8.6 Krishna states, "yam yam vapi smaran bhavam...Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail."
In other words, if you are constantly processing hate for example, this mood will move you in the next term into a body suited for expressing aggression. If one is motivated by love and kindness, then a body suited to embody these qualities will be the end result. The warning about what you consume is obvious. That word of caution holds true for what enters the mind and the mouth.
It was George Bernard Shaw, who stated, "You are what you eat!"
8 KM
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
In Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
Westjet Airlines, which I took to Vancouver like all airlines, have their very own travel flight magazine. "Up" rated Vancouver as the number one walking friendly city in the nation. I'm inclined to agree when it isn't rainy. Seriously, I do like walking in this very pretty city. But once I got out of the terminal I couldn't walk. I had to wait. My driver was there. He just missed me. While waiting, I had a chance to meet a member of the band "Fields of Green". Let's call him Steve. (I don't remember his name.)
Steve had his acoustic guitar in his case next to him at a sitting bench. His band plays everything from rock to country music. I told Steve about my love for music and how my Dad always liked to play something on the gramophone like "Singing the Blues" or Lucille Starr. In any event, music became an addiction for me. I told Steve, I floated from rock to folk, to blues, then classical to raga and finally kirtan.
Steve knew about kirtan, its magical sound and potent effect. Apparently, he was exposed to it in his hometown, Kelowna, where he heard the sound "Nitai" and "Gauranga". It's good to know the good vibration is getting around.
At nighttime, sound waves took over the ether in the Burnaby temple. One of the favorite avatars of Krishna devotees, Narasingha, the half man, half lion incarnation, was being honored. The local devotee actor, Peter Konikow, did a great job as narrator of a drama using as its subject this powerful avatar. It seems like Peter always comes up with fresh ideas.
I did manage to squeeze in a fifty minute walk with Nipuna, my assistant during my stay here. We dodged those puddles of rainfall even though the darkness did well to conceal them. The sleep for the night was good. I believe it was the chanting for protection from Narasingha by the community youngsters that saw to my safety and deep slumber. Thanks to the youngsters at the Narasingha festival.
4 KM
Vancouver, British Columbia
Westjet Airlines, which I took to Vancouver like all airlines, have their very own travel flight magazine. "Up" rated Vancouver as the number one walking friendly city in the nation. I'm inclined to agree when it isn't rainy. Seriously, I do like walking in this very pretty city. But once I got out of the terminal I couldn't walk. I had to wait. My driver was there. He just missed me. While waiting, I had a chance to meet a member of the band "Fields of Green". Let's call him Steve. (I don't remember his name.)
Steve had his acoustic guitar in his case next to him at a sitting bench. His band plays everything from rock to country music. I told Steve about my love for music and how my Dad always liked to play something on the gramophone like "Singing the Blues" or Lucille Starr. In any event, music became an addiction for me. I told Steve, I floated from rock to folk, to blues, then classical to raga and finally kirtan.
Steve knew about kirtan, its magical sound and potent effect. Apparently, he was exposed to it in his hometown, Kelowna, where he heard the sound "Nitai" and "Gauranga". It's good to know the good vibration is getting around.
At nighttime, sound waves took over the ether in the Burnaby temple. One of the favorite avatars of Krishna devotees, Narasingha, the half man, half lion incarnation, was being honored. The local devotee actor, Peter Konikow, did a great job as narrator of a drama using as its subject this powerful avatar. It seems like Peter always comes up with fresh ideas.
I did manage to squeeze in a fifty minute walk with Nipuna, my assistant during my stay here. We dodged those puddles of rainfall even though the darkness did well to conceal them. The sleep for the night was good. I believe it was the chanting for protection from Narasingha by the community youngsters that saw to my safety and deep slumber. Thanks to the youngsters at the Narasingha festival.
4 KM
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
A Walking Prep
Toronto, Ontario
The usual morning trek with the Penn boys and Praveen, didn't happen. Well it did, but without me. They went ahead and entered the ravine only to discover that nature's forces had come alive in the form of mosquitoes with voracious appetites.
My reason for the walking exclusion was to address the hunger needs of the residents in the ashram. It came as a surprise that Tuesday morning no one was scheduled to cook. I volunteered happily. What did I cook?
The menu for this morning breakfast was cereal, milk, fruit, chapatis (flat bread) and kichari. Kichari is what I consider a favorite kind of walking food. It's nourishing, filling, and colourful. It's a meal unto itself. I used to cook it on our camp out Coleman's stove during the marathon walks.
The ingredients I used are:
long grain rice
moong dahl beans
water
sea salt
tumeric
aseofateda
fresh basil leaves
fresh rosemary
ground cumin
cauliflower chunks
broccoli chunks
fresh shredded ginger
olive oil
Directions:
You start with adding your rice and dahl beans to the boiling water. Add salt, a tiny bit of oil and gradually add the veggies, herbs and spices. Serve after the rice and dahl have softened. Serve to the deity of Krishna while chanting some standard mantras. Then eat while it's hot.
When the boys came back from their walk and having completed the balance of the sadhana (spiritual workout), they dug into the preparation. The verdict was, "We are satisfied."
0 KM
Toronto, Ontario
The usual morning trek with the Penn boys and Praveen, didn't happen. Well it did, but without me. They went ahead and entered the ravine only to discover that nature's forces had come alive in the form of mosquitoes with voracious appetites.
My reason for the walking exclusion was to address the hunger needs of the residents in the ashram. It came as a surprise that Tuesday morning no one was scheduled to cook. I volunteered happily. What did I cook?
The menu for this morning breakfast was cereal, milk, fruit, chapatis (flat bread) and kichari. Kichari is what I consider a favorite kind of walking food. It's nourishing, filling, and colourful. It's a meal unto itself. I used to cook it on our camp out Coleman's stove during the marathon walks.
The ingredients I used are:
long grain rice
moong dahl beans
water
sea salt
tumeric
aseofateda
fresh basil leaves
fresh rosemary
ground cumin
cauliflower chunks
broccoli chunks
fresh shredded ginger
olive oil
Directions:
You start with adding your rice and dahl beans to the boiling water. Add salt, a tiny bit of oil and gradually add the veggies, herbs and spices. Serve after the rice and dahl have softened. Serve to the deity of Krishna while chanting some standard mantras. Then eat while it's hot.
When the boys came back from their walk and having completed the balance of the sadhana (spiritual workout), they dug into the preparation. The verdict was, "We are satisfied."
0 KM
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Fireworks!
Kitchener, Ontario
People in Canada, credit Queen Victoria for allowing Canada to be a free nation cutting loose from the British rule. Today was the day known as Victoria Day and although her honor means little to the average person who doesn't follow up much on history. The day has become a good excuse for a holiday. Fireworks were mostly used on this day, perhaps more than any other day of the year in Canada. But that has somewhat shifted since I was a kid. Fireworks have taken over the nightly skies on many other days not just to commemorate an event or a person. The loud noise and splendorous light displays have become a common place event that exists on its own strength.
In the afternoon, I was driven to quiet Kitchener, a city at the edge of Mennonite country. With Ukrainian friends and my young American protege, Gaura, we zipped over this place once called New Berlin to engage in chanting with a family from Kenya. Someone from Belgrade came, another from Hungary, and there was even an all Canadian chap from London Ontario.
What else did we do? Well, we took a serious look at Bhagavad-Gita verse 10.9. Krishna says: "The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me."
What blossomed out of this verse recitation was a lively discussion of individual revelations from amongst our quiet group. Yes, we were quiet but thoughtful. I was impressed with the explosions of realizations as expressed by the visitors and host family. There was something splendorous in hearing them. In fact, the popping of the fireworks I heard in the distance during the evening's wind down period back in Toronto, could not measure up to the volcanic spewings of truthfulness as voiced by these students of Bhagavad-Gita.
As I walked a few blocks in the night air, it was confirmed for me that fireworks are not a sensation for me. May they remain as an offering to Victoria.
9 KM
Kitchener, Ontario
People in Canada, credit Queen Victoria for allowing Canada to be a free nation cutting loose from the British rule. Today was the day known as Victoria Day and although her honor means little to the average person who doesn't follow up much on history. The day has become a good excuse for a holiday. Fireworks were mostly used on this day, perhaps more than any other day of the year in Canada. But that has somewhat shifted since I was a kid. Fireworks have taken over the nightly skies on many other days not just to commemorate an event or a person. The loud noise and splendorous light displays have become a common place event that exists on its own strength.
In the afternoon, I was driven to quiet Kitchener, a city at the edge of Mennonite country. With Ukrainian friends and my young American protege, Gaura, we zipped over this place once called New Berlin to engage in chanting with a family from Kenya. Someone from Belgrade came, another from Hungary, and there was even an all Canadian chap from London Ontario.
What else did we do? Well, we took a serious look at Bhagavad-Gita verse 10.9. Krishna says: "The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me."
What blossomed out of this verse recitation was a lively discussion of individual revelations from amongst our quiet group. Yes, we were quiet but thoughtful. I was impressed with the explosions of realizations as expressed by the visitors and host family. There was something splendorous in hearing them. In fact, the popping of the fireworks I heard in the distance during the evening's wind down period back in Toronto, could not measure up to the volcanic spewings of truthfulness as voiced by these students of Bhagavad-Gita.
As I walked a few blocks in the night air, it was confirmed for me that fireworks are not a sensation for me. May they remain as an offering to Victoria.
9 KM
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Sounds In Owen Sound.
Owen Sound, Ontario
One goose was perched on top of the church roof. Another one stationed himself at the house next to it also comfortable on it’s roof. They had a perfect back and forth dialogue. Who knows what they were saying? Cracking jokes maybe? But there they were, up before everyone else. Only this solitary monk walking by (me), a police officer sitting in the cab of his car waiting just in case and a quiet fisherman hoping for prospects seemed to be stirring about in the peaceful, clean harbor of Owen Sound.
I contemplated on the words of the local pastor who came to our chanting session last evening. I was impressed to see her interest and involvement with what appeared as a “different “ religion. In her mind it’s all the same objective-getting closer to you know who? She pointed to the statue on the home shrine of our host and said to her son, “look at the Dalai Lama”.
“We do have some resemblance to Buddhism but there are some philosophical differences. That statue is the resemblance of our guru, Srila Prabhupada”. She was happy to get informed. The engagement at Owen Sound was spiritually surcharged last evening. But in the life of the spiritualist the joy never ceases. Our little drama troupe, whom devotees insist on calling Swami Productions, drove to Scraborough to join the Bangledesh community in a 24 hour chanting session. Our commitment was 2 hours only. Calluses were popping on the drummers hands, chanters strained their voices and all those who danced deposited extra sweat drenching clothes and floors.
It was another day of glory as is everyday.
8 KM
Owen Sound, Ontario
One goose was perched on top of the church roof. Another one stationed himself at the house next to it also comfortable on it’s roof. They had a perfect back and forth dialogue. Who knows what they were saying? Cracking jokes maybe? But there they were, up before everyone else. Only this solitary monk walking by (me), a police officer sitting in the cab of his car waiting just in case and a quiet fisherman hoping for prospects seemed to be stirring about in the peaceful, clean harbor of Owen Sound.
I contemplated on the words of the local pastor who came to our chanting session last evening. I was impressed to see her interest and involvement with what appeared as a “different “ religion. In her mind it’s all the same objective-getting closer to you know who? She pointed to the statue on the home shrine of our host and said to her son, “look at the Dalai Lama”.
“We do have some resemblance to Buddhism but there are some philosophical differences. That statue is the resemblance of our guru, Srila Prabhupada”. She was happy to get informed. The engagement at Owen Sound was spiritually surcharged last evening. But in the life of the spiritualist the joy never ceases. Our little drama troupe, whom devotees insist on calling Swami Productions, drove to Scraborough to join the Bangledesh community in a 24 hour chanting session. Our commitment was 2 hours only. Calluses were popping on the drummers hands, chanters strained their voices and all those who danced deposited extra sweat drenching clothes and floors.
It was another day of glory as is everyday.
8 KM
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Feel Good Event
Owen Sound, Ontario
Ruth is the mayor of Owen Sound, A small city bordered on Georgian Bay. What a charming lady she is. She and her husband take daily walks beginning at a nearby waterfall and religiously trek and trail. So her bio-sketch tells. I had no reason to doubt. I chatted with her at the Kelso Beach Shelter in the midst of her friends and my friends. We exchanged personal adventures of walking. She was present for a mini-festival.
When the Sun Times newspaper reps came they asked what the festival was all about. Rajesh Kaladia, a Krishnaite from the local area, organized the rather successful program. He wanted me to answer. Instead of grappling for an answer words flowed out even though no one thought to give the event a name.
“It’s The Feel Good Spring Festival”, I expressed rather confidently. Yes, Krishna made me say it. Turns out the journalist is a vegetarian. That became one of the main features of the Feel Good Festival-prasadam, nice veggie dishes.
Ruth enjoyed it. She spoke for a few minutes after being very gratified. Then our drama went on at the ampi-theatre, and a mantra rock kirtan, by the band Rajasi. People were dancing, they had a good time.
My dear god-brothers’, Garuda and Drupada took to walking to Rajesh’s home. The three of us joined Krishna Consciousness at around the same time and the same place-Toronto back in 72/73. Only I stayed single and took the monastic life seriously while they took to family life-seriously.
Anyway, it was dusk. A group of young people partying in the front of a residential home noticed my robes:
“Why the dress?” shouted one of the party goers.
“They are robes, I am a monk.” , I replied
“Well, it looks sexy.”, he said.
I just gave a thumbs up.
3.5 KM
Owen Sound, Ontario
Ruth is the mayor of Owen Sound, A small city bordered on Georgian Bay. What a charming lady she is. She and her husband take daily walks beginning at a nearby waterfall and religiously trek and trail. So her bio-sketch tells. I had no reason to doubt. I chatted with her at the Kelso Beach Shelter in the midst of her friends and my friends. We exchanged personal adventures of walking. She was present for a mini-festival.
When the Sun Times newspaper reps came they asked what the festival was all about. Rajesh Kaladia, a Krishnaite from the local area, organized the rather successful program. He wanted me to answer. Instead of grappling for an answer words flowed out even though no one thought to give the event a name.
“It’s The Feel Good Spring Festival”, I expressed rather confidently. Yes, Krishna made me say it. Turns out the journalist is a vegetarian. That became one of the main features of the Feel Good Festival-prasadam, nice veggie dishes.
Ruth enjoyed it. She spoke for a few minutes after being very gratified. Then our drama went on at the ampi-theatre, and a mantra rock kirtan, by the band Rajasi. People were dancing, they had a good time.
My dear god-brothers’, Garuda and Drupada took to walking to Rajesh’s home. The three of us joined Krishna Consciousness at around the same time and the same place-Toronto back in 72/73. Only I stayed single and took the monastic life seriously while they took to family life-seriously.
Anyway, it was dusk. A group of young people partying in the front of a residential home noticed my robes:
“Why the dress?” shouted one of the party goers.
“They are robes, I am a monk.” , I replied
“Well, it looks sexy.”, he said.
I just gave a thumbs up.
3.5 KM
Friday, May 21st, 2010
A Real Treat
Toronto, Ontario
So many registered. Our visiting monk from South Africa, Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami, organized a retreat and people were registering. "Retreat? No, it's not a retreat," he corrected me, "it's Prabhupada's program."
Basically he was telling me that he was simply implementing the good old fashioned Hare Krishna program and conducting a concentrated course of hearing and chanting.
I was impressed because for this first of a four day treat (cancel the word retreat then) about 60 people turned out. Women in sarees and men in dhotis and kurtas, the traditional dress code, came to participate. Some people took time off work to gain something more than just monetary gain.
Bhakti, or devotion to Krishna begins with sravanam, listening, followed by kirtanam, chanting, and that is primarily the intention of this program. One day the focus would be a marathon of eight hours of chanting known as 64 rounds or revolutions on the meditation beads. Each strand of beads has 108 beads to finger with the thumb and middle finger, the main tool for what's called japa.
The weekend would be a four day process of purification. I would not be in a position to be terribly involved due to prior devotional appointments set up. I did take a peek in Govinda's hall where most of the program is being held. Everyone was sitting nicely chanting. Inside my heart I thought, "I wish I could be inside the circle of japa chanters, but I can't sit for very long."
You see, I have a condition. It's called itchy feet.
9 KM
Toronto, Ontario
So many registered. Our visiting monk from South Africa, Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami, organized a retreat and people were registering. "Retreat? No, it's not a retreat," he corrected me, "it's Prabhupada's program."
Basically he was telling me that he was simply implementing the good old fashioned Hare Krishna program and conducting a concentrated course of hearing and chanting.
I was impressed because for this first of a four day treat (cancel the word retreat then) about 60 people turned out. Women in sarees and men in dhotis and kurtas, the traditional dress code, came to participate. Some people took time off work to gain something more than just monetary gain.
Bhakti, or devotion to Krishna begins with sravanam, listening, followed by kirtanam, chanting, and that is primarily the intention of this program. One day the focus would be a marathon of eight hours of chanting known as 64 rounds or revolutions on the meditation beads. Each strand of beads has 108 beads to finger with the thumb and middle finger, the main tool for what's called japa.
The weekend would be a four day process of purification. I would not be in a position to be terribly involved due to prior devotional appointments set up. I did take a peek in Govinda's hall where most of the program is being held. Everyone was sitting nicely chanting. Inside my heart I thought, "I wish I could be inside the circle of japa chanters, but I can't sit for very long."
You see, I have a condition. It's called itchy feet.
9 KM
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Rivers & Parks
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Daruka, Doug and I took more than a stroll along the Assiniboine River and its juncture with Red River. This place is called the Forks where the two rivers meet and for hundreds of years the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes met here for trading goods. How things have changed since those times! you have to imagine how everything had its natural green growth. Now, thanks to the city, a great effort has been put out to revive the waterfront with decent trails smartly marked with interspersed quarry stone from the area. It's all a mix of manicured and wild nature pleasant to walk through. They have created trails of mental peace.
Interesting is a huge constellation dial in a depressed portion of earth. There on the side of this structured wall is imprinted the story of Vamana, a form of Vishnu, who as a dwarf was offered in charity from the demon-king, Bali, three steps of land covering heaven, earth and finally the last step, the head of Bali. This meant Bali's surrender.
There are three engraved images rendered so artistically and set into the brick. Just seeing that became an inspiration for further walking along the Red River.
Again, nice job done on the river parkland. One observation is that although pretty, parks in most places appear to be underused. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, made a remark about that; a rat burrows a hole and the snake comes to live in it. A city designs a park and sadhus (mendicants) come to walk there.
5 KM
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Daruka, Doug and I took more than a stroll along the Assiniboine River and its juncture with Red River. This place is called the Forks where the two rivers meet and for hundreds of years the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes met here for trading goods. How things have changed since those times! you have to imagine how everything had its natural green growth. Now, thanks to the city, a great effort has been put out to revive the waterfront with decent trails smartly marked with interspersed quarry stone from the area. It's all a mix of manicured and wild nature pleasant to walk through. They have created trails of mental peace.
Interesting is a huge constellation dial in a depressed portion of earth. There on the side of this structured wall is imprinted the story of Vamana, a form of Vishnu, who as a dwarf was offered in charity from the demon-king, Bali, three steps of land covering heaven, earth and finally the last step, the head of Bali. This meant Bali's surrender.
There are three engraved images rendered so artistically and set into the brick. Just seeing that became an inspiration for further walking along the Red River.
Again, nice job done on the river parkland. One observation is that although pretty, parks in most places appear to be underused. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, made a remark about that; a rat burrows a hole and the snake comes to live in it. A city designs a park and sadhus (mendicants) come to walk there.
5 KM
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Good Press
Winnipeg Manitoba
It excites me when I see Krishna devotees mentioned in the news. For example, some of our monks and lay members were declared 'heroes of the week' in Vancouver for the distribution of that good ol' prasadam (blessed veggies) on television.
I also snipped out of the Chronicle Journal newpaper from Thunder Bay an article highlighting its Yoga fest and our showing of the play "Lonely People". And when I arrived here at Winnipeg, Vrinda, the stalwart guardian of our vibrant and quaint centre, handed me on of the more recent editions of The New Wine Press Collection, a publication for the Catholic Winnipeg Archdiocese, which focused on an Interfaith program. At that event I was the honoured guest speaker giving a presentation on the traditional nine devotional paths. I recall after the event was over how listeners appreciated the universality of or Vedic culture.
Lo and behold the media struck Krishna once again (gently) when CNN announced the list of the most successful people who made it big after 50. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, came #7. It was around his birthday at 69 when he came penniless to America off the Jaladuta boat and started what was to be a fledgling society of Krishna monastics and married folks.
It was all good news.
7 KM
Winnipeg Manitoba
It excites me when I see Krishna devotees mentioned in the news. For example, some of our monks and lay members were declared 'heroes of the week' in Vancouver for the distribution of that good ol' prasadam (blessed veggies) on television.
I also snipped out of the Chronicle Journal newpaper from Thunder Bay an article highlighting its Yoga fest and our showing of the play "Lonely People". And when I arrived here at Winnipeg, Vrinda, the stalwart guardian of our vibrant and quaint centre, handed me on of the more recent editions of The New Wine Press Collection, a publication for the Catholic Winnipeg Archdiocese, which focused on an Interfaith program. At that event I was the honoured guest speaker giving a presentation on the traditional nine devotional paths. I recall after the event was over how listeners appreciated the universality of or Vedic culture.
Lo and behold the media struck Krishna once again (gently) when CNN announced the list of the most successful people who made it big after 50. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, came #7. It was around his birthday at 69 when he came penniless to America off the Jaladuta boat and started what was to be a fledgling society of Krishna monastics and married folks.
It was all good news.
7 KM
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Quite Amazed!
Narcisse, Manitoba
Today I took to some priestly duties and some that might be regarded as more secular. It’s a matter of opinion, I suppose. Any activity can be transcendentalized even if appearing mundane depending on the intent behind it.
I had covered a good 7 kilometers in the morning on foot in northwestern Ontario before a flight to Manitoba. The walking is always a combined physical and spiritual activity. You walk and chant simultaneously. You exercise and keep from rusting the machinery in order to continue the devotional services for humanity.
Perhaps questionable was the mid-day drive to Narcisse, Manitoba, a place I ventured to last year at this time. What would a swami have to do with a pit of snakes and a trip to the vicinity of the home of 70,000 red-sided garter snakes? Well, let’s say it was a bit selfish. I know internally my wonder about the Creator’s ways became enhanced. To see hundreds upon hundreds of these creatures clustered about dancing with one another slithering in happy entanglement is an awesome sight to see as this place is recognized as the world’s largest convergence of these reptiles in the world. It’s not a zoo here but a natural habitat of a combined four dens that sees an exodus of snake migration after a winter’s hibernation when mating and feeding time begins. During migration neighbors have fumed. Imagine finding a snake in your bed? That has happened. One person found one in the toaster. I was wowed to see this play of nature. My amazement at what He does was indeed enhanced.
In the evening it was a visit to the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg to see a newborn baby and parents. The child was struggling to survive and Mom was assisted with a caesarean cut with a blood transfusion to follow. The concerned father, who was next to his wife with their first child is hopeful and optimistic about everything and the modified blessing ceremony we conducted in the intensive care unit was just what the parents wanted.
Before nightfall a similar home blessing mainly comprised of mantra power also got squeezed in at the apartment of a member of the Winnipeg community. Hare Krishna!
10 KM
Narcisse, Manitoba
Today I took to some priestly duties and some that might be regarded as more secular. It’s a matter of opinion, I suppose. Any activity can be transcendentalized even if appearing mundane depending on the intent behind it.
I had covered a good 7 kilometers in the morning on foot in northwestern Ontario before a flight to Manitoba. The walking is always a combined physical and spiritual activity. You walk and chant simultaneously. You exercise and keep from rusting the machinery in order to continue the devotional services for humanity.
Perhaps questionable was the mid-day drive to Narcisse, Manitoba, a place I ventured to last year at this time. What would a swami have to do with a pit of snakes and a trip to the vicinity of the home of 70,000 red-sided garter snakes? Well, let’s say it was a bit selfish. I know internally my wonder about the Creator’s ways became enhanced. To see hundreds upon hundreds of these creatures clustered about dancing with one another slithering in happy entanglement is an awesome sight to see as this place is recognized as the world’s largest convergence of these reptiles in the world. It’s not a zoo here but a natural habitat of a combined four dens that sees an exodus of snake migration after a winter’s hibernation when mating and feeding time begins. During migration neighbors have fumed. Imagine finding a snake in your bed? That has happened. One person found one in the toaster. I was wowed to see this play of nature. My amazement at what He does was indeed enhanced.
In the evening it was a visit to the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg to see a newborn baby and parents. The child was struggling to survive and Mom was assisted with a caesarean cut with a blood transfusion to follow. The concerned father, who was next to his wife with their first child is hopeful and optimistic about everything and the modified blessing ceremony we conducted in the intensive care unit was just what the parents wanted.
Before nightfall a similar home blessing mainly comprised of mantra power also got squeezed in at the apartment of a member of the Winnipeg community. Hare Krishna!
10 KM
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Monday, May 17th, 2010
What’s Not Sacred?
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Daruka, my former cross Canada support person, joined me for the morning trek around Boulevard Lake. This is not a sacred pool of water or place of pilgrimage such as Vrindavan where Krishna roamed, played and touched every square inch of space. It is a pool of water thousands of miles from India which was dammed to produce electricity over a century ago and ultimately spills into Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes in Canada.
In Vrindavan, pilgrims circumambulate a temple before entering. In many cases such foot pilgrims take to parikrama marg, the footpath that encircles the entire town. Either that or it is common practice to circle around the tomb of a saint or the sacred Tulasi plant. That is the tradition of revering an object or grounds that are sacred.
Daruka and I are not in India but we had taken to mobilizing ourselves going clockwise around this lake. It is not the Radha Kunda or Shyama Kunda of Vrindavan, two sacred ponds in that district. The two of us must reconcile this dilemma and authenticize our action. Here are my thoughts on this which I have mentioned before:
We have to insist that the lake before us is also sacred. What qualifies it as such is simply that it’s the energy or the product of God. That’s all! This is not to marginalize the well established sacredness of a place like Vrindavan but rather to capitalize on the sacred potency of all that is around us.
6 KM
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Daruka, my former cross Canada support person, joined me for the morning trek around Boulevard Lake. This is not a sacred pool of water or place of pilgrimage such as Vrindavan where Krishna roamed, played and touched every square inch of space. It is a pool of water thousands of miles from India which was dammed to produce electricity over a century ago and ultimately spills into Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes in Canada.
In Vrindavan, pilgrims circumambulate a temple before entering. In many cases such foot pilgrims take to parikrama marg, the footpath that encircles the entire town. Either that or it is common practice to circle around the tomb of a saint or the sacred Tulasi plant. That is the tradition of revering an object or grounds that are sacred.
Daruka and I are not in India but we had taken to mobilizing ourselves going clockwise around this lake. It is not the Radha Kunda or Shyama Kunda of Vrindavan, two sacred ponds in that district. The two of us must reconcile this dilemma and authenticize our action. Here are my thoughts on this which I have mentioned before:
We have to insist that the lake before us is also sacred. What qualifies it as such is simply that it’s the energy or the product of God. That’s all! This is not to marginalize the well established sacredness of a place like Vrindavan but rather to capitalize on the sacred potency of all that is around us.
6 KM
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