Reflect/Review
New Orleans, Louisiana
We have completed our pilgrimage to New Orleans, to the ISKCON Centre on Esplanade Ave and the Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) at Washington Square Park.
I asked the boys accompanying me for an assessment on our trip as we stopped over in Cleveland. Dhruva, Yogendra and Sing Lung gave their contributions while Nitai Priya stayed on in New Orleans for additional days.
Dhruva offered to say: "We were bumped off of the stage schedule to do our drama. We could have been upset but we saw it as an opportunity to do some other service. We went for public chanting."
Yogendra offered to say: "I made some mistakes in not getting the directions so firmly so our driving took so much time. I felt bad, guilty but guilt isn't always bad. It's part of being humble."
Sing Lung offered to say: "Wherever and whenever I go to temples and festivals I witness a genuine interest to serve and take care of others."
Dhruva offered to say: "We arrived late at the hotel to deliver prasadam (food) to other visiting devotees. They were not in the least bit disturbed, but grateful. That impressed me."
Yogendra offered to say: "Bhaktimarga Swami initiated this slow motion exercise. I learned that it takes a great amount of control and focus. It was good."
Sing Lung offered to say: "The weekend provided nice family feelings. Bhakti yoga is where I belong."
Dhruva offered to say: "When we were chanting on the streets we were giving people an alternative way to approach life. Was all the booze they were consuming really giving them happiness."
My remark: "I've always found it helpful to do a summary review on such programs. Such reflection is enriching to one's spiritual life."
Second remark: "I regret to say that I was restricted from walking. Storms rerouted our plane to Pittsburgh from Cleveland. We spent the whole evening making our way back home. We did everything but canoe and walk back to Toronto."
0 KM
B L O G S P O T
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Sunday, November 13th, 2011
A Small Endeavour Pays Off
New Orleans, Louisiana
Actually local people pronounce the name of this City of Love as "N'awlins" I stood to be corrected on my southern drawl version of it. Once again our little drama troupe took to the streets, N. Peter's and others and what to speak of Bourbon. Some people were telling us that the chanting is really needed on that street.
N'awlins really does pride itself in its music, partying and the certain flavour of voodoo culture they speak about.
We were fortunate to present our play "The Jagannatha Story" at Day Two of the Chariot Festival. Well received. It was fabulous bonding with peers like T.K., Nirantara - both from L.A. - and monk Bhakti Caru Swami from India. He in particular is always a real gentleman with me.
To say a small mention of this - behaviour is almost everything. The way one acts or treats others is the fruition of real culture, of training and of assimilating the true understanding of things.
I would also like to express appreciation to a godbrother, Visvakarma, from Canada. It was he who, as servant-leader of our temple/ashram in Toronto, took the time to help a new immigrant to Canada in the 70's. Mr. Ashok Patel called me on the phone expressing his thanks for being made to feel at home while so far away from his motherland, India. Ashok, who owns and runs the Hotel (yes, a Patel Hotel) where we are staying as guests. He has flourished with life's prosperities, while not excluding his devotion to Krishna. Because of Visvakarma's kindness thirty-plus years ago, Ashok has hung in there with us for all this time.
Please refer to chapter two, verse forty of the Gita for inspiration along this line.
6 KM
New Orleans, Louisiana
Actually local people pronounce the name of this City of Love as "N'awlins" I stood to be corrected on my southern drawl version of it. Once again our little drama troupe took to the streets, N. Peter's and others and what to speak of Bourbon. Some people were telling us that the chanting is really needed on that street.
N'awlins really does pride itself in its music, partying and the certain flavour of voodoo culture they speak about.
We were fortunate to present our play "The Jagannatha Story" at Day Two of the Chariot Festival. Well received. It was fabulous bonding with peers like T.K., Nirantara - both from L.A. - and monk Bhakti Caru Swami from India. He in particular is always a real gentleman with me.
To say a small mention of this - behaviour is almost everything. The way one acts or treats others is the fruition of real culture, of training and of assimilating the true understanding of things.
I would also like to express appreciation to a godbrother, Visvakarma, from Canada. It was he who, as servant-leader of our temple/ashram in Toronto, took the time to help a new immigrant to Canada in the 70's. Mr. Ashok Patel called me on the phone expressing his thanks for being made to feel at home while so far away from his motherland, India. Ashok, who owns and runs the Hotel (yes, a Patel Hotel) where we are staying as guests. He has flourished with life's prosperities, while not excluding his devotion to Krishna. Because of Visvakarma's kindness thirty-plus years ago, Ashok has hung in there with us for all this time.
Please refer to chapter two, verse forty of the Gita for inspiration along this line.
6 KM
Monday, 14 November 2011
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
A different Sound in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Canal and N. Peters were the streets where the Festival of Chariots took place. It's a procession, so naturally walking is incorporated into it. The public locals and tourists, responded so well. As usual, as time progresses, participation swells.
Our rendez-vous point was at Washington Square Park. There, a great feast was served for all, exhibits and a stage show were high-lighted. Unfortunately a few items including our drama got transcendentally bumped-off the schedule as the colorful carriot and procession arrived late at the spot and a group of professional singers were needing their time to perform.
Our drama troupe decided to tunr what could have been a negative into a positive by wearing their costumes while chanting in the streets of the French Quarter, as an event in itself. Based on the success of the previous night we felt it was a win-win situation. Our group was talented and chipper enough to not feel wasted by engaging in the ultimate beneficial service through the spiritual feel good event of Hari Nama chanting. We only needed to be cautious near the mule and horses drawing the carriages. They respond wildly to the hand cymbals.
In the French Quarter merchants and shoppers demonstrated participation through dance. When we diverted to one street we accidentally bumped into a Jewish wedding procession. Our drums blended into their horns and so it went for several blocks.
The chanting on this Sabbath evening will remain memorable for all those in the fire of singing and body movement. It's this chanting that takes centre stage to everything else including rituals and even eating the spiritual food. It is inclusive, joyful and rests on the bosom of Vedic wisdom. Yes, the king of knowledge is expressed in this most exuberant way,
12 Km
New Orleans, Louisiana
Canal and N. Peters were the streets where the Festival of Chariots took place. It's a procession, so naturally walking is incorporated into it. The public locals and tourists, responded so well. As usual, as time progresses, participation swells.
Our rendez-vous point was at Washington Square Park. There, a great feast was served for all, exhibits and a stage show were high-lighted. Unfortunately a few items including our drama got transcendentally bumped-off the schedule as the colorful carriot and procession arrived late at the spot and a group of professional singers were needing their time to perform.
Our drama troupe decided to tunr what could have been a negative into a positive by wearing their costumes while chanting in the streets of the French Quarter, as an event in itself. Based on the success of the previous night we felt it was a win-win situation. Our group was talented and chipper enough to not feel wasted by engaging in the ultimate beneficial service through the spiritual feel good event of Hari Nama chanting. We only needed to be cautious near the mule and horses drawing the carriages. They respond wildly to the hand cymbals.
In the French Quarter merchants and shoppers demonstrated participation through dance. When we diverted to one street we accidentally bumped into a Jewish wedding procession. Our drums blended into their horns and so it went for several blocks.
The chanting on this Sabbath evening will remain memorable for all those in the fire of singing and body movement. It's this chanting that takes centre stage to everything else including rituals and even eating the spiritual food. It is inclusive, joyful and rests on the bosom of Vedic wisdom. Yes, the king of knowledge is expressed in this most exuberant way,
12 Km
Friday, November 11th, 2011
JAZZANATHA!
New Orleans, Louisiana
Our small drama troupe was invited to New Orleans for their third annual Ratha Yatra. Travelling with me via air from Buffalo with stop-over in Cleveland was Dhruva and Yogendra, our two Nova Scotian monks, Sing Lung Wong, who is a lay member from our Toronto community and Nitai Priya, the receptionist at our temple.
The air was fresh after exiting from Louis Armstrong Airport. It was cooler than us Canucks had anticipated. We were treated to the local temple prasadam (sanctified food) and then set out for walking the French Quarter.
New Orleans is certainly a music town. You hear brass music in and outside venues. Brass and beer are the features of this birthplace of jazz and various forms of blues. It came to mind that jazz is really an expression of emotions rendered artistically. We say in Vaishnava (devotee) circles that Jagannath (a name of Krishna) is the master of the universe. Could we stretch it to say that God is the source of all sentiments and emotions and therefore we could call him Jazzanath?
It was a thought.
It became evident to me that our tiny group of pilgrim tourists had musical abilities. With no determined or scheduled service outside of the morning talk from the Gita, we decided to drive back to the temple to pick up mridanga drums. Our two Scotia monks went to N Peters Street and we, with our vocals and tambourine, played and sang up a storm. People were so warmed up to it. It convinced me that the sankirtana (collective chanting) is well-received in this city that breaths out music. 24/7.
New Orleans, we love you...
Another thought came to mind as devotees of Krishna we never need to feel that sight-seeing is complete in itself, unless of course, we're speaking about tirthas (sacred places). We always have something to contribute wherever we are. We pick up some instruments and sit down somewhere and project out devotional songs.
10 Km
New Orleans, Louisiana
Our small drama troupe was invited to New Orleans for their third annual Ratha Yatra. Travelling with me via air from Buffalo with stop-over in Cleveland was Dhruva and Yogendra, our two Nova Scotian monks, Sing Lung Wong, who is a lay member from our Toronto community and Nitai Priya, the receptionist at our temple.
The air was fresh after exiting from Louis Armstrong Airport. It was cooler than us Canucks had anticipated. We were treated to the local temple prasadam (sanctified food) and then set out for walking the French Quarter.
New Orleans is certainly a music town. You hear brass music in and outside venues. Brass and beer are the features of this birthplace of jazz and various forms of blues. It came to mind that jazz is really an expression of emotions rendered artistically. We say in Vaishnava (devotee) circles that Jagannath (a name of Krishna) is the master of the universe. Could we stretch it to say that God is the source of all sentiments and emotions and therefore we could call him Jazzanath?
It was a thought.
It became evident to me that our tiny group of pilgrim tourists had musical abilities. With no determined or scheduled service outside of the morning talk from the Gita, we decided to drive back to the temple to pick up mridanga drums. Our two Scotia monks went to N Peters Street and we, with our vocals and tambourine, played and sang up a storm. People were so warmed up to it. It convinced me that the sankirtana (collective chanting) is well-received in this city that breaths out music. 24/7.
New Orleans, we love you...
Another thought came to mind as devotees of Krishna we never need to feel that sight-seeing is complete in itself, unless of course, we're speaking about tirthas (sacred places). We always have something to contribute wherever we are. We pick up some instruments and sit down somewhere and project out devotional songs.
10 Km
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
In The Course of A Day
Fort Erie, Ontario
In the course of a day there are situations to be happy about and to be grave about. Sadness should never fit into the picture.
I was glad to read about the vegetarian campaign going on at the U of Toronto. Posters read, "Why Love One and Kill Another?" with images of a puppy dog on one side and a piglet on the other. That's progressive thinking.
I was indeed feeling warm about this day being the Rasa Yatra of Krishna. His dalliance with the cowherd maidens is a celebration of the heart for devotees world-wide as is the anniversary of the marriage of two divinities, Tulsi and Salagram.
It's the full moon and you could visibly see it as serious clouds had passed by over Erie, one of the Great Lakes, where I'm accommodated with four actor devotees. Swans graced the sky and waves rippled against the beach where we tread.
My thoughts shifted to greater gravity when our conversation with Pundarik and Murli, our hosts, moved in the direction of a war between Canada and the U.S. two centuries ago. The old garrison, Fort Erie, is right near us.
I Became more pensive when I heard someone express dissatisfaction at another's service when in my mind I felt the performance was fine. Who's perception and who then is wrong? Such dualities of mind can be puzzling. You should always give the benefit of the doubt to someone and yet it might not always be stepping into the truth.
The beach is the place to deliberate. In the end the only reconciliation over such matters is determined by Divine Intelligence.
5 Km
Fort Erie, Ontario
In the course of a day there are situations to be happy about and to be grave about. Sadness should never fit into the picture.
I was glad to read about the vegetarian campaign going on at the U of Toronto. Posters read, "Why Love One and Kill Another?" with images of a puppy dog on one side and a piglet on the other. That's progressive thinking.
I was indeed feeling warm about this day being the Rasa Yatra of Krishna. His dalliance with the cowherd maidens is a celebration of the heart for devotees world-wide as is the anniversary of the marriage of two divinities, Tulsi and Salagram.
It's the full moon and you could visibly see it as serious clouds had passed by over Erie, one of the Great Lakes, where I'm accommodated with four actor devotees. Swans graced the sky and waves rippled against the beach where we tread.
My thoughts shifted to greater gravity when our conversation with Pundarik and Murli, our hosts, moved in the direction of a war between Canada and the U.S. two centuries ago. The old garrison, Fort Erie, is right near us.
I Became more pensive when I heard someone express dissatisfaction at another's service when in my mind I felt the performance was fine. Who's perception and who then is wrong? Such dualities of mind can be puzzling. You should always give the benefit of the doubt to someone and yet it might not always be stepping into the truth.
The beach is the place to deliberate. In the end the only reconciliation over such matters is determined by Divine Intelligence.
5 Km
Friday, 11 November 2011
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
Conquest for Satisfaction
Toronto, Ontario
I had the great privilege to cook breakfast, give a class on conquering God with love (bhakti) and then taking conquest over our drama and costume room. Years of stuff has been accumulated in the way of clothing, props, and whatever knick knacks and tools are related to productions of Krishna Conscious theatre.
I get requests all the time for scripts, background sound tracks, costumes to borrow and how to start a drama troupe for dummies. Assembling plays is a very big part of my life when you consider I keep going to all continents with productions. With theatre I feel practically the same adrenaline driven power in me as in the walking. I never seem to do enough of both.
Anyways I see these two forms of seva (service) as my offering to our guru, Srila Prabhupada. Both provide me with mercy or blessings. Both are very therapeutic.
Everyone of us has an illness, a serious disease. We are in the bodily concept of life, overwhelmed by ego and deeply infected by three gunas (modes of nature) as explained in the Gita. Fortunately there are cures, with one of the most important ones being, whatever you have as a gift, a skill, a propensity, use it in the higher service to God. Do not horde it for yourself. Engage your abilities and intelligence for that higher cause and become satisfied. Who isn't looking for satisfaction?
Since the dawn of man that has been our inclination- to be satisfied. I passed my day straightening-out and cleaning that drama room leaving no time for walking but I was content. I'm sure that I'm a far cry from conquering God.
0 Km
Toronto, Ontario
I had the great privilege to cook breakfast, give a class on conquering God with love (bhakti) and then taking conquest over our drama and costume room. Years of stuff has been accumulated in the way of clothing, props, and whatever knick knacks and tools are related to productions of Krishna Conscious theatre.
I get requests all the time for scripts, background sound tracks, costumes to borrow and how to start a drama troupe for dummies. Assembling plays is a very big part of my life when you consider I keep going to all continents with productions. With theatre I feel practically the same adrenaline driven power in me as in the walking. I never seem to do enough of both.
Anyways I see these two forms of seva (service) as my offering to our guru, Srila Prabhupada. Both provide me with mercy or blessings. Both are very therapeutic.
Everyone of us has an illness, a serious disease. We are in the bodily concept of life, overwhelmed by ego and deeply infected by three gunas (modes of nature) as explained in the Gita. Fortunately there are cures, with one of the most important ones being, whatever you have as a gift, a skill, a propensity, use it in the higher service to God. Do not horde it for yourself. Engage your abilities and intelligence for that higher cause and become satisfied. Who isn't looking for satisfaction?
Since the dawn of man that has been our inclination- to be satisfied. I passed my day straightening-out and cleaning that drama room leaving no time for walking but I was content. I'm sure that I'm a far cry from conquering God.
0 Km
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
I Took A Break
Toronto, Ontario
I took a break from administrative duties to walk one of our brahmacaris (monks), Yogendra, to a spot for his meeting people on Bloor St. to interest them in books on spirituality. Upon arriving at the corner of Spadina, a chap came forward, drawn by the robes, and took interest. I proceeded back to the ashram. Not but one block away a couple of young women were raising awareness towards an organization called "Because I Am A Girl." It raises funds for women who need assistance particularly in areas of the world where attention is lacking. I was approached by one of the women. With her index finger in the air she indicated with a kind voice, "Just one minute!" So I stopped and listened. Her black binder with hot-pink writing entitled "Because I Am A Girl" sparked a question in my mind.
"What about the boys?" I asked in the least challenging tone. I added that women are treated quite second rate in developing countries. I mentioned to her that I see that in my travels. In the developed world, however, it is somewhat reversed. My opinion is at least in Canada most large-sized bill board images are of women. Men are usually the butt of jokes, legally they are at a disadvantage, and when it comes to decision making within a couple, the woman usually has the last say. The girl seemed to agree with what I said.
My plea with her was that I wish we could balance matters fairly. "That would be a perfect situation don't you think?"
She was gracious as a listener and I invited her to our temple dining room where we have fabulous vegetarian meals. After the dialogue I took off by foot-power to destinations; the ashram and Govindas Dining Hall.
I believe it always pays off to have a balanced diet in eating and in attitude. Extremes create indigestion.
10 KM
Toronto, Ontario
I took a break from administrative duties to walk one of our brahmacaris (monks), Yogendra, to a spot for his meeting people on Bloor St. to interest them in books on spirituality. Upon arriving at the corner of Spadina, a chap came forward, drawn by the robes, and took interest. I proceeded back to the ashram. Not but one block away a couple of young women were raising awareness towards an organization called "Because I Am A Girl." It raises funds for women who need assistance particularly in areas of the world where attention is lacking. I was approached by one of the women. With her index finger in the air she indicated with a kind voice, "Just one minute!" So I stopped and listened. Her black binder with hot-pink writing entitled "Because I Am A Girl" sparked a question in my mind.
"What about the boys?" I asked in the least challenging tone. I added that women are treated quite second rate in developing countries. I mentioned to her that I see that in my travels. In the developed world, however, it is somewhat reversed. My opinion is at least in Canada most large-sized bill board images are of women. Men are usually the butt of jokes, legally they are at a disadvantage, and when it comes to decision making within a couple, the woman usually has the last say. The girl seemed to agree with what I said.
My plea with her was that I wish we could balance matters fairly. "That would be a perfect situation don't you think?"
She was gracious as a listener and I invited her to our temple dining room where we have fabulous vegetarian meals. After the dialogue I took off by foot-power to destinations; the ashram and Govindas Dining Hall.
I believe it always pays off to have a balanced diet in eating and in attitude. Extremes create indigestion.
10 KM
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Monday, November 7th, 2011
How Things Fall
Toronto, Ontario
I trekked with Praveen down my favourite path east of Mount Pleasant Road along with the Brickworks and through the Rosedale residential area. Being autumn, leaves make a sail downward. Some make a longer journey than others, coming from more lofty positions. All hardwoods participate in this discharge, sending varying designs of leaves in a straight descent or a twirl. The landing is a soft one and makes hardly a sound. I am reminded of the eternal debate of the soul's fall to this material world. Did the soul fall from a spiritual planet or a spirutal sky? Did the soul even fall in the first place or was it automatically a component of existence? There are various allegiances to these philosophical theories about the soul's origins, but one thing is for sure, our consciousness is low and usually in the gutter. We should seek eleveation, a raising of our consciousness. It is generally implied that one should look within and ultimately go upward. By practice in devotion to Krishna it "brings one into spiriutal life even while one is within the jurisdiction of matter for it is an arousing of spirutal existence by practice in the material world," as Srila Prabhupada puts it.
I have another imagery I would like to share about things falling in relation to a spontaneous occurrence. It was unrehearsed. Nursing students arrived from George Brown college. I delivered a presentation about life as a monk. I engaged the students in listening, chanting and even involving them in a ritual. After they arrived we gave each a handful of flower petals to hold. After reciting mantras we asked them to trow them at the footprints of our guru's murti (statue). Now that they were trained up by the time the presentation was completed, the students were handed another batch of some petals.
I asked Kathryn, their teacher, to come forward (she didn't know it was coming to her). After reciting mantras we flung those petals in the air and in her direction. She was surprised and on behalf of the students she was honoured.
It was a little gimmick that worked and contributed to making 'their visit very rich; said Kathryn herself.
7 Km
Toronto, Ontario
I trekked with Praveen down my favourite path east of Mount Pleasant Road along with the Brickworks and through the Rosedale residential area. Being autumn, leaves make a sail downward. Some make a longer journey than others, coming from more lofty positions. All hardwoods participate in this discharge, sending varying designs of leaves in a straight descent or a twirl. The landing is a soft one and makes hardly a sound. I am reminded of the eternal debate of the soul's fall to this material world. Did the soul fall from a spiritual planet or a spirutal sky? Did the soul even fall in the first place or was it automatically a component of existence? There are various allegiances to these philosophical theories about the soul's origins, but one thing is for sure, our consciousness is low and usually in the gutter. We should seek eleveation, a raising of our consciousness. It is generally implied that one should look within and ultimately go upward. By practice in devotion to Krishna it "brings one into spiriutal life even while one is within the jurisdiction of matter for it is an arousing of spirutal existence by practice in the material world," as Srila Prabhupada puts it.
I have another imagery I would like to share about things falling in relation to a spontaneous occurrence. It was unrehearsed. Nursing students arrived from George Brown college. I delivered a presentation about life as a monk. I engaged the students in listening, chanting and even involving them in a ritual. After they arrived we gave each a handful of flower petals to hold. After reciting mantras we asked them to trow them at the footprints of our guru's murti (statue). Now that they were trained up by the time the presentation was completed, the students were handed another batch of some petals.
I asked Kathryn, their teacher, to come forward (she didn't know it was coming to her). After reciting mantras we flung those petals in the air and in her direction. She was surprised and on behalf of the students she was honoured.
It was a little gimmick that worked and contributed to making 'their visit very rich; said Kathryn herself.
7 Km
Monday, 7 November 2011
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
People Know Sam
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Everyone in Wasaga seems to know Sam. The manager at the local hotel, the gas station attendant, people at the beach and even I know Sam, for that matter.
Sam runs a boxing studio near the beach in this modest size city of 16,000. He was as a young adolescent growing in Fiji a body builder and got in rigorous training for all of his growing years. Something that paid off. "It kept me out of trouble" he once told me. At 69 he still teaches boxing and he doesn't look his age.
On the wall at his studio on Dunkerron Street. He has his students commit to reciting the tagged on quotes from the Gita- quotes that emulate the qualities of a priestly warrior.
"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness, heroism, power, determination, resourceful, courageous, generous and ability to lead."
Beyond reciting the above the students hear from Sam about curbing fowl language, smoking, and drinking. Sam gets real happy when he sees their commitment and the transformation. Sam himself is a staunch applicant of not only martial arts but of bhakti yoga, the lifestyle of surrender to Krishna. He has a large mural of Krishna and his brother Balaram engaged in stick fighting and a second one with Krishna fist-fighting the notorious opponent Kamsa.
I've known Sam since the seventies when he became a student of bhakti yoga master, Srila Prabhupada. It was good to see him and his wife, Bhismaka, who was the guru's cook in the last months before he passed away. I enjoyed the invigorating walk with Sam aka Vishnu Tattva on the beach which goes on forever, so it seems.
It was a snap decision in the late morning to drive up to Georgian Bay to see them after delivering a talk on the topic of "balance." Sam, by the way, leads that perfect balanced life of levelling spirit and material.
8 KM
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Everyone in Wasaga seems to know Sam. The manager at the local hotel, the gas station attendant, people at the beach and even I know Sam, for that matter.
Sam runs a boxing studio near the beach in this modest size city of 16,000. He was as a young adolescent growing in Fiji a body builder and got in rigorous training for all of his growing years. Something that paid off. "It kept me out of trouble" he once told me. At 69 he still teaches boxing and he doesn't look his age.
On the wall at his studio on Dunkerron Street. He has his students commit to reciting the tagged on quotes from the Gita- quotes that emulate the qualities of a priestly warrior.
"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness, heroism, power, determination, resourceful, courageous, generous and ability to lead."
Beyond reciting the above the students hear from Sam about curbing fowl language, smoking, and drinking. Sam gets real happy when he sees their commitment and the transformation. Sam himself is a staunch applicant of not only martial arts but of bhakti yoga, the lifestyle of surrender to Krishna. He has a large mural of Krishna and his brother Balaram engaged in stick fighting and a second one with Krishna fist-fighting the notorious opponent Kamsa.
I've known Sam since the seventies when he became a student of bhakti yoga master, Srila Prabhupada. It was good to see him and his wife, Bhismaka, who was the guru's cook in the last months before he passed away. I enjoyed the invigorating walk with Sam aka Vishnu Tattva on the beach which goes on forever, so it seems.
It was a snap decision in the late morning to drive up to Georgian Bay to see them after delivering a talk on the topic of "balance." Sam, by the way, leads that perfect balanced life of levelling spirit and material.
8 KM
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Attitudes Changed
Markham, Ontario
"Holy Cow!" remarked the guy as he passed by. It confirmed for me that the North Americans can be rather extro-verted and uninhibited about expressing something when they see something different, namely me, a monk.
I've been called "Love Guru", "Grasshopper" (a martial arts character) and numerous other things by passersby, mostly compliments, from people on the street. It's mostly young people who volunteer names. When travelling the world you find most people to be reserved although it doesn't mean there isn't judgemental thoughts milling through people's minds.
Opinions have changed over the years with subsequent remarks so I've seen since I was a young brahmacari who joined the order in the spring of '73. We, the Hare Krishnas, were a curiosity at that time, a residual spill-over from the liberal sixties. By the mid-seventies we were viewed with suspicion by the public, mainly hyped by the media. The Ontario government commissioned an inquiry in the early eighties into surging faiths, (cults as we were called then) and with the Dan Nill Report groups like us became more or less liberated from sinister opinion. With so many immigrants coming into Canada, a feel for multi-culturalism and a firm alliance with the Hindu community we succeeded in gaining acceptance from the public.
It was no longer "cool" to call someone a cult member just because he/she belonged to a minority. The world was shaping into a mosaic form and we, the Hare Krishnas, were part of it. I recall battles involving the Human Rights. We were perceived as antagonists, but those were truly just not well informed people.
As of late people have become more cautions about what they say and if they speak spontaneously it is with enhanced respect. Malicious remarks have been on the decline since I've hit the streets. It's a kind of victory over unhealthy prejudices.
In Markham a community which epitomizes multi-culturalism, I attended a home program, a sat-sang, where everyone feels more or less in a safe environment. Of course the highlight feature was the kirtan, chanting.
10 Km
Markham, Ontario
"Holy Cow!" remarked the guy as he passed by. It confirmed for me that the North Americans can be rather extro-verted and uninhibited about expressing something when they see something different, namely me, a monk.
I've been called "Love Guru", "Grasshopper" (a martial arts character) and numerous other things by passersby, mostly compliments, from people on the street. It's mostly young people who volunteer names. When travelling the world you find most people to be reserved although it doesn't mean there isn't judgemental thoughts milling through people's minds.
Opinions have changed over the years with subsequent remarks so I've seen since I was a young brahmacari who joined the order in the spring of '73. We, the Hare Krishnas, were a curiosity at that time, a residual spill-over from the liberal sixties. By the mid-seventies we were viewed with suspicion by the public, mainly hyped by the media. The Ontario government commissioned an inquiry in the early eighties into surging faiths, (cults as we were called then) and with the Dan Nill Report groups like us became more or less liberated from sinister opinion. With so many immigrants coming into Canada, a feel for multi-culturalism and a firm alliance with the Hindu community we succeeded in gaining acceptance from the public.
It was no longer "cool" to call someone a cult member just because he/she belonged to a minority. The world was shaping into a mosaic form and we, the Hare Krishnas, were part of it. I recall battles involving the Human Rights. We were perceived as antagonists, but those were truly just not well informed people.
As of late people have become more cautions about what they say and if they speak spontaneously it is with enhanced respect. Malicious remarks have been on the decline since I've hit the streets. It's a kind of victory over unhealthy prejudices.
In Markham a community which epitomizes multi-culturalism, I attended a home program, a sat-sang, where everyone feels more or less in a safe environment. Of course the highlight feature was the kirtan, chanting.
10 Km
Friday, November 4th, 2011
A Rather Regular Day
Toronto, Ontario
I had not the chance in the morning for a brisk walk due to plane travel from Columbus. When you get home after being absent even for two or three days, and avalanche of tasks descend on your lap. Happily there are the usual emails from hopeful communicators. There are issues to discuss with ashram dwellers and with people who come to do volunteer services. I had two sibling sisters who came for a surprise visit which I was really charmed about. It meant I had to delay walking. How important is it to prioritize?
I don't mind being swamped or being under some pressure as long as Krishna is centre stage and as long as I can get a breather now and then. Then I accomplished for the day as the sun began to sink. The weather was near-freezing. I went out in my thick hemp robes. One man who was placing these deep red dogwood branches in a municipal planter stopped and wanted to know, "How about when it's real winter?"
"I'll wear a coat."
"How about long-johns?" he queried.
"I'll do that too. We have to be practical and use our brains."
He went on to say, "Yeah, we have to use the gifts we've been given."
"Thanks for being concerned," I said, no sarcasm intended.
I proceeded on, walking a steady pace to keep warm, I walked the brain as well, thinking that the human gift is to be introspective, spiritual. "We must follow our nature," is the message of the Gita in chapter Four.
When I returned to the temple/ashram (my home) I was handed a slip of paper with a quote from Einstein:
"Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."
6 Km
Toronto, Ontario
I had not the chance in the morning for a brisk walk due to plane travel from Columbus. When you get home after being absent even for two or three days, and avalanche of tasks descend on your lap. Happily there are the usual emails from hopeful communicators. There are issues to discuss with ashram dwellers and with people who come to do volunteer services. I had two sibling sisters who came for a surprise visit which I was really charmed about. It meant I had to delay walking. How important is it to prioritize?
I don't mind being swamped or being under some pressure as long as Krishna is centre stage and as long as I can get a breather now and then. Then I accomplished for the day as the sun began to sink. The weather was near-freezing. I went out in my thick hemp robes. One man who was placing these deep red dogwood branches in a municipal planter stopped and wanted to know, "How about when it's real winter?"
"I'll wear a coat."
"How about long-johns?" he queried.
"I'll do that too. We have to be practical and use our brains."
He went on to say, "Yeah, we have to use the gifts we've been given."
"Thanks for being concerned," I said, no sarcasm intended.
I proceeded on, walking a steady pace to keep warm, I walked the brain as well, thinking that the human gift is to be introspective, spiritual. "We must follow our nature," is the message of the Gita in chapter Four.
When I returned to the temple/ashram (my home) I was handed a slip of paper with a quote from Einstein:
"Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."
6 Km
Friday, 4 November 2011
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
A Spacey State
Columbus, Ohio
We were moving in a weaving fashion between tree trunks walking light as on air (or clouds), actually leaves, layers upon layers. Madhu, Ram and I drove a short distance from Ram's house to Allum Creek State Park for a fresh air experience. It was Ram's first time to this place. I like to think that wherever I travel I contribute to helping my host explore his/her neighbourhood territory. I insist, "Let's go for a walk and see what you haven't seen in your own backyard."
To my own surprise, Ohio has lots of great woodsy escapes. And talk about it being a spacey place, well, astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong come from Ohio. And there's also the Wright Brothers who claimed Ohio as their home. Wilbur Bright wrote: "Let in the autumn of 1878, our father came into the house one evening with some object partly concealed in his hands, and before we could see what it was, he tossed it into the air. Instead of falling to the floor, as we expected, it flew across the room 'til it struck the ceiling, where it fluttered awhile, and finally sank to the floor... a toy so delicate lasted only a short time in the hands of small boys, but its memory was abiding."
It appears that fascination for flying really took off for the two boys. In 1903 they built the first aircraft.
The Krishna community in Columbus this evening showed a fascination for my pilgrim pastimes. Students from U of Columbus wanted to hear and so that's what I delivered. In speaking about trekking for the soul you should never assume that it's only a topic about moving on the ground. In any of these talks I let people know that there is a big sky up above where a whole world exists beyond what you could imagine - a world not dependent "on sunlight or moonlight or electricity", a world of lightness where life carries no exertion of weight.
I like to explain that in long distance walking you travel very light and you might keep in mind a hero like Narada, the sage, who does interplanetary travel between both the material and anti-material worlds.
Ah Ha! There ya go. There is this monk who is an actual astronaut who moves continuously into outerspace.
8 KM
Columbus, Ohio
We were moving in a weaving fashion between tree trunks walking light as on air (or clouds), actually leaves, layers upon layers. Madhu, Ram and I drove a short distance from Ram's house to Allum Creek State Park for a fresh air experience. It was Ram's first time to this place. I like to think that wherever I travel I contribute to helping my host explore his/her neighbourhood territory. I insist, "Let's go for a walk and see what you haven't seen in your own backyard."
To my own surprise, Ohio has lots of great woodsy escapes. And talk about it being a spacey place, well, astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong come from Ohio. And there's also the Wright Brothers who claimed Ohio as their home. Wilbur Bright wrote: "Let in the autumn of 1878, our father came into the house one evening with some object partly concealed in his hands, and before we could see what it was, he tossed it into the air. Instead of falling to the floor, as we expected, it flew across the room 'til it struck the ceiling, where it fluttered awhile, and finally sank to the floor... a toy so delicate lasted only a short time in the hands of small boys, but its memory was abiding."
It appears that fascination for flying really took off for the two boys. In 1903 they built the first aircraft.
The Krishna community in Columbus this evening showed a fascination for my pilgrim pastimes. Students from U of Columbus wanted to hear and so that's what I delivered. In speaking about trekking for the soul you should never assume that it's only a topic about moving on the ground. In any of these talks I let people know that there is a big sky up above where a whole world exists beyond what you could imagine - a world not dependent "on sunlight or moonlight or electricity", a world of lightness where life carries no exertion of weight.
I like to explain that in long distance walking you travel very light and you might keep in mind a hero like Narada, the sage, who does interplanetary travel between both the material and anti-material worlds.
Ah Ha! There ya go. There is this monk who is an actual astronaut who moves continuously into outerspace.
8 KM
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