Friday, December 28th, 2012

There And Back

Toronto, Ontario

I was asked to speak on plans for happiness at The Bhakti Lounge by coordinator Mangal Aarti. Instead of looking for a ride to the 3 KM destination, I decided that a walk would be superior, it would trigger thoughts on the subject. There’s something about moving your limbs and catching the air that the brain likes. At a quick clip I paced my way down Yonge Street while gathering quick thoughts. I had 30 minutes to reach the venue and to have at least a few points to present, “plans and happiness”.

Once I arrived I sat in a circle with tea lights all around as people came to fill in the spots. We began the chant “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. And then a talk – my talk – no – God’s talk. I’m an instrument. I must remind myself that I’m an instrument, I’m a parrot, I repeat His message. I might be able to do it in my own oration with individual personality, but I am obliged to present the message as it is.

So I began.

“You’ve heard the saying ‘if you fail to plan then plan to fail’. Right?”

People set their plans for happiness. It’s particularly like that in this holiday season, but let us bear in mind that happiness is such a relative term – short or long term – there is a need to take a ‘wholistic’ approach to this. You can’t just invest in the body and neglect the soul, after all, happiness comes from within. You don’t require external channels to realize the absolute joy inside.

I reminded the group from my previous visit, “We are not these bodies. We are spirits. Let’s feed the soul.” And so that we did – with kirtan, chanting. As usual, everybody loved it.

A rapid return in 30 minutes to the ashram got me in time to rehearse with the actors and techies on a new drama, Gita: Concise.

6 KM

Thursday, December 27th, 2012

Bridges Over Rivers

Toronto, Ontario

I walked on the bridge over the river Don, this structure is quite expansive and spans over the wide valley including the relatively narrow, what seems more like a stream. I got this sudden chill about mid way through. The swift rush of chill had nothing to do with below zero temperatures. I had a flashback of a fellow I knew who threw himself off this very bridge some years ago. He used to visit. He would just come around to the ashram from time to time. He loved prasadam, our very blessed meals. He was rather reserved. He was an active member of the growing vegetarian society in Toronto. He became a big promoter of the non-violent way of life. Unfortunately he couldn’t find it in him to be gentle to himself. God bless him.

Anywhere you stand from this bridge you can see its rather steep or deep fall. Others have taken their life on this bridge. In response, the city decided to run substantial rods vertically along the river’s edge, making it practically impossible in making the bridge an option to life or death. Also, years ago, when I was driving a vehicle in Winnipeg for our mission (yes, I used to drive), I took a bridge over the Assiniboine River. There was a traffic jam, and at that time a native woman was leaning on the bridge’s wall. She was standing there and looked confused. She had flung one leg over, readying herself for a jump. At this time, I was only a few metres away, and I hollered out my window, “Don’t do it – Krishna!” She turned her head my way and flung the leg back. I got my chill and I’m sure she got some sensation too.

Other motorists must have seen the obvious, but they seemed more keen on moving on with the traffic. That is not to say no one cared about a life or death situation. With bumper to bumper traffic and things moving along, it was the last I saw of her, but my last image of her through the rear view mirror was that she began walking along the bridge to get to the street level, thank God.

Bridges are effective channels for travel. They can also be can easy avenue to opt out of life. That’s why I had moments of fear explosions. Personally, I’ve always seen bridges as beautiful through ways providing a panoramic scenery. It’s like the use of a knife, you can use it positively for chopping up veggies or it can be used destructively. The mind is also in the same category, either degrade yourself or elevate yourself. Through guru we have a bridge that takes us to God. Without direction we are forced to trudge through troubled waters.

5 KM

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

Boxing Day with Invisible Boxing Gloves

 

Toronto, Ontario

 

Members of our community, the younger sector, were in a frenzy to get some books out on the streets. While the passion of Boxing Day sales persisted (from what I could see, mostly electronics and clothes were the attraction), books like The Higher Taste and the Perfection of Yoga were flying out of the hands to reach shoppers.

“Yonge and Dundas is crazy,” said Manish, an accomplished artist from our community. It was so congested people were looking and finding bargains and they came in droves.

I also found myself being in a shopper’s mode, but not by choice, for a stage prop I needed for a new production, I also took advantage of the outrageous sale prices. I ended up haggling with the merchant to get my bargain. Generally, it’s not my nature to do so. I really prefer to dodge purchasing goods all together and to keep to monastic tasks, but you do what’s necessary, right? It was interesting– what I would call a fierce psychological tug of war over the price.

My trekking through the Kensington area, Chinatown and the downtown to make this purchase was not in vain because always, always, you make your journey in pilgrimage and qualify it as such by walking and chanting simultaneously. What followed the shopping was the show that must go on, at least the rehearsal. That’s how I ended the day –preparing for a showcasing of the message of the Gita in dramatical format. My 2012 Boxing Day was highlighted with a family reunion. Two sisters, siblings and a whole cousin dynasty, Corry Riken, my cousin, hubby Eric, posted a get together at their downtown Toronto apartment or condo for the holidays. At these types of familial events, I can actually overlook a dead bird on a platter scenario, and I could also highly appreciate the great clan and cousins that I grew up with. We always loved each other. We were moral and we weren’t the swearing kind.

9 KM

 

Tuesday, December 25th, 2012

Whenever I Sense A cold

Maple, Ontario

Whenever I sense I’m coming down with a common cold, which is happening, I take a few steps to attempt to stave off the bug. Maybe my routine will be of some help.

1. I especially snuggle myself up in bed at night to the point where it’s almost a sweat experience.

2. I consume food that’s hot in temperature.

3. I also enjoy, despite popular opinion, a mug of hot milk because it heats up the body.

4. I take a little extra rest.

5. I will also, despite popular opinion, brave the cold weather outside, bundled up of course, if the cold is mild and go for a hard walk. This provides warmth and clean air in the place of the dead sickly air of the indoors.

6. Finally I ask for someone in the ashram to give me a good head massage using mustard seed oil. This really does heat the head.

While Vineet, one of our ashram dwellers, was providing me this last service, a head massage, he was relaying how he helps his elders in the state of Gujurat, when on parikrama (pilgrimage). In that part of India there’s a very sacred place called Dwarka, it’s Krishna’s city, and it attracts millions of people who go on foot pilgrimage. Vineet assists his elders by providing leg and foot massage.

Massage is good for many things, including the stimulation of the airs in the body. Walking and massage go so well together, and when you have a cold, I’ve found that mustard oil feels like gold when under that condition. Anyways, these tips as well as chanting to keep up the spirit, you might like to implement.

7 KM

Monday, December 24th, 2012

More Than One Guru

Mississauga, Ontario

Jambavan came up from Michigan with his good wife Samvit and their great children, which adds up to 7 kids. Jambavan is an accountant. He’s also a pakha Brahmin, meaning, an exemplary priest. After our evening gathering of devotees from the Mississauga area, I chose to walk a distance from Bristol Road to Mavis and then Eglinton toward Toronto before being picked up by a party of our downtown devotees. I had time to contemplate on the greatness of this Michigan family.

What makes them great or at least unique? The proof of the pudding is in the eating, the offspring. They are not only orthodox in attire with dhoti and sari, and also hairstyle (the boys are shaven except for a tuft of hair in the back) but they all look like angels.

I guess ‘old school’ would be the best way to describe the bunch. Mom and dad are revered because they offer a soft line of discipline and a whole lot of love. Whenever the family comes up to Toronto, they seem to win the hearts of the community by dint of their simple, sweet behaviour.

Personally, I’m glad to see the sizeable number of siblings. It’s like an old Irish or French catholic family. By the way, Jambavan himself is part Polish and Italian and grew up in America. At the evening’s event, held at the home of a Punjabi family, the Grovers, he spoke a few words on the well-known verse which honours the guru, vande ham sri gurun… an invocational mantra. We find the word gurun which in reference to the guru in plural sense. He went on to explain that the spiritual master in realistic terms does not refer to one person only. In most people’s lives, your first spiritual teacher is plural. For instance, father and mother are the early ones to give guidance on the physical and spiritual path. It is often thought that the person who awards you diksa, or initiation, is the one and only guru. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The second speaker, Subhavilas, a spiritual peer, also spoke and pointed out the relevance to our founding guru, teacher for Krishna devotees worldwide, whose name is Srila Prabhupada. He is everyone’s guru. The book Bhagavatam canto 11 brings to the reader’s attention multiple gurus which includes the dog whom we learn loyalty from, and a bee whom we learn frugality from.

My walk in the dark was truly light and bright due to the fact that I have been in the presence of angels and was reminded of the gratitude that must be channeled to the multiple gurus in my life. In my own personal life I’ve been blessed with the help of several mentors who by their words and behaviour have provided inspiration.

Jaya to the many gurus and jaya to the many kids.

7 KM

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

A Fellow came Knocking

Toronto, Ontario

A fellow came knocking at our temple door asking if the AA meetings are still being held. Yogendra answered the door and mentioned that likely the meeting for Alcholoics Anonymous likely is taking place across the street at the church of the Messiah. People often mistake the two buildings as they are similar in architectural design and have a similar exterior Kingston limestone.

Thinking very swiftly about the situation, Yogendra responded to the fellow, saying, “But I do think you’ve come to the right place.” The fellow took up the offer, sat through and listened to the message of the Gita, participated in the chant, and the food – all special features of the Sunday open feast.

That was last week. His attendance at AA was missed. He decided to come to visit our place the following Saturday out of sheer curiosity for more of this kind of mantra medicine. He really liked, once again, what he heard, saw and tasted.

This is not to say that AA meetings are not helpful. Their systematic approach to getting people off the bottle is effective and has helped many a victimed soul to conquer and lick or kick the habit. In mainstream society, liquor has become a major addiction. The other day, corey from Halifax, while on a walk with me, mentioned that sitting down is the new cigarette. Indeed, sedentarianism and smoking are current addiction, but they are nothing that a good daily walk couldn’t cure. Drugs and sex are additional addictions, taxing the people of Kali Yuga. Recently someone asked me if I’m a healer, and I responded by saying, “Yes, in the sense that I prescribe a medicine called mantra medication. Take this name and apply it to your lips and tonge and you can get healed and get free from birth and death.”

Our new comer is getting something out of all the chanting. It might be a cure of param dhstva nivartante, a phrase from the Gita that means a higher taste upstages a lower taste. In this regard, our friend must really be benefitting from coming to our spiritual gatherings. It goes to show that the spiritual component can be so vital to a person’s well being.

Would it make sense to put up a sign outside our door which reads, “Welcome All With All Your Addictions”.

7 KM

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012

Kirtan Smoke

Toronto, Ontario

It was a smoking program. I mean to say that the kirtan chanting was hot. No one smokes a cigarette in a temple. Little incense was lit, so there were no clouds of anything, but kirtan does clear the air, including the cobwebs of the mind.

Ajamil, a passionate Bengali bhajan singer and I teamed up along with Dhira, a golden voiced boy from the Ukraine, to heighten hearts at an evening at Hindu Prarthan Samaj. This place is acknowledged as the oldest Hindu temple in Toronto. The community with its church turned temple near High Park, played host to the pioneers of Krishna consciousness in the late 60’s. A group of American monks showed up at the doorsteps of the Hindu temple for shelter. Their intent was to open up a chapter of Bhakti Yoga, Krishna consciousness, in Toronto. The temple on Fern Avenue showed its benevolence at that time and now it seemed only appropriate to say thanks. Our humble beginning of Krishna consciousness with its seed planted had grown into a lotus flower of devotional activity. Today we enjoyed the participation of hundreds of people. Our smoky evening was a reunion of the two communities.

I decided after the event to trek back home through the Annex district and including Little Italy. I did this not only to clear the cobwebs of the mind but also to clear the pipelines in my machinery, body, after eating a mountainous plate of rich North Indian prasadam, food; our reward for conducting a hot or exhilarating kirtan.

9 KM

Friday, December 21st, 2012

Resilience

Toronto, Ontario

The enthusiasm was oozing over. Anshul was supremely excited about the day, Winter Solstice? That it is, but that was not the reason for his joy. The world did not end today? That’s true, the prediction proved false, but that is not what inspired him so. The reason for all the zealousness was that he and several other young men and women from our community were going out on a marathon.

Anshul, in his electrifying energy, stumbled and tripped while carrying a box of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publications meant for the book marathon distributions. The box slipped from his hands and fell onto the stair landing creating a thud sound that echoed in the temple room. A group of us were focused, hearing presentation on the infamous stroke of the sword against the pillar of Hiranyakasipu, Anshul felt himself humbled in a stumble.

I ran to see the source of the sound and there I found him on the landing, but maintaining a resilience as ever, unphased by the fall. He picked himself up and gave an oceanic smile. It’s people like Anshul who reflect a group of youth that are on fire to share Krishna consciousness.

Internally, it has been declared that this month is a book marathon with emphasis on passing out Bhagavad Gita and other publications on Bhagavat philosophy.  Anshul was anxious to get out the door. He was fighting with time in a haste to get to his destination.  Anshul delivered books to a crew of four, headed by Menaksi, who had set up a book kiosk at Union Station, and they ended up selling for the day 450 books.. Not bad for the sale of spirituality. I guess there are some bright lights at Christmas time.

5 KM

Thursday December 20th, 2012

Will There Be An Aftermath?

Pickering, Ontario

Every ashram seems to have its own conspiracy theorists, if not one, then more than one. I asked our local unofficial theorist, whether he bought into the latest hype about the supposed Mayan theory that the world would end on the 21st. Harakumara is his name and he’s been involved in devotional service since ’72. His response, which came out with a laughter was, “No way, anytime you put out a specific date, you’re setting yourself up to be a target.”

I had also struck up a conversation with a young fellow on the commuter Go Train concerning this topic, “Do you believe we will be here tomorrow?” I asked. “Yes, I’ll be here,” he said, humoured by the question. We both went on about doomsday scenarios and the impact that initiators of such theories have upon the public. It is rather incredible the power that is born from someone’s thought or concept which transforms into speech and then action. When Orson Welles narrated so expertly, The War of the Worlds, of aliens attacking the Earth over the radio airwaves, people became so convinced. Indeed, the power of speech was such that many Chicken Littles suddenly hatched all over the place.

Personally, I will stick to the Vedic literatures to reference the world’s end. According to those revelations, it’s a very long wait. It offers a round figure of 420,000 years from now when the elements will consume us all. The world will be so spoiled that the universal toilet will need a flushing. It might be a challenge to those who make a schpeil about annihilation, but I would suggest to do sufficient homework before you declare to the world that our shaky ground will totally crumble. Check the character of those who speak and are on a doomsday mission. We have our saying in our devotional circles, “guru, sadhu and shastra”. In other words, “consult with the master”, the teachers of the spiritual and holistic tradition, and the sublime written teachings of timeless truth.

I feel empathy for the golden tradition of the Mayans who have been slightly slandered by all the propaganda. As I compile this blog’s entry news has come out that Australia who is hours ahead and well into the morning of the 21st, that the kangaroos are still jumping. Let’s wait ‘til the day ends to see what happens. I’ll be hopefully chanting should devastation strike us suddenly.

5 KM

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

WOW!

 

Toronto, Ontario

 

I relished reading the latest volume of the Back to Godhead Magazine and an article by Satyaraja, aka, Steven Rosen about the Universal Form, “The Universal Form – Revelations and Implications”. The article gives an account of the all expansive, awe inspiring multifaceted imagery of all you could dream of. It is delineated upon in chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita as a manifestation of Krishna’s cosmic potencies. The form which is fathomless puts the observer, Arjuna, in awe; first the reaction of reverence and secondly a response of utter fear.

For those who grew up under some influence of the 60’s counter culture, you may recall Jimmy Hendrix’s album cover, Axis is Bold, where his face is featured in place of Vishnu. Those who tripped on acid (not me, true confession), may relate the multifarious images with origins from India. It was the kind of image you could find in a hookah pipe shop where you could pick up strawberry incense, patchouli oils, hippy sandals, or maybe an elaborately carved wooden round table with 3 legs. You still can find a shop such as this like the one I passed by on Bloor Street on a walk today. At best it would draw nostalgic sentiment. In any event, Jimmy’s superimposed visage stood central.

The idea of an infinity of faces is explained by Satyaraja as having manifest in the sky according to Vedic documentation on five different occasions. Each occasion reveals some unique angle, a “momentary eyesight… to see the unseeable”,something cosmic or out of this world.

I, personally, could imagine such imagery of a universal scale being thrown up onto an open prairie sky backdrop. That I could envision when walking through that area. One Hindu Punjabi man I met said, “When I first moved to Saskatchewan, this is the virat rupa,” implying the infinite nature of the universal form. Whether you fantasize this image or are fortunate enough to have His dharshan(viewing), it is meant to invoke a sense of meekness, humility, for the recipient. It makes our so called substantial world seem so puny and insignificant.

The Universal Form. It’s Wild! Outrageous! Wonderful! Wow!

10 KM

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

What Gift To Get?

 

Toronto, Ontario

Here’s a great idea for a gift (I know I’m sounding like a commercial, anyway), how about this – a set of meditation beads including a pouch to put them in and instructions included to know how to use them?

That was the idea George Harrison had to be included in his album “Living in the Material World” way back when. Since it’s holiday time with Christmas and all, there must be someone out there that you might know that could really benefit from the sound vibration when using japa (meditational) beads.

It was about 10 years ago that I spent one afternoon walking with Dhananjaya, who was a personal friend of George. We were walking in Mayapur in Bengal at a bumpy Tarampura Road when Dhananjaya, a Scotsman by birth remarked that the road “is literally the pits”. We got to talking about George.

Dhananjaya mentioned that George’s album folds out because George had the intent to have japa beads put in the slip cover to be sold along with the record. For some reason the beads never made it as part of the package. There is one song on the album, “The Lord Loves The One Who Loves The Lord” with the lyrics of the album along with all the other songs. Apparently that song was in dedication to our guru Srila Prabhupada.

Dhananjaya who was a real kind hearted type of soul and who has been generous with his life as a Krishna conscious constructor also mentioned about George’s benevolence. He said that at that time when “Living in the Material World” was released, George was in the habit of giving copies of Bhagavad Gitas to his friends as well as personally handing out beads for their experiential experiment. Both are great ideas for gifts for those you love. I guess sometimes people exhaust themselves of what to get for someone like Uncle Joe who’s got everything. I just wanted to share this idea.

7 KM

Monday, December 17th, 2012

What Is The Soul?

 

Toronto, Ontario

One of our visitors to the ISKCON centre, where I reside, offered to me a lift to anywhere I needed to go in the city, so I said, “Drop me off in Kensington Market. From there I’ll do some walking and eventually make my way back.”

Kensington is an interesting destination for free thinkers, curious browsers, where there are coffee shops, shops for neat trinkets, vintage clothes, sushi eateries and such. Of course I’m not really there to do any of those things, nor do I get ensnared by the Christmas hoopla, although I can appreciate the original spirit behind it. There was a buzz in the air with money turning over. Shoppers are busy, they are rocking, but souls are not necessarily rolling. The purchase of items which puts many shoppers into debt cannot provide the stimulation required to keep the inner self happy. There exists a basic ignorance of one’s true identity.

When I finally returned from a much needed walk and chant, I opened to a page from the Gita that offers so much in the department of knowing one’s self, and so here is 2.17, the verse and a portion of the purport:

“Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.”

Purport:

“This verse more clearly explains the real nature of the soul which is spread all over the body. Anyone can understand what is spread all over the body; it is consciousness. Everyone is conscious of the pains and pleasures of the body in part or as a whole. This spreading of consciousness is limited within one’s own body. The pains and pleasures of one body are unknown to another, therefore each and every body is the embodiment of an individual soul and the symptom of the soul’s presence is perceived as individual consciousness.” -Srila Prabhupada

5 KM