Tuesday, February 12th, 2012

Kept joyously busy

Georgtown, Guyana

I am kept extremely busy in Guyana. My classes have been highlighted with the topics of "Morality First, then Trancendence"," the ultimate welfare work" and "seeing oneness without dualities" both morning and evening programs are well attended. Then it came time for a vist to our Crane Temple, I saw it was a healthy turn out for a working day, we engaged the group for verse memorisation,in perticular 5:25 from the Gita.

So little time was left for walking, on our way from Georgetown our driver was kind enough to let me and other passengers at the leisure of the bridge, "old rusty" we had that extra twenty miniutes to kill. I wholudn't use that nomenclature for the bridge to co-walkers we met mid way walking modestly but in an inspection mode was Mr.Walter Willis, the bridges engineer. He is well known in Guyana so the boys pointed him out to me as we got close to him. It appeared that he was looking at the bridge's maintenance as he had three workers with him. I took the opportunity to say, "thank you for the bridge". I let him know that we appreciate the walk way protion of his craftsmanship.

So much time that they were occupied in the drama practise with the mix of good fun and discipline for a warm up session I had our cast do a host of things including selecting a person to give an over the top description of the recent Sunday feast preparations, all had to respond. In acting you recieve then respond which then is followed up by a response which is then followed up by another .....thats how a drama unfolds if not life it self. In fact its is through the natural method of recieve and respond that the drama of life persists and its how we keep busy.

3 KM

Monday, February 11th, 2013

One Month Ago

 

Georgetown Guyana

 

One month ago some thieves entered our Berbice temple compound in the night, stole some gold ornaments from the altar and in the process strangle to death our security guard. Theft and murder have been common occurrences in Guyana since this unfortunate mishap took place locally our leader Vibhu Prabhu, expressed that he does not want any visitors to be at risk, so my east coast plans in Berbice and beyond are cancelled. This left me with more time available and with a humble request from the Georgetown followers to conduct a drama, they were eager to learn, I consented and so a drama workshop was arranged low and behold we pulled a cast together from youth unknown to me I offered a prayer, wished for the best and depended on Krishna on Thursday evening we will put on a show an half hour version of the drama "Gita :concise".

In the midst of the organization and the training of the earnest and inexperience a trip to downtown was called for, for Harinam chanting I tried to pull in from the public some black folks for the dancing because they are just the best. The Stabroek Market square was the venue with its bee hive of activities.

Fom there I was whisked away to be brought to NTN TV network for a live one hour show to touch on the topics of spiritual relevance in these modern times, how to protect our youths from this trap and sure enough question came directed to the power of spiritual walking. The public phoned to lodge questions in addition to the moderator's own quarries

After the interview I made an appeal to my driver to walk the sea wall with five youth, members of our cast joined me for a bold walk on the narrow sea wall which virtually keeps Guyana from drowning which is 6 feet below sea level near Georgetown and along the coast. The wind is strong there and I took this opportunity to grow sufficiently sleepy for the night to ensure good rest.

My host, Khemraj, confirmed that when residents here want their baby to sleep comfortably they will take their infant to the sea wall and have the wind do its thing and put the child fast to sleep. This technique works as I ended up gloriously sleeping once reaching my accommodation and for a good 6 hrs straight it’s almost unheard of.

6 KM

Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Old Rusty

 

Georgetown, Guyana

 

It's there rickety, rusty and squeaky old thing, and I love it. Spanning over the very wide and deep Demerara River for 2 KM is this incredible floating bridge.  One of the young men daring it with me said ''Since I was a kid I wanted to walk it, Guru Maharaja, that's a wish since 23 years. You came here and we are walking it."

 

The bridge has its restricted time for pedestrians and hence authorities lock the entrance of the walk way section when it is about to open for a vessel to clear through. But, you know, Guyana is a land where enforcement is not a major issue. We saw cyclists taking a narrow strip so a dozen of us did also and no one said anything.  From a walker's perspective, maybe less so a pilgrim, it is a blast moving over this grandfather piece of engineering ingenuity. This is also where you get a gust of great breeze as the water from the river rushed at incredible speed under your feet. The water, in fact, reminds me by its colour of Demerara brown sugar. Wouldn't want to drink it!.

My comrades for this venture clocked our selves at walking this beauty of a bridge at twenty-one minutes and three revolutions of chanting on the japa meditation beads.  In addition to this achievement motorists got a hoot out of seeing us in our dhotis tossing in the wind.  Many addressed us with a 'Hari Bol' and honked which demonstrates the carefree nature of the people.  Of course, something can be said about the fact that it's Sunday.

 

Being Sunday we also had speaking engagements at two of our centres before and after the two bridge walks at Nimai Pandit Study Centre and a temple at Crane. There were great turnouts in both places and an initation ceremony in one. An elder couple, Bagoutie and wife Drupatee, received the names Brghu Muni and Dhara. They are fruit farmers.  I was informed that a good member of congregants in Guyana are involved in the agricultural and food business.

 

Kirtan here is well appreciated, hearing from the Gita text, and jokes as well. These days I am told, rain comes down quite plentifully.  In fact our treck over Old Rusty (my name for the bridge) was met with some wet.  I am looking foreward to visiting Old Rusty again if time allows while on this land of rainforest, anacondas and jaguars and of course dhall puris and breadfruit pakoras are delicious edibles.

 

6 KM

 

 

Saturday, February 23rd, 2013

To Nitai

Dubai U.A.E

Any trekking I did today amounts to whatever it mean to walk down the airport corridors in Dubai. While on flight 242 Emirates I kept myself occupied, even caught some sleep suprisingly. I did take a few minutes to compose this poem dedicated to the avatar Nityananada aka Nitai, Known for his dispursement of mantra power in the early 16th century India, Here it is":

To Nitai

He is indeed by far

The mercy avatar

For he bore the blood

During the love flood.

 

As companion to Gaur

Life as " less is more"

Distributing a wealth

For everyone's health.

 

Committed to the name

And establishing its fame

He went door to door

In the effort to explore.

He when with Haridas

Making gains- no loss

With interesting reception

Prepared for all rejection.

Jagai/ Madai there in queue

There loud gregorious two

Met more then their match

When Nitai did despatch.

They swayed, they fell,

Totally drunk as hell.

Nitai gave a thought,

"These men shall not rot.

Must be given a chance

To sing and to dance

To the ultimite sound

Head up, feet to the ground.

If they can suceed

That's all we need

Gaur's mission is won

To home we will run!

Unknowing such a plus

They raised nasty fuss

Hit the head of Nitai

As if to say, ' Good - bye'

But Nitai did stand up

Told Gaur not to chop

The two their life to spare

Hearts turned then and there.

0 KM

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

Surfaces

 

Toronto, Ontario

In the chill of winter I’ve been compelled sometimes to grace my feet on the inside over a carpet or linoleum, wood or tiled floor. Come to think of it, my feet have contacted many a surface. With my many hours behind a desk today, I decided most affirmedly that I’m going to hit asphalt, concrete, and maybe spots of crystal ice. I was downtown bound. The thing about Yonge Street is that with its linear length it somehow encourages speed, if the cold doesn’t, so I hit that trail. Pedestrians are plentiful, it’s the weekend approaching. Everything is a buzz. People are paired up in talking to each other. The cold seems to be transcended.

I reminded two cold phobic persons earlier in the day that in India yogis are known to travel to the north for their self realization, often in the shelter of a cave, brrrr!

I am wrapping up things for the winter pilgrimage to India, bound for Mayapur, not north, but on the eastern side. I’ll be walking on sound earth and sand of a sacred kind. There’ll be granite and marble temple floors, cold on the feet in Feb. But I’ll keep swaying and dancing before the deity, keeping warm.

The feet will various surfaces. There will be a variety, and that is the spice of life.

4 KM

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

A Talk at Durham

 

Oshawa, Ontario

Rick noted when I walked through the city of Oshawa last summer. He invited me back as in the past to his Faith’s class today for a presentation on the culture of Bhakti Yoga. Members of Jehovah’s Witness were lined up after my delivery was over at Durham College.

When entering the room with my assistant monk, Maha Mantra, Rick was at the door looking spiffy. I told him so as he wore this smart looking black oriental blazer. “I picked it up in Shanghai this summer,” he said. I was happy to know that he was on a trip as well. Come to think of it, I wonder what walking is like through the Orient. I think the best questions come from students when the sun shines. The sun was shining and they were pouring out their questions.

Question: Is being vegetarian an absolute?

Answer: No. You can still love Krishna, but if you wish to get closer to Him, protecting His animals and not devouring them accelerates your spiritual advancement.

Question: Is the Krishna path the only way?

Answer: Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, validated that many processes can develop love for the Divine. This is so to accommodate the many different kinds of people that exist. The bhakti path is simple and effective and is perhaps the oldest and longest sustained spiritual approach in history. It is at the core of Vedic culture found in India.

Question: A friend of mine indicated that she believes in reincarnation and that she is on her last cycle. Can you comment?

Answer: I would say, “Congratulations to her,” however, you can’t be too sure, the laws of nature determine our destiny. But, it’s a good thing to feel such confidence. As long as we follow the guidelines descended from above and develop that love, we have a good chance to end the vicious cycle.

Question: So you are a monk and have no wife or children. Don’t you feel like you’re missing something?

Answer: I believe that I’ve had many mates in previous lives with lots of offspring. I’ve decided to give one life to God and in that frame of mind with a larger picture, I feel I have a great father, lots of sisters, brothers, and children.

10 KM

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

For Openers

 

Willowdale, Ontario

For openers, they prayed for me. I was about to begin the presentation when Reverend James A. Beverly and class offered a prayer wishing me well on the upcoming part 2 of the 4^th walk across the country. Naturally, I was touched.

James also gave me a copy of his recent book, “Illustrated Guide to Religions”, and signing it personally saying, “Bhaktimarga, thank you so much for your teaching and friendship… With Love, Jim.” Jim is a professor of Christian thought and ethics at Tyndale Seminary.

For his class I was asked to explain my life story and thereafter, explain the story of Krishna Himself, and His magnanimous teachings. Students wanted to know about our concept of sin, salvation, ethics or rules, avatars and gods. So, I explained it to them. And it was Jim, who had nothing but good to say about our guru, Srila Prabhupada. I sensed that some students had a challenge trying to wrap their heads around the concept of reincarnation. When it is said that no soul has a beginning and no one has an end, and that it becomes embodied through a chain of existences, it is a new concept for them. In any event, the course is designed as such for the students to view various spiritual paths, to begin to think a little bit out of their box and to honour the pluralistic world in which we live. They had an ocean full of questions and were very respectful to the walking monk. I look forward to the next semester when I hope to visit.

5 KM

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

It’s Good To Cry Sometimes

 

Toronto, Ontario

He left it all behind (the material world) when he was 17. He’s now 40 years plus the 17. He’s tall, well built, and had a promising future when he became a brahmachari (monk) in ’74. Now, at 57, he came to me and cried on my shoulder. He’s taller than me, a big man, and took a moment to be emotional. He mentioned how he’s become sensitive over the fact that with the aging process he’s losing his vim and vigor. He questions his future. He also mentioned loneliness. I really felt for him.

It’s been years since he left monastic life and he has had relationships. All the while he never forgot Krishna. That’s been his saving grace. He never ceases to make friends and tell people about his found wisdom. He likes to share. He and I have done some walking together. Affectionately, I would say his talk is the speed of his walk, and does a lot of that.

I tried to cheer him up, “You’ve done well. You’re making the best out of your life.” It’s true, his spiritual side has protected him hundreds of times. “Check 17.16 from the Gita which addresses how to engage the mind and satisfy it with stories from the Puranas and the Mahabharat.” “Always be thinking of doing good for others,” Our guru, Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of 17.16.

Of course the tender moments in a good sweet cry is healing in itself. I let him know to be in contact with me at any time, and that I’m happy to be a sounding board. I see it as a service. Who knows, I will likely need to cry on someone’s shoulder one day, whether devotionally strong or not. It’s good to cry sometimes.

4  KM

Monday, February 18th, 2013

The Family Spirit

 

Ottawa Ontario

This is known as Family Day in the province of Ontario. That means that it extends the weekend for a lot of people and allows for, I guess you could call it, extracurricular activities.

Our little pilgrimage performance troupe took full advantage and spilled over our weekend into a visit to Jeanne D’Arc (that is Joan of Arc), a suburb of Ottawa. Our caravan took to Highway 40 to Montreal as we witnessed others outside the human species out there in the raw environment.

A family of wild turkeys were picnicking right next to the highway as traffic was whizzing by. Their dark features and massive size made their presence so obvious against the blanket of the snow. It was an actual couple, I believe, he being the taller alpha male type, and she being comfortably just behind him. The rest of the clan was probably on the other side of the snow bank. They tend to travel in flocks. In my heart I was glad to see them taking the opportunity to honour Family Day as they were pecking at who knows what, at least not at each other. We don’t need dysfunctional family scenarios. Isn’t that the monopoly of the human beings -sadly?

What does seem to work for humans is an application of kirtan, it draws not only biological togetherness, but pulls in people of different backgrounds. This is what we found as our caravan unloaded to our kirtan session at a community centre in Jeanne D’Arc. This was the real family, sheltered under the umbrella of the good sound vibration.

Chanting breeds the real family spirit.

5 KM

Sunday, February 17th, 2013

Real Richness

 

Montreal, Quebec

Sweet memories pass by me as we read the signs east bound on Highway 401. They were memories of the summer past when I did take the parallel route at a walker’s speed – much more of a civilized pace. Between Daruka, my support person, and I, we made many more friends that way than the rocket speed of 120 km/hr of today.

But then, I can’t complain. I’m moving along as part of a modern day caravan. Three vans carried 16 of us who were destined for Montreal. Everyone here, musicians and actors, are comrades and are members of our Krishna community. We share the same culture and the same food.

At a truck stop, we indulged in our favourite travelers fare, Russian potato salad. Once the snacks, or meal ceased, we continued on with the journey engaging in a read from the Gita, a way to keep the driver perked up. Our best companion was Surya, the sun. He revealed everything about a winter’s world – snow and tracks of the snowmobilers, as well as men ice fishing on a frozen lake. Finally we reached Montreal and the location of Pie Neuf Blvd for the temple where we were to perform.

We began with Dhira Grahi using his golden voice on a bhajan. The tiny backup orchestra included a violin, flute and bass guitar and more. An appreciative audience listened. And then came the drama, 'Gita: Concise' with the mind expressing himself with his explosive, “Oui! Non! Peut Etre!” Remember, it’s a French audience.

The day was rich with devotional activity. Since entering into a devotional culture 40 years ago I’ve understood that real wealth has nothing to do with money.

4 KM

Saturday, February 16th, 2013

Into The Icebox

Toronto, Ontario

 

I went from Guyana to Toronto. In other words, from the frying pan into the icebox, climate wise. From equator to ice and snow.

“Never be too intimidated by the elements in front of you, however extreme they may be,” is what I believe. At the same time we must be wise. One beautiful thing I’ve learned from walking throughout the various phases of the day is that your body can easily adjust to climate change. I believe that one of the disservices we’ve done to accommodate ourselves is to make our environment so comfortable and so controlled that when we meet the‘outside’ it becomes a shock to our system. When I arrived back in Canada I decided to hit the freshness of a mid February outdoor breeze of below zero and leave cozy indoor temperatures. I would say, ‘warm up to nature and be like a chameleon.’

As I was about to don a coat for meeting the outdoors, my dear Godbrother, Apurva, visiting from North Carolina, looked at me with some question as to why I needed to brave the cold. The answer is to be as hearty as can be. Who could argue with that? It’s my desire to be in a healthy condition in order to serve others for as long as possible.

And so I go for it. Down Yonge Street, which is part sleazy, part classy, part very ordinary.

My evening kept me grounded. Who would not want to be in the company of 100+ serious bhakti yogis for “An Evening of Bhakti”? Our devotees put on a marvelous show of devotional songs in English with acoustic guitar, and then switched onto bass, sitar, and even Sanskrit. As the sound trailed on into the evening, bodies rose from the asana position (no, they didn’t levitate) and chaired guests ascended from their seats to take to ecstasy dance.

I addressed the group midway through, but only enough to insert a Swami’s message of appealing to the sound of deliverance and to install it into your every day affair.

All was good. Hare Krishna!

7 KM

Saturday, February 9th, 2013

One Day in Trinidad

 

Tyrco Bay, Trinidad

I had trekked Trinidad before, three years ago, along Madras Road. While driving through, I remembered the turns and curves in the road, and even some of the stalls. Popular at the eatery stalls is something called doubles, a flat puri bread with chutney sandwiched inside.

The country is as I had known before, not terribly pedestrian friendly. You find narrow spaces to walk. Naturally, Trinidad is newly designed in terms of people lay out. It received independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1974. It’s mainly a place for cars.

If you by chance explore what a sidewalk is in Trinidad, do be aware of large potholes uncovered that lead to the sewage. I don’t really mean to paint such a bad picture of the place. I certainly can’t complain about the beaches on the north east coast over the mountains. At Maracasa, an entertainer playing on Quadro, composed spontaneous music in a most poetic way. This guy was sweet. While strumming on his strings he sang to me,“This is the life, now bring your wife… “ To which I responded, “I don’t have one, I’m just a monk.”

Not on foot but by car, we took to the beach at Tyrco, for the kirtan and a Krishna conscious message. We picnicked and then swam. Here, the stalls were selling sugar and salt snacks, even shark meat. One spot was boasting that their items were without tax. The sign read, “No vat on dat!” Generally I have a tough time with Trinidadian accents. I even ended up tutoring my assistant for the day, Keshava, when I asked him to read a chapter of “Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead”. It wasn’t the accent so much that needed working on (to locals, I’m the one with the accent), but it was the annunciation and expression that needed tweaking. That’s all. Yes, with a little training and confidence on his part, he approved.

Thank you, Bhaktivinod, for bringing me to Trinidad.

8 KM