Saturday, April 27th, 2013

From Water to Black Light

 

Saanich, BC

 

Toshan took Madhu and I to one of the many lakes on Vancouver Island.  When you trek near a large body of water, you feel the whole world is open to you.  You can dream and wonder, but I might add it’s not too difficult to throw the quest out there as to what’s on the other side of the bay.  It’s the USA. 

 

Minutes later and many many miles from the spot, and inland, my voice was being broadcast to the airwaves from Victoria.  The Drew Marshall Show, stationed in Southern Ontario, had me represent the Hare Krishna “Tribe”, as the term was used respectfully.  Other tribes were also represented and interviewed – the Mormons, the Muslims, the Jesus group and the Buddhists.  Now it was our turn – the Krishnas.  I spoke over a landline phone at Toshan’s.

 

A series of questions arose with answers I provided to the best of my ability. Nearing the end of the 35 minute live interview, a comment came asking about the deities so commonly seen in our temples, especially the image of Krishna and then the counterpart, Radha. 

 

The jist of the answer was, “God is both male and female, both father and mother, both provider and nurturer.”

 

Next question, “Why do some pictures portray Radha and Krishna leaning intimately on one another?”

 

Answer:  “This is a conjugal relationship that is pure and not tainted.  This tendency of conjugal love is within us because it is inherent from God. “

 

The interview went fine and so agreed Madhu Pandit, who has done some acting and TV moderating. 

 

With this interview, a mission accomplished, I left for the mainland and a black light kirtan fest.  Attendees wore fluorescent and traditional tilak marks on the forehead, fluorescent garlands around the neck, and if you came into the sphere with stark white clothes and socks you were lit up like a creature from outer space.

 

All was great.  I only felt a bit uneasy before the food was laid out.  Would there be glowing tomatoes and peppers in the salad?

 

10 KM

Friday, April 26th, 2013

On and Off the Hill

Saanich, BC

It takes a good hour and 45 minutes to go from the mainland of Canada at Tsawwassen to arrive at Vancouver Island, Swartz Bay, by ferry. This I did, along with 3 companions – Vishnu Gada, who has been around in devotional service since the early 70’s, and two young men, Ananda Murti and his brother Yogendra, who have roots from New Delhi, India. We were, I like to think, a chipper group.

At Swartz Bay, Toshan Krishna, a retired member of the Canadian Forces, and before that a brahmachari monk who travelled with me as an assistant before I became a swami, was our host.

He cooked up some scrumptious spaghetti at his home and then lead us to Bear Hill, a not so steep mound of rock, trees, moss, and other natural matter. The climb was a little more than the two teenage bros were used to. They asked for breaks as we ascended to the summit. So much for the computer generation.

They excelled, however, when it came time for kirtan at Toshan’s. Interchangeably they played sweetly on mrdanga drum and harmonium. We were a small group which included Madhhu Pandit and Anand, both are. students/disciples of our guru, Srila Prabhupada. The chanting captured our hearts and minds, as it is destined to do. As the strong moon was above our heads, this chanting put a perfect closure to the day, just as chanting opened the day at pre-dawn. The chanting provides a protection to our active hours in daylight, and it is something which helps temper the craziness of the mind and the turbulent waves of the senses.

We had also included in the kirtan, the song, Guru Vandana, words that honour the guru. It is a morning practice that was missed today due to catching the ride on the ferry. It was a day with the guys and our island venture was fulfilling.

6 KM

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

I Challenged Her

Burnaby, BC

I challenged her to a race. It was all in jest. I knew she couldn’t run being facilitated by a walker. She tried to make a go of it down the hospital isle when no one was looking. I knew that the staff might not care for such a challenge. Being a Parkinson’s patient, a push done self motivatingly could be a health risk. But I was careful with my dear godsister, Padyavali. Good heavens, you don’t want her to have a heart attack or something. I let her win the race much to her satisfaction and mine.

Prior to that, Manu and I had a good talk with her. We were trying to convince her that when she gets discharged, she should be serious about being in a home where she can be looked after 24/7. It has not been easy for her to accept the surrender of her apartment, it’s understandable. We had to remind her that Krishna is wherever she is, and that it’s time to let go of her attachments and live on essential needs. It’s actually a great time of life for simplifying everything and honing in on one’s original internal element – one’s internal consciousness.

We bid her a goodbye and let her be in the care of the hospital staff and Krishna.

The topic 'care' came up in the evening during a reading I conducted. It was the book, Chaitanya Charitamrita, the section of Antya Lila, where we heard of the care giving by Chaitanya offered to His follower, Jagadananda in the form of advice and direction. Jagadananda was given full blessing to travel to Mathura in the north of India. Chaitanya cautioned him about dubious trails where dacoits loiter and encouraged him to always be in the companionship of great souls. He also suggested to not remain in the holy place such as Vrindavan for too long as familiarity towards residences of sacred places can set in and arouse contempt.

Such good council and guidance was given by the great master Chaitanya.

8 KM

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

I Bumped Into Two Walkers

Burnaby, BC

I bumped into two walkers, they were better than me because I was stationary. They also let me know that they are superior, but it had nothing to do with who’s walking and who is not.

These two younger than me chaps were on a mission and I commend them for that. They were going door to door on behalf of Jehovah. When they knocked on my door at the guest house of our Krishna community, I answered and standing in front of me were two men, slightly smiling and clad in suits.

At first glance I thought, Mormons, perhaps? No! Very early in our dialogue, they identified their affiliation. This was my second encounter with members of the Kingdom Hall in a few days, and it was practically a rerun of the holier than thou attitude experience of last week. Hallelujah to absolutism.

It was let known to me that God has only one real name, and there’s only one way to salvation. I was also informed that God created man in his own image, but He has no gender or form. The contradictions fell into my ear. I was then misquoted by the same two fellows for saying that God is the tree, God is the grass. My actual words were that God has many aspects and one of them is that God’s divine presence is found in the tree which we were standing under, and in the grass which we were standing on top of.

I had asked of them to become a little more inclusive and to look for common ground between different spiritual approaches, yet my suggestion did not sit well with them. They insisted on having the truth and that it was their monopoly even though it was expressed in soft tone.

I guess it’s good for me to meet such persons. My patience gets tested. Out of ten I would give myself a low mark because I felt myself almost losing it with them. Oh well, I know I’ll be given another chance. I suggested that they not come to my door again because whatever I had to say to them was not an open door venture.

I hope we can try again when hearts are more open.

7 KM

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

I Hit The Same Trail

 

Burnaby, BC

 

I hit the same trail twice today, before and after the 4:30 AM puja/chant.  Just beyond Byrne Road near the temple ashram, there’s this tranquil district of nurseries where plants, herbs and veggies grow in abundance.  I guess you call it a residential/agricultural zone, an urban green haven.

 

As a bhakti yogi, you look for meditative conducive locations like this, or a simultaneous walk-and-japa chant.  What could be more enhancing of a pure power walk than a place with signage like “It’s about thyme!”  The rest of the green nook of several acres is like trekking through a time machine.  Some of the homes, judging by the size and architecture, were built in the war (2^nd World that is). 

 

Much of my day was spent in sedentary conditions, however.  All expended in necessary and hopeful discussions.  The evening kirtan with local youth was electrifying.  There is such incredible talent here.  Put that to the side; I was honoured to take a lead in the kirtan with these young stars that shine in the night.  In fact, we sang our hearts out until the darkened night and the twinkles bore a real presence above.  The moon was there very strong.

 

The kirtan was a relief as the sky had also opened up since yesterday.  Dreariness was all around with the spring greyness that hung around for days, so people tell me.  I relish the parallel of the open sky and the open heart, something that only God and kirtan can do.

 

8 KM

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Shortly After

 

Vancouver, British Columbia

 

Shortly after arriving at the ISKCON center in Burnaby, BC, I was greeted warmly by a bag pipe band.  Balaram, 14, and his younger bro, Venudar (12 I believe), have been practicing the pipes while their dad referred to as CC (Chaitanya Chandra) beats on the drum.  Their younger bro, Keshavasya, is not quite there yet.  At greeting time he was transfixed at the Anna Maya platform – eating snacks.  He was just being a kid. 

 

The number they played, Black Bear, is a Scotsman’s favourite, as I understand it.  800 years ago, black bears did exist in the upper section of the British Isles. “Their pelts were used for hats,” says CC. 

 

Now, the real force behind the bag-blowing preoccupation is the mother of the boys, Manoharini.  Parental smart as she is, she had, some years back, observed all this unbridled energy the boys had.  At one point she decided that while she had her own self obligation to control the senses, there was also the need to harness the wild horses (senses) of her three kids.  I’ve known her since my first walk across Canada in ’96, before she was a bride and a mom.

 

CC, who showed up in kilt attire, has been the other natural disciplinarian for the boys.  Somehow between the two of them, some great by products came out of this highlander music playing. 

 

Did I catch them also playing a tune to Narasimha, the half man half lion avatar as they finished Black Bear?  “They’re learning,” said CC, and they are priming themselves for more full on popular pieces.  Even Jagannatha Ashtakam, in praise of the wooden icon of Krishna, is being considered for the summer festival at Vancouver’s English Bay – The Chariot Festival. 

 

The formula is working in terms of helping the boys to become men/Vaishnavas (or devotees of God).  They seem to like what they’re doing.  It’s engaging and the end result is very gratifying to the ears.  The bagpipe sound rings like a cousin to the shehnai, a horned instrument so much loved by our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  “Hmmm, maybe I could steal these guys for a week or two and they can play next to me on foot when I begin tackling a stretch of the Prairies, that would be a boost.”

 

0 KM

Our Mayapur cast in March

Sunday, April 21st, 2013

Eat, Walk, Chant

North York, Ontario

I have a godbrother and godsister, an actual husband and wife team who are spending some time in Canada. His name is Apurva and her name is Kamalini. They insisted that I give them directions to any walking trails in the downtown area of Toronto. I gladly took them to my hotspot destination starting at David Balfour Park.

This morning was brisk, especially for them, being residents of North Carolina. They have come here to insist on raising our kitchen standards and the quality of food for our Govinda’s dining room which is open to the public. Apurva, in particular, is a master chef.

The topic of food does indeed play a major role in consciousness raising. When the food is prepared with love, then the consumer benefits beyond his imagination. We loved to receive such a compliment from William Shatner (you know, captain Kirk), when he visited to Toronto and visited our restaurant at Yorkville and Bay. Appreciating the carrot cake prepared by our devotees, he expressed after munching,

“This must really have been made with love.”

Now I just want to wrap up with a word on the grand finale two hours of our 24 hour marathon chant in North York. It was ecstatic. The chanting of the maha mantra was continuous throughout the 24 hours even when chanting groups switched. This is a traditional custom in Bengali villages. In other words, no breaks.

I’ve seen a different approach, for instance, at the kirtan mela in Mayapur, India, where the lead singer might break his or her chant and say a few words. Or, there is a pause as groups switch and settle down. I guess you could make up your own rules on this. My preference? I like it as we’ve done for 21 years, where there is no chanting interruption what so ever. In this way there is no room for maya (illusion) to get an inch in edgewise.

7 KM

Saturday, April 20th, 2013

Still Raj

North York, Ontario

Walking today entailed circling around a shrine at the Tagore centre. This event is the 21st annual Ashtaprahar, which is a 24 hour chanting session as is traditionally done in the Bangla part of India. This refers to the mid eastern section, Bengal, Orissa, and also including Bangladesh.

Now, I could be wrong about making the following statement, we were the first. Before 24 hour kirtan or 12 hour or 6 hour or even 72 hour nonstop kirtan became popular around the world, especially around ISKCON centres, our humble efforts with the Bengali community in this North York location on Millwick Drive was already in full swing. These marathons of mantra power have been a part of my devotional life since that time. It is now intrinsically with many people a global reality.

As I made my rounds about the icons of Jagannatha (Krishna in the wooden image), I moved in a synchronized way with my mostly Bengali friends who were attendees since day 1. I marvel at their stalwart loyalty. I know many faces here, not all their names though. It’s okay, we understand and know each other. I also remember the women who are adept at the ululating. That is always resourceful when I have the mic in hand and I need their voices to resonate at a peak moment of the kirtan chanting.

I will not forget my dear friend Raj Sarangi, who died of a brain tumour. He is the real star of the show, even some years after his passing. It was he who initiated these nonstop chanting sessions 21 years before. He believed in it, promoted it, and maintained it, only to linger now in spirit with his enthusiasm intact. I can still see him in the circle with me. He had all this passion about him, he still dances with us, sings with us, and interruptingly dashes to assist or fix a flaw in the sound system. That was Raj, and he is still there. Bless his heart.

4 KM

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Impressions of Ram’s Day

Toronto, Ontario

On the auspicious day of Ramnaumi, Ram’s birthday, I had asked some of our ashram members their impressions I’d like to share what were the high points for them on this day.

Dharma Prana: “In the drama I really had fun seeing the nose cut off on the demoness.”

Hayagriva: “The look of Ravan, his outstanding makeup did it for me.”

Maha Mantra: “What was inspiring for me on this day was seeing Krishna Das’ stamina playing the drum for 2 ½ hours in our chanting party on the street at Yonge and Bloor.”

Jeff: “I was distributing Bhaktivedanta Book Trust books on the street and I was so happy, I was smiling so much it started to hurt.”

Sahil: “Sing Lung did a very animated and convincing deer in the drama.”

Katrina: “I enjoyed seeing a baby on the stage so composed.”

Uttamananda: “It was great to see all the guests.”

Yura: “I was overjoyed about the food cooked by Raj Grover. It was delicious and had zero chillis.”

Kanad: “I was nervous as the cook that there might not be enough food.”

Virginia: “My highlight of the day was to see Lisa do the theatre makeup in such a short time.”

Hemanga: “I liked when Ravana pulled out demons from the underworld in the play.”

Deva Datta: “The high point of my day was serving a devotee, Keshava.”

Manish: “It was great fun being in the kitchen serving.”

Kamalini: “I knew people would be surprised when I would come on the stage as the demoness, Soorpanakha, the lusty seductress, Soorpanakha, because I’m usually perceived as being very straight and chaste.”

Jamuna Jivana: “I was happy to engage some of my tattoo clients in service at the temple.”

Bala: “I was just overall happy on this day.”

Krishna Das: “When I gave some guy the book, ‘Easy Journey to Other Planets’, it was the high point for me."

Apurva: “I was at the Canadian Tire hardware store when a young lady saw me in robes. She was very inquisitive and this gave me bliss."

Bhaktimarga Swami (The Walking Monk): “It gave pleasure to my ears to be receiving such positive impressions. Of course, I’m not surprised."

7 KM

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

Worry Less

Toronto, Ontario

Between school, homework and work itself young Durjoy gets occupied in his worries, maybe a little more than he needs to be.

He and I went for a stroll where Durjoy fretted over certain aspects of his life. There is nothing extraordinary in what's going on. Fortunately Durjoy has taken to the chanting of Krishna's name which he does between responsibilities. At his age (my guess 20) I was quite a "worry wart" myself. I started chanting and being in the company of spiritually minded people. These two ingredients alone really put me in the more - confident zone.

I receive regular calls from people who are in anguish so I try to offer some time. As you can imagine people want a sound board and much of it flies off-their-chest and serves as healing.

This world is a place of temporariness and misery, so it is stated in the Gita.

One form of therapy I find, is taking to some theater. Tomorrow is Romnaumi, The birth of the avatar, Ram, and I volunteered to assemble a drama about the epic of Ram. I conscripted a group of volunteers. some of whom I consider introverts. They were so eager to try, perhaps to get over a threshold of timidity.

With only one evening to practice it set myself into some worry, although I would classify it as wholesome worry. It was delightful to see at least two shy members of the crew break out of their shells.

So, there we have it - some guidelines on worry, nervousness, intimidation etc. It's chanting, company, engagement and talking that brings on the chilling out.

4 KM

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Met Grand

Toronto, Ontario

Meredith is a teacher from Abelard School and who took up the monastic studies as her specialty. She brought her very bright students to our temple ashram with questions.

I was impressed how much these young folks knew about the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavat philosophy and just Vedic culture in general. They didn't struggle with terms like moksha, dharma and even Varnashram. They tried a hand at chanting, took darshan (viewing the deities of Krishna) and also partook in the food, or what we call Prasadam, (consecrated edibles)

I was glad about the last one particularly because I had to cook for the crew and the community at large. Yes, they dipped into what was an experiment. They liked it.

Some questions related to our philosophy were "How do you know what is your personal dharma in life? " "It is said that we are a river and we are one of many that merge into the ocean. Is this what happens to our soul? do we merge into a oneness?" Also, "Are you familiar with Tomas Merton?" Tomas Merton was a reputable Christly scholar monk who leaned towards eastern thought.

In brief, to respond to the question on the soul "we have an option. If the soul takes to the Bhakti path, the trail of devotion he/she will attain eventually the condition of rasa (relationship) with Krishna. This is the path a personalism where you retain a spiritual identity. It is most sublime."

My hours indoors compelled me to breath some ravine air. During the trek I met Shah who has secured a fantastic career at Brickworks where he is the outdoor project manager at this very popular urban green community centre. Shah lived with us as a monk for 2 to 3 years. He left the ashram but maintained over the years a spiritual consciousness. I think he has done well for himself.

Today I met some good people.

1 KM