Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

Dharma Protects

My destination point isn’t usually a tattoo parlour, but it was today.  Down the street I went.  I turned degrees, opened the door, walked to the receptionist who said, “He’s in today, just go to the second floor.”  Up the stairs I ascended and into one of the cubicles.  There he was – the chief. 

 

Owner and operator is Cuban born, Jovany (AKA Jamuna Jivan), who was my cook in 2007 during a walk through northern Ontario.  He’s become adept at the artistry of tattooing, and he’s in the middle of crafting.  And no, I’m not there to get a tattoo.  Monks in our order use temporary tattoos with something called tilak, an earth based substance which washes off at each shower.  And if not that, the sweat will erase it.

Jovany was working on a young man’s bicepted left arm.  The design looks great, if I must say so.  The owner of the arm, which is pivoted under a pillow with work in progress, is Faris, who hails from the middle east.  Jovany stopped his work when he saw me and presented his obeisance right there in front of me, while he uttered, “This is my guru.”

The two of us got to talking while Jovany kept working on Feris’s arm with gorgeous armour like design.  Jovany was talking about life and its bumpy surprises.  I indicated that if dharma is executed, then there is always protection.  Feris then got into the conversation, “So, what’s dharma?”

“To follow the duty which is natural to you.  When a person is dutiful then it’s beautiful, righteous.”  I elaborated, of course.  Feris mentioned that he’s originally from Dubai, to which I responded, “Oh, I’ve been there.  I walked a good stretch one morning in that city, but I was restricted from wearing my robes and had to settle for civies (civilian clothes).”

Our conversation went on with me doing most of the talking, and while watching the penning of ink into Feris’s skin.  With one glance I noticed a poster of Ghandi on the wall with a caption that read, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”  This hinted at karma, but our talk stuck to dharma, which ultimately leads to good, inherent reactions of karma. 

Feris, the client, was listening intently.  So was the chief, Jovany.  I’m not sure that most tattoo parlours get into deep discussions.  At least, the other cubicles seemed a bit mundane in spirit when I passed by them during my exit from the shop. 

It was a walk and a talk well worth being part of.  I think I’ll browse around more in the tattoo making department in the future. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

Be A Fool

I passed through 61 April Fools in this one life.  At the Tuesday Sanga, the evening’s presenter, Praharana, spoke on how we are all more or less fools for being in this world of suffering.  She, however, explained that joy could be had by taking to the spiritual component.  Her message spoken at the ashram was well received.

It was only after the time of her presentation that I went on my daily walk.  Vrindavan, one of our dedicated devotees in our community here, drove me at my request, to his home.  From there I would walk back to the ashram, a mere 6 KM distance.  I recall when I first tackled the longer stretches for training.  A couple of my colleagues at that time thought I was slightly foolish to go on a 22 KM trek (a first), and to do it on a winter afternoon when a snow storm suddenly hit.  I had lost directions while trying to reach my destination point, the home of a friend.  Eventually I was found through the aid of a call by payphone.  No panic, it was fun being a fool.  Anyways, it was all done for the training perspective. 

This fine afternoon I had a second visit from Michael over for lunch.  One year, Michael had trekked the nation from Newfoundland and then to British Columbia.  He’s experienced.  We discussed a number of things, even the possibility of doing some walking together this summer.  In our talk, he concurred that no one really understands the practice of marathon trekking, what positive effect it has, until you just go out and do it yourself.  In fact, anyone who has taken up the challenge of lengthy pilgrimages will wonder, “Why doesn’t everyone do this?”  As Michael confirmed about his noble walk, “Those were the best days of my life.” 

My remark would be, “If you can’t be foolhardy, then you’re just a bland bro.”

Be adventurous, be a fool. 

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Monday, March 31st, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

Walking Helps

Two mature women noticed me ambling along on Bloor Street.  They began to speak and ask me if I was praying after seeing my right hand fingering my beads.

“Yes, as a matter of fact.”

“Maybe you can help us?”

“I’ll see if I can,” I said, and prepared myself to listen.

“Did you know that medicare in Canada could get compromised?  You know that Tommy Douglas brought medicare to this country?”

“Yes, and by the way, last summer I was on a pilgrimage and I was walking in the district where he was born and raised.”

“In Saskatchewan, right?  Well we just came from a meeting and his daughter was there, she’s about 80.”

“Is that right?”

“Please help us.  Fill out this form, put in your vote for the Government to renegotiate for the new Health Accord.  We are really concerned.”

“Sure, give me a few of your forms for the people in my ashram.”

“So, you’re a Buddhist?”

“No, Hare Krishna.”  We parted congenially.

The big concern in the US today is just that, medical health.  Obama is trying to secure a reasonable health care system for Americans.  It seems there’s a need.  There is, of course, a lot that can be said about investing in preventative illness through education.   If you look at the average diet people are on in North America, it’s no wonder ailments are on the epidemic level.  Anyways, I vouch for and would vote for healthy food and a karma free diet for all human beings.  Walking helps.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Sunday, March 30th, 2014

Brampton, Ontario

Steps Through Food

Hiten and I had taken a few steps along Williams Parkway before his dad would pick us up for the drive to the ISKCON Centre in downtown Brampton.  I had spent the night at the family’s home.  I assumed, he is 14 and raised in Canada, to be a supporter of the local hockey team.  I had noticed the wallpaper in his room with Toronto Maple Leafs as the border trim.  It seemed to make a clear statement.

“You’re a hockey fan?” 

“I’m not following it too much,” he admitted. 

I know that he’s a fan of computers.  That’s pretty normal.  He loves food.  Who wouldn’t, at that age?  He also is fond of Krishna, which is a plus.  His parents tell me that he and his sister, Edha, take pleasure in bringing the tray of bhoga (food not yet offered to Krishna) up the stairs and then into their home’s temple room.  The tray of fruit, almonds, and rich cooked parathas is placed on the shrine before the deity of Krishna. 

The standard practice is that you present for the pleasure of Krishna, represented by a deity, food that’s prepared with love and devotion.  You chant some mantras before the deity as a way to say, “Please accept this humble offering of food as a token of gratitude.  This is all your mercy.”  After the few mantras are recited, one may take the tray of food, which is now consecrated, and is called prasadam.  This blessed food is then distributed to those in the proximity of the offering place or the home. 

In the household where Hiten lives, he and his sister bring the tray of prasadam from the upstairs temple room down to the kitchen, and then eat with enthusiasm the shared prasadam. 

This ancient practice of prasadam disbursement has gone on for thousands of years in India, especially involving the temples of Krishna.  This practice is also kept alive in places like the ISKCON Centre in Brampton, where really tasty yogic food meets the tongue such as mine.  Hiten and Edha found the vegetarian feast that was held there to be absolutely delicious.  The feast was held after a moving ceremony of diksa.  Two people received initiation.  Nikhil’s new name is Nimai Nitai, and his wife, Manakshi, has a new Sanskrit name, Moksha Lila.  Congratulations to them.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Saturday, March 29th, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

As Much As You Can

Rajneesh, so kindly drove me to Professor’s Lake in Brampton on the way to his home.  It was 11 PM and it was the first shot I had to get out and move around.  I needed to wind down.

“In order for me to get a decent sleep,” I told him, “I need to exert some physical exercise.” 

Rajneesh is very understanding.  He’s a social worker by profession and is sensitive to the human need, so we pulled into the parking lot and both took that trek for a half hour in circumambulation of the lake.  Hundreds of geese appeared to be in samadhi (trance).  You could see them faintly.  Some of them blurted out their ever so common honking sounds.  I was surprised to see ice, although thin, still on the lake’s surface.  All was serene and all was dark – a perfect place to end the day of beautiful busyness at the ashram where there was a memorial kirtan, a play practice, important calls to receive and to send, a bustling Govinda’s eating activity and intense cooking in the kitchen for the annual Yoga Show, and plus, the sanding and painting within the walls of our area.  All of these goings on were happening for the sake of advancing the spiritual cause. 

Frankly, the geese likely had a hectic day as well, and now they were resting on their laurels and acting the type of meditation they understand.  We all have to function within our own capacity.  As humans, the obligation is to be as introspective as you can. 

May the Source be with you!

 3 KM

Friday, March 28th, 2014

Columbus, Ohio

Walk To See A Cow

The cow’s left front leg was fractured in her home location, a barn in West Virginia.  She’s one of our cows, a Krishna cow, who hails from the New Vrindavan rural community, and was shipped over Galbreath Veterinary Center at the Ohio State University for physical care.  Gaura Nityananda, a Columbus monk, and I, felt pretty fortunate that this animal hospital was within walking distance of the Krishna House where I’m staying.  We made our way to this super clean barn which has multiple stalls.  We met Doctor Niehaus, the person who did surgery on the four year old bovine.  He was happy with the results of the surgery, and the cow (let’s call her Surabhi), seemed to demonstrate a joyful disposition, “She’s chewing her cud,” said the physician.  That was true, and at the same time that she was chewing, she also seemed to be doing an extended yoga stretch.  Her leg was in a cast, she appeared to be well on the road to recovery, and seemed to have overcome her complications. 

So now we have been speaking about a cow.  A cow, or bull, are sensitive creatures who meet with challenges of maybe a less complex nature in comparison to a human.  The human mind, for instance, is more that what anyone can comprehend.  On top of physical challenges, humans also have psychological challenges that we should perceive as opportunities. 

In this connection I would like to bring to your attention a beautiful quote that came to me today which came from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, our guru’s guru.  Here it is:

“Anyone who cannot understand that the complications which are ever present in the material universe are beneficial in a way that is pure, eternal, complete, and free… Is deprived of his true spiritual activity, devotion to Krishna.”

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Thursday, March 27th, 2014

Columbus, Ohio

I Went To Prison

My dear friend, Akhilananda, from Salem, Ohio, took me to the Trumbull Correctional Center to see Arjuna, a prisoner (aren’t we all?), and who will serve time for another 8 years.  Because of his great conduct, officers and inmates at the institution love him.  He has been put in charge of the art department for the whole place.  Arjuna isn’t anyone I can walk with until he is discharged, but I can certainly visit him annually.  He gave the good news that he’s soon to be engaged which will last until marriage, and which also won’t happen until the sentence is terminated.  Both Akhila and I are thrilled about this new development and are impressed with Arjuna’s patience. 

To Columbus I went.  There, I had the pleasure to trek with our sole monk from Krishna House located in the Ohio State University District.  Nitai Gauranga is the name of the monk who accompanied me along the Olentangy River, a stream of constant water that flows to the Mississippi.  The city here has put incredible energy into revitalizing and beautifying the river banks and protecting it from erosion.  I’m told the trail along the way goes a good 22 miles. 

To be explored at a later date.

Finally, evening came along and the usual Thursday gathering showed up.  From the Bhagavad Gita we spoke on 11.54 regarding unbroken service which repairs the broken heart. 

In hindsight, at the prison, a janitor asked, “What order do you belong to?” 

I had to repeat myself more than once, “Hare Krishna.” 

He obviously never heard the term before, and asked, “What kind of Christians?” 

I repeated, “Hare Krishna.” 

Thinking he got it right this time, he said what he thought I said, “Oh, Happy Christians.” 

“Alright, whatever,” I thought, and he went back to sweeping.

May the Source be with you!

8  KM

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014

Cleveland, Ohio

In Cleveland

I arrived at the bus depot in downtown Cleveland, and while I enjoyed this new space, so did some meadowlarks that happened to get inside.  They flew from light fixture to light fixture, pooping around and sometimes they came in for a landing picking up a snack scrap or two left on the floor.  They appeared to be trapped though, and they weren’t sure how to get out. 

This dynamic nearly reminded me of a famous episode in the epic, The Mahabharat, where Abhimanyu, the young warrior, so expertly was able to penetrate through the military barrier.  Once in, he was unable to exit as the barrier closed in on him. It is actually a sad moment in the story, and it meant Abhimanyu’s end. 

Dayal Nitai, my host in Cleveland, had come to fetch me while I had eyes on birds, and mind on the battlefield.  Once we arrived at his home at Hillsdale Road, he treated me to some of his raw food preparations.  He tells me he’s writing a book which includes those recipes of his, “Masterpiece Recipies”.

Now to work off the calories of that fine food, I ventured off, but only for an hour, taking in good air and moving my limbs.  I satisfy myself in breathing in what is one of the greatest gifts, and I appreciate that my legs  are the most outstanding mobilizers that a human can savour in.

A Wednesday group met at Dayal’s in the evening, and after a kirtan, our discussion based on the Bhagavad Gita 11.53/54, was all about the aspiration to see God.  Our conclusion was that as you pursue devotion, the eagerness to have a vision of someone calms down, and that energy transforms to “doing”, at which time, God sees you. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

Toronto, Ontario

Birds and Time

I arrived at the Toronto Airport, anticipating warmer weather than what the prairies offered.  Such was the case, but we are still looking at below zero degrees, and what appears to be the most stubborn winter I can remember.  It’s interesting, one place that I visited in Winnipeg, Fort Whyte Alive Park, recently saw about 200 of those iconic birds, Canada geese, land on its grounds.  After a few hours, the birds got up in flight and headed back to where they came from, directions south.  People at the sight who had been working in the park for thirty years, never saw anything like this before.  It  just wasn’t the time yet for the feathered friends to settle in the north.

The chill, a mere ten degrees Celsius below zero, did not deter me from a daily walk.  I’ll always bundle up and brave any condition if equipped.  I just had a few precious hours at home, at the ashram, to reconnect with the other monks there, as well as with visitors.  That was more of a priority.  I did also manage to slip in a drama practice with some keen volunteers for our next take on “Little Big Ramayan”.  Stephen has come forward to play the role of evil Ravana.  He’s an opera singer.  And Corrado is a professional dancer and plays the deceptive Marichi in the form of a deer.  Somehow the talent is coming my way and I’m grateful. 

Monk-bonding and a scheduled rehearsal consumed some beautiful time before preparing for an early leave for Ohio the next morning.  I guess I stopped at home for as long as the geese stayed at the park.  This loss of time for a trek I’ll make up the next day, even if I have to fight for it.  The warrior in me will arise, watch out, time! 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Monday, March 24th, 2014

White City, Saskatchewan

Paths

Aang, the air bender, a popular character from the animation series, is the latest person that I remind someone of.  On the list is Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Forrest Gump, Martial Artist Grasshopper, Buddha, and actor Kevin Spacey – all people I’m supposed to either resemble or give a reminder towards.  Whether I’m on one of those marathon walks or at a venue for a presentation, people don’t hold back from addressing someone that is relatable.  These remarks can be flattering or facetious.  I must admit, that in fact, I’m just an ordinary person, a simple monk who is a Prabhupada man.  I belong to my guru and I’ve set out for his mission which is to share the consciousness of Krishna.  My portfolio in this regard is teaching the science of bhakti yoga.  Every day of my life, the compelling obligation is to share some lesson with someone.

An opportunity in White City came when three young men volunteered to join me on the local trail system.  Our step was cautious, moving over intermittent snow, ice and general bareness.  On one trail, deer droppings marked the way.  We found the owners, the herd, who gave a good long curious stare.  We returned the stare, but they outdid us.  We were not prepared to stay there forever.  As we began to move, so did they. 

So the choice of trails was there, to go the way of snow and deer, or to take the path of relative dryness.  In life, we all have a choice to tread either of two paths.  One is called “nvriti marga”, the road of spirituality.  The other marga (path) is “pravritti”, the trail of self indulgence.  Take your pick. 

May the Source be with you!

3 KM

Sunday, March 23rd, 2014

Regina, Saskatchewan

Any Little Walking…

Any little walking done today was in sections.  I did a stretch of a Saskatoon suburb, a stretch along Highway 11, also Albert Street in Regina, and also including a little piece of the Trans Canada Highway, Highway 1.

In between I visited two mandirs (temples), primarily to speak and to chant.  At the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, I spoke from Bhagavad Gita, 2.1, wherein Arjuna addresses Krishna as Madhusudhana, which refers to Him as the slayer of a demon.  With this nomenclature, Arjuna appeals to Krishna, and hopes that Krishna will extinguish the demon of doubt.

Doubt isn’t always necessarily a negative feature.  It could simply represent a sign of intelligence and that one is craving to clarify some internal confusion.  A serious doubt that lingers, however, could hamper one’s moving ahead, and therefore, one may push on to clear this blockage.  This was the situation with Arjuna, and so he referred to the confusion within as a demon that needed to end. 

In Regina, at the ISKCON Centre, I spoke from Bhagavad Gita 9.30, which deals with God’s compassion over the soul who has slipped from dharma.  The message was that even if one slips from duty and commits a moral error, however big it may be, it doesn’t mean that one has slipped out of grace.  One is given another chance.  One needs only to be determined, to be rightly situated in attitude. 

I really liked some of the questions that followed after the talk, including Adrian’s query.  Adrian is only 7 or 8, “How do you get real love?” 

In short, I explained, “Generally if you give love, you’ll get love.”

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

Saturday, March 22nd, 2013

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Eager

What can I say about today?  Well, the family I’m staying with, Kasyapa Muni and wife Panchami, Sanjay and daughter, Radhika, are quite excited about new prospects which are both physical and spiritual.

Recently they bought a larger home, it’s a done deal, and they’ll be moving in soon.  That’s the physical part.  The spiritual portion is this evening they will be installing in their current home, not a new set of furniture, not a new car for the garage, no indoor swimming pool or a fish tank with exotic fish, or a husky dog for a pet.  What they are zealous about is the installation of a gorgeous set of deities of Radha and Krishna for their shrine in the living room.  Friends then came in the evening for an abhiseka ritual.  I lead the chanting and explained to all the symbolic and relevant meanings behind the standard motions and rituals involved. 

In a home where a family executes bhakti (devotion), these types of ceremonies, arrangements and such add a good dose of colour, shape and meaning to life when positive images of devotion avail themselves to the viewers.  Daily puja (rituals) will be conducted, short and sweet.  People are welcome to participate.

While puja has become an integral part of my life, I also balance such events, whether at a home or in the ashram, with meeting the outdoors.  Of course, for me it means walking and chanting simultaneously.  Divinity can be found within and without, indoors and outdoors.  Over the years I have also come to realize, as I’ve heard and read about this one principle over and over again, that there’s nothing quite so precious in the rendering of devotion as companionship that comes either in the form of a spiritually grounded person or a spiritually eager person. 

May the Source be with you!

8 KM