Tuesday, October 25th, 2016

Mumbai, India

  

Parting from Meetings

  

Kirtan, classes, walking, eating—these are the things that excite.  I came to Mumbai for meetings, but as meaningful as topics on the agenda can sometimes be, six-hour days, for several consecutive ones, are very draining.  It’s the above items that keep me alive.

This morning, I delivered a class from the Bhagavatam book where, the stoic sadhu (holy man) was speaking with Vedic ruler, Prahlad.  The sadhu spoke of his own past, confessing about desires pulling  and carrying him to phases of confusion, thus he struggled until he changed his lifestyle to the current one.  He reached a conclusion about life.  It must be simple.  It must be peaceful.

The waves of desires are like the wind that pushes a boat.  This is analogous to an intelligent person’s wit being derailed by “insatiable” desires.  After speaking for an hour’s length, I felt, by the mercy of guru, that I had succeeded in keeping the room of devotees perked up.  Fortunately for them, it wasn’t two three-hour sessions.

I began wrapping up, packing my meagre bags, thus terminating my stay in Mumbai.  Everyone did take care of us old boys in our sixties and soon-to-be seventies.  Succession is badly needed, by the way.  I have my strategy, my choices, my plans of action.  Personally, I feel the need to go back to walking and meeting people.

Up ahead is the western half of the U.S. and then a section of the Camino in Spain, thank God!

I thanked Pavan, a local yoga teacher, for exercises I could employ in the airport and elsewhere.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Monday, October 24th, 2016

Mumbai, India

  

The Cradle of Civilization Rocks

  

A few more monks in white (indicating they are novices) joined us for the beach walk.  At this rate, after a few days, we would have an army.  Strength is in numbers.

Here in India, a sense of Krishna consciousness is expanding.  Membership is on the rise.  Temples, schools, goshalas (cow sanctuaries) and restaurants are also on the rise.  Of course, India is the land of Bharat, named after the pious king.  It is the land of dharma.  People here have a soft spot for spirituality.  Some scholars postulate that notions of spiritual practice all began here.  In that regard, I would cheer the posters you sometimes see.  “Incredible India!”

We might take note of Mark Twain’s statement: “This is indeed India, the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags…”  He went on to say, “India is the cradle of civilization.”  Most things were given birth here, but I can appreciate his conclusion on the positive and objective side of things.

As mentioned yesterday, the beach is nice but there’s too much trash.  Yes, India is the land of extremes; of gods and demons—when you consider the great epics like Ramayana and Mahabarata and the tales they tell.

I once had a conversation with world-renowned Indologist, A. L. Basham, who visited and spent some time residing at our Toronto Temple.  I had simply  extended an invitation for him to come.  In his book, The Wonder That Was India,  he noted how the growth of Krishna Consciousness outside of India was a remarkable thing.  Also in his book, he attempted to correct the negative stereotypes of India.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Sunday, October 23rd, 2016

Mumbai, India

Surrender to the Sand

  

Some of the young monks from the area offered an invite to walk the Juhu Beach as the sun was about to arise.  I surrendered.  We took to the beach to walk and to engage in japa (bead chanting)—both, simultaneously.

During daylight hours and perhaps even at night, much Durga-puja goes on.  It is worship of the Goddess.  This entails the use of flowers, garlands and many coconuts.  Unfortunately, most worshippers are not very responsible with their paraphernalia.  The items are left to the waves, sand and water.

We do a bit of dodging of these articles for passageway.  In the course of the walk, pedestrians do greet us.  They know our clothes.

“Hare Krishna!” they say, and we reciprocate.

“There goes Guru Prasad Swami,” I point out.  The Juhu Beach is a daily trail for him.  Just about everyone and every object comes here.  Dogs who are stray love the beach.  Crows also make their appearance.  There's always foodstuff they can poke and tear at.

It’s a sweat session, the walking part.  Humidity is in the air.  The slight breeze does little to temper the situation.  But, the association makes it also a sweet session.

We did some photos.  Iconic poses. (Check Instagram: the walking monk).

One more thing about today, after the walk, it was guru-puja time at the temple.  Cameras—both hand-held and one hooked up to a big crane—were moving about.  What a privilege it was to be asked to lead the song with cameras coming and going.

May the Source be with you!

6 km