Thursday, October 26th, 2017

Kirkland Lake / Toronto

Two Planets

Brothers Jaya Gopal, Vyasacharya and the younger Kaushal—all of Gujarati stock—are up north in Kirkland Lake for the business venture of securing another motel.  I'm not sure how many that makes.  All I can say is the Patel Motel Regime goes on marvellously.

They were kind to have me come to this town, which is nothing shy of a seven-hour drive from Toronto, the city that now has the status of “never sleeps.”

The four of us took to the peace of the north by exploring the local ski trails.  No skiing for us, though, just walking.  None of us were really prepared for the wetness of the trails.  I had on my ‘Keen’ sandals and the others had donned their dress shoes.  It didn’t matter.  We were taking in the shanti (peace) of the place, with birch and spruce trees as our company.  There was a raven up above, the sound of a Blue Jay, and the occasional bushy-tailed squirrel scurrying along.

The series of trails just behind the new ‘community sports complex’ looped about and offered enough upward and downward slopes that any concern about the damp chill of the morning quickly dissipated.  Kaushal, the more recent arrival from India, was the first to notice that we heat up when our strides are going up.

A lake nearby and the plentiful presence of water gave the feeling that there was no shortage of H₂O around us.

“This is not like Gujarat.  India is drying up,” said Vyasacharya.

Jaya Gopal and family, Chandrika and son Nitai, then drove me to North Bay through the countryside of Chief Grey Owl.  I loved it!

I arrived in Toronto, then Union Station, and then wheeled my luggage back to the ashram.  What a contrast!  The hustle and bustle of the city set against the earlier musical of nature!

May the Source be with you!

8 km

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

Kirkland Lake, Ontario

To the North

Air Canada Jazz Flight 8837 landed in Timmins at 13:24 with me as one of the passengers.  Snow was descending but dissolving before it hit the ground.  Late October chill has begun and I came equipped with a light brown coat from Duluth Trading Co., a comfortable coat, compliments of Paurnamasi from Cleveland.

Vyasacharya was waiting to greet me and from there we drove to Kirkland Lake, population 10,000, a gold-mining town.  I walked through Kirkland Lake and Timmins on my first pair of crocs in 2008.  I recall meeting a ‘Born Again’ Christian woman in Kirkland Lake.  I couldn’t have a real conversation.  I remember trying to say that each and every one of us have been born multiple times and will continue to filter through many more bodies until we get it right.

Vyasacharya’s family, the Patel clan, is purchasing the Comfort Inn and I have been invited for a blessing of the deal.  His bro, Jaya Gopal, drove north to meet us for the blessing—a simple chant—but before he arrived I had the chance for a walk through the town once again.

I met a minister of the Spiritualist Church.  He introduced himself as a reverend for thirty years and was going to e-mail me his name.  I found it interesting that he has family who are Krishna devotees in the U.S. and has been following the growth and changes of our movement since its inception.  His residential locations have been Vancouver, St. Petersburg and now Kirkland Lake, where he is currently a major librarian.

Because of my robes, which are unusual for Kirkland Lake, I drew the attention of another man, someone from the First Nations.  He introduced himself with these words, “I’m not sure if I should say, ‘Namaste’ or not?”  He had the greatest grin.

“Namaste is perfect!” I said.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Tuesday, October 24th, 2017

Toronto, Ontario

Damodar

It was a plenty-good day. Lots of cleaning. Also spent time with a Buddhist monk and had dinner with him at the home of a Mauritian couple, Hari and Krishna Katha.

Overall, it’s a great month known as Kartik, when Krishna devotees celebrate the pastime of Krishna as a youngster, helping Himself to butter, and the consequences that follow. In temples and ashrams, we sing this song. (Translation by Kala Kanta of Gainesville.)

Damodarastaka

After you steal butter, Your earrings dance and shine

As you flee Your mother in Your Gokula pastime.

Though You are all blissful, all knowing, ever-new,

Greatest of controllers, Your mother controls You.

She shows You the stick and she binds You by the waist,

You shudder and sob and Your pearl necklace shakes.

As You rub Your frightened eyes, tears roll down Your face,

Ropes of her love bind You in Your mother’s embrace.

Relishing Your childhood activities like this,

You plunge Your devotees in deep oceans of bliss.

Though many revere You, by love You are subdued.

Again and again, Lord, I bow down before you.

Although You give freedom, I don’t ask to be free,

Nor do I want anything You should offer me.

I only request that Your sweet childhood pastime

Ever be enacted in my heart and in my mind.

Curly hair encircles Your face of blackish-blue.

Kisses make Your cheeks look like red bimba fruit.

May this sublime vision be all that I can see.

Any other treasure has no value to me.

Damodar!  O Vishnu!  O Lord beyond compare,

Be pleased with a soul sunk in oceans of despair.

Uplift and protect me with glances from Your eyes;

Shower Your compassion like rainfall from the skies.

Two sons of Kuvera were cursed to stand as trees;

You gave them the chance to become Your devotees.

My Lord, will You offer the same blessing to me?

I don’t want to merge with Your identity.

Although in Your belly the universe is found,

Your mother’s effulgent rope has Your belly bound.

I bow to that rope and to Radha, Your most dear,

And those sublime pastimes in which You appear.

https://youtu.be/VTRkpEx5VvE

May the Source be with you!

4 km