Friday 14 February 2014

Friday, February 7th, 2014

 Noida, India

Spiritual But Not Religious


Here we are in India, the land of dharma. Maha Mantra, the monk from Toronto, and I are joined by Fil and Mukunda, readying ourselves in Nodia, New Delhi's arm or suburb for the two hour trip to Vrindavan.

Lokanath Swami, our host from Maharastra has for years headed up a ministry for padayatra, which means, "festival on foot”. He has successfully seen to a pilgrimage involving a group of walkers, and a pair of oxen pulling murtis of Chaitanya and Nityananda, the 16th century revolutionaries promoting mantra culture. This endeavor has circled India several times.

Lokanath Swami, is physically a monk with a youthful demeanor, however, numerically he is in ascendancy to the point where he's looking for a padayatra successor. While he was showing me around the new construction in progress, Noida’s temple, which is already looking gorgeous, He asked if I could take the lead on the ministry. This is not the first time he's asking me. I’m touched that he has the confidence in me, but being a head for the creative arts team called VANDE, was the reason for the decline of the offer.

Our hour long time together in viewing the new facility in Noida, while having parlance on padayatra, made it clear that we are both engrossed in growing and expanding a more Vedic world throughout, not only constructing of temples (that’s his department), but through the humble act of walking. "Vedantic" is the word used by Phillip Goldberg, author of an article, in the time of India of yesterday, on America's view on religion. I browsed through the paper as we drove on the Yamuna Express en route to Vrindavan, and happy to note the expressway is well maintained. In the article, research by Gallup Harris and Pear discovered a trend in the U.S. It appears the reality is that "Many religions can lead to eternal life.” But common also is the notion that many people prefer to be in the category of "spiritual but not religious” (SBNR).

I found it interesting when he said every reputable analyst says that access to India's spiritual teachings has been a central factor.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

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