Toronto, Ontario
Before the Event
In preparation for the Diwali New Year
program, I put on my Kyboot shoes and headed for the ravine. I took three people with me—Ananda Vrindavana
from Argentina, Santosh from Surinam and another Vrindavan from Toronto.
How is a mere walk a form of
preparation? Well, I’ll be dealing with
the crowd that comes.
#1.
The walking (in the ravine) allows a needed down-time. #2. I
need that breath of fresh air before the building fills up with stuffiness. #3.
The walking improves my lung power as I’ll be giving the talk, leading a
song and narrating a soliloquy in a play, “Maricha’s Deliberation.” #4.
The walk opens up channels of communication as there are other walkers
to connect with.
On this last point, the four of us were in
the ravine on the trail and we were dressed in devotional attire. Two women were coming our way and so to break
the ice, I greeted them with a remark, “No, we’re not on Halloween!” So that encouraged a chuckle from them.
The other means of communication was to
mention to other walkers how adorable their dogs are. Where attention goes, energy flows. Honourable mention of someone’s pet starts
good relations.
The four of us completed our hour-long
venture. I, and they, were now ready to
take on the crowd for Diwali. Hundreds
came; many of them first-timers. It was
a lively fest. Happy souls were floating
about in the spirit of devotional practice.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
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