Toronto, Ontario
I
Met Fellows
Mahaprabhu is a rather seasoned Vaishnava
and is comfortably set in his orthodox ways in both looks and behaviour. He and I went for an evening trek through
Rosedale, a neighbourhood of stately homes.
With his stark white dhoti and
almost-shocking, bold tilak on his
forehead, set against a deliciously dark pigment, he could easily come across
appearing tribal/terroristic in this established neighbourhood.
I believe that after thirty years of my
floating through this hood (and I say that because I do feel light, and safe
perhaps, in this residential nook) people have come to know me. But Mahaprabhu, well, he’s new and
different. I’m proud of him for being a
staunch monk. I assess him as such even
though his visit to our ashram is
short—two weeks.
Having spent a good long day in the ashram, I met with others, mostly
fellows, who had come around to visit, to hear, to view, to eat—all things that
happen at the ashram and temple. There was Michael Gilbert, a renowned
photographer, who lives in both Paris and Hawaii, who came down for lunch at
our Govinda’s. He told me of a photo
assignment in Nepal, one April, when he was trapped in snow at a 14,000 foot
altitude. Thought he was going to
die. Then he started the mantra “Hare Krishna” and it gave him
the fuel to keep walking down the mountain’s descent. Hope came to him.
I also met Nicolas from Florida who showed
me his mantra card he’s had for years
in his wallet.
Ryan from London, Ontario, also came
by. He’s got that fascination for
Krishna. And then there was Amit,
smitten with love, going through a relationship crisis. “Chant!” Mahaprabhu and I told him.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
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