Sunday 9 June 2019

Thursday, May 30th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

More Fun On the Grass

“I had a stressful day at work.  I walk home through the park and I hear the drum, the kirtan, and I’ve become so happy!” expressed the woman, who in her medical profession does have hard days. She had noticed us chanting at Bellevue Square Park, pulled out her phone to film us, and then shared that with her sister.  I could see, from her demeanour, that she was now relaxed, overcome by our modest performance.  Well, that made us (the chanters) feel good.  

In addition, the fellow who does his daily routine as Spiderman, came to us in civilian clothes to thank us.  He liked the rhythms.  And who else should come down our trail, where we were settled on the grass, but a group of what you might call ‘badass’ boys.  They looked rough.  They looked tough.  They were coming our way, specifically, and one fellow was in his mid-teens.

As he was about to approach us, perhaps to rough us up, or mock us—it sure looked that way, but I wasn’t sure—when he bent his knees intending to sit with us.  At that instance, one of his buddies shouted, “Hey man, yah gotta take your shoes off if yah wanna do that!”  The teen decided to proceed on, and as he did, he gyrated to the sound of the drum.  Some reverence or respect was shown, after all.

The place is a mix of a circus and a peaceful samadhi at the same time. Two worlds.  Another two worlds demonstrated themselves on our way back on foot.  Karuna and I walked from a more dodgy neighbourhood at St. Jamestown, and then crossed over a bridge to the posh Rosedale.  Two worlds, once again.   https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIre5ZgAT9/?igshid=1jwh77v234huu

May the Source be with you!
3 km


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