Monday 14 June 2021

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

Music in Our Lives

 

At the tail end of the day, I found myself comfortably seated at a bench, one block from Ramsden. For public use, this supremely varnished wood-bench is set just at the corner of the Paul Hahn piano shop. In fact, a concrete-set sidewalk resembling a piano key-board leads the weary pedestrian to the bench. So, there I sat, chanting on beads sending off soft utterings of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. I hope that a meagre dose of sincerity of mantras did make their way to the ear of God.

 

I reflected for a bit on how important music is in people’s lives. For those of us on the bhakti trail, bhajan (or devotional songs) should be carrying us through the day in spirit.

 

Just this morning, as part of our temple practice, we sang a song just after greeting the deities of Krishna. It is entitled “Sri Nama Kirtan,” and is in glorification of Krishna. “Yasomatinandana…” so it starts. It is authored by an outstanding saint, Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Just yesterday, an early photograph of him was circulating around, so we caught a glimpse of this great luminary. Everyone loves his songs so much. Let us meditate on him. I enclosed his photo.

I would also like to ask for prayers for a Godsister, Racitambhara, who was a school-master for many children over several decades in Mayapura, India. She is struggling with COVID and is in the hospital. Let us meditate; pray for her well-being.

 

May the source be with you!


 

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