Author Archives: H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami

Toronto, OntarioSong for a SeasonI was walking along the VIctorian streetHopin’ to feel like I’m on a retreatThe ornaments were shining oh so brightIt was dark but awesome to look at the sightThe winter solstice is just around the cornerAnd I felt for …

Montreal / PrescottFun or FatalOur team of three stayed at the ISKCON Centre, Montreal, overnight.  I kept myself clear of any space where incense lingered as it agitates or aggravates my sinuses at present.  I have some throat issu…

 Cleveland / Detroit / Toronto / MontrealFlying to PlacesI left Cleveland via air with a stop-over in Detroit, and after a second flight, which landed me in Toronto, my two companions, Ananda and Jay, drove me to Montreal.  We were on th…

Cleveland, OhioTo the Prison and the TreesArjuna has been in prison for fifteen years and has a short time left to complete his sentence for manslaughter.  Those details are interesting and he’s been doing extremely well as an inmate. &n…

Cleveland, OhioMoving Around in ClevelandKaustubha and I walked to Olmsted Falls while morning was dark.  We were charmed by the rustic beauty of this little enclave with rushing river, covered bridge, antique shops and other shops selling st…

Columbus, OhioHaving A FocusI flew to Columbus and was then driven to a community hall in Dublin for an appreciation banquet dinner.  Prema Vilas—Prema means “love” so I refer to him as “Mr. Love”—organized the event and asked that I speak ab…

Etobicoke, OntarioDespiteDespite the mild weather of today and the willingness to experience the +3°C, destiny had it that I was to be temple-bound all day long.  For me the high point of the day entailed the morning discussions at the B…

Oshawa / CastletonWater, Marsh, TrailI consider myself to be in good hands—God’s—when trekking a trail.  East of Toronto, just south of Oshawa proper, I was able to explore the Waterfront Trail and Oshawa Second Marsh.  It is a wind…

Toronto, OntarioWalking In AppreciationAround the fence barriers of the under-construction park I went.  I’m happy when taxes go to public space improvement, even though at this season—winter—sitting at a park bench for any length of time is …

Toronto, OntarioThe Ultimate PositiveIt was awesome seeing snow move upward instead of the reverse.  From Pape and Danforth I stepped west and onto the bridge that is set over the Don Valley, and I guess gusts of wind took the descending snow…

Toronto, Ontario40 ❤Steps to Healthyhttp://www.40stepstosimple.com/lets-meet-the-walking-monk/Sent my way to make my heart smile was the following article, filed under “restore your faith, walk more drive less.”“Bhaktimarga Swami (otherwise known …

Fallowfield / OttawaOff the TrainThe conductor announced, “Fallowfield is next. Fallowfield coming up!”  https://www.instagram.com/p/BrPtD7YANuj/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=gky6f1phbw3uThat registered with me, however, I had be…

Mississauga / MarkhamSix Refreshing K’sI managed a refreshing six kilometres of walking from Yonge and Lawrence to the ashram. At the major juncture of Eglinton, I and a host of pedestrians waiting at the stop light, looked on in shock. And h…

Richmond Hill / North YorkThree ThingsMonks have obligations.  When someone in the community perishes, a monk participates in the send-off.  Krishna Sharma, I’m guessing, was ninety.  She resided in our ashram in the ’80s….

Varadero / TorontoThe Last PapayaLight raindrops moistening our backs were the final goodbye gestures from Cuba’s north-shore sky.  From the resort, ‘Memories’, Prana, Ananda and I boarded the bus for the Varadero Airport.  We are l…

Matanzas, CubaLast Fall Day In CubaThe goat, a baby, was lost from its herd and crying for help like anything.  Enroute to Varadero, our party of three made a stop-over in Matanzas, the “city of intellectuals,” as people say.  We ma…

Havana, CubaThrough the ArtsOur apartment is relatively close to the ocean and to the Malecon.  From the ocean’s edge, the sky is clear, revealing a very clean sliver for the moon. The pole star is above. Interesting!  Yes…

Havana, CubaMore Good StuffFishermen find this spot along the Malecon sea wall, to make their catch.  They know that the predawn time is perfect for sending the line and hook into the sea.  For Ananda and I, we find it ideal at this…

Havana, CubaThey Are WarmAt 5:20 a.m., I trekked to the Maleson, the sea wall at the north shore in Havana.  I headed east.  There, sitting on the sea wall, was Ekanath, a young Cuban I had given diksha, initiation, to about five ye…

Havana, CubaA Day at LessonsIt is yearly that I get to do a presentation at the Episcopal division of the university.  I’ve gotten to know professors both active and with emeritus status, although their names sometimes escape me.  T…

Havana, CubaIn the Bigger CityA small brigade of us trudged along from Havana’s concrete jungle centre to the university district, and then through the areas of embassies and colonial homes owned by millionaires of the past.  There, the three…

Varadero, CubaBack In CubaIt’s a three hour flight from Toronto and then you land in Cuba, Varadero to be exact.  A bus takes you from the airport to Memories Resort where one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Beaches’ is to be experienced.  …

Toronto, OntarioEast On DanforthThere was good prana in the air, that is it was ‘very alive’ as I breezed through with a confident step.  The particular area where you catch a nice wind, or rather it catches you, is on the Danforth …

Toronto, OntarioThe Topic of Food on the WalkDog sitters, walkers and runners were the folks whom Ananda and I met along the way through the ravine.  All of our encounters with them were sweet, though a brief acknowledgement of each other’s p…

Toronto, OntarioYou’re InWet is the way to describe the day.  I didn’t step outside but inside I did.  Lots of service, planning and then rhyming. Here’s what I wrote about the day.You’re In      &…

Brampton/TorontoSending a Message for GivingOnce again, an audience of a devotional kind was grateful for a bhakti drama.  In a less formal way of speaking, “Many Moms Many Dads” came off as a crowd pleaser and I’m indebted to those…

Brampton, OntarioNot Bull-dozedI crossed a parking lot in a Brampton plaza to get to Billy’s car.  I mentioned to passenger Kamala and Premaroni that I wasn’t so proud of not reaching my usual quota of the day.  What can be done?&nb…

Toronto, OntarioA Parcel ArrivedA parcel arrived from Montreal, a bunch of newspaper articles from the U.S.  My dear friend, Gokulananda Prabhu, forwarded them from one of my support monks who accompanied me last year.  I slid the f…

Richmond Hill, OntarioMeet Arnav, Chess MasterI remembered to call my dear sister, Rose Ann, to say, “Happy Birthday.”  A good day it was for her and also for we bhakti-yogis who are honouring this last day of the month of Kartik, t…

Toronto, OntarioSix KilometresBillie dropped me off at Yonge and Lawrence, leaving me with a nice six kilometres to make it back to the ashram.  I say “nice” because Yonge Street southbound is a smooth gradual downward slope toward Lake Ontar…

Argentina / CanadaGo! Geronimo!Seva and Camila were the great couple who saw me off when I was departing back to Canada. Once boarded, I would occasionally take a peek at the screen indicating what, geographically, our flight was soaring over.&nbs…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBy the RiversThe local brahmachari monks, in addition to many friends made, took to a walk along the popular rivers that come to confluence, one of them bearing the name “Tigre.”  It was a holiday called “Islas Malvinas…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThey Wanted MoreThe crowds wanted more.  “Kirtan! Kirtan! Kirtan!” was repeatedly shouted. It was 8 o’clock at night, the end of the stage show.  Merudevi, the prime organizer of the Festival of Indi…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaStir It UpI find the trees rather tall in Buenos Aires, and during my walk in the city they appeared very plentiful.  Today I discovered that these jolly green giants are perched and climbed on by birds and squirrels an…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLong Day, Fine NightIt had been a long day of immersion into the story of King Chitraketu through drama practice.  It involves twenty-five volunteers plus, and we all work hard.  That, and e-mail correspondenc…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaService is SafestI’m staying in a small house that’s plopped onto a flat rooftop of the temple building. I have been chanting on my beads while pacing on that rooftop.  This is how I’m getting some mileage in, all …

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaTime in the Basement“How are you doing?” asked Seva Kunj in the midst of our play practice.  He could have asked me that in Spanish.  That’s the least I know.  My Spanish is poor.“So far, so good!” I…

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWe’re HereIn the line-up at customs, which seemed to last forever, the tall, athletic man behind us was a flying trapeze artist.  He was curious about Balaram and I, especially since noticing my robes. Whenever the…

Toronto, OntarioConnecting With NativesJust before departing for the airport, two native fellows from the Cree Tribe came to visit.  Whether it was a true story or not, about them being survivors of the ill-fated residential schools, I agreed…

Ottawa, OntarioContemplate On Those Who GaveJagajivan and I hit the trail at a silent hour.  Perhaps a contemplative tranquility pervaded, because on a double level, on this Remembrance Day morning, we were reflecting on sacrifices made by me…