Author Archives: H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami

Russell, OntarioTis the LifeJagajivan, Samuel and I took to the trail on this day of utter shanti, peace.  Oh, how fortuitous it was—like heaven.  Fresh air.  The snow ran through it, leaving a freshness which is so c…

Russell, OntarioHis FootThe season’s first serious snowfall came down, white, wet and slushy.  Our footwear wasn’t quite adequate for the sidewalk.  Jagajivan, Anuttama from Calgary, and I stepped into the Russell music academy and …

Russell, OntarioI Like TrainsMuch as I like walking, I also like taking the train.  I suppose I did have some choices on how to get to this bedroom community of Ottawa.  One option was catching a ride with other commuters going from…

Toronto, OntarioD Day (Diwali Day)After a few glorious hours of Diwali calls from people, and dealing with people in general, it was time for a walk, some fresh air,, and a head clearing before the evening influx.  Diwali is indeed a big deal…

Brampton, OntarioMouth and FeetLeaves were swirling in the air and the winds were fairly high, compared to most days, as I was footing my way along Dupont.  Kate and Gaurachandra had dropped me off at one of the malls along Dupont where they …

Toronto, OntarioGood Vibes ContinueDave Haberman is a religious scholar and author of many books on spirituality.  He spends much of his time in the Vraj district of India because he loves it there, being a big fan of Krishna.  In a…

Owen Sound, OntarioSeeing Results from the WalksDillon was up there, along with a friend, on the rooftop, tearing down shingles.  They need a replacement because winter will set in soon.  He noticed our little walking party, came ov…

Toronto, OntarioAt South Building, Convention CentreThousands of spiritual delegates came from around the world to attend the Parliament of World Religions.  I met a small percentage at the booth/exhibit areas, casually in one of the many cor…

Toronto, OntarioAt the Parliament of World ReligionsOur cast and crew for “Many Mothers, Many Fathers,” were just entering the Room Festival Stage, a two hundred seat area, when the female speaker on the stage spoke of how her mother had her listen to …

Toronto, OntarioShiftedWalking shifted to play practice today. While the city’s Convention Centre had the opening night for the Parliament of World Religions, and our downtown temple was celebrating the anniversary of when an extraordinary spring …

Toronto, OntarioGhoul-TimeOne of my favourite couples is Anuttama and Rukmini from Washington, D.C.  They are in town.  They are my heroes.  They have been married for thirty-two years and are still going strong. &nbs…

Toronto, OntarioFun People“Hey, can I… … …?” asked the tall and stocky guy.“I’m sorry, can you say that again?” I asked, trying to hear over the traffic noise.“Yeah, can I rub your bald head for some good luck?”“Sure,” I said, “go ahead.”  He…

Toronto, OntarioGetting HumbleI took the opportunity to walk south on Yonge Street, the place where, in my early devotional years, I would hand out a stick of incense to passersby to get them to stop.  Once they did so, and they would take in…

Toronto, OntarioRunning KrishnaWalking these last few days involves mainly pacing back and forth at a decent speed. Since coming back from steamy hot India, I’ve found the damp coolness of late October somewhat intimidating, but I’ll get over it.&…

Woodbridge, OntarioLonger Live FallJessica held a great program at her home where her dad, Sam, and mom, Anna, cooked pasta and pesto, and everything Italian.  They pleased everyone’s palate and delivered their jovial hospitality. They a…

Toronto, OntarioThe Swami in MontrealI love reading about our guru in the early days of the mission.  Author, Mukunda Goswami, tells of the time in Montreal on an August day in 1968:“The swami was staying in an apartment building a few blocks…

Toronto, OntarioHe Walked InThe morning class had just ended when an eighteen-year-old York University student walked in.  Don is from Nigeria, and arrived in Canada when he was nine.  “I was religious, close to Jesus, before I migr…

Toronto, OntarioTo Get SeriousIt was certainly nice to be home, which means roll up the sleeves and be some kind of coach.  With Billy, our temple coordinator, we went through the men’s ashram—inspection time. It wasn’t so thorough but i…

Amsterdam / TorontoOn Ground In AirLong day.  Long waits. Delhi.  Amsterdam.  Then Toronto Airport.  New computers at customs.  No paper. Just pressing some buttons.  A long enough i…

Lucknow / DelhiMoving On With RepairsA physiotherapist by the name of Sita-Ram did a splendid job on my body just hours before leaving for the Lucknow Airport.  He and his apprentice did a kind of makeover on the machinery.“What’s bothering y…

Kanpur, Uttar PradeshTo a VillageThere is this fantastic walk-around space that allows for circumambulating the deities of the temple.  The deity’s names are Gaura-Nitai, Radha-Madhava and Sita Rama Laksman Hanuman, and they look to be well m…

Kanpur, Uttar PradeshBooster WordsIn our plenary meetings, many discussions were held, including the topic of having female gurus.  That prospect is looking rather favourable, I’m happy to see.  Still, it’s been some days now sittin…

Bathoor, Uttar PradeshPlacesFour of us, Radha Krishna from Hungary, Achintya from India, Kala Kanta from South America and I were escorted to Bathoor and beyond.  We visited three auspicious places.  First of all, today is the first…

Kanpur, Uttar PradeshA Sharing to the Outside WorldBetween today’s meetings, the local television outlet came to interview me. I couldn’t get the name of the station but one of the participants to interview me, a Krishna devotee, was keen to know …

Kanpur, Uttar PradeshWith the StarsI started my day under the stars, both outside and within the temple courtyard.  It was quiet.  At 3:00 a.m., however, there were still some lingering sounds—songs and bhajansof sorts in prais…

Kanpur, Uttar PradeshDark Night, Bright DayMy first day in Kanpur was a sweet/sour one. First of all, this place is another one of those sacred spaces. Emperor Dhruva, famous at the age of five, a Puranic hero, ruled in this area.  Only ten k…

Monday, October 15th, 2018Kanpur, Uttar PradeshWalking – A PoemEnglish poet and clergyman from the 17thCentury, Thomas Traherne, wrote a beautiful poem, “Walking.”  Complements of Kaustubha.To walk abroad is, not with eyes, But thoughts,…

Amsterdam, NetherlandsSome Ideas at the AirportI chatted with a hippy artist from Berlin at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. He’s on his way to Haridwar in the Himalayan Foothills.  He will be meeting other comrades of the same guru.&n…

Mississauga, OntarioRain and GrassI invited our few guests to try a simple walk in the neighbourhood.  We received a fresh and fine rain shower that inspired. My guest from Florida declined, “It’s too cold.”  It was on the defense.&…

Toronto, OntarioA Day of Polishing UpI gave a crash course in acting to Lautaro.  I’m always looking for prospective actors for future dramatic productions.  Lautaro has that classic yogic body.  He’s young and bears this&…

Grimsby, OntarioTwo Guests on the TrailKaruna and I began a second section of the Bruce.  Known as the Iroquoia Section it is very scenic, especially now with autumn trees, cliffs that overlook Lake Ontario and fun switchbacks along cascading…

Toronto, OntarioOrange Is the New BlackI am the proud owner of a pair of shocking orange Nike Sneakers.  They could blind you when set against any flora or fauna, dirt, carpet or any floor.  Wildlife in the forest will flee in fear …

Grimsby, OntarioMore TrailI opened the door of Alex’s van in order to step out, and was greeted with a warm wind.  The last portion of the Niagara section of the Bruce Trail was to be completed with a thirteen kilometre stretch.  So…

Toronto, OntarioGive Tanks of ThanksI’m back in TO, and to accompany me on a blissful 5:30 a.m. walk through posh Rosedale were some visitors—monks from Montreal.  It’s Thanksgiving Day in Canada and so it’s a perfect way to say thanks to the…

Moundsville, West VirginiaTopic of SexualityThe final day of the MAN-tra retreat permitted space for discussions on human issues.  What are considered controversial topics, under the theme of sexuality, came to the table.  Topics su…

Moundsville, West VirginiaDay TwoDay Two of the Men’s Retreat, or rather Man-tra Retreat, went super-well.  By the way, Trafrom the word Mantrais defined as ‘liberating,’ so I believe the title or theme of our weekend is about men b…

Moundsville, West VirginiaBirthday in a Rustic Setting“Let’s not make it too formal, even weird,” I suggested to Vraj, one of the organizers. Sometimes I find we do things in an over-kill fashion when it comes to glorifying someone on their birthd…

Moundsville, West VirginiaTo the HillsRaj sat behind the wheel, with me up front, as passengers Partha and Uttama from British Columbia rode in the back seat.  The four of us were enroute to the first ever, official, ISKCON men’s retreat, pro…

Toronto, OntarioTo Mount SinaiI was contemplating as to where to put in some walking. I put shoes on and a coat, and just then my cellphone rang.“Can you go and visit Sri in the hospital—Mount Sinai?  It’s nearby,” suggested Indresh, who…

Toronto, OntarioThe Chair RoomAnother dreary day kept me inside the building.  The greyness and moisture was somewhat intimidating, but more pervasively it encouraged the need for interior attention.  243 Avenue Road is an old Churc…