Author Archives: H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami

Friday, July 13th, 2018
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Scarborough, Ontario
Today

Today was special.  Some international kirtanchanters came to Toronto to converge for a 12 hour marathon of mantras.  The venue at 243 Avenue Road was decorated like the Milky Way.  It was awesome.  As per usual, during these events, when in Toronto, I have the privilege to start the chanting immediately after Sanskritist Dravida utters invocational mantras.

The main occupation for me today, however, was to stage “The Shakti Show” with a group of performing artists called Vedic Mace.  Our audience has roots in Bangladesh and we performed kirtan, a magic show, a satire on yoga, and classical Odissi dance.  It was much loved by the audience.  Held in Scarborough in their community hall, we opened up the program with food.  Yes, it was Friday night.  People came directly from work.  The show was to start at 7:30 p.m.  Not everyone turned up right then, naturally.  The management decided, with some input from my side, to serve the nice veg preps and kichari early, instead of at the end—10:30 p.m.  Can you imagine eating that late?

Five hundred plus folks came to see and hear of the Krishna culture in action. It is what our guru, Srila Prabhupada, encouraged us to do—present culturally.  He implied that the world would be won by this approach.  There is so much to share philosophically, and morally, in story format.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Thursday, July 12th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario
A Reprint

I was running out of mantra cards, or, rather, what some call business cards. “Can monks have business cards?” someone asked me once in a humorous way.

“Why not?” I challenged.  “The card is promoting walking—better than that, pilgrimage,” I explained.  I have an image of myself walking a trail in Mauritius where bats are ravaging the mango trees.  The image on the card doesn’t show any bat attacks.  It’s just something I remembered about the trail when I was walking at Bon Accueil.

I had to go for a reprint of the image with the maha mantraon the reverse side.  To get to the printers it is 1.0 kilometres, exactly, from the ashramwhere I live.  So what do you suppose a walking monk will do with such a distance?  Yes, walk it, there and back.

Unfortunately, I cannot boast any more measured mileage today.  It came to exactly two kilometres.  I rather invested more time into mopping the halls in the temple ashram.  It’s a different motion than a walk—more of a dance actually.

I mopped because it was needed.  Traffic is thick these days.  Foot traffic. People are coming from the far reaches of North America in preparation for the Chariot Fest in Toronto, perhaps the continent’s largest.

The Chariot Fest, traditionally known as Ratha Yatra, is now a fifty-one year custom since beginning in San Francisco, but enjoys a much older history dating back 5,000 years.  It also involves a ‘walk’ but not to the printers, perhaps a ‘cleaners’.

The act of walking along with the Chariot of Krishna is supposed to do some purging—a lifting of karma.

May the Source be with you!

2 km


Wednesday, July 11th, 2018
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Russell, Ontario
At the Heart of Renunciation

From the book Spirit Matters, a compilation of articles written by Mukunda Goswami.  

Here’s one, an excerpt from, “Love Lies at the Heart of Renunciation,” about two monks:

“One summer I was stuck for an hour on a train at a station between Vishakhapatnam and Kolkata.  With little to do besides gaze out my window I saw two bearded holy men facing each other, each sitting on a torn gumchaand dressed only in a loincloth.  They were engaged in a hearty exchange, but I couldn’t hear a word. They looked so happy and content that I grew a little envious.

Each carried over his shoulder a stick with a cloth bound to it.  Facing one another, they soon opened their cloths, ate some dried chapattis, and then tied their cloths back up.  They smiled broadly, shook hands, and then each walked his separate way.

Now, that’s real happiness, I thought, and real renunciation.  But what about the rest of us?  Who’s prepared, let alone able, to live the life of a mendicant, no matter how happy it may appear?

Well, I’ve read there are two kinds of renouncers, those who detest and avoid the material world and those who live within it but are quite detached from it. Those men I watched certainly looked like the real thing.

But I know that great philanthropists and many great spiritual leaders often live in the world with apparently affluent lifestyles.  Yet they are renounced… Maybe the sadhus on that train platform weren’t the real thing after all.

Renunciation dwells in the heart, and if there is a greater loving dimension elsewhere, I’ll spend my life searching for it.”

May the Source be with you!

3 km


Tuesday, July 10th, 2018
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Russell, Ontario

The Swami

The following is a poem I wrote today and then read to a crowd at our mini Festival of India last night.

MY DEAR FRIENDS      © BMSJuly 10, 2018

There was a wise old swami from India

Who very much wanted to be in America

He was warned that he was too old

On top of that—America is too cold

But he was determined to go

To the land of milk, honey and snow

With a firm grip on his cane

He took to a ship’s ramp and lane

And sailed across the great sea

With a plan in mind, you’ll see

But a storm made the waves so high

The kind that could cause you to die

The swami was dizzy; problems with the heart

His whole dream looked as if to fall apart

But then the ocean became most calm

The swami could now chant the name Ram

The ship docked at the city of fashion

Which never sleeps in its mode of passion

The swami came to the west with a gift

He was a visitor on a very different shift

Some people were giving him the looks

When he landed with a trunk full of books

India was a place that gave silks, spices, tea

No one knew anything about bhakti

The swami said we all have it within

It goes deeper beyond our very skin

It was lost but it can be found

A treasure not on the surface of the ground

The swami then had many a student

They learned to be sensitive and prudent

The swami then left the world behind

Hoping for a world that would be more kind.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Monday, July 9th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario
Good One

Today was a good one.  Brian Carevana brought his group of just under fifty people over to our temple. The members of the multi-religious group came from mostly the local area, but also included some from Vancouver, Boston, Virginia, plus Lincoln (Nebraska), and I may have missed one or two.  They were a mix of a mature group, with some of a younger batch, but all graduates in religious studies.

They came to see, listen and then feast.  Questions were philosophical, yet most were more introductory.

Q: “Why the saffron colour?”

A: This is reserved for monks, celibate students and teachers.”

Q: “What do you mean by family planning in addition to no meat, alcohol or gambling?”

A: “The most strict have ‘union’ for children.  It’s individual, though, and in general, members have varying degrees of commitment.  On the highway, people drive at different speeds.  The ones who benefit the most are the ones who obey the signage.”

The meal was a highlight and I applaud our group for a smooth operation of cooking and serving.  Chanting was also on the menu.  We also garlanded Brian with fresh flowers.  I think he was blown away.

After a day of cleaning before the group came, and the presentation, Karuna and I took to the ravine for a p.m. stroll.  At one point we sat at a pond to reflect on the good day, and how it was.  But our contemplation of the Thai boys stuck in a flooded cave—OMG!

May the Source be with them!

8 km


Sunday, July 8th, 2018
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Montreal, Quebec
The Wolf, The People

“I think they need to reintroduce the wolf,” said Dave, as we both ambled along on Yonge toward Bloor.  The topic was about wildlife and what I see on my walks in the countryside.

Dave said he’s from Essex County, from Windsor, and every so often they have a cull of the deer who have over-run Pelee Island and the southwest part of the province of Ontario.

“Coyotes don’t take down deer.  Wolves do,” was his conviction.  I agreed with Dave, who’s a bartender; nice guy actually.

We can’t keep destroying nature’s ways,I thought, but we’re very good at that.

Dave and I parted.  My route was back to the ashram.  As I sauntered back, I contemplated the good day in Montreal, and also on addressing some challenges people have at a personal level.  I offered some counselling, as a service, promoting the themes of: don’t give up, be a warrior, communicate and look at the needs of each other in a relationship.

I had the pleasure of making new friends at the site of the Ratha Fest.  Best of all, I gave the first grains to the toddler of Pradyumna and Tina.  What a cooperative little fellow he is!

On our return journey down the 401 Highway, we veered over at the Thousand Islands, to the new owners of The Gananoque Inn.  Mukesh and Ashvina Patel run this historic facility, with its two restaurants, fifty-three rooms, and conference room.  The Patel clan is working on securing many hotels throughout the country, which would make it more accommodating for travelling Krishna monks like ourselves, since traditionally the Patels don’t eat or prepare cow, pig, chicken or deer.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Saturday, July 7th, 2018
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Montreal, Quebec
Mantre-all

These days, Montreal puts on a good show of the Festival of India.  It starts off with a procession, very religious in spirit and also exotic to some, hip even.  To others, I imagine it may come off as appearing a bit strange.

The image of Jagannath—translated as ‘Lord of the Universe’—is mystical and captivating. The beat of the drums is what stirs up excitement.  The procession draws the very faithful.  At Jeanne Mance Park, we have a good crowd—second year in a row—of people culturally oriented to Eastern ways.  “The food is great,” said Ajamila, a popular Bengali singer.

The administration rented a large marquis to house hundreds in shade and provide protection from rain, should it come.  The key to good attendance is largely due to effective marketing. Nrsimha Chaitanya, a Russian-born devotee of Krishna, has got it down.  “I’m happy with this first of a two-day event,” he said.

I mingled with a few from the crowd.  The stage items were attractive.  Professional and devotional performers brought the stage to life.

I came up from Toronto with the group “Vedic More” to present Indian classical-style sound along with a bass guitar to add some spice.

The only major complaint I would have with the festival is a failure to provide a station for hand cleaning after using the portapotty.

I should not forget to let all know that we also presented a ten-minute skit of slap-stick called, “First Timers,” as a satire of yogamembership and routine.  Of course yogahails from India and that was our link to Indian exhibition today.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Friday, July 6th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario
The Good News

The good news received this morning is that the government of India is putting some loving pressure on the famous temple of Jagannath in India, to make it open for all pilgrims to attend.  This would be a milestone, since the current policy has held onto a traditional ‘caste consciousness’ for centuries.  Opening up the doors so all could benefit would be quite the accomplishment. Relaxing the rigid approach may say something about witnessing some good omens within a dark age—Kali Yuga.

I was happy to see Sasvata, a godbrother who operates the “House of Healing” in Caledon. It’s been years.   http://houseofhealing.ca/Welcome.html Today was also a great day for seeing the arrival of a Florida couple who are set to conduct some magic shows on the upcoming tour we are part of.  From Montreal to Alberta, I’ll be with a travelling road show beginning this weekend.

Also, admirers of drama can now check out www.thewalkingmonk.netand click theatre.  There you can view the new entry “Many Mothers, Many Fathers,” detailing the life of Chitraketu, a story from the book, Bhagavatam.  It was filmed in Mayapura, India, and we are quite proud of the piece.  Please enjoy.

In addition to all the good stuff mentioned above, I was able to boast today to some of the patrons at Govinda’s—our restaurant, in our complex—that we have a private washroom for them on the main floor of the building.  Done with first class material and wheel-chair equipped, it is a convenient facility.  It’s a little awkward to say but, “Come check it out!”

May the Source be with you!

5 km


Thursday, July 5th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario
Rains Came

The rains came and hard they came

Walkers were compelled to do the same

For any shelter that might keep them dry

Umbrellas were propped and kept up high

And after the shower the coast was clear

There was little to fret and not to fear

The chocolate cream was smudged for days

On the sidewalk where Sun used his rays

The rain did its job and made it go

At a rapid pace, no cream to show

I walked up Yonge where pretentious fun

Just about captures everyone

Then Bloor where you can’t afford anything

You go there and might just want to sing

I did my song of mantra maha

It’s auspicious like when you say “svaha”

I walked by Varsity to recall that once

John & Yoko were there, twas years and months

The rain purges bringing out the smells

Of fragrances from heavens, away from hells

I was in elation, and there were more

People who also got to score

Score we’ll do, we get old and die

But I won’t die, no need to cry.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

St. Catharines, Ontario
More on the Bruce

We took the time to get to the next leg of the Bruce Trail and to head north a bit farther, on foot.  The starting point was the ending point of one month ago—the Woodend Conservation Area. We were Vaishnava, Gaurachandra, Karuna, Dennis and myself for the initial steps.  Karuna and Dennis stayed on with me, later.

The trail is magical and offers a variegated array of features—the Welland Canal, a golf course, shady nooks of dream houses, a winding, posh neighbourhood, and a short stretch of retail strip; but our favourite was the woodsy, tall, deciduous forest.  Second to that was a lower bush where we found blackberries galore.  Cherry trees bearing the dark juicy fruits also came as a surprise.

At one point, Karuna brought me a small pear-shaped, and green-in-colour fruit. “Walnuts, not yet ripe,” I said, knowing a few things about the bush.  Of course, no one needs to identify the mosquitoes who accompanied us in the beginning until the sun burst forth to another day of inferno.  Trees saved us, really.

Our journey was a reasonable three hours of moving along which took us to Brock University in St. Catharines.  It’s a milestone—something achieved after 12 kilometres.

Karuna, Dennis and I had our grand reward, a meal with Vaishnava and Janaki.  Kofta, red and rich, and wraps and potato curry made tummy and senses blissful.  My legs held up quite well despite the up and down terrain in spots, which reminds me that stiffness in the knees does tell of age. At Vaishnava’s, we spoke of a serious home project for the future.

May the Source be with you!

12 km


Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Dedications

The plan is to walk a length of the Bruce Trail tomorrow, but today I couldn’t find the time.  Good clear walking hours would have been in the night.  Instead our brahmachari monk team from Toronto drove over to the household of Rajarsi and Ragini who held a kirtanchanting session at their home in honour of Jayapataka Swami, a senior godbrother.  He is having all kinds of physical challenges and we thought it good to call on some help for healing from the Supreme.  The event was held in their private home in Brampton, and many people came.  Some very rich prasadamwas served at 8:00 p.m., a little late, and caused a little ache in the belly when so late, but we are grateful.  I was exceedingly happy to see such devotional acquaintances not seen since the seventies and eighties.

Honourable mention must go to a person who was a rock in the bhaktipublishing department.  Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, began a regular journal called, “Back to Godhead,” in 1944.  For a time, there was a lull in publication, but it was revived in the late ’60s.  Called “The backbone of the Hare Krishna movement,” this publication enjoyed a period of decades of dedication by senior photographer and advisor, Yamaraja, who recently passed away from cancer.

Yamaraj was always kind to me every time I met him at the temple in Alachua near Gainesville.  He was a gentle soul and a determined monk.  He is a kind of hero who fought two demons, cancer and the Kali-yuga, with his publication work.  https://iskconnews.org/back-to-godhead-magazines-quiet-hero-yamaraja-das-passes-away,6617

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Monday, July 2nd, 2018
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Mississauga, Ontario

Victory to Dracon

I received an e-mail message from Dracon, the Chinese chap whom we met on the Bruce Trail back in Queenston Heights on June 3rd. His message was he finished the Bruce from its southern start, to the northern-most point in Tobermory—a distance of 890 kilometres.  All victory to him in his solo effort.  We would factor in the paramatmapresence—God in the heart.  I know little of the details but I should ask him about challenges along the way, the ups and downs of the journey, both physical and psychological.  Where did he get food?  Etc.

I am encouraged also to get back on that trail.  Duties have me bound. Such as today, I held a seminar on guru/discipleship, or shall I say guru / sishyawhich are actually the more traditional terms.  It was important as some people are aspiring to take that next step—not in terms of walking but advancing spiritually.

With us still sunk in a sweltering summer, Karuna and I decided a walk was nevertheless necessary for the day, but we would only consider the task when a cooling had taken place.  By 8:30 p.m., we left for Christie Pitts Park.  It seems everyone had the same target in mind—evade the heat, bathe in the night.  Bloor Street became full with humans and all that’s good and bad which goes along with them.

It was really pleasant.  A sit-down at a picnic table at Christie Pitts for gayatrichanting was just a perfect ending.  The sun came down and so did the last of the relentless heat.  Meanwhile, sections of B.C. are receiving snow.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Sunday, July 1st, 2018
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Ottawa, Ontario

The HH and the CC

I woke up at approximately 1:00 a.m., not because of the hype of the celebration in the air—it’s Canada’s birthday today—but because it was unbearably hot and humid.  HH.  I took a cold shower, for obvious reasons, and then snuck out of the house where I was accommodated—thank you, Surinder—for an hour-long walk.  The experience was like never before.  I came back drenched in sweat and went again for a second COLD shower, and then some more sleep.

The second installment of walking was from the ISKCON Centre on Somerset to near the Parliament buildings.  It was brutal—the weather.  Upon the arrival of our good-sized procession of men, women and children, we instantaneously decided to head for the trees and cancel the idea of snaking around through the crowds, which were noticeably down in number this year.

It was the HH factor, I’m sure, that made people hesitant to come to downtown Ottawa.  Perhaps the evening crowd would be more voluminous.

I met great people, in the course of our sitting there under the trees, while engaged in kirtan. The public was delighted by the bubbly presence of our chanters.  Most folks came in white and red attire, the colour of the Canadian flag.  Someone came dressed as Charlie Chaplin—CC—in red and white.  He looked spiffy, and to see him lightened the burden.

Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, liked Charlie Chaplin stunts. He was humoured by him.

I had never experienced such a dripping day here at 35°C, but feeling like 47°, or being in Delhi, India, as far as temperature is concerned.

May the Source be with you!

8 km

Saturday, June 30, 2018
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Russell, Ontario
Genuine Vegan

Krisnadas and I took to a trail next to the road called Longfields.  

“The fields aren’t long anymore,” indicated Krisnadas, who moved to the Ottawa area in the ’70s.  The place was all rural, and now it is so-called developed.  There are some rustic/rural patches remaining. Both of us noted that the ‘green’ on both sides of the trail consists of a diversity of plants, shrubs and trees. And animals.

You know, every day of my life, I hanker to see wildlife of any sort and kind.  Domestic creatures, pets and so on, are plentiful wherever you go.  But I have to have my quota of rawness fulfilled.

Lo and behold, K.D. and I saw a bunny, not shy, but quite open to some human interaction.  He let us get close, this genuine vegan, who had plenty of greens and fruits to munch on: no karela (bitter melon), spirulina, kale, goji berries, or pomegranates, which are great detoxifiers, but dandelions, grasses, and a whole growing array of greens.  He looked content, and he fulfilled my need, my quota.  

K.D., Paurnamasi and I shuffled off to Russell where judo and jujitsu are taught in a venue with nice AC. (It’s very hot and humid here.) There, along with Guru Prasad, we told an audience of bhakti yogiswhat it was like in the ’70s, in the context of the early days of the Hare Krishnas in Canada.  “‘How’ and ‘why’ did you know?” Was the main theme.  Those were the times of a lesser population and fewer buildings—more rawness. 

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Friday, June 29, 2018
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Ottawa, Ontario
Analyzing Road Disappointment

When you live in Canada, you can spend hours in a vehicle because, the reality is, to get from one place to another can be quite a distance.  I’m not exempt from the system.  To get to Ottawa, five hours from Toronto, is achievable on foot in weeks.  I had to get there today.

Dennis drove me to Newcastle to a carpool situation, there to be picked up for the remainder of the drive.  On Highway 2, we passed by one of those Volkswagen vans. “Have you ever driven in one of those?” 

“A hippy van?”

“Yes.”

“Not that I can remember.”

And then Dennis offered his opinion on the conveyance.  Giving one’s opinion is something most people can’t resist doing.  It must mean our brains are functioning.  It’s a symptom of being alive.

Krishnadas then came and picked me up, and then we proceeded east on the 401 highway.  We noticed a huge digital sign.  “401 Closed Ahead.”  Really? And then I offered my opinion upon reflecting on having seen this kind of thing before.  When the busiest highway in the country stops moving as frequently as it does, you have to wonder and question the whole system of moving operations.

We shifted to a northern route, Highway 7, which also eventually came to a standstill a one point.  This rarely happens to pedestrians.  Our bodies are more agile.  We can swerve around an object of mass if it is standing in the way. It is so much easier to think about walking as a choice.  I really have to put patience into full gear when in a vehicle.

May the Source be with you!

0 km



Thursday, June 28, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario
Had Planned

We had planned, for a few days now, to take a breather; to take a meaningful walk along a trail.  The only thing is, we could only complete one-third of it.

Billy, Amala and Isvari joined me on the trek when I did my training, and where I made the decision in ’95 to do my first marathon walk across Canada.  Somewhere between the Brickworks and Mount Pleasant Cemetery, I said one evening on a stroll, “Yes, I’ll do it!”

At the Brickworks, we made our first major stop at the pond.  An old, wise-looking snapping turtle surfaced when he saw us.  Oh, he had been gawking at us from beneath the surface of the water, and then he came up.  No doubt it was food he was after.  We couldn’t satisfy his needs other than to admire him like anything.  We plucked a waterlily from his domain.  

We enjoyed kambucha at the eatery nearby, but without Mr. Kurma, our turtle friend.

It was a steamy day, but the thick, dark and full trees gave relief.  I pointed out to our walking crew what was chicory, birch, maple, oak, Saskatoon berries, salmon berries, cattails, burdock, mulberry, and more all along our trial.  Every plant has purpose.

Billy is really the ‘belle of the ball’, the life of the party.  He really knows how to keep up the thrills on the spur of the moment.  I was dull.  What to do? I didn’t sleep for a moment last night. What the dickens?  And by the way, Charles ‘Dickens’ was an insomniac.

May the Source be with you!

12 km


Wednesday, June 27th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Kamil, the Rain, the Song

Kamil came to join us on the mat which was spread over fresh grass in Ramsden Park.  There had been a recent rainfall.  All was lush and in tones of green and blue.  It was his second time out with us in out-of-doors kirtan.  His first was December 31st, and spilled over into and after the countdown for the new calendar of 2018.

Kamil followed us back to the ashramfor hot herbal tea, as it was an extremely cold New Year’s eve. He liked chanting then and he likes it now.

I admired his walking stick.  I asked him to pose while he didn’t have his farmer’s coveralls on. Yes, indeed, he works with the plants, growing and nurturing them somewhere in Oshawa.

So I was not in a condition to walk much.  A stiff left leg made it difficult.  I’m going to tackle a three hour trek tomorrow along some ravines. I’ll be with others.  We will bond.

Anyway, Kamil leant me his walking stick on the way back to the ashram,after an hour or so of sarod, spoons, mrdanga, kartals and most importantly—voices.

We stuck to one song—Hare Krishna, which was good enough. The climate was perfect.  Rain drops started to hit our faces.  It was time to go.  The rain is particularly not good for the sarod.  It’s fragile and precious and so conducive for chanting.

That’s what we did this morning—had a chanting session about Narada Muni, the sage who plays the vina, a similar stringed instrument.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Tuesday, June 26th, 2018
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Madrid / Toronto

The Form of Service

The ground was under my feet, from about 11,000 metres up in the air.  It was farewell to Spain for now, after a week of classes, meetings, walking, and fun. I want to thank all those good souls who looked after me while I was at Vraja Mandala, the farm community outside Madrid, and the group who manage Hare Krishna Centro in the downtown district.

I claim no physical kilometres today, only those in the dream state in planning a 15 km trek through some ravines, along an actual loop which begins from our ISKCON Centre on Avenue Road.  It will be a good bonding experience and, who knows, it is great exposure for those of us whom we meet on the trails.  The walking and the chanting does tremendous good.  It is a form of service.

While waiting for Flight 837—Air Canada’s aircraft—to arrive, I read from the Gitaa special segment from purport 10.11: 

“Due to the contamination of material association, through many, many millions of births, one’s heart is always covered with the dust of materialism, but when one engages in devotional service and constantly chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, the dust quickly clears, and one is elevated to the platform of pure knowledge. The ultimate goal, Viṣṇu, can be attained only by this chant and by devotional service, and not by mental speculation or argument.”

The above verse, the two prior, and the one following 10.11, are four key verses, and their purports are major information capsules for material relief.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Monday, June 25th, 201
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Tres Cantos, Spain

On a Camino Branch

Janardan, president of the Krishna Centre in Madrid, led our party of three (including Narottam) through the dark, dry trail from Fuencarral, on the very outskirts of Madrid.  This is more like what I envisioned The Camino to be—countryside, bushes, farms, dogs barking, remoteness, and maybe other pilgrims. But NO, we were up early, at 4:30 a.m. to take the first steps of a short distance—12 kilometres.

How powerful it was!  Janardan’s cell phone was our map and flashlight at the same time.  Every time we spotted the golden arrow, it gave assurance we were on the right track.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature was the constant thrust of wild flower perfume into the air.  It was such a perfect trail that I would do it again.  Most likely I will tackle Tenerife, the island.  It looks like I have some troopers all set to go for a four-day stretch somewhere in the future.  I’m usually asked, “What’s your next destination?”

There it is, Tenerife, at least, sometime in the future.

Additionally Mantri, the main deity priest at the Madrid centre, took me for some more kilometres during the evening.  We were all comfortably locked inside the building for most of the day. Who wants to brave the 40° C conditions? By 8:30 p.m., we were poised to trek to the rio (river) and back.  This is when everyone comes out of the woodwork.  It was humid.  Overnight my kurta(top) dried to a crusty salt from the sweat.

It was splendid being back in AC land—the centre.

May the Source be with you!

16 km

Sunday, June 24th, 2018
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Madrid, Spain

Checking Out Miguel

Miguel de Cervantes is the famed author of the fictitious character “Don Quixote” and is memorialized just a few blocks from Hare Krishna Centro.  It was natural to take a stroll there.  Gathering Narottam, a student from Mayapura, India, and Bhakta Jyan, of Guadalajara, to take the lead, browsing about became our way of winding down the day.

The monument is impressive, situated by a pond of water, and just about every tourist who comes to Madrid, takes a walk around while taking a few snap shots. It’s amazing that Don Quixote has become so popular a character.  When I asked my companions, “Who was he?” the straight and simple answer is, “He was a dreamer.”  I know of a few people like that.  I guess his imagination was in the extreme.

Morning and evening engaged me in giving classes, the first was based on the monk, Chaitanya, and his magnanimous ways with prema pumartha maha.  Premais the love that is deeper than any other. It goes beyond the practice of dharma.  If people love the person Don Quixote then they may consider the nature of Krishna and so many avatars.

The second class, at 1:30 p.m., was a component of the Sunday Open House.  The quaint Hare Krishna Centro, just five minutes off San Bernardo, gets packed with people, mostly Spaniards, with the exception of some South Americans settled in the country for better socio-economic opportunities.  Here I spoke (with translation) from Chapter 18 of the Gita.  How glorious is that dialogue between the warrior and the Divine.  “It gives me a thrill,” if not a chill, up the spine, so says Sanjay.

May the Source be with you!

6 km


Saturday, June 23rd, 2018
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Madrid, Spain

How Does It Feel

At 3:45 a.m., just when the party mode was beginning to subside, a guitarist moved his strings, and with his vocals—outside our window—started to sing, “How does it feel to be on your own, like a rolling stone…”  This Bob Dylan classic threw me back to the sixties, but probably it was also a message that roommate, Yadunandan Swami, and I were to start activating our mission for the day and become rolling stones.

Julan Yatra from Tenerife was also to join us on an early attack on the trail, a branch of the famous Santiago Camino that runs through Madrid.  We convened and the air was good, and people were good (sort of); some were high or a bit tipsy from drinking.

Party goers chanted simply upon seeing the three of us, however, a trio of Friday night enthusiasts—two gals and a guy—took us more seriously.  They looked over our mantra card with serious interest.  We were on the first break, standing, and then sitting under an amber street light.

Incidentally, to follow the Camino’s route, you have to keep your eye on the gold-painted arrow.  It led us to a cemetery and the very precincts of the city.  That was good enough.  Thirteen kilometres accomplished.  We had to return to our temple for a scheduled talk on “Tales from Trails” to be held in a cave-like temple.  By the way, the restaurant here is well visited and increases in attendance in the winter.

May the Source be with you!

13 km


Friday, June 22nd, 2018
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Alcala de Henares, Spain

Kirtan Where It Helps

Most of my stepping today was in the city above, done during our Hari Nama Sankirtan practice.  Approximately twenty-five of us danced or paced up and down through this trendy downtown, armed with mrdangadrum, kartals(cymbals) and our own good cheer.

It’s funny how people respond to our group.  It ranges from disdain, to indifference, to happiness.  Obviously, we come across as religious, and some store owners don’t see us as a draw to their merchandise.  There are a lot of people, clerks as well as tourists, who just break into a big smile, and that is always reassuring.

It was interesting to see storks flying overhead, and even more-so, landing on municipal towers where their full nesting arrangements have fewer predators at such heights.  There’s always an innate desire to see your species survive and prevail.

While we were chanting the streets under an endless awning, a protection from the sun, a group of protesters were shouting out slogans for justice.  Apparently Spain had one of those instances where a woman was mercilessly and publicly raped, and the guilty group of men have received a less-than-serious sentence.  Of course, people should be penalized to match the offence.  https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/spain-protests-wolfpack-rape-charges_us_5ae520bee4b04aa23f23a2af

What brings people to do such things?  Where do such ideas come from, ideas that get implanted in the brain?

May the Source be with you!

5 km


Thursday, June 21st, 2018
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Romanacos, Spain

At the Top

I am really fortunate because rains have been in abundance, more than usual. It has left everything very green.  Locals say, “It is usually dry at this time.”

The village of Romanacos is approximately seven kilometres from the farm, Vrajamandala. A kind person, Vishnu Dharma, drove us to the top of the hill, right to the site of the village.  There sits an old church from the 16thcentury. A tiny snake seemed to take refuge in the area.  He shared the road with us—Nir, Julan and Lyla.     https://instagram.com/p/BkT_r_igFJn/    The trail is this winding road that is ever so quiet.  It’s hard to believe we are so remote.  Luckily, spring fountains of drinking water are found here and there.  Overall, I find it is a very pleasant place for self-reflection and God-contemplation.

Yadunandan Swami asked that I give classes twice today—once on the story of young prince Dhruva after he met Vishnu, and another on “Whatever you wish to speak about.” For the second one—which was at 6:00 p.m.—I wasn’t sure where I was going to go with it.  It was a nice surprise to see how it terminated.  Each person was left with their own chosen, personal sutra(code) which he/she felt was their direct message from our guru, Srila Prabhupada.

“In a nutshell, what is he asking you to do?”

In truth, I came to Spain primarily to meet with Yadunandan Swami, and two Cuban devotees, Janardan of Madrid, the temple president, and Julan Yatra, vice president of Tenerife.  We discussed, at length, strategy for sharing Krishna Consciousness there. Vrajamandala is a great place to meet.

May the Source be with you!

6 km


Wednesday, June 20th, 2018
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Guadalajara, Spain

A Small Strip of Spain

Alberto, an Italian-born devotee of Krishna, was right there at the Madrid Airport waiting to drive me for a one-hour stretch to the peaceful Spanish countryside at the retreat farm of Vrajamandala.  Residents number thirty.  There are six children of school age, five cows, one ox and a recently born, five-day-old bull, Baladeva.

The river, Tajuña, runs through the 350 acre property.  It was irresistible to walk from the town of Guadalajara (not the big city) of modest size, to the farm.  Julan Yatra from Tenerife came; so did Madhava from Barcelona, as well as Bhakta Nir from Israel.  We explored and took backways for a 6+ km walk.  The ‘secret passage’, however, turned out to be confusing, so we surrendered to the main road.

There are great walls left over from the Arab period, before the Crusades, so they are ancient.  My companions told me of how, before Christianity established itself, animals such as the bull were sacred to inhabitants.  I don’t know how that fits into the controversial bullfights of Spain. In fact, Madhava pointed out one estate along the road where bulls are trained for the fighting entertainment. Madhava added, “Most of the Spanish are opposed.”  He also mentioned that the town, Guadalajara, is one of those places where they release bulls in the town, and all citizens take refuge of their buildings.

Yadunandana Swami, who is Spanish, is an absolute gentleman, and arranged for me to give a talk about the ‘walk’ that everyone should give attention to.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Tuesday, June 19th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

The Invasion

It is one of those days where I cannot sulk, but be a trifle sad about not walking.  The air travel restricts the possibility.  I flew in from Calgary this morning.  By 3:15 a.m., I was off to the airport for a flight to Madrid to meet up with the Cuban connection, that is those who were or are affiliated with our mission there.

In the moments of waiting for Air Canada Flight 863 to call for passengers to get ready for boarding, I contemplated those appalling photos I had viewed from a recent National Geographic magazine covering the story of plastic.  I was shocked by the statistics and images of plastics that are currently challenging our very existence.  Our planet is becoming more of a dumping ground than I could have imagined.

One particular picture showed a sea horse in the ocean’s depth who had coiled around and was carrying a plastic Q-tip that he had found.  I was looking at the image while sitting most uneasily in the waiting room of the dental clinic.

You can see the accumulation of the shiny materials called plastic in the form of bags and bottles after the snow’s thaw.  Plastic bags fly in the air and cling onto trees. Bottles clog drains and pipes and drainage ditches.  In the clinic, I pointed out the sea horse photo to the receptionist who said, “Oh and now China is producing noodles out of plastic.”

You can go on.  We certainly must be more sensitive about our place of residence, Earth, which is becoming highly overrun by the plastic monster invasion.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Monday, June 18th, 2018
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Calgary. Alberta

Good Day in Cal

Gaurachandra and Vani Priya are my usual co-walkers in the North East of Calgary.  With much rainfall in recent days, the mosquitoes can form clouds.  Well, they did that for us while we were in our stride. The presence of magpies was also so evident.  You wonder if while in flight they couldn’t just keep their beaks open and swallow a few mosquitoes in the process?

Nanda Gopal had invited me over for brunch.  “It will just be some steamed veggies,” was the promise. It was simply a well-meaning white lie. His two boys are a handful of energy—Shyama and Keshav.

Rakesh had also invited me, along with my hosts Radha Madhava, Svasti and the girls, for lunch. We had to push that forward in order to separate the meals.  This was feast #2.  I really am grateful to Rakesh for giving my inflamed knees a chance.  The massage was phenomenal.

While the meals of today were certainly upstage items, I have to hand it to Anuttama for organizing a splendid “Kirtan Lounge” program in downtown Calgary.  Forty local folks showed up, mostly singles is what I guessed.  I could gather that my ‘talking of walking (and not eating) ventures’ were as of much interest as was the spiritual element that I live by. The vegan meal was enjoyed like anything.  But I passed. Questions lingered on, before and after consumption time.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Sunday, June 17th, 2018
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Edmonton / Calgary

Mangos and Dads

It’s Father’s Day, and so the natural topic to speak about, in two locations, Edmonton and Calgary, which are a mere three hours drive apart, was obvious—fathers!

At the Calgary venue, Radha Madhava’s Cultural Centre, there was a unique display of real mangos on the altar to celebrate a Mango Festival, something Gujaratis are crazy about. However, it was the younger generation—kids—who put more emphasis on fathers, the traditional seed-givers, protectors and providers.

It was evident in the T shirts worn. “Dads Rock!” and “Dad is Rad! were some of the messages.

Praise be to that member of the family who is often overlooked. Lest we forget the Supreme Father, Lord Sri Krishna, who is also the Supreme Mother—as per the Gita.

In Calgary, the priest Dwarkadish performed a homa, a fire ceremony, for four initiates.  The candidates were two males and two females. From Red Deer, a city smack in between Edmonton and Calgary came Fijian born, Sanjay (now Sugosh), his wife, Sileshni (now Subhadra) and their twenty-three-year-old son, Shiven (now Satyavrata), along with a local woman, a third generation Hare Krishna by the name of Tulasi Priya who is now Tulasi Puja.

Congratulations to those forward-thinking and forward-doing individuals.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Saturday, June 16th, 2018
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Edmonton, Alberta

Connor

I was on the Whitemud Trail with Bala and Rati when I received a call from Rajasuya in Brampton.  “We are being eaten alive by mosquitos,” I told him.

Rajasuya, who used to live in Texas said, “You should see them in Texas.  They are like elephants in size.” 

I wanted to say to Rajasuya that his remark made me feel better.  In some ways it did, but they continued to be voracious with their appetite.  Bala was getting the worst of it.

“Bala, your blood is to their liking.  Do you eat a lot of sweets—sugar, perhaps?”

It was somewhat of a confession time for him.

Regarding food, Connor, who’s eighteen, had just a little too much prasadamwhen we lunched back at the Krishna temple. Connor has really impressed me with his devotion.  It takes him two hours to get there and two hours to get back home.  That’s devotion!  He is becoming quite devotional—and renounced.  On my second walking installment for the day, Connor and Jaga Jivan joined me as we made our way toward the Yoga studio for a “Tales from Trails” presentation.  It was while on our journey that Connor renounced his meal.  I could see something might be coming on with his pale look.

It was an unpleasant experience; his donation to the sidewalk.  He quickly recovered.

Finally, we made it to the studio and it was just wonderful—the attendance, the mood, the questions.  I want to thank Jaga Jivan for arranging the program as well as Candice for having us use the facility, “Spirit Path” on 124thStreet.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Friday, June 15th, 2018
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Edmonton, Alberta

Outing in Edmonton

For years I’ve been conducting satsangs or home programs which feature kirtan, talks and Prasadand often walking to the place of action.  Ananda is an excellent tabla player who accompanied me on 34thStreet in Edmonton.  The sky was a grey-blue, the hue that let us know it’s not going to stay.  A partial rainbow, meaning not fully-arched to our vision, made an appearance in that sky.

Generally these satsangs occur in the evening and are culminated with a meal.  However, upon arriving from our walk at the home of Yogendra, and settling down, I grumbled to our host about late-night eating not being good for you.  Yogendra concurred and so in the most jolly way we ate and chatted.  Then the kirtanwas begun by expert singer Nitai, followed by my talk on the personality, Akrura.  He was a personality not liked by the residents of Vrindavan—Krishna’s village—for taking Krishna away to the city.

I also did a reading ofThe Gopis Attracted by the Flute of Krishna.  The children who came with their moms and dads assembled in front of me. Unbelievably, they were most attentive.

The food was great and we ended with kombucha.  Yogendra insisted everyone dance during the kirtanso we all were inspired in a mix of Chaitanya spirit and “Grease.”  It was most enjoyable, thanks to the Edmonton team.

May the Source be with you!

6 km


Thursday, June 14th, 2018
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Brampton, Ontario

Red Wings

After a dental visit, Nanda took me to a park, Chinguacousy, and I sat to write  by the pond. To the surprise of both of us, this red-winged black bird came darting at us.  “Oh Krishna!”  It must have been its nesting area, but in our minds this was our resting area, or at least relaxing zone before the Bramalea Mall opened.

But it got more serious.  Our feathered friend came right at our heads, flapping its wings.  No beak penetration occurred, like in the scenes from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”

Nanda got defensive and picked up a convenient branch, fallen from the trees of yesterday’s storm.  It was somewhat effective.  The bird was persistent, however, and we were humbled by his territorialism.

A terrorist?  I wouldn’t demonize the fellow that much.  It was just a case of taking care of dharma—duty—in the form of protection.

I do like the sound of this red-winged creature.  The shrill sound throws me back to childhood.  In southwestern Ontario there are lowlands, former swamps, the space they like the most.

God made every creature in a certain way; most of them get cranky like this guy.  I thank him for reminding me of Garuda, a super hero in the eagle category.

After the episode of attack, Nanda and I took care of phone business and then enjoyed the succulent parathas he had made.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Wednesday, June 13th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

The Force and the Source

Have you ever looked out the window to see, before your very eyes, a storm, not brewing, but suddenly hammer its way through?  I did.  It was on this very day.  I would say there was no physical warning.  It just came, turbulently.

I was in the chair looking at the trees from our second storey. Suddenly those trees swayed in such a way that I didn’t know they could bend like that.

Of course, some didn’t bend.  Some older growth just snapped and crashed.  The winds with rain moved easterly, and it was severe for only about seven minutes.  The downpour of rain then shifted vertically.

The sirens resounded throughout the city.  I went for an aftermath walk.  Sure, enough damage was done.  Power lines were down in the Yorkville area.  Cars were crushed under massive tree branches.  Someone I spoke to on a stroll mentioned that the popular Eaton’s Shopping Centre downtown had major leakage coming from its high ceiling. With all this you can say it could have been worse.

“Nature is like the mind—turbulent,” I said to two guests in Govinda’s.  They concurred that they were seeing themselves in the condition of the weather.

During my nighttime stroll, I took the opportunity to sit in a café chair by a parkette.  I was having a break from the return of the wind.  Indeed my dhoti experienced a good tossing in the air.  I had to tame it, holding it down at times.  I placed my japa beads on the table and was content to have them always near me.  After all, it is the Kali Yuga.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Tuesday, June 12th, 2018
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Brampton, Ontario

 Opportunities

Three of us, Keshav, Vijay and I, went for some fund-raising in Brampton.  There is a need to receive kindness from donors for the up-and-coming Chariot Fest in Toronto.  The target for collection is $20,000 (Canadian).  People were reciprocating.  One dentist and one pundit from a Hindu temple gave generously.

We lunched at Keshava’s, and since Vijay, the driver, wished to nap before the return journey home, I decided to get a head start. Eastbound I went on Wanless Drive which eventually changes name to Conservation Drive.

While trekking under a hot sun, a man I couldn’t recognize passed by me in his car and made a U turn.  He honked his horn which drew my attention.

“I’ll drive you.  Come on in.” He offered his pranams.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I said in certain terms. “Someone—Vijay—is napping at the Asian Food Centre.  He’ll pick me up.”

Sorry at missing the opportunity, the gentleman went about his way. A second driver pulled over and didn’t offer a ride but delivered a classic question that I often receive, “You don’t remember me?”

“Vaguely, I’m sorry.”

“I’m Balen.  I laid down a floor for you in your temple.”

“Yes, it’s coming back to me,” I said in a genuine moment of recollection.  “That was in the mid-eighties.”  I thanked him and let him know we are ready to lay down tiles again for a different floor. He moved on and I was thrown into nostalgia.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Monday, June 11th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Small Band of Monks

My physical body was in T.O., T-Dot, now called The Six—according to Drake—but really, I took a mental-flying carpet all over the nation; nay—the continent; nay—the globe.  By phone and e-mail, I moved about looking at how places can be helped, in a social sense.

There is a lot of pain in the world.  Higher, not lower, consciousness can alter that in an incremental way.  It’s amazing what a circle of monks can do.

I sat down with our small team of young monks in Canada—Prana, Marshall, Samuel and now also Karuna—planning out the month of June. For starters, the boys are planning to drive to Saskatoon, a length of some distance.  The mission is to stir up the town a little for three weeks, and reap a harvest of new students.  A nice Gujarati family, comprised of Kashyapa and Panchami, as well as son and daughter, had initiated a weekly program for awareness of the Divine.  This has been running for eight years.

Sadly, they are to leave, since work contracts have expired and finance isn’t looking that great in the province of Saskatchewan.  It is not booming at the moment.  The redeeming aspect of the place is its university; it’s pretty downtown with a big beautiful river, the Northern Saskatchewan, running through it, and there are lots of friendly people.

I was envying the group of monks who were embarking at noon today for the long journey through a scenic Central Canada route.  Too bad they’re not walking.  It’s a 3,000 kilometre trip and they’ll miss the hidden treasures of Lake Superior’s north shore.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Sunday, June 10th, 2018
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Moundsville, West Virginia

Success Between Him and Her

I applaud any couple who can do the job of staying together. Although I am an unwavering renunciate, I am a blesser of families.  I remain a firm believer in true-hearted couple-ism as much as I hold onto my saffron dhoti(robe).

Vraja Kishor is a happy householder—though not without disagreement with wife, Nitai.  They just know, or are constantly learning to know the ropes behind living it out on the foundation of compromise.  Their five year old, Arjuna, is a major factor who glues the relationship together.

Vraja looks after me when I come to visit their community in ‘them there hills’ of West Virginia.  Happily, they celebrated their 10thanniversary today.  I and others, I’m sure, bless them that those ten years will be multiplied by five or six decades.  That would be something worthy of having an eggless, processed-sugar-free cake.

A particular ingredient behind the success of a marriage is the spiritually-centric nature of it.  Yes, the dharmaside of it teaches compromise and communication.  Anything can come to tempt you, to displace you, and when your guard is down, emotions are up and good rationale is ebbed low, then, you can register as a disaster.

Disaster!  There are just too many of them today.  We don’t need any more to add to the list.

Vraja took me to the Pittsburgh Airport where they only play good classical instrumental music, the type of vibration which keeps couples as one.

Back home in Toronto, I sit in a room with brahmacharis—monks—who respect married men and women.  They are content to be as they are, and if any of them choose to marry, we will encourage the loyalty between them and their spouse.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Saturday, June 9th, 2018
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Moundsville, West Virginia 
More Medicine

The concluding day for the Bhaktivedanta Medical Association Retreat included grainless meals to honour the bi-weekly Ekadashi.  (That was #1.)

2)   Improving japachanting

3)   Financial Planning for seniors (I led this discussion)

4)   Asanas/ postures and stretches

5)   Physical / mental foundation ofMahamantrayoga

6)   How to grow your own food

7)   Medical updates

8)   Spiritual Jeopardy

9)   Spiritual journaling

10)How well do you know your spouse (a workshop)

11)Breathing Exercises

12)Raising Conscious Children

13)(Finally) A Swan Boat Festival with Kirtan

In addition to the above, we also made a visit to the first old barn where the community began in ’68.  It is quite the vintage home.  Inside we sat, discussed and explored the contributions that our guru, Srila Prabhupada, gave to the world.  Here is what the group came up with:

Srila Prabhupada was the one…

1)   To introduce kirtan to the world

2)   Who mass-propagated Vedic philosophy

3)   Who fought war on drugs throughbhakti

4)   Who mass-propagated vegetarianism

5)   Who encouraged the back-to-land lifestyle

6)   Who mass-propagated reincarnation

7)   Who introduced to the West, ancient rites from the East

8)   To promote peace through mantratherapy.

May the Source be with you!

5 km


Friday, June 8th, 2018
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Moundsville, West Virginia
With Doctors

Here were some of the activities that doctors and healers, who had converged in New Vrindavana, took part in.  I witnessed and partook of the education and fun, too.

1)   A full morning sadhanaof chanting, a lesson from the Bhagavatam,and a wholesome breakfast

2)   Pranayama / good breathing

3)   Surya Namaskar

4)   Cooking demo on an oil-free meal—quick enough and easy for doctors on the go

5)   Lunch from the demo—chili, quinoa, oat and banana cookies and asparagus

6)   Stroll to Palace of Gold and temple cleaning

7)   Kartalplaying lessons—by yours truly

8)   Family bonding games—charades

9)   Hearing from a youth’s perspective

10)Heart 2 Heart Panel discussion

11)Dinner

12)Campfire kirtan,and, in the rain

Most activities were held in the Yoga Shala.

Many interesting subjects came out of the sessions.  Sad, but true, a high percentage of doctors in America suffer from doctor’s burn-out.  Suicide is high in the profession.

We did discuss some factors that could alter the figures, such as boosting spirituality, a better pacing of oneself in the profession, and making families strong through communication input.

Simple statements, but much work needs to be done, for medical students, as well.

May the Source be with you!

3 km


Thursday, June 7th, 2018
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Moundsville, West Virginia

Next to Me

Next to me on the Air Canada flight was Justin, a cradle/born Catholic, and a medical practitioner in the field of radiology in a hospital in Pittsburgh.  He struck me as being a nice caring guy—caring enough that I could have a conversation with him about life for almost the entirety of the plane ride, which was only an hour or so, but still.

Justin told me he has a friend from India and that he heard about karmafrom him.  Indeed he also learned of dharma,and, in my analysis, couldn’t put the two rhyming words together.

“If we pay attention to our dharma, we would produce a much better karma,” is what we both concluded from our conversation; that in performing duty (dharma) well and then inherent reactions (karma) will be of a greater ease.

Justin agreed with me that Krishna and Jesus walk in parallel, and are not opposed to each other, so to speak.  They are for elevating the consciousness.  They embrace and convey the same universal principles.

Our conversation started with talking about the poor and not pure quality of food, and the less than good performance in life, which for many people is no performance—meaning sedentary.  We eventually evolved into talking about spirituality, so all was good, and it warmed me up for the retreat I’m attending at New Vrindavana, the countryside haven near Moundsville.  The event is called “Bhaktivedanta Medical Association Retreat.” I am honoured to be invited.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario
The Downtrodden Man

The morning’s discussion with the resident men proved lively.  It entailed modes of transportation in the ancient Vedic context, particularly by horse and chariot.  We identified several famous charioteers.  There is Akrura, who came to Gokula to give Krishna and His brother a lift to nearby Mathura.  Krishna had a regular chariot driver when residing in Dwarka, Daruka was his name. And let’s not forget Krishna Himself in the position as a chariot driver to friend, Arjuna.  Also, what came to mind was the adoptee-father of warrior Karna, Atiratha was his name, and like the story of Moses, Karna was found as a baby while floating in a basket by way of a river.

Enough of reflecting on mobile chariots.  Karuna and I committed ourselves to a walk along Bloor Street. Yes, it is leg power that we use as an approach to getting around.  It is a three kilometre trek to Christie Pitts.  We made some observations along the way.  The Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church is holding a Blessing of the Bikes (another mode of transport).  And on June 10th, the church is conducting a Blessing of the Animals. That’s commendable!

We also took note of the sculpture in front of the iconic building at Rochdale.  The artist was Edward Apt.  The figure is of what looks like a downtrodden man, called “The Unknown Student”.  He looks absolutely depressed.  The Rochdale Building was a student-run operation.  It failed.  Some Krishna families lived on a floor of that structure in the ’70s.   http://unknownstudent.blogspot.com/2011/05/unknown-student-sculpture.html

May the Source be with you!

6 km


Tuesday, June 5th, 2018
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Bracebridge, Ontario

From Wilson Falls

What is quite surprising to me is witnessing the enthusiastic devotion of a small group of people living in a little place far, far from a temple.  The eight men who trekked with me brought with them their japa meditation beads.  When this group of people goes for a walk, it is synonymous with chanting. This motivation amongst them occurs under the influence of two brothers, Jaya Gopal and Vyasacharya.

Today, we took to trekking a short distance along the Great Trail—formerly the Trans Canada Trail running at 24,000 km—which meanders along the Muskoka River.  Our brief walk began at Wilson Falls.

It is at locations like this where I can’t help myself but to point out wild vegetation, which I have some meagre knowledge of.  “Here is poison ivy, cedar, honeysuckle, horse tail, etc.”  This is all new to my co-walkers who have given little attention to such things. Frankly, most of us were concentrating on protecting ourselves from the eager mosquitoes.

We continued with our devotions with a discussion from The Mahabharat, and the section of a glimpse into the Kali-yuga—prophecies.  This was followed by a Mexican-style lunch.  On the theme of conflict and subsequent resolve, a group of the Tuesday Sangha and I looked at Chapter 18 of the Gita, after returning to Toronto.  We read together the entire chapter and then highlighted the entire Gita’s conclusion.  Please look at 18.65 to 66 for that.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Monday, June 4th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Bracebridge, Ontario

It Started With Bracing the Bridge

We admired the Bracebridge Falls, then stepped over Silver Bridge, which arches over the falls, in order to get to the main street of the town.  The first shop to see is a storefront for “Veda Yoga.”  Then Vyasacharya, who runs the Quality Inn and led our walk, mentioned, “There’s four yoga studios in town.”

“Not bad for a population of 16,000,” I said.

We stepped on further at the quiet hour of 9:00 p.m., and a sole person, a middle-aged Caucasian male, after unloading something, offered his pranams.  “Namaste!” he said in greeting, and, “Where are you from?”

“Toronto, but really I travel a lot.  Did Canada on foot, four times.  Just completed the U.S. last year.”

“These are your followers?” he asked inquisitively.

“We are friends, followers of bhakti-yoga…”

I was thinking that all of us are actually under the father-ship of Prabhupada.

We moved on toward Wellington Street, but came upon a picture of Elvis with the poster caption:  Father’s Day is June 16th—Treat Dad like a King.  The poster was set in the wall of a shop, and it reminded us, our group of eight—all fathers except for myself and Kailash, a newly-wed—that dads do entertain.  We could not imitate Elvis, who would smoothly move his pelvis, but we could enlighten the generation after us with our words and actions.  Generally, this is what a parent does—guide, direct, point, bless, etc.  Show by example.  For instance, here we are winding down the day by walking.

May the Source be with you!

5 km