Author Archives: H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami

Friday, April 11th, 2014
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Mahebourg, Mauritius
By the Sea 
In 1802 the French and English had a fierce naval battle at the bay here near Lion’s Mountain.  Kala, Tamohara and I ventured along the town’s sea wall catching the salt infused currents.  We stumbled upon an impressive arts and culture outdoor amphitheatre, a prospective place for a bhakti show in the future.  The occasional Banyan tree graced the coast line dwarfing us.  Young men at soccer filled a playing field.
Clouds above threatened a downpour.  We found shelter from a giant Banyan.  Then a more serious onslaught of rain compelled us to head for a roof by a rehab drug clinic.  Oh, yes, even here on this tiny Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, social ills challenge the human race.
Our trio continued our exploration of the town.  If we could, we would want to boast having touched each street, but time was pressing, calling for an engagement at the auditorium of the local Durga mandir.  Eventually the place filled up.  I realized that translation from English to Creole was necessary for my message to be understood, so a person by the name of Kaunteya did so.
And this message was that while we venture our way through myriad species of life, the soul’s obligation is to reach the human’s actual potential.  “I am not this body,” I stressed.  And we let everyone there go home with reciting and hopefully retaining these precious words in Sanskrit,  “Aham brahmasmi!”  More definitively we are saying, “I AM SPIRIT”.
May the source be with you!
4 KM

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Go It Together
I received a call from Michael who took to the Trans Canada Highway in 2001/2002 on foot with a backpack.  We made an agreement to go it out together on the road for a three week stint. 
Starting in mid May we plan to drive to Taber, Alberta, the spot from where I left off last summer.  We will stop a bit along the way, put on our shoes (I, with Crocs), while he will be equipped with camera, hopeful to capture the beauty of the road, the rhythm of walking, and all that visual vista stuff that people usually see as post cards.  The filming will be like a reenactment of the walk I did last summer, until we arrive at Taber, when business will be as usual to complete a fourth trek, bringing me to the edge of British Columbia.
I’m really looking forward to it because in addition to having the usual company of support person, Daruka, and his blue front Amazon parrot, there will also be Michael, a most amiable person.  Up for the challenge will be those occasional cool prairie breezes, and then the intermittent warming Chinook winds coming from the Rockies.  There will be the upward downward trends of pacing once hitting those lovely mountains.  I will not be surprised to hear the jazz of the road, that is, the last clumps of snow, sliding off the arms of the coniferous trees, and the feet making the beat gritting the gravel on the highway shoulder.  It will also be the time of invigoration, rebirth, of so much life springing into action. 
Michael knows the road I’ve tread, he’s done it before – the Crow’s Nest Pass.  And, of course, we’ll be seeing smart crows in flight, and I’ll be dreaming of smooth sailing swans during naps which will take place by the side of the road that will offer a peace like nothing else.  Hare Krishna! 
Thanks for calling, Michael, it’s a deal.  We’ve nailed down the date, May 17th. 
May the Source be with you!
2 KM

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014
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Owen Sound, Ontario
Who’s The Artist?
In the midst of this morning’s meanderings I stumbled upon Tom Thompson’s Art Gallery.  Who is Tom Thompson?  A noted Canadian impressionist landscape artist he was.  His body was found mysteriously in the wilderness while on a canoeing trip. A result of foul play?  It’s not really known.  He’s loved and remembered for defining the natural esthetics of the north.  I admit, it’s nice work indeed. 
I’ve been an art lover for years, including the art of nature. The artist behind the elemental combinations of the out of doors should not be denied.  “Who’s behind the placement of patterns of life?” we might ask.  “Does it have to be a person?”  If we settle for intelligent design, as some people use the term, then we admit to personal implication.  Where there’s intelligence there is a brain.  Brain refers to a person.  Where there’s design, we should come to terms with a designer. 
Being that it is Ramnaumi today, a small group of us at the quiet place of Owen Sound, reflected on the classic Vedic personalities known as Ram, Sita and Lakshman, who spent a long and interesting 14 years in the jungles.  A good part of that phase was the travel by foot from the north of India to the south at Rameshvaram.  Shastra, ancient texts like “The Ramayan”, tells of how the three wanderers enjoyed the features, smells, sights and sounds of the wilderness.  Their apparent exile or banishment was actually a blessing. 
Our trip back to the big city, Toronto, allowed our eyes to see a transition.  Behind us was not only the green spirit of the docks at Georgian Bay, but also rolling hills, farms and forests, all now to be replaced by highways, high rises and high expectations of tantalizing pursuits.  Frankly, there’s nothing more boredomsome than peering at square warehouses and the monotonous looking apartment buildings of a modern day city.  You have to ask, “Who’s the author of such pathetic creations?”  Not the Great Spirit, that’s for sure. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Monday, April 7th, 2014
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Owen Sound, Ontario
Just Before Ram

It was the eve before Ramnaumi, the birthday of Sri Ram, that I arrived at this small city of natural beauty all around.  Along with Rajneesh and family, we ventured to this Georgian Bay area to meet acquaintances, one of whom shared foot travel with me.
Garuda, is now 66, and was with me in British Columbia on walk number 3 when we encountered a grizzly bear and got close to being breakfast. That’s a story unto itself, and one I don’t personally mind reliving.  Anything that impels one to slide into a prayerful mood, isn’t necessarily a bad experience, however adventurous. 
There’s only a 5 year difference between Garuda and I (I’m the younger one).  He’s always been an active man, but is feeling the aches and pains of aging as of late.  Always enthusiastic for chanting, we found heand his clan, with two younger generations, were absorbed in doing just that.  His three sons are rock musicians.  In reality, for them, kirtan is where it’s at.  Another area where we share a passion is in trekking sections of the country’s oldest foot path, the Bruce Trail, which runs along Owen Sound’s escarpment. 
Our union with Garuda’s clan at the home of hosts Rajesh and Alka, was a warm up for the coming day’s Ramnaumi.  We did so through kirtan chanting, feasting, of course, and reading of memories of our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  We especially were hearing of his morning strolls by the Pacific.  He would go at a pace that was hard to keep up.  In this regard, he was always ahead of the game in comparison to his students, in practically every category of activity that you could imagine. 
It is a Vedic colloquial term to follow in the dust of a holy person’s lotus footsteps. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Sunday, April 6th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Towards Personalism
A college student came to see me for agreed upon meeting at venue, the streets.  It became a question and answer session on foot on this most sattvicday.  The sky was clear and bright, airwas fresh, there was hardly a breeze. 
I can say for myself, I felt the same forecast within.  I think my friend from Whitby, Ontario, the college student, was of a similar state.  I could tell by the questions and the way he was receiving and digesting my responses.  He was curious about the long walks I’ve done.  To that, I explained that light and long travel aid in the process of detachment. 
“Is that like nirvana?” he asked.  I was relieved to know that the phrase wasn’t just a name to him for a hot rock band, but that it means something quite different. 
“Nirvana is a word found in the Bhagavad Gita, and it’s a term very much clutched onto by the Buddhists.”  I explained that we are referring to a state of mind beyond the mundane, beyond the hankering and lamentation of this world.  Although nirvana may not be complete so far as total spiritual fulfillment is concerned, within popular Hinduism the equivalent tonirvana would be moksha.  For Krishna conscious pursuers, the state of completion anticipated is union with the Divine in personal service.  It is a highly personalistic approach to life. 
The student and I agreed to meet again and to have more parlance while walking. 
Equally enjoyable to walking and talking through the quiet residential Rosedale neighbourhood, was the evening kirtan which followed right after a successful run of the drama, “Little Big Ramayan”.  The incredibly hyped kirtan with pulsing drum beats and high strung voices took a strong personal involvement, and many people were there participating.  And it was my arm that reached out to bystanders of the kirtan, pulling the eager and shy ones into the dancing circle. 
One teenager that I pulled in stood there very flushed red, shrugged his shoulders up and down, as if declaring, “I don’t know how to dance!”
“Relax,” I said, “you’ve already got unique style.”
May the Source be with you!
6  KM

Saturday, April 5th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Three of Us
All of us crave Sunshine, as long as there’s not too much of it.  It was a pleasure to walk towards its disc which was making a slow descension into the western sky.  The west side of the street going north/south was unfavourable for walking because I wanted the sun’s embrace.  I switched directions to College Street.  I ended up face to face with him.  There were no more imposing buildings.  It was nice, but like anything in this world, you take sookh and dookh (happiness and distress), sad and asad (good and bad).  Basically, you receive a duality.
Along with that generous glow of the sun, came the wind.  Unexpectedly, to me, as forceful as he was.  He also got blocked by buildings eventually, just as the sun did.  Now, I had two guys coming at my face.  It was interesting to see them partnered.  I had their company.  There are three of us now until I turned another corner going north on Croft Street.  Once again, I was in the shadows of the buildings.  I was seemingly alone, but not.  Paramatma(Supersoul) is always in the heart. 
Croft Street is more like a back lane with mostly garages on both sides of the asphalt.  There is pleasant graffiti, and some not so, meaning unsophisticated.  People have left their mark. 
On Bloor Street, I meet my companions again, the sun and the wind.  The sun had moved by now, humbled by time, or just being on time.  Perhaps defining time.  Not exactly, it is said in the Bhagavatam, out of fear of Him, the sun shines.  Who then, in actuality is defining the time factor. 
Finally, I made it home, the temple ashram, where you enter a timeless zone, where all is spiritual, and where there is relative peace.  I say relative because there are humans in the space, and they are not perfect. 
I’m reminded of the joke about the human ego, “Nobody’s perfect, I’m just a nobody.”
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Friday, April 4th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Fun Pun
I did not go outside the walls of the ashram building today.  It doesn’t mean I was confined, as in prison.  I was joyfully locked in with service – and service of a different kind.  I’m speaking about theatre.  The dramas!  The directing! The performance!  I put several hours into our practice of the drama, Little Big Ramayan.  Doing “plays” is a marvelous creative outlet.  And it’s approved (rather, receives blessings) by the previous acharyas or teachers in the line of devotion.  In fact, our guru, Srila Prabhupada, loved dramas that have a spiritual message.  He went so far as to say that the play is better than the book.  He loved the theatre and even acted when as a student in his college years, he played the role of Adwaita, a close associate of Sri Chaitanya, father of kirtan in the modern age.  Our guru also liked Charlie Chaplin.  He would not go out of his way to the cinema, mind you, he wouldn’t have anything to do with extreme mundane entertainment.  Once, on the plane, he had a few chuckles watching the guy with the funny stick, hat and moustache. 
Now, speaking of fun, what about pun?  Someone sent me from a facebook source, a list of puns called, “Punography”.
Here’s are some real dillies:
I tried to catch some, I mist. 
A guy I know is addicted to brake fluid.  He said he can stop any time.
How does Moses make his tea?  Hebrews it.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, then it dawned on me.
The girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I never met herbivore.
I’m reading a book about antigravity.  I can’t put it down.
I didn’t like my beard at first, then it grew on me.
How do you make holy water?  Boil the hell out of it.
When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble. 
What does a clock do when it’s still hungry?  It goes back four seconds.
I wonder why the baseball was getting bigger, then it hit me.
May the Source be with you!
0 KM

Thursday, April 3rd, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Gems
Some of today’s lessons that came out of our Bhagavatam session this morning were gems.  In sutra form, here’s what we came up with from 8.5.26 and its purport:
Sense perception is not complete to understand.
You may see, but you may not be able to understand.
Seeing Him is not as important as appreciating Him.
Prayers areheard and the needful action is taken.
Desire less and deserve more.
Engage yourself or encage yourself.
Another major gem of the day was spending time with our recent most visiting monk, Devamrita Swami, over an excellent meal prepared by Mangal Aarti.  I had trekked to the apartment where he was staying.  My return to the ashram, however, was by cab, and that encounter was another gem. 
The cab driver was curious, “Do you go to India?” he asked.
“Yes, once or twice a year.”
“Which part?” 
“The eastern side, mostly, Bengal.”
“Do you know any Bengali?” asked the taxi driver who told me he’s from neighbouring Bangladesh.
“I know some songs, do you want to hear one?”
“Yes.”  So I sang, in its entirety, ‘Gaya Gaura’ to the cab driver.  He was testing me. “Can you tell me what it means?”
“Yes, do utter or sing the honey like names of the Supreme regardless of status or mood, and benefit.”
The driver was really happy.  He sparkled. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Dharma Protects
My destination point isn’t usually a tattoo parlour, but it was today.  Down the street I went.  I turned degrees, opened the door, walked to the receptionist who said, “He’s in today, just go to the second floor.”  Up the stairs I ascended and into one of the cubicles.  There he was – the chief. 

 

Owner and operator is Cuban born, Jovany (AKA Jamuna Jivan), who was my cook in 2007 during a walk through northern Ontario.  He’s become adept at the artistry of tattooing, and he’s in the middle of crafting.  And no, I’m not there to get a tattoo.  Monks in our order use temporary tattoos with something called tilak, an earth based substance which washes off at each shower.  And if not that, the sweat will erase it.

Jovany was working on a young man’s bicepted left arm.  The design looks great, if I must say so.  The owner of the arm, which is pivoted under a pillow with work in progress, is Faris, who hails from the middle east.  Jovany stopped his work when he saw me and presented his obeisance right there in front of me, while he uttered, “This is my guru.”
The two of us got to talking while Jovany kept working on Feris’s arm with gorgeous armour like design.  Jovany was talking about life and its bumpy surprises.  I indicated that if dharma is executed, then there is always protection.  Feris then got into the conversation, “So, what’s dharma?”
“To follow the duty which is natural to you.  When a person is dutiful then it’s beautiful, righteous.”  I elaborated, of course.  Feris mentioned that he’s originally from Dubai, to which I responded, “Oh, I’ve been there.  I walked a good stretch one morning in that city, but I was restricted from wearing my robes and had to settle for civies (civilian clothes).”
Our conversation went on with me doing most of the talking, and while watching the penning of ink into Feris’s skin.  With one glance I noticed a poster of Ghandi on the wall with a caption that read, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”  This hinted at karma, but ourtalk stuck to dharma, which ultimately leads to good, inherent reactions of karma. 
Feris, the client, was listening intently.  So was the chief, Jovany.  I’m not sure that most tattoo parlours get into deep discussions.  At least, the other cubicles seemed a bit mundane in spirit when I passed by them during my exit from the shop. 
It was a walk and a talk well worth being part of.  I think I’ll browse around more in the tattoo making department in the future. 
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario

Be A Fool

I passed through 61 April Fools in this one life.  At the Tuesday Sanga, the evening’s presenter, Praharana, spoke on how we are all more or less fools for being in this world of suffering.  She, however, explained that joy could be had by taking to the spiritual component.  Her message spoken at the ashram was well received.

It was only after the time of her presentation that I went on my daily walk.  Vrindavan, one of our dedicated devotees in our community here, drove me at my request, to his home.  From there I would walk back to the ashram, a mere 6 KM distance.  I recall when I first tackled the longer stretches for training.  A couple of my colleagues at that time thought I was slightly foolish to go on a 22 KM trek (a first), and to do it on a winter afternoon when a snow storm suddenly hit.  I had lost directions while trying to reach my destination point, the home of a friend.  Eventually I was found through the aid of a call by payphone.  No panic, it was fun being a fool.  Anyways, it was all done for the training perspective. 

This fine afternoon I had a second visit from Michael over for lunch.  One year, Michael had trekked the nation from Newfoundland and then to British Columbia.  He’s experienced.  We discussed a number of things, even the possibility of doing some walking together this summer.  In our talk, he concurred that no one really understands the practice of marathon trekking, what positive effect it has, until you just go out and do it yourself.  In fact, anyone who has taken up the challenge of lengthy pilgrimages will wonder, “Why doesn’t everyone do this?”  As Michael confirmed about his noble walk, “Those were the best days of my life.” 
My remark would be, “If you can’t be foolhardy, then you’re just a bland bro.”
Be adventurous, be a fool. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Monday, March 31st, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Walking Helps
Two mature women noticed me ambling along on Bloor Street.  They began to speak and ask me if I was praying after seeing my right hand fingering my beads.
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
“Maybe you can help us?”
“I’ll see if I can,” I said, and prepared myself to listen.
“Did you know that medicare in Canada could get compromised?  You know that Tommy Douglas brought medicare to this country?”
“Yes, and by the way, last summer I was on a pilgrimage and I was walking in the district where he was born and raised.”
“In Saskatchewan, right?  Well we just came from a meeting and his daughter was there, she’s about 80.”
“Is that right?”
“Please help us.  Fill out this form, put in your vote for the Government to renegotiate for the new Health Accord.  We are really concerned.”
“Sure, give me a few of your forms for the people in my ashram.”
“So, you’re a Buddhist?”
“No, Hare Krishna.”  We parted congenially.
The big concern in the US today is just that, medical health.  Obama is trying to secure a reasonable health care system for Americans.  It seems there’s a need.  There is, of course, a lot that can be said about investing in preventative illness through education.   If you look at the average diet people are on in North America, it’s no wonder ailments are on the epidemic level.  Anyways, I vouch for and would vote for healthy food and a karma free diet for all human beings.  Walking helps.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario

Be A Fool

I passed through 61 April Fools in this one life.  At the Tuesday Sanga, the evening’s presenter, Praharana, spoke on how we are all more or less fools for being in this world of suffering.  She, however, explained that joy could be had by taking to the spiritual component.  Her message spoken at the ashram was well received.

It was only after the time of her presentation that I went on my daily walk.  Vrindavan, one of our dedicated devotees in our community here, drove me at my request, to his home.  From there I would walk back to the ashram, a mere 6 KM distance.  I recall when I first tackled the longer stretches for training.  A couple of my colleagues at that time thought I was slightly foolish to go on a 22 KM trek (a first), and to do it on a winter afternoon when a snow storm suddenly hit.  I had lost directions while trying to reach my destination point, the home of a friend.  Eventually I was found through the aid of a call by payphone.  No panic, it was fun being a fool.  Anyways, it was all done for the training perspective. 

This fine afternoon I had a second visit from Michael over for lunch.  One year, Michael had trekked the nation from Newfoundland and then to British Columbia.  He’s experienced.  We discussed a number of things, even the possibility of doing some walking together this summer.  In our talk, he concurred that no one really understands the practice of marathon trekking, what positive effect it has, until you just go out and do it yourself.  In fact, anyone who has taken up the challenge of lengthy pilgrimages will wonder, “Why doesn’t everyone do this?”  As Michael confirmed about his noble walk, “Those were the best days of my life.” 
My remark would be, “If you can’t be foolhardy, then you’re just a bland bro.”
Be adventurous, be a fool. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Sunday, March 30th, 2014
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Brampton, Ontario
Steps Through Food
Hiten and I had taken a few steps along Williams Parkway before his dad would pick us up for the drive to the ISKCON Centre in downtown Brampton.  I had spent the night at the family’s home.  I assumed, he is 14 and raised in Canada, to be a supporter of the local hockey team.  I had noticed the wallpaper in his room with Toronto Maple Leafs as the border trim.  It seemed to make a clear statement.
“You’re a hockey fan?” 
“I’m not following it too much,” he admitted. 
I know that he’s a fan of computers.  That’s pretty normal.  He loves food.  Who wouldn’t, at that age?  He also is fond of Krishna, which is a plus.  His parents tell me that he and his sister, Edha, take pleasure in bringing the tray of bhoga (food not yet offered to Krishna) up the stairs and then into their home’s temple room.  The tray of fruit, almonds, and rich cooked parathasis placed on the shrine before the deity of Krishna. 
The standard practice is that you present for the pleasure of Krishna, represented by a deity, food that’s prepared with love and devotion.  You chant some mantras before the deity as a way to say, “Please accept this humble offering of food as a token of gratitude.  This is all your mercy.”  After the few mantras are recited, one may take the tray of food, which is now consecrated, and is called prasadam.  This blessed food is then distributed to those in the proximity of the offering place or the home. 
In the household where Hiten lives, he and his sister bring the tray of prasadam from the upstairs temple room down to the kitchen, and then eat with enthusiasm the shared prasadam. 
This ancient practice of prasadam disbursement has gone on for thousands of years in India, especially involving the temples of Krishna.  This practice is also kept alive in places like the ISKCON Centre in Brampton, where really tasty yogicfood meets the tongue such as mine.  Hiten and Edha found the vegetarian feast that was held there to be absolutely delicious.  The feast was held after a moving ceremony of diksa.  Two people received initiation.  Nikhil’s new name is Nimai Nitai, and his wife, Manakshi, has a new Sanskrit name, Moksha Lila.  Congratulations to them.
May the Source be with you!
7 KM

Saturday, March 29th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
As Much As You Can
Rajneesh, so kindly drove me to Professor’s Lake in Brampton on the way to his home.  It was 11 PM and it was the first shot I had to get out and move around.  I needed to wind down.
“In order for me to get a decent sleep,” I told him, “I need to exert some physical exercise.” 
Rajneesh is very understanding.  He’s a social worker by profession and is sensitive to the human need, so we pulled into the parking lot and both took that trek for a half hour in circumambulation of the lake.  Hundreds of geese appeared to be in samadhi (trance).  You could see them faintly.  Some of them blurted out their ever so common honking sounds.  I was surprised to see ice, although thin, still on the lake’s surface.  All was serene and all was dark – a perfect place to end the day of beautiful busyness at the ashram where there was a memorial kirtan, a play practice, important calls to receive and to send, a bustling Govinda’s eating activity and intense cooking in the kitchen for the annual Yoga Show, and plus, the sanding and painting within the walls of our area.  All of these goings on were happening for the sake of advancing the spiritual cause. 
Frankly, the geese likely had a hectic day as well, and now they were resting on their laurels and acting the type of meditation they understand.  We all have to function within our own capacity.  As humans, the obligation is to be as introspective as you can. 
May the Source be with you!
 3 KM

Friday, March 28th, 2014
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Columbus, Ohio
Walk To See A Cow
The cow’s left front leg was fractured in her home location, a barn in West Virginia.  She’s one of our cows, a Krishna cow, who hails from the New Vrindavan rural community, and was shipped over Galbreath Veterinary Center at the Ohio State University for physical care.  Gaura Nityananda, a Columbus monk, and I, felt pretty fortunate that this animal hospital was within walking distance of the Krishna House where I’m staying.  We made our way to this super clean barn which has multiple stalls.  We met Doctor Niehaus, the person who did surgery on the four year old bovine.  He was happy with the results of the surgery, and the cow (let’s call her Surabhi), seemed to demonstrate a joyful disposition, “She’s chewing her cud,” said the physician.  That was true, and at the same time that she was chewing, she also seemed to be doing an extended yoga stretch.  Her leg was in a cast, she appeared to be well on the road to recovery, and seemed to have overcome her complications. 
So now we have been speaking about a cow.  A cow, or bull, are sensitive creatures who meet with challenges of maybe a less complex nature in comparison to a human.  The human mind, for instance, is more that what anyone can comprehend.  On top of physical challenges, humans also have psychological challenges that we should perceive as opportunities. 
In this connection I would like to bring to your attention a beautiful quote that came to me today which came from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, our guru’s guru.  Here it is:
“Anyone who cannot understand that the complications which are ever present in the material universe are beneficial in a way that is pure, eternal, complete, and free… Is deprived of his true spiritual activity, devotion to Krishna.”
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Thursday, March 27th, 2014
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Columbus, Ohio
I Went To Prison
My dear friend, Akhilananda, from Salem, Ohio, took me to the Trumbull Correctional Center to see Arjuna, a prisoner (aren’t we all?), and who will serve time for another 8 years.  Because of his great conduct, officers and inmates at the institution love him.  He has been put in charge of the art department for the whole place.  Arjuna isn’t anyone I can walk with until he is discharged, but I can certainly visit him annually.  He gave the good news that he’s soon to be engaged which will last until marriage, and which also won’t happen until the sentence is terminated.  Both Akhila and I are thrilled about this new development and are impressed with Arjuna’s patience. 
To Columbus I went.  There, I had the pleasure to trek with our sole monk from Krishna House located in the Ohio State University District.  Nitai Gauranga is the name of the monk who accompanied me along the Olentangy River, a stream of constant water that flows to the Mississippi.  The city here has put incredible energy into revitalizing and beautifying the river banks and protecting it from erosion.  I’m told the trail along the way goes a good 22 miles. 
To be explored at a later date.
Finally, evening came along and the usual Thursday gathering showed up.  From the Bhagavad Gita we spoke on 11.54 regarding unbroken service which repairs the broken heart. 
In hindsight, at the prison, a janitor asked, “What order do you belong to?” 
I had to repeat myself more than once, “Hare Krishna.” 
He obviously never heard the term before, and asked, “What kind of Christians?” 
I repeated, “Hare Krishna.” 
Thinking he got it right this time, he said what he thought I said, “Oh, Happy Christians.” 
“Alright, whatever,” I thought, and he went back to sweeping.
May the Source be with you!
8  KM

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014
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Cleveland, Ohio
In Cleveland
I arrived at the bus depot in downtown Cleveland, and while I enjoyed this new space, so did some meadowlarks that happened to get inside.  They flew from light fixture to light fixture, pooping around and sometimes they came in for a landing pickingup a snack scrap or two left on the floor.  They appeared to be trapped though, and they weren’t sure how to get out. 
This dynamic nearly reminded me of a famous episode in the epic, The Mahabharat, where Abhimanyu, the young warrior, so expertly was able to penetrate through the military barrier.  Once in, he was unable to exit as the barrier closed in on him. It is actually a sad moment in the story, and it meant Abhimanyu’s end. 
Dayal Nitai, my host in Cleveland, had come to fetch me while I had eyes on birds, and mind on the battlefield.  Once we arrived at his home at Hillsdale Road, he treated me to some of his raw food preparations.  He tells me he’s writing a book which includes those recipes of his, “Masterpiece Recipies”.
Now to work off the calories of that fine food, I ventured off, but only for an hour, taking in good air and moving my limbs.  I satisfy myself in breathing in what is one of the greatest gifts, and I appreciate that my legs  are the most outstanding mobilizers that a human can savour in.
A Wednesday group met at Dayal’s in the evening, and after a kirtan, our discussion based on the Bhagavad Gita 11.53/54, was all about the aspiration to see God.  Our conclusion was that as you pursue devotion, the eagerness to have a vision of someone calms down, and that energy transforms to “doing”, at which time, God sees you. 
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Birds and Time
I arrived at the Toronto Airport, anticipating warmer weather than what the prairies offered.  Such was the case, but we are still looking at below zero degrees, and what appears to be the most stubborn winter I can remember.  It’s interesting, one place that I visited in Winnipeg, Fort Whyte Alive Park, recently saw about 200 of those iconic birds, Canada geese, land on its grounds.  After a few hours, the birds got up in flight and headed back to where they came from, directions south.  People at the sight who had been working in the park for thirty years, never saw anything like this before.  It  just wasn’t the time yet for the feathered friends to settle in the north.
The chill, a mere ten degrees Celsius below zero, did not deter me from a daily walk.  I’ll always bundle up and brave any condition if equipped.  I just had a few precious hours at home, at the ashram, to reconnect with the other monks there, as well as with visitors.  That was more of a priority.  I did also manage to slip in a drama practice with some keen volunteers for our next take on “Little Big Ramayan”.  Stephen has come forward to play the role of evil Ravana.  He’s an opera singer.  And Corrado is a professional dancer and plays the deceptive Marichi in the form of a deer.  Somehow the talent is coming my way and I’m grateful. 
Monk-bonding and a scheduled rehearsal consumed some beautiful time before preparing for an early leave for Ohio the next morning.  I guess I stopped at home for as long as the geese stayed at the park.  This loss of time for a trek I’ll make up the next day, even if I have to fight for it.  The warrior in me will arise, watch out, time! 
May the Source be with you!
0 KM

Monday, March 24th, 2014
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White City, Saskatchewan
Paths
Aang, the air bender, a popular character from the animation series, is the latest person that I remind someone of.  On the list is Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Forrest Gump, Martial Artist Grasshopper, Buddha, and actor Kevin Spacey – all people I’m supposed to either resemble or give a reminder towards.  Whether I’m on one of those marathon walks or at a venue for a presentation, people don’t hold back from addressing someone that is relatable.  These remarks can be flattering or facetious.  I must admit, that in fact, I’m just an ordinary person, a simple monk who is a Prabhupada man.  I belong to my guru and I’ve set out for his mission which is to share the consciousness of Krishna.  My portfolio in this regard is teaching the science of bhakti yoga.  Every day of my life, the compelling obligation is to share some lesson with someone.
An opportunity in White City came when three young men volunteered to join me on the local trail system.  Our step was cautious, moving over intermittent snow, ice and general bareness.  On one trail, deer droppings marked the way.  We found the owners, the herd, who gave a good long curious stare.  We returned the stare, but they outdid us.  We were not prepared to stay there forever.  As we began to move, so did they. 
So the choice of trails was there, to go the way of snow and deer, or to take the path of relative dryness.  In life, we all have a choice to tread either of two paths.  One is called “nvriti marga”, the road of spirituality.  The other marga(path) is “pravritti”, the trail of self indulgence.  Take your pick. 
May the Source be with you!
3 KM

Sunday, March 23rd, 2014
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Regina, Saskatchewan
Any Little Walking…
Any little walking done today was in sections.  I did a stretch of a Saskatoon suburb, a stretch along Highway 11, also Albert Street in Regina, and also including a little piece of the Trans Canada Highway, Highway 1.
In between I visited two mandirs (temples), primarily to speak and to chant.  At the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, I spoke from Bhagavad Gita, 2.1, wherein Arjuna addresses Krishna as Madhusudhana, which refers to Him as the slayer of a demon.  With this nomenclature, Arjuna appeals to Krishna, and hopes that Krishna will extinguish the demon of doubt.
Doubt isn’t always necessarily a negative feature.  It could simply represent a sign of intelligence and that one is craving to clarify some internal confusion.  A serious doubt that lingers, however, could hamper one’s moving ahead, and therefore, one may push on to clear this blockage.  This was the situation with Arjuna, and so he referred to the confusion within as a demon that needed to end. 
In Regina, at the ISKCON Centre, I spoke from Bhagavad Gita 9.30, which deals with God’s compassion over the soul who has slipped from dharma.  The message was that even if one slips from duty and commits a moral error, however big it may be, it doesn’t mean that one has slipped out of grace.  One is given another chance.  One needs only to be determined, to be rightly situated in attitude. 
I really liked some of the questions that followed after the talk, including Adrian’s query.  Adrian is only 7 or 8, “How do you get real love?” 
In short, I explained, “Generally if you give love, you’ll get love.”
May the Source be with you!
8 KM

Saturday, March 22nd, 2013
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Eager
What can I say about today?  Well, the family I’m staying with, Kasyapa Muni and wife Panchami, Sanjay and daughter, Radhika, are quite excited about new prospects which are both physical and spiritual.
Recently they bought a larger home, it’s a done deal, and they’ll be moving in soon.  That’s the physical part.  The spiritual portion is this evening they will be installing in their current home, not a new set of furniture, not a new car for the garage, no indoor swimming pool or a fish tank with exotic fish, or a husky dog for a pet.  What they are zealous about is the installation of a gorgeous set of deities of Radha and Krishna for their shrine in the living room.  Friends then came in the evening for an abhiseka ritual.  I lead the chanting and explained to all the symbolic and relevant meanings behind the standard motions and rituals involved. 
In a home where a family executes bhakti (devotion), these types of ceremonies, arrangements and such add a good dose of colour, shape and meaning to life when positive images of devotion avail themselves to the viewers.  Daily puja (rituals) will be conducted, short and sweet.  People are welcome to participate.
While puja has become an integral part of my life, I also balance such events, whether at a home or in the ashram, with meeting the outdoors.  Of course, for me it means walking and chanting simultaneously.  Divinity can be found within and without, indoors and outdoors.  Over the years I have also come to realize, as I’ve heard and read about this one principle over and over again, that there’s nothing quite so precious in the rendering of devotion as companionship that comes either in the form of a spiritually grounded person or a spiritually eager person. 
May the Source be with you!
8 KM

Friday, March 21st, 2014
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A Genuine Pilgrim
I met Joyce in 2006 when I trekked through Saskatoon at that time.  She, along with other walkers, runners, cyclists and yoga people, sat down to hear some of my Tales from Trails stories, and lessons learned on the road.  The venue was a place called Yoga Republic, a cozy setting in a building dedicated to healing, and which was formerly a convent for nuns located on Idylewild Road (most people around here call it Iddly Widdly). 
I was happy to connect with her again.  At that time, in 2006, she sent me an e-message, saying she had an aspiration to do the Camino de Compostela, the famous pilgrim walk in Spain.  She also asked me in that message if she could join me for part of my trek while I was in the province of Saskatchewan. 
Meeting someone like her is rare, with all this passion she has for pilgrimage.  She regularly walks.  I expressed at the time that it would be a little bit awkward since I’m a monk, and she’s a woman.  If a third person was there, especially a male, it would be different.  Culturally, traditionally, that’s the way it would work.  I hadn’t heard from her after that.  In any event, I kept walking eastbound to complete a third walk across Canada.  It wasn’t until now that I heard from her and that I saw her for the first time in person at this night’s event.  She mildly persisted in the most gentle way, “Would you be willing to guide a group in a walk across Canada?” 
I could not give a complete answer to that, and I expressed that we could talk after the presentation is over.  My thought on the matter is, “Here is a real live pilgrim who in the meantime did walk the Camino.  How can I inspire and/or facilitate someone like this?”  I will give some thought to it and see if on a small scale something can be accomplished.
Those in attendance at the Yoga Republic joined us in kirtan, followed by halava snacks.  They left feeling lighter in heart and a little heavier in stomach.  I would really like to thank our facilitator, Lorel.  I was also thinking, “This is the silent time of year (winter’s end) when you have big dreams that you have to put in to plan and action.”  Earlier on in the day, my host, Kasyapa, and I were walking on soil as well as on ice and dry snow.  With our feet we were crushing the stuff under us with a crunch and a crackle.  This is the most quiet season of the year, but it’s a time when you can make the most noise. 
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Thursday, March 20th, 2014
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
Shoe Guru
I’m not a shopper, but sometimes you have to…  In my possession I have summer Crocs and winter snow boots.  There is nothing that is appropriate for the seasons in between, so I decide I have to secure something for the feet.
 
It’s spring today, officially, but not in reality.  Colossal snow sculptures, remnants from the recent Voyagers Festival, still adorn some of the medians at city boulevards.  They are impressive.  Still, it’s winter.
 
To address my need the generous Daruka, my benevolent support person throughout this recent cross-country walk, drove me to Canadian Footwear Limited on Adelaide Street.  Billy was the name of the clerk dealing with us.  He was terrific and did a super job.  He sold me a pair of Gortex hiking shoes.  I did joke with him,” I was initially thinking along the lines of getting flippers,” considering the pools of water being formed outside, a result of the snow’s thaw.  He was inquisitive about the order I belong to.  My robes usually hit people’s curiosity button.  His presumption was that I was Buddhist. 

“Krishna!”  I said, “Hare Krishna!  Origins – India.”
Pleasantly he asked, “What brought you to this?” 
And I responded by explaining my thirst for simplicity of life.  He asked about my fourth time walking the country, and I explained, “To promote pilgrimage.”  But more so, I remained attentive to getting the shoes I needed and to achieving the best buy for the best product.   Billy was also focused on the sale and the product.  I continued the conversation.  “In my youthful days of quest, I listened to the Beatles.  They went to India, they went spiritual.”
“Oh yeah, the sitar and all that,” Billy recalled.  Billy was smooth as ice.  A super sales person.  He’s like a shoe guru. 
Now, for the test on my shoes.  Doug, a friend also with us, who put in half towards the purchase, took a stroll with me through the business district of town.  What a slush world it is.  My new booties held out, and I thank Krishna for seeing to it that I had provisions for my tootsies.  Hare Krishna.
May the Source be with you.
5 KM
 Billy at Canadian Footwear in Winnipeg helps the Walking Monks buy a new pair of shoes
 Snow Sculptures in Winnipeg
Snow Sculptures in Winnipeg

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
Up-Cycling
It sounds a little bit like celebrating reincarnation.  The term ‘up-cycling’ is used when rejected matter is turned into something practical.  We are talking about scrap items, old building material, broken down furniture, parquet floor pieces and such.  It is all reinvented in a useful way as stunning art forms.  So, matter that would normally be destined for the landfill, now has value. 
I was a fortunate one to be there for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of a shop called “The Scrap Came Back” located on Saint Anne’s Road where on shelf display and for sale there were unique one of a kind art pieces made of various what would be rejected materials.  Fred Penner, the renowned children’s entertainer, who became popular for his song, “The Cat Came Back”, was there to snip with scissors, the ribbon, marking the opening of some real nifty art work ranging from ornamental pieces to birdhouses, all assembled by disabled citizens. 
It was a pleasure to meet some of the artists as well as Karen Fonseth Schlossburg, representing DASCH, which stands for Direct Action in Support of Community Homes, the legal entity behind the project.  The sale of items goes to support these worthy folks of disability.  Thus far, DASCH has built 55 home to accommodate such folks. 
I also met Carol, who recently returned from Pune, India, for a yoga upgrade.  And me, being a bhakti yoga instructor, allowed for us to share a lot in common.  But believe me, I was the only monk at the party, and was happy to be wedged into an art crowd and their supporters. 
In practice and in spirit, this art community lives by the slogan, “Re-purposed, re-imagined, recycled, and fair trade”.  Sounds much like the transmigration of the soul. 
To live up to my claim as a bhakti yoga instructor, I put this into practice in the evening, but at another location.  Leading kirtan, discussions in devotion, and carob flavoured goodies embellished our night. 
May the Source be with you!
0 KM
 Fred Penner cuts ribbon at The Scrap Came Back Store in Winnipeg
Bhaktimarga Swami at ribbon cutting ceremony

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario

Incidents Do Happen

Nick and I left the ashrambefore retiring for the night ‘to get some rounds in’.  By that term we don’t mean we’re playing golf or anything of the sort.  We are referring to having our fingers go a revolution or more on our mediation beads while reciting mantras.  And in the process, we are walking.

A good progressive walk we did in terms of speed, up Bloor Street West to Christie Pitts and back in one hour. 

Nick has been fairly occupied as of late in the care of Tulasi, the sacred plant so commonly honoured in Vaishnava ashrams and temples around the world.  He’s also doing extra kitchen duties, filling in for one of our monks who slipped and fell on the kitchen floor, landing on his right hand and leaving him incapacitated. 
Accidents and incidents do happen, even in a spiritual environment.  Currently, our community in Toronto is quite shaken up about losing a dear member.  Mayapur Chandra was a young man whose body was recently found outside in the snow.  He passed away from hypothermia.  He had a lot of young friends who feel a great loss in the community. 
It was this evening that a grievance counselor by the name of Rajnish from amongst our community took the group of mourners through introspection and prayer.  The support system is well in place, and in an effort to help boost the morale, I had made a special dedication through a 9 Devotions workshop this evening before ‘getting some rounds in’. 
I wish to give a special moment of reflection to honourMayapur Chandra for his kind, sharing ways.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Monday, March 17th, 2014
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Oshawa, Ontario

In Rick’s Class

I arrived early at Durham College’s room where Rick conducts his classes.  I sat down waiting in the room with just a few students who are also early and who had made themselves comfortable along the classroom’s edge.  As the trickling in of students trailed on, there was a continuation of gravitating to the outer seats where they opened up to their individual computer gadget or book.  Book?  Yes!  Surprise!

Rick came in.  It’s always great to see him.  By now, the middle portion of the room filled in.  Rick gave the intro to the students about the guest speaker and mentioning about my pilgrimages across countries.  More so, he wanted me to speak about the Krishna culture.  I was to convey how Krishna devotees theologically see the world through our lens.  Whether we accept or reject other paths to the absolute.  What do we as a group struggle with amongst ourselves, and how do we solution this?  There were other points he wished me to cover.
They were a good group of students, really attentive, and especially so when I began to speak about our challenges in recognition of a divorce rate that should and could be lowered within our community.   I mentioned that we started to give attention to the problem, “Faith and family should run together relatively smooth.”  I explained that secularism and materialism have imposed a major shakeup to the family unit.  In other words, I was taking a strong position for spirituality being a major component within relationships.  “Spirituality is supposed to build up your sensitivity, tolerance, patience, love, and togetherness.”  It has been observed that many people take to the spiritual track to gain stability in their lives and that by partaking in community activities aim to achieve enhanced harmony.  We all need a good support system.
In any event, questions came.  Time spun by very quickly.  I was just about to do a demo on the drum, the mrdanga, and then to chant, but the hour zipped by in a flash and the next guests came in, two young male members of the Mormon Church.  They were absolutely amiable.  We exchanged handshakes and words of goodwill.  Of course, spiritualists should support each other and not see each other as adversaries, even if from a different denomination. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Sunday, March 16th, 2014
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Ottawa, Ontario
Fast to Feast
Savyasacin had gone to his godfather’s for the evening while I was accommodated in the apartment right next to our Ottawa ashram / restaurant.  There was not to be any eating today.  Govinda’s restaurant is closed on Sunday.  And besides, we are looking at a fast today in honour of Sri Chaitanya’s birthday. 
Who is Chaitanya? 
As I had outlined to the people in the packed place, he is the avatar of the current era (yuga)  who introduced kirtan to the world in a very extraordinary way.  He is credited for bringing the magicalpreoccupation of chanting yoga to the modern world.  As guest speaker, I expressed to the crowd the obligation we all have in offering him our gratitude.  I also spoke about his encounter with the two nefarious characters, Jagai and Madhai, notorious outlaws who struck fear in the hearts of all humble townsfolk in Bengal’s Nadia district in very early 16thcentury.  There was a serious scuffle which involved these two characters and his close associate, Nityananda, but the outcome was a miraculous conversion from heathens to saints for the lives of these two murders, Jagai and Madhai.
Chaitanya was on regular pilgrimage.  His prominent walks were from as far north as Vrindavan in the Delhi area down to the southernmost section of India.  He particularly loved the pilgrimage site on the eastern shore at a place called Puri and spent much of his last 18 years there.  Walking played a big part in his life, as a renunciate, it was a veritable practice. 
Oh yes, and our fast was also followed by a feast.  Scrumptious!
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Saturday, March 15th, 2014
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Norwood / Ottawa
Two Stops
Savyasacin and I were headed for the city of Ottawa, not by foot, no, that would take two weeks.  We were scheduled to a satsang(gathering of spirits) in an Ottawa suburb for the evening.  We drove, and through another storm, in another day of the winter that refuses to end.
A stopover in Norwood, midway to Ottawa, was really cool, as was our visit to the capitol city.  At the home of Kirtan, mother of 12 great kids, we had lunch, and talks with members of the neighbouring kirtan group.
Now I don’t intend to be redundant with the word, kirtan, but the person’s actual name is Kirtan, which means, a singing or a praise of the absolute.  It just happens to be the name awarded to her by her guru.
The group, from Peterborough, were curious about my passion for walking.  The door of glowing opportunity then arose for me to highlight pilgrimage as a positive outlet for people, as an ancient therapeutic practice, and as a search for answers to otherworldly quests.  I had passed through this town here in 2003, took to some trekking on the nearby Trans Canada Trail, and found myself under constant attack by horse and deer flies.  The only relief was a submerging into the waters of a local lake. 
Speaking of submersion, our little kirtan group did enter into the chanting of the maha mantra, after which we sunk teeth into muffins and chips and guacamole dip.  A great group of chanters and munchers we are. 
Savyasacin and I really look forward to being with the group in the not so distant future.  All hail to Kirtan, the person!  All hail to kirtan, the chanting! 
May the Source be with you!
3 KM

Friday, March 14th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
The Raw Thaw 
Snow! Ice! Slush! Water! That’s what you get on a day like today. It’s the raw thaw. And it’s okay. It’s an adventure going through it all, as I traversed Yonge, Bloor, Bathurst and Dupont streets.

I feel no regrets not being in a car. I’m happy on my feet. There’s something sweet about it.

As I went (direction West) with a blinding sun in the eyes, I could make out a toquedchap coming towards me, hands in pranama.

“How are you Maharaja?” said he.
“Oh it’syou, Jiva-nuga!” I responded.

Immediately my thoughts raced to the past. He’s a fine human being. His roots are from the East (New Brunswick) and he had joined the ranks of monks in the West (Vancouver) years ago. While he’s no longer a man of the cloth, and chose to reenter civilian life, his time in a brahmacaryaregimen really benefitted him.
I’ve always liked Jiva, he’s as honest as you can get. He’s quiet and mild, but strong of body and skilled with his hands.

With the sun to my left shoulder, now going North-bound on Bathurst, I met another pedestrian, an acquaintance. It was Kathleen O’Connell, widow to Professor Joseph T. O’Connell, pioneer in many ways for helping establish wholesome dialogue between leaders of different faith groups.

Before his departure, Kathleen told me that Joseph recently set up a comparative religiouscourse in the University of Dacca in Bangladesh. His office was right next to the fundamentalist Islamic group. With his charm, wit and intellect, Joseph managed to build a bridge of communication.  

He was also thrilled, back in 1968 in Boston, to meet our guru, Srila Prabhupada, during the embryonic stage of a promising bhakti movement.

It was great meeting Kathleen. She was watching her steps, as I was, to evade slush and water pools as we parted our ways. It’s my assumption that she’s a walker and doesn’t mind the adventure that goes along with it. You don’t get this kind of interaction when buzzing around in a car.

May the source be with you!

5 KM

Thursday, March 13th, 2014
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Thornhill, Ontario
Local Pilgrimage 
One way that a pilgrimage can be analyzed or defined is when a person or a group of persons make the journey to a sacred place. As simple as that!

Within the greater Toronto area, we now have four official ISKCON places where the science of Krsna consciousness is practiced and is open to the public. Really, we have just begun within the last decade in this endeavor to grow. And there is a vision to continue increasing the numbers. This morning I ventured to one of those places.

Two short blocks away from Dundas square (Toronto’s version of Times Square) is a humble and quaint, two-floor level place of beauty. Situated above a greasy-spoon restaurant on the street level, is something called Bhakti Lounge, where I was invited to give the early morning class.

I walked it, happily. I even stopped by fellow pilgrim, Jivanatha, along the way and together we forged ahead. He moved to Toronto from the gorgeous Kawarthas area a few months ago.

You wouldn’t think that pilgrimage would entail moving from one sacred spot, our ashram, to another place of devotion within a short length of three kilometers, but why not?

Our discussion at Bhakti Lounge was great. These young bhakti-yogis are super-bright. They pose fantastic questions, centered around the father’s duty to the son. The great literary monk, Vyasadeva, spent a concentrated many years teaching his son, Sukadeva, the science of self-realization.

Being that this week is March break, children are home from school. Our temple/ashram administration organized an escape for parents by coordinating a Krsna Kids Day Camp. Guess who was one of their presenters?

My topic was “Who is Krishna?”

The most common response from the group of little ones (age 5-15) was, “He is our Protector.”

The number two popular answer was, “He’s our best friend.”

May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
The Right Vision
Weather conditions were such that it made it prohibitive to trek a serious length.  Today I walked pacing our inside balcony back and forth.  I did walk intellectually through a string of verses from the Bhagavad Gita, a kind of power tight rope walking.  From chapter 13, Nature, The Enjoyer, And Consciousness.
13.27:
“Oh chief of the Bharatas, know that whatever you see in existence, both the moving and the non moving, is only a combination of the field of activities and the knower of the field.”
13.28:
“One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neither the soul nor the Supersoul within the destructible body is ever destroyed, actually sees.”
13.29:
“One who sees the Supersoul equally present everywhere, in every living being, does not degrade himself, thus he approaches the transcendental destination.”
13.30:
“One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.”
13.31:
“When a sensible person ceases to see different identities due to different material bodies and sees how beings are expanded everywhere, he attains to the Brahman conception.”
13.32:
“Those with the vision of eternity can see that the imperishable soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature.  Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.”
13.33:
“The sky, due to its subtle nature, does not mix with anything, although it is all pervading.  Similarly, the soul situated in Brahman vision does not mix with the body, though situated in that body.”
13.34:
“O son of Bharat, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.”
13.35:
“Those who see with eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body, and can also understand the process of liberation from bondage in material nature, attain to the supreme goal.”
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
A Stirring Inside
As winter begins its exit, dreams of outdoor opportunities open up.  Even a monk is no exception to this phenomenon.  After an hour or two of being occupied in a freshly painted office, it was necessary to burst out of our ashram building and let air do its magic.  I almost sprinted on Yonge Street with enthusiasm excited about the spring in the air. 
One of my students had earlier on reported seeing one of those bright red male cardinals (the bird and nothing to do with the Vatican).  This was a sure sign of spring.  As I walked along, one street guitarist between songs expressed his joy, “It’s a great day to be alive!”  Couldn’t agree more. 
In the Yorkville area a woman saw me and simply said, “Hello.”  She acted on spontaneity when she noticed I was doing my work in progress, chanting softly on my meditative beads.  She said, “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“No, it’s quite alright, you did nothing wrong.  Enjoy this day.”
“I am.” 
When I returned to the ashram and made my way down the corridor to the office of fresh paint, I glanced at a copy of one of those summer adventure ‘zines’ called “Wilderness Tours” left in the desk tray.  The overall message of the publication was ringing out, “Get outside!”  The publications highlights more boating adventure as opposed to walking, but I like some of the quotes used regarding life and nature and how to get the most out of them. 
From Rich Ridgeway, “Life is either a daring pursuit or nothing at all.”  “The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.”
From comedian Danny Kaye, “Life is a blank canvass, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.”
From Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Teach your children well… and feed them on your dreams.”
From Eleanor Roosevelt, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience of the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”
From William Butler Yeats, “I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore… I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”
From Rudyard Kipling, “Something hidden.  Go and find it.  Go look behind the ranges.  Lost and waiting for you, go!”
When spring springs, urges to do more stir up inside.  Go out then and find yourself and find God. 
May the Source be with you!
7 KM

Monday, March 10th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
I See The Ice…
From “Here Comes The Sun” (George Harrison):
“Little darlin’ I see the ice is slowly melting…”
These fine lyrics were somewhat ringing in my ears as I watched tiny rivers in all directions by the sidewalk headed for lower altitudes, pouring into manholes.  Patches of concrete were dry.  Other patches were mounds of snow. 
Is it a sign of the end of the winter of our discontent.  Who knows?  I can’t complain too much like others around here.  I evaded much of 2013/14 crazy cold freeze having been in Guyana and India, walking through fair weather. 
With melting snow racing to its destinations, ultimately contributing to one of the great lakes of the world, I see raja guna (the mode of passion) at play.  And in a really good way.  It’s like when the soul, having spent lifetimes in silly pursuits, suddenly comes to a state of realization.  The blockage of ignorance is finally broken.  One becomes conscious. 
Or, we could compare the thaw to the unborn child packed up in the womb, and then now makes its entry into the world after a long wait. 
I could see other pedestrians happy with the melt.  I could hear at one spot the loud sound of ice and snow collapsing under the wheels of an automobile’s tire because there was no more anchorage to hold up the mass elements.
These sights and sounds were like a jazz session – happy, moving and stirring.  I trekked until the sun was no longer coming, but going, as it caused a spill of saffron across the western sky.  Nature is entertaining. 
I thought, “I just went to a free concert with gorgeous visuals.  Thank you, Creator, You are the Source.”
May the Source be with you!
7 KM

Sunday, March 9th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Chaitanya’s Verses
My walking was in a Brampton residential area.  I went out the door at the house of my host, Rajnish.  I turned left, then right, and then right again…  You understand the situation.  I was going in circles until I got back to where I started at 10 Meridian Road. 
Today I also delivered a class on the Gita, 10.11 at the Vedic Cultural Centre.  Then I shifted to Toronto at the ISKCON Centre to speak on the power of sankirtan (collective chanting).  I read out my paraphrased version in rap style of Chaitanya’s well known 8 verses, called, Siksastakam:
There’s victory in the chanting of Thee Name
Which cleanses the heart from bein’ insane
From karma collected overtime in vain
Extinguishing the fire of material life
Birth n’ death n’ physical strife
This chanting, is the prime benediction
Sparing us from the nasty addiction
Spreading like cool moon rays it is
Elevating us to the state of bliss
Allowing everyone a taste you won’t wanna miss
It’s the joy we are truly searching for
With wisdom at it’s very core
Master, Your name’s a blessin’ to all
You’re known by the names that we can call
Like Krishna, Govinda (and Gopal)
All powers invested in the sound
Transcendal energy tightly bound
Kindly dispersed we have access to You
No hard, fast rules, not even a few
I’ll just give it all my heart
I’ll attempt to do my part
BUT!
I am afraid my attraction for this sound
Is something my heart can’t wrap around
It is best to chant with humility
To be as humble as you can possibly be 
It’s like a blade of grass, you see  
And be tolerant like a tree
And for false e-go, just let it go  
Respect all you do and do not know
In such a state, you’ll end up feeling great
Oh, One who is beyond all measures!   
I have no desire for worldly treasures
Nor for any kind of sensuous pleasures
Nor for followers, fans, and such leisures
I only want to offer my devotions life after life after life…
Oh Krishna, son of Nanda, I am Yours, 
Somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean away from its shores
Of birth and death and plenty more 
Pick me up from this drowning sensation
An atom at Your feet escaping damnation
Krishna, when will I shed tears of love forever
When the sound vibration won’t ever sever
When will my voice choke up with emotion
And hairs of my body stand up from devotion?
All from hearing the sound
From hearing the sound
Govinda! Feeling your separation a moment is twelve years
There are these incessant flowing tears
How can there be solace
When you appear not to hold us
I know only You and it will remain so too 
Even if your embrace is rough
And a broken heart isn’t enough
You are completely free to do anything
And completely free to do everything
Saving me from disaster
You are my guiding master
Unconditionally

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

Friday, March 7th, 2014
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Kolkata / Delhi / Brussels / Toronto

Speed of Wind

Maha Mantra and I were moving with the speed of wind between airports.  First of all, the road from Mayapur to Kolkata is always a rough one, full of potholes and crazy traffic.  I will always love India for its people and its spirituality, but not its systems or lack of.

Delhi’s airport is world class, but not its air, it’s hot and stuffy.  You wonder why you call it an airport.  Our flights are on Jet Airways.  Maha Mantra and I managed to maintain a relative spiritual program on and off board.  It consists of a look at verses from the Gita.  We discuss.  We chant the song, Guruvastakam, in appreciation of the guru, right there in the airport in Brussels.  Of course, I also get a chance to contribute to this blog.  Some much needed dozing also happens to take place.  Then, Maha Mantra, being the disciplinarian and monk that he has been, asked me if there was anything I thought would be appropriate for him to watch on the televised screen in front of his seat.  Surely, I did my homework and gave my honest assessment.  I thought that the only good learning, near enlightening, or historic subject matter, would be a choice of films, “Lincoln”, or “The Butler”.

From Brussels to Toronto we experienced so little turbulence in the air.  The main turbulence would likely be that of mind.  As you may be aware, the Gita states that the wind is easier to harness than the mind. 

A word about that – the mind – is that it is the role played by my associate, Maha Mantra, in our Gita production.  He did splendid playing that sporadic character.  I am grateful to him for being with me in the travels and in the productions. 

I’m also happy about the pilgrimage to India.  I already expressed my likes and dislikes.  In it all, we are supposed to have the vision that God should be seen in all circumstances.  When there is a little bit less favourable circumstance, then it should always turn into an opportunity.

In landing at Toronto Airport, with a zero Celsius degrees, both Maha Mantra and I took a breath of that air, once the doors opened for us at the parking lot.  Personally, I see God in the form of fresh air, one of multiple manifestations.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Saturday, March 8th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario

My First

I took my first trek since returning from India.  So I went down Yonge Street near Dundas Street, a black chap held a stack of publications in one arm.  It is entitled, “Black Heroes”.  I justified not taking one as he extended one issue with his free hand.

“No thanks,” I said.  No racism intended.  In my mind I had three justifications.  In the first place, I carried no money to pay for the publication.  Number two, I was really needing to concentrate on japa meditation without major breaks.  Lastly, I already have the black hero in my life – Krishna.  I did not voice my simple concerns to him even though he demandingly responded with a, “Why not?”

The next person I took particular note of on the street was talking, but to no particular individual.  Paradoxically, he was speaking to everyone who passed by him.  His message was about Jesus.  I could see he was attracting no audience, and that should have no bearing on the personality Jesus himself.  It just appeared to be a gospel that’s been spoken many times over, so people had heard it before. 

The third person to speak to me directly was a woman appealing for change.  She was nice about it when I smiled and nodded, “No.”  I could actually hear her smile as I passed by and she remarked, “Well, maybe next time.”  She was most self-reassuring. 

It was nighttime and moving into the morning when I took this much needed trek.  I was addressing the jet lag syndrome chanting my japa.  Being awake to the non-worldly matters, I realized I was on another continent again, with different people, who have the same kinds of needs as on other continents and in other spheres. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Thursday, March 6th, 2014
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Mayapur, India

A Plop That Plopped

A cow patty fell off the side of the village wall as we trekked by.  It got my attention.  The balance of the wall is perfectly populated with this stuff – round finger printed patties stuck to the brick.  They were getting dried by the sun, and just one lost its sticking power.

Cow patties are an excellent source of fuel.  They are there for the taking, free of charge.  The generous cow or bull leaves her or his earthy feces on the ground for people to do something smart with.  You have to be a little daring though.  It’s a hands on situation, and some patience is required to allow for drying time.  Somebody is doing a good job at gathering the stuff around here.  I can’t find fresh plops even if I were to take up the mission to secure even one. 

After the morning walk our small crew went to Radha Bhavan, the actual home of a gracious family from Poland.  Mahasringa, the man of the house, is the epitome of kindness.  He took us up to the roof of his home for a small ceremony, and for a talk that I was to give to a small group.  In the center of the flat roof, and under the sunshine, was a havan kund, a small fire arena.  There in its center was about six cow dung patties with a sprinkled amount of camphor on top of that, it made for a modest flame.  Mantras were to commence after I spoke a few words from the Gita, 2.57.  It’s a great verse:

“In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.”

The message was liked by all because it was geared toward the young man from Switzerland taking his second diksa (initiation).  Receiving this honour means that you endeavour to increase your application of wisdom.  To a large extent it also means to be level headed and to maintain one’s equilibrium as much as possible.  You enhance your consciousness. 

As a small fire was burning with its foundational fuel, the cow dung, mantras were recited by the presiding Brahman (priest).  Grains were tossed into the flame.  He had just about all the ingredients there to perform a perfect spiritual ceremony. 

It also made for a perfect last event before leaving the great retreat in Mayapur.  It all ended with some cow dung. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
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Mayapur, India

I Cannot Walk With You

“I cannot walk with you today,” said Praveen.  He is a local person and I’ve known him for a good 15 years or so.  I was with a Russian devotee, and we were just turning a corner onto Tarumpura Road, toward the Jalangi River, when Praveen expressed that he can’t join us as he did the other day.  He felt unworthy, as he put it, “I didn’t take bath yet today.”  He made further remarks that emerged from the low self esteem platform, “I’m no good.”

Praveen looked disheveled.  His dentures are deteriorated, stained yellow and brown.  In the past when I would meet him on the Tarumpura Road, I would give him an embrace, but I could see he was not in the mood to receive.  He looked intoxicated.  Being pious, believing in God, and what is generally dharmic (moral), he felt rather guilty being in our presence.  He knows what it means to greet or be greeted by a monk.  It is a deeply engrained element in the psyche of people who hail from the land of dharma, India.  That’s why he spoke with an outburst, “Maharaja,” he said out of reverence.

He stood there, humbled, and the only thing I could do for the moment was to cheer him up and let him know he’s not a bad person.

“Do put your faith in Krishna, He’s always there to help.  By the way, please come to see our play, ‘Little Big Ramayan’.  It will be held at the Samadhi Auditorium.”

There’s always the obligation when meeting someone to give them hope.  I saw him get a little excited.  So we went on our way.  I did not see Praveen at our show, but I trust that he will be there in the future.  I pray for him.

“My dear, Krishna, please watch over Praveen who is struggling and having a dark hour.  Please help him to overcome habits he’s not pleased with.  May his devotional sentiments overshadow his weaknesses.”

May the Source be with you!

5 KM