Friday, May 2nd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Charolottetown, Prince Edward Island

From The Speaking Tree

I had landed in Halifax at 1:15 AM, caught some rest at the home of hosts, Mukunda and Hladini, and found a few minutes to stroll with monk, Nitai Ram, before a drive to Charlottetown where we took part in a satsang, spiritual gathering.  On the ride over we stopped at the border of Prince Edward Island to catch up on internet stuff.  There, we googled a newspaper article that appeared on April 27th, 2014 with the New Delhi Times, a section called The Speaking Tree.  I was honoured to be featured there as a person who is promoting pilgrimage.  And here it is:

Walkathon To Eternity

The Canadian-born BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI believes in walking in the great outdoors to find the Truth. REENA SINGH spent a morning with the ‘Walking Monk’ in Noida at the inauguration of a new ISKCON temple.

He’s a self-confessed walking addict who says he got attracted to Swami Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement 41 years ago because it was ‘radical, daring and different.’ Bhaktimarga Swami began walking in 1996, when he wanted to do something really big as a tribute to Srila Prabhupada’s centennial celebrations, and he hasn’t stopped since. He’s walked across Canada thrice and is due to finish his fourth walk soon. Born John Peter Vis, the 61-year-old Canadian has also walked across Ireland, Israel, Guyana, Mauritius, and Fiji Islands and is planning yet another marathon walk in 2016 from New York to San Francisco. 

He walks all mornings, 35 KM or so at a stretch and spends nights at camp sites. In between, he stops at schools, senior citizen homes, libraries and yoga studios and among Hindu communities, delivering the message of the Bhagavad Gita and conducting meditations. 

Parikrama And Pilgrimage

All along, he also promotes being one with nature and says that many countries — India, Russia, Europe, Ireland, and South and Central America — have a rich heritage of parikrama and pilgrimage. “It was common in ancient times for young people to set off on a vision quest in solitude in a kind of walking meditation. Across the globe, there is a history of people travelling light, looking for a kind of transformation, an inner cleansing. We must look at this walking culture of our ancestors more deeply and realise the value of it,” he says.

“We now live in an automated society and so hardly ever travel on foot,” he rues. “My aim is to go to every town and village — meet people and get inspired by what they do, and try to inspire them. A support person checks on me once in a while and ensures that I am still alive and that I haven’t been eaten up by a bear! The whole idea is to gain a sense of resistance and take in whatever comes of its own accord — cold and hot weather, rain, snow, mosquitoes, flies — to walk through the dualities and to gain strength,” he says. 

“What resonates with a lot of people when you get past that half century mark is that you have to spend a little more time in simplicity. Walking aids in that endeavour. My message is that we are the spirit, not just the body. Moreover, we were designed for walking, not flying, or even running. In many societies, there is a tradition of walking and leading a monastic life,” he says. 

Was there opposition from his family when he took to the Hare Krishna way of life? “I am still Roman Catholic, and I still believe in God. I have only added to something I was already practising. So while my family was taken aback at first, later they were proud of me. I keep in touch with my siblings and all of them walk with me when I come to their neighbourhood — in dhoti, kurta, chadar, japa mala, tilak, and my Crocs!” he says with a laugh. 

He admits western audiences don’t know eastern philosophy, but things are changing now and they are opening up to vedic concepts and eastern thought.

“To the western community, I also talk about my experiences on the road, tales from my treks and then teach them mantra meditation. Then, I literally pass on the hat, and donations pour in,” he says, when questioned about how he funds his walks. “People believe that if they feed a monk, something good will come of it,” he adds, with a twinkle in his eye.

His message is that the way to make spiritual progress is not just to establish your own inner temple or to visit a church or mosque. Spirituality isn’t limited to that. The world itself is a temple. “I get close to God when I am walking. Walking has a natural rhythm, you take in the great air, everyday is an adventure and when you are out there with nature, you get enlightened. That’s why the ancients did this. Why deprive ourselves of this today,” he asks. 

“It’s my hope that city planners will plan great trails where people will have great experiences. It’s the ultimate experience to walk and travel light — it’s not going to Las Vegas, Disney World or Paris. It’s going on your feet and seeing the big Imax screen all around you — of nature, itself.”

Hair-raising Tales

With children, his approach is different. He talks more about his hair-raising experiences, of being attacked by wasps on the behind, his one-time interaction with a hungry bear…. “If a truck hadn’t trundled along at that point in the morning, I would have been toast — breakfast — for the bear. It was a humbling experience,” he adds. 
 
Teens think monks are cool — the result, perhaps, of seeing so many Kung Fu movies, he explains. “A newer generation has sprung up and they are open. They admire my carefree, car-free lifestyle,” he says. “Of course, children need something exotic too — and my support person comes along with a real Amazon parrot on his shoulder — that’s a real attraction. I talk about the journey, the pilgrimage, what’s it about, how many pairs of shoes it takes to walk across Canada — four of them. I give them some numbers to crunch on. They love that,” he says. 

Educators look forward to his visit. “The biggest challenge now is to get kids away from computers and out of the house. It’s inspiring for them to hear that someone is walking across Canada. Many of them are locked into their own little communities and our Project Walk tells the kids that the globe is big and there is so much going on outside,” he adds. 

When he is not walking, he busies himself with theatre and is a well-known director of theatre arts. He has made Gita concise — and presented all 18 chapters of the Gita in a language people can understand. It includes two fusion dances showing Krishna’s dynamic virat rupa, or cosmic form, complete with music and rhythm in both English and Hindi. 
 
May the Source be with you!

3 KM

Such a musician!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)

 

krsna with cow and fluteKrsna plays the flute, in an amazing way. Krsna is such a musician that he speaks through that flute. His heart speaks through that flute to the heart of others who actually get the message. Even in this world, a good mundane musician can touch the heart, can penetrate right to our heart. So Krsna actually can speak through his flute and touches the heart of his devotees.

But this happens on the spiritual platform. So the spiritual platform is like that – full of variety, full of taste and reciprocation. It’s not just, you know, “And then there is light …..light….light..” That is not all! There is light but there’s also variety, and it’s in perfection.

 

 

 

BBT Goes Global in Latin America
→ ISKCON News

During the second week of April (7-13th), Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America received a visit from five representatives of the Spanish anguage branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. ISKCON News had the opportunity to interview the five participants and get to know about the plans and surprises that await Latin America and Spain in 2014.

What is Govardhan Eco Village? (7 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), a project inspired by Radhanath Swami, illustrates 'Simple Living & High Thinking' -- a principle which is so succinct, yet profound, and formed the basis of life in the bygone age of wisdom. Life in the Vedic times was focused on service, and not on exploitation; this was the cardinal rule of living and the very essence of people's dealings -- with each other and that with Mother Nature. With the concepts of eco living being innate, the Vedic lifestyle was truly an eco friendly way of living life as instanced in the timeless Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-Gita. Read more ›

Another Block on the Dome ToVP (spectacular 4 min video )
→ Dandavats.com

This spectacular four-minute video from BhakTV shows a massive crane lifting a one-ton stainless-steel panel onto the center dome of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sridham Mayapur, India. The crane is accompanied by a remote-controlled miniature helicopter with an on-board HD video camera. With complementary footage from a second camera on the ground, "Another Panel On The Dome" presents a view of how the constuction of this immense dome will proceed, panel by panel. Two hundred fifty panels will be fitted into place to form a massive glittering steel dome with a base measuring over fifty meters across (150ft) at a height of 70 meters (200ft) above the ground. And this is only stage one. The steel dome will act as a base for a layer of concrete poured on top of it. The present stage is the most critical in this momentous project -- a double-width dome on a world-class religious structure, the largest Hindu temple to be built in decades. Read more ›

367. Rain & Kirtan
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Stepped out of home and didn’t realize the rain was so strong! Seemed like a mini storm out there – thrashing rain and wind. Unable to hold the umbrella open, i ran to the temple as fast as i could. Full drenched now, changing shoes with someone else’s and gathering few devotees, took the tram to city to help setup the evening kirtan night program. Got there and helped put it all up and ready to welcome the guests. Then i was told if i could open the night for all. Gathering up some strength, thoughts and words, i said a few things over the microphone welcoming everyone. I could have done better i think but what to do now? Anyways, the kirtans have started and everyone is absolutely relaxed and meditative. Me too.

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New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ May 2, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

02

Please worship the land of Vrndavana, where a dark youth, who is the personified wonderful treasure of supreme transcendental bliss, plays in waves of eternal transcendental amorous love with a golden young queen who is the personified sweetness of love.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-29, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Does being humble mean that we shouldn’t give advice to others?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Comment by Yashvini on

The purpose of humility is to foster neediness, not helplessness

humility (less than straw on the street) sometimes puts us in a dilema whether to tell another person if he or she is wrong,maybe even just giving advice to him(who are we to?) but still, you find it necessary to do so. what is to be done?

Answer Podcast

Thursday, May 1st, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Alachua, Florida

It’s May Day, Eh?

It’s rare to see anyone on foot in this area, but that’s what I saw on this ultra quiet sandy road.  The sun was just making its appearance when I came to a stretch with Spanish moss dangling from giant trees.  Coming my way was a young black girl in reddish, but humble attire.  Before I had a chance to utter any greeting, she uttered a clear, “Hare Krishna, it’s May Day.”

“Yes,” I replied, “and you have a good one.”  I turned around after we crossed each other wondering about her destination and also her connection to that Divine personality we know as Krishna. 

So May has begun with a day that will not be repeated ever again according to the calendar for planet Earth.  “Cherish it, then,” I thought, “and contribute to making it unique.”  That uniqueness began for me with sitting side by side with a friend  and delivering this morning’s message from the Bhagavatam together.  Tamohara is a very respected brahmin in the community.  He was scheduled, according to a roster, to give the class, but by his kindness, me being a guest, the idea came up that we share the teaching.  The fact that we broke from routine makes the start of this day different.

What were some of the bullet points, or sutras that summarized our message on this May day?  (In my own words)

1)      Improve your sravanam (listening)
2)      Don’t take provocation or argument so seriously
3)      See the God factor in whatever occurs
4)      At least mentally register the little miracles of the day
5)      Adjustment and change cures the disease we call stubbornness

One more item that I would like to add about uniqueness on this day has to do with a visit to an old Canadian friend, Mahavir.  We enjoyed brunch together and at that time I became an honourary member of the Hare Krishna Motorcycle Club.  Yes, indeed, I got plopped on top of one of those mean machines, and I’m sure he snapped a few shots to promote the worthy mission of Hare Krishnas on motorcycles.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Why doesn’t ISKCON practice what it preaches? First new devotees are told to be detached from their parents and then senior brahmacharis spend months caring for their dying parents
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Comment on this article:

For him, Back to Godhead was both the means and the end

Dear Mr. Das,

This article (as well as the linked article) of your clearly shows how the ISKCON brahmacharis do not practice what they preach. A new practicing devotee is told not to be too attached to his/ her parents; but, here we find that two senior brahmacharis are leaving their responsibilities and taking care of their father. Moreover, they say that it is because of Srila Prabhupada that they are doing this- but, why then only their father? Why not take care of everyone who is suffering? Or at least, take care of all the ISKCON followers who are ill? Do they go and take care of all the ISKCON followers who are ill and on the verge of dieing?

This kind of articles may appreciated by fools who cannot see the reality of ISKCON and the double standards that they follow. But, anyone with a little intelligence can understand that although ISKCON says not to be attached to parents, they are themselves very attached.

"PLEASE PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH."

Yours truly,
Sharad Agarwal.

P.S.: I understand that Mr. Das will never post this comment. But, I would really like to hear from his end just to see how he uses his intelligence to make a fool out of the innocent public.

Answer Podcast

Sim­ply By Chant­ing The Holy Names
→ Japa Group



"I like to remem­ber Srila Prabhupada’s empha­sis on the impor­tance of chant­ing the Hare Krishna mantra. When Srila Prab­hu­pada teaches that the top­most stage of God real­iza­tion can be attained sim­ply by chant­ing the holy names, we are pleased and con­vinced. Even though I can’t take up the chant­ing prop­erly, still it is a solace and inspi­ra­tion to hear Prab­hu­pada tell us about it."

From Viraha Bhavan #169
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami