KRSNA AND THE COWHERD BOYS HONOR BALARAMA
→ Dandavats



When His elder brother, fatigued from playing, would lie down with His head upon the lap of a cowherd boy, Lord Krsna would help Him relax by personally massaging His feet and offering other services. Sometimes, as the cowherd boys danced, sang, moved about, and playfully fought one another, Krsna and Balarama, standing nearby hand in hand, would glorify Their friends’ activities and laugh.


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Monday, August 1, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton/Toronto

The Monk 

 

Do bless the order

Of the saffron man

Who owns no home

No burrow or tree

 

Who speaks of life

It’s unending circle

And the option

To move beyond

 

He is poor by choice

All that’s his is

A staff, a pot

And a piece of cloth

 

There is no mistress

No fancy food

No soft comfort

And no perfumes

 

The thirst for name

In hunger for fame

Must all be behind

They have no place

 

He welcomes the wind

Heat, cold and rain

Indifferent he is

To the season’s spin

 

Declare him meek

When he’s on his feet

Touching the hearts

From soul to soul

 

He is not alone

There are always two

Do bless this order

For the sake of all

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk ©

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km


 

Sunday, July 31, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Last Full Day in Edmonton

I was struggling with finding an appropriate Sanskrit name for a new initiate because he already has a perfect name, Partha Sarathi. This is a name of Krishna referring to His excellent driving skills as a chariot driver to Arjuna. It also indicates His role of servitude. Although His divinity is full, He agrees to accept a position of meekness and enjoys that portfolio very much.

In any event, I gave the name Pandu Vijay, which has to do with Jagannatha. In Puri, India, when the big fest of chariots takes place, the deity of Krishna in the form of wood, descends from His shrine to proceed to His conveyance, the chariot. This procedure is called Pandu Vijay and since I came to Edmonton’s version of this re-enactment, I thought the name appropriate.

Our initiate, Pandu Vijay, or Partha Sarathi, as his family would have known him, is a pleasant person from Bengal and always carries the spirit of service. Congratulations.

Amongst the various interactions with members of the congregation, including a decent walk with Connor, I also took an hour with the youth group headed by Darshini. No one can underestimate the investment of giving some attention in this direction. What an amazing bunch of intelligent people they are! Future leaders? Yes! Most definitely!

May the Source be with you!

6 km



 

Saturday, July 30, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Chariot Pride

The first people that I met at the Radha Govinda Cultural Centre, as preparations were underway, was a group of volunteers from the Jesus Christ Seventh Day Adventist. Sweet folks they are. They were made security patrol to keep chariot chanters and chariot rope pullers in line and away from traffic.

The route established by organizers of the Edmonton’s Chariot Fest is an industrial park area of the city’s south. Basically it is not a public zone but for some Hindu temple destinations along the way. I suppose the patches of wildflowers and magpies moving about in the air and on land, benefit from the sound of ancient mantrasthat are an integral part of the event.

I was really happy to see dignitaries taking part; Mayor Sohi, Minster of Labour and Education Madhu, Rod Royal MLA, and MLA Deval. They really got into the chanting, the water and moving in rhythm.

After the route was completed, a loop which led right back to the original take off at the cultural center, hunger and thirst pangs were satisfied. Many people gravitated to the stage area. What a joy it was to see two of the presenters performing indigenous dance by the Cree tradition. One chap did these impressive dances with hoops. It was truly entertaining. The same person, Andre, is multi talented, demonstrating and singing that old Beatles classic about “Money Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Overall, it was a great show with some need towards tweaking.

May the Source be with you!

5 km



 

Friday, July 29, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Reflect on the Past

There is never a day that goes by that I don’t feel intense gratitude to guru and God. Had Prabhupada, my beloved spiritual master, not picked me up from a period of confusion, I might have ended up like many of the deprived individuals I see before me. This epiphany came to me, head-on, when a group of twenty or so chanters, including the well-known kirtaniya, chant leader, Agnideva, and myself processioned our way along Whyte Avenue in Edmonton in the evening.

Whyte Avenue is supposed to be the hip and happening section of Edmonton. You are looking at cafés and drinking joints, and joints themselves, with a corralling of special interest groups. There are the homeless and very dependent people; non-hygienic persons lost to the senses and burn out situation.

I could have been in that number of the super lost. When young I was a moderate radical, if that makes any sense. I could have steered off in a dark and helpless direction. Thanks to guru’s grace I didn’t. I believe that the religious training and spirituality of my early childhood (thanks to my parents) is also why I was spared. Their discipline was the launching pad to bhakti, which brought me to a position of meekness to the world.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

May the Source be with you!

4km


 

Thursday, July 28, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Slyvan Lake, Alberta

By and After the Lake

Getting into Lake water for a dip and swim is always good for the joints in addition to loosening muscles. The combination of sand and water is great as a cleanser and aids in ridding oneself of dead skin on the feet. I was really looking forward to the plunge in Slyvan Lake, a new body of water for me. Some locals were saying this location is a summer’s crammed nightmare, but now, with taxpayers money being wisely spent, a great facility of flat lain trees, picnic shelters and decent parking, lots has changed the dynamics.

It was our anticipation to have families group together at this beach, have a fantastic meal and then go for the ultimate water fun. Weather was perfect. We were about to board, but waiting by two hours didn’t dampen spirits. It simply tested patience. Some of our happy campers lost their way. One car load was stopped for speeding. What to do? Once we came together and unrolled all the planned pleasure all the bland waiting was forgotten.

And when food and swim was completed the families and I sat down for a serious talk on future ISKCON Red Deer operations. We came up with ideas for Sunday school, sacred sound, sacred wisdom and sacred food to be centrally delivered in Red Deer (population 103,000) a half-hour away. “Let’s go for it,” was the mood.

A follow-up meeting took place in the evening after a chanting session as the same group went for reinforcing the concept on getting organized. This felt good.

May the Source be with you!

3 km


 

Wednesday, July 27, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Red Deer, Alberta

A lesson in Discipline

We had a sweet conversation with Sveta on our evening walk. The topic of discipline came up. The dusk hour in summer invokes mosquitoes. We just began swatting them when Sveta spoke about discipline and asked my take on it.

“Discipline is so necessary for all of us. Where there is discipline, there is order. Where there is order there is safety. Where there is safety there is peace. Where there is peace there is contentment. Who doesn’t want to be happy?”

Sveta liked hearing that. Along with us on this suburban trail trek was Thomas, Vanipriya, Satyavrata and Gaura Jivana. Some of our group caught the message by ear. Some of us walkers were contending with loud engines from cars roaring by and couldn’t hear.

We had all come out of a sangaprogram; another book launch of The Saffron Path. Naturally I spoke about road experiences but quoted the Gita left and right. After all, walking isn’t complete in life unless you have that spiritual purpose. The Gita has always been a reference point for me. I like to think that putting one foot before the other is like a folding of one lesson over another. The great text is full of great direction, encouraging us to carry on.

I did speak to Alyssa from the local red deer online news and I was telling her about the introspective nature of walking. And, speaking of discipline, those of us on the trails and sidewalks were definitely feeling the austerity. The mosquitoes were ravenous in their appetite. We cut short the trekking after 2.4 km.

May the Source be with you!

3 km



 

Tuesday, July 26, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Calgary, Alberta

At a Prairie Suburban House

It was quite awesome to see the number of people come in the evening for prasadam and to hear about “Tales from Trails.” Radha Madhava and Svasti hosted the dozens of families in their home on the north east end of town.

I was just completing my weekly “Gita Chat” on Zoom, as we delved into chapter 3, verse 10, talking all about yajna(sacrifice) and its prevalence. Then I shifted gears to get on another Zoom call with my siblings as we usually do when there’s a birthday among us. Today it was the celebration of our twins. Paul and Pauline turned 60, I believe just yesterday, so we had a blast with domestic chat.

But the crowds came in and I had to be excused and tend to them. The place got packed inside and out and I thought, This is sublime. Mind you, although I was the guest speaker, I accept the honour of doing this and my presentation is made in Krishna’s service. The power-walking executed in the past was done on behalf of Krishna and his rep, our dear Prabhupada, founder of our growing Krishna conscious movement. I’m proud to be part of it.

I made it clear that the evening was a book launch for The Saffron Path. I believe every family went home with a copy. The back cover reveals somewhat of the book’s content: “From being stalked by a grizzly bear to being mistaken for an escaped prison inmate. The walking monk braves the elements and adventure across the globe to bring you the tails only trails can tell.”

May the Source be with you!

4km


 

Monday, July 25, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta

Adventure in Alberta

Four of us set out to step in the mountainous woods of the Rocky Mountains. Even for a Monday, because it is summer after all, the big draw to nature is one. My companions, Radha Madhava, Nanda Gopal, Vallabha Hari, and I took to trail walking along the Bow River, which has an admirable aqua colour. Banff is a town, a tourist trap, where the mighty river flows. It is a place of respectable folks. It appears pedestrians, locals and visitors, show courtesy to a monk with greetings as I pass by. It doesn’t matter who offers the first nod, me or them.

At Lake Louise it was the first time for all of us to canoe this iconic natural wonder. It’s a pricey venture, but not on the grounds that I am a five-time cross nation walker (which includes the US walk); one canoe rental was for free at two passengers per boat. Vallabha and I rowed the whole length, a mere two kilometers, and back. What a sight this place is! It’s definitely one of the wonders of the continent.

A picnic amidst boreal trees and a swim in Lake Johnson topped off our afternoon venture. Nature was all around us giving a big hug of sorts. A special feature was bumping into the boys, Maduha’s men, who venture right across the US and Canada, as part of the Festival of India team.

To my wonder and surprise news came that the short film, “The Embassy” won a prize by film Festival Crown Wood in the “Best Western Film” category. This is a dramatization of a dialogue between Krishna and Duryodhana, prior to the Kuruksetra War. Jayho!

May the Source be with you!





 

Happy Krishna Janmastami and Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2022 from the TOVP Team
- TOVP.org

The TOVP Team would like to take this opportunity on the most auspicious occasions of Krishna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja 2022 to wish all devotees a most transcendental and blissful celebration this year.

As the world continues to progress towards the darkness of ignorance under the influence of Kali and his agents, we must remain strong and fixed in our determination to keep the samkirtan movement alive and well, and to spread the glories of Sri Krishna and the chanting of His Holy Names to every corner of the Earth. These celebrations are a major part of that process that allows us to taste the nectar of the Lord’s pastimes and get the mercy of His topmost representative, Srila Prabhupada.

The TOVP is, of course, a major element in this divine plan, as is the entire Mayapur project which Prabhupada established as the World Headquarters of ISKCON. The Mayapur City will one day become a sought-out destination for all intelligent, sincere and inquisitive people, and the TOVP will become a future Wonder of the World that will also establish the true Vedic perspective of reality in defiance of modern, materialistic views.

On these auspicious occasions we are pleased to announce the release of two new online flipbooks on the TOVP website for the pleasure and inspiration of all devotees. These books are viewable, downloadable and shareable, and we sincerely hope the reader will enjoy the nectar therein:

The TOVP Story, 1971-2022

This book presents the history and significance of the project from Srila Prabhupada’s time to the present

The TOVP Story, 1971-2022

Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur

A collection of photos of Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur along with quotes about the TOVP and Mayapur project

Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur

Please consider donating towards the completion and Grand Opening of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Hall in the TOVP in 2023. Go to the Give To Nrsimha 2023 Fundraiser page and sponsor a Nrsimha Brick today!

 

 

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