No one can match Srimati Radharani
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“Sri Krishna cannot enjoy anything that is internally different from Him. Therefore Radha and Sri Krishna are identical. The sandhini portion of Sri Krishna’s internal potency has manifested the all-attractive form of Sri Krishna, and the same internal potency, in the hladini feature, has presented Srimati Radharani, who is the all-attraction for the all-attractive. No
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Saturday, June 18, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Assiniboine Park Zoo

With the Animals

Out of the courtesy of the ISKCON youth, I had the pleasure to spend time with them at the zoo. Now what can anyone learn from gawking at creatures that you can get fairly close to and admire like anything? Well, one perspective is you can see yourself in the various species that are exhibited. Yes, we were all there before; karmically engrossed in the eating-sleeping-mating-defending engagements. What unique experiences or stages we have gone through before reaching this human platform!

I asked the group about their highlights after viewing all that the facility had to offer. At the top of the list were the bison grazing (one of which was an albino) and the polar bears swimming in their preferred frigid water.

This visit gave the opportunity to be with our younger Vaishnavas. We picnicked and also engaged in meditative kirtan. One fairly eccentric lady, also a zoo visitor, heard and saw us drumming and shouted, “When does the belly dancing begin?”

While we are on the topic of music, Vrnda had arranged a gluten-free dinner for Emily, who has a family of musicians. Also, Greg, a music teacher, and Daniel, who conducts a choir at the Lutheran church, came for company and feasting, after which we all got to singing in front of Vrnda’s deities of Krishna at her address, 108 Chestnut Street. We delved into some melodies, some which are practically becoming extinct. There’s a concern there. What to do about the dying tunes?

May the Source be with you!

5 km


 

Friday, June 17, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Ritchot, Manitoba

Dreamy Day

Abhi is my stalwart helper. He accompanies me on the morning walks and takes me around to various locations, all places for speaking, chanting, associating, and honouring prasadam, sacred food.

Today, my first visitation took me to the residence of Aravind, a Punjabi Sikh gentleman, kind and caring and involved in business. Members of his family relished the kirtan. One of the women asked me, “Please give us some jñāna (wisdom).”

My short version answer was, “We are gifted humans, so we must be in service to others and also to ourselves, by cultivating our spiritual side.”

Abhi was great to arrange for my final stay for the day, but only after I had an hour with Carolin Bund, a friend for some years. We met at the downtown Millennium Library, the outside park, and she treated me special. As a professional baker, she provided me with bread from ingredients of ancient grains, bread from Ethiopia, Egypt, Turkey, etc. what a treat! We are looking at portions of hearty and nutritious bread that are hard to secure. Thank you, Carolin.

Finally, Abhi and I piled into a vehicle for the final destination of the day at St. Adolph, just a ten-minute drive from Winnipeg’s city limits. and a home situated on the bank of Red River. This is a dreamy setting with trees all about and a fast-running body of water. Loads of people came to the home of Somesh and Puja for kirtan, a talk on 1.1.5 from the Bhagavatam, and an evening meal of love.

Abhi, as usual, tackled my feet with a welcomed massage. Responses from every place I visited were phenomenal.

May the Source be with you!

3 km




 

The benefactor of the truthful devotee
→ Dandavats

“Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.17)
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