I was walking near the new Yorkville Mall when the threat of a rain storm compelled me to search for shelter. Well, there is such a place at a side entrance, a fair expanse. It was there that I met a fellow with a coffee cup in hand who approached me in a jovial manner.
“Are you hare-ing?” he inquired.
“Excuse me?” I asked, not sure of the word he used.
“Are you hare-ing?” He asked in a higher tone.
Of course, I took it that he was saying, “Hurrying.” After all I was a little anxious about staying dry and I guess my pace was perhaps more than a stroll. I picked up on the joke.
“You’re not hare-ing?” He persisted with a smile.
“Well, I guess it depends. I’m hurrying and I’m hare-ing.” After all I was chanting “harehare” on my beads at the same time while pacing.
“So you’re not hare-ing?” So I played the game and stroked my bald head with my free hand.
“Well, I’m definitely not hair-ing up here.” And he broke up in laughter and so did I. At this point we parted. I went one way; he went the other.
Through a maze of streets and alleyways, I went and came back, full circle, to the entrance of the mall when I happened to see my friend once again, on foot, fifteen minutes later, with coffee still in hand.
“Still hare-ing?” he asked?
“Yes, still hare-ing!” I was happy. “Hare” is a sacred sound. To utter “Hare” is good for anyone.
I began my steps through Ramsden Park, which is particularly busy this late afternoon. People are lined-up on both sides of the tennis courts waiting for a spot. The playgrounds are full. People are seated on the grass in circles. I wonder what they are talking about? The government is cracking down on gatherings starting tomorrow. A second wave of Covid-19 has begun and is drawing concern. Is that on people’s minds?
One circle of young men, five in number, looked my way as I strode along. I got the impression they were curious. Oh well!
I ambled along and tackled the very foresty Rosedale Valley Road, where there is green on both sides of this very angular ravine. In the middle of the ravine is the roadway itself, a curving channel of moving cars. Of course, it’s Friday late afternoon and it’s our Thanksgiving Day weekend, so anticipation for food and fun is high. Runners and cyclist share the sidewalk. I am among them.
I see, to some level of dismay, tucked-away, makeshift homes of tarps and branch-matter dwellings of the homeless. I put myself in the shoes of such citizens who are clearly living off-the-grid and in the green. I find it remarkable that these folks can bear this lifestyle day after day—the cold and sometimes wet.
I also walked by a more cheerful area—of crab apple, choke cherry and black walnut trees. Also, on a lower level, beneath the trees, golden rod and blue chicory wildflowers were in bloom. I came back full circle and face-to-face with the group of men whom I surmised as thoughtful. Bearing a smile of curiosity and now standing, one of the guys asked me, “How do you keep warm wearing those clothes?” It started a conversation.
Two young guys scurried along as I came around the corner. There was no doubt that I frightened them. The maple tree came in most handy as they tucked away behind the trunk at a best attempt to conceal themselves. Well, I could spot one, at least a tail. I poked my head as I moved in closer for our little game. I went to the left, they went to the right. I moved to the right and they went to the left. I pulled out my phone for a camera shot. One by one they pounced onto the bark and ascended to the height of the tree’s trunk, one looking down on me. “Is he still there?” was their question about me.
They were two little bandits; raccoons to be more precise. I was now beyond their reach and they knew it. They were safe.
Obviously they were out scavenging. The night is their best bet for a good find. I’m sure the small remnants from our temple building was a draw. We always have food remnants around, bagged up, of course. That is no problem for them. The hands and claws of a raccoon are ideal for a climb and also a poke and penetration through a bag of nice prasadam remains.
Perhaps they know they are getting the best in the way of vittles. Prasadam is sanctified food—blessed by the best.
It was time for me to get to the front door to attend the 4:30 am ceremony inside. I had to let my two friends, with their huge eyes and furry bodies, tend to their hunt.
Question: As soon as the corona pandemic started, the temples shut down and only hospitals offered relief. Isn’t it better that we fund medical research?
Answer: Often, comparison is a tool for emotional manipulation against a particular thing. If at all we want to compare, we can say that the money spent on sports is way more than the money received in donation at temples. Playing and watching sports is a luxury, especially when compared to a dying person in need of a lifesaving medicine. Some people can spend lakhs of rupees for a ticket of a world cup final. Why can’t such money be used to save the life of some person who is terribly sick? Why not compare all the money that we are spending on cricket and decide to give it to medical research?
Different areas in life serve different purposes. Some so-called religious teachers might do some faith healing, but such a thing is not what is traditionally recommended. The idea that religion is used to heal our physical ailments does not have much scriptural basis. Certainly, religion is never presented as a substitute for medicine. In the Vedic tradition also, Ayurveda is considered as a separate branch of knowledge from those Vedic texts which are recommended for spiritual development.
One may say, cricket serves the purpose of entertainment but what purpose does religion serve? Well, certainly for many people, religion at the very basic level serves the purpose of calming the mind, up lifting the heart, give strength. Even if we presume that from functional purposes one does not believe in the religious tenet such as the existence of God, even then atheists have also recognised that religion provides certain things to people which are valid human needs. There is an atheist who has written a book called ‘Religion for Atheists’ where he says that – if we want to prescribe atheism, we need to be able to provide it to people in some healthy way so that they can fulfil their needs. If we do not do that, then religion is going to persist.
Scientific research and spiritual growth are two independent areas. At present when we are trying to deal with the pandemic curve through medicine there is also panic curve which needs to be dealt. For many people, it is their religion that calms them. Now, one can say that there are some religious people who have congregated indiscriminately causing the spread of the disease. That is true, but such people are doing the same mistake the questioner is doing by accusing religion by saying that if religion is not providing solace, so why have religion, just have medical research. Basically, those who congregating indiscriminately and are defying science, they are saying, replace religion by science. However, we need to understand that the two cannot be equated.
Medical research is important and those medical workers who are providing health care even at great risks are to be lauded. At the same time, the two are not equivalent and most mainstream religions are not claiming that at all. It is the interpretation of some people of their own religion which makes them imagine, that religion is a substitute for intelligent practice. Mainstream religions like sanatana dharma does not say that the material will be replaced by spiritual. Material and spiritual, both need to be taken care of appropriately and just as we need to curve the pandemic through medicine, we need to curve the panic through meditation. By comparing the two it could well be a tool for emotional manipulation to get people away from their religion. This is a false dichotomy that is brought because just as there can be funding for various areas, there can be funding for medical research and there can be funding for other areas of technological developments. Countries are still going on funding their space research, developing weapons. Therefore, there are different areas of human needs and human interest and all of them need to be served in an appropriate way.
Why are the temples closed? It is because the temples acknowledge, that they are not making a super claim by being substitutes for science or substitutes for hospitals. Temples are recognizing that they have their domain and they are providing the needs of that domain by appropriate means. For example, through Zoom, spiritual talks and digital aartis are also happening. There is a sense of mature responsible understanding over here and that needs to be appreciated. Hence, just as there are fanatic religionists who defy science and who are a part of the problem, there are also fanatic atheists who mischaracterize religion and thereby also make things worse. We need moderates to come together and unitedly work to deal with this huge crisis of pandemic that has come upon the world today.
Welcome to the day 3 of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. We thank all the devotees for enthusiastically taking part in Sri Navadvip Mandal Parikrama. Chat boxes in Zoom sessions are filled up with your deep devotional sentiments & we are very inspired to see all of you offering lamps & flowers to the deities in each […]
Welcome to second day of Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. Today is an exciting day! We will be entering Godrumadvipa dvipa – the island of Kirtanam! Very special darshan places & very special guest speakers! Our Dham Pradarshaks- who will accompany us in Godrumadvipa darshan today: HH Jayapataka Swami HH Gopal Krishna Goswami HH Bhakti Dhira […]
Welcome to second day of Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. Today is an exciting day! We will be entering Godrumadvipa dvipa – the island of Kirtanam! Very special darshan places & very special guest speakers! Our Dham Pradarshaks- who will accompany us in Godrumadvipa darshan today: HH Jayapataka Swami HH Gopal Krishna Goswami HH Bhakti Dhira […]
On June 6, 1969, in New Vrindaban, Srila Prabhupada spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.10:
na yad vacas citra-padam harer yaso jagat-pavitram pragånita karhicit tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasa na yatra hamsa niramanty usik-ksayah
“Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there.”
Srila Prabhupada explained, “Narada . . . says that this is vayasam tirtham. Vayasam tirtham. Vayasam means crows. And the crows—their place of pleasure . . . Have you seen crows? In India we have got many crows. In India the crows take pleasure in all nasty things. You’ll find they take pleasure in a place where all nasty things are thrown, garbage. They’ll pick out the garbage, find out whether there is mucus, where there is pus. Just like flies—they’ll sit down on the stool. Maksikam bhramara icchanti. And the bees, they will try to take honey. Even in the animals you’ll see. The honey . . . The bees will never come to the stool, and the ordinary flies, they never go to collect honey.
“Similarly, there are divisions in the birds, divisions in the beasts, divisions in human society. So you cannot expect that ordinary persons will come to Krishna consciousness. You see? Because they have been trained to become flies, they will taste stool. You see? The modern education is to teach people to become flies—only stool.
“Not here—Krishna consciousness. Make it a honeycomb. Those who are seeking after honey will find, ‘Here is something.’ You see? Don’t make it a stool society. You see? Make it a honey society. At least give a chance to those who are seeking after honey, so they will come. You see? Don’t cheat people.”
It is such a moment of transcendental joy, being together with all of you to take Sankalpa or pronounce the vow to perform Navadvipa Mandal Parikrama & absorb ourselves in the Gaura Katha as we travel along nine islands of Navadvipa. Do not worry, even if you are not able to join the adhivas, please […]
With the coronavirus death toll now exceeding one million people worldwide, the World Health Organization reported a record one-day rise in global coronavirus cases on Thursday October 8th,saying the total rose by 338,779 in 24 hours. In this environment more ISKCON devotees are also falling ill with COVID-19 around the world. Most recently, senior Russian […]
With a second wave expected in the fall and winter, Nila Madhava Das (Dr. Neeraj Verma), a practicing anesthesiologist who was part of the COVID-19 team at Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital in Maryland, USA, has also weighed in on how the coronavirus works.
COVID-19 claims the life of a world renowned spiritual leader but his legacy lives on. Please help produce this documentary by contributing to the crowdfunding campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bhakti-charu-swami-the-documentary/x/5490780#/
Suppose a person had a severe accident that immobilized them for a long time. As they recover, they need to start doing things for themselves, even if they begin with something as simple as wearing their own clothes. Such activities may be uncomfortable, but discomfort is often the only door to recovery. Their caregivers need […]
I did not get much of a walk in today, just a wee number of indoor strides. My only outside touch of the elements was the stairway at the temple’s entrance. There our kirtancrew met with the night. The lamp-post lit up by its sensor and we, too, got lit with the kirtan. We were in a happy state. We could have chanted the night away.
I did, however, accomplish a number of things; responding to emails, counseling people, reading “The Chaitanya Charitamrta,” as well as publication and proofreading of the upcoming book, “The Saffron Road.” I also soaked my feet and scraped off the dead skin while taking in the scent of aromatherapy. Dhruva came down to discuss the filming of our drama, “Rolling the Dice.” Then, after all of this nectarian activity, I engaged my legs in stretches, including the leaning of limbs against the wall for digestive improvement and better blood flow.
I was indoor-bound, for the most part, aiming also for interior and exterior work. The interior work is about inner, heartfelt, soul-connecting stuff. It has much to do with people work; trying to be pleasant and cheerful and complementing our ashram residents for their good services. In the ashram we try to take advantage of kind-contagiousness. Some of our new crew are better at it than others. Always, always—all projects are a work in progress.
David, who lives with us in the ashram, drove us north to the very base of the Bruce Peninsula, which divides the Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. It is quite the waterway, an amazing expanse of H2O, minus ocean salt, with clean air. I would call it a place of opulence.
Clavering is a small hamlet. To reach there, David and I got adventurously lost, however, this displacement brought us through some of the prettiest scenery. Then, once we gained our bearings, we coasted by the shores along Collingwood and the Blue Mountain ski area. Despite the extra stretch of travel, we enjoy lost moments, in terms of direction, when it becomes like this—a feast for the eyes.
Situated in Clavering, or just off, on a dirt, lime-crushed road, is my dear god brother, Gopan Ganapati, a Canadian-born bloke, who lives in solitude, in a fine-timbered pioneer home. In the spring deer trail on his property, as well as coyotes. Guess who’s following who, especially when there are fawns?
There are trees galore, hard and soft wooded, and it is currently that time of year when robins are holidaying, not in sight, whereas blue jays are visible. It’s the season for the aggressive jays.
Gopan, David and I ate leftovers from the birthday menu yesterday. We stocked up, in the car, enough prasadam (blessed food) for three senior men to devour—chow mein, gauranga potatoes, dahl puris and pumpkin pie. Yummy for the tummy!
Time was spent conjuring memories of life during our monastic days of the early 70s in Toronto. Gopan is credited for starting the Spiritual Sky business, and incense enterprise, to pay the bills for a new movement in consciousness—Krishna consciousness.
Birthday wishes came flooding in. Thank you all, from across Canada, Africa, India, Florida and, of course, South America. It’s nice to know I have a big family that cares. I’m 68.
For starters our Monday group comprised of cousin Correy, Eric and Victor. A cake came to the Yorkville Mall, complements of the group. We come together to talk of Christ, Krishna, Mohammed as well as humanity and of how the world is in a tussle. The serviette for the cake bore the image of a fall landscape print, by Tom Thomson.
Another cake, a virtual one, came my way from our Vancouver community, after I delivered a talk on the saint Rantideva. A generous man he was. It was a 48 day fast for him. At breakfast time, one by one, people came to his door for food. He felt obliged to provide for them, before he himself took a bite. Renounced, I’d say.
At 3 pm I conducted a walk with enthusiasts at the Evergreen Brickworks. I asked one of the girls what was the highlight. “Goldfish.” she said. One of the boys remarked, “The beaver, for sure.” Birthdays for me mean outing. The scenery at the Brickworks resembled a Tom Thomson paining.
Finally, devotees offered kind words in the evening setting at the temple—words from around the world. Thank you. Again there was food. At noon I had lunch with Dave Bannerman, our electrician. He’s a nice guy, and he brought Dutch cheese, being a Dutchman himself. The cakes in the evening were not virtual. One looked just like an autumn rendering by Tom Thomson, with a maple tree on it, made of sweet stuff.
Often times we start on our spiritual journey with great enthusiasm, excitement and cheer. Yet, somewhere in the middle we come to a point where everything becomes known, monotonous and obvious. The adventure of learning new things dies out and we seem to sail in the same boat again and again. The problem is […]
Often times we start on our spiritual journey with great enthusiasm, excitement and cheer. Yet, somewhere in the middle we come to a point where everything becomes known, monotonous and obvious. How do we steer back?
Disciples and well-wishers of ISKCON guru Varsana Swami have established a Health Care Fund to help cover costs as Maharaja faces various health challenges. A beloved long-time resident of New Vrindaban and dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Varsana Swami has been battling Chronic Lyme Syndrome for several years. Most recently, he developed a severe acute […]
A beloved long-time resident of New Vrindaban and dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Varsana Swami has been battling Chronic Lyme Syndrome for several years.
New Vrajamandala, ISKCON’s farm near Guadalajara, Spain, has temporarily closed due to COVID-19 cases. Temple President Yadunandana Swami writes, “Considering that several devotees have tested positive for COVID-19, the Board of Directors and the Council of Department Leaders have decided to close Nueva Vrajamandala to the public most probably until the end of October, to […]
Temple President Yadunandana Swami writes, “Considering that several devotees have tested positive for COVID-19, the Board of Directors and the Council of Department Leaders have decided to close Nueva Vrajamandala to the public most probably until the end of October."
An Italian devotee couple has created and installed a permanent “sound path” at the Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA) in Villa Vrindavana, near the city of Florence, home of the Italian renaissance. The installation was created by Madhava and Margherita at their Grotta Sonora, or “The Sounding Cave.” Consisting of unique handmade gongs and other […]
The installation was created by Madhava and Margherita at their Grotta Sonora, or “The Sounding Cave.” Consisting of unique handmade gongs and other instruments, called “sound sculptures,” the sound path makes tours of MOSA an auditory as well as a visual experience.
The journey of a young millionaire, who blends spirituality with entrepreneurship. It’s evening; a young Bengali gentleman sitting in his office in Kolkata completes a webinar on entrepreneurship and moves on to an online TV interview. Interviewer asks him questions relating to investment, business and startups and he answers them all with fervid expressions. Being […]
