Thunder Bay, Ontario
It Starts With A Gull
In Thunder Bay, the day usually starts with the sound of a seagull flitting by one's bedroom. It's the big lake nearby, Lake Superior, which attracts these entertaining birds who are aerobatic by nature. I imagine the fish from the fresh water keeps them in the area.
Ananda, Gaura and I left our apartment, a condominium within the re-defined space of an old school, The Queen Elizabeth. With a solid foundation, strong walls and high ceilings, our group of six men felt safe, had good rest, and then made our way to the lakefront, the site of the Festival of India where music, dance and drama was to unfold on the stage.
There we could see a fantastic couple, Prema and Suniti, a husband and wife team, had assembled another festival, its 10thrunning. Once the show began, the dignitaries offered some words of appreciation for hosting the event each year. Mayor Bill Mauro spoke, plus a representative of the police, Constable Ron Miller, and the Honourable Member of Parliament, Patty Hajdu.
We had a longer conversation with Officer Justin and four civilian—well, when the stage events came to a halt, as in, all over, we got to chat with the most lively dancers, Heidi, Kitty and Blake, all from the free spirit culture. Most notable and most enthusiastic at dance was Darrel, who's from Winnipeg. He's interesting, having started a walk from his home city, making his stop in Thunder Bay, and making his destiny—Nova Scotia. To me, he's a hero.
Gaura really rocked the stage with kirtan, mantrasand finishing with George Harrison's, "My Sweet Lord."
May the Source be with you!
3 km
Karnamrita Das: A Christian asked me, incredulously, “Why would anyone take to Krishna consciousness?” He was satisfied with his religion and felt that not only could it—and should it—meet anyone’s needs, but if it failed to do so and one took up another religion, then that was the fast track to hell. Of course, it is not only Christians who curiously ask this question, but people trying to make sense of a path which seems foreign to them as Westerners, or Easterners, or wherever they are from.
It was the great 18th-century philosopher Immanuel Kant who pointed out that, rather than consciousness being located inside of space and time, it is space and time that are themselves part of consciousness (1781).
So when you, the adult, spouse, parent, teacher, person in charge or whatever, make a mistake…apologize sincerely and you will have a profound effect on the recipient. You will also have set a wonderful example that they will remember for the rest of their lives!
By Indradyumna Swami
By ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry
Indradyumna Swami: The surgery is not covered by travel insurance or the local public health service. I am appealing to the devotee community to donate towards his medical costs.
On 20th July, in Sri Vrindavan Dham, His Holiness Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami Maharaja, the beloved disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja, launched his first book titled “Spiritual Connection: Understanding the Dynamics of Guru-disciple Relationship.”