No one can complain about weather and the spirit that moves in this section of the world - control Ontario by some gorgeous lakes. With Surya, the sun god, in our presence, and the most vibrant colours that autumn has to offer, we wheeled along on Highway 400 to destination, the city of Barrie, where devotees of that community rent a space at a United Church for kirtan, discourse and eats.
Verse 10.19 from the Gita was where I spoke from. The focus was on the opulences of God. I think it is e
It is an irresistible urge to get up and go on that myriad of sidewalks in the direction of my hosts this night. The route I chose going north (and only part way otherwise I would arrive late) was along the section of the Great Trail where our Indigenous folks traversed, by passing Casa Loma, the magnificent castle, over a bridge above a gorgeous ravine up to Eglinton Ave, a busy thoroughfare and then…. well, I got picked up by Shyama Dulal, my host.
He is a great cook and she, Satyabhama, a
This quite elderly couple in the Canadian Tire hardware store were looking at heating units like I was. In our browsing at the various choices the woman asked a simple and practical question, “Do you know which one of these heaters can plug into an old house that has outlets with only two prongs ?
I mentioned to the smiling couple that I don’t work here but that a supervisor to the store is just down the aisle, so I pointed in that direction. It appeared that they were not ready to shuffle th
When Gurudas recently came to visit, he gifted me with his latest book, “The Swami - Who Rocked the Worlds” which is a photographical essay presentation of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I wanted to share with you all on excerpt of this work entitled, “Morning Walks.”
Walking in the early morning with Swamiji was a special treat. He would share random subjects of wisdom, sometimes picking up on something that interested him in the environment.
Walking by his side, I felt secure. He w
At a tiny hamlet, Echo Bay
As I ambled along the way
Out of a shallow ditch
Emerged a man, not rich
Appearing a trite unkempt
Tarnished teeth, but of good intent
He wanted to share a fine message
Something I had come to cherish
The gist is what he had to say
“When I wake up I speak to the day
Like a person I know
It gives me energy to go
‘Day! Whatever you have for me
I beg for the strength to be
In the arms of your adventure
And anything you may render
Help me to go through the hours
When m
There’s a first time for everything - your first time to receiving mother’s milk, your first footsteps, first day at school, first time at a job, first love etc.
For our Bhakti Academy group one of our graduates, Nityananda, performed his first havan, or fire ceremony and it was done as a first amongst the group. I am personally very proud of him. I believe it to be a beginning of a new phase where, more yajnas or sacrifices will be executed by a younger generation. I perceive a new wave of g
There we sat, the three of us, on those comfy outdoor Muskoka chairs, waiting, for a fourth member, Partha, of today’s strolling crew. Vrndavan, Nityananda and I were committed to a loop walk which included a stretch of the Trans Canada Trail. Our waiting location on Main Street was quite central to the numerous murals on building walls of the iconic Group of Seven artwork. As a team of experts in “Impressionistic” work of nature scenes defined the art of Canadian mastery. Check out the work of
This morning an hour and a half was set aside for an initiation of two devotees. From the U.K., now residing in New York, is Joseph, one of the actors from the night before. He’s a good performer, is intelligent, and shows lots of devotional qualities. His Sanskrit name is Jivan Mukta. Suneel is living here in New Vrindavana, is humble, and has a sweet disposition. His new name is Saranya.
A person from Nepal, Gambhira Gaur, received his second diksha, in the absence of Gopal Krishna Goswami who
Why did people get out and start walking along the free way? Why do some young folks get out of the car on that normally busy road to have a game of volley ball right there? Why did dozens and dozens of motorists go to the roadside creek for a #1 or #2 ?
A traffic jam ! People got desperate. It was an accident, death included, that held westbound traffic for over three hours along the 401 Highway near Brighton, Ontario. Mahadev, Annapurna and I were crawling, or at least, the van was. For mys
I am preparing for my next drama and for that I took Amala Harinam with me to destination “Theatrics Plus” on Yonge St. . We are still in the midst of the summer, yet not experiencing the often times common heat and humidity. Temperatures these days hover around 23° Celsius which is rather pleasant for walking with a slight breeze.
I made it a point through Ramsden Park and then Yonge to show my good side by smiling and addressing pedestrian with a “Hello” or “Haribol”. This is what I feel I’m
Caru from Utah, has been helping me a lot. He has been kind to facilitate my Gita zoom classes for this week including today’s which is the South African group. They showed particular interest in his Colour Fest, popular throughout the world and something he initiated back in 1995/96. Moreover, he is a good presenter of the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness and knows how to relate to all ages.
Meanwhile at the temple ashram, residents are little by little, or perhaps a lot putting all the ite
A kind Brhat Mrdunga, a Dutch Canadian farmer boy, took me down a familiar road, a trail I've blazed more than once - Highway 1, all way to Burnaby before launching off to Toronto. This route is always scenic and yet the scenery makes changes. There are the mighty rivers, the Thompson and the Fraser narrowed within mountains.
Since my last trek down this lane erosion has shifted soil bringing down rocks and trees. Some of the buildings, the Alexandria Lodge are deteriorating, as well the group
I landed in Vancouver at 10:35 am. My boarding time for Nanaimo on the Island was for 10:35, hence the rush was on for a mere 10 minute flight. Gadhadar was there to greet me in style with a kurta top and green dhoti bottom with gold trim. Walking off through the Nanaimo terminal, the tinniest you could imagine, the two of us were a sight from another world.
A lunch appointment was set for the home of Tamalie and Walter. Walter we met at the beach at Departure Bay and, there, at a majestic
It was quite joyful seeing the Amazon boxes outside my door. We tore into them to get to the contents and sure enough, there they were - the books I anticipated. It was my second publication - "The Walking Monk/ Poems. 1 "
The book is slim with a glossy jacket, one hundred fifty-five pages. It looks good. I thank Nitai Priya, the main editor who is getting married this week. There are different headings or sub-titles that fill the book - Heros, Social Issues, Walking Culture and Wisdom Wonde
The Maritime pilgrimage goes on. Three cities covered today.
It started in Fredericton on the north side. My travel companion, Nityananda and I, hit a new trail which led us to the location where dozens and dozens of boys were at baseball practice, and at 8 in the morning. Not bad for sleep-in Sunday morning. These kids weren’t exactly attending church, but you could see they were serious about something of value – better than doing games on their devices.
They weren’t sure what to make of
Off to the east we go. Nityananda and I embarked on a flight to Fredericton and then a car ride, compliments of Vyas. It was a year ago that this man of good company took diksha or initiation and he is doing well as the co-ordinator for the local Krishna community. He drove us to the city of St. John and the Irving Nature Park for a 7 kilometre coastline trail walk.
As soon as we hit that lovely trail our nostrils were aroused with effervescent fragrances of soft wood trees and wild flowers. Wh
My final step before turning back to home, back to ashram, was on a park bench at the park, when a young man, James sat next to me.
"I'm just waiting for some buddies," he informed me. "Your day is full?" he asked.
"Yes, quite. I'm Bhaktimarga Swami. Swami for short."
"I'm James Ensley." We shook hands and it didn't end there. Like most people, meeting a monk is a first, let alone a walking monk.
I had a similar exchange just a few minutes before. I was sitting down to chant my gayatri ma
The Bluffs, situated at the west coast of Lake Ontario, are a real gem to visit. The cliffs and accompanying what appears like huge ant hills are a sight to see, so for our Tuesday morning outing, our local Bhakti Academy students and I went for some hours to explore. The beach is clean, so is the water, the trails and trees are a paradise. The peninsulas formed (by man) are pleasant parks and to some degree protect the bluffs from erosion. The natural beauty and the human implementation are a
The great pious king, Yudhistira, answered the pressing question, "What is the most wondrous thing in the world?" And here is what he said, "Everywhere, all around me, people are dying yet those of us who make this observation, feel that they will not perish. This is the greatest wonder."
Does that mean that something inside us will indeed persist through lifetimes?
I was saddened to hear that one of my leading men in my drama productions in Argentina passed away from kidney cancer. Matsya
Paul took a mighty amount of pictures
Of the crew that are now temple fixtures
The group is called Bhakti Academy Toronto
BAT for short and devotion is their motto
They took a brisk walk at Park Ramsden
A decent decision, a wise acumen
Catching sun rays and viewing squirrels
They are a combination of boys and girls
The zig zag trail can make one quite woozy
But mantra can anchor any tendency to be bluesy
The walk became an exercise, wholesome and sweet
Up the stairs, down the switchback, f
