Our visiting monk from Florida, Brhat Mrdanga, showed me the notes he took from my class involving the theme of shifting gears in life, or altering one’s career and what people often call paradigm shifting. The focus in the class was based on a Canto Nine avatar, Parasurama, who was born a brahmin (priest), but took on the disposition of a ksatriya (warrior). He felt he did the needful due to oppressive force from unruly kings. In other words, he demonstrated how, in certain circumstances,
bhaktimarga swami (654)
One of our most outstanding devotees was honoured today at his cremation at St. John’s Crematorium. Vaishnava Das, AKA Willy Pillay, passed away on the 11th due to heart and other complications. His life was full, complete, rich. If you live life deeply as he did, you don’t die. And Thoreau once said that if you see death as law, then that’s dignified and don’t see it as an accident.
I recall when he and his family, Janaki, wife, and three daughters first came to our temple to do what
The most glorious weekend is over. The Chariot Fest has major positive effects on the public. If it is not the sights and sounds of the parade and stage that left impact, then the vibrations of mantra and kindness of Vaishnavas do leave a residual blessing.
There was a sector of society, a sole person, perhaps, who didn’t necessarily agree to all the mercy of Jagannatha. On the day of the parade, Saturday, from the height of a condo residence, eggs plummeted down on the crowd. Fortun
Indra, the great god of rain, was very present at the commencement of our havan, the sacred fire that represents the divine tongue of Vishnu. We were ready for a downpour and secured whichever tent was available. Everyone knows what it means when rain is determined. It finds its way. I’ve done plenty of camping when in the middle of the night wetness would be felt and make your time quite unpleasant.
Here we were, all huddled tightly together, very sheltered, for an initiation ceremon
New York’s Chariot Fest encountered much rain last month. Toronto’s event of this day was wet but of a different kind. The humidity brings on the humility. In the parade, people were beaten down. Who said Canada’s cold? The intense heat warranted a good swim on Centre Island’s southern beach. Arjuna Sakha and I did what we believe was the smart thing to do – to get wet in the lake water.
The parade was grand, but with some hiccups. The thing that made it pleasant was the cooperativ
JOURNEY UNDERWAY
(In Honour of Vaishnav Das)
The journey is now underway
That’s what real people say
Gone is departing soul, Vaishnav
Who shared with us so much love
In quiet somber demeanour
His words were of genuine candour
Often fueled by a sharp wit
Oh, yes, I’ve heard him quip
At random nonsense things
He relieved us with guitar strings
And keeping a smile at the forefront
Never a need to get too blunt
Husband to one we adore
Fa
In the late 70s, our Los Angeles community organized what was probably the biggest Ratha Yatra to date, especially in the western world. It was promoted in such a dynamic way. The whole town was curious about a fest involving chariots. Is it like the second coming of “Ben Hur?” Alice Coltrane, legendary jazz musician, was going to appear and present mantras on the stage (I remember the melody she sang of the maha mantra from a recording). Ramesvara Swami, the leader of the LA community,
JOURNEY UNDERWAY
(In Honour of Vaishnav Das)
The journey is now underway
That’s what real people say
Gone is departing soul, Vaishnav
Who shared with us so much love
In quiet somber demeanour
His words were of genuine candour
Often fueled by a sharp wit
Oh, yes, I’ve heard him quip
At random nonsense things
He relieved us with guitar strings
And keeping a smile at the forefront
Never a need to get too blunt
Husband to one we adore
In the late 70s, our Los Angeles community organized what was probably the biggest Ratha Yatra to date, especially in the western world. It was promoted in such a dynamic way. The whole town was curious about a fest involving chariots. Is it like the second coming of “Ben Hur?” Alice Coltrane, legendary jazz musician, was going to appear and present mantras on the stage (I remember the melody she sang of the maha mantra from a recording). Ramesvara Swami, the leader of the LA community,
The idea is to go about looking for signs of Krishna. This is the time of the year when there are ample reminders of our dear Creator, especially through the realm of nature. The gorgeous chicory plant at the edge of the road, barnyard, or lake, is so stunning. The blue hue that this wildflower is identified with is captivating to look at while the plant itself is a delicious drink, a substitute for coffee without the harmful caffeine. In this regard, this jewel of the outdoors is quite u
The water makes the feet numb in the beginning, and then with a mind-over-matter spirit, we overcame. The most beautiful thing about early morning is that opportunity to rise above.
Along with a dozen members of the Bhakti Academy, we drove to those cliffs (or bluffs as they call them) in Scarborough, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunrise, but frankly, today was not going to reveal one of our favourite planets. It was overcast. The time in the water was precious, clean, and refreshi
They are just 2 or 3 weeks old – twins of parents, Parama Gauranga and Rukmini, and for these two boys it was their first visit to a temple. They behaved like a couple of rsis (sages), as quiet as could be. Basically, they slept through the whole ceremony, a name-giving ceremony. The oldest one has the name Nimai, and the fellow that was born following his brother received the name Nitai Rama. The crackling of the small firepit did not phase them in the least.
Well, that was a program
Great experience it always is taking that special 6:30 AM trek through the Ramsden green. Neighbours who do the same as we do (minus the meditation beads) are seeing us as regulars. We came to the children’s playground section of the park. I led them there. Anyone who knows me knows there is a time in the day where I want to be like a kid. At the playground is a small cabin resembling a wood cabin like the type a hermit might take shelter of. It was good connecting with it.
As the
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESPECT AND HONOUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ON CANADA DAY IN THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION.
The drive to the capital city, Ottawa, population 1,000,000, is five hours, and in the early section of this national holiday, Canada’s birthday, was quiet and road friendly. No roads are necessarily friendly for a pedestrian. There’s always some kind of road rage. In general, it is the happiest day of the year for Canucks (an affectionate term for ‘Canadians’). I was able to fit in 8,000 p
Srimal and I were climbing up the stairs by the beach at Lake Erie to return to his vehicle when we met halfway two men who were tourists. They looked like they were from the middle east.
“Good morning! How are you?” I asked. It was they who were curious and who asked where we are from.
“I’m from Canada, and he (Srimala) is from here. How about you?”
They replied spontaneously, “Jordan.”
“That’s nice.” In a subtle way they indicated that the dialogue was over, as brief as it was, a
People in our community aren’t always punctual. The standard joke is, “We follow IST,” translated as Indian Standard Time or ISKCON Standard Time. Seriously, I don’t laugh at it anymore. Shobam is in his twenties, and he joined our walking team which agreed to meet at 8 AM for the start of the trek. When the topic came up about the chronic lateness, I said to Shobam, “Can your generation change that?”
“I’m going to try,” he said.
The Ledges Trails at Cuyahoga National Park is just idea
The soft touches to the day, after a rather bland phase at Newark Airport, was a visit to Shyama Kund’s childhood home in Cleveland. Also, I might add that a great trek with Srimala down a trail made the afternoon what it was – fine and fun. Both Srimala and I were fascinated to hear from Shyama Kund about his work at Nasa in Florida. Who wouldn’t be intrigued with the space mission, the planets, the moon, and Mars, and whatever achievements may have come through, if any? Shyama reminded us
I’m a firm believer that everyone should take a break from the man-made world, even if just for a few minutes every day. For the sake of sanity, the connection is essential. I recall from my visit to Sparta last year, at this time there is a nearby body of water, Lake Sparta. A walk around it is 1.12 kilometres. Notable are the natural elements. No wonder people have made their homes here. Luckily for walkers like me, no homes are built on the lake’s edge, and plentiful gaps of nature bet
Fifty years ago, I was arrested along with two companions for distributing or selling religious books without a permit. It was standard for brahmacharis (monks) to end up so in the early day s of ISKCON in the US. The three of us spent a night behind bars. We went to court. The judge through the charge out thought it ridiculous and we were set free after a colourful night and day in prison in a town in North Carolina.
At the US customs in the Ottawa Airport enroute to New Jersey, I had to
I expressed to Pradeep, my driver, that my preferred route to Ottawa is Highway 7, which is a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is quiet, scenic, and only two lanes. On our way, we came upon Sharbot Lake and parked the car and embarked upon a trail for pedestrians and cyclists called KNP. There, we saw to both sides of the trail, spring growth, predominantly green. Ferns, grasses, and trilliums are all awoken. For sound it was birds-a-plenty including a woodpecker’s drilling.
May
