the walking monk - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

One of the Monks... by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 16, 2020 at 2:17pm

One of the monks visiting at the Montreal ashram did not wake up at the usual time. I went to him reminding him of the hour.

"It's 6:30 a.m."

"I was thinking to rest a little more," he said.

Not argumentatively, but with a slight firmness, I expressed, "Well, that's eight and a half hours. That's not enough, really?" This chap is actually a good person but just once in a while….

The excuse was: "I woke up in the middle of the night so my sleep got disturbed."

My response was: "I

Mantra, Message and Meal by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 13, 2020 at 6:06pm

Making it to Montreal is always a good venture for me. Like all visits to various communities, it is special being in the company of old friends, newcomers, and those growing toward new devotional potentials.

Jay and I and a group of local devotees, including a father and daughter from New Brunswick, took to the sidewalks east of the centreville, to catch some good but cool air, and accompany ourselves with the maha mantra, and chanting on beads. The walk was in the prime of the afternoon,

Places, People, Projects by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 8, 2020 at 4:33pm

So far - a mellow winter. When I walk the street, temperatures are at a level that I can peel off my autumn coat and move along with enough comfort. Of course, it's the consistent walking that sustains the ease, the warmth.

It's evening and it's past the Christmas/New Year period. You can still greet people with a "Happy New Year" and it won't be out of line. Yes, folks are out and about. Shopping never stops. Appetites never die. Bars and pubs are alive. Churches, Islamic and Buddhis

The Park Bench by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on January 2, 2020 at 4:13pm

We both sat on the park bench, trying to catch our breath, after having ascended to a higher elevation at Chorley Park. A former Lieutenant Governor's mansion had been at this spot quite a few decades ago, but fire hit the building, and thus it is no longer. Gaura and I enjoyed the scene looking far to the east, and although leaves have abandoned their trees, the sumac bushes near us have held onto their reddish bobs. It really was a nice view.

Our minutes there lapsed, and we moved on t

I Left for Yonge by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 30, 2019 at 5:45pm

I left for Yonge at 8:00 a.m., and walked a small piece of this longest street in the world. You can check it out with Guinness. It's just under 1900 kilometres long, or 1,178 miles in distance, taking you to Rainy River, where on the other side of the waterway you have Minnesota in the U.S.A.

Yes, I walked a chunk of it on foot. Beautiful day. I was en route to Scarborough to be the Sunday Open House speaker, when a driver picked me up near Eglinton. He was quite the far-out guy.

As

A Piece of Himself by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 28, 2019 at 11:01am

Nirakula comes to visit us every six months, along with her husband, Vaisesika, to encourage the sharing of wisdom. It is significant at this time of year in December, when the ‘giving spirit’ is the strongest. Classes are lined up, beginning with today, to express the joy of giving. Some devotees from different cities have come to hear how to best achieve the act of giving.

It was today, before I went for a five kilometre walk, that I received a call from a bhakti follower from Canada, who

Walking the Quiet Streets by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 27, 2019 at 11:18am

A small group of us met with the Honourable Raymond Cho, MPP and the Ontario Minister of Seniors and Accessibility, at the home of a Mr. Vijay Sharma. I offered him a copy of the children's book, The Walking Monk, written by Anna Milagrits and illustrated by Olena Yanko, for his grandchildren whom he will visit in Houston. https://samhitapress.com/shop/138/

Nice person! He travels. So do I. It's good to be back though. The air is fresh. Lots of real prana in the air - life force. The sn

Adios Amigos by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 26, 2019 at 4:40pm

Varadero is the launching pad from which we were hoisted up in the air, to go to our respective countries: Spain (for Yadunandan) and Canada (Prana and myself). We made sure the local Vaishnavas in Cuba were equipped until our next visit with their devotional and other needs. A mrdunga drum is now theirs, three telephones, a laptop computer, beads and bead bags, ghee, books, and some financial backing—all generous donations from Vancouver to Brampton, Toronto, Montreal, and of course, Spain.

Good-bye Callous by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 23, 2019 at 3:42pm

It has been more than twenty-four years since I developed this callous and corn on the sole of my right foot. It doesn't cause pain, but more—aggravation, from the point of view that it remains hard, and in some subtle way causes an uneven walk when I’m going barefoot.

Personally, I have been hacking, or chiseling, away at this stubborn entity, on and off. Today, I asked Radha Madhava, the person whom I stay with in Calgary, to finish it off. So I handed him a rasp-type instrument suppli

People are Important by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 21, 2019 at 4:25pm

Sanjaya had a successful business and his family was doing well. Then ten years ago, he suddenly was hit by a stroke and hasn't been able to physically do much since. It has put a strain on the family financially, and his good wife is working extra time to compensate. They do receive some income due to his disability. He has had time to think over the misfortune and has come to a redeeming conclusion. "Had this not happened I would not be spiritual. It brought me closer to Him," he told me.

Time In Two Places by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 20, 2019 at 3:47pm

Chandan is an enthusiastic and energetic fellow, father, husband, bhakti-yogi. He took a forward step this morning by sitting at the fire for his diksha (initiation). His new name is Chandramauli, in reference to Shiva, who carries the moon. He's happy.

My walking time was under the moon in Calgary, after the sangha program, the Sunday Open House. My dear Dhruva came out to see me as i was leaving the building. He came in his flip flops with snow all around. Luckily for me, the temperat

People Like the Stories by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 19, 2019 at 5:52pm

Spiritual seekers at Southminster Steinhauer United Church (my venue) were my audience for a talk on "Tails from Trails". That was last night. The congregants who came were really sweet. I think they found the life of a mendicant walking across Canada very interesting - everything from the practical aspects of trekking day to day, without stoppage, to the theology I've adopted, which drove me on with a passion. Mantra meditation followed the talk, with a slew of questions.

Tonight a prog

George Harrison Wrote by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 18, 2019 at 4:47pm

George Harrison passed away eighteen years ago. He was not only a great musician but a good human being. He attracted thousands of people to the lifestyle of bhakti/devotion, through his music. He once wrote:

Everybody is looking for Krishna. Some don't realize that they are, but they are. Krishna is God, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be. As God is unlimited, He has many names. Allah-Buddha-Jehovah-Rama. All are Krishna, all are One.

Go

A Gale: Before and After by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 14, 2019 at 3:32pm

The decorated Christmas tree came crashing down. A metal barrier at a construction site also collapsed to a horizontal position and lay there. Clear plastic bags flitted in the air, here there. It was surreal and it was happening within a certain solitude. A strong gale whipped through the downtown where I was walking. It was 3:30 a.m.

I needed that walk. It has been a sleepless night. The hike through the gale inserted energy while I held onto my dhoti (lower garment).

I entered th

Gratitude by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 13, 2019 at 4:13pm

Before Clare got lured away by the junkie, I shared with her a quote from W.C. Fields, whom I admired to some extent before I became a monk. She had a good laugh at it. Here it is. "Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.”

Now, that was yesterday at the park. Today was a rather moist day. Jaya and I drove to Wasaga to see a

Meeting Clare by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 12, 2019 at 6:44pm

The day was irresistible at ten degrees Celsius, with the sun beckoning. Spontaneously, I decided to pick up the mrdunga drum, get a ride, and do some chanting in Kensington during that fabulous window of opportunity. It may be the only day left for such freedom, before Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, sets in.

I began to chant, with the sun on my back and my two arms in sufficient motion to get the rest of me warm. The chanting, I kept low key. I believed it would do its own mag

Movers and None by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 10, 2019 at 2:23pm

It struck me, that right across the street from where I live, there's a shop which sells clothing for women. And in the window display, there are two mannequins decked out in the latest fashionable apparel. I couldn't help but take a picture of the display, because it said to me, "We don't walk!"

I actually found it humourous, at the thought, and carried on with my own stroll along with Jaya. I will caption them as ‘Anti-Walkers’ because essentially they don't move. Anyway, what to expect

Meeting Anita by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 9, 2019 at 4:37pm

Anita Sharma was just a little girl when she and her parents and two brothers started coming around. Her dad and mum came from the Punjab, and the family is now in their third generation here.

Successful? Yes! When she mentioned she has a nephew who's now a doctor, I was quite surprised how fast everything evolves with the generations.

Does she have her own family? I asked her and she smiled and said something about "updating." Anyway, she's married to her career as an anchor/reporte

It's All New for Him by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 7, 2019 at 5:41pm

This morning was a time to look forward to, for the seven of us - Nicholas, Pariksit, David, Oksana plus her two kids, and myself. It was the first visit for most of us to Vishal's farm. What a treat! Vishal was generous with kisses to the young bull (I forget his name). He walked us to the foundation of his barn. To follow will be a house and greenhouse. Who knows what more?

Part two of our day's anticipation was a seven kilometre walk on the Great Trail. The most excited among us was

The Switch by Bhaktimarga Swami

Posted by ISKCON Desire Tree on December 6, 2019 at 4:54pm

From Roxborough Street going east, I made it to Moore Park Ravine, and then came upon a new switchback at Chorley Park. For years that has been one of my walking routes, but what's different in the newly renovated Chorley Park is that zigzag of a trail called a switchback. Systematically, the city Parks Commission has been making improvements and completing a makeover during the last two years. I'm noticing it and loving it.

However on my ascent, half-way up the switchback, I asked the on

the walking monk (462)

One of the Monks... by Bhaktimarga Swami

Mantra, Message and Meal by Bhaktimarga Swami

Places, People, Projects by Bhaktimarga Swami

The Park Bench by Bhaktimarga Swami

I Left for Yonge by Bhaktimarga Swami

A Piece of Himself by Bhaktimarga Swami

Walking the Quiet Streets by Bhaktimarga Swami

Adios Amigos by Bhaktimarga Swami

Good-bye Callous by Bhaktimarga Swami

People are Important by Bhaktimarga Swami

Time In Two Places by Bhaktimarga Swami

People Like the Stories by Bhaktimarga Swami

George Harrison Wrote by Bhaktimarga Swami

A Gale: Before and After by Bhaktimarga Swami

Gratitude by Bhaktimarga Swami

Meeting Clare by Bhaktimarga Swami

Movers and None by Bhaktimarga Swami

Meeting Anita by Bhaktimarga Swami

It's All New for Him by Bhaktimarga Swami

The Switch by Bhaktimarga Swami

Note: this page contains paid content.