Banff National Park

Why voluntarily choose to live without the daily association of huge mountains? The mood of surrender and humility is alive in Banff National Park. For years I've attended the traveling Banff Mountain Film Festival, featuring international extreme wildlife and sport documentaries, but I never thought I would actually get around to seeing these great mountain personalities so soon. Extreme mountain unicycling, here I come. If only we had an extra day or two to stick around.

This southern Canada tour has been such a pleasant surprise. One day of hiking and hot springs later, our time in Banff has been the highlight of my trip thus far. The Canadian Rockies are magnificent in their glacial glory. The rivers run aquamarine and ice cold white. The wildflowers are never shy in front of my camera.

Calgary ho!

Hay, flax, and canola fields dressed the landscape as we drove across southern Ontario. Thunder Bay was our first stop. There we caught up with the bus tour kids and headed west to Winnipeg for a full day program of theatre, kirtan and feasting.

Another 2,000 miles later through the rolling flats of Saskakewan, we arrived in Calgary but not without some serious car troubles. Making the delay well worth it, even while broken down, I was able to collect the most beautiful roadside sunflowers and sage.

The Calgary Ratha Yatra was very simple and sweet. Most enjoyable for me was spending time with the temple president's young daughters at their beautiful home, where we stayed two or three nights. The last night we talked until late in the evening. I was sad to leave my sisters the next morning, but such is the reality of travel, quick hellos and quick goodbyes.

Toronto Ratha Yatra

The day was splendid. After a quick visit to the ol' home town, my mom and I drove across the border to Toronto and both marched alongside the magnificent Ratha Yatra carts. His Holiness Bhakti Marga Swami led kirtan and the devotees were elated. Evident by Evelyn's smile, the afternoon was infused with happiness.

The following morning, I was given a rare opportunity to cook a feast for 12 exalted guests at Satyabhauma Prabhu's apartment overlooking the Toronto skyline. I was given complete artistic freedom so, of course, I decided to cook an authentic, southern Mexican meal. The menu was as such: poblano pepper, zucchini, and sour cream enchiladas with mango salsa, guacamole, beans and blue corn chips/fried plantainsfresh whipped cream with a touch of coconut for dessert. Provecho! Lunch was a big hit and everyone left glorifying the meal. Oh, the glories of Radharani's kitchen. I am her aspiring instrument.

Unfortunately, it was goodbye to Ananda Mohini, my new friend from Germany who was travelling with me on the east coast for two weeks. As a Sacinandana Swami disciple, she explained to me that the secret behind her Krishna Consciousness is, "enthusiasm at any cost!" After practically one year of travelling around the world through India, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, she is headed back home. You're a rockstar, Ananda Mohini! Thank you for giving me your example of blissful bhakti yoga in effect.

In Pursuit of the Best

Two weeks ago we celebrated the much anticipated samadhi completion ceremony for His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja. It is an amazing phenomena to watch the devotees descend on the dhama for a festival. Overnight, hundreds of devotees arrive in their best, with their best, to see their best, and strive to be their best.

The best surprise of my weekend was a visit from Nichole, visiting from the 505. I was elated. By the mercy of H.H. Jaya Pattaca Swami, we were offered the service of collecting cow urine in the morning for his daily medicinal dose. So sure enough, after morning program we set out. Sunrise at Gita Nagari is intoxicating. It is the perfect conclusion after late night light shows given by the local lightning bugs who flock by the millions.

Absolute! Independence Day.

The celebration of the completion of H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s samadhi is just two days away and the excitement is rising. The last three weeks, the samadhi work crew and the hometeam ashram residents have been plugging away every day to prepare for the festival. I took to the responsibility of temple grounds beautification.

Here are some before and after shots of a few gardens surrounding the temple that I worked on. I’m pleased with the results and am ready to party.

My stay at Gita Nagari has been enlightening. I came desiring engaging service in a
Simpler, more austere environment and that’s exactly what I have found. No hot water
Here thus ice cold showers morning and night have challenged my determination and so-called renunciation.

Temple program begins at 4:30am, a half hour earlier than at New Vrindaban. Working out in the garden till sunset has me in bed by eleven, which is way too late. Most of the time, I lead morning program by myself because I am the only human in attendance (I’m thankful Gita Nagari at least has plants in their temple) which means I’ve finally had to memorize all the prayers, mrdanga beats, etc. These challenges have been good for me.

Tonite I’m celebrating “Independence” Day, Vaisnava style, complete with vegan marshmallows and campfire kirtan. Motha’ Deva Deva and her husband are hosting the sankirtan party at their house, featuring darshan and lecture with H.H. Dhanurdara Swami.

In Mexico, there are at least three Independence Days that I have clebrated, one from the Spanish imperialists, one from the French aristocrats, and one from the Catholic Church. But here in bhakti yoga world, every day is Absolute! Indepence Day, regardless of temporary government institutions and unstable maneuverings of political parties. Entonces, saca la pachanga y empieza esta fiesta de sankirtana con nosotros todos los dias!

God smiles in flowers.

Yesterday afternoon, after a full day in the garden, I found this budding Echinacea flower. Some call it mutant, but I call it a manifestation.

Srila Prabhupada says that God smiles in flowers. Because I’m so distracted in general, I find Krishna gives me really obvious signs when he is pleased with my service. Reassurance is most reassuring. Krishna’s mercy is abundant although often hard to understand and perceive.

Here at Gita Nagari, every day there is a new happening in the fields, woods, and gardens. Three weeks ago, the Honeysuckle and Peonies were in full bloom. Next came the Milkweed, Yarrow, New England Asters and Oxeye Daisies. In the past week and a half, Queen Anne’s Lace, Tigerlilies, and Black-eyed Susans have found themselves on the altar and Hyacinths made their appearance at Prabhupada’s lotus feet. This is the joy of simple living.

My next-door neighbor in the ashram runs an animal hospital of sorts. When I first came, Mother Locana Padma was caring for some ailing barn kittens. But last week, a new resident arrived on the doorstep and she gladly scooped him up. We named him Garuda.

We never found out what kind of bird he was but we could hear his relatives in the surrounding trees. After a strong week, eating peanut bitter and Ganges water, he left his body listening to Prabhupada chanting the maha mantra. Life and death on the farm. Life and death on the farm. Life and death on the farm. On the farm, the reality of the continuous cycle of birth and death is constantly in your face, and usually you have to pick it up and bury it too.

Yesterday, while moving the oxen water trough, Mother Kaulini and I watched two slimy slugs slither across the body of a salivating snake curled up below. We were both disgusted. She reminded me then that the soul’s destination is determined by our life’s activities and consciousness. Thus, it is paramount to take advantage of this human birth, learn the science of life, and avoid the risk of taking birth again as a slug. Yes ma’am!