the walking monk
bhaktimarga
swami
the walking monk
putting heart & feet together towards a car-free care-free lifestyle
now on amazon
THE SAFFRON PATH
TREKKING THE GLOBE WITH THE WALKING MONK
From being stalked by a grizzly bear to being mistaken for an escaped prison inmate, marathon pilgrim BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI braves the elements & adventure across the globe to bring us the tales only trails can tell!
coast to coast
border to border
every town & village
On home soil or in an exotic land, on a marathon walk or out for a quick stroll, THE WALKING MONK moves his feet & the people he meets wherever he sets his soles!
WHO IS
walking
the
?
monk
MARATHON WALKER
AUTHOR
PLAYWRIGHT
DIRECTOR
FILMMAKER
POET
BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI, born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, is also known as THE WALKING MONK for having trekked FOUR TIMES across Canada. Keeping with the spirit of pilgrimage, he also crossed the USA, Israel, Ireland, Guyana, Trinidad, Mauritius, and the Fiji Islands. Documentation of his Canadian walks is found in two films: The Longest Road, by the National Film Board of Canada, and Walking: The Lessons of the Road, by Michael Oesch. As a youth, Swami was a student of fine arts, but took to the life of a Hare Krishna monk at age 20 in 1973. Although pursuing monastic ways, he maintains artistic expression through several mediums. As a playwright he produces and directs avant-garde productions based on themes from the Vedic epics of India. Wherever he travels, he engages talented local youth as the productions' actors, dancers, choreographers, and technical crews. During the pandemic, live theatre wasn't an option, so Bhaktimarga Swami took to creating two short films – Grandsire and The Embassy. The Embassy garnered the Crown Wood and Chambal International Film Festival Awards, and was a quarter finalist in the Canada Shorts Canadian International Short Film Festival. In 2022 Swami released his highly-anticipated first publication, The Saffron Path: Trekking the Globe with The Walking Monk, detailing his adventures and insights as an international marathon walker. Future publications are set in motion, including a collection of original poems. The Walking Monk is also an instructor of bhakti yoga, a leader of musical mantra meditation called kirtan, and a speaker on the science of the self based on the ancient teachings of the Gita.
MARATHON WALKS (CROSS-COUNTRY)
Canada (4X)
Fiji Islands
United States
Trinidad
Israel
Mauritius
Ireland
Guyana
WHY
DOES HE
?
walk
"It's not a fund raiser, it's a FRIEND RAISER!"
To promote pilgrimage & connection to the Divine through nature.
To inspire a greener way of life.
To make lots of friends!
To honour our teachers.
THE WALKING MONK first took to the road as a marathon walker in 1996 to honour the centennial year of his guru, SRILA PRABHUPADA, the Founder Acharya of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).
At that time, BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI walked across Canada (Earth's 2nd largest country) from coast to coast for the spiritual healing of the nation. From there on in he was hooked and later repeated the journey 3 more times!
And then...
SRILA
Prabhupada
His walking fever quickly spread beyond Canada across international borders.
!
events
NEWS &
READ THE WALKING MONK BLOG
for daily locations & inspiring stories
Want to meet THE WALKING MONK?
Come & join him for...
tales from trails
... a warm & engaging presentation of highlights & insights from walking the road
Hear from THE WALKING MONK firsthand about the incredible people, places, and wildlife he encounters on his treks. Enjoy the chance of a lifetime by asking the monk your questions at the Q&A after the presentation, & maybe even explore the benefits of mantra meditation for yourself with his lively musical chants!
want to:
attend a tales from trails?
host a tales from trails?
join him for some walking?
just say hello?