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Friday, October 24th, 2025 Dundas, Ontario My assistant, Nityananda, drove me to the town Dundas where autumn colours are in their prime and the inhabitants are relatively fine.  The particular purpose in visiting this place just over an hour’s drive from Toronto was to see an old friend, Michael Oesch, a walking partner from the past.  He is also a musician and filmmaker.  I recommend his documentary Walking the Wisdom of the Road  which details various persons who experienc

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 Yorkville, Ontario Members of the VHP had invited us to Queen’s Park, the Legislative Assembly Building for the Province of Ontario to a Diwali function.  At 8 am, a dozen of us devotees from the temple ashram  turned up, including myself, along with delegates, ministers of various portfolios with the government.  People with those statuses and services spoke briefly about the importance of Diwali, the festival of lights, carrying the theme of goo

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 Downtown Toronto Today is one of the most favourite festival days of the year.  We honour a hill, cows/bulls, brahmin s, Krishna, His father, the villagers of Vrindavan, and also, the powerful god of rain, Indra.   The hill is called Govardhan and it is a magnet as far as a destination point for pilgrims.  Each day of the year, thousands of pious souls come to worship this sacred mound, a four-hour feat at the very least, by using one’s feet in a

Tuesday, October 21st, 2025 Toronto, Ontario   Here is a poem to honour Diwali  which will be read at the Legislative Building at Queen’s Park, the capital of Ontario.   DIWALI POEM     The world is dark and upside down Crime and confusion we see all around It need not be the actual norm We would like it to take a new form   Darkness is the absence of light Insert light, darkness, be out-of-sight We celebrate Diwali  for this occasion The people of Ayodhya had this persuasion

Monday, October 20th, 2025 Amsterdam/Toronto     It was a long day, flying west, gaining hours, and also bhakti , I hope.  Those marvellous devotees in Amsterdam saw me off, waved goodbye.  Tot ziens !  Until next time, which should be happening, as time keeps us busy.  The seven-plus hours flight on Air Canada was indeed an aircraft full of tired people.  I guess walking is truly the most energetic mode of transport.   In both Holland and Canada, Diwali , the festival of lig

Sunday, October 19th, 2025 Kwintsheul, The Netherlands My last full day in Holland, the Netherlands, was very very special.  The very expert team of Nama, Vaibhavi, and Rabin, arranged for a family reunion at the Kastanjehof Hall in Kwintsheul.  They arranged the venue, the food, the promotion for members of the Vis and Persoon family, the clans of my dad and mum.  From a low stage level, I welcomed all in an appreciation for their coming.  I gave a quick overview of the eigh