ACHINTYA, A WALKING BUDDY

Wednesday, October 1st, 2025

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

Ram Lila, my host, said, “You go ahead.  I’ll catch up to you,” indicating the Albion Trail which runs along the East River.  Fine, so I did leave just a little bit after 8 AM.  Nice trail.  Apple trees with wormless fruit are spotted here and there.  The sun was shining on the river which appeared like glass.  No ripples at all.  After a few minutes I heard a shuffling of footsteps behind me.  They belonged to Ram Lila and his 8-year-old son, Achintya.

As a threesome we plodded along starting from the point where a woodpecker was drilling away at a tree.  Achintya is very talkative while demonstrating an energetic brightness.  He surely was entertaining in the process.  After 30 minutes or so, he indicated that he wanted to go back home, but his dad insisted in the most positive way that it as good to continue a bit more.  After all, the family had circumambulated the famous Govardhan Hill in India some months back.  I know Achintya is quite attached to the screen, and it was waiting for him back at the house.  He was hoping to get back.

We crossed the East River by bridge which meant we were walking a loop.  At some point near the old sacred bridge, Achintya appeared to stop hankering.  He, more or less, crossed the line and accepted his fate – that we were approaching the 15,000 step mark.

In the evening, the community of Vaishnavas met at Trinity Church downtown.  I led a chant and then spoke about power walking and power lifestyle.  Was happy to meet my friend, Meriko.  All along, Achintya stayed for the program and upon returning home he built a house with his legos.  I think he grew today.  

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!

15,976 FOOTSTEPS