BY THE WATER AND THE MONK

Friday, June 13th, 2025

Niagara Falls, Ontario

One of the people who truly influenced me in Krishna Consciousness was Bhakti Brngha Govinda Swami.  At Christmastime in 1972, five young monks came to the town where I was taking a fine arts course.  They were chanting in the street, sold me a Bhagavad-gita, and accepted my invitation to my apartment for an overnight’s rest.  The name of the swami at the time was Adyodyapati.

He read to me a chapter from the Krishna Book and gave me his precious time.  Now 53 years later, he has come to make that annual visit for a kirtan fest in a suburb of Toronto. 

To treat him, we wanted to bring him to one of the world’s natural wonders – Niagara Falls.  This included a drive to the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a good glance at the Gorge of the river, the waterfalls themselves, a prasadam picnic, and a walk to the white water section.  That last experience on the boardwalk was new for me.  “Feel the prana (life force) coming from these forceful waves rippling and crashing as the current speeds by.”  The sensation was humbling.

Being with BB Govinda Swami for the day means that many narratives come your way.  His memory of past years is very sharp.  His stories of our early days as monks living together are full of charm and humour.  What a pleasant day it was by nature (the Falls) and two monks reuniting. 

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!

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