DAY TWO IN HOLLAND

Friday, October 10th, 2025

Amstelveen, Netherlands

From Hoofddorp Train Station, Rabindra, Nama, Helga, and I began Day 2.  Eventually, our small party grew, but before it did, we were enjoying the atmospheres – Alsmeerderdijk, a dyke, the forest by the name Amsterdamse Bos, a forest of tall trees planted by men during the Great Depression, and a park where we sat on logs.  At the dyke, we admired cows, sheep, and goats.  As for people, well, they whiz by with a smile (mostly) on their bicycles.

One person to join was Shantipriya from Suriname, a friend, but more like a son in age.  Rati Manjari, a leader of devotees in Holland, came on her bike.  She handed me a message,  “Thank you for doing this!” meaning, the walk. 

I was reflecting on what one of our companions of yesterday said, “I recently came to this (higher) consciousness.  I am a survivor of alcoholic parents.  I became one, too, and joined the 12 steps with A.A.  I’m so much better now.”

In the evening at Karunika Yoga Studio, I spoke to a full house mix of people.  I told of my stories, beginning with, “My first language was Dutch as a baby.  English came second.”  I spoke in English, which everyone understands.

“It was 1995.  It was a bad year personally for me.  I was under the influence of two dark planets known as Rahu and Ketu.  I had to make a different turn in my devotional efforts.  I concluded I would go for a long walk across my homeland, Canada, and live a life for some months like a real monk.  Eat more simply, live more simply out of a van and a tent, meet people, meet the elements, learn detachment and get closer to nature and the Creator.”

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU

30,216 FOOTSTEPS (20 km)