DON'T FORGET NATURE

Bhaktimarga Swami
May 5
2 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Towaco, New Jersey

I’m a firm believer that everyone should take a break from the man-made world, even if just for a few minutes every day. For the sake of sanity, the connection is essential. I recall from my visit to Sparta last year, at this time there is a nearby body of water, Lake Sparta. A walk around it is 1.12 kilometres. Notable are the natural elements. No wonder people have made their homes here. Luckily for walkers like me, no homes are built on the lake’s edge, and plentiful gaps of nature between homes makes you feel like you’re not in suburbia.

At its beach, I noticed the gorgeous craftsmanship of a spider’s web work. Being that this morning was of ultimate mist, tiny beads of water stuck to the web to pronounce more details. I also spotted a heron. The lake is its home. I saw it with its expansive wings last year. Resting from a past occupancy is a beaver lodge five metres from the lake’s border. The mammals must have been shooed away, otherwise, all the trees would have been felled by now.

After a great walk and brunch with salad of the local garlic mustard leaves, my host, Haripad, took me to Montclair University where we met devotees for kirtan and book distribution on the campus. During our chanting amongst the trees, a hawk flew low and perched on a branch with a prized possession – a robin. Holding to its prey, it plucked at feathers and then guts. Not nice to see.

For the evening, I delivered a class at the Towaco temple to tell of the glories of Sita Devi on Her birthday, followed by a Zoom class on the Gita, 3.14. Two straight hours of satisfaction!

PLEASE HELP OUR YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THEMSELVES IN PIOUS ACTIVITIES AMIDST THE DARK DUALITIES OF THESE DAYS AND TIMES. PLEASE DONATE. IT WILL BE FINISHED WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

Additionally, as mentioned in previous blogs regarding the Youth Bus Tour, let's get it back on the road again! It's urgent! This is such an important program for establishing a Krishna consciousness foundation for our youth, particularly in North America including Mexico. I personally travelled with the group for 10 consecutive summers, especially helping with the drama portions.

A new bus is badly needed. Please donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-for-iskcon-youth-ministrys-new-bus