GET ELEVATED

Bhaktimarga Swami
5 days ago
2 min read

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

Ramsden Park, Toronto

I was about to turn a corner where two women and two dogs were set in comfort on, or by, a bench, when a jogger passed by. One of the two dogs snarled at the man who was agitated.

“Hold on to your animal!” he angrily demanded. One of the women didn’t take too kindly at his remark and snapped back with colourful words. I stopped my stroll and mentioned to the two women that people show little tolerance, referring to the jogger. The one more extroverted woman switched the topic.

“So, tell me something I don’t already know. You’re in that gown. You must be able to say something?”

“Have you ever contemplated your real identity? We are not these bodies?”

The woman replied, “Yes, we are the soul.”

She knew.

I asked a second question, “Have you ever heard of the three energies?”

“No, what are they?”

“The first energy is called sattva which means ‘thoughtfulness’. The next is rajas – passion. Finally, we have tamas, or ignorance. Which one is the most favourable to us?”

“Passion,” answered the second lady. The first one said ignorance was most favourable because ‘ignorance is bliss’.

“Try again! How about thoughtfulness – being sensitive, careful, plan, be kind, etc.”

They both came to terms with this energy. I praised the Gita. I had two books of my own poetry and gifted them. They were appreciative. That was an uplifting experience.

Speaking of lift, I just made it in time for the installation of a new elevator to our building. It was long overdue.