JUST PLAY IT

Friday, November 28th, 2025

Ramsden Park, Toronto

When you have been around in a village for over fifty years, you certainly get to know people that shared some of that space with you.  I don’t live in a village, but in Midtown of a major city in North America.  It does seem like the feel of a small town, though being in a temple atmosphere where so much is going on.  The place, 243 Avenue Road, is like a magnet drawing new interested people and also revered servers-of-the-temple from the past.  I was happy to see one anonymous devotee, whom at one point, I thought I lost forever.

His participation with the mission of ISKCON was significant in the past, being very active.  Due to circumstances, he took a break from that passion but now returned for a visit and a reconnection.  It was very beautiful to see and hear from him again.  He went through a lot, like we all do.  It doesn’t really matter, and it is all in the end that matters.

Revisiting the deities of Krishna, the devotees, the prasadam, and the wisdom from our speaking to each other, after an absence, felt good.

I always like the phrase our guru, Prabhupada, left us regarding “Going back home, back to Godhead.”  Like the saying that there’s no place like home.  If we can simply come to terms with “There’s no place like OM,” meaning our spiritual returning, then our journey is complete.

We may all have some years to invest in devotional service before we pass.  Let’s make it the best endeavour possible.

My, what I thought was a lost friend, has returned, at least to my space, and I’m happy even if he plays it low-key.  Just play it.

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU

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