WITH DHARMA

Friday, March 21st, 2025

Scarborough/Etobicoke

Dharmaprana is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Originally from Regina, he moved to Winnipeg, then Chicago, and finally landed himself in the Toronto area. And to be more specific, he ended up at the Toronto ashram temple address and has been there since the mid ‘80s. He is upbeat despite a serious stroke that got him around that time. He has a speech defect, trouble with balance, and other physical complications. Now that he’s in his 70’s it doesn’t get easier.

Currently he’s in Providence Hospital in Scarborough. When I arrived there to visit him in his room, he was his usual chipper self. My companion, Nityananda, also noted his optimism. He was in the middle of watching the game on the screen. He had his bead bag next to him with those meditation beads inside.

“Prabhupada ki jay!” he said excitedly upon seeing us. We communicated from there and even sang “Hare Krishna” to a couple of Beatles’ tunes, a pastime of ours.

All is good. He expressed how he wanted to get a shave. That’s understandable! Take care, Dharma.

From there, Nityananda and I met with our Scarborough temple management for the purpose of looking at a building. Yes, we desperately need a new space to expand our teachings in the area east of Toronto. Incidentally, I will be going to Durham, which is altogether a new community slightly more east of Scarborough, and that will be tomorrow. A sannyasi just keeps up the nomad life of travel.

My evening was blessed by being with devotees of Etobicoke. Fine families came together to hear about “Tales from Trails.”