Peripatetic monk really man on a mission

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Anomalies have arisen in the town of Windsor over the years, but few quite so unique as the monk draped in orange. Bhaktimarga Swami arrived in Windsor Sept. 6 as part of his third annual trek on foot across Canada. He came with a message and left with some good karma.

His pilgrimage is one of reflection and meditation: a time to meet new people and become close to nature; for self-healing; and a calming adventure. It’s the answer, he says, to the trouble in our world today.

It may be a cliché, but when Swami says, “it’s the journey, not the destination,” one can't help but listen and hope to understand. He said that everyone needs time each day to walk and reflect.

“When you walk, passions are quieted, letting go is sweet surrender; it's there in everyone. Let it go, let it be.”

That’s central to his message as he walks the streets and highways of Canada.

“If people took more time to reflect and do an assessment of themselves each day through walking and meditation, we'd be in a different world, physically, spiritually and psychologically.”

Monk on a mission

The Ontario native grew up as John Peter Vis, a typical Catholic boy who even played a little hockey. Today, he’s a monk on a mission.

Swami found his calling in 1973 as a member of the Hare Krishna movement. He says that’s when life took on a new meaning and sense of purpose.

Now a typical day includes two hours of meditation and chants each morning and a closeness with nature that he claims gives him a sense of focus.

Although he travels to South Africa and South America each year, Canada is his home and its ills here concern him most. “We're a social mess,” he said. “We have a bit of an ego problem in Canada; we think we're always right. There are things to learn from our elders. We need to learn to listen.”

According to Swami, a contributing factor to the sad state of society is the need for gain. “In India, when a man reaches his fifties they begin to scale down and get in the mode of giving, not taking. Here, people focus on accumulating, having the retirement home in Florida. But we must let it go and take life naturally. This urge in us to spend, spend, spend is not natural or healthy.”

Sexuality a negative force

He says sexuality is also a negative focus in today’s world. “Although celibate, we aren't against sex,” he said. “We believe it is natural, but it should be controlled and about quality.”

He says society puts too much emphasis on sexuality through media. “It’s pushed in our faces all the time. We already have the desires, but it's the overkill that creates a lot of agony for families. It has become raunchy and excessive.”

In fact, adherents of Hare Krishna resist all intoxicants and are vegetarians, partly to stay healthy and out of respect for life.

“Animals are our brothers and sisters,” Bhaktimarga said. “It's a karma issue; we need to protect all living things.”

Karma, he said, means any action that impacts one's future. “That is why people must reflect. They must ask themselves every day if they’re happy with the decisions they’ve made.”

Karma is what he hopes to give and receive during his journey. Swami has walked up to 42 km each day during the six-month trek across Canada with driver and companion Doug. He admits it’s a tiring regimen, but that’s secondary to the experience as a whole.

“To sleep under a different tree every night. That is life.” It’s also metaphor for life in general. “I still walk in the rain or sleet or heat; I can't skip it for a day. Too many people are good at dodging the challenges life puts before them to grow and learn.”

Swami said tha the pilgrimage is all good karma. “It’s impossible to inure negative karma when you're not involved in business or serious relationships.”

And there was nothing but good karma from his stop in Windsor. Swami was astounded to discover that once a year residents here ride across the lake in giant pumpkins, even more so to discover Windsor is the true birthplace of hockey.

He took a moment from his introspection to admire the town and its people. “It's reciprocal karma,” he said. “People give to me; I give to them. I’ll leave here with good karma.”