Friday 31 August 2007

Renfrew Weekender newspaper 8.10.07 part 1

MONK ON THE ROAD AGAIN FOR THIRD CANADIAN WALK
By JOHN CARTER
Mercury Staff
A 54-year-old Hare Krishna monk who is walking across Canada for the third time ambled through Renfrew Saturday.
Bhaktimarga Swami, who was born John Peter Vis in Chatham, Ontario, was impressed by the beauty of the Upper Ottawa Valley. It’s the first time he has visited the Renfrew area, as he makes a habit of varying his cross-Canada routes.
As he cooled off his feet in the Bonnechere River at the Horton boat launch, Swami explained that he takes his long walks for three reasons: he has a passion for nature, it’s a "good workout," and it acts as a pilgrimage.
The 7,800-km cross-Canada walk aids in his personal spiritual growth and helps him face physical challenges, he said.
"It gives you a lot of reflective time to explore who you really are," he said. "There is a lot of solitude time."
See MONK, Page 15

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