Saturday 10 July 2010

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Place of Pilgrimage

Toronto, Ontario

I make it an annual trip there. It’s not far. East on Lakeshore Boulevard is a trail which is a place of pilgrimage. In the summer of ’75 our guru, Srila Prabhupada trekked here on the same boardwalk that we now have the fortune to experience. Edged at the beach of Lake Ontario is plank against plank set in the sand.

Since that time, now 35 years later, hundreds of thousands of people have lightly pounded on the same path as this pure devotee had done. Some benefit does come to the numerous walkers and runners that tread the same track of this most remarkable soul. Wherever the great pious soul wanders a spiritual power is deposited. That power can be absorbed by all subsequent foot travelers. That is their good fortune.

One of my favourite verses from the book, Bhagavatam, regarding sacred space is as follows:

Bhavad- vidha bhagavatas
Tirtha bhutah svayam vibho
Tirthi kurvanti tirthani
Svantah-stena gadabhrita

Translation:

My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.

7 KM

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