Friday, June 3rd,
2016
Morenci, Michigan
"Monk Takes
Steps to Slow Down, Appreciate Nature"
People responded
today to the Blade Newspaper Article on the front page, photo by Amy E. Voigt,
and scripted by John Victor.
Subtitle,
"Brother Swami Is Walking From New York To San Francisco"
"Wearing an
orange monk's garb and a worn out pair of sandals, Bhaktimarga Swami strode
into Toledo on Thursday morning for a stop on his cross-country trek from New
York to San Francisco.
Brother Swami, also
known as The Walking Monk, is in the second phase of his trip across the United
States which he is completing over two summers.
The Hare Krishna monk is using the journey to promote a more active and
more sustainable lifestyle, as well as honour the legacy of his former teacher.
'Let's get our feet
back on the ground and our heads out of the clouds,' Brother Swami said. 'Let's do the things we're meant to do.'
According to a news
release of the event, Brother Swami's walks serve to highlight a car-free,
care-free lifestyle, with a stronger spiritual base grounded in
meditation.
Brother Swami stopped
outside the Toledo Museum of Art on Thursday afternoon for a quick lunch of
vegetable wraps prepared by one of his two assistants. He sat in the shade for about an hour, and
rested before heading toward Chicago later that day.
The monk has walked
across his native Canada four times in addition to trips across Ireland,
Guyana, Israel, Mauritius, Trinidad, and the Fiji Islands. The journey is his first across the United
States.
Over the course of
his trip, Brother Swami has walked about 20 miles per day, a distance he
completes in 7 to 8 hours. The trick, he
said, is to start early in the morning as to avoid the summer heat. Swimming is also, 'a must', and The Walking
Monk has taken to Lake Erie several times to cool off.
Brother Swami said
his long treks are part of a monastic tradition dating back for centuries, but
he noted that all religions recognize taking some time for introspection. Ultimately, he said, the walks allow him to
slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature, whose miracles can only be
experienced by walking.
'It allows you to see
things from a close up perspective,' he said.
'You end up feeling like a kid in a candy shop.' "
May the Source be
with you!
No comments:
Post a Comment