{"id":4412,"date":"2017-11-29T10:44:19","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T05:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/?p=4412"},"modified":"2017-11-29T10:44:19","modified_gmt":"2017-11-29T05:14:19","slug":"walking-monk-us-pennsylvania-san-francisco-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/padayatra-new\/walking-monk-us-pennsylvania-san-francisco-california\/","title":{"rendered":"THE WALKING MONK IN THE US: FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Foreword: Padayatra in America is characterized by long stretches of impersonal highways and people are generally living tightly locked up in their homes and cars. The nature of preaching in this country while on padayatra is about connecting with the people who step forward to meet the padayatris. Bhaktimarg Swami beautifully illustrates these warm interactions with people new and familiar to Krsna consciousness in his blog, which you can find at <\/strong>http:\/\/thewalkingmonk.blogspot.in\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Here are a few excerpts: <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Thursday, May 11th, 2017<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Butler, Pennsylvania <\/strong><\/p>\n

Going through customs with our vehicle was more of a breeze than I thought it would be.\u00a0 Our Canadian contingent of monks, consisting of Hayagriva, Marshall and myself, along with Balaram, a Toronto member, arrived at the American Peace Bridge customs gate. We decided a break in Butler, Pennsylvania, would be a good idea. It was here, where Srila Prabhupada, humbly began the whole mission of Krishna Consciousness.\u00a0When I passed through Butler in the fall of 2015 my support person, Vivasvan from Detroit, met an historian from the Butler Library.\u00a0 He was seniorand a well-read person, but was surprised that Butler, with its one month stay by the swami, before breaking ground in New York, was the actual birth place of this world-wide movement.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean it started here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d replied Vivasvan. \u201cIn September of \u201965, it all began.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sunday, May 14th<\/sup>:<\/u><\/strong> Moundsville, West Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Walk<\/strong><\/p>\n

By 4:00 p.m., our U.S. Walk was set to begin by making the long journey from Moundsville in West Virginia, by the Jaladuta<\/em> Express, a \u201cFord Freestar\u201d van, with navigation by Hayagriva and driven by Marshall.\u00a0 This is my team from Canada. We are going to complete the second half of the U.S. walk from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco this summer.<\/p>\n

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On our way back to the starting point, the three of us discussed planning.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have to check out my Go-Pro<\/em> for pics, acquire a road atlas for the States\u2014in addition to the oft-times evasive maps found on our cell screen\u2014and a host of other projected duties of support once walking starts.<\/p>\n

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May 30th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Chappell, Nebraska<\/p>\n

Relationship Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

The two boys, Hayagriva and Marshall, went to Chappell (population 1000) to chant downtown.Taking a portable harmonium and mrdunga drum in hand, they gave a jolly boisterous performance in procession style around Chappell\u2019s shoppers.<\/p>\n

Two women approached the musician monks and one of them held up her hands as Diana Ross of the Supremes would do. (reference: STOP! In the name of love\u2026)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Asked the woman. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re travelling monks, sharing sacred sound. We are spreading spirituality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by spirituality?\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

Hayagriva responded, \u201cUnderstanding who we are and our relationship with God.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the word I was looking for.\u201d She was pacified, felt the devotion from our young men and encouraged them to go up and down every street, singing.<\/p>\n

One man saw the boys and asked a similar question and he approved of their answer and agreed to pay for some fruit they could use.<\/p>\n

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June 5th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Burns, Wyoming<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cattle and Me<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cattle and I were separated by fence and ditch, but they were following me. Coming down the dusty road was a white pickup with a local farmer behind the wheel. This farmer put the brakes on and momentarily observed the cattle tagging along next to me. The farmer made the turn and proceeded to meet me on the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple living. Less cars. 1.25 million people die each year from auto accidents. We could do better. Walk and chant!\u201d<\/p>\n

Traffic wasn\u2019t the only challenge; 5:30 am is mosquito hour. Aggressive! Here\u2019s where the big trucks do work in your favour. The strong gusts of wind they stir up send the little pests off. Still, traffic was too much on this road, so we transferred to another highway and entered the state south of us. The Highway 30 which we were on merged into Interstate 80, which is un-walkable. At times we have to \u2018jump\u2019 to a parallel road. \u201cHayagriva, does your GPS tell of an alternative road?\u201d\u00a0 Hayagriva is quick to find one.<\/p>\n

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June 28th<\/strong><\/a>: \u00a0<\/u><\/strong>Summit Hwy 181, Utah<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting to the Top<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a bit of a climb by roadway.\u00a0Some sweat and strain took me to\u00a0the top of the 9,110 foot elevation. I met Curtis, a Mormon. He was the only person who stopped to talk. He offered water and also The Book of Mormon<\/em> to tuck under my arm. I suggested he meet my two monk assistants two miles down, he could receive from them one of our Krishna conscious books.<\/p>\n

It was Jennifer of Radio Channel X94, a pop music station, who interviewed me today.\u00a0 I was introduced as a Hare Krishna monk.\u00a0 I was happy to hear she has a copy of the Bhagavad-gita<\/em> at home.\u00a0 She\u2019s also likely to have the book of the Latter Day Saints which Curtis has, and now I do, as well.<\/p>\n

August 3rd<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: Salt Lake City, Utah<\/strong><\/p>\n

I managed to get in a morning interview with Frank and Taylor on KUSA FM 100 radio in Price City.\u00a0 To date, he\u2019s the first radio announcer to ever get my initiated name right.\u00a0 He said it perfectly. Over the air I said, \u201cI\u2019m impressed.\u201dFrank asked about me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I became a monk in 1973.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s before I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you were in another body,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n

August 26th<\/sup>, 2017<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Cold Springs, Nevada<\/strong><\/p>\n

The traffic of vacationers begins. For me some attention comes. People wave, honk or stop. Over pulls a young woman from Oklahoma. She walks with me a bit. A vehicle from New York with two couples comes to a halt. \u201cCan we help?\u201d \u201cJust walking\u2014across the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

A local rancher, asked Marshall, if all is okay.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re just going for a walk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m supporting the monk,\u201d says Marshall.<\/p>\n

\u201cMonk!?\u201d mentioned the fellow, shocked.<\/p>\n

September 1st<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Carson City, Nevada<\/strong><\/p>\n

A biker pulled over on Highway 50.\u00a0 Seeing my drooping dhoti<\/em>, he could not see my feet while walking, and thought I was barefoot, so he stopped out of concern. \u201cI\u2019m Freddy, Fast Freddy. Call me FF. I\u2019m a musician, originally from New York.\u00a0 I thought you might need some help.\u201d<\/p>\n

I also came in contact with a local. Wolf is his name.\u00a0 He offered a ride, but as usual, I had to decline.\u00a0 With both new friends, we got to talking about spirituality and humility. \u201cSpirituality is what the ego likes the least,\u201d said FF.<\/p>\n

Also a lady stopped, in the thick of traffic, and presented me with some water.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s great what you\u2019re doin\u2019! Jesus. I love you. Amen!\u201d<\/p>\n

Some nurses, from the University Of Nevada School Of Nursing, saw me in my robes, walking along with Marshall.\u00a0 \u201cCan we interview you?\u201d\u00a0 There by the roadside, the question came, \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

September 4th:<\/sup><\/u><\/strong> \u00a0Kit Carson, California<\/strong><\/p>\n

I met a man today who has read the Bhagavad-gita.\u00a0 He loves it.\u00a0 He also asked what I get out of all the walking.\u201cHumility, appreciation for nature and life.\u00a0 And seeing that Krishna is in all things.\u00a0 Let\u2019s say, I’m going in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

I met Ted from Idaho.\u00a0 He\u2019s a musician, a singer, a guitarist.\u00a0 He told me he\u2019d write a song about our meeting.<\/p>\n

One man, collecting firewood, noticed me.\u00a0 \u201cHey, I like those clothes.\u00a0 Are they comfortable? \u2026 I\u2019m a Satanist, by the way.\u00a0 I also adore Shiva, Lord of destruction.\u00a0 When the world goes, he\u2019ll come to dance.\u201d<\/p>\n

September 5th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Pioneer, California\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

One motorist, Randy, saw me on Monday.\u00a0 Then he saw me again.\u00a0 \u201cDid you go all night?\u00a0 Here!\u201d He handed me some water and a bag of trail mix.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another vehicle slowed down and came to a halt.\u00a0 It\u2019s a couple. \u201cIs everything alright?\u00a0 Do you need water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurely!\u201d\u00a0 They give.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoney?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps.\u201d\u00a0 They give $30.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome herbs?\u201d\u00a0 Something I\u2019m supposed to smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll decline.\u00a0 Thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n

I met a rare walker, shirtless, a couple of marks on the arm, and tattoos; the young guy is immersed in his mobile device.\u00a0 We shake hands.\u201cHere\u2019s a mantra.\u201d<\/p>\n

I see a blue bird going from tree to tree.\u00a0 I see and hear two dozen head of cattle, each one wearing a cow bell.\u00a0 It\u2019s nice.<\/p>\n

September 6th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Jackson, California<\/strong><\/p>\n

A message went out on Facebook that I was in town and so the response from people driving along was phenomenal.\u00a0 What really lit up our day was our evening program.\u00a0 For our morning jaunt, we noticed the sign \u201cDance\u201d for a yoga studio in a plaza.\u00a0 I suggested to Hayagriva that he should contact the shop.\u00a0 Patti answered the phone.\u00a0 On the same day, she managed to interest twenty people, including a family with two young sons, in our kirtan,<\/em> on top of her usual \u201cgonging\u201d for the full moo<\/p>\n

\u00a0September 7th<\/sup> <\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong> \u00a0Linden,<\/strong> California<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brian from The Linden Herald came in a cowboy hat when we met at the Common Grounds Caf\u00e9 in Valley Springs.\u00a0 The interview was terrific.\u00a0 He told me he\u2019s inspired to walk more.<\/p>\n

We met John, a retired mathematician.\u00a0 We asked about the location of the town\u2019s park.\u201cThere\u2019snothing like that, but you can use my front shaded yard.\u00a0 There\u2019re chairs.\u00a0 Use my kitchen.\u00a0 Stay overnight.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get you something from the store.\u00a0 Ah, I forgot my wallet.\u00a0 Old age!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0September 8th <\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Stockton, California<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard from my daughter, here, of what you\u2019re doing.\u00a0 Congratulations!\u201d\u00a0 Handshakes with the tall happy man and his daughter.\u201cHow do you maintain yourself or survive on the road coming all the way from New York?\u201d he continued. \u201cI have a small support team consisting of two younger monks. People offer water, donations and I confess to sometimes helping myself to the grapes in the vineyards around here.\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this is my land, my grapes (he points).\u00a0 You can have all the grapes you want.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a donation (40 bucks).\u00a0 I don\u2019t have any water.\u201d\u00a0 Off father and daughter went.<\/p>\n

It was in the afternoon that we were engaged with some kids, age six to ten, at the Hub Center in Jackson.\u00a0 Hayagriva had lined up this engagement where I told stories of animal encounters along the road.\u00a0 I also introduced mantra<\/em> meditation.\u00a0 It calmed them somewhat; they were wired up.\u00a0 I took them through some warm ups with voice exercise, and to the beat of the drum, with Marshall on kartals<\/em>, we got everyone to dance.\u00a0 Nice session!<\/p>\n

September 15th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong> : \u00a0<\/strong>San Francisco, California<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a sensational trek over the Golden Gate Bridge, the last few steps on Irving Street to the Pacific were accomplished. My dear friends, Vaisesika and Nirakula from San Jose, also came to join us for the last four miles from Masonic and Page to Irving and the Lower Great Highway, the path of the original Jagannatha Fest a half century ago.\u00a0 https:\/\/youtu.be\/pjn7c1uqhkU<\/a><\/p>\n

When finally we pressed footprints in the sand to beeline our way to the ocean\u2019s waters and offer our obeisances to that beautiful body of salt water, we took the opportunity to reflect on all the highlights of a collective six month trek. It was a total of 3,550 miles or 5,713 kilometres.<\/p>\n

The U.S. walk entailed spanning\u2014and in some cases edging a corner of a state such as Michigan and Wyoming\u2014the balance of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California and Hawaii.\u00a0 It also included a walk-through, at the pivotal juncture, Butler, Pennsylvania, where our guru, Prabhupada, spent an entire month in the city of his sponsors, Gopal and Sally Agarwal, before registering his cherished ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in 1966.<\/p>\n

We hope that Prabhupada is pleased with the walking endeavour\u2014a pilgrimage, a padayatra<\/em>.\u00a0 I hope Krishna\u2019s smile is broad.\u00a0 Maybe Uncle Sam is also delighted that some seeds of bhakti<\/em> have been planted along the way.<\/p>\n

May the Source be with you!<\/p>\n

See also:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=50969<\/a><\/p>\n

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