GETTING IN CLASSES AND MILES

Friday, January 24th, 2025

Gainesville, Florida

In the Alachua temple, I delivered my third and last class on the heroism of the avatar, Varaha, who saved the earth in His most unique way.   Back at the home of my hosts, Ananta Sesa and Vaishnavi, I led a Gita Chat on Zoom with devotees from the Caribbean.  Chapter 1.32 – 35.  Those verses are Arjuna’s rationale leading to his declining to fight.  A major theme behind these verses was that Krishna, the main pundit, was actually a good listener.  This is another trait of heroism.

KRISHNA IS THE ULTIMATE LISTENER.

For the evening talk at Krishna House in Gainesville, we were asked to speak on the reason for all the marathon walking and just what that is like.  I gave a volume of justification for power walking.  At the top of the list was expressing gratitude through the leg movement.  Walking, for me, was always a celebratory function.

“I’m happy to be alive, happy to have limbs to move on.”

The students who attended were also good listeners, like God in the Gita.  I received several comments to my referencing pop culture.  “You are not just the regular swami.”

I was thrilled to see Kunti, Jagannath Puri Dhama, and a host of others whom I’ve known for years.  The dancing was so exuberant at the end of the program.  Without Devala’s drumming, it wouldn’t be the same.  Another Arjuna, who hails from Tampa, saw to it that I was able to get some walking in for the day.  I managed to score something just shy of 10,000 steps.

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!

9,762 STEPS