A hike in the woods with devotee company

”Today was a day

In pure goodness”,

Jyotisvara prabhu said.

We had nice kirtan.

Erik, a new inspired bhakta,

Plays  his guitar.

He has composed a melody

For Hare Krishna.

It’s really sweet.

I have brought mrdanga and karatalas.

We jam for a while,

The mantra resounding

In the silent presence  of Mother Nature.

We also took prasadam.

The menu for these

Forest expeditions

Is more or less set,

Devotee sampled and approved by experience

From numerous similar hikes:

Potatoes in the fire

With butter, hing, salt and pepper

(Always a winner,

And a boost of moral

In the stealthy cold

Of autumn evening).

For that extra, special touch,

And for the pleasure of the devotees:

A homemade loaf of bread,

Quality Norwegian flower honey,

Cream cheese

And olives.

And of course,

No gathering of devotees is complete

Without Krishna katha.

Erik is curious

And has a benign, humble attitude.

Jyotisvara prabhu systematically

Explains, taking his time;

The tree modes of nature,

Our position as Krishna’s eternal servants,

Inspiring tales from the lives of our previous acharyas,

His personal realizations.

In this way

We pass the whole afternoon

And into the night,

Ending up seated together

Around a cozy fire,

The blackness of the woodland night

Around us.

Tomorrow

A fresh new day awaits.

Japa, then

Breakfast.

Plan is simple forest kitchary

And corn cobs

Baked in the flames.

“In the city

The modes of passion and ignorance awaits”,

I say.

“The modes are always mixed”,

Jyotysvara prabhu counters,

“Even in the mode of goodness.”

“Our only refuge

Is pure goodness.

And that is not a part of this world.”