March 25, 2016 Taranaki Daily News
Hare Krishna devotee walks country sharing simpler life with others:
Reported by Petra Finer
Hari Krishna devotee Yasoda Dulal, aka John Herbison, talks with Taranaki Star reporter Petra Finer as he stops in Stratford during his year-long pilgrimage around New Zealand.
Yasoda Dulal is walking to the beat of his own drum as he spreads a message around New Zealand.
Also known as John Herbison, the Christchurch-based man had covered over 3000km by the time he reached Stratford, South Taranaki, on Tuesday, March 22. He began his mission seven months ago, leaving his wife of 35 years at home in favour of the road, a drum and a lot of time alone with his thoughts.
He aims to be Auckland by July, in time for the Hari Krishna faith’s 50th anniversary in the western world.
“It’s a tradition in most cultures to walk – in Japan, in India, even in New Zealand the Maori hikoi – to walk with a message. It’s a way of reaching people,” he says.
“My message, it sounds very simple but it’s quite deep. That message is “less is more” and basically that amounts to less materialism, or more socialism.”
He is not fundraising. Dulal feels “full” financially and says the universe provides for him on his journey. The vegetarian usually finds a roof over his head, a shower and someone willing to feed him no matter where he is. His is a message of peace and simpler living. Dulal wants others to realize life can be fulfilling without material possessions.
He feels the answer to most problems isn’t material, it is spiritual.
“If we look into spiritual issues we can solve all the problems of the planet.”
He says he’s lucky, his wife understands and supports his mission as long as he is helping people. He will have been gone for almost a year by the time they see each other again but during that year he hopes to have reached out to others, touched their hearts and opened the doors for an exchange.
“Every night I ask myself where I’m going to stay but I’ve learnt to have trust. Somewhere, somehow people come and feed me, give me accommodation, a shower. I can’t carry all the gifts they give.”
He believes the generosity of others along his journey is the universe’s way of support his pilgrimage.
“Goodness means godliness in our hearts. Everybody has that.”
FACT BOX:
The Hari Krishna movement is a branch of Hinduism most commonly recognized for its 16-word chant. It was introduced to the Western World 50 years ago but the religion dates back to the 1600s. Dulal believes there are around 500 Hari Krishna devotees in New Zealand.
