Born in 1952 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Bhaktimarga Swami (formerly John Peter Vis) adopted the monastic lifestyle of the Hare Krishna order in 1973. Globally known for his “Canwalk” marathons, he achieved the remarkable feat of walking across the entire length of Canada from the west to east coast in 1996 which was detailed in the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary, “The Longest Road”. Bhaktimarga Swami repeated the feat again in 2003 (this time from east to west), and yet again a third time (west to east) in 2007.
Believe it or not, The Walking Monk recently finished his FOURTH trek across Canada in the summer of 2014 (Canwalk 4) which began in the spring of 2012. With this “friend-raiser”, he is once again promoted pilgrimage and a more car-free, care-free lifestyle. In addition to Canada he has also walked across the countries of Ireland, Israel, Fiji Islands, Mauritius, Trinidad and Guyana.
Bhaktimarga Swami is a member of ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) founded by his teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and is the GBC (Governing Body Commissioner) for ISKCON Canada.
In addition to marathon walking and administrative duties, Bhaktimarga Swami is an instructor of Bhakti Yoga (devotion to the Divine) and mantra meditation. He is also a playwright, producer and director of live avant garde “morality theatre”, whose captivating works based on tales from ancient India are performed regularly across the globe. In his productions, The Walking Monk regularly engages youth from the global communities he visits in this “enter-lightenment” designed to uplift the spirit.
Below are several inspiring extracts from Bhaktimarga Swami’s ‘Walking Monk Diaries’ along with some photographs of his journeys.
Wednesday, May 11th, 2016
Butler, Pennsylvania
As Mark rolled down his window in the passenger seat, Junior, the driver,
came to a full stop.
“Are you really a monk?”
“Yes.”
The two men hurriedly came out of their vehicle to see and talk with me on
this first day in reconvening my United States walk. The conversation went
slightly crazy as the two were arguing who the better ‘fix-it-man’ was
between them. Generally, they held their own courtesy and shook hands with
me at least eight times each. One of them even asked for pardon when he
almost breathed out a foul word.
I was rather astounded to see how these simple fellows had become a bit
tamed before a monk. After the multitude of hand shakes these two country
boys ended up doing pranams (folded palms), when in the beginning they had
expressed never having a God experience.
Thursday, May 12th, 2016
New Castle, Pennsylvania
The first-page article of the local paper covered the story with caption,
“Walking Monk Visits the Area”, by reporter, Nancy Loury. Motorists do
seem to read their paper. Among them, a very elderly man, drove down the
road ever so slow, and with his window rolled down. As he got close to me,
he slowed down considerably more. He turned his head much like an owl
would, and said, “Thank you.”
One of the few persons to not be up on the news was a police officer, “Are
you looking for something?” he asked.
“No, I’m just trekking on my way to San Francisco.” He shook his head in a
comedic disbelief manner. It was priceless.
Saturday, May 14th, 2016
Warren, Ohio
I had been giving some talks, ‘Tails from Trails’, during this journey. At
question time, I’m asked, “Why are you walking across the USA?” I would
answer by stealing a line from Donald Trump, “To Make America Great
Again”. That line usually brings down the house. At least it gives a good
laugh. In this area of Warren, I walked by the memorial of McKinley, one
of the US presidents who was assassinated way back when. On this walk, I
trekked through towns of other presidents like Ronald Regan, and the
hometowns of celebrities like Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne.
But to revert back to the question, “Why the walk?”, two answers. To
encourage a slower pace of life; as Gandhi once said, “Simple living and
high thinking.” Second reason is this walk is a celebration to honour 50
years of the Hare Krishna movement and its Founder Acharya, His Divine
Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
Toledo, Ohio
“Can you teach me how to *fat*?” The young African American meant,
‘fight’, assuming that all monks know martial arts. I told him I could
teach him how to avoid fighting, and how to lead the lifestyle of
gentleness.
“Whenever you need to defend,” I said, “use wisdom before you use the
weapon.”
I received an email from a senior monastic brother, Jayadwaita Swami. I
was elated to read this:
“Well, you’re doing the healthiest thing in the world – and making a
valuable spiritual contribution by your example. Happy walking and happy
chanting.”
Now how would anyone feel after such encouraging words?
Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
Bristol, Indiana
The theme of the day was like the lines from Simon and Garfunkle’s song
which goes, “Slow down, you move too fast, you’ve gotta make the mornin’
last… Hello lamp post, whatchya knowin’…”
One man with a corporate appearance pulled over in his vehicle and asked if
I could share some wisdom. Two things I offered to deliver. 1 – Human
beings are meant for walking. 2 – Humans are meant for spiritual life.
I met up with a middle aged woman when her trail and my trail converged. I
asked her if she walks every day and why.
“I walk every day because I want to be fit to serve the Lord and others.”
I believe she came up with a perfect answer.
Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
Gary, Indiana
This city has seen better days. It reflects elements of Kali Yuga.
However, it’s at such places that it’s easy to make friends.
I met Jim sitting in front of a barber shop. I introduced myself as a
pilgrim, a Hare Krishna monk. I told him I’m walking the US, and all the
way to San Francisco. I also mentioned that his hood (neighbourhood) has a
lot of people who walk.
“Hey man,” said Jim, “when you’re on an overdose, you won’t be drivin’ a
car, you know what I mean?”
The one food item that keeps me going for long hours is the juice of the
wild mulberry trees. You get tired at times, and thirsty as well, and your
support person isn’t always around with a van, and you sweat profusely with
the salt coming through your clothes ending up as swirls of white. It gets
hot, but this is an offer of love to our guru, Srila Prabhupada.
Thursday, June 23rd, 2016
Chicago, Illinois
I’m trekking at a distance of 20 miles (34 kilometres). I walked a stretch
of the trail along Lake Michigan, one of those Great Lakes, and I would go
for the occasional swim. I was not alone, a group of *brahmacharis* (monks)
from the Lunt Avenue Temple/Ashram joined me. The experience of good
company is always a boost for me. It is a type of *sangha*, spiritual
company, that makes the life that is Krishna Conscious.
My second installment of walkers for the day were from the Youth Bus Tour
originating from Florida under the able guidance of Manorama Das. My
message to them at the final step at a pier and a lighthouse was, “Try to
see everything as Krishna being present, such as we read about in the 10th
chapter of Bhagavad Gita. Try to absorb the power of the waves by the
lake, the smells in the air, the feel of the wind. This is the Krishna
factor.”
Sunday, July 3rd, 2016
Atkinson, Illinois
“The Trip Monk”
“He’s a Trip Monk”, read the caption of The News Tribune, for an article by
Ben Hohenstatt.
“If you saw a man with a shaved head in orange robes in Illinois Valley
Thursday, that wasn’t an oddly dressed flagger… ‘The walk is to
encourage people to have a workout and a work in,’ the 63-year-old monk
said.”
Introspection! Looking within! To make internal inventory! These are my
messages to the public and the media. And as I was nearing the end the
state of Illinois, I was relishing the charm that came at me as Krishna’s
mercy. My support guy, Gopal Keller, discovered a world heritage site,
‘The Illinois and Michigan State Trail’, a walkway along an ancient canal.
This location and then Hennepin Canal Trail, had practically covered the
whole state. I was in nature’s charm and relieved from fighting traffic.
Friday, July 8th, 2016
Hills, Iowa
Iowa is full of corn. I grew up amidst corn fields. “I feel at home,” I
told Emily of the Muscatine Journal. She later quoted me, “The swami said
cars have caused a disconnect among people, also saying that they had made
us cold, callous, and creating a loss in neighbourliness. He hopes that
the universal understanding about walking will help people’s spiritual
awareness.” She informed through her article that I was a Bhakti Yoga
instructor. Bhakti is the spirit of love for the Creator, and the practice
of it has roots in India. It is the spirit that like the Mississippi River
(which I just walked) flows. And it flows through all people, countries,
and races. Additionally, the article mentioned that I’m a member of the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Yes, I am, Emily,
proudly, and thank you.
Tuesday, July 12th, 2016
Williamsburg, Iowa
Rains came down for hours and I was holding up the umbrella while
trekking. After some time I found it cumbersome to hold onto it, so I just
let the rain and the wind do what they wanted to do. Instead of resisting
I chose to accept and free myself from those elements. You can get to a
point where you realize, “I am not this body, I’m actually a spirit – a
spirit in motion.”
Now, this was the one day I wore civilian clothes, shirt, and pants. When
raining profusely my traditional garb sometimes tears, so I decided to
forgo it until sunshine came in.
An officer pulls over. “He can’t get me for wearing orange,” I thought.
That’s what convicts wear in prison. He said he got a call from someone
said there’s a person walking.
“You’re walking near the mental institute,” said the officer. He was
apologetic.
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Cherry Hills, Nebraska
I’m nearing the end of the first half of the US walk, and I will finish at
a place called Seward, Nebraska. Part Two of the US walk in honour of
Iskcon 50 will commence in May of 2017. Most days I walked 20 miles. Many
evenings I would have speaking engagements, always meeting and elaborating
on the divine words of Srila Prabhupada from scripture, from the Bhagavad
Gita, or from the book, Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, to
communities all over America where there’s interest in devotion. The
Gurjurati community especially helped to give my team a place to stay where
there were no temples. We did not have to camp out one night, although I’d
enjoy the out of door sleeping. My support team of individuals, who came
mostly in shifts, were all second generation men – Gopal Keller, Abhimanyu
Arjuan, Uttamananda, and Mandala. Near the end of this summer trek,
Mandala and I had experimented on nighttime trekking, it was for one good
reason – the daytime was unbearable with heat. I would begin walking by 9
PM and finish by 3:30 AM on some days. We exercised some tapasya in this
regard. Yes, it has been a steamy summer.
A marvelous devotee from Cleveland, Renee, by name, lent us her vehicle for
this stretch through the US, the Midwest, where people have been good us. Thank you, Renee.
I hang up my shoes for some months and will revisit them when it is time
to hit the road to make our way to San Francisco to celebrate the first
Chariot Fest, Ratha Yatra for its golden jubilee. It will also coincide
with a half century of the summer of love.
Love? What kind of love? For the love of Krishna, of course.
May the Source be with you!
Bhaktimarga Swami
If you would like to follow the ‘Walking Monk Diaries’ click on the link below to Bhaktimarg Swami’s blog :
http://www.thewalkingmonk.blogspot.ca/
