When I first heard and saw what covid19 was doing to the world with the lockdown I thought that this is a war zone. And of course it is. We are fighting a battle with an invisible foe.

What we initially saw was fewer people moving about, roads less traveled, stores under lock and key. In one sense the world looked lifeless. It conjured up in me the stories my dad told of World War II in the Netherlands with all the curfews, people suspicious of each other, people in hiding, guns firing, Jewish folks treated like cattle shipped off to the dreaded Auswitz. The corona reality is something like that. Now if a loved one has the virus he/she is taken for examination and you may not see that person again. No good-byes. No last rites. It's hell.

There is a flip side to this all, which cannot be ignored. It's a bit like the 50's again when families had supper together. Everything is more peaceful. One highlight of the day for me (while being grounded in Toronto) is when the clock strikes 7:30PM and out comes all the neighbours on the street with their noise makers - pots, pans and spoons, whistles, and kids drum sets while us temple dwellers pull out shakers, digeridoo, djembe, cow bells, and conch; done all in support of the heroic health care workers. We are bonding with our neighbours like never before.

Additionally, our main cook is from Bangladesh and he is making tea for us. Comprised of tumeric, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper this is like a miracle tonic so why not build up your immunity? If it swung those Daka brahmacaris (all 36 of them) from covid19 positive to negative then it is behooves us to apply our smarts.

Now I am not a super intelligent type of person. Not a pundit for sure but I do believe I have one thing right - walking. I put in about 6 kilometers a day to build up resistance, to get some sun, air, wind, and vitamin D. I am also giving classes on-line domestically and over seas. It's fun.

Lastly I try to engage in some artistic outlet. Anyone should be able to access three short productions done recently, two audio and one dance.

On audio is: An Interview with Mr. H.Poo: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1119703238386519&id=174452304502 and

Hiranyakasipu Meets his Maker: https://www.facebook.com/torontokrishna/videos/170147090974734/ written by Krsna Ksetra Swami and a dance by one of our bhaktas - Corrado, paraphrased by Kalakantha (the Prabhupada disciple from Florida) which I narrated: https://www.facebook.com/174452304502/posts/10157361002944503/

During this pandemic time people in general may like to watch some of our plays through www.thewalkingmonk.net/theatre

By the way, people have been social distancing from God for a long time. It's now time to get close to our maker.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.