A Canadian born monk has walked his way through the Uintah Basin the last few days while on a mission to promote a healthier global lifestyle that includes meditation for all Americans and Canadians. 64-year-old Bhaktimarga Swami, formerly John Peter Vis, is a Hare Krishna monk who adopted the monastic lifestyle in 1973. Walking marathons for a cause are not new to him as he is globally known for his walk across the length of Canada from the west to east coast in 1996, a feat which was detailed in the documentary The Longest Road. Swami has trekked across many countries including Trinidad, Israel, the Fiji Islands, and Ireland among others. He can now add the Uintah Basin to his long list of stops in the world as he strives to make a difference. Swami says that when you walk, “You learn to take it all in; the heat, the wind, the rain, the traffic, the cold, the black flies, the mosquitoes, the public attention or none. With all of that you learn detachment from externals and how to go within to be happy.” Visit Swami’s daily blog at http://thewalkingmonk.blogspot.com.
