Editor Aparigraha Jain
Editor Carla Geerdes
18th November 2006
We now had to prepare the luggage for the trip. Our suitcase was too small to carry the gifts that had been cheerfully handed over, reminders to all the outstanding personalities we had met.
They are outstanding personalities, because according to their capacities, they try to realize Lord Mahavira’s strategy for a happy life, which is conquering the inner enemies.
We looked at each other and had the same thought in mind: the companion of cheerfulness is somberness. After enjoying the first, we had to accept its companion as well.
Time had come to say good-bye to our hosts and eventually the car headed to Howrah station. When Karuna looked at Supyar’s face at her side, tears were rolling down from Supyar’s eyes; Karuna was hardly able to control her own. Their hearts felt the same. No matter how long a friend is near, when someone dear to us departs, we feel sad. Even when we know that the companion of cheerfulness is about to come, it is still hard to receive him.
We planned to meet again in Surat, the next to last destination of our trip. Supyar and Karuna tried to calm down by concentrating on the next possible meeting.
Thanks a lot to all!
At the station, Sushil met two gentlemen, Shri Ranjeet Singhji Baid and Shri Jesrajji Sekhani who immediately offered their support. The then train left Howrah station, and Supyar and Sushil went to the car.
Some time after departure, Shri Ranjeet Singhji Baid came to our compartment with water and snacks. This was yet another token of all the love and amity showered on us in Kolkata! We only knew Sushil Bafana through mails and from his reports, so we met for the first time in person, but we became closer and closer with every hour we spent together.
The wonderful hospitality and kindness we had experienced in Kolkata had a deep impact on us in both senses, immaterial and material. The presence of Sadhvishrees had showered spiritual blessings upon us and opened new horizons to our thinking. Their kind nature and the relaxed atmosphere they continuously created around them was balm to our and all other visitors’ hearts and souls. They are always in high spirits and remind all of us through their sheer and uninterrupted presence to stay connected with the Self.
Everywhere we went, people wanted to be remembered by the gifts they had presented to us: two flower garlands, a handbag, a watch, six books, green Assam tea, two large self-made cushions, two necklaces, one pair of earrings, a shawl, material for female garment (they wanted to take Karuna to a tailor for fitting it to her, but we left next day), and tons of love and affection.
19th November 2006
Before the train reached New Delhi station, Shri Jesrajji Sekhani brought some delicious breakfast snacks. When we arrived and looked out for the meeting point with the driver Swami Dharmanandji had sent to receive us, both gentlemen again inquired if their help was needed. Soon the driver arrived and we said good-bye for this time. Both gentlemen planned to go for Guru Darshan, and so we were to meet again.
We felt lively and happy when our thoughts wandered back to the wonderful stay in Kolkata; at present in Delhi, we were full of pleasant anticipation to meet Swami Dharmanandji and Nirmalaji again.