03.02.2012 ►Amet ►Saints, Sightseeing, And Friends

2012 Karuna's Mewar Tour

Departure from Amet was scheduled on 5th February, so there were only one and a half day left. I felt I should be near the saints the most often possible. According to the day’s structuring hitherto, I decided to go for Guru Darshan and then meet those monks I had not met until then. When I arrived, Acharyashree was busy in an important meeting. So I went to that part of the building where the monks were accommodated. I met some of them, witnessed their encounters with in worldly terms close relatives, had inspiring meetings with the monks and their visitors, and simply enjoyed to be in their presence.

It is difficult to explain the impact of meeting the saints, as they are called rightfully. Whenever one meets them, they are smiling, spreading happy vibrations, and one feels definitely better than before meeting them. Being in their presence remembers the things in life that really matter. All small-minded thoughts or actions sink to where they belong - into the waters of forgetfulness or into the category “to be handled more optimal and with more awareness in future”.

Acharyashree still was busy, and I saw no chance for his attention this day. When I left Terapanth Bhavan I watched encounters between monks and lay followers, and even met again with Muni Anushasan Kumar and Muni Jayant Kumar before going home.

Yes, I really regarded the Dak family’s house as home and the Dak family as my family for the time of my stay in Amet, and I still do. It was wonderful to have a home far away from Berlin. I hope to be able to give this feeling to somebody someday. Anyway, I will never forget the hospitality and friendliness I have experienced in Amet. When I brought the subject up, Ashok Dak put it this way, “I think this (hospitality) is in our blood.”

The young woman who gave a helping hand to Shamtu Dak was about to go out on her free afternoon. She was beautifully dressed and looked like people are looking all over the world when a free afternoon lies ahead of them. At the corner, a car had parked, and I found the way the two passengers were looking at me very typical. In Europe certainly they would have looked aside.

Akruti took me to Terapanth Bhavan again, as there were some ladies of her acquaintance whom she wanted to meet. Thereafter we went to Terapanth office. Akruti met her former teacher who now is retired, but still very active. After this encounter I met some very nice people who were eager to look inside HereNow4U. I was happy to show them some of the new features. Mr. Arjun Choudhari asked us to come to the house of his relatives for tea.

Then we visited one of Akruti’s friends who lives in the same street where the Amet Jain Temple is situated. It was very nice to be in such a numerous family, where everybody wanted to be in the photo. Finally we managed that all stood rather still for the picture.

After this turbulent visit, the Amet Jain Temple was like an oasis of peace. The more stages we climbed, the more the noise lessened. Inside the temple was a small room for Puja. A young woman performed some fire rite. She elegantly rotated a tablet with candles. She was deeply concentrated on what she was doing, but agreed with a wink of her eyes to be photographed. I admired the art of being engrossed in an action and simultaneously taking notice of another person’s presence. This gives a feeling of acceptance. I hope to remember this well. Even in Europe.

Meanwhile it was time for dinner, and we went home. By the way, when Akruti and I went somewhere, I was sitting on her scooter behind her. This made me feel a part of the local situation, as the majority in Indian towns seems to move from A to B on scooters. Wonderful, this feeling! Unfortunately there was nobody to take a photo.