During his post bypass surgery rest period, Swamishri often went for a walk at the nearby Pepsico Park. It's a beautiful scenic park, with towering evergreen trees, a large lake, and luscious green lawns.
Today was Sunday, so after Swamishri's walk and singing of the evening arti, the sadhus and devotees sat around Swamishri's wheelchair for the Sunday sabha.
After the reading of a Vachanamrut, Swamishri suddenly digressed onto a totally unrelated topic of conversation. It stemmed from a discussion of how well Ishwarcharan Swami had written the 6 parts of Yogiji Maharaj's biography. And then Swamishri started... one by one he recalled the name of any sadhu he could remember and praised him. First the sadguru sadhus, then with no apparent order he remembered sadhus from Delhi; Kolkata, Surendranagar, Sankari, Bharuch, London - in fact he recalled names from virtually every mandir. For 40 minutes he continued without pause in this remarkable episode of recalling others' virtues. By now it was getting dark. And so, interrupting Swamishri in full flow, the attendant sadhus lifted him off his seat and slowly everyone began to make their way to the car park. But even this did not stop Swamishri. He continued even during the 5-minute walk to the car. He was unstoppable.
He continued even in the car. He praised on, and on, and on... right up until he reached his bed for his asans!
It was a lesson in appreciating and looking at the virtues of others. |