Nut Found. Bolt Missing.
Mar 3, 2005
Knock, knock. Who's there? Jayeshbhai, Anarben, and Gaurav.
At 8AM? Without a car? Their house is almost 2 hours away. We were all confused.
But they just came in with all kind of goodies and started making breakfast. Aftering fumbling around to become quickly presentable, we looked at them for the story. We figured it would a great story, but we didn't figure we'd be the subjects.
Last night, we held the Wednesday-style meditation at the Gandhi Ashram with about 30 folks. First-time ever at the ashram, but long-time overdue.
Most of the people hadn't meditated before; in fact, I was surprised that so many folks were willing to take on the challenge. Last week, I sat-out with fever, but this week I sat-in with an umph; after giving them a brief introduction, I told them straight: "If you still think this is going to be a waste of your time, please feel free to leave. But if you stay, to take on this experiment, do it with your whole heart."
After meditation, people shared a few powerful comments; then, we ate some hand-cooked 'dal-dhokli' in silence.
Now, some people were planning on leaving early but they didn't. Jayeshbhai and Anarben were two among them; their 8-year-old daughter, Sanskruti, was waiting at home.
Sure enough, right as they got home, Sanskruti was waiting to whip 'em into shape. :) Knowing her, I bet she demanded an answer in her cute voice: "Why are you so late again?"
They described the evening, and then got to talking about life in general. As Anarben was describing a few episodes, she started crying with a feeling of deep gratitude. True to his Goodfather philosophy of do-good-now, Jayeshbhai suggested that they should express their gratitude first thing in the morning.
So, they woke up at 6AM, walked in silence for 2 hours, picked up a few offerings of fruits and flavored Amul-milk, and knocked on our doors. These are important people; they don't just have time for things like this; they run 7 organizations, work with thousands of kids, have been visited by the likes to Clinton, Mandela, and the Dalai Lama. But still, they came. But still, they offered.
It was nothing fancy. We just saw them, like we do everyday. But if your heart is open, you truly feel blessed to be near such pure compassion.
Right before he leaves, Jayeshbhai pulls me to the corner and said, "I have something for you." As he put his hand in his pocket, he explained: "I prayed to God that I want to take something for Nipun and I prayed that I should find it on my walk. And this is what I found." He hands me a nut, as in a screw that takes a bolt on the other end to fasten in. Like a child, he cracks up and adds, "I'm sure that one day you will find the bolt that will fasten this nut. I don't know what it means, but I know it means something."
Nut found. Grooves understood. Now searching for the right bolt. Fasten your seatbelt.
At 8AM? Without a car? Their house is almost 2 hours away. We were all confused.
But they just came in with all kind of goodies and started making breakfast. Aftering fumbling around to become quickly presentable, we looked at them for the story. We figured it would a great story, but we didn't figure we'd be the subjects.
Last night, we held the Wednesday-style meditation at the Gandhi Ashram with about 30 folks. First-time ever at the ashram, but long-time overdue.
Most of the people hadn't meditated before; in fact, I was surprised that so many folks were willing to take on the challenge. Last week, I sat-out with fever, but this week I sat-in with an umph; after giving them a brief introduction, I told them straight: "If you still think this is going to be a waste of your time, please feel free to leave. But if you stay, to take on this experiment, do it with your whole heart."
After meditation, people shared a few powerful comments; then, we ate some hand-cooked 'dal-dhokli' in silence.
Sure enough, right as they got home, Sanskruti was waiting to whip 'em into shape. :) Knowing her, I bet she demanded an answer in her cute voice: "Why are you so late again?"
They described the evening, and then got to talking about life in general. As Anarben was describing a few episodes, she started crying with a feeling of deep gratitude. True to his Goodfather philosophy of do-good-now, Jayeshbhai suggested that they should express their gratitude first thing in the morning.
So, they woke up at 6AM, walked in silence for 2 hours, picked up a few offerings of fruits and flavored Amul-milk, and knocked on our doors. These are important people; they don't just have time for things like this; they run 7 organizations, work with thousands of kids, have been visited by the likes to Clinton, Mandela, and the Dalai Lama. But still, they came. But still, they offered.
It was nothing fancy. We just saw them, like we do everyday. But if your heart is open, you truly feel blessed to be near such pure compassion.
Right before he leaves, Jayeshbhai pulls me to the corner and said, "I have something for you." As he put his hand in his pocket, he explained: "I prayed to God that I want to take something for Nipun and I prayed that I should find it on my walk. And this is what I found." He hands me a nut, as in a screw that takes a bolt on the other end to fasten in. Like a child, he cracks up and adds, "I'm sure that one day you will find the bolt that will fasten this nut. I don't know what it means, but I know it means something."
Nut found. Grooves understood. Now searching for the right bolt. Fasten your seatbelt.
