A spiritual leader with sceintific outlook - Punctuality of programs

[Guest guest]

Tale of two functions

One is real, another charade! K. B. Ganapathy

Editor in Chief

Star of Mysore

Mysore. This morning I had to attend two functions, rather per force

More for the reason of politeness and courtesy to honour the invite than

to benefit from the participation. The first one was at Sri Ganapati

Sachchidananda Ashram on Ooty Road where the first All India Bonsai

convention and exhibition was being inaugurated. Swamiji seems to

have a mystical power to give a new experience, each time a function is

held in the Ashram, to the participants as well as the audience. No

wonder the programmes in the Ashram always attract a full house. At the

end of most of these functions and celebrations a very tasty prasadam is

given. No wonder once Swamiji jocularly said that he wondered whether

people came to listen to the Pravachan or taste the prasadam! Be that

as it may, like all the functions held in the Ashram this one too was

conducted not only with clock - work precision, importantly punctuality

where the function began at 9 am as given in the programme, but also the

proceedings were conducted in a way that reflected the tradition of the

Ashram and the culture of this ancient land. The Vedic chants and the

universal prayer charged the vast expanse of the Nada Mantapam with

spirituality, making even the haughty very humble. Maybe, that is the

power and glory of, not religion, but spirituality. Though Swamiji

inaugurated the convention by lighting the lamp, it was the pouring of

water to a Bonsai plant " Ficus Bodhi India " by Daizo Iwasaki,

probably the oldest Bonsai expert, which was very symbolic of the

meaning and significance of the function. The quality of the souvenir

and the calendar that were released on the occasion is undoubtedly world

class and something that will make any-body to love to possess and

preserve them in their library. Meera Dutta, Chief Post Master

General, Karnataka Postal Circle, who is the devotee of Swamiji for many

years, was probably responsible for bringing out the First Day postal

cover to commemorate this All India Bonsai convention and exhibition.

Therefore, it is quite understandable that she should release the First

Day Cover. As I left the Ashram in a hurry to catch up with another

function about which I shall presently write, I was quite inclined to

agree with the opinion of a speaker that the Swamiji " is a spiritual

leader with a scientific outlook " .