What a bunch of naughty people I’m surrounded by.  They want to have some fun and they cook up a birthday for me. Well, they also cooked up some sweets. 

I came, in all innocence, to give my evening lecture at 8:30 PM.  They told me I’m temporarily barred.  They must be hanging up a noose for me!  Who knows with this bunch?  Then the summons came.  I wasn’t allowed to enter through my usual private entrance; I had to come right in the open through the front of the hall.

Then guess what…..all heaven broke loose.  And grins.  Seventy people lined up in two rows forming a pathway all the way to Swami Rama’s altar. The entire path strewn with rose petals.  Oil lamps in one hand and rose petals in the other.  The poor Heads of States have to walk through two rows of soldiers bearing rifles; could be shot any moment!  In the old days, it used to be swords.  Imagine having to walk under seventy swords and keeping your dignity.  Poor Heads of States!

As your SVB walked between the rows the conspiracy to turn him into a red rose bush nearly succeeded as each hand sprinkled rose petals all over him

What does one do with all that much love?  Save it for lonely days, of which there is no possibility?  Let the memories linger.  Let them confirm what SVB always says:

            “What a beautiful world this is!”

There was never a birthday party so sweet, so loving so lovely.

 SVB bowed to the Guru and sat down on his seat and so many read their poems Vishnu and Sudhir and Harischandra who could not speak English 2 years back recited their English compositions. Vishnu’s impromptu and long poetic inspiration was presented with a moving emotion and here is what Sudhir Agasti recited, rather he sang this English composition with a Hindi melody.

                        “If you want to join us in this tradition

                        Then first you’ll have to learn basic meditation

                        makarasan, shavasan, whole body relaxation.

                        You will have to practice 3 times daily

                        Intensive channel purification”

Emcee of the ceremony was who else, someone in a flowing sari, whose name means All Smiles, Smita.  She denies it and says everybody was part of it.