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Mrs. E. Daniel is a retired teacher of Trinity College, Kandy, Sri Lanka. She has known Swamiji since his childhood. She was so familiar with him that she still calls him Ravi, his pet name as a child. I was greatly moved by the love and affection she shows towards Swamiji when she speaks of her experiences with him. I have not used the word 'devotion' because she is a Christian and, religiously speaking, she does not mix up any other faith with her own conviction. In her I see an example of how her open-mindedness and the ability to accept Swamiji for what he is, increased her faith in Christianity. Swamiji once materialised a gold crucifix for her. It made me realise Swamiji's perfection. He gave her a wonderful symbol of her own faith so that she could grow spiritually. Her eldest daughter is called Indra. She married Ranjit Perera, an Assistant Superintendent of Police. This young couple and their daughter and two sons went through a disturbing time. The Police Department sent Ranjit to a terror-stricken area of Sri Lanka where violent ethnic disturbances had been going on for many years and a large number of policemen had been killed on duty. The family hardly saw Ranjit for months on end and had no communication from him. Mrs. Daniel felt that she could only help her daughter's family by praying with the gold cross, which she regarded as her most valuable possession. When I visited Indra and Ranjit some years ago, they told me the following story. 28th July 1987 was an unusual day for the City Police. Unruly mobs ran amok, burning public property. The Police opened fire on the crowds to try to bring law and order to the area. The violence affected Ranjit very much and he returned home not feeling his usual cheerful self. He would not eat or sleep. Yet, like all good policemen, Ranjit talks very little about his work when he comes home. After a short break he returned to work. His frightened wife, Indra, prayed fervently for him. She told me that, at that moment, a strong thought and image of Swami Premananda suddenly flashed through her mind like electricity. As she opened her eyes, she was astonished to see a packet of Swamiji's vibuthi marked with the mantra "Jai Prema Shanti" had appeared on Ranjit's bed… All was well. Ranjit served his best by doing his duty and returned home safely. He now works in the Police Department Head Office. When I visited this Christian home they related this to me with reverence. In my mind, I silently repeated the lines of Swamiji's Guru Ashtotram (prayer to Swamiji as the spiritual master)… "Om Sri Sarva Matha
Swaroopa Namaha" "Om Sri Sarva Marga
Sammathaya Namaha" |
