Ravi gratefully settled down on the cottage bed. It seemed like centuries since he had slept in an actual bed. Up to now heβd slept outside and on the thinly carpeted floor of a Buddhist temple.
In fact, Ravi was very thankful to be alive after suffering a serious stroke and subsequent amnesia for almost 3 years. He was discovered sleeping on the steps of a Hindu temple by a kind priest, named Swami Krishna. After several inquiries, Ravi was finally given refuge by a compassionate monk at a local Buddhist temple in Melbourne.
When my hubby David and I first met Ravi there was an instant connection. His humble, soft spoken nature touched our souls as he shared his heart wrenching story. During the period of his stroke, he lost almost everything, most of his possessions, his wife and his memory. Wandering the streets of Melbourne desolate and forsaken by man, he was never forsaken by God.
It was a beautiful night, stars shimmered above the colossal golden Buddha statue. As Ravi related his story, David offered to help him recover his life. We all prayed fervently to Lord Ganesh to remove all obstacles on his path. In the coming months, Ravi and David were able to piece together the fragments of his shattered life.
Marvelously, Ravi was also able to connect with his parents in India who had not heard from their only son in three years! Imagine the relief, joy and ecstasy when they heard his familiar voice.
The other day we invited Ravi to our house for lunch. Entering the puja room, we made sure to offer thankful prayers to Lord Ganesh. The huge photograph of Sai Avatar illumining the puja room smiled benevolently at our precious guest.
Ravi chuckled almost tearfully when he told me he had finally gotten his own bed. He recalled in the past how he had purchased a $4000 bed for his ex-wife and now he was so blissfully grateful for this simple cot.
As I reflected on Raviβs story I thought to myself how unpredictable life is. Wealth, property, spouses, everything in this world is subject to change and loss. It is so important to wake up from this long, arduous dream and embrace the beautiful, golden, eternal kiss of God and realize who we are now.