A Good Bye

It was all in joy and laughter.

It was 8 at night. The face of the 94 year old monk was lit with joy. He called loudly his long time companion, a younger monk, some 80 plus years of age. He came instantly and sat by his senior’s bedside. The Older one just started clapping his hands and laughed happily and loudly. He was hard of hearing for the last many years which had contributed more volume to his natural cheerful chattiness and laughing habits. The younger monk caught the vibration, and started laughing lightly and clapped in unison. They had been together very many years. So he understood what the older one was up to. As he clapped his hands, he said, 'Jai Sri Guru Maharaj-ji ki Jai, Jai Maha Mayi ki Jai, Jai Swamiji Maharaj-ji ki Jai, Jai Durga Mayi ki Jai'. The 94 year old continued to laugh and beam joyously. Then he looked somewhere and started calling 'Maharaj, Maharaj' loudly. The younger one left the room for a while.

He was soon called back by the attendants of the old man whose face was beaming though his breathing was getting heavier. When it finally ceased the face was still joyful.

This was how Swami Agehananda of Ramakrishna Order took his leave in Ramakrishna Math in Tiruvalla. Swami Samagrananda his friend and junior companion gave him this understanding farewell. The joy was palpable and lingered for the next few days.

It lights the joy inherent in all of us. We get a joyful wake-up call when we hear such inspiring instances happening right in our midst.

Hari Om Ramakrishna

Om