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the open space close to the site of the fire ceremony. She has been close to Guruji, and respects him a great deal.
Vera, wife of the owner of the Ranch bore a very graceful personality full of simplicity and unostentatious behavior. In her huge estate, she has in the wooded corners carved out some caves for meditation and yoga practice. She took Guruji there to do meditation in those beautiful, peaceful and inspiring surroundings. She is greatly inclined towards Indian philosophy of nonattachment and non-possessiveness. She appeared as much unattached to the worldly things surrounding her, as her husband looked deeply attached to them! She had made excellent arrangements for our vegetarian diet and paid very careful attention to them. Her association with us gave in her words “an unforgettable golden opportunity” to learn about the essence of Jainism. She has visited India several times and is deeply influenced by the Indian philosophical traditions and life culture.
We came in contact with a unique Brazilian couple in Rio. Wife 'Sheiva' is a well-known psychoanalyst and consulting doctor and the husband a leading lawyer. Their two-storey huge apartment has been beautifully and tastefully decorated with "object de art' from all over the world including particularly India and China. Both of them are devout followers of Satya Shri Sai Baba and have visited India several times. Sheiva felt a lot of peace and tranquility and felt released from tensions when she came in touch with Guruji. The couple seemed to be opening the portals of their minds and hearts to the virtues of vegetarianism, non-violence and tolerance.
They celebrated Guruji's birthday at their gorgeous residence and invited a select group of friends to it. The long and big dining table was lined with a variety of vegetarian dishes. On the birthday cake were the traditional candles glowing in their light. When Gujarati was requested to blow out the candles, he said, “As a servant of God- I only light the light and never blow it out”. Instead, he gave a fullthroated recitation of ‘Namokar Mantra' and 'Om Shanti Om'. All
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner * (163)
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