At the building which was used as a place where tourists were served some kind of Prasadam (offering), I waited outside on a wooden bench wondering in what shape and style my brother would emerge.
According to his training mates, he was there to serve what the Math was distributing to visitors. Each one has a job to do in the Math, I later learned apart from learning spirituality through their classes and books. My brother was assigned a main duty along with routines such as distributing eatables to guests. However his main job seemed to be to learn spirituality and be immersed in prayers.
Around five minutes might have passed and there comes the one who obediently and diligently lived his material life as my younger brother, as an Indian express reporter, as my mothers beloved son, and for many others a friend, relative etc. Though, in a sudden twist of things in his life, he now thought differently, lived differently, attached values to things we assumed not primary, in material life. While everyone is busy living the abundantly complicated material life, where is the hope for allotting all their time to God?
He appeared calm and greeted me. I do not remember whether he addressed me as brother. In any case, what is brother to someone who has taken a vow to hive off the links and detach from relations? Attired in white clothing’s and his hair cut in the front and tied behind, he had a different look altogether but his face radiated a new sort of energy. I was expecting changes and to me they did not matter he was still my brother and I can never see him as a Sannyasi and I would never appreciate him as a Sannyasi.
We sat in the same bench outside for sometime and exchanged few questions. He asked about very few people. He said he has the prefix ‘brahamchari’ added to his name and that all his colleagues in PPTC are known as Brahmacharis.
Towards the evening, he showed me around the place, took me to Vivekananda Museum in the premise. Accompanied me to his supervisor Swamiji with whom I briefly debated his leaving further but to no avail.
I also met one mother who had been pleading with his son, an engineering student who left his studies to join the Math. Her only other son had disabilities. Swamiji as well as those we both were seeking, expressed their inability to agree with us and return home with us.
I also had visited the then chief of the Math who passed away recently. Brother showed me around the place in great detail and made me pray in various small buildings in the complex where people whom he offered prays everyday were housed. I did it with half my mind asking why I was doing it. He radiated much excitement and talked deeply about Swamijis, Math, spirituality, and the missions founders. I listened to him numb and surprised by his enthusiasm and exchanged my doubts.
