Gandhiversary

On Tuesday I attended a very rewarding event on charitable Project Planning at the incomparable Bhavan Centre . Thanks to Wirya and all at CaVSA for an enjoyable day made all that much better for being sat next to Raj Jogia from the Pepperpot Day Centre in Ladbroke Grove.

Before setting off for lunch Raj observed my copy of Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra Volume IV sticking from under my bag. I always find members in seemingly unlikely situations to be one of the great joys of the practice With Raj as my mentor I helped myself to delicious seconds from the canteen. By the time we exchanged details the penny finally dropped that this must be the father of Hiren with whom I enjoyed two years in Dedicated Soka.

This coming hot on the heels of of a fantastic chance meeting Andy Mitchell also from the old West London Team F. I was homeward bound from Olympia' district's Sunday afternoon discussion meeting.

Andy was on his way down the Hammersmith Road to play a set at The Albion . It was fantastic to hear of his actual proof and learn he's now frontman for the legendary Yardbirds - very inspirational and I'll take courage from this - and we must meet up for a pint before too long!

Anyway, back to the plot - on firing up t'Internet this morning Google had marked the 140th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth.

And it was 50 yards further down the road from the Bhavan at 20 Barons Court Road that he had his first (and slightly too expensive) London lodgings when training for the Bar. Ouch that was a long painful way to get somewhere.

So I draw your attention on this propitious day for World Peace, Kosen Rufu and non-violence to the Gandhi, King Ikeda website

President Obama will talk of it as a moment to reflect on non-violence

"Americans owe an enormous measure of gratitude to the Mahatma. His teachings
and ideals, shared with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to
India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement. The
America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the nonviolent
social action movement for Indian independence which he led.""Tomorrow, as we
remember the Mahatma on his birthday, we must renew our commitment to live his
ideals and to celebrate the dignity of all human beings,".

And to think that had he been an SGI Member he'd have been a in the Young Men's Division for West Kensington!