Synchronicity

The last evening of our stay in India (not counting the 8 hours spent in the airport the following night) we were invited to the home of Jayant's uncle, Dr. Lokesh Chandra , a renowned scholar of classical Indian culture whose interest lies in its expression in other cultures and particularly in Buddhism.



A dignified and gracious man, Mamaji ("dear uncle") took us into his huge collection of art and texts, the International Institute of Indian Culture, and showed us a few the treasures stored there.



The collection, which was mostly acquired by his father, is housed in a complex a large rooms containing a labyrinth of gray metal chests of drawers which face each other around high tables. Mamaji picked up a wooden box of keys on heavy rings and walked briskly to a particular drawer. After unlocking it, he drew out a scroll wrapped in fabric and unrolled it on the table.

The scroll and Mamaji's explanation of its meaning astounded me thoroughly. It was a Japanese piece, the name and simultaneosly the image of Shiva in calligraphy.



The image on the scroll brought back the dream I had on our last day in Benares with exceptional clarity. "Here is the river," pointed out Mamaji, "and this is Shiva's hair." The stroke of the brush created a form so identical to my dream image that tears ran down my face as I looked at it.


I relate this incident because it shimmers with the magic that characterized so much of my experience in India. Where do such extraordinary experiences come from? Why was my whole month filled with examples of synchronicity ?

I have some thoughts on that to share but it's late, so they'll have to wait until tomorrow.