"Perform every action with your heart fixed on
the Supreme Lord. Renounce attachment to the fruits. Be even tempered in
success and failure; for it is this evenness of temper which is meant by yoga." Bhagavad Gita
They were
eager to live a simpler life, free of materialism, to become self-sufficient on
the land the way Indian farmers were and to give themselves over to a spiritual
life. Penny became accustomed to cooking
Indian food. Neil took up tending the
land. They grew banana, papaya and
guava trees, experimented with various
crops, kept goats and cows for milk.
Alam, a young boy from Bihar who had come to the ashram to help me out in
Swamiji’s time, stayed on as their trusted helper to do chores, care for the
plants and animals. He was young,
honest, and enthusiastic. Life seemed
idyllic. But Penny and Neil were to be
severely tested. Penny discovered a lump
in her breast and underwent a radical mastectomy. This saved her life but the surgery on the lymph nodes left her
arm impaired. Still, when asked whether
she wanted to return home, she said her life was in India and she would stay at
the ashram. She attributed her subsequent
survival of breast cancer to the simple ashram life, meditation and
prayer. Though she had to wrestle with
her faith, she came through the stronger for it.
She remained busy with the school, supporting
Shakuntala, organizing outings for the children. She named the literacy program Prodh Shiksha Kendra. She introduced a sewing program and donated sewing machines to girls graduating. Despite, or perhaps partly as a result of her personal challenges, she had a full heart to give to the girl children's welfare.
As a couple, they weathered the
storms of life, with their trusty dog
and Alam as helper, they ran the ashram for twelve years. In 1989, they decided to retire to an even simpler
life and give up the responsibilities for the ashram. No one could measure up
to their energy, hard work and fierce dedication. They were really irreplaceable. As much as we all know that none of us is ever
indispensable, we are each nevertheless unique.
Their time was over here and it was time to fill their shoes.
.
In 1976, Penny and Neil, Canadian
members of our society, arrived in India to stay at the ashram with their
beloved dog Dexter. They were to take
over from Swamiji, myself and Marg to administer the day-to-day running of the
ashram and literacy program.
They were
eager to live a simpler life, free of materialism, to become self-sufficient on
the land the way Indian farmers were and to give themselves over to a spiritual
life. Penny became accustomed to cooking
Indian food. Neil took up tending the
land. They grew banana, papaya and
guava trees, experimented with various
crops, kept goats and cows for milk.
Alam, a young boy from Bihar who had come to the ashram to help me out in
Swamiji’s time, stayed on as their trusted helper to do chores, care for the
plants and animals. He was young,
honest, and enthusiastic. Life seemed
idyllic. But Penny and Neil were to be
severely tested. Penny discovered a lump
in her breast and underwent a radical mastectomy. This saved her life but the surgery on the lymph nodes left her
arm impaired. Still, when asked whether
she wanted to return home, she said her life was in India and she would stay at
the ashram. She attributed her subsequent
survival of breast cancer to the simple ashram life, meditation and
prayer. Though she had to wrestle with
her faith, she came through the stronger for it. She remained busy with the school, supporting
Shakuntala, organizing outings for the children. She named the literacy program Prodh Shiksha Kendra. She introduced a sewing program and donated sewing machines to girls graduating. Despite, or perhaps partly as a result of her personal challenges, she had a full heart to give to the girl children's welfare.As a couple, they weathered the
storms of life, with their trusty dog
and Alam as helper, they ran the ashram for twelve years. In 1989, they decided to retire to an even simpler
life and give up the responsibilities for the ashram. No one could measure up
to their energy, hard work and fierce dedication. They were really irreplaceable. As much as we all know that none of us is ever
indispensable, we are each nevertheless unique.
Their time was over here and it was time to fill their shoes. 
