What would love do in this situation?

I have just returned from Puttaparthi, after having participated in the first international event in Parthi after the Mahasamadhi. This was the Youth World Conference 2011, unique in many ways, and the most compelling reason for my first blog in more than a month.

The agenda of the conference itself was a forced departure from the past. We discussed, of all things, politics, flat organizations, communication, miscommunication, lack of communication, democracy, dictatorship, mentoring for youth, mentoring for elders, Samastha Loka, Loka Samastha, and facebook, while none so conscious of the irony of delving on the mundane to expedite the movement to the metaphysical and ultimately to the transcendental.

Every pilgrimage is undertaken with baggage to be dropped off and fresh implements to be brought back. And my biggest takeaway from this trip to Parthi was this question: What would love do in this situation?

One of the speakers spoke from the heart, and, to the heart, and touched everyone present. For the purpose of a reference, I am reminded of our EHV Coordinator Sis. Meena Kumari and the way I have heard her speak. During his talk, he mentioned this statement as a stethoscope for one’s own diagnosis of the mind. This Zonal coordinator, who oversees the operations of the Youth Wing in 16 countries of Southern Europe suggested, in effect, that, the best way to connect with others is to disconnect the mind. And for every situation that is confrontational in appearance, we would need to pose this question to ourselves: What would love do in this situation?

I have known few other questions to be answers in themselves.