Love in Action

India

The local trains of Mumbai carry six million passengers each day. On July 11, during the rush hour period when trains were filled to capacity, several bomb blasts took place, leaving 200 people reported dead and more than 800 injured.

When Master heard about this sad news, She compassionately asked if the victims needed any help. Our local initiates inquired in the various hospitals and asked permission to visit the victims and bring comfort to them. With the hospitals’ consent, we brought fresh fruit and also offered Master’s literature to all the surrounding patients in the same hospital wards. Their suffering touched us deeply, as many had serious injuries and some had even lost the function of part of their body.

One man, aged 28, had lost his leg, fractured his hand and had severe head injuries. He was worried about who would take care of his family since he could no longer work in his profession as a mechanic. We gave him gifts and contributed the funds to pay for an operation that he needed. Another patient was very seriously injured and was not expected to live. The woman standing by his bedside told us that they had been planning to marry soon, and she was still hoping that he would recover and could become her husband. She had been praying to God and was deeply grateful for our visit. We were touched by her deep love.

When we went to visit another hospital, we were only allowed to distribute spiritual literature, so when we visited the patients, at first we felt a little embarrassed that we didn’t have any material gifts for them. But with Master’s love and blessing in our hearts we offered the sample booklets, News magazines and Alternative Living flyers. We could see the faces of the patients and their relatives radiate wholeheartedly. It was amazing. Despite their sorrowful condition, many smiles appeared and brightness lit their eyes as God’s love reached them.

Besides any help we were able to offer, we were touched by the response of the public. For instance, immediately following the bomb blasts fellow passengers lifted the injured from the train and carried them out to safety, without waiting for rescue teams to arrive. Since then, assistance has continued to pour in from all sides. Both the Indian government and the railway company involved in the incident are providing financial compensation for the victims’ injuries. Some private companies have also offered to pay for things like education for children of families who have suffered loss.

As a city of nearly 18 million, where people of many religions live side-by-side, Mumbai has come to stand as a symbol of a united India. Witnessing the help being extended so readily and in so many ways after an incident such as this is a reminder that despite tragedy, God’s love can restore our hope and true unity.

<<	Contents	>>
Refer this page to friends