Other Futures — Otros futuros

Other Futures

On a trip to India, specifically to the Gujarat region where I sponsor a child, I was invited to his initiation ceremony into adulthood. I was traveling alone. Although my wife offered to accompany me, I discouraged her because I thought it could be a tiring and uncomfortable trip for her. After a while, I would regret that decision. When I arrived at the Indira Gandhi airport, someone was waiting for me carrying a sign with my name. The taxi driver drove through the streets of New Delhi until he reached a dimly lit suburb. It surprised me that someone would hire a taxi to take me to my sponsored child’s home, especially because of the precarious situation in which his family lived.

Everything around me made me feel a strange sensation. His father came out to meet me and we greeted each other. He invited me into his house where there was hardly any furniture or where to sit. But there, a Sikh attired in his finery awaited. He got up and bowed to me. That attitude put me on guard. I greeted him and he welcomed me on behalf of the Congregation of the Illuminated.

The next day, I accompanied the family to the ceremony site. During the celebration I had the feeling that I was being watched by someone. There I was introduced to a guru as one of the twelve enlightened ones on Earth. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Apparently, and according to the Sikh who received me at my sponsored’s home, I had special powers that the guru would take care of bringing to light.