MY MENTOR, DADI JANKI LEFT THE BODY AT 104

As I say in my dedication in my book.. In Search of Spiritual Intelligence….

“TO DADI JANKI, head of the Brahma Kumaris, the very moment I first met you thirty years ago. 

I felt that something had changed in my life for the better. I look upon you as my mentor.

Thank you for teaching me the meaning of strength, toughness, compassion, honesty, bravery. Thank you for showing me how to age. You will be 104 by the time this is published, a razor sharp mind in a very fragile body.”

My Memories of Dadi

When we first met in 1990 you took my hand and my whole body shook, 4 months later I was on a plane to India, having no idea what I was getting myself into or where I was going. 

In Toronto, a few months later, you were sitting cross legged on top of a coffee table, at the tender age of about 75.

In Toronto again at the airport, you were in a wheelchair, looking very small and weak, I was in a relationship at the time so I took Allan to meet you, now I should explain Dadi didn’t speak English, just Hindi (or so you said).

So, over we go, Dadi in a very brooming voice stuck out her hand and said “Toli Allan” in English (toli is candy).

My first time in India, was very rough and I had a whole journal of questions, you invited me to London to spend a week and spend one hour with you a day. At the end of the week I was exhausted, with just more questions.

When my first book was written, MY WAY, I had given a copy to Dadi and asked someone to just read the page where Dadi was mentioned,  well I was very surprised, apparently Dadi read English, I was told she thought it was very brave book, boy did I ever feel proud.

When I spent a number of months volunteering at the Global Hospital, Dadi gave me a beautiful gold ring, which I wear on a bracelet and it will be with me forever.

The Toronto BK centre didn’t know what to make of me, wearing  lipstick, rings and bracelets, also dark colours. The next time Dadi was in Toronto she spoke about me from the stage, and in her own way gave me her stamp of approval, she really helped me being accepted.

The first time she saw me in white clothes, she hit me on the side of my head, and just laughed!

When I started my Nomadic journey, I went to Dadi and asked her if I could visit the many centres around the world on my travels,  she looked at me and said I was 70, too old maybe, I laughed and said “Dadi, you are on a plane all the time!”

She just looked at me, waved and said go!! I took that as a yes.   

A few years ago. I had a very difficult time with a BK centre in the UK, I was hurt and very disappointed. I was in India, went to see Dadi, I was waiting for people to leave and was sitting very quietly at the back of her reception room. She kept glancing at me, when it was my time, I never said a word about any trouble, we had what I thought was a normal visit, at the end she took me into her bedroom and gave me a very special present, a beautiful Pashmina scarf, which wasn’t perfect and had been mended. That scarf travels with me and is worn around the world. Somehow, Dadi knew without being told a thing, she gave me many other presents, I needed to get a bag to put everything in on that visit. 

The last time I saw Dadi, a few months ago, I had called to see if she was up for visit, she had just gotten up and said yes. I had one question for the book, what was her definition of Spiritual Intelligence? she sat and she sat, her wonderful helper Hansa just said wait, she is thinking! After what I felt was a very long time she took my hand and said…INNER LIGHT

Short, sweet and very deep. 

I have no idea on how to end this blog, so I will say it is my fondest wish for everyone that they have a Dadi or someone who represents that special person in their life to respect and learn from.