Champaklal Speaks

Enquiry about the Envelope

Once the Mother was offered some lined envelopes. She was very particular about using those envelopes. It so happened that a Ashramite offered some money or a letter in one such envelop After he left the Mother showed it to me. I had also noticed it and was wondering from where he had got it, when Mother asked “Champaklal, how did he get this envelope?” I could not give a answer but it set me thinking.

Here something interesting comes to mind. When Mother's second-floor room was being constructed, I once went to the landing between the two flights of stairs that take us from the Salon to that room; I felt how wonderful it would be if I could live on that landing. It was just a thought—there was no such possibility in sight then. But here too it happened as has often in other case Gradually when I was not upstairs, attending to the Mother. I began to spend my time there—preparing folders and doing other little jobs given by the Mother. This is why Mother named it Champaklal's studio.

To resume the story. I had kept a pile of those lined envelop in my studio and that Ashramite had probably picked one up from there. But how could he do that? Surely no one would take anything from Mother's things without permission. So when Mother asked me how he got it, I could not answer, but when she asked me the second question, “Did you give it to him?” I denied it and Mother was surprised. Later, I told him that Mother was asking from where he had procured that cover. He became very serious and confessed hesitantly that he had picked it up from my studio, adding,”It was a great blunder on my part; I am ashamed and sorry that I took it without your permission. It is very painful that I have lost your trust. The next time if something is missing you will suspect me. I know quite well that it is not a question of taking that envelope but of losing your trust,”

At first I was shocked—how could this sadhak do it without permission! But when he showed his heart-felt repentance, realised that there are people who can learn from mistakes, perceived that he was not pretending. Of course there are people who may think, what a big fuss just for one envelope!