Chapter 24: Laos
1983
“How is he?”
“I’m sorry Nickolas. He’s barely able to speak.
Please, he wants to see you.”
Nick stood up from his small garden and looked with
great sorrow. “I’ll just wash my hands.” The two men
proceeded to walk toward the cave’s entrance, first
stopping near a bucket of water.
“Nickolas, is that you, my son.”
“Yes, but you mustn’t speak. Please try to rest.”
“Oh, I will be resting plenty as soon as I’m with
the Lord. Please, take me outside. Under the big
tree. Gather everyone around.”
Rama and Nick picked Surya up, bed and all, and
placed their beloved teacher in the shade. Everyone
was there. Nobody said a word. Then Suryavarman
began to speak. He spoke in English. By now Nick had
taught all the monks and there was not a man among
them that could not understand or speak it, well.
Most of them could even write in English.
Tears were in everyone’s eyes as Surya began to
slowly talk. “Today I am going to begin my new life
with our Lord. I have only a few moments left to be
with you.” He then motioned for each one to come to
his side—one by one. As they knelt down he whispered
a few words. The mood
was very somber. Finally it was Nick who knelt by
Surya’s bed, bending over to hear his last words.
“Nickolas, please be the brave young man that I know
you are. Life has dealt with you harshly and living
here has not been easy. But you have been very kind
to us. You have been an inspiration. Instead of
letting your harsh circumstances ruin your
spirit—instead of bitter you have become sweet.”
Surya reached up and placed his hand on Nick’s head.
“You have been a good son to me. You have stayed and
cared for me when you could have left. I want to
thank you before I go.
Gesturing with his hand as the men gathered closer,
Surya continued. “Nick, this is your family, now.
The family that God has chosen for you. You have one
another. Simply help each other. And above all—call upon on the Lord to protect you. Help
each other to pray. This is love.
“Ask the Lord to
watch over and maintain your soul—everyone’s soul.
This way you will all dive deeply into the lake of
blessings. Who can take your blessing from you?
No, not even death. Remember Nickolas, the Holy Name
is our lifeboat. Love is helping those who would
perish otherwise. My son, find shelter within the
Holy Name and remain safely there. His Name is our
greatest blessing. Are we not, in truth, our
blessings? We are our blessings.”
Looking directly into Nick’s eyes, again Surya
spoke. Nick bent over so he could hear. There
wasn’t much time. “Nicholas, thank you for calling
upon Lord Krishna’s Holy Name. It has given us great
pleasure hearing you call out to Him. But always
remember Christ, your savior. Now please bring me a
sip of water.”
Within seconds, Rama’s hand was under the back of
Surya’s shoulders, lifting him to drink. He then let
him back down.
“Please sing.”
At that request, Haridas began to chant a few
Vedic mantras followed by the singing of Lord
Krishna’ Holy Names—all the monks softly following. The men
sang for about a half hour. Nick sat by Surya’s
side, holding onto his hand. Suryavarman slowly
reached over to Rama with his other hand—and just
like that Surya became a child
of God holding onto his Father’s eternal hand as he fell
into a divine sleep. As they sang, one of the greatest saints to
have ever lived passed away, leaving behind his
message of love and prayer.
Surya’s pet monkey, Hanuman, sat watching nearby,
wanting with all his heart to be held again by his
master. Surya had many loving disciples. Even the
monkeys loved him. They visited him everyday knowing
that a warm hand and a little scrap of food was never
denied. Hanuman began to cry inside.
