|
|
|
|
|
|
By the end of our second cup of tea, forty-five-year-old Sudesh had rattled off some of the important facts of his life. How he was passionate about all schools of architecture. How he had lived as a youngster in England and had traveled widely. Just his mention of visits to Venice, Paris, and London changed the expression on his face and conveyed his thoughts. I could see him soaking in the architectural magnificence that added character to these cities. Sudesh was even more enamored by Indian architecture, and by the Vedas, in particular the Upanisads, the concluding wisdom and philosophy that ended each of these sacred Hindu books. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indeed, it was Sudesh's spiritualism, which included nearly twenty years of practicing yoga and meditation, that brought him to vastu about fifteen years ago. Once he started reading the ancient texts on vastu, he came to appreciate the spiritual aspects of great Indian architecture. Through his own spiritual growth, Sudesh came in touch with his own personal philosophy. "If you don't see the beauty of the universe, you can never love it," he said, with iron conviction. And Sudesh, who insisted that he was an architect who wants to bring a spiritual aspect into architecture, was a man inspired by his love of the universe and all that it contained. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I had such a focused objectivegetting Sudesh to help me on my quest to discover vastuthat during my first two meetings with him I never noticed the effect that his office had on me. I only noticed the activities that would interrupt our conversation. A phone rang and Sudesh answered it. Faxes would require his immediate attention. He proofread letters and sent them back for a final draft, examined and modified architectural drawingsnormal procedures for any busy architect and his staff. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At our third meeting, Sudesh decided that he would help me learn about vastu. The tension that vibrated inside me vanished, and finally I noticed what I had failed to see earlier. Sudesh's employees, mainly architectural assistants and a young man who served as receptionist, overlord of the kitchen, and locator of lost files, were always in a good mood. The office revolved around a healthy interaction that included mutual respect, and everyone, including Sudesh, seemed consistently focused on work. |
|
|
|
|
|