How life has changed in minutes, it's unimaginable.

When the earthquake hit, I was working at The Lotus-Heart in Cathedral Square, we were having a very busy lunch rush and had a full house. Fortunately nobody on-site was hurt. The experience of the earthquake, my own story is written below, really showed me how fleeting and fragile life is, and how impermanent and transitory our outer possessions are. I personally feel resolved to discover life's true purpose and the secrets of everlasting happiness - which cannot be turned into the rubble as my home has! I truly belive that the ancient, yet timeless practise of meditation is the most powerful way to do that and also to help with worries and anxieties at this difficult time.

My earth-bound life Is fleeting.
But inside me is another life - My Heaven-free life -
And that Heaven-free life Is immortal.
~Sri Chinmoy

My Story

I was working at The Lotus-Heart when the shaking began. It initially felt like about a 5 (on the richter scale) so I spun around to save my two darlings; a fresh vat of chai and a delicious vegan chocolate cake. However it didn't take long for the force to escalate. I was in a pickle, but realised I had to make the sacrifice to avoid injury. So hurled the darlings onto the floor (which still remain there today - as it is still too unsafe to enter Cathedral Square!) and tried to head for a doorway. I narrowly missed the majority of a hot pizza oven which crashed to the ground, miraculously escaping with a bruise. I was still behind the counter, when glass bottles were exploding around my feet. At this point, can you imagine, my shoe came off! Again miraculously I got only a nick on my ankle. I spun around to get under a table when our glass display cabinet blew, raining down fragments of glass. Finally I was out from behind the counter and went for the refuge of a table. As we'd been having a busy lunch all the tables were occupied and I couldn't but notice the swinging chandelier above the table closest to me - it was swinging so much it was practically hitting the ceiling. I finally made it to the congested doorway just as the shaking ceased.

Everyone evacuated safely. When we got outside the air was thick with smoke and rubble. The Lotus-Heart remained the only standing heritage building in the whole of Cathedral Square. The devastation surrounding us was immense. 

Words cannot express my gratitude for those who were ok, as words cannot convey my sympathy and concern for those who departed and their loved ones who remained. And to our Japanese sisters and brothers too at this time.