Tribute to Sister Chandru by Michael Pappas, M. Div, Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council

TRIBUTE TO SISTER CHANDRU

Eulogy presented by Michael Pappas, M. Div

Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

Om Shanti, sisters, and brothers. I bring to you today, on behalf of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, the love, the blessings and the prayers of the 800 communities of faith and religious institutions in our City. When I arrived today, I watched with great attention the beautiful slideshow that was presented. If a picture says a thousand words, that slideshow not only showed the love of Sister Chandru for your community, but also her love for the greater Interfaith community which she so lovingly fostered in San Francisco. I have heard it said that most people will never pick up a book on the faith of another, but rather will only glean appreciation of their faith in what they observe in the words and actions of that other. In the case of Sister Chandru, her example and being professed volumes of the essence and beauty of the Brahma Kumaris faith.

Sister Chandru was a Pioneer in the Interfaith world. We here in San Francisco are blessed with not one, but three Interfaith centers. We have the United Religions Initiative, which is a Global Network. We have the Interfaith Center at the Presidio, which is a regional base and we have here in our City, the San Francisco Interfaith Council. Sister Chandru along with Rita Semel, who sends her love and so wished she could be here today, was a Pioneer in founding each. I first met Sister Chandru in 2006. We were gathered by Bishop William Swing at Grace Cathedral and together walked the Labyrinth there as a metaphor of the reaffirmation of the “Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East,” on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. There she was, in her beautiful brightness, and we were all clothed in our different religious garbs. As we were walking on this Labyrinth, it struck me, at that moment, that we were all journeying to the same destination. We looked a little different, we prayed a little different, but we all journeyed in that same destination. This is exactly what Sister Chandru professed. She always showed up. She didn’t just show up though, she showed up with her light, her peace, her life, her beautiful smile, and that signature twinkle in her eye.

Our organization was founded in response to a homeless crisis in our City, and yet, for the first eighteen years, we were a volunteer organization and we ourselves were homeless. Sister Chandru not only showed up, but opened and shared her home with us, thus allowing us to have a home at your beautiful Center. Actions speak louder than words. She not only did that, but she shared her community with us. We were very blessed that she shared Sister Elizabeth, and sisters Sukanya, and Kyoko, and so many of you, in our work and in our life, because each one of you has enriched the work and mission of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

In her honor, I am wearing this stole, which was a gift from Sister Chandru on the occasion of the visit of Dadi Janki. I remember that day with great affection and fondness, because on that occasion Sister Chandru was just beaming. She was beaming because she was welcoming us into her spiritual family and sharing it with us. It was Sister Chandru at her happiest and best!

I once had a conversation with her about reincarnation. As he was so peaceful and always smiled, I told her that I wanted to come back as brother Mario. With that ever-so-famous smile, she suggested, “you may want to re-think that thought!” But seriously, I’ve been giving that a lot of thought to the belief in reincarnation since learning of her passing. I know that every time I see a smile, that every time I feel the peace that emanates from another, that, in fact, will be the reincarnation of our beloved Sister Chandru.

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