In his 30 years of life as a monk, it was the first time that American Guru, Master Charles Cannon, of Synchronicity Organisation, came face to face with his ‘human and spiritual’ side at the same moment: While at one hand he was scared of being killed by the terrorists, on the other, he still believed in the higher spiritual power. The 42 ‘traumatic’ hours when he was trapped in a room at Oberoi reaffirmed his faith in humanity and prompted him to forgive the terrorists. “I forgive them. If I choose hate, then there will be no difference between me and terrorists,” he said.

The new age spiritual leader who established the Synchronicity Foundation, was in Mumbai from November 14, leading a meditation conference at the Y B Chavan Auditorium with a group of 24 people from the US, Canada and Australia. Two people from the group, Allan Sherr and daughter Naomi, were killed and four others were injured in the gun-battle at the Tiffin restaurant.

“I was like a monk in a war bunker. It was traumatising and saddening. I am glad it is over,” he said.

Master Charles was on the 12th floor of the building when the terrorists attacked it on Wednesday night. “We had just finished dinner and myself and my two disciples were discussing a visit to Ganeshpuri ashram on Thursday when we heard gunshots,” he said. On peeping from the window, he saw two terrorists firing at everyone. Few minutes later, they heard explosions and on switching the TV and communicating with friends on the only mobile phone found that militants had attacked the hotel.

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