The one who remembers the Supreme Being exclusively even while leaving the body at the time of death, attains the Supreme Abode; there is no doubt about it. (8.05)

Remembering whatever object one leaves the body at the end of life, one attains that object. Thought of whatever object prevails during one’s lifetime, one remembers only that object at the end of life and achieves it. (8.06)

Therefore, always remember Me and do your duty. You shall certainly attain Me if your mind and intellect are ever focused on Me. (8.07)

–Bhagavad-Gita

Phrases like “senseless tragedy” just never seem like enough.  Bagels 4ever sends us the type of tip we hope to never receive:

He began each morning with prayer and meditation before a small shrine in his southwest Houston apartment. During the workday, he might step outside for a moment of silence and calm, his friends and co-workers said. They believe the 28-year-old Hindu community leader was meditating in a park near his office when he was shot and killed Thursday. Chopra may have been so deeply concentrating that he did not notice his killer, said Ramesh Bhutada, president of Star Pipe Products, the company Chopra had worked for since 2002. “I think after lunch he went there for a moment of quietness,” Bhutada said. ”

… He probably didn’t hear it.” Star Pipe employees held a Friday morning memorial service for the young man many had come to view as family. The workers, some of whom talked of preparing feasts for his birthday and marveled at his commitment to faith and community service, placed yellow roses on the bench where Chopra died…

…Chopra had a gunshot wound to his left temple and a bullet appeared to have grazed his forehead. His wallet was missing and no gun was found at the scene, Torres said. At the time of his death, Chopra’s life in America had just started falling into place, friends said. [Link]

Really, what kind of a soulless bastard do you have to be to kill someone while they are praying?  Local television station KHOU filed a report on this story that you can view here.  The fact that his wallet was missing leads police into thinking this was likely a robbery.  A memorial website has already been set up by his company, Star Pipe Products.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, August 15th at 8 p.m. at Keshav Smurti at Star Pipe Products, 4018 Westhollow Parkway, Houston, Texas 77082 . A Memorial Fund has been set up under Sewa International – Akhil Chopra Memorial Fund, Bank of America, Account No. 003255020705, Routing No. 061000052. Checks can be mailed to: P.O. Box 441505, Houston, Texas 77244. The Akhil Chopra Memorial Fund will benefit the charities in which he supported, along with his families wishes. Star Pipe Products has made a donation in the amount of $20,000.00 to support his Memorial.

The bottom of the memorial page has lots of pictures of Chopra with friends.  Police ask that anyone with information about Chopra’s death call the Houston Police homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.