Book Title: Chitrabhanu Man with Vision
Author(s): Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre New York

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Page 267
________________ Vegetarian Congress, was given The Divine Knowledge Society's donation of ten thousand rupees toward this cause. When J. P. tried to thank Gurudev for helping his people, Gurudev saw it in another light, “What we do for your people we do for ourselves. Removing their pain we remove our own." J. P. and Shree Chitrabhanuji met again in July 1967, to try and ponder ways to make a permanent organization to bring about a change in national thinking. What was needed was a permanent reserve both of foodgrains and funds as well as self-help on the part of the Bihari people to be assured of an alternative to future famines. No sooner were the Bihari people in a more stable situation than the Gujarati people faced a similar situation. In particular, the Adivasi or aboriginal people living in Dharampur and Bodili districts found themselves in dire distress. They were eating leaves and roots until Gurudev decided to set up immediately four kitchens, supplying food, children's milk, medical help, and clothing. After eight days, the state of Gujarat took over the relief centers and the revered leader Shree Ravishankar Maharaj supervised the usage of the funds raised by Gurudev for the famine victims. It seemed that Gurudev came to know of people in distress anywhere in India. Immediately his mind was active as to how to deal with the situation. If it occurred in Gujarat, he entrusted the donations and supervision over to octogenarian Shree Ravishankar Maharaj. If it occurred in Bihar, J. P. Narayan took over. Gurudev's students worked under their supervision together with the suffering people themselves. Sometimes there were four sources providing many helping hands:-the leader, the state governrhent workers, the students, and the people. One evening on December 11, 1967, Gurudev was meditating. All of a sudden his whole body began to tremble and shake, for no apparent reason. The only explanation he could think of was that there was somewhere an earthquake. The 250 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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