Jain Digest 2003 09 Vol 22 No 3

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 15

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF A WAKE-UP CALL
F. J. Dalal, Lanham, MD entire experience, a return journey from Hell. This proved my belief that Hell and Heaven, both are on this earth only which can be self-managed.
HOW AND WHAT TO DO? According to me, an Adult Residential/Retirement Community is the only comprehensive solution for the Aging First Generation of NRIs. This can be well-organized and managed efficiently and economically. There, we can have different types of Living Quarters as needed, a Community/Cultural Hall, a single Worship facility for all religious groups, a Medical Center, a common Vegetarian Kitchen, a Convenience Store, a Bank, a Drug store, Transportation, and various Health, Educational, and Recreational facilities. In short, this will provide all the necessary Independent, Assisted and Nursing facilities required for the remaining period of life.
BACKGROUND: I am a 76 year old naturalized American Citizen Retiree living with my family in Washington D.C. Metropolitan area for over 34 years. I, as a self-made person, am Disciplined having enough Patience and Common Sense, that are generally in short supply in this country of abundance. During retirement period of over 12 years, I have extensively read and thought about Retirement Living and have visited some
established Communities in this area.
One mid night in June 2003, I suffered a Stroke and was in the Emergency Room of a nearby Hospital within an hour. After all the necessarypossible tests carried out in two days, my Neurologist who knew that I was a hereditary diabetic, concluded that I had a stroke and will need Rehabilitation. I went to another hospital with a good rehab facility in the area, where I received three-hour-a-day Physical and Occupational therapy, for nine days. Thereafter, I was recommended to go to a Sub-acute rehab center, where I was for nineteen days, receiving two-hour therapy every day. I returned home after a total of thirty days at three medical hospitals. Now a therapist comes to our home three times a week for about an hour cach, for about four weeks. I am now practicing to walk with a quad cane and do most of my daily personal chores. All along, many friends visited and/or called, some from abroad. Their warmth and care helped me a lot for which I will always remain grateful. If I were living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community, I would have received all this care, living in my own facility there. ANALYSIS: This 30-day care brought back about 60% of my right foot strength. The total cost will run into thousands, most of which would be covered by Medicare and a Secondary health care insurance provided by my last employer. I call this (continued from page 12)
A Healthy retirement without Boredom, Loneliness, and Anxieties will be possible only on a Community wide facility. This is doable only if, the activities of mushrooming expensive Temple Building complexes and spurious Community Organizations, can be brought to a complete halt immediately. Retirement is not meant only for taking care of grand children, performing religious rituals, and silent suffering in spite of more than enough available resources. It is a period for doing things one would like to and could not pursue during active working life. In addition, the community would benefit immensely from the accumulated lifetime experience and wisdom of growing elderly population.
For once, will the Community Leaders (?) come together earnestly and think seriously about the immediate and increasing future Need, instead of raveling in superficial and wasteful egocentric short lived futile pursuits.
A Sadguru always has your wellbeing at heart. He is the bridge between us and the Paramatma. One has to cross the bridge but some stop on the bridge and find comfort and safety there. A Sadguru will gently prod you to move on. To remain with a Sadguru for years and not to attain transformation in one's life is Sadguru's 'asatna' or disrespect. So finding a Sadguru mandates accepting his 'Agna' or personalized set of instructions for oneself towards spiritual progress. This entails regular study of scriptures, attending Satsangs, performing "taps' or mental and physical disciplines and true practice of abandoning Rag (attachment) and Dvesh (dislike, disapproval, hatred etc.)
Gurudev explained that a Sadguru will walk with you but he will not carry you towards attaining liberation. That road to Moksha has to be treaded by the aspiring seeker by him/her. There is no gender label to our soul and all of us can attain Moksha. One of the pre requisite for this journey is voluntary and complete surrender at the feet of Sadguru. If your Punya is in fruition, he will hold your hand and guide you on the true path. He will rescue you if you are drowning and teach you how to swim in this ocean of 'Sansar' which is full of pain and miseries. He will throw light where there is darkness and show you the precise route on the map of salvation.
Note: I have tried to translate Gurudev's words as faithfully as possible to the spirit of his talk and if there is any error or disrespect, I ask Gurudev's forgiveness and offer Michhamidukadam to all the readers.
JAIN DIGEST Fall 2003/13 www.jainelibrary.org