Journey to Enlightenment Part 01

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Chetana Catherine Florida, Nirmala Hanke, Raksha Penni Helsene
Publisher: Create Space

Page 39

September 1997: Experiencing India Dear Members and Friends of the Lighthouse,
Let the Blessings of Love and Abundance flow to each one of you.
Each time I have gone to India on a pilgrimage with Gurudevji and Pramodaben, I learned and experienced more than mere words can express. It's difficult to be always in touch with what is going on at the time it is going on. However, as time goes by, we grasp fuller and fuller understanding of the different layers within us that were touched by being in India.
Being with Gurudevji and Pramodaben in India, one cannot remain unchanged or untouched by the whole experience. Inevitable changes from spiritual ignorance to spiritual knowingness become profound and pleasantly gestate even after leaving India. What we need to experience, we experience there. And through our experiences, we change and grow more quickly toward enlightenment.
This India experience places our loving being under one big microscope: we are seeing ourselves, sometimes all too clearly, as to what needs to be purified within ourselves - maybe thoughts, words, actions, reactions - things we would not see or accept about ourselves without a catalyst. We begin to see what we need to be aware of and to perceive what to work on within ourselves. I've experienced this magical and mystical energy of India, sometimes with awareness, always in the months after getting back to everyday activities.
Each time we go to India, there are famous places I want to see again and again, especially Shatrunjaya; climbing this holy mountain helps us to conquer our inner enemies. And seeing Shri Manubhai and his smiling face welcoming us, taking us to his home, and then continuing with us to Palitana is always a joy. Each year there are also new holy places, such as this time visiting on top a mountain the 57 foot statue of Bahubali.
One of the most profound and spontaneous experiences of the 1996 pilgrimage was meeting an old friend of Gurudevji's, Jambu VeeJay, a monk and a "living saint". According to custom, the women in the group would not be allowed to see him but the magical and mystical experience was possible because Gurudev was with us. Jambu VeeJay gave his individual blessing, touching the men's head and brow but with the women only sprinkling the blessing powder on our heads without touching. We felt the electrifying energy being with Gurudevji and Jambu VeeJay together.
One can go to India anytime and stay for months, but not until we have the experience of being there with Gurudevji and Pramodaben can we feel and understand the magical and mystical part of India. When Gurudevji is welcomed by all wherever he goes, the imploring of blessings from him when recognized and the red carpet treatment we receive because we are with him, we see that he is equal to the Catholic Pope among thousands of Jains. The veneration cannot be duplicated anywhere and the inspiration becomes sublimated spiritually in us. Yes! There will be another pilgrimage to India for me and others who wish to accelerate their growth. If you are interested, please let me know.
Namaste, Chetana
40 - Journey to Enlightenment