Voyage Within With Vimalajee

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 27

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6. MARATHI by (Proposed) SUSHRI VIMALA THAKAR SRI BEJAN DESAI 7. BENGALI by SRI BHAWARLALI NAHATA
Deedi Vimalaji was deeply concerned to speed this work and also wished that Y.Y.Sri Sahajanandghanji's HINDI translation of ATMASIDDHI (a copy which was presented in L.P.Disc size book form along with the A.S. disc by Vardhaman Bharati) should soon be brought out in Pocket book size and should be presented everywhere in India and abroad. Every Jain should have this book with himself/herself. She was quiet agreeable Yogindra Yugpradhan Sri Sahajanandghanji wishes that Srimad Rajchandraji's literatutre should be propagated and spread throughout across the universe especially. She purposefully insisted that every Jain, particularly Gujarati youth, should first know Srimad RAJCHANDRAJI and then SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.
She endorsed my views and stressing said "You are exactly right. I do not know of Hampi friends, but I know several Jain brothers elsewhere who are only interested in "SEVA-POOJA" and ignore the treasury of literary and scriptural studies and practices of Meditation. Srimadji and Sahajanandghanji both have themselves followed this and the same should be conveyed and explained to their followers."
And after such useful deliberations of his fine morning, we again entered joyous Meditation, the internal silent voyage with Vimala Deedi. It was such an inspiring and everlasting experience of this hour-long silent sitting (after 25 years) that we could not know how one hour slipped in self-awareness full thoughtless realisation. We did not like to get up soon, but we had to and decided to come for third sitting in the afternoon, when Vimala Deedi lovingly invited me and Chi. Kinnari additionally for evening meals also which she had instructed to prepare and strictly before the sunset according to our wishes and practices.
(*Afterwards I have received one Marathi translation which is being sent to Vimala Deedi for judging its meritsand to decide whether the same is required to be done afresh.)
MOUNT ABU : 30-3-94: AFTERNOON
While coming back to Shiv Kutir for the third sitting in the second part of the day, my reflective inner-self was absorbed in the Unique sufferings of the Great people of the world right from Mahaveera to Sahajanandghanji, "rewards" offered to them by the world and their detached attitude towards such valuation good or bad, worshipping or condemning. Parshwanatha's equanimity full response to Dharanendra and Kamatha - both the extremes-was an ideal pointer like a light house.
This gave me a highly solacing approach when I was thinking of the world's, the nearby society's adverse rewards to me at every step and every place of life. I strongly felt to not to blame anyone even a little for my plight, since these were all my own KARMAS in Gurudeo shajanandghanji's words "MY INDEBTNESS TO THE WORLD, WHICH I HAVE GONE REPAYING AND MUST GO ONTILL ALL IS WIPED OFF.
And soon I remembered that when great Gigantic persons like my above Master and Gurudeo Rabindra Nath Tagore were rewarded with a "Garland of Shoes" from their nearby respective societies before receiving the outer world awards of Noble Prize and so on, of what count of what value, this meagre and shall self of Pratap is? Gurudeo Tagore had rightly told to the same 'Shoe Garlanders' of his reappearing before him again with flower Garlands on hearing of the award of the Noble Prize.
"GIVE ME LOVE WHEN I AM LIVING AND SHOW ME RESPECT AFTER I AM DEAD...!"
Reflecting these all my inner self went on thinking analytically over the rewards and awards and the so called showy respect of the world! The reward and respect aside, does the world have any sense of consideration? Does it at least offer righteous understanding, appreciation, solace and love? Can it at least evaluate and stop condemning, criticizing and harassing the creative persons? Well, the world may or may not, it has its own ways and at least ! personally should have my own detached, elevated, impersonal attitude.
With these reflection within, I reached along with Chi. Kinnari, in the next meditation sitting of Deedi Vimalaji - the fountain of joy and love! All my reflections and reactions soon vanished and I merged into silence, into the realm of my reaction-less Self, my own sublime Silent existence.
As soon as this hour long elevating sitting of Silent Meditation, the Internal voyage within, was over, Vimalaji indicated and wanted Chi. Kinnari to sing a bhajan. She spontaneously sung her elder sister late Parul's favourite Bhajan of Kabir: