/iVADHOOT OF ARBUDACHAl Biography of Vimala Thakar Kaiser Irani Vimak Thakar Slvadfioot o f SirSucCacfiat SI ^io^ra-pfiy o f VimaCa Slvadfioot of SirbudacfiaC ^ ^iograpfiy of ^imata Kaiser Irani First Edition: 2004 ©KAlStR IRANI All rights Reserved Available at: Om Mani Padmi Hum 1 Spenta Society R.P.T.S. Post, Old Khandala Road Khandala, 410 302 (Mah) India Printed in India By Prabhat Printing Works 427, Gultekdi, Pune 411037 (Mah) JAvadfioot o f SirbudacfiaC C O O \£ T E ^ S (Preface viii Chapter One: Tlie SpirituaC^Heritage 3 Inheritance.................................................... ....... 4 Experiments in Childhood................................ 21 Home Atmosphere..............................................26 Basic Truths Learnt in Childhood................... 34 Chapter ^luo: ‘The SpirituaC ^Foundation ... 47 Spiritual Foundation...........................................50 Early Consciousness...........................................56 Rishikesh Experiment..................................... ...66 Meeting with Saints...................................... .......77 Chapter ^hree: ContriSuting ‘To The T>eve[opment O f ‘Women 91 Non Sexual Consciousness................................95 Equalit)^ of Education........................................ 101 Choosing Independence............................... .....105 Marriage Offers...................................................109 Leaving H om e.....................................................117 chapter O^our Contributing ‘To Sociaf Change 131 Joining Bhoodan............................................... 135 Working with Great Leaders.......................... 152 Incidents during Bhoodan............................... 161 Bhoodan in Perspective.................................... 176 Leaving the Andolan .................................... 181 Chapter Jive-: Contributions In ^The J^ieU O f Spirituality 185 Early Days in Mount A bu.................................188 Period of Deep Study.........................................197 Encounters with Great Beings — ....................202 Descriptions of Inner Life.................................217 Chapter Si?C' Contributions in Uplifting 9{uman Consciousness 233 First Trips Outside India............................... 235 Finding New Ways of Working.................. 239 Further Contact With Krishnaji........... 243 Travel To Many Continents...................... 256 Mysterious Events While Traveling 266 Integrating East & W est............................. 278 Letting Go Of International Travel 290 Working And Traveling In India............ 293 A New Dynamics of Human Relationships ... 299 VI Cfiapter Seven: Unique VigiCance Over India & Slsia.............................. ...307 A New Vision For India................. .......... 309 Keeping Gandhian Philosophy Alive ... 312 Focus Of Guidelines On India .......... .....316 Unique Vigilance Over India....................321 Loksatsang Y atra........................................ 327 Peace W ork............................................. .....335 Rural Reconstruction................................. 341 The Pillars Of A New Human Society . 345 South Asia Fraternity ................................ 348 Cfiapter ^Eigfit: Living Jtame o f ^Ancient Indian CuCture.............. ....... 363 Himalayan Retreat......................................370 Communing with the Rishis..................... 375 New View of Ancient Questions..... .......380 Relevance of Ancient Teachings...... .......384 Ancient Teachings Come Alive............... 387 Truth in Various Traditions......................403 Everlasting Flam e............................... ........411 A Life of Wholeness...................................415 vu Prcfm In India and maybe in the Western countries also, the hallmark of an enlightened person is his/her life. In India the two are not considered separate - the Life and the Teachings go together. The Teachings have to be authenticated by the life. And normally the life is an open book for all to see, with nothing hidden from anyone. And the sophisticated Indian mind will not tolerate or condone or accept the teachings of a person, in which there is a dichotomy between the two. For since time immemorial they have been taught, and have read how enlightenment expresses itself in action. Right from the story of Lord Ram to the reply given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna's question on what are the indications of an enlightened being, how does he walk, how does he talk? Enlightenment is considered a dimension of consciousness, where there are no inconsistencies in behavior When we study philosophy and metaphysics, it is often difficult to tell which comes first, the Teachings and then the life of harmony with them, or the Life and living from which the Teachings flow. If we look closely at Vimalaji's life, we find it is really the life anfl living which comes first. Vimalaji's viii Teachings are a confirmation of the life lived, and it is the actual living wrought out individually, in the crucible of experience, that have been presented. Nothing is spoken, which is not actually lived, even the descriptions of the ultimate spiritual expressions of Samadhi are from actual experience. Further, we will see that most of Vimalaji's life was spent in service. Right from childhood, Vimalaji had the inclination to share her understanding, at the age of 12 Vimalaji started the Vivekananda Study Center to share with her friends in the neighborhood the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, then after college she joined the Bhoodan Movement and worked for 10 years in Land Gift Movement, after that she started traveling in India and abroad giving talks and holding camps on the mutation of mind and transformation of consciousness, and still later camps for social workers and youth. Vimalaji's whole life has been a contribution to raising the level of consciousness of humanity. The contributions have been in various fields of life; in fact they have touched all the facets of life and have touched the hearts and lives of people in most countries of the world. Vimalaji's life and teachings have helped enquirers and contributed in clarity of understanding in the field of spirituality, they have IX helped women and given them courage to live independently with self respect, they have benefited all the poor and down trodden villagers of India who Vimalaji worked for, and helped improve their lot through all the social action undertaken and then later on in life, through the guidance given to other social activists, who would come to attend the camps or to meet individually. As Vimalaji's life unfolds, we will see the work Vimalaji has done to raise the level of consciousness of humanity, firstly by her own life experiments and living, and then; By her work with spiritual enquirers, women, and social activists world-wide. By her revolutionary way of working and inter-acting with others, showing a new dynamics of human relationships. By her articles, talks and yatras in India which provided a unique vigilance over Asia and India in particular. By her talks on the Upanishads, on Patanjali's Raja Yoga, on Buddhism, on Jainism, on the teachings of the Gita and on the commentaries on the Gita by Sant Gyaneshwar. These talks provided a modern approach to the ancient teachings, thus upholding the flame of ancient Indian culture. Vimalaji rarely speaks about her life, however just once due to the.loving insistence of her colleagues and co-workers of the Bhoodan days, Vimalaji accepted their request to talk about her life and responded to all the questions put to her, from this we have got a cameo glimpse of Vimalaji's life in her own words and have shared it, wherever possible, with the readers. A special note of appreciation and gratitude to Dr.Barbara Pennington, who has helped throughout in every way. So we humbly make an attempt to show, the different notes that were sounded in Vimalaji's life, the peak that was reached, the chords they touched and how altogether they formed one beautiful harmonious symphony, taking with them, the evolution one step further, vibrating in harmony with the Cosmic symphony. Kaiser Irani M ay 2004 Om Mani Padmi Hum 1 Spenta Society,R.P.T.S. Post Khandala,410302, ( Mah) India xi Xll Chaoter One The Spiritual Heritage The Li^ht Emerges Vimalaji provides a radiant example of flowering of passion for spiritual awakening in early life, transforming the usual events and relationships of childhood into the foundation for a spiritual journey Avadhoot of Arbudachal Sing With Me Love enters the human heart as does the morning dew descend upon the Mother Earth. Love invades the human heart as does the spring of youth tinlcle every drop of blood. Since love has visited me, solitude reigns over my life. Ceaseless events pass through me without leaving scars of memory. Joy and sorrow play endlessly without touching the inner core. The purity of serene harmony sings soundlessly through silence. The music of silent ecstasy throbs noiselessly within me. Would any one care to listen? Would any one come, and sing with me? Vimala Chapter 1: The Spiritual Heritage Chapter One The Spiritual Heritage i k Lylit Emerges INTRODUCTION Vimalaji is a revolutionary in her approach to spirituality and has been from early childhood. She experimented on her own to discover spiritual truths, without taking the easy way of following a guru or authority of any scriptures and traditions. Though she met great beings and learned much from them, being always receptive, she did not get attached