-14_Visions of Champaklal .htm

I saw a wide open place filled with luminous golden Light. There in its midst the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were sitting on a huge luminous golden throne, in their luminous golden bodies. They were charging everything around with their luminous golden Light.

A little away, on the right side of the golden throne, boys, girls and teachers were standing in that golden Light. There was no difference between students and teachers in their way of standing.

After a short while I saw them going to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother one by one. Each one stood just in front of them praying for what he wanted and expressing in words his inner condition very sincerely.

All were self-gathered, concentrated and gave an impression of complete self-surrender. Their expression was wonderful, remarkable. They were at their best and they passed one by one with the expression of a joyful contentment on their faces, as if they had obtained what they had wanted.

Nirod was there standing at one end. He did not move from his place but went on looking at the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. He was indrawn and his face was very expressive. Half an hour passed; still he did not move from his place.

Those who had finished going to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were standing and watching what was going on, and were very happy because they got more time to remain with them. All of a sudden Nirod took a piece of paper in his hand and, standing where he was, began to write something. He wrote a paragraph and showed it to me. I was surprised to see his handwriting exactly like Sri Aurobindo's when he used, to write in his early days. He wrote only a short paragraph but it was very beautiful. He had written about the Mother and Sri Aurobindo and his own inner condition, expressing it very sincerely. It was remarkable.

I asked him to go and show it to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. He said, "No". Since he was not willing, I wanted to take it myself but my eyes opened before I could do it. I tried to recall what he had written, but failed.

I saw this dream on the same night of 2.9.76 when I saw the "Wonderful Dream" which has been published in the Mother India of November 24 last year.

I had given Nirod my accounts of both these dreams but he took no interest in the second dream. So I put aside my account of it. But when I saw in our playground programme of last 21st February each group saying its prayer, I remembered this dream. The whole of it came in front of my eyes. I found it very interesting.

It is very difficult to write but still I will try, because it is very interesting.

Four little Ashram children came to me and said, "We are going to do something but we ourselves don't know what we are going to do. We have not informed anyone about this. We have come to take you with us. We have not asked any other person. We don't want them; they will spoil everything."

One child came very near me and said, "We know you don't speak, you just come there. We want you with us."

"Yes, but remember one thing. You will be surprised when you meet them, wondering whether they are two or one. We ourselves in the beginning felt like that. Quite in the beginning, some children even felt afraid, and some were full of wonder. But now our parents have explained to them that only their bodies were different, but in fact they were one. We felt it to be strange; but our parents gave an explanation and said, 'Never mind if you do not understand this. After growing, when you come up, you will understand all.' Some of the children among us say that they have understood it, but all have not done so."

I said, "Light. Is it the East? It appears as though the Sun is going to rise, and now it appears that it is rising."

The children answered, "Yes, it is the East, but up there it is like this everywhere. Our parents were saying so. Our parents too will be there."

The children asked Kamalaben, "Did you get tired?" Kamalaben replied, "No, not at all."

The children exclaimed, "Say, did we not tell you that here there was nothing like fatigue. Till now we too do not know what fatigue is; but we have heard about fatigue. One person who had come here was asked about it and he explained to us what fatigue was. This matter we narrated to our father who said, 'My dear children! that world and our world here are two quite different things and people coming from that world might speak of many such things, but what they say is not all quite true."

Hearing this, we asked our father, 'Then why do those people speak of many such things?'

The father replied, 'It has become their nature.' And we asked the father, 'What is it that you call nature?'

He said, 'This too you will understand later on. Look, I am not going to explain all that just now; for, some words of those people have a different meaning in our world. Some of their things are even non-existent in our world. But all this you will surely understand one day and that too by yourself.'

After passing many such years thus, when he rose up from the river, he found everything as it had been before the plunge.

As we reached there, brother Gerard came forward affectionately with a smiling face and welcomed us with the words "Hallo, Champaklal!" he told me, "There is a friend and he will show you everything. It is already arranged."

This time we walked about in the lower part of the construction and could have seen all, but as there was not much time at our disposal we saw only as much as was possible.

The atmosphere is such that one would not like to move from there. It holds us fast like a magnet. It is a splendid elevating atmosphere, calm and grandly beautiful, such as one would not like to leave. But as we had to go to our brother Narad's garden, there was not enough time to be detained there, and so we left after remaining as much as it was possible to do.

The Matrimandir that I saw this time was superb, wonderful beyond imagination. I saw above Matrimandir, standing in space, a huge figure reaching the heavens and enveloping the whole of Auroville. It could be described only as extremely majestic and grand, immeasurably vast, stupendous, exceedingly resplendent, scintillating, golden, radiant and with an absolutely fascinating form. One by one innumerable hands arose from each part of the body of that figure. Little by little, the figure began to rise up and up and, as it did so, hands appeared on its lower part also. After a while the figure gradually began to descend. At this time all its palms were open and spread out in space. A crystalline liquid was spreading forth everywhere from those palms. It was a very bright glistening liquid and it covered all Matrimandir and then, from Matrimandir itself, streams of that crystalline liquid began to emerge

far-black in which many people including children were floating. Some persons were coming out and going back again in that stuff as if they were very happy there. This continued for some time. Then I saw a huge ball covering the whole universe. It was dark red in colour - and water of the same colour was pouring from above like a big waterfall. I use the word 'waterfall' - but there are no words to describe what I saw - so I say 'waterfall' as the nearest substitute. Gradually its colour was becoming less and less dark till it became very light. Just as the water changed its colour, simultaneously the colour of the huge ball also changed. And, one after another, I saw all the colours of a rainbow, then silver and finally gold. What I saw - this change of various colours - is very difficult to express in words.
The water was passing through the huge ball and going farther and farther, covering everything. It was so beautiful! this transparent golden water above the huge ball. Then at a very great height, there was a figure. I cannot describe this figure, but can only say that both his hands were spread wide in a blessing gesture. It looked as if all this golden water was coming from all over his body. My whole being was filled with gratitude. With folded hands, I bowed. I was in an indescribable condition.

Arrows Turning into Beautiful Flowers

10.2.1979
Some people were standing in the middle of a vast open space. Some arrows were going towards them but I could not make out from where the arrows came. The wonder was that tlie arrows, as soon as they approached these persons, turned into beautiful flowers which were of several varieties, some of them never seen before. They spread their sweet beautiful fragrance everywhere.
Around the persons was formed a huge mountain of flowers. All the persons who were standing there began to come up. The mountain of flowers disappeared and in its place was found a

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big lake with various kinds of flowers floating on it. Those people were moving around in the water. At first I saw only their heads. Gradually the other parts of their bodies were also seen. Then I saw the flowers going inside the different parts of the bodies, after which they began to walk on the water just as we walk on the ground. Now they did not move round and round as before, but were going straight — far and far away.
The atmosphere was full of wonderful sweet fragrance the like of which I had never experienced before. I took a long breath and the Vision disappeared. I remained in that atmosphere for some time.

Vision of Auroville Foundation Ceremony

21.2.1979
Our brother Narad had arranged on 21st February 1979, The Mother's birthday, a flower-show at his place in Auroville as a loving offering to our Divine Mother from his dedicated family. For me to go to his garden would have been a joy even on any other day, to see brother Narad with his plants as if he were near the Mother. The plants speak to him, of course the plants speak to others also, but everyone does not hear. When he is near the plants, his face beams. It is a happy sight to see him and the plants together. His love for nature and his devotion thrill us. If one loves nature and becomes one with nature, one gets the feeling of being in another world when one is in his garden.
As soon as we reached his place, we entered into a pleasant, joyful and devotional atmosphere. We saw all the flowers arranged in a very simple and artistic way, with their significances given by the Mother. It was not only a show of flowers but their living presence. All the flowers were expressing themselves and it was very difficult to move away from their presence.
After we had seen the garden, we were taken to the top of Matrimandir, to the Meditation Hall. We sat there for some

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time. It was very quiet. The atmosphere was extremely peaceful and full of dynamic force.
I saw the Mother with Her supreme sweet smile, pouring all Her love. The Hall was filled with supreme Love. She caressed my head for a few seconds, with both hands, and put Her seal on my forehead by way of a soft kiss. I saw in the Hall nothing except brilliant golden Light. I felt She covered both my eyes with Her palms, the way She used to do when She was in Her physical body.
I saw the Auroville Foundation Ceremony of 28th February 1968 as I had heard it being narrated to the Mother then. But now I saw all with an inner significance. I saw the Mother just above each youth participating in the Foundation Ceremony, with Her beatific, sweet, supreme smile. She radiated bright golden light and Her Divine Love. This reminded me of Krishna's Ras Lila. Each participant was on a lion, holding his country's flag in one hand and the earth of his land in the other, marching towards the Foundation Urn. The whole sight was magnificent. The lions were beautiful and most majestic in a shining golden colour. Their huge manes were almost touching the ground. The whole atmosphere was permeated with some unseen substance. This day of 28th February 1968 was unique in the world's history - as expressed in an ancient Sanskrit saying it has never happened before and will not occur in the future!
This vision reminds me of what the Mother once told me - that the flowers of Divine Love, which She used to give to Kamala for preparing Blessing Packets, were charged by Her. Now She gave me the experience of how She would do it. I saw the whole Meditation Hall of Matrimandir charged with the supreme Divine Love.
When I went to Matrimandir on 7th December 1978, I wanted to go down, but could not do so. The second time on 4th January 1979, when The Mother arranged the visit again, it so happened that I went down but could not go up. Now when She arranged my going for the third time on 21st February 1979, I was taken up. This is the Mother's way - She arranges

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everything without one's asking! It is all Her Glory and Grace!

"Love of flowers is a valuable help for finding and uniting with the psychic."

THE MOTHER

Mother in a Golden Body

16.4.1979
On 16th April 1979, just before we left Calcutta, I was sitting in Umeshbhai's drawing room.
I saw the Mother standing in space, just in front of me, looking at me. The Mother's look was very intimate and full of compassion. She looked at my forehead with very penetrating eyes. I began to feel vibrations in my forehead and all over inside my body. After some time I felt as if a fire was burning inside and everything became very hot. With this there was a throbbing in the whole body. In spite of this fire burning inside, my external body was very cool. It is very difficult to put in words what was going on within me.
I looked at the Mother. She was smiling. Her smile seemed meaningful. I noticed that Her body was expanding more and more, in all directions. The whole space was covered by Her. There was nothing except Her - no sky, no earth - there was only the Mother with Her Virat Kaya (Stupendous Form). I am now surprised as to how I was able to see this form of Hers. Then this gigantic figure was no more there and I could only see bright cool golden Light. I saw the Mother coming out from it with Her transparent golden body which appeared to be made of Light only. I saw a golden hammer in Her hand. This hammer also seemed to be made of bright golden Light only. In Her other hand, there was a luminous golden lotus.
The Mother looked again at my forehead. This time my forehead expanded and became vaster and vaster as if there was

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no end! The Mother lifted Her hammer, turned it around in space and struck it hard on my forehead. Something came out from my forehead and vanished in space. Inside me there was a movement like an electric current going up and down again and again. This lasted for a few seconds. The body was extremely cool. Then I saw the golden Light inside all the parts of my body. This golden Light began to radiate from my body and spread around in space. It was going farther and farther.
The Mother came very near to me and with both Her palms covered my eyes and - forehead - just as She used to do when She was in her physical body.
The vision was over. It gave me a feeling of a great change in myself.

Visions at Govind Dham

30.6.1979
I saw lofty mountains with their peaks covered with bright snow. They appeared to touch the skies. I kept walking and admiring all these beautiful Himalayan valleys full of different kinds of trees. As I walked on, I felt very happy. I laughed alone. Just then a sadhubaba came. He caught hold of my hand and led me further and further.
After a very long distance, the scene changed. Just on the side of the pathway where we were passing, there was a deep valley with a river running. Its beautiful waters flowed in melodious music. I was so attracted that I wanted to jump into the river. Again and again the idea came to me strongly to jump in and flow away with the waters, whatever might happen to me. Babaji said, "Batchha (child), the time has not yet come for you to do this. You still have much to do, your work is not yet over." I was surprised to hear this from Babaji. Babaji said, "What is there to be surprised at? Nothing is unknown to me. Do you not know this?" While speaking, Babaji held my hand in a strong grip and led me onwards.

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Now I observed that the pathway towards the place where we had to go was going higher and higher and looked, almost straight up from a distance. When we reached there, I noticed that there was no way - no steps to go up by. It was much more steep than I had thought. I kept on looking at it. Babaji said, "What are you looking at? We have to go to that very place. You remember the Mahimna Stotra, don't you?" I answered, "Yes, but not fully." Babaji remarked, "It does not matter, you will recite it with me." This time he held my hand in such a strong grip that I felt as if my hand was glued to his. I then heard a very sweet, melodious, high-pitched and elevating voice. I joined him and, to my utter surprise, I took a very high Hanuman - like leap along with him. Now both of us had reached very high - right up, on the top. This place was very wide and extremely fascinating. Everything shone there in a brilliant golden light. I could see hazily some people who were very far. Sadhubaba kept on holding my hand in the same way. He was leading me on and on. At one place I stopped. I was astonished to see sadhubaba's both hands lifted up wide open in space. Even then he kept on holding my hand in the same way. I looked again and again to see whether what I saw was true! How was this possible? But it was so! He appeared to have three hands!
Babaji with his resonant and melodious voice, gazed up and, turning his eyes, his hands and his whole body in all directions, recited:

"Even if the whole of the black mountain is dissolved into the sea as in an inkstand and the Goddess Saraswati, holding the branch of the wish-fulfilling heavenly tree as her pen, writes all the time on the earth-surface as paper, then too, 0 Lord! She cannot fathom your glory!"

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The echo of Babaji's voice resounded in space. As he recited, the expression on his face was marvellous! It was a magnificent sight to see!

The vision ended. All is due to Grace!

On the Way to Hemkund

1.7.1979
We were going to Hemkund and had climbed three-fourths of the steps - steps not as in buildings, but arranged irregularly. That is why they went very well with Nature. I did not climb up to the end. But this place was also beautiful and wide-open - most of it covered with bright white snow. One did not like to move away from there. Someone from amongst us remarked, "If this is not Tapobhumi, then what place could it be?" I do not remember the exact wording. This place elevates one and draws one within. I sat there and looked around. Wherever our glance fell, the eyes were as if stuck and did not like to shift their gaze from that scene. We forgot everything and felt as if we were in another world. Everything became very quiet within us. After some time my eyes got closed. I remained there while the others went to Hemkund.

Vision

I saw a grand, majestic and very alluring figure. It was a Digambar's and appeared to be made of luminous white snow. It was so fascinating that I could not take my eyes off him. He gazed at me with his charming, penetrating and captivating eyes, and said, "Champaklal!" I could not answer. I simply looked at him. He caught hold of my hand and called again - "Champaklal, come!" He held my hand in such a way as to make me get up. We started walking, and walked a long

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distance. At last we came to a wide-open and very fascinating place - the luminous white snow was seen everywhere. Now there was no way. I was led by him. We were going higher and higher and covered quite a bit of the long distance. I enjoyed walking and looking at the beautiful Himalayan scenery. We reached a place where nothing except beautiful water was seen. We had seen beautiful water at Sheshnag but the colour of this water was much more beautiful than that at Sheshnag.
The Digambar signed to me to stop. He looked at me from top to bottom, with his powerful penetrating eyes. He bent down and moved his hand all around my feet. As soon as he touched my feet, I started to lift them because I did not like him to touch them, but he signed to me to remain quiet and not to stir. After this I had a feeling that my feet were stuck there. With both his hands he then touched me from top to bottom, front, back and all over. A strange, powerful but very pleasant feeling passed all over and inside my body. After this, I felt as if there was nothing inside my body - no bones, no flesh! The body became very light - so light that it would be blown away by a little wind! At the same time my legs were very firm and steady. I was very astonished by all these changes.
The Digambar held my hand and gestured to me to start walking. We began walking further upon water as if we were walking on the ground! He had held my hand in his strong grip and every now and then he would glance at me and smile. Without uttering a word, his look was as if he was asking me, "Enjoying yourself? Happy?" Here also we walked a long distance until we reached a place which abounded in many varieties of beautiful flowers of different colours, some of them never seen before. They were in full bloom. One could see nothing but these beautiful flowers. The place was filled with a variety of fragrances. I enjoyed it very much. Here too there was no way, but as we walked we found the way, as if the plants were parting to make way for us. We covered a great distance in this beautiful place. As we walked further, the view changed. Here the colour of the water was dark green or dark blue - what the exact colour was I cannot say. But of the same colour there

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were big lotuses fully bloomed, with their large-sized leaves and high stems - all of the same colour. The place was full of the lotuses' fragrance. It made us feel so happy. Again the Digambar made a sign to me to walk on further. Here too, as before, the way showed itself as we walked.
Again the scene changed. Here the colour of the water was deep red - so also everything else in deep red colour - the lotuses, their leaves and stalks. Now there was a different type of fragrance. We walked further and saw everything exactly the same but in yellow colour, and the fragrance was different. Likewise I saw the same view again and again but in different colours and fragrances - after yellow, pink, light blue, snow white, silvery - but here there was a very strange thing - sometimes the water, lotuses, leaves and stalks were all in snow-white colour while at times they appeared in shining silvery colour. It was a beautiful sight indeed! Each place was full of its different fragrance. When we reached the top, everything was bathed in brilliant bright gold - the water, the fully opened large thousand-petalled lotuses, their big leaves, their long stalks. Everything looked so beautiful and magnificent that one cannot imagine it! The place was charged with their sweet fragrances. On the way, in between, I saw a few persons going about here and there, walking upon water as one walks on the ground. But, right at the top, there were only seven persons. They went towards the lotuses, stopped for a while and went on further. The atmosphere there was quite different from that in any other place. It was totally new. I saw all this with great astonishment and was benumbed!
Digamber Maharaj looked at me and said smilingly, "Dance now as much as you want, to your heart's content! You wanted to come here, did you not? Now I go. When you need me, you have just to call me and I shall be near you." I was about to sit. My eyes opened.
This whole marvellous sight is in front of my eyes as if I was still there. Slowly the scene becomes faint but in my memory it remains a wonderful, magnificent, extremely beautiful, inexpressible and astounding scene. What can one write? It is beyond words.

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The Mother and the "Aspiration" Flowers

]n the Meditation Hall of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch

5.7.1979
Today is the birthday of Tara Jauhar, one of the Mother's favourite children. Now she resides at the Delhi Ashram branch and does the Mother's work there. No human being can understand the Mother's way of working. She arranges many things by creating certain circumstances which look so natural and She works out what She wants to do. The Mother has showered Her Grace and Love upon us and She still continues to do so much more than ever before. At 7 p.m., the meditation started.

Vision

I noticed that the hall was ten times bigger than at present. It was packed with people. The children were in a greater number. Some ladies had come even with their new-born babies. Peace was pouring like heavy rainfall. The hall was charged with peace - nothing was felt except peace. Then blue light came down and filled the hall. After some time, bright golden light descended on all and penetrated everywhere. Now I could see the persons sitting there.
The Mother was seen right in the middle of the hall in Her luminous transparent Golden Body. I saw radiant golden Aspiration flowers around Her but they were much bigger in size than we usually see here. They began to increase in number and turned into a huge mountain in full bloom. The Mother was standing on the top of this mountain. It was a magnificent sight. The Mother gave blessings to everyone.
The flowers began to move around, and covered the persons, some just a little, some more. Very few persons Were fully covered and amongst them the number of the children was larger.

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The Mother looked at each and every one with Her charming and compassionate smile. Now I saw a stir in the Aspiration flowers. They started flitting like arrows, into different parts of the bodies of the persons there. In some persons they entered into one or two parts, in some into more parts, while in a few into all the parts of their bodies.
In several persons the flowers went straight inside. In some others they could not get in at all and were thrown back. One after another, they tried all the parts of the bodies but were not allowed in! This process continued for some time but not a single flower could enter the bodies. The bodies rejected them as if they resisted the entry of the flowers into them. It was a very amusing sight indeed. Now the few persons into whom the flowers went right inside, into all the parts of their bodies, could not be seen at all. They became invisible! I do not know what happened to them. It was like magic! There was a movement amongst the people but I could not see or understand what it was.

A Vision at the Lake Estate

14.8.1979
I was just sitting on the window sill of one of the houses at the Lake Estate of the Ashram and looking at the lake. The sight of a vast landscape always makes me happy. There was no water in the lake, even then I very much enjoyed the view. Whenever I see such a scene, I go on looking at it and after some time, there is a tendency to close my eyes. Such sights draw me within. At times I see something or I get peace and joy.

Today:
I saw some children emerging from the wide space. They were of different ages. There were young boys also. I was surprised to spot some of our people who are no more with us. I saw almost all of those who had passed away in the Ashram and

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also those from outside who were connected with the Ashram but were no more alive.
Tirupati, Krishna Shashi were also there. They were all standing with folded hands in a deep prayerful mood, with their heads uplifted towards the sky - some with eyes open and some with closed eyes. Their simplicity and genuine faith without any kind of pretension were really striking and admirable. Such sights delight me and make me extremely happy. I very much enjoy watching the expression of people. Near the Mother, I always had a chance to see it and still the Mother is continuing this privilege. I saw all our brothers and sisters there. It was drizzling and the atmosphere was filled with a nice smell of earth. They all began to dance. A little later, they came out and went away in different directions. Soon after that there was a heavy rainfall. Now the lake was full. I got up and went in the directions where I had seen them going but could not find anyone there.
I walked further and saw a beautiful place. There were pretty houses with small gardens around them. They were situated at different places in harmony with nature; some were on top of the hill, while some were down below. I remember the Mother once said that in Japan she had seen that they do not just build the houses anywhere but set them in a harmonious blending with nature and have a garden around them. The plants are also grown in a natural way, everything in a rhythm with nature. I also saw small natural ponds at different places - some of them full of lotuses, white and red, and some with lilies of various colours. Everything was so harmonious and beautiful! As I went further, I saw fruit gardens but the trees appeared different from usual. Under the trees, I saw some children with luminous races. They stood here and there with closed eyes and folded hands. A little later, they opened their eyes, looked up and opened their palms. I was surprised to see fruits in their hands. Again they did namaskar, bowed and left smiling. Their expression was worth seeing when they stood under the fruit trees.
As I walked further, a very charming young boy came towards me in such a way as if he knew me.

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I too had the same feeling of familiarity. He spoke smilingly: "The Mother has said when Champaklal comes, bring him to me." I walked with him. On the way, I saw many birds and animals moving freely, and some children played with them freely. I saw deers, elephants, horses, cows and some others. I looked around for tigers and lions but they were not seen. I enquired from the boy whether they were there. He replied, "The Mother has said that the time has not yet come for us to go where they are." We went further. There were different groups moving about here and there. This charming young boy took me to different places one after another. As we went on, I saw from a distance the Mother with children. She was giving some lessons to them. When I reached that place, the Mother said to me, "So you have come! Now you will see how things are developed here. This child of mine will take you around."
We proceeded and after walking some distance, I saw the Mother again! She was giving lessons to grown up boys. I turned and looked back at the place from where we had come. The Mother was there also with the children! But I did not see myself there. I laughed and laughed again. The boy did not ask me any question but he too began to laugh. When we reached the place where the Mother was with grown up boys, She asked me, "Champaklal! What makes you laugh so much?" I replied, "Mother, I saw you there. And you are here also at the same time! But I did not see myself with you there. If I had seen myself there and here also with you, how amusing it would have been! As soon as this thought came to me, I saw myself there and here too with you, Mother! This made me laugh. Mother, how interesting and delightful it is when we see ourselves with the Mother!"

Wherever we went, I saw the Mother at each place, giving lessons. I too was there with Her. The boy now remarked that it was our last place for going to the Mother. Here She was with elder boys. She told this charming boy, "Take Champaklal to Prasad Bhavan." On the way, the boy stated, "Only inmates of this place are allowed to go there."

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Far off, I saw a beautiful bower. It was covered with various kinds of creepers - full of beautiful flowers. When we reached there, I saw a gigantic Service tree full of lovely flowers - the atmosphere was filled with the fragrance of these flowers. Some of the branches of this tree were touching the ground and there was no way to get in. I observed a small pillar nearby. The boy went towards the pillar and stepped upon it. I noticed the branches going up slowly. We entered and the path got closed again. The boy led me further. There was a small beautiful pond and in its midst there was an exquisite dome-shaped building covered with creepers, which I had seen from far. But there was no way to go to the building. We stood on a platform and to my surprise a very artistic bridge emerged from below and led up to the Prasad Bhavan. As soon as we reached the platform on the other side, the bridge disappeared.

We entered the Prasad Bhavan and felt a very peaceful atmosphere filled with sweet, pleasant fragrance. No windows or doors could be seen - only one whole graceful wall which was made of a peculiar substance. I could not understand the arrangement but can only say that it was magnificent. I had a feeling that this Prasad Bhavan is not only for seeing but also to get experience. The boy first stood just in the centre of the Prasad Bhavan, with folded hands. He turned around with his closed eyes for a few seconds. He opened his eyes and turned again all around. Slowly he went towards a golden circle in the wall and pressed his finger inside it. At this, on the upper side of the wall a small door slid inside and I could see a bright sun with its rays pouring down. Then this door closed and another door opened from the wall below the golden-circle. A dish came out and the door closed automatically.
We came out of the Prasad Bhavan and again stood on the platform. The bridge emerged as before and disappeared as we stood on the platform on the other side. While returning, I noticed from the bridge exceptionally pretty fishes of varied forms and colours. Some of them I had not seen even in the best aquarium of India at Madras, which I had visited in 1920.
Before going to the Prasad Bhavan, the charming boy had

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informed me that absolute silence was observed there and that the Mother was very particular about it. After we returned, he explained, "There are 5000 shelves like the one shelf we saw. In the future we shall get our cooked food from there. It is not yet complete. All this is done by the Mother's instructions and only under Her guidance." It dawned on me that cooking in the future would be done by solar energy. He then asked me whether I felt the Mother's presence in the Prasad Bhavan. I replied, "Yes, that is why I was often looking back. I did not see the Mother but felt as if she was coming behind us." The boy remarked, "I did not say anything beforehand because I wanted to know whether you felt the presence or not." He then led me further to a place where the Mother was with elders and was explaining about Her work. She asked me, "Champaklal, did you see the Prasad Bhavan?" "Yes Mother!" I replied, "I have no words to say what I experienced there!" The Mother added, "But the place is not yet complete. I shall call you. Do not be impatient. The time has not yet come for you. I am with you all." :

My eyes opened.

Gift of Brilliant Beautiful Asana

At Sri Aurobindo Nivas - Baroda

In the Meditation Hall

3.10.1979

A grand luminous golden Figure was descending slowly from a great height. The golden rays emanating from Him spread everywhere. As He was alighting, His body reflected different colours. The speed of shifting colours was so fast that it was not possible to name them. But it was a delightful and wonderful sight!

When this. majestic Being landed on the ground, He was of a lucent snow - white colour. He gazed all around and looked at everyone there.

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He then advanced towards each individual, just stood a while in front of all, one by one. As He moved on, there was nothing in His hand. But as He approached each person, a glowing Asana (Seat) of dazzling snow-white light emerged from the palm of His hand and settled underneath each individual! The most surprising thing was that none of those sitting there moved at all from their seats. All sat very peacefully upon their brilliant, beautiful Asanas - His gift to one and all, His special grace to each and everyone.

After some time, I saw all the persons bathed in a bright Light. But all were not in the same colour - some in gold, some in silver, some in blue or pink and so on - in different radiant hues. It was a superb and magnificent spectacle.

The Being disappeared and nothing was left but Light -snow-white resplendence pervaded everywhere. And all the time, a soft, melodious and elevating music was heard. The music stopped and the vision vanished.

A Journey to the New World

14.11.1979 — Morning

There was a huge tent. I went around, it looking for an entrance to get in but could not find any. At last an idea came to me: why not try to lift up the bottom of the tent from one side, and see if it is possible that way to get in? I saw it was possible. I bent and put my head inside the tent. Then I heard a voice: "Cannot go inside the tent unless you write your name." He who said that was sitting nearby. I turned back thinking that this man perhaps did not know me. He brought a paper for me to write my name. I looked for my pen but he gave me his. I could not write on that paper. Seeing this, another man who was present brought a bigger piece of paper. I wrote: "Cha, Chhotalal Purani." After writing it, I noticed that what I had written was not correct. So I wrote again and again but my name was not coming correctly! I only knew that it was not as it should be. I went to a cupboard

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to keep the old paper and saw that it was my cupboard but someone had changed everything in it.

By this time, Amrita came towards me and said that he had come from the tent and that he had been with the Mother. Amrita - The book which you asked me to get for you, I could not bring.

Myself - Which book?

Amrita - Your book, forgotten? Book for the journey to the New World.

Myself - Yes, yes, now I remember. What happened?

Amrita - I must say it was a great opportunity to see this marvellous and magnificent book with beautiful pictures of the New World. When did you do it? I never knew!

Champaklal, you know, this man from whom you had asked me to get the book was very happy when he learned that I had come from you. He was much moved to see me. He told me that he had somehow managed to get that book from you. He remarked, "How sweet is the word 'Champaklal'! The Mother and Sri Aurobindo have said this name several times - so I say only 'Champaklal'. Perhaps you know that he is very generous but at times, I must say, he is very miserly. For things like this, he says it is very difficult to part from them! Only if you see the expression on his face, you can know him and understand how he feels. But he must have felt my need. Truly I was anxious to get this book as I knew it would be very useful to me for going to the New World. He gave it to me with pleasure. You could see it so vividly on his face."

Champaklal, it was a pleasure to see such a man. While he was speaking to me thus, I saw tears flowing from his eyes. It is rare to see such a sadhak. What humility! While talking to him, I gathered what knowledge he has -I found him very learned too! Again I say, Champaklal, you gave me a nice, a rare opportunity to see such a man. He has tremendous love and respect for you. When I mentioned to him that I would inform you about it, he stated, "Champaklal knows this." He sends you grateful pranams.

What are you doing here?

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Myself - I was trying to write my name to get into the tent but could not succeed.
Amrita - (laughing) You have forgotten your name? But why were you writing it?

Myself - To get into the tent.

Amrita - But for you?

Myself -Yes, I was asked to write.

I related to him what had happened.

Amrita - (laughing again) Now, not required. No name for you to write!

Myself - I would like to come to your tent.
Amrita - What, my tent? (laughter)
Myself - Some people came to see me. They were in difficulty in their journey towards the New World. They said that The Mother had directed them in their dreams to see me. I saw that they were truly nice people. As you know well, I do not like to see people. But meeting such people really makes me very happy. That is why I came late for the tent.
Amrita - Champaklal, do not be selfish!
I became serious.

Amrita - Still you do not understand jokes! What I meant was - take me also with you to the New World. Now the Mother has gone up. But you know today you have not lost anything by not coming to the tent. The Mother was not very pleasant to see.

Myself - What do you mean? The Mother is always pleasant to see — anywhere, any time, in any mood.

Amrita - What you say is very true but I am still Amrita, not Champaklal! Now I come to the point - X has lost his house

key which was given to him by the Mother. She never likes people to lose keys - you too know it well.

Myself - Why only a key - She never likes losing things. Yes, it is true, losing the key is more serious, specially to lose the key received from the Mother!

Amrita - The Mother has asked me to go and see what has happened to X and where he is now. The only difficulty is that I do not know where he lives at present. He has changed several houses.

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Myself - He was living with us and then shifted to another house - that house I have visited to see if he is in it.

But I give you a very happy piece of news. I have the key and now I am going to the Mother. Both of us can go with the key!
Amrita - Oh, Champaklal! How nice! Now I have a chance to see the Mother in a very happy mood. She will be pleased so much! Really, the Mother was very perturbed by his losing the key. Let us go.

I woke up.

Conquest of the Asura on Mahasamadhi Day

9.12.1979
It was on 9th December 1979, one of our unique, elevating and auspicious days. I saw the Samadhi courtyard a little bigger than what it is at present. The Rosary House (the building on the southern side of the Samadhi) was not there. I remember the Mother telling me once, "We shall build a big Meditation Hall there." Incidentally, the present main building of Sri Aurobindo Ashram actually consists of four houses. It is very interesting and very symbolic as the Mother has given the significance of number four as 'Manifestation.'
People were meditating in the Samadhi courtyard. Our dear little children were also sitting there on one side. I noticed that some children were getting up and moving very quietly to change their places. They walked in such a way as if they were guided by some unseen Force. There was no disturbance at all due to their movements. The atmosphere was extremely peaceful.
A little later I saw that our beloved Service Tree was standing just in front of the western side of the Samadhi. It moved very gradually all round the Samadhi. Its movement was so slow that one could hardly notice that the tree was moving. After making one Pradakshina (round) of the Samadhi, it went back to its present place on the northern side of the Samadhi.

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It then started growing higher and higher and its branches began to extend far and very far and wide on all the sides until they covered the whole universe! Yes, the whole universe! I saw it with my own eyes! I could see that the branches had extended but could not perceive how; the movement of extension was not visible. Then the tree was fully studded with huge, luminous, transparent golden service flowers. I could not see the branches or leaves or trunk but only flowers and flowers. It was a wonderful, magnificent and unimaginable sight which gave me inexpressible joy and Ananda. A little later, the tree gradually assumed its original form and size. This time also its movement of contraction was not at all discernible.
All the people who were meditating were seen sitting upon those luminous Service Tree flowers as on a royal velvet golden carpet. But the tree was also full of those magnificent flowers as before; the quantity of flowers had not diminished at all!
Then a unique sight was perceived. I saw fire coming out from each person sitting there. In some cases, it emerged from their foreheads, in some from their hearts, in some others from their navels and so on. Each fire was of a different colour - some were milky white, some snow white, some red, green, yellow, blue, silver, pink, golden and some of mixed colours and some in very few cases, even of ash colour. These fires appeared like a Yagnavedi (Sacrificial Fire) in front of each and every one. The flames of these fires were rising up. Some mounted very high - each one had a different height. This also was a marvellous sight to see.
All of a sudden, I saw in the middle of the Samadhi courtyard, in space, a very tall Asura. His colour was brown but slowly he began to change his colour which became very dark and turned into black like coal tar. It was shining. His eyeballs were big and round and frightful. His very long nose was pointed and from that front part he was blowing some ash coloured substance which spread everywhere. He had no ears but two big and deep hollows. His mouth was very big and round and unshapely and something was jutting out of it too. His whole form was hideous, horrid and terrible. He began to

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dance in a most ugly manner and started flinging his legs up and down with tremendous force, in all directions. Gradually he expanded his body and became very fat like a big balloon and of a gigantic stature. He began to laugh in a horrible way, looking on all the sides; his laughter resounded in a terrifying echo. His ferocious eyes turned red like fire-flames. He clasped both his hands and made some vigorous motions in all directions in terrific anger, as if he was throwing something in space. Just then I saw innumerable tiny queer creatures in space, moving about here and there and everywhere. They were very ugly and had no ears, no noses and some of them had no eyes and no hands even. The ones with eyes looked very cruel. They all rushed in a cyclonic motion and turned to the Yagnavedi in front of each person and started destroying the sacrificial fires. Some fires were extinguished while some could not be blown out.

This Asura turned his ferocious gaze all around and looked horrible. At this time, the atmosphere became very gloomy and disturbed. But none of the persons stirred from their places, not even our little children; they all continued their meditation. The Asura was feasting his eyes on the tiny creatures and was evidently very happy with their work of destruction. He laughed aloud in a hideous way and rushed towards the Samadhi. Instantaneously, brilliant, snow white Light descended with great velocity and filled the whole courtyard with the result that the Asura was stuck then and there itself and could not even budge from the place where he was standing.

I saw him struggling very hard to move but he could not go to the Samadhi. Perhaps he wanted to destroy it. It appeared like that from his look. As the light descended, the Asura's body became milky white down his chest. The rest of his body remained brown. The tiny innumerable creatures were no more there - they were all dissolved in the white Light.

When my eyes glanced up, they met with an indescribable and magnificent sight. I saw descending slowly, from high above, a two-in-one majestic, captivating, transparent, luminous and scintillating golden Body radiating brilliant golden Light in

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all directions. It paused in space just a little above the ground. Its lustrous eyes shone with a sweet, magnetic and beatific smile. In its compassionate gaze, It held each and every single person meditating there and with Its beautiful lotus-like hands in a (mudra) gesture of Blessings showered Grace on all.

Each one was meditating in refulgent golden Light. Now, in front of them, their sacrificial fires were seen as before. They were mounting higher and higher with great intensity; some of them soared very high above. The atmosphere became very calm, peaceful and elevating. It was a marvellous, enchanting and unparalleled, sight to see! The Asura was no more there!

(Note: I have tried to express this very true and symbolic vision but have been unable to do it satisfactorily.)

Recitation of Savitri by Sri Aurobindo

26.12.1979 - 10.45p.m.

I was sleeping in Sri Aurobindo's room. Soon I had a dream.

Sri Aurobindo was reciting Savitri in a very sweet and melodious voice. The tune of some musical instrument was also heard. It was something like a flute but not a flute. It was the sound of some musical instrument which I have never heard before. I have had the grace of hearing Sri Aurobindo playing a flute in my dream, several times, but this was such a marvellous and elevating tune and with a voice accompanying it. I could hear Nirod also reciting Savitri along with Him. I became very quiet. My whole body became extremely peaceful. I wanted to go and listen to this enchanting voice and music. It was coming from the 'long passage' (as the Mother called it) outside Sri Aurobindo's room where He used to sit on His chair and write and recite Savitri and I used to listen in the adjoining 'Meditation Hall.' At last I made a great effort to get up. I jumped and ran to the long passage. But it was dark! I looked at Nirod's place. His light was on and he was standing in the

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middle of the room. Seeing me running out of Sri Aurobindo's I room, he enquired, "What is the matter? You dreamt of something or what?"

I found nothing there and realised that it was all a dream! But it was so concrete and living! I did not answer Nirod. I was not in a condition to say anything at that time. I quietly returned to my bed in Sri Aurobindo's room.

Vishnubhai came and gave me two beautiful bunches of the flower "Gratitude" and left without uttering a single word. Soon after he left, I realised that I should have given him one flower. Now he is gone. From where did he get such beautiful flowers? I have seen many "Gratitude" flowers, but today for the first time I saw such rare ones. Normally, "Gratitude" flowers have very little fragrance, but, these were full of fragrance which filled the whole room. What a sweet fragrance!

I took them to the Mother. She had just entered the room, and she started looking around very happily. While offering my salutation, I put my head in her lap; she patted my head with both her hands and pressed it frequently.

When I raised my head, both my hands, with the flowers were seen pressed by her against her chest.

She said, "Champaklal! This is your gratitude. How did you manage to get it? From where?" I narrated the whole incident. Then she happily gave me one of the two bunches, looking continuously into my eyes and from the other bunch she selected one flower and asked me to give it to Vishnubhai. I stretched my hand to give it to Vishnubhai and the vision ended.

and higher regions. After a certain distance, far, very far, a brilliant bright-red, very beautiful, lustrous sun is seen shining. Its radiant glowing flames burn my body even from a far distance and make me feel suffocated.

Just then, the same commanding yet compassionate voice is heard again. It reassures me: 'Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't be afraid in the least! Remember what I told you at the very outset!' Immediately I sense that these illumined flames have taken off something from all over my body which became extremely light like a flower. I was advancing closer and closer to this red sun. Now the light of its dazzling flames filled me with bliss! The body did not burn at all! It penetrated through this blazing sun and forged ahead higher and higher! One after the other, at long distances, I shot through each of the beautiful, brilliant, splendid, innumerable suns of various bright hues. They were at a very far distance from one another. Now I experienced a feeling of newness in the body, both in and out. I felt it to be of a totally different stuff.

I was lying on the same Patthi but now I felt as if I was in space - a little above the Patthi, and this time beautiful, bright, lustrous, sparkling lights of different colours started entering into my body. This process continued for along time. From this also, the body began to go still higher and higher. After reaching a certain height, I saw a wonderful, unique, extremely luminous, shimmering golden sun. It was limitless and endless i.e. from top to bottom and also from sides, there was no end! Its golden light was seen covering the whole 'brahmanda' (universe) and everything was saturated with this golden light. My whole body also became blissful and lustrous, as if made of that light only. As I was approaching nearer and nearer this golden sun, I was getting new and totally different experiences which are impossible to put in words.

Again the voice of the invisible man is heard: 'Be on your guard, be on your guard, always, constantly, be on your guard! Your real time is coming now!' Reaching very near these bright shimmering, luminous lights, gave me an unimaginable coolness and in no time I entered into that wonderful resplendent golden

radiated ethereal coolness. There I had Darshan of Sri Aurobindo in His luminous new form. Retaining my hand in Her grip, the Mother brought me straight to Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo gazed at me fondly. His sweet familiar voice summoned, 'Champaklal!' And the next instant I spontaneously laid my head in His lap. He stroked my head caressingly with his soft silken hands. Sri Aurobindo lifted my head. I got up in my usual natural way and stood before Him. And I saw the Mother instead in the same place! After a moment, once again, I had Darshan of Sri Aurobindo! Wonderstruck, I stood immobilised! Then a Darshan of a 'two-in-one' body left me stupefied. It was a transcendental Darshan! I have used the word 'body' as I have no appropriate word. Their body was not like what they had been in Their physical form. It was a radiant, lustrous, translucent and indescribable form. What a Supernal, Supernatural Darshan!

Champaklal, in the form of a lovely baby, was seen lying and happily playing and enjoying himself in Their lap. Their glowing, gracious, tender, smiling glance held Champaklal's eyes. They were caressing his whole body with both Their hands, in a gesture of blessing. They lifted him slowly and gently and pressed him tenderly to Their mighty and radiant bosom. They seemed to have merged him in Them and thereby made Champaklal very much blessed indeed. What a boundless beatitude!

The vision is over but its impact persists. I have formulated it in words though much of it is beyond expression.

On 13.7.1984, was the pure, sacred, blissful and extremely auspicious Guru Purnima (full moon) day.

In Bharuch, Kamalaben's brother's bungalow which had been named 'Kripa' (Grace) by the Mother.

In this place, Grace descended also on Champaklal.

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A Message from the Mother

20.2.1985

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo gave me Darshan in a dream on 20th February 1985. The Mother was in peals of laughter. Seeing this, Sri Aurobindo kept on looking at me and then at the Mother with a buoyant smile. What a delightful laughter it was! The Mother was gazing at me with fond affection. It was an extraordinary sight! Then the Mother exclaimed, "Champaklal, Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! But is this the way? What are you doing? Have you not written about us (and our way of working) in your book? You were shown everything. You understood well too.... Why are you then reacting in such a way?" On hearing these words, Sri Aurobindo burst into laughter. Usually Sri Aurobindo smiled softly. But at that time he chuckled aloud in the same manner as the Mother had done many years earlier. Today after ages I had the rare privilege of witnessing both the Mother and Sri Aurobindo in sparkling mirth. A magnificent spectacle indeed!

Then the Mother recalled, "Champaklal, did you not mark that many a time I worked the whole day without taking any food? All the time was spent in meeting people. And that too in what a way! What kind of persons I was obliged to see and what not and how much I had to bear! Very few individuals know about it. But you were present all along. I had kept you with a purpose. When I used to apprise Sri Aurobindo of the day's happenings, then too you were often there. Have you forgotten all this?

"Do you not perceive that you have to work like me? Can you not see even from the way I change your circumstances and also the programmes planned by you, and set them anew? Because by giving importance to what you have to undergo on meeting others, you wish to stop going out and retire completely, I am compelled to re-organise your environment. Do you not understand even then? You have yet to work further, more and more.

Au revoir.... Champaklal.... Au revoir!"

Bidding me good bye and smiling sweetly, the Mother left.

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Then Sri Aurobindo smiled gently and asked me, "Champaklal, did you follow? Did you grasp what the Mother told you?" Having said this, Sri Aurobindo roared with laughter and my eyes opened! That exhilarating laughter! I can see it clearly even now.

The Mother's birthday brought a great benediction for Champaklal.

21.2.1985

After this dream, the Mother made me recollect one of the past incidents. The Mother and Sri Aurobindo then stayed in the Meditation House. The Mother's new apartment upstairs was not yet built. On climbing up the staircase of the Meditation House, there is a passage where the Mother's big photo is placed on Darshan days. In that small passage, the Mother would ask me to wait so that when necessary, She could call me. The right side of the passage was kept closed. That was the time when the Mother confided in Sri Aurobindo experiences of her own sadhana and also all the personal affairs of the sadhaks and sadhikas. Due to the Mother's speaking loudly, even though the partition door was shut, everything could be heard because of the open space on top. During that period, I used to be in a real fix. Should I stay on or leave? Such things were heard that one ought not to remain there. But since the Mother Herself had instructed me to be there, how could I go away? If She needed me and called for me then? That is why I say I was in an embarrassing situation.

A Vision of the Famous French Artist

2.6.1985

Whenever I visit beautiful places and also the spots of natural grandeur, I keep on looking at them with great admiration, I

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Claude Monet

also feel inclined to simply close my eyes and lie down. Today I could not control this tendency of mine*, and hesitatingly I stretched myself on the open lawn.

As soon as I closed my eyes, it started drizzling. It was an extraordinary rain of a golden hue. It touched my body as if I was bathing in it. But its unique feature was that it did not wet the body. I sensed the golden fluid entering into me and flowing everywhere within, with the result that I could see nothing but the golden light inside my body. Then this scene was over.

The trees in the garden turned luminous. Amongst the trees whose branches were hanging like creepers, I noticed that one tree was extending up slowly. Gradually it rose so very high that its top could not even be seen! In the meanwhile I saw a charming Being lovingly caressing the creeper-like branches with a soft sweet smile and gently gliding down. On descending, this Being came close to me and started rubbing my whole body with his two hands. I felt very good and so continued to lie down. Then this Being opened my mouth and put some white glistening liquid inside and applied something on my tongue. Then I saw myself clinging to him. He told me, "You have to come with me. Sri Aurobindo has instructed me, 'You have to go down. My Champaklal has come there. I had arranged his coming. You too will be glad to go to your own place'." The Being added, "Sri Aurobindo seemed to be very pleased as he said this. I have never seen him so happy before, although many a time I have witnessed his showing pleasure without speaking. He was in such high spirits that I have no words to recount it. So, come! You do not need to do anything. Remain just as you are and go on watching what happens. You must not ask even a single question. Also, do not speak." Then we started rising higher and higher from out of those hanging creepers. Finally this magnificent Being stopped.

Here I experienced a golden light radiating constantly from above. There were many persons - small as well as big. Some were moving about, several of them seemed to be doing something, but it was all hazy. I could not see anything clearly enough to know details. Then this royal Being commanded me,

* The reason for my writing 'could not control this tendency' is that in such places, when I lie down, I am asked, "Dada, are you tired?" That is why I avoid it as much as I can,

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"Wait here only. Do not move even an inch from here. I shall be back shortly." On his return, he took me to a place and explained, "This is my residence. Here too, do not ask questions. Discern on your own whatever you can. I shall display to you my paintings here. Before that let me tell you something. But then, no queries from you. After I have disclosed to you everything, I shall take you to Sri Aurobindo."

"For a long time I lay in a condition of so-called deep sleep. But it was not 'sleep' as on earth. You will understand only when you yourself experience it. I had no mind to come out of this 'sleep'. But Sri Aurobindo aroused me in his own way, and advised, 'Now you have to do two things. First, on earth there are many children who are my own but only some of them are in search of my light. Out of them very few know what my light is. For these children you do not have to do anything. As for those who are seeking a new light, staying here only, you have to guide them in the same manner as I helped you to paint. I myself am doing this work. When you go on earth, you will see it in several places'." Then this fascinating form further addressed me, "Come, I shall now show you my paintings. Try to fathom them as much as you can according to your capacity. But do not ask even one question." On seeing some paintings, I was simply overwhelmed with joy, and woke up. I was being told, "Sitting on the lawn is not allowed." It was clear to me that I was not supposed to see more - that is why this came just as an excuse.

Later I came to know that the imposing figure which I had seen was that of the well-known French painter Claude Monet. I was also informed of his special liking for the very trees I had seen in the vision. These trees were noticed in many of his paintings that I got to see there. I learnt that he was very fond of gardens. He himself worked and created exquisite gardens. But generally what happens, occured also in the case of this artist. After him, those delightful gardens remained no more. However, some persons, by closely observing his paintings, have done an excellent experiment and made lovely gardens as of his time.

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The Mother in the Golden Lotus
A Vision at Paris

1985

The Mother's loving, sweet voice is heard, but she is not seen. I look around eagerly, but still she can't be seen. I become impatient to see her. The Mother says, "Champaklal, first you listen to me quietly. Initially, when you started working with me, I did not see anyone; hence I used to get a lot of time and the two of us could work together. In those days, I told you many things about Paris and its artists. Now, I have brought you and Kamala here, to Paris. See as much as you can, what you could not understand earlier will become clear directly by seeing." I become more eager to see her - I keep calling Mother, Mother, Mother.... At that moment, everything within me becomes peaceful and I get abundant joy calling "Mother." I just wish that from now onwards, the Mother would keep me for ever and always in the same peaceful state, and my calling her stop on its own.

"Then, I do not see anything except white, golden light. White Light! Then, golden blue light is seen. Afterwards, the colours of the light that was seen could not be identified. A very bright, attractive, colourful view is seen everywhere, which I would like to see ceaselessly. In the meantime, it starts raining torrentially; there is nothing except water everywhere. The colour of the water is beautiful light sky-blue. The downpour stops. I then see in the water a big golden lotus in beautiful blue colour. The Mother in her self-luminous, divine body is seated on the lotus. I see Kiranbhai prostrate himself before her.

A few persons are also sitting around. What is happening

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there cannot be seen clearly. I become very eager to see it, but can't. (I get the real experience of eagerness today). Then, the scene changes.

White Light descends over entire Paris. Nothing except light is seen. At that moment, I see Sri Aurobindo standing in his golden, luminous, divine body, facing me. He covers both my eyes with his soft hands and asks me to say something. I say something, but I don't know what; it was quite sensible at that time. He removes his blessed hands from over my eyes. I open my eyes and see a number of people going to and fro, doing various types of movements, some jumping, some somersaulting, some dancing, some twisting their limbs and so on. Young boys and girls also are seen moving around and enjoying themselves in many different ways. And yet, what is happening cannot be understood. The white light descends again. Light, Light and Light everywhere; nothing except Light. Now, a colourful atmosphere pervades all the four directions. (There is a colourful atmosphere everywhere). It starts drizzling. At the same time, from above, something appears to be descending, but what it is, cannot be identified. Then, only water is seen everywhere.

In the middle, a luminous, golden, blue-coloured lotus is seen. In the centre of the lotus, the Mother is seated in her luminous, golden, white body. From the Mother's body as well as from the lotus, rays of light in various colours keep spreading all around. Both the blessed hands of the Mother are stretching out and moving all round. The Mother is also seen in the same manner in all the directions; blessing everyone with her blessed hands. A very beautiful, fascinating and indescribable scene!

Then, the lotus starts growing slowly, at a speed which is not even noticeable. At last, it becomes so large that there seems to be no end to it. It is the same endless sight in all the directions. The light that was spreading in the entire atmosphere is initially like the mild rays of the rising sun, but now it becomes intense like the light from the sun at midday. And my eyes open. What an extraordinary divine vision!

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A Magnificent Heavenly Darshan in Matrimandir

7.1.1986

At the moment my right leg was not in a good condition. But that is how I feel every time; as I pass from one state of being to another, I become aware that the present plight is not good.

The car could be taken right up to the entrance of Matrimandir. From there I had to walk a little to reach Matrimandir. Though the distance was not much, I had to sit for a while midway. Five minutes' rest always refreshes me. After relaxing for five minutes, I proceeded relying solely on the gracious Mother's Force. As a matter of fact, climbing the many stairs of Matrimandir was indeed a daring act on my part. That is why I contemplated "relying solely on the gracious Mother's Force" for She alone has come to my aid on numerous occasions whenever such situations arose. Now also only the Mother made it possible for me to reach Matrimandir.

Darshan

As soon as I stepped in, She saturated me. I entered an altogether different world. I had to struggle to keep my eyes open. Ultimately they got closed. The whole of Matrimandir seemed to be rolling from side to side. So I opened my eyes and saw that Matrimandir was steady, but again as I shut them, Matrimandir appeared to be tossing and turning like before. Once more I opened my eyes, and found that it was very stable. This happened three times. I do not recollect when it actually ceased tumbling. Later it started whirling slowly like a merry-go-round. Suddenly it was spinning very fast. Then its pace slowed down and it began to plunge down, deep down in the abyss. Finally when it got settled, a marvellous figure was seen. As soon as it touched Matrimandir, I do not know what happened but I felt that I was back to my original place inside the structure.

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Now the walls of Matrimandir were transparent and luminous. Then gradually they were interchanging their colours many times. Eventually they appeared to be of a translucent, brilliant and resplendent golden colour. I could see very vividly far-off objects on all sides, all in one expansive gaze. It was a fantastic sight! Around Matrimandir, up to a certain distance, there were different kinds of beautiful, bright and fascinating flower plants of varied hues, never seen before. Behind them were numerous trees of diverse kinds. Many of them were adorned with lovely glistening blossoms while many were of lustrous colours. Beyond them, very very far, there was a vast open space in the midst of which shone an exquisite, radiant and magnificent throne of superb workmanship and a golden glow. On its right side were seated children, women, men and aged persons from different countries. But on its left was an unprecedented scene of many kinds of animals and birds of land and sky. All the animals, both gentle and ferocious, were there together, many of them never seen before. There were ever so many offspring. Beyond, on one side, there was a wide serene lake in which bloomed lotuses of many colours as well as of shimmering gold and silver, which held one spellbound. On the other side, there was another similar large lake with water creatures and objects. There were beautiful fish and crocodiles of varied colours. The water was so transparent that all kinds of riches: pearls, rubies, emeralds, corals, shells, conches, beautiful plants, herbs and many other precious things were seen vividly and distinctly, all at the same time, in one extensive glance. One cannot possibly see them with the naked eye. How to write of all this?

Beyond the lakes was a colossal tree the limits of whose top and sides could not be seen. Its branches were touching the ground. Its every leaf constantly radiated light of varying colours. The whole tree was profuse with lotus-like flowers of many shades including silver and golden ones in between. These sparkling flowers were so fascinating that one would keep on looking at them. I was allured by this enchanting sight for a pretty long time. After this were seen multicoloured mountains

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glowing with light. The peaks of many of them were not visible. At this place, some people were seen moving about here .and there. They included children, women and aged persons. There were different types of beautiful houses of unusual and novel architecture and construction, scattered on various spots on the plains and mountains. While I write, I realise that it is not possible to see so much at the same time but the infinite Grace made possible what was impossible. Every time I reflect, 'I could never have seen this!' That is exactly how I felt then.

My eyes turned again to the throne and I saw that golden light was continuously emanating from it. It seemed that the Mother was seated there in Her golden translucent body. Again it appeared that Sri Aurobindo was there. In between, time and again was seen an incredible vision of the two-in-one body. It seemed to be a transparent body but I could not comprehend how it was inside.

The meditation started. The Mother herself was singing. Instrumental music was heard but one could not see from where the notes came or which was the musical instrument. The Mother's voice was extremely sweet and melodious and evoked spontaneous concentration. It was a peaceful, exhilarating and elevating atmosphere. I was all along aware of being in a grand new world. This continued for quite some time. Then I saw something marvellous!

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, two together in one body, were seen in front of each and every one at the same time, in a benediction-pose, with their right hand showing grace and love. What an indescribable scene of wonder and beatitude! Everything became quiet and peaceful. Suddenly an ear-piercing resounding victory conch was heard. Simultaneously the children were seen wonder-struck as their physical bodies were slowly and gradually undergoing change and they attained youth. The young people turned strong and well-built while the aged were transformed into the prime of youth. The animals and birds were released from their genetic lineage and were seen in different beautiful forms. Now it started drizzling and then pouring. The novelty of the phenomenon was that it rained

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in many different colours and finally in silver and gold! This view was also fascinating. Eventually the rain stopped and nothing but the golden light was visible everywhere.

All of a sudden, my glance fell on the upper portion o Matrimandir and I beheld a blazing, glorious, ravishing, golden sun covering the entire firmament! Instead of heat, it effused golden light and delightful coolness. My gaze went back to the throne and I saw everyone (men, women, children, birds, animals) standing in adoration in a posture of Namaskar (folded hands in obeisance). The marvel of this moment brought me a novel experience. It was a peerless spectacle. Everything appeared to be golden. Instantaneously a cascade of golden light from the sky poured into Matrimandir. At that time I sensed that a number of persons were sitting nearby but I could not see them clearly. I had a feeling that the golden light fell on all and penetrated inside. The whole hall was suffused with golden light. Now one could not see anything except the golden light. Suddenly Sri Aurobindo's and the Mother's hand of blessing was seen caressing not only my head but everyone's. Everything became peaceful. Once again a sweet melody was heard. My eyes opened. It is just impossible to formulate in words the impact of the moment on my body. As I write this, golden Lanka of the Ramayana comes to my mind.

When I came down, saturated with Peace, Ananda, Love and Joy, a Matrimandir worker put into my hands an enlarged 20" x 24" size photo of Matrimandir. This seemed to me very interesting. It was a photo of Matrimandir in golden colour. Another person also gave me a number of other photos Matrimandir.

Victory, Victory, Victory to the Mother!

Note

On 28th morning, Sushilaben saw me in connection with her work. After it was over, while going, she smiled softly, full of

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past happy and fond memories, and informed me, "Today is Auroville foundation day. 17 years back, i.e. on 28th February 1969, the Mother gave a very beautiful message." I asked her to bring it.

In the evening when she came for the translation work, she, brought it and showed it to me. At that time Sushilaben's sister Lachmanben was also present. She saw this message for the first time and pointed out to me, "See, the words used by you while coming down from Matrimandir are similar to those written by the Mother in Her message. What a pleasant coincidence!" I too found it interesting. Why would I not feel so? The gracious Mother had taken me through a much more enchanting experience. Thereupon it occurred to me how lovely and apt it would be to crown my vision with the perfect offering of Her Message in Her own hand. How the Mother arranged everything without my speaking a single word!

Victory, Victory, Victory! Victory again to the Mother! Facsimile of the Mother's message is given here.

Nava and Sushila

for

Auroville

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28.2.1969

"Let light, peace and joy

be with all those who

live in Auroville

and work for its realisation."

blessings

The Mother

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Symbolic Vision in Waking State

25.6.1986

I was sitting, quietly. There was a soothing breeze all around. (Kamlaben and I were sitting on a step.) My seat slowly began to move, and then it started running like a fast train. It kept running further and further. Similar to what is seen from a running fast train, I was seeing the beauty of nature. At that time, I was wide awake. If I opened my eyes, the vision would vanish! If I shut my eyes, the fast train would start again. I was enjoying it the same way as a child would. This is interesting - but only for me - not for others; they might not even understand it. They might take it to be mere imagination.

A similar thing had happened at Shankaracharya's hill. We were standing and the hill started moving.

On a second occasion, Dilipda's samadhi also had started moving.

Today, the same thing happened for the third time, but there was a difference.

The moment I would open my eyes, everything would be at a standstill. If I closed my eyes, the fast (mail) train would start. This way, I tried three to four times. I, then, thought that I must go as everyone was waiting (for me), because it could not be predicted when this would end. What was surprising was that I was absolutely awake. I wanted to see how and when this vision would end, but circumstances were different.

Now, who will be interested in this? Yes, if he experienced it himself, he would surely enjoy it.

It strikes me now that in a way this is indicative also. At first, I took it to be fun, but now I understand it.

What is interesting is that except for the two of us (Kamalaben and I) no one was there, we were sitting on the lowest step, and the Mother made our seat run like a fast train. She was telling us, "Look, I am taking both of you at the speed of a fast train." I could see everything fully awake, that is also indicative. After the experience of this vision I told Kamalaben, "Others cannot see. Like me, you will also realize later on how the

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Mother is leading you. I have told you several times that theMother is taking us by a fast train." Today, it was shown symbolically.

The vision was shown yesterday by the gracious, compassionate Mother; at first, I took it to be some kind of fun by the Mother. But, then, she alone gives the wisdom, "This vision was not for mere fun. It is a symbol of how I am leading you. The way you have become aware and conscious of my mission (direction), the same way, I had tried to show you a symbolic vision in your waking state."

Sometimes, when the Mother speaks invisibly - only her voice is clearly audible. Rarely, in dreams does she appear and speak, it was not so this time. This was only my understanding, which later on got corroborated. All that is too long to tell and it is also personal.

Golden Virat Purusha

1.1.1987

It is not a dream nor even a vision. The question is: by what name shall I call it? It is extremely difficult to put it in words. Yet I shall make an attempt. It gives me great delight. That is why I have made an effort to write. I would rather say that I cannot refrain from writing.

I happened to go to an altogether strange and unimaginable place. I do not even know how I managed to reach there. I am also unaware of all that took place. It is not something that one can write in brief.

My very existence was forgotten. 'Who am I? From where have I come?' I was unable to remember all this. Gradually I started looking around, and it seemed to me that I was in Sri Aurobindo's Room. But the Room appeared to be totally different. It had no doors and windows, not even an entrance. I pondered, 'How did I manage to come here?' but could not recollect anything. This hall was absolutely unfamiliar. One has

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to give some name, hence I have used the word ‘hall'. Except for the glowing golden light, nothing was seen in the hall. Later a certain kind of melody was audible. Hearing it, I became calm and quiet and longed to go towards the direction from which it came. I got a tremendous pull from there. But from where was this cadence flowing in? from above, below, all round, everywhere - from where did it come? I could not make out. What a sweet, musical and ear-pleasing sound it was!

The tone of the mantra became louder and louder. Its incredible feature was that I thought I understood everything but at the end I felt that I did not comprehend anything. What a contradiction! Everything appeared to be so strange and yet so very natural! The notes then entered into my body. As soon as they penetrated into every cell of my body, these sounds were transformed into a variety of colours. And what luminous, radiant and fascinating colours! All these colours were rotating from top to bottom and from below upwards at a great speed. I was at a loss to know what was happening. After that numerous living figures made of these lucent colours were seen moving about quietly within. They were communicating with one another through many gestures and signs. Then these forms came out of the cells and merged into the light that flooded the hall. At that time I could see nothing inside me but the golden light. And outside was seen a majestic, enchanting, glorious and gigantic (virat) golden Purusha. How to write anything about this entrancing Virāt Purusha? On his forehead was a refulgent golden sun which, though blazing, was simultaneously effusing peace and coolness. Wherever this Virat Purusha cast his gaze, he dispersed rays of the golden light.

The scene then changed. This Virat Purusha was holding many suns. He contained countless suns in his single body. In fact one can say that he was composed of suns only! What an ecstatic sight! It is indescribable. The Virat Purusha's splendourous glance was vibrating love, grace, compassion and tenderness. All this is inexplicable. Then the huge hand of this God of gods (devddideva) caressed my entire body. Instantly after his caress, I became bodyless. Yet I felt that

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someone was moving me all over in that immense space. The loud chant of

(Om lead me from mortality to immortality)

was heard. It was being repeated in several ways. Then the light of various colours was seen enveloping the whole area of this enormous place. Ultimately, all over the vast expanse, the golden light alone was visible. Simultaneously was heard the melodious, powerful and resonant chiming of the victory bells. I was absolutely spellbound.

I reflected: 'What was all this?' 'From where to where had I come?' Filled with gratitude, my body prostrated itself in Sashtang Pranam (obeisance of the whole body). I just did not feel like getting up from this posture of pranam. I had to force myself up. But the mind was lost in the experience undergone and in its vivid remembrance. Almost the whole night passed this state.

On the happy and auspicious day of 1^st January 1987 at the august and sanctifying abode of pilgrimage – Sri Arvind Nivas, Vadodara

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