Live. Live Your Best Life.

  Live Your Best Life

Writing the play was the easy part. Writing to tell you about it, not so much. 

I really want to say that I miss you very much and cherish our time together, but I will not say that. You came into my life and made me realize that I still have a life. I’m not sure I can say that either. Maybe I can say that, but I’m not sure. There are no gray areas, are there? So what can I say? Anything I say has to be devoid of even a whiff or a trace of Attachment. And I will be lying if- and I do not want to lie to you. Ever. I do not want to lie, period. Not even in my thoughts. 

So Samanijis, I will say Many Happy Returns of the Day, Samaniji Kshanti Pragya ji, your 10th Deeksha Diwas. Happy Anniversary, and many more to come. May all your Tapasya be richly rewarded as you reach dazzling heights in your Spiritual Life. May the blessings of Gurudev, and all the Acharyas and Siddhas, Tirthankars, and Lord Mahavir, be with you, as you shine as the brightest Star of the Terapanth which you are.

I remember your hard work in transforming my worldview, the sustained efforts you put into my education, and your patience and persistence in helping me learn all the difficult Hindi words and ensuring I pronounce them correctly. 

At that time, I did not realize it, but in hindsight, I know that between Samaniji Jin Pragya ji and Samaniji Kshanti Pragyaji, you played good cop and bad cop, and yes, it worked. Even I am proud of myself—well, almost. 

Please forgive me for not keeping my promise of writing a story a day. However, I am finding old stories that I had even forgotten I wrote. They’re fun to rediscover. 

The best part is that the Play “ Live Your Best Life,” which was started while you were here and languished at the last 5%, was finally completed about a couple of weeks ago, with the help of K and A. They nudged me through my writer's block as I aimed to meet your Deeksha Diwas and Diwali deadlines. I think you would like it, and I pray that somehow I am able to send it to India soon so that you can read it. 

Adarniya Samanijis, do consider that the Gopis adored their Krishna, which was an attachment to the Lord. In Kandahar Anoobhuti, the poet Saint Arunagurinathur of Thiruannamalai is quite candid about his adoration and extols the spiritual union he feels with his beloved Skanda. He is pretty daring in expressing the easy familiarity and attachment he feels in his heart for his Skanda. Saint Arunagirinather boldly refers to Valli, Skanda’s holy consort, and tries all kinds of persuasion, from flattery to begging for his Skanda’s attention and benevolence. He flaunts his feels in ecstatic poetry. 

Such is the adoration of those who have found their anchor, as I have found mine. I want to say more, but I am not saying it. All I am saying, Adarniya Samanijis, is that my thoughts have been with you these last several days as I eagerly awaited to celebrate your 10th holy Deeksha Diwas. It was the path you chose that brought the Mercy and Grace of God into my life. 

My gratitude comes from deep within my heart. I really want to say that your faces live in my mind's eye and have a permanent chamber to reside in my heart. However, I am not saying that. I want to say that whenever I contemplate our time together, gladness and an unbounded joy fill my consciousness. I hope I am allowed to say that. 

Happy Deeksha Diwas to you, Samaniji!

Your obedient and sincere shravak,

Veenu Banga 

10/28/2024

11:42 pm.