Guru of None, Disciple of All: The Life & Times of Dada J. P. Vaswani

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About The Book To read J. P. Vaswani's life story is to understand the tremendous transformative power of love. The unusual upbringing of the exceptionally gifted young boy and his quest that leads to encounters with personalities normally hidden from public view make for a compelling read.

The budding physicist finds his calling at the feet of his uncle and Master, Sadhu Vaswani, himself a great social reformer, freedom fighter, author, and spiritual leader. Through his Master, J. P. Vaswani understands that God is not locked away in temples, but found in the tragedies and tears of all suffering beings. Turning his back on a promising career, financial security, and domestic life, he chooses a life of service to others. He eventually succeeds to the mantle of his Master, to become a towering spiritual leader and head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission.

A prolific writer and gifted storyteller, J. P. Vaswani's love for books and enthusiasm for adventure remain constant. His anecdotes and tales embrace multiple traditions, spanning several centuries and diverse cultures. Through these he reveals his vision of oneness. His philosophy of life is simple: If you want to be happy, make others happy. The urgent need of the day, he emphasizes, is an understanding heart and not an understanding brain.

With his radiant glow, twinkling eyes, energy, and sharp wit, J. P. Vaswani, who soon turns ninety-seven, proves that youth is not a matter of age, but a matter of mind.

About the Author

Anita Raina Thapan's work focusses on the lives and teachings of men of wisdom who demonstrate that spiritual ideals can be lived resulting in more humane, peaceful, and equitable communities. Her books include: The Penguin Swami Chinmayananda Reader (select writings of Swami Chinmayananda); Finding Peace of Mind (select writings of J. P. Vaswani); and The Truth Is One (select writings of Sadhu Vaswani). More recently, she has started writing children's books to share the joy and wonder of Indian culture and spirituality with the young generation. She lives in New Delhi.

Foreword

I am very happy to know that Anita Raina Thapan has written this biography of Dada J. P. Vaswani, which will be published on the occasion of his 97th birthday.

Dada Vaswani is a fount of inspiration for his followers. I have warm memories of my visit to his ashram in 2013 on his 95th birthday and of sharing his interaction with his followers.

Dada Vaswani has lived a life of dedication to the service of society, helping the poor and downtrodden. The schools and social institutions he has set up during his lifetime have benefited many people enormously. His spiritual advice has likewise helped many to lead meaningful lives. He has also worked to foster inter-religious harmony that is so important in our increasingly interdependent world.

I congratulate the author for compiling this biography, which will allow readers to better appreciate Dada Vaswani's many achievements.

Preface

Several years ago I was part of a team that was working on a project of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. Knowing that on my own I would never be able to gain the profound insights I needed, I asked Dada Jashan, one day, if he would bless me so that I could become a worthy instrument of his work.

Dada looked deep into my eyes with his clear, laser-like gaze, and gently asked:

'What time do you get up in the morning?’

'At 4:45 a.m., I replied.

'Alright. At 5:00 a.m., I will be thinking of and you can tune in to me.

I felt that the work was as good as done, because Dada had taken the responsibility of working through me. Upon returning to Delhi, I faithfully did what he told me, for a while. My output was inspired and my writing became a joyous prayer. However, there were delays and obstacles in the working of the whole team, and within a couple of months, the project came to a temporary standstill. Slowly, I dropped the practice of tuning in to Dada. In sheer ignorance and foolishness, I lost my connection with a living saint. Mundane and meaningless preoccupations gained precedence in my life. Without realizing it, I had let go of the rope that had been given to me to pull me out of a life of stress, fear, and limitation.

Several months later, I revisited Pune for some personal work. I was, instinctively, drawn to meet Dada. Standing with a crowd of people near the sacred Samadhi one evening, I saw the familiar figure, dressed in white, with a radiant face, captivating smile, and hands joined together in greeting. I experienced the same surge of inexplicable joy and love that his presence always seems to evoke. Suddenly, I felt that I had dissolved in the crowd and had become part of one strong wave of aspiration, rising to be engulfed in his divine presence; to imbibe the purity, the goodness, and the timelessness that he radiates; to drink in his words and perhaps touch the hem of his garment as he passed by.

The prayers at the Samadhi brought tears to my eyes. I recalled how every day of his life, morning and evening, Dada bows down before His beloved Master and invokes His Grace. His devotion, dedication and faith are so simple and touching; yet they are the key to his phenomenal spiritual power, ethereal majesty, his all-encompassing love and healing.

**Contents and Sample Pages**