9 "Cosmos", 54-A, S. V. Road
Andheri (W), Bombay - 400 058
Roshan
Apurva
CHAMPAKLAL 'ONE 0F THE HUNDRED'
"Bonne Fête
To Sri Aurobindo's and Mother's Champak,
One of the hundred
With my love, appreciation, trust and blessings for ever.
En route vers la Réalisation."
THE MOTHER
Champaklal, who served Sri Aurobindo and the Mother for over five decades as their blessed child and faithful servitor was affectionately called by the Mother, "My Lion," "My true child," "My most faithful child," "A part of myself."
Ever since his childhood, Champaklal had sincerely aspired to live constantly in the Divine presence of someone like Sri Ramakrishna. In his own words, his aspiration was "truly fulfilled in a number of ways." Sincere aspiration, even when not expressed in words, can evoke the Divine Grace. Champaklal's life is a
Page xv
shining example of this truth.
When he first arrived in Pondicherry in April 1921, for a "Darshan" of Sri Aurobindo, Champaklal had noted his experiences in his diary. He wrote a very affectionate letter to Sri Aurobindo soon after his return from Pondicherry in which he described his inner conflict and asked for his guidance. It is observed from his diaries (Gujarati) of 1922 that he had a great inclination towards God and he used to remain constantly aware of Him. He always reminded himself to be ever conscious and introspective. In one of his diaries he has stated: "What have you done about the practice of sadhana shown to you by Arvind- babuji? Free yourself, free yourself from pride and attachment, what a shallow life! Have you come for worldly enjoyment! What is your aim in life? Follow the straight path of faith. Never forget even for a moment the path shown to you by Arvindbabuji. You will never find a God so long as you do not have a keen desire to find Him. But, when will I find God? 0 God! Show mercy on me! Give me Thy refuge! Give me pure knowledge,, devotion and love."
Each man who enters the realms of yogic experience is free to follow his own way, but guidance from a guru is indispensable. The guru can show the path for the contact with the Divine. Champaklal has absolute trust in Divine Grace as reflected in his prayers and utterances.¹
1. These have been compiled and published in a book in Gujarati entitled "Prarthana and Udgaro" by Roshan & Apurva
Page xvi
. These utterances spring from truthful experiences and total dedication. There is a constant flow of pure and true feelings of a devoted heart and a fragrance of Sat-Chit- Ananda.
Champaklal has seen many visions.² These visions are "like a glorious song of cosmic forces at work both in man and nature." About his 'Golden Vision' an enlightened devotee Amal Kiran has written, "It reveals the Mother in her full reality - not only the Universal Form of her but also the individual being.... What you saw shows not only the cosmic power set to greater use by her departure from the body. What you saw shows also how closely and organically the Universal and the Individual in her were related and how naturally they interplay."
Some of these visions reveal the cardinal principles of Sadhana that Champaklal has practised ail along with steadfastness and unceasing devotion. These values have permeated every cell of his being and manifested themselves in various forms in the visions.
Champaklal always believed that "A drop of practice is more than an ocean of knowledge." His life is a standing example of service to the Divine. One day he told the Mother: "Ail these years 1 have served as 1 wanted to serve; now 1 want to serve as you would want me to do." All day and night - many times missing his sleep - Champaklal used to do his work with meticulous care,
2. "Visions of Champaklal" compiled and edited by Roshan and Apurva.
Page xvii
which earned him the Mother's grace who said: "Champaklal is very particular and careful about his work." The Mother was so satisfied with Champaklal that once She told him as follows:
"I am very much pleased with your work,
I like your faithfulness,
I like your sincerity,
I like your steadiness,
I like your regularity,
I like your courage."
Champaklal lives and breathes in the higher consciousness, the consciousness of Sri Aurobindo and the other and still he is with us with his simplicity and love. He is a perfect example of devotion, love, humility and service to the Divine. Our ardent prayer to the Divine Mother is for his long life rich with his devotion that would enlighten the paths of aspirants to a higher life.
Our humble salutations to Champaklalji
on his 89th birthday.
Page xviii
-05_Birthday Messages to Champaklal.htm
BIRTHDAY MESSAGES
TO
CHAMPAKLAL
TWO LOTUSES*
I wanted to offer something to the Mother and I thought of painting two lotuses, one white and the other red.
Curiously, I received two beautiful lotuses and took up the painting. But due to other work I could not finish it in a day and it took some days before I could finish the job little by little. Naturally one sitting would have been better. However the result was not bad and it was with great joy that 1 took them to the Mother on my birthday - 2.2.40.
She received the painting very well indeed and was pleased to say: Oh! Very pretty! Very pretty!
She wondered how I could get time to do the painting. She took them in both her hands and with a broad smile said: I give it to you, Champaklal! Take it, it is for you. It is very pretty. You keep it.
I did not answer and I did not take it.
She said again: Take it Champaklal, I give you as my present.
C: Mother! I have done it for you.
Seeing the state of my mind she found a way out.
She gave another broad smile and said to me slowly, almost in a whisper: Champaklal, I will take it to Sri Aurobindo and I will ask him to write upon it.
I said: Mother! Are you taking it to Sri Aurobindo? If so,
* Champaklal Speaks - Edited by M. P. Pandit.
Page 3
it would be very nice if you ask him to write the significance. Mother! Sri Aurobindo will write on the white lotus and you will write on the red.
Mother brought it to Sri Aurobindo. I was there. She showed it to him and said, See, how nice it is! Today is Champaklal's birthday, he has done this painting for me. If you write the significance on it 1 will give it to him. He also wishes that you write on the white lotus sheet and I on the red.
With a beautiful affectionate smile Sri Aurobindo said, "Hmm!" And he wrote on the top of the white lotus:
Aditi
The Divine Mother
And below the red lotus:
To Champaklal
with blessings
2.2.40 SRI AUROBINDO
After writing, he looked at me and gave a sweet smile. And on the top of the red lotus Mother wrote:
The Avatar
Sri Aurobindo
Page 4
The avatar
Sri aurobindo
And below the white lotus:
With blessings to my dear child
2.2.40 MOTHER
Mother asked me not to show the lotuses to anybody.
*
But you know that after many years blocks were made out of these paintings and printed for distribution. Do not ask me why I was told not to show them to anybody at one time and later things were changed. Obviously circumstances changed and the Mother never stood rigidly by what she may have said on an earlier occasion under different conditions. There are so many instances to the point.
Page 5
2.2.1940
Tranquillise and widen your consciousness; go deeper into your soul.
SRI AUROBINDO
This year make an effort to achieve equanimity.
Page 6
2.2.1941
A clarified consciousness with strength to reject ail inconscience and receive all that comes from the Light, this should be the aim before you.
This year you must wholly overcome and throw out the hostile suggestion that has been harassing you, rejecting it in such a way that it will never come back again. Your home, your place and your fulfilment are here.
THE MOTHERERER
Page 8
2.2.1942
Aspire always to grow more and more conscious so that all the small obstacles shall disappear from the physical consciousness and the obscurer parts of the vital nature.
In front of the repeated attacks from the enemy you must keep your faith intact and endure till the Victory is won.
Page 10
Champaklal's Portrait Drawn by the Mother on
2.2.1935 with Her Eyes Closed.
MY PORTRAIT*
6.10.1944
I showed to Mother my portrait done by Her. Some small yellow spots had appeared on the paper.
Mother: That happens when the paper is not good.
C: But this paper is of a good quality.
Mother: There must have been some defect in the making of the paper; it is a pity. The picture is wonderful, very nice.
You know, this portrait was done by Mother with eyes closed. She finished it in a few minutes and when she saw it, she was so happy with it that she took it immediately to Sri Aurobindo.
It was regarding this picture that she once said: "If 1 were to write thé name of Leonardo da Vinci hère (as thé artist) nobody would question it."
"The pencil just went on moving", she had said.
* Champoklal Speaks - Edited by M. P. Pandit.
Page 11
2.2.1943
Keep yourself ready by faith and self-opening to receive the Light when it comes.
Let this year be for you the year of a complete opening and of the breaking of ail limitations.
Page 12
Page 13
2.2.1944
Let the mind be quiet and receive the Light; let the vital be quiet and receive the Force that delivers.
Let this year bring to you the true faith - a faith that no darkness can obscure.
Page 14
Page 15
2.2.1945
Let the year that is beginning mark a definitive stage in the growth of your psychic being and its power over your nature and your life.
I am glad to be able to say that your openness and your receptivity have increased during last year. Do not stop now and let them become perfect in the year to come.
With my love and blessings.
Page 16
Page 17
2.2.1946
Continue to open yourself and the psychic consciousness will grow in you and the Light refine and illumine whatever is left of the shadows in the mind and vital being.
My dear child, now I can call you in truth my dear child as I feel you quite close to me having taken shelter in my arms for good — and you are welcome there with all my love.
Page 18
Page 19
FEET*
It was my birthday: 2.2.1947
I was very happy, indeed very very happy. The Mother was so gracious, as on every birthday of mine. When she came to Sri Aurobindo's room — where we ail were waiting for her - she looked at me with a broad smile which had a deep intimacy in it and told Sri Aurobindo:
Today is Champakial's birthday.
Sri Aurobindo's response was immediate and equally intimate. "HMM!", he said with prolonged emphasis, gave me a smile that moved me much.
Now for a long time I had wanted to get the impression of Sri Aurobindo's feet. But it was difficult as I did not want to inconvenience him in any way, or make a break in his routine programme in any manner. With Mother it was different; 1 could ask her to stand on a paper and then I could draw.
I had formed a plan in my mind. And accordingly I placed a big plank and arranged his chair over it. After sitting on the chair, he used to raise his legs for the footstool; similarly while getting up, he would raise his legs so that the footstool could be removed.
I asked him whether I could put a sheet of paper under the feet as I wanted to take an impression of his feet. He
* Champakial Speaks - Edited by M. P. Pandit.
Page 20
smiled and gave his consent.
Then, as he was getting up, after removing the foot stool, 1 inserted a big sheet of paper. Naturally, when he stood up, his feet were on that paper. I turned the pencil round and got the wanted sketch. I was happy that this could be done without any change in his programme,
It was worth seeing his expression at that time. You know I was very fond of watching his expression. You have seen some of the sketches 1 have drawn of him in different postures.
I took the paper with the impression, later in the day, to Sri Aurobindo for writing my name and blessings. He was happy and wrote:
To
my love and blessings
February 2, 1947
The same day I requested Mother to let me have a sketch of her feet. She drew it with her own hand and wrote:
2-2-1947
With love and blessings Mother
Page 21
2.2.1947
An increasing advance on the road to the entire psychic change is what is most important in the sadhana, for that is the straight road to the spiritual transformation. Devotion, harmony and scrupulousness in work, a growing inner perception and consciousness, more and more fading of the more vehement movements of the vital ego are among the more prominent landmarks on the road.
My dear child, that which I had foreseen last year has proved to be quite true and this relation of the Mother and the child has much grown in reality, intensity and deepness.
Page 22
Page 23
2.2.1948
Matter, blind to the Light, deaf to the call, the material consciousness and material life are the last and most obstinate refuge of the Inconscient and its résistance. There, the nearer the light, the higher it raises its wall of resistance. When that is overcome, the decisive trans- formation can have an open way.
My dear child,
Let your receptivity increase this year, to the extent of giving you the power to fully utilise the force that is at work for restoring perfect good health in you.
Page 24
Page 25
2.2.1949
Sri Aurobindo's love and blessings on the occasion of your birthday.
My dear child, now it is time for the faith to become truly active and to stand unshaken against all contra- dictions. Have the faith, the true faith, that you are cured and the cure is bound to corne.
Page 26
Page 27
2.2.1950 and 1951
To my most faithful child, the keeper of the true remembrance, I give today the assurance of my full confidence - I did not write in this book in 1950 because it was to be the most important year of your life, the year that has put a seal to what you were and opened in front of you the door leading to what you will be: a true and complete child of our Lord and whose presence here is more total than it has ever been.
Page 28
Page 29
Aspiring Swan
2.2.1952
Patience
Perseverance
Endurance Faith and an
Unshakable courage...
...We are approaching the goal.
Page 30
Page 31
2.2.1953
A steady progress and a clear understanding of what you must be. These are the gains of the finished year. Now there is only to continue.
Page 32
Page 33
2.2.1954
In 1940 Sri Aurobindo wrote to you: "Tranquillise and widen your consciousness" and I insisted on achieving equanimity. Many things have happened since then, much progress has been done and yet these things remain still to be fully realised. Let these be accomplished during this year that begins for you. A silent equanimity both inside and outside will be a great achievement for you.
Page 34
Page 35
2.2.1955
This time it is a year of true progress which has brought you nearer to thé goal and much doser to me. With my love and blessings.
Page 36
Page 37
2.2.1956
I can repeat what I said last year - but this time the progress is much bigger and the closeness to me much more true and intimate. You have advanced on the path at a great speed - and I can only tell you, continue.
Page 38
Page 39
2.2.1957
Bonne fête!
To my dear child.
You have continued and this time the progress is much more concrete and complete. I have the strong feeling that I can rely upon you and this is very comfortable.
Let this progress spread to the body now and give you good health steadily.
Page 40
Page 41
2.2.1958
To my dear child —
One more year;
one more step towards perfect service in a total surrender.
Page 42
Page 43
2.2.1959
My dear child
This year, the Grace has arranged circumstances in such a way that you are does to me than you have ever been — and ail through you have proved most reliable and effective, always ready, always there when you are needed, always doing what needs to be done. I am happy to tell you that on your birthday.
Page 44
Page 45
2.2.1960
Champaklal, my dear child, I am glad to be able to say that you are progressing steadily - as you yourself remarked, your consciousness is growing and with one more effort you will soon emerge in the light and become wise.
This one more effort is the control of speech. let it be the boon from the Grace for this year!
Page 46
Page 47
2.2.1961
Champaklal,
Bonne Fête!
Few words are needed. Ail is going on well.
Steadily we are advancing towards the goal, and you are keeping pace with me.
Page 48
Page 49
2.2.1962
All is well. You are progressing rapidly - there is only to continue steadily and the way will open before you more and more clear.
My love and blessings.
Page 50
Page 51
2.2.1963
Champaklal, my dear child,
The way is wide open and it is an artistic one, a fine way of expressing your soul, which will become more and more clear and powerful with the inner growth and flowering of your heart as a sincere expression of your eternal Soul.
With love and blessings.
Page 52
Page 53
2.2.1964
Champaklal, my dear child, a big step has been taken, a great change has taken place, the presence of your Soul is clearly felt, not only in what you do - which is steadily progressing -, but in what you are. This is a decisive year for you, heralding the realisation.
(On this occasion the Mother had also given four big artistically prepared folders with paintings and photographs. Messages from these are given on following pages.}
Page 54
Page 55
2.2.64
always with you
for ever
in eternal Love
Page 56
Page 57
2.2,64
To Champaklal the great doer of cards
this card to tell him my appreciation of ail what he has done and my expectation for still better things to come. In a growing closeness With love and blessings.
Page 58
Page 59
To Champakial
Forward! always forward!
Higher! always higher!
Truer! always truer!
BIessings.
Page 60
Page 61
2.2.1965
This year, I feel clearly that you have become a part of myself.
For ever love. THE MOTHER
Page 62
Page 63
Champaklal, master of the "cards", how to prepare a card for you?
Here is only some material for a card.
With full appreciation of you, your work and your devotion
and with blessings and love.
Page 64
Page 65
2.2.1966
Let this year see the advent of the true joy of working in the Divine's Consciousness.
With love.
Page 66
2.2.1967 Bonne Fete!
The illness has come like a test and gone like a purification carrying away all that was standing in the way of the joy of an integral consecration.
(The Mother orally said, "I come to you. You will read it care- fully. It is concrete, my experience." She repeated it.)
Page 68
Page 69
2.2.1968
Bonne Fete!
To Champaklal with love and blessings.
I am happy to say that you are my true child and becoming more and more so.
Page 70
Page 71
2.2.1969
Let the full Light be with you in a silent adoration.
Page 72
Page 73
Bonne Fete
To Champaklal the faithful
Page 74
Page 75
A new decade from 70 to 8O
2.2.1970
To Champaklal,
en avant! toujours
en avant!*
(* ...forward, for ever forward!)
Page 76
Page 77
From Mother
Love
Peace
Strength
Silence
Consciousness
Page 78
Page 79
2.2.71
First Prize of Faithfulness. With my full love bonne fete!
blessings
Page 80
Page 81
2.2.72
To Sri Aurobindo's and Mother's
Champak
one of the hundred
En route vers la Realisation.*
(* On the way towards Realisation.)
Page 82
Page 83
2.2.73
With all my love and confidence
and my blessings to reach the goal.
Let us all be eternally grateful to Him who has shown us and shows us constantly the way.
Page 84
Page 85
-06_Birthday Messaged to Kamala.htm
KAMALA
Kamala
A Sketch by the Mother
1.2.36 Kamala In faith and confidence and joy on the quiet and sunlit path towards the home of Light and Ananda.
(The original message is missing.)
11.2.38 My blessings on Kamala for the year of her life that begins today.
SRI AUROBINDO Let this year bring to you a steady increase of faith and devotion. With love and blessings.
Page 90
Page 91
11.2.41
My blessings on your birthday. May you grow in spirit with this new year of life.
My love and blessings to my dear child on the occasion of her birthday. Let your psychic being come more and more to the front and give you the true intimacy with the Divine.
Page 92
Page 93
11.2.42
My blessings for the day and the year. Grow in faith, grow in light, grow in consciousness.
My dear child, my love and blessings are and will be with you throughout the year. Let them help you to make one more progress on the way towards the divine goal.
(The original messages are missing.)
11.2.43
My blessings for your birthday. May this year be a step forward in consciousness and towards union with the Divine.
For Kamala, a prayer:
"With a calm and pure devotion we salute Thee and recognise Thee as the only reality of our being."
(Translated from the original message in French.)
Page 94
Page 95
11.2.44
My blessings for the year. May it bring to you growth in consciousness towards the Divine.
Here is a prayer for the year 44:
"Thou art resplendent in the bright sun. Thou makest Thyself felt in the sweet breeze that passes. Thou makest Thyself manifest in the hearts and livest in all beings."
With my blessings,
Page 96
Page 97
11.2.45
My blessings on your birthday. May this be a year of more and more progress both in your inner and your outer being.
Here is a prayer for 1945:
"Lord, grant that 1 may be entirely and eternally faithful to Thee."
(Translated from the original message in French.}
Page 98
Page 99
11.2.46
Fidelity, devotion, self-giving, selfless work and service, constant aspiration are the simplest and most effective means by which the soul can be made ready and felt to be in the abiding presence of the Divine.
The prayer for 1946 — to repeat daily:
"0 Lord, marvellous Friend, all-powerful Master, penetrate all our being and transfigure it so that Thou alone livest in us and by us!"
Page 100
Page 101
11.2.47
To light always and keep alight the psychic fire within, the fire of aspiration, devotion and self-giving - not to stifle it with the damp smouldering logs of vital desire and egoistic reactions. If that becomes permanent and continuous, then it will be easy to bring down the spiritual transformation.
My dear child, on this day of your birth anniversary, let your aspiration leap forward pure and straight towards the supreme consciousness which is all joy and all beatitude.
`With my tender love and blessings,
Page 102
Page 103
11.2.48
Page 104
Page 105
11.2.49
To Kamala with Sri Aurobindo's and my love and special blessings on the occasion of your birthday. Let this year bring you strength and health and the quietness of an unfailing faith.
Page 106
Page 107
11.2.50 -11.2.51
From this day of your birthday and Mahasaraswati's festival, let her skill and perfection in work be always and more and more with you.
With my love and special blessings,
Page 108
Page 109
11.2.52
To Kamala
Never forget the goal. Never stop aspiring. Never halt in your progress, and you are sure to succeed.
Page 110
Page 111
11.2.53
Bonne fete!
Bonne Année!
The year that is finished has been marked by a real progress. Let the year that starts see another totally decisive one.
Page 112
Page 113
11.2.54
You have come closer to me physically, let it be the sign that spiritually also you are closer to me in a complete consecration to the Divine and His work.
With my love and blessings,
Page 114
Page 115
11.2.55
Let all the clouds disperse, all the attachments disappear, all the obstacles vanish, so that you can enjoy fully the peace and the joy of being here, so close to me in the Divine's abode. With my love and blessings,
Page 116
Page 117
11.2.56
Bonne Fête! My dear child,
Let this year bring to you a quiet and peaceful mind, strong nerves and a good health.
Page 118
Page 119
11.2.57
Last year has been indeed a year of true progress. Open yourself still more to the new light at work in the world and the step forward will be confirmed. With my love and blessings,
Page 120
Page 121
11.2.58
To my dear child,
Let this coming back to the ashram be the symbol of a new start, a more intense aspiration, a greater consecration.
With all my love and blessings,
Page 122
Page 123
11.2.59
My dear child Kamala,
I had one night, in December last, one striking proof of the sincerity of your devotion and since then I feel you very close to me. I am happy to tell you this on your birthday.
Page 124
Page 125
11.2.60
To my dear child Kamala,
This is a decisive year for the world, for the ashram and for all those who sincerely aspire for the Divine Realisation.
Let it be also a decisive year for you.
Page 126
Page 127
11.2.61
To Kamala, my dear child,
Let the peace of a happy certitude be .always with you in this progressive march towards Victory.
Page 128
11.2,62
Kamala, my dear child,
Let all thoughts, all feelings, all actions, all hopes be turned towards the Divine and concentrated on Him. He is our only help and our only safety.
With love and blessings,
11.2.63
With my love and blessings for the realisation other highest aspirations.
In the Peace, the Joy and the Love of the Lord
Page 130
11.2.64
With my love and blessings for the Peace, the Light and the Joy of the Lord to be always with you.
Page 132
11.2.65
Let the Peace of a perfect faithfulness be settled in your heart, this year.
Page 134
Bonne Fête! To Kamala
With love and blessings for a peaceful and luminous year.
(This message was given in a big folder with a photograph.)
Page 136
11.2.66
To my dear child
With all the strength which comes from an absolute faith in the Divine's Grace and Love.
Page 138
11.2.67
Bonne Fête! To Kamala My dear child, With love and blessings for a luminous year.
Page 140
11.2.68
My blessings are with you for peace, contentment and good health.
With love,
Page 142
11.2.69
Page 144
11.2.70
To my dear child Kamala and for a peaceful year.
Page 146
Home
Disciples
Books
Share your feedback. Help us improve. Or ask a question.