The Gift of a Vision, the Miracle of India

The Gift of a Vision, the Miracle of India ©
By Lena Karunamaya

There have been moments in my life when I have been transformed into the realm of the divine and peace settles in my heart. My mind is quiet and the cultural imprints vanish that impede my liberation and growth. I reside in one country yet another contains the knowledge of my soul and life purpose. Foreign mentors are necessary for my birth of purpose and vision. Intuition has great wisdom and contains the map of my destiny. I followed mine and left America for a while.

I traveled to India in 2003 to discover my soul, passion and to understand the teachings and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Six months prior to my departure, I had a profound spiritual experience in which Mahatma Gandhi appeared to me in a vision, a profound meditation and told me to go to the land of his birth. I believed this experience to be very significant and sign from the universe I must heed. I listened to whispers of a great soul and the truth of his God. I did not know anyone in America with who I could share this extremely moving experience so I held it in the pocket of my heart until reached Mother India and her loving embrace.

Through a series of synchronicities, emails and international introductions, I met Dr. Nirmala Deshpande in New Delhi in November 2003. She sat with me for an hour sharing her life story and of her walk throughout India with Gandhi’s successor, Vinoba Bhave during the Bhoodan-Gramdan (Land Gift) movement. She had been a Gandhian and peace activist for fifty years at the time of our meeting. I knew she would respect and understand my love for Mahatma Gandhi. As I began to tell her about my vision of Gandhi, I wept with tears of reverence and joy. She held me in a compassionate embrace as I spoke. She told me,” You were chosen to work for peace. Utilize your gifts for the betterment of humanity.” I was profoundly transformed by her words, wisdom and the divine presence of peace and love. The miracle of this vision now resides in my soul and heart of action.

Dr. Nirmala Deshpande (1929 - 2008) was a Gandhian, social activist and member of Indian parliament. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 two years after our meeting in New Delhi.

Lena Karunamaya - info@lenakarunamaya.com