7 - A New Game

One beautiful morning, Mangla Aarti was about to begin in the temple. Kunvarji, Natha, Dhanji etc. all the friends had got up early and had arrived at the temple. They were waiting for Abjibhai. Daily he used to reach the temple early. But that day he was late. Whatever the reason may be Kunvarji was glancing at the door frequently.

At last Abjibhai entered the temple with an aged gentleman.

Natha asked, ‘Why are you late today? Abjibhai replied, ‘This aged gentleman was not able to walk without support, therefore I helped him. So I am late.

Aarti started so everybody joined it. After Aarti was over Dhanji said, ‘Abjibhai, Let us go to play.’ Abjibhai proposed, ‘Let us play a new game today!’

They cheered up. And responded in chorus, ‘Yes, please come on, let us play a new game.’ Abjibhai requested, ‘First of all, please go and find some small and big stones.’ All of them ran here and there with excitement to collect stones and came back with stones. Abjibhai arranged the stones one on another and said, ‘Look, this is a temple and Maharaj is gracefully adorning the temple. Kunvarji, please bang two stones with each other so that it sounds like a bell. I will perform Aarti.’ Natha and Dhanji also joined in singing the Aarti.

Abjibhai gave everyone the Prasad of leaves. Abjibhai instructed, ‘Now close your eyes.’ They obeyed. ‘Now visualize the idol of God in your heart and meditate upon it.’ said Abjibhai. They followed.

After a while Natha opened his eyes. At the same time Kunvarji also opened his eyes. Both of them woke up Dhanji. Natha asked, ‘What kind of new game is this?’ Kunvarji pointed out, ‘Abjibhai has not yet woken up.’ Dhanji suggested, ‘Let us wake him up.’ Kesra went to Abjibhai and said, ‘Abjibhai, let us go to play.’ They shook him up, but he did not wake up. They went a little away and started playing.

Kunvarji said wearily, ‘There is no fun without Abjibhai, but it seems he has slept off.’ Natha agreed, ‘Yes, who can sit for such a long time? Definitely he has slept off.’ After a long time Abjibhai came out of meditation. Natha and Kesra teased Abjibhai, ‘See, he had one nice nap. He suggested to play a new game and himself slept off.’

Abjibhai said, ‘I was meditating. It is tremendously blissfull to visualize idol of God in one’s heart.’ Jadavji teased, ‘You are lying. You had slept off.’

Abjibhai tried to convince them, ‘I will die, if I had slept off. I am telling the truth. I swear.’ Natha was curious, ‘Then what were you doing?’ Abjibhai explained, ‘You are playing here in dust, but I was playing with God and His saints. I was watching Maharaj.’

Dhanji was puzzled, ‘Can we see Maharaj by closing our eyes?’ Abjibhai assured, ‘Yes, we can see. We should look at the idol and try to visualize the same in our heart. I can see God as soon as I close my eyes.’ Kesra informed, ‘We were happily playing here.’ Abjibhai confessed, ‘I find meditation more joyful then playing all these games.’

Kanji complained, ‘Abjibhai always talks about God. He can not think of anything other than God.’ Abjibhai admitted, ‘Yes, I can not think of anything other than God. There is no bliss similar to that of God. That is the most exhilarating experience.’ So emphatically spoke Abjibhai that nobody could tease him further.

Difficult words:
Chorus - To speak or sing together
Wearily - Very tired
Tremendously - Very large proportion
Blissful - Feeling eternal joy

Points to ponder:
- Shreeji Maharaj has instructed in Shikshapatri to serve aged and sick people. Here, it is clearly indicated that Abjibhai was a kind and caring person.
- The bliss of Shreeji Maharaj is of highest quality; unique. Abjibhai teaches us that the bliss of Shreeji Maharaj could be attained through meditation. Therefore, we should practice meditation right from our childhood.
- An Anadimukta appears distinct even while playing different games.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Which Aarti was about to begin in the temple.
2. Why was Abjibhai late in the temple?
3. Which new game did Abjibhai teach?
4. What were the friends teasing Abjibhai?
5. What did Abjibhai reply?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Abjibhai entered the temple with __________.
2. Let us play ____________game today.
3. Kunvarji, please bang __________ with each other, so that it sounds like a ____________.
4. Abjibhai always talks about _____________.
5. Now, visualize _____________ and meditate upon it.

Who speaks the following statements:
1. We were playing happily here.
2. Can we see Maharaj by closing our eyes?
3. There is no bliss similar to that of God.