Vimala Thakar
Encyclopedia
Vimala Thakar was an India
n social activist and spiritual teacher. She was born into a middle-class Brahmin
family living at Akola city in Maharashtra state in India, she was interested in spiritual matters from an early age. She pursued this interest with meditation and spiritual practices through her youth. She post graduated in Eastern and Western philosophy,Dr.Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was one among her professors.
Later she became active in the Bhoodan (Land Gift) Program. This program, led by Vinoba Bhave
, persuaded landlords to give land to poor farmers. Through the 1950s, several millions of acres of farmland were so redistributed. She travelled India to its length and breadth.
In 1958, Thakar attended talks given by, and met with, the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti
. This meeting was to change her life. She dedicated herself to teaching meditation and philosophy. For the next four decades, she traveled between India, the U.S. and Europe, teaching and giving talks on spirituality. After 1991, she curtailed her travel outside India, and her teachings emphasize balancing 'inner' spiritual development with 'outer' social development.
She died on 11 March 2009, on the day of Holi, the festival of colour in India. She was living at Mount Abu, Rajasthan
, India during her last years.The books by Vimala Thakar in Gujarati,Hindi,English and Marathi languages are available at,Vimal Prakashan Trust-"Vimal Saurabh", vaniawadi St no-9, Rajkot-360002,Gujarat India.Contact number:0281-2365279, +91 9925529096 and also0281-2454007,+919825416769
SOME PUBLICATIONS BY VIMALA THAKAR
Glimpses of Raja Yoga: An Introduction to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (Yoga Wisdom Classics)(Rodmell Press, 2005)
Insights into the Bhagavad Gita (New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2005)
Why Meditation? Five Talks Delivered at the Blaisdell Institute Claremont University, California, 1974 (New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2005)
Blossoms of Friendship (Rodmell Press, 2003; New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2004)
Totality in Essence Talks in Ceylon, 1971 (2002)
with Sogyal Rinpoche, Mind Our Greatest Gift (Mananam Series) (1995)
Vimalaji and Her Perspective of Life (Vimal Prakashahan Trust, 1998)
From Intellect to Intelligence (Holland: Vimala Thakar Foundation, 1976)
Voyage Into Oneself (Holland: Vimala Thakar Foundation, 1970)
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n social activist and spiritual teacher. She was born into a middle-class Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family living at Akola city in Maharashtra state in India, she was interested in spiritual matters from an early age. She pursued this interest with meditation and spiritual practices through her youth. She post graduated in Eastern and Western philosophy,Dr.Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was one among her professors.
Later she became active in the Bhoodan (Land Gift) Program. This program, led by Vinoba Bhave
Vinoba Bhave
Vinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...
, persuaded landlords to give land to poor farmers. Through the 1950s, several millions of acres of farmland were so redistributed. She travelled India to its length and breadth.
In 1958, Thakar attended talks given by, and met with, the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
. This meeting was to change her life. She dedicated herself to teaching meditation and philosophy. For the next four decades, she traveled between India, the U.S. and Europe, teaching and giving talks on spirituality. After 1991, she curtailed her travel outside India, and her teachings emphasize balancing 'inner' spiritual development with 'outer' social development.
She died on 11 March 2009, on the day of Holi, the festival of colour in India. She was living at Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India during her last years.The books by Vimala Thakar in Gujarati,Hindi,English and Marathi languages are available at,Vimal Prakashan Trust-"Vimal Saurabh", vaniawadi St no-9, Rajkot-360002,Gujarat India.Contact number:0281-2365279, +91 9925529096 and also0281-2454007,+919825416769
SOME PUBLICATIONS BY VIMALA THAKAR
Glimpses of Raja Yoga: An Introduction to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (Yoga Wisdom Classics)(Rodmell Press, 2005)
Insights into the Bhagavad Gita (New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2005)
Why Meditation? Five Talks Delivered at the Blaisdell Institute Claremont University, California, 1974 (New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2005)
Blossoms of Friendship (Rodmell Press, 2003; New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2004)
Totality in Essence Talks in Ceylon, 1971 (2002)
with Sogyal Rinpoche, Mind Our Greatest Gift (Mananam Series) (1995)
Vimalaji and Her Perspective of Life (Vimal Prakashahan Trust, 1998)
From Intellect to Intelligence (Holland: Vimala Thakar Foundation, 1976)
Voyage Into Oneself (Holland: Vimala Thakar Foundation, 1970)