Theja Gunawardane remembered

It is 10 years since passing away of Theja Gunawardane, the well-known social worker who always stood firm and fought against social/political injustices and bureaucracy, dedicated selflessly and altruistically to upgrade poor rural folk, fearlessly voiced her view on behalf of oppressed masses of undeveloped countries and who displayed her strong personality traits in multifarious fields of action up to the time of her last breath.

She was born as the only child in an affluent and respectable family in Colombo in 1917. Her father was a philanthropist and a frontline member of the Buddhist Theosophical Society who contributed in a great measure for the functioning and upkeep of the Society and its activities. It is no doubt that her character and personal traits were nurtured by parental influence from the inception.

Theja was an energetic and outstanding public figure engaged in promotional activities of talents and lifestyle of the rural folk through Mahila Samithi or Women's Society movements in the post-independence period. She also devoted a considerable time and effort to research and preserve the cultural heritage of art and craft, traditional dances, beliefs and folklore for posterity. She was the islandwide chief organiser of Lanka Mahila Samithiya from 1948-1958, and developed it to a model level in South and South East Asia. She was also one of the 4 member team selected for a study tour in USA covering rural welfare, education, cultural and sociological studies way back in 1950.

Theja did yeoman service in building up a friendly relationship between China and Sri Lanka by becoming Founder/President of Ceylon-China Friendship Association from 1950-1959 and continued serving as Vice President till 1975. She was also a founder member of the Afro Asian Solidarity Movement. Theja's valuable contributions in varying fields of action such as social, political, international relationships, art and cultural etc. spread over a few decades have been written about at length by many of her associates in such fields.

However, her major contributions in service to humanity by delving into serious investigations, research and practice in inter-religious studies, particularly on its mystic and esoteric aspects are little known to the general public and even to her other close associates. The few who were in association with her in these mystic and esoteric organisations such as free masonry, Theosophical Society and Rosicrucian Order were well aware of the seriousness, sincerity and dedication with which she got involved in all transactions therein and enjoyed the blissfulness of the outcome of such practices that no other human activity could yield.

The writer was very fortunate to be propelled by sheer destiny towards her feet in his frantic search to find a guru to guide him in spiritual knowledge and practice in the latter part of her life. It finally led him to Theosophy and Free Masonry, the oasis of esoteric knowledge. She was a real spiritual guru to the very word of its meaning and helped in understanding deeper esoteric teachings in simple manner through her vast knowledge and inner experiences. Writer gratefully remembers Theja giving free access to peruse through all her writings, vast and rare collection of books of various subjects.

The small two room cottage at Udugampola where she lived peacefully in the evening of her life was a library itself. The whole house was full of books except for few furniture.

Theja was an avid reader engaged in research work on comparative religion and related topics. Even at on advanced age with physical weakness and disabilities she was very attentive to current situations and maintained her contacts through lively letters. She was always in contemplative thought on religious and philosophical teachings or in meditation.

Theja's personal life was rich with psychic and spiritual experiences and many seemingly strange encounters. She had few psychic friends around her during the period she was actively involved in psychical research work including spirit communication through clairvoyance, scrying, and tarrot card reading. Writer had the access to read much on such experiences she had recorded and listened to many she narrated from time to time at length.

Theja was a powerful healer who could assimilate universal healing energy, through hands-on-healing techniques to cure many bodily and emotional ailments. She founded and conducted a healing sanctuary in Colombo to help many local and foreign patients who came to her for relief. She trained a group of volunteers to assist her and pooled their collective energy for distant and touch healing. Patients who attended her healing sanctuary were mostly those who followed traditional methods of medical treatment over a long period, but found no lasting relief.

They all were greatly benefited by Theja's healing and relieved of their sufferings. Writer remembers Theja explaining many instances where she received guidance and assistance from spirits and healing angels during such hands-on-healing sessions.

Theja was a very sincere and devoted disciple to her Master. She was very fortunate to see her Master in physical form at Shigatse Monastry in Tibet, and had his darshans, grace and blessings. Writer is well aware that she was in constant communication with her Master through her intellectual awareness and continued to receive teachings and guidance on all aspects of life. These guidance and inspirations so received were very helpful to courageously face innumerable physical and mental hardships and suffering she encountered all along, particularly towards her later life.

It is fitting to end these reminiscences of Theja, writer's beloved guru in this physical life, with a devotional poem composed by the famous mystic Mowlana Talaluddin Rumi, Theja so admired.

Lovers die at every moment.

For their dying is not of one kind,

The lover has received two hundred spirits

From the spirit of guidance, and he sacrifices

Them all at every instant.

For every spirit he receives ten in return.

Lt.Cdr.(retd) D.A. Jayewardane.