Page 67 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

21oha “krkCnh esa vkpk;Z fouksck Hkkos dh izklafxdrk

is “missionary by nature.” The Church also envisages a role for herself in the scheme of salvation
accomplished in the person of Lord Jesus Christ.
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The “Mission Command” of the Lord in the Gospels is understood as the imperative for the
Mission. The Church’s self understanding is manifest in the Vatican Documents, titled: Ad Gentus

Divinitus, which is the Decree on the Church’s missionary activity: “Jesus Christ is the Savior of the
world, and He has entrusted the fullness of the Christian faith to the Catholic Church. Catholic Christians,

therefore, have the obligation to share that fullness with all people throughout the whole world.” The
Church also considers herself as the “Universal Sacrament of Salvation,” and that she is “divinely sent”

to preach the Gospel of Salvation. 48
Perhaps, Vinoba did not approve of this position of the Church. In the Essence of the Christian

Teachings, he had not included a verse which is very crucial as far as Christians are concerned. That
verse (John 20: 31) conspicuous by its absence is: “But these are written so that you may come to

believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his
name.” 49

CONCLUSION

Vinoba’s personal appreciation for Lord Jesus Christ was well known. In the Ashram, he had
named the lane leading to the ‘Baikunth’ (the temple of Bharat-Ram Milan) as ‘Tyagpath’ saying it is

the “Narrow Way,” the Way of the Cross and sacrifice, which leads one to heaven. On this very
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Tyagpath, just in front his room, he placed a Crucifix. He said, such an image helps in meditation.
“Meditation on Jesus, is meditation on the supreme revelation of love. Jesus offered himself in sacrifice
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for his people, and through him I meditate on the love of God and the Supreme Sacrifice.” On the
walls of the Ashram, very close to his room, is placed a wooden statue of Jesus with a flute and a lamb,
“Jesus, the Good Shepherd,” the “Indianized Christ.” 52

In the Brahma Vidya Mandir (Paramdham Ashram) at Pavnar, he had instituted community
life, in a novel pattern, yet with some elements resembling the Christian monastic tradition. He positively

interacted with Christian monks and nuns, who were from time to time inmates of the Pavnar
Ashram.Shraddhananda, Rta, Vandana Mata and Prasanna Bhai are among others – Catholc nuns and

priests – who lived at Paunar from time to time. Bishop Januarius of Chanda (head of the diocese of
Chanda – of which Wardha dt was a part of – from 1962 to 1990), the Local Ordinary, visited

Vinobaji at the Ashram, and took his guests to the ashram many times. He used to cherish the dream of
an ‘Indian Christian Ashram’ on the banks of River Dham at Pavnar. The above people were all

imbued with the spirit of the teachings of the Vatican Council Two.

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