"Greatest Loss"

#ShrimadRajchandraji

"...Not to be peaceful within oneself but to seek happiness outside is the greatest loss and death itself." 

Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur - An Introduction

How The Soul Can Be Freed...

Shrimadji thought long and hard at a very young age about how the soul can be freed from the cycle of re-incarnation. 


In Vikram Samvat 1945 in Vavania, twenty-one year old Shrimadji met Shri Mansukhram Tripathi, a scholar well-versed in the vedanta philosophy. 


Shrimadji became familiar with his religious views, which were direct, moderate and without hypocrisy. 


Shrimadji said : "While I am not wealthy, and am young in age, I seek to attain maturity of insight from the company of one such as yourself. 


I wish to serve at the feet of a truly self-realised person." 


He wrote without prejudice : 


"If our goal is the well-being of the soul, why argue about the means or the systems ? 


That knowledge which leads to self-realisation is supreme knowledge. 


If the soul is detached, it is in a state of moksha." 


Shrimadji wrote many of His innermost thoughts to this scholar, seeking guidance, which would lead Him to enlightenment and Moksha. 


This is what Shrimadji thirsted for all His life.

Is That What He Truly Wanted ?

Shrimadji possessed a wide range of abilities. 


He was skilled in poetry, possessed a phenomenal memory and had the faculty to attend to a hundred activities simultaneously. 
In addition, He had a remarkable sense of perception by touch : 


Blindfolded He could tell the names of books by merely touching them or He could tell which items of food had too little or too much salt, again without having to taste them at all. 


From childhood, Shrimadji had been full of devotion for matters spiritual and full of detachment with regard to worldly concerns. 


Despite the large audiences He attracted and the fame and glory He had achieved, He remained calm, solemn and detached, introspective at all times. 


Chief Justice Sir Charles Sargeant once suggested that He should perform in England where His talents would be truly appreciated. 


The suggestion of the Chief Justice made Shrimadji think. 


He would certainly earn much fame and respect abroad, but is that what He truly wanted ? 


After all, His main goal in life was a spiritual one and these performances would distract Him from His primary purpose. 


He decided not to follow Sir Charles' suggestion, and also stopped all His public performances.

A Great Sense Of Detachment...

Shrimadji came to His grandfather with the question : 


"What is death ?" 


Panchanbhai was unsure how best to answer the question and did not want to frighten Shrimadji. 


In an attempt to divert His attention, he told Shrimadji that he would answer His question after he had his lunch. 


Shrimadji however was not so easily diverted, and insisted that he should have His question answered first. 


His grandfather at last gave in, explaining : 


"Amichandbhai's passing away means that he will neither speak nor walk, nor eat, nor drink. 


His soul has left the body. 


His body will be taken to the cremation grounds to be burnt.


In order to properly understand the nature of death, Shrimadji quietly went to the crematorium and climed up a tree from which He could see the cremation. 


The dead body was burning on a funeral pyer, while few people stood or sat around it. 


At this sight, His heart was filled with revulsion. 


How was it possible that a person who showed Him so much love could be burnt like this ? 


How cruel  can these people be to burn such a fine and good man ? 


He began to wonder :if the body was still there, what was the nature of  the substance that had left ? 


As He thought along these lines, it was as though a veil had been removed, and He began to see some of His past lives. 


Later in His life, He saw the fort of Junagadh, and He remembered even more past lives. 


He had experienced Jati Smaran Gnan, the knowledge of previous lives, and as a result, Shrimadji experienced a great sense of detachment towards material and transient objects. 

The Right Path Which Leads To Moksha...

& Shrimadji said... 


"Looking back with my inner knowledge, I cannot see even one moment in which this Soul has not been wandering in the cycle of birth and death, or in which the mind has been calm, and so the Soul has forgotten inner peace. 


This memory is constantly with me and it is thus a cause for great detachment. 


What more can I say? 


Recalling the past lives in which I wandered in folly, how should I live now ? 


That is what I think about. 


That I do not want to be born again at all is now firmly established in my heart. 


When a thoughtful Soul thinks of moments of anxiety, illness or of problems, when it thinks of worldly life, then the Soul's false identification with transient objects naturally declines. 


Possessiveness and delusion become weaker, and the inclination arises to seek out the ageless, immortal and eternal substance which is the Soul. 


Whosoever has recalled the many lives of stress, illness and the pain of death and rebirth, and has in the past life heard the causes of the Soul's wandering directly from a self-realised person, is keen to be free from all these traps and to follow only the right path which leads to Moksha."

Fulfillment In Life...

Shrimadji's parents Ravjibhai and devbai were both courteous and kind hearted. 


They willingly served monks, holy men and all such pious souls, who, in turn blessed them. 


Shrimadji's mother Devbai came from a Jain family and had been brought up with Jain culture and values, particularly a strong sense of friendliness and compassion to all living beings. 


An aged broker, who used to visit Ravjibhai for business, one day fell ill.


Devbai nursed him back to health. 


The broker, treated as one of the family, was very much touched. 


When he recovered from his illness he parted with the words : 


"Devbai! My blessings are with you. 


May God bless you with an extraordinary child." 


One who dedicates his life to the service of humanity, always finds fulfillment in life. 


When service is rendered with no motive other than to help others, it is the highest type of service and will not go without reward. 


Devbai's selfless service was rewarded with the birth of a wonderful son...

Shrimadji's Vision Of Compassion...

Once, When He was a young child, Shrimadji's heart cried out with compassion while cutting some vegetables.


This deep compassion grew stronger with age. 


when He was in mumbai, He learnt about the plans in Dharampur to celebrate Dassera with a sacrificial offering of 108 buffaloes. 


He became very disturbed and immediately started taking steps to prevent the carnage.


How could a follower of Lord Mahavir sit idle at the time of such slaughter? 


He planned a public meeting in Dharampur to protest such cruelty to mute animals.


He asked the scholars in Mumbai to look for references against such cruel practices in Hindu scriptures like the Vedas. 


He voiced objections against intentional misinterpretations of Vedas to carry out such unholy practices. 


It did not take long before there was widespread public opposition to the ghastly ritual. 


Shrimadji had to work tirelessly and for long hard hours to ensure that the protest succeeded. 


His campaign for non-violence paid dividends and they successfully avoided the mindless slaughter. 


People had also witnessed a new facet to Shrimadji's personality that had not been obvious previously. 


They had experienced Shrimadji's vision of compassion and equal respect for all forms of life.    

"Mother, I Will Respect Your Wishes..."

During the period in which He composed Mokshmala and Bhavnabodh, Shrimadji's resolve to take to the path of renunciation, of monkhood, grew stronger. 


The path of devotion, meditation and detachment drew Him. 


In Vikram Samvat 1942 He and His mother Devba were sitting together. 


Shrimadji turned to His mother and said, "Mother, I would like your permission to go to the forest and become an Ascetic.


" His mother did not wish to lose Him and asked Him to reconsider His decision. 


Shrimadji promised : "As long as this yogi (Ascetic) is alive, you might see His face. 


He will come to your door and ask how you are.


" Tears began to well up in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. 


Shrimadji saw His mothers affection for Him and said : "Mother, I will respect your wishes." 


He did not want to cause her any grief. 


Thus His mother's love triumphed. 


While in His mothers womb, Bhagavan Mahavir had also resolved not to renounce the world while His parents were alive so as not to cause them any pain. 


Shrimadji had followed Bhagavan Mahavir's example.

The Young Can Be Wiser Than The Old...

It was broad daylight and there was an unusual sight in the market place of Morvi. 


The sun was fierce and a fifty-year magistrate was holding an umbrella over the head of a twenty-year-old. 


many laughed at this strange sight. 


It was very unusual behaviour for a magistrate. 


The young man was Shrimadji. 


The magistrate Dharshibhai was greatly impressed by Him since last ten years. 


Shrimadji used to instruct Dharshibhai in religious matters. 


The rules of the material world do not apply between a Guru and a disciple.


The young can be wiser than the old, and thus command respect. 


It was a hot summer afternoon. 


As Shrimadji wished, Dharshibhai accompanied Him for a stroll. 


Since it was very hot, he took an umbrella with him to provide shade. 


As they walked and discussed many issues, Shrimadji asked Dharshibhai to open the umbrella. 


He did so, but covered Shrimadji's head, not his, with it, causing much surprise in the market place. 


At the outskirts of the town, Shrimadji asked him to fold the umbrella. 


Dharshibhai responded that it was even hotter outside town. 


Shrimadji replied that what was needed was to remove the heat of the passions from the soul.

Freedom From The Cycle Of Death And Rebirth...

After He had gained a true understanding of Lord Mahavir's path, Shrimadji composed Mokshmala, in which He explained in detail the importance of vairagya (detachment), upsham (calmness) and vivek (discrimination between right and wrong). 

He has explained the deeper meaning of the twelve bhavanas (reflections) by narrating various stories alongwith their true morals. 

Shrimadji was only 16 years and 5 months old when He composed this remarkable book. 

With no formal learning in sanskrit or prakrit, He was able, in a year and a quarter, to study all the agams. 

He composed Mokshmala in just three days, and managed to cover in it the essence of jainism and the path to Moksha. 

While writing 67th chapter, ink spilled on it, and so He had to rewrite it. 

As its replacement He wrote a thought provoking poem entitled 'Amulya Tattva Vichar' (In valuable thoughts on Reality), in which, Shrimadji describes the rarity of a human incarnation. 

He explains that those who see the purpose of their lives as the increasing power, wealth and the importance of their family, seeking illusory happiness are actually losing the meaning and purpose of their lives. 

Those with the thirst for truth should calmly and peacefully reflect : 

'Who am I' ? 

Where do I come from ? 

What is my true nature ? 

To what am I attached ? 

should I keep these or cast them off ? 

With such thoughts, one will grow closer to the treasure, which is the soul. With full faith in one who has experienced his own soul, a true seeker can experience his soul. 

In Mokshmala, Shrimadji recommends devotion to the Jinas (Liberated Souls) leading to freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.

We Are Looking For Ourselves...

Shrimadji was visiting the small town of Kavitha. 


On one occassion He was accompanied by a number of other men on His daily walk. 


Shrimadji normally walked slowly and kept His eyes to the ground. 


After they had walked some distance, a woman passed by carrying a bundle of hay on her head. 


Since the woman often saw them, she started muttering to herself, that these banias are wandering all over the forests. 


She wandered what had they lost, that they kept looking for it. 


Shrimadji heard the woman's words and in His own inimitable way responded: 


"Sister, we are looking for ourselves!" 


This is a natural response from Shrimadji, who was so ardent in His quest to realize His soul.

Drink The Nectar Of True Knowledge...

                                        Patrank - 102


In this interminable and meaningless world, obtaining a virtuous human birth is not only difficult but indeed very rare. 


Oh atman! Now that you have acquired this human life by mere coincidence, you should work towards the accomplishment of rightful duty. 


It is not possible to ascertain your true identity in any other life besides this human life, hence this recommendation. 


Shri Jina enjoins that right faith, knowledge and right conduct are the causes of liberation. 


So one who aspires to be free, considers right faith, right knowledge and right conduct as the only instruments for moksh (liberation). 


Implicit in these instruments is meditation. 


That is why, to expound on the significance of meditation, it is said, 'Oh atman, to destroy the miseries of the world, drink the nectar of true knowledge and to sail across the ocean of the world, embark on the ship of meditation.' 


(An excerpt from 'Shrimad Rajchandra', Patrank - 102, page - 209)

Shrimadji could see into the future...

He foresaw many incidents.

In His compassion, he would often forewarn others of any dangers or mishaps ahead.

His heart felt so much compassion for the tiniest creatures, and that for human beings it knew no bounds.

In Vavania lived a bapu, a wealthy Rajput landlord, who used to go riding every day.

One day, as he set out, Shrimadji called to him and suggested that he should not ride that day.

The bapu was surprised at the suggestion, as there was not a single day that he had not been riding.

He did not heed Shrimadji's gentle warning.

Shrimadji again approached him, suggesting that he would be better off not riding that day.

The bapu asked Him why he ought not to go riding, as he had been out, riding the same mare for years.

What problem could there possibly be?

Shrimadji, yet again, asked him not to go.

The Rajput told Him that he would not turn back.

Turning back was for others.

He had no fear.

As he reached the outskirts of the village, the mare began to misbehave.

The landlord tried in vain to control her, but she threw him off quiet violently, breaking several of his bones.

He was lying on the ground, screaming in agony.

As soon as his family heard of it they ran out to bring him back to the village, where he soon passed away.

Shrimadji learnt of the death and was much saddened by the news :

If only the Rajput had heeded His warning, things might have been different.

Play on Shrimad Rajchandraji...