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...

"This Man Has Won My Heart In Spiritual Matters..."

                     
Shrimad Rajchandraji is highly respected for His remarkable exposition of Bhagwan Mahavir's teachings, great spiritual state, extraordinary personality and literary genius. 


Shrimadji was born on the auspicious day of kartik purnima in V.S. 1924 (9th November, 1867) at Vavania (Gujarat, India). 


At the age of 23, He attained Self-Realisation. 


He spent months of seclusion in jungles and mountains, absorbed in the ecstasy of the Self. 


His compassion for the world overflowed in the form of Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra, a masterpiece in philosophical literature. 


On chaitra vad pancham V.S. 1957 (9th April, 1901) at the age of 33 years, this Enlightened Soul left His mortal body, in a state of complete awareness at Rajkot. 


In this short span of 33 years, He not only attained liberation Himself, but was also instrumental in the liberation of many others. 


His preachings have been compiled and published in an invaluable volume entitled 'Shrimad Rajchandra' which, even today, continues to quench the thirst of true seekers. 


Mahatma Gandhi says, "This man has won my heart in spiritual matters and no one else has ever made on me the same impression." 
                                                                 - Modern Review, June 1930 

"No Other Easier Way To Liberation Than This..."

                                             Patrank - 241 
                                                       
Mumbai, Chaitra vad 14, Guru, 1947 




Shrimadji said... 


Only the one afflicted feels it and knows it; only he thirsts for Him. 


Only he calls out for the beloved with the intense yearning of his heart. 


How can one describe these Divine pangs of love, which words cannot touch? What more is there to say? Only the one who is thus struck, experiences it. 


One can be consumed by this love only by being at His lotus feet; and only when one is consumed by it, can one be liberated. 


There is no other easier way to liberation than this, and yet nobody makes any effort! 


Powerful indeed are the shackles of worldly attachment!

"Contemplate Upon This Again And Again..."

                             Patrank - 195 Shrimad Rajchandraji 
                                                                    Mumbai, posh, 1947 




         Salutations to the True Self in oneness with unparalleled devotion 


One who desires the path of liberation should relinquish all other thoughts and contemplate upon this again and again:- 


"The soul has been traversing through cycles of birth and death since time immemorial, why is this traversing not coming to an end? 


And what can be done to bring this about?" 


This statement is immensely meaningful; and without reflecting upon it, without a firm resolve and yearning for it, the slightest awareness even of the direction of the path is not attained; it has not happened in the past and it will not happen in the future. 


This is what I have known. 


Therefore, all of you should seek that alone. 


What else is there to know? 


That is being known by me...

"Follow His Guidance And Profit By His Preaching..."

The article published by 'pioneer' at the time of His passing away gives some idea of Shrimadji's life, which can be seen from the following extracts. 


"At the age of twenty He completely disappeared from the public gaze. 


He determined to use His powers and abilities for the instruction and enlightenment of His community and the people at large. 


From His very early age He was a voracious reader. 


He studied the six schools of religions (Shatdarshan) and other systems of Oriental and western philosophy. 


Strange though it may seem, it was a fact that a book was required to be read only once in order to be digested, and without any regular study of Sanskrit and Prakrit, He could accurately understand works in those languages and explain them to others, as only learned scholars could be expected to do." 


"Shrimadji now began to inculcate His taste for knowledge in others and soon attracted a large number of disciples, whom He guided to the proper study of jain philosophy. 


He found that the Acharyas (religious teachers) of the time held narrow and sectarian views and did not appreciate the change of the times." 


"Again, those who renounced the world were generally lacking in some of the good things of the world, and had some reason or other to be dissatisfied with their slot in the world. 


Such men could not impress their congregations by their examples. 


He believed that if a man of wealth, social position, renounced the world, He could work real good by his example; convinced of His sincerity and disinterestedness, the people would more readily follow His guidance and profit by His preaching. 


Holding such views, He had believed that He had not sufficiently qualified himself to appear before the public as an ascetic and a spiritual guide, and He continued steadily a man of the world, though His inclinations were all the other way." 

"Valuables Constitute The Disease Of Earth..."

Once after finishing the religious talk, Shrimadji stood up at 11.00P.M. 


Other people also stood up. 


Then Nanchandbhai of poona pointed out to Shrimadji that the box was open and it was not safe to move out. 


The stocks of diamonds, rubies, pearls and other valuables of trade were kept in that box. 


Shrimadji then said, "In that case let us sit here." 


As everyone sat down, Shrimadji asked, "How is it unsafe?" 


Nanchandbhai, "Sir, I was referring to the security of valuables. 


There is the risk of their being stolen." 


Shrimadji: "The enlightened also would treat them as risky, but in the sense that there is risk so long as they are there. 


When a person gets disease, there would occur puss etc. 


Similarly valuables constitute the disease of earth. 


The enlightened would not remain attached to that." 


So saying he left the box and the room open and went to his residence. 


Other people also went home. 


But Padamshibhai remained worried about that. 


Hence the next day he went to the shop of Rewashankar Jagjivan at 11.00 A.M. and asked, "Sir, I hope, nothing has been stolen." 


Shrimadji replied, "Vanmali had closed the box after we left."

"Follow His Guidance And Profit By His Preaching..."

The article published by 'pioneer' at the time of His passing away gives some idea of Shrimadji's life, which can be seen from the following extracts. 


"At the age of twenty He completely disappeared from the public gaze. 


He determined to use His powers and abilities for the instruction and enlightenment of His community and the people at large. 


From His very early age He was a voracious reader. 


He studied the six schools of religions (Shatdarshan) and other systems of Oriental and western philosophy. 


Strange though it may seem, it was a fact that a book was required to be read only once in order to be digested, and without any regular study of Sanskrit and Prakrit, He could accurately understand works in those languages and explain them to others, as only learned scholars could be expected to do." 


"Shrimadji now began to inculcate His taste for knowledge in others and soon attracted a large number of disciples, whom He guided to the proper study of jain philosophy. 


He found that the Acharyas (religious teachers) of the time held narrow and sectarian views and did not appreciate the change of the times." 


"Again, those who renounced the world were generally lacking in some of the good things of the world, and had some reason or other to be dissatisfied with their slot in the world. 


Such men could not impress their congregations by their examples. He believed that if a man of wealth, social position, renounced the world, He could work real good by his example; convinced of His sincerity and disinterestedness, the people would more readily follow His guidance and profit by His preaching. 


Holding such views, He had believed that He had not sufficiently qualified himself to appear before the public as an ascetic and a spiritual guide, and He continued steadily a man of the world, though His inclinations were all the other way." 

"You Have The Enlightened In Front Of You And Still You Are Not Awake..."

In the evening Shrimadji used to go for a walk and to come back at about 10 pm. 


At times Motilal also used to accompany him. 


While walking accordingly Shrimadji once told him, "Why are you indulging in indolence? The right path is now strewn with thorns; our soul knows how much effort had to be made to remove those thorns. 


Had there been an enlightened being, we would have pursued him; you have the enlightened in front of you and still you are not awake. 


Remove the indolence and get awake. 


When I had been the last pupil of Lord Mahavir, I had indulged in slight indolence and as a result I had to take all these births. 


The worldly souls, however, do not worry at all even while living with too much indolence. 


It is very hard for them to recognize the enlightened being in front of them..."

"He Continually Tried To Remain Unknown..."

The life sketch of Shrimadji published by 'pioneer' states as under.


"When He was twenty-one, He took to business and in a very short period He gained the credit of being a capable jeweller. 


The cares of flourishing business, however, did not keep Him away from the philosophical study, which was at His heart. 


While remaining in business He was quietly increasing His treasure of knowledge. 


He always stayed in the midst of books. 


Moreover, for a few months in a year He used to go out of Bombay instructing His firm that no one should correspond with Him unless He wrote for that. 


He used to resort to solitary life in the forests of Gujarat and spend days and weeks in contemplation and meditation. 


He continually tried to remain unknown so that no one would identify Him or the place of His resort. 


Still He was frequently identified and large number of people used to follow Him with eagerness to listen His teachings."

"The Concept Of Loving Even a Murderer..."

"On November 15 1921 Gandhiji said from the chairmanship of Shrimad Rajchandraji's birthday celebrations in Ahmedabad, 


'My contact with Raichandbhai was not for one day. 


I exactly remember the house, where i had been soon after landing at Bombay by the end of June 1891. 


Dr. Mehta and Rewashankar Jagjivan introduced me to him. 


From that time our contact remained very close till the end of his life. 


I have written several times that i have taken a lot from many people, but the maximum I have taken is from the life of Shrimadji. 


Even the religion of compassion I have learnt from His life... 


He taught me the concept of loving even a murderer. 


I have drunk from Him the bowlfuls of that concept. 


He frequently used to say, 'I can bear, if someone pierces knives all over the body, but it is not possible to bear the lies, intrigues and wickedness going on in the world, to bear the knife of irreligion prevailing in the name of religion.'


I have seen Him several times boiling over the brutality. 


For Him the entire universe was like a relation. 


The grief, which we experience on witnessing the death of our brother or sister, occurred to Him on seeing the misery of the world."

"Shrimadji Possessed All The Qualities Of GOD..."

"Many a times, we have found that when a great person passes away His message is forgotten in a very short span of time. 


In case of ‘Param Krupaludev’ Shrimad Rajchandraji it is just the opposite - even in this era, which they call Kalyug.

During His lifetime only 5-25 people knew that He possessed all the qualities of God, but today after a century of His departure, lakhs of people know Him and worship Him like God through the medium of ‘Vachanamrut’.

Today not only in India but people from all over the world including the most advanced countries such as America and Britain follow with devotion and faith, the Spiritual Path as preached by Him!

Shrimadji's life profile and prolific caliber has given several people the key to immortality. 


The manner in which Shri Krishna guided Arjun on the battlefield, similarly in this era when we are entangled in our tensions and problems on the battlefield of our karmas, His teachings show us the way to inner peace.

Shrimadji's state of almost complete Knowledge and oneness with the true nature of ‘Self’ is what we have to strive to achieve! 


We all have the potential to become self-enlightened; it is only that we do not know the process.

This process can be understood only from a Living Experienced Soul.

Shrimad Rajchandraji achieved the ultimate state of oneness of 'Knowledge' (Gyan), 'Faith' (Darshan) and 'Conduct' (Charitra)! and His teachings give us the realization that the right balance and combination of Detachment (Gyan) and Surrender (Devotion) attained through a “Living Self-Realised (Experienced) Soul” is the only real and true medium to achieve that state..."

"May all the living beings of this world be blessed with a favour by such self-realized souls:"