________________ 154 Memoirs about Shrimad by Gandhiji us from which we must extricate ourselves. While we are still far from perfection, we seek guidance to progress from those who have not even achieved that level of perfection. We probably progress a little but end up believing there is no further road ahead. In reality, it is not so. After a certain point, our scriptures will not help us to progress, only the experience of a self-realised person will help. That is why Raichandbhai says, જે પદ શ્રી સર્વ દીઠું જ્ઞાનમાં, કહી શક્યા નહિ તે પદ શ્રી ભગવંત જો; એહ પરમ પદ પ્રાપ્તિનું કર્યું ધ્યાન મેં, ગજા વગર પણ હાલ મનોરથ રૂપ જો - That exalted state was experienced by the omniscient soul in the light of his knowledge, Even the Lord was unable to describe it in words; I meditated upon that state to attain it, Though it is beyond my capacity for now, it is my firm resolve to attain it. Eventually, it is the soul itself that liberates the soul. Raichandbhai expressed this pure truth in a variety of ways in his writings. He had undertaken the study of several religious scriptures in depth. He had no difficulty in understanding literature written in Sanskrit and Magadhi despite never having learnt either of the languages. He studied the Vedas, the Bhagwat and the Gita. He studied every Jain scriptural book that he could lay his hands on. He had an incredible capacity and power to understand and grasp whatever he read. One reading of any book was enough for him to understand the essence contained in it. He had also read scriptures like the Holy Quran and the Zend Awesta through their translations.