Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

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ASPIRANT'S GUIDE amount ? Well, let the reader consider this and evaluate justly his own spirit of charity. (2) Ishwarchandra Vidhyasagar was a great educator, philanthropist, and socio-religious leader of the state of Bengal, India, who lived in the nineteenth century.
Once as he was passing by a road in Calcutta, he came across a sad man. "Why are you so sad, friend ?" asked Ishwarchandra.yu Looking at him, the man said, "Well brother ! Don't bother about it you cannot possibly help me in my pitiful plight. It is a long story."
Ishwarchandra insisted him to tell the story of misery and sadness. At last the man said, "I incurred a big debt in order to get my daughter married. A law suit has been filed against me, as I have failed to repay the debt." Vidhyasagar took the details of the legal brief and address of the court from him.
Then, on the day of the hearing of the case in the court, when that debtor went to the court he was told that somebody had come to the court a few days before and paid off his debt. The lawsuit was, therefore, settled.
The man did not know that it was Vidhyasagar who had paid off his debt. A secret donation it was ! The beneficiary never knew the donor or the reason for his liberality. When there is no desire for any reward and a spirit of selflessness, this the best of donations. (3) It was year 1656. Shivaji had come from Raigadh and he had stationed himself at the Satara Fort. Shivaji heard the Mantra, "Jai Jai Raghuvir Samarth !" On inquiry, he learnt that Swami Ramdas had come himself to request donations at his door ! What should he give ? Diamonds and Sapphires ? Gold and Silver ? Food and Clothing ? Shivaji could not make up his mind. He wrote a small note and placed it in the satchel of Swami Ramdas.
The Swami said, "Well Shivaji, What is in the note ? If you had given provisions, we could have prepared food." Shivaji replied, "Gurudev ! I have given just and proper donation." Swamiji asked his pupil Uddhava to read the note. It read "I submit, at the feet of my Guru, everything that I have acquired till today including myself and my royal emblem." Ramdas said "Shivaji !
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