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for your letter telling me what I need to do during the remaining few months ...for becoming worthy."
In spite of the tendency to dedicate the life to Ashram he was feeling that if there was no work for him, he would merely be a burden to Ashram; in that case it would be better to have a job elsewhere and send to Ashram the amount saved out of the earning. When therefore Prabhushri said that there was lot of work for him, he could no longer wait. In order to be at the service of Prabhushri he secured the permission of the elder brother, resigned from Charotar Education Society and joined the Ashram in June 1925.
Shrimad has stated, "Celibacy is helpful and is of fundamental importance in exercising control over conduct, in averting all sorts of indolence, in continually maintaining the tendency within and in resorting to the means of liberation." In light thereof Prabhushri administered the vow of celibacy to Gordhanbhäi. Thereafter Prabhushri used to address him as Brahmachäri. As such, every one else also started calling him that way and in due course he came to be known as Brahmachäri everywhere. That epithet was thus turned into a proper name for him.
After joining the Ashram Brahmachäriji continuously stayed at the service of Prabhushri. He used to get up at 3.00 A.M. read Gommatsär etc. to Prabhushri, undertake routine devotional activity from morning to evening while rendering service to Prabhushri, read up to 11.00 P.M. and remain busy till beyond midnight with writing letters, diary, preparing translations etc. He thus got very little time for sleep and rest. Still he could cheerfully undertake the hard work by virtue of the strong physique, mental steadiness, sharpness of the faculties and control over sense organs inclusive of observance of celibacy.
His motto was: 'Nishdin Nainamen Nind Na Äve, Nar Tabahi Näräyan Påve' (One can get in contact with God, only when he forgoes sleep). By virtue of the study and devotion undertaken day and night under the guidance of Prabhushri, he could read, ponder over and contemplate at depth on a number of scriptural texts. Even months used to pass in such contemplation. He, however, never gave vent to it. He digested the same within and did not emit it out. Writing of letters also was done strictly as directed by Prabhushri. His was the state of total surrender, as if he knew nothing. His entire life underwent change; even the command over English language was forsaken. It seemed as if he wanted to put into practice the following words of Shrimad: "What needs to be accomplished by undertaking rituals, chanting, austerities or reading is to forsake the world and stay at the feet of saint.'
On November 1 1926 while he finished reading to Prabhushri at 10.15 P.M. Muni Mohanlälji came there. Prabhushri told him, "Those, who have faith in the words of Graceful Lord, should now take care of us. He has said, 'Take care of Muni; remain at his service.' This Laghuraj now needs to be taken care of like a young child; he should be taken care of as the sons take care of their old father. It is not possible to speak much, otherwise we would move from place to place. Earlier we liked to listen, if someone read to us; let us now continue to listen. That sense stays even at present; that is the best way of spending time; what else needs to be done now?" Brahmachåriji's heart got moist on hearing those words.
During the same year Prabhushri graced him by giving Samadhishatak (100 verses of quietude), which the Graceful Lord Shrimad had earlier given to Prabhushri for reading. Brahmachäriji studied it intensively during the succeeding six years and digested it so much that Prabhushri became pleased and gave him something unique, which other liberation-seekers had been impatiently entreating for. Prabhushri, however, used to point out, 'One can get the grace by becoming gentle like a son, not by posing as father.... No one gets what he does not deserve. The enlightened beings would call and give it to one, who deserves, even while he would be passing by. See what is stated in Upmitibhavprapanch (An illustrative story). I am wondering at what the author has written! How can one make it out without deserving the same?'
On the ninth day of the month of Jeth in Samvat year 1988 (About June 1932) Prabhushri thus conferred the unique Gurugam (Guru's Grace) to Brahmachäriji. Prabhushri used to say about him, 'He is soft like gold and can be turned the way you like; he can be molded to any shape.' At times he also pointed out that Brahmachäriji had the right perception; that was his imprint and did not need any other label.
After setting up Ashram at Agäs Prabhushri had virtually undertaken the mission to propagate and spread the true religion as revived by the Graceful Lord. In that connection he used to administer the vows of
