Comtemporary Jain Legends

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 49

that Shri Mansukhbhai was really very unhappy to hear the spiritual discussion. Shrimad Rajchandra did not get into the train to go to Vavaniya but returned home to Morbi with the group of devotees. He granted advantage of spiritual discussion to Shri Mansukhbhai on the other day. This is the uncalled for kindness of a learned man Shrimad Rajchandra!
Do Not Allow Your Mind to Be Idle:
Once Mooni Shri Mohanlalji put a question to Shrimad Rajchandra: Mind does not remain steady. What are the ways to achieve steadiness of mind? Shrimad Rajchandra said, "Do not allow---even a minute of time to go in waste. You must read a book, which will strengthen your detachment with world and think on it. If this is not possible you should matter religious phrases on rosary. If your mind is idle even for a moment, it will cause serious harm and spoil all your achievements. Go on giving him food of good thoughts. Just as cattle goes on eating grass put up to it, so is the mind. It needs some food at all moments. Thus, you must continuously go on pouring good thoughts into your mind. Do not submit to the directions of your mind. We must lead it on the right path instead of being drawn to do undeserving acts as desired by the mind."
Conclusion: The personality of Shrimad Rajchandra was been mainly spiritual. Since he did not live long, his message did not reached to the vast society during his lifetime. We must not forget that he was not only a saint. He was an outstanding educationist, a born poet, having extraordinary power of remember, a reformer of society, ardent experimentalist of non-violence and brilliant torch bearer of secularism-i.e. equal respect for all religions. He has given us Atma Siddhi Shastra, Mokshamala, Apurva Avasar and many other letters and poems. These are the essence of Shad Darshan. He has granted directions to the seekers of spiritual strength and worked to bring up the high ideal of religion as well as of society. We have not been able to understand this great man in true perspective. This is not enough. We have not taken adequate of his preachings and teachings. We must be without feelings and leave away our tendency to see any lapses on his part if we want to understand him in his real form. He has given us all-time principles; he has uncovered the religious facts while giving the message of peace, love, non-violence and truth. By following the guidelines given by him we can do well of not only ourselves but of the society as a whole.
Preachings of Shrimad Rajchandra: He lived only for 33 years, but in this short life he has delivered preachings of eternal importance. It is not possible here to give everything he has said and written but some important and useful gems of his preachings are given hereunder:
Normal Good Behavior, honesty and Justice:
All living beings are seen as equal, do not cause pain to any soul, do not exert work from any soul beyond its ability and capacity.