Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

Author(s): Satish Sharma
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

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Gandhi's Teachers: Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
or other foreign languages, he was quick to follow general substance of the received letters and telegrams from foreign agents and took little time to see through their intentions. He was never impatient and did not worry about the business matters. Gandhi watched him deal with his customers and his impression was that Rajchandra was always upfront in the dealings and the terms and conditions were firm and clear. If the other party tried to be "clever" with him, Rajchandra saw through it instantly and would not tolerate such behavior. On such occasions, he used to knit his brows and one could see a flash of redness in his eyes.40 In the unscrupulous moneymaking world, Rajchandra was very scrupulous. He did not get swayed by material gains and would forego a profit if he felt that the deal was likely to harm the other party. The customers wondered at this attitude, but appreciated Rajchandra's sense of kindness.11
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Rajchandra met all the demands of his household and businesses and yet vigorously pursued his spiritual goals. He meditated inwardly on the self, as spontaneously and continuously as the breathing. On his lips were often the lines of the long poem which he had himself composed 2 Some lines of this poem expressed:43 "When will such an opportunity come that I may become a nirgrantha*4 in inner and outer behaviors. After cutting the bonds of attachments, when will I walk on the path shown by the great personages." Rajchandra walked successfully on the double-edged sword of living a worldly life and simultaneously seeking liberation for the soul. He was a true mumukshus and once wrote in his diary:46 "Do your business in a spiritual manner and maintain unattached attitude. Do whatever is necessary for it. As far as possible, do not annoy the person you have to deal with and should your renunciation be unpleasant to him, part with him without harming him in any way, benefiting him to your utmost capacity, and nursing such desire forever for the future." People around Rajchandra asked him how he could live the life of an ideal householder, conduct his businesses, and at the same time so vigorously engage in self-realization.
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