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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
the soul and that I had recognition only of the soul. Would that obstruction to right conduct too was removed and there was concentration on pure selt. Would that there was steadfastness of the three vigas (temporal phases of the life of the universe) running practically to the time of death and that steadfastness was incapable of being shaken by suffering however great. Would that even the yoga was only for attaining greater restraint over the self and that there was impiicit obedience to the precepts of the Jing (Dropounder of Jainism for the sake of the soul. Would that even that activity also perceptibly decreased and I was absorbed in self-realization. Would that there were neither likes nor dislikes in matters received through the senses and that I was unaffected by their play. Would that I engaged in activities that came to me in due course and was enslaved by time, place or circumstances. Would that I was angered against anger and that against respect paid to me I had humility enough not to be affected by it. Would that in respect of navu (illusionary energy) I was but a witness to its blandisaments and against ambition ! had ambition to thwart it, I had the anger against even the extreme wrong-doers and had no pride it an emperor paid respects to me that I was un moved even if the body perished and had no desire even for the greatest gifts. That I was the same to friend and foe alike as towards praise or insult, that there was indifference in me whether I lived or died, that even regarding the cycles of birth and death or salvation I had only the simple naturai state that I had crossed the alluring ocean oi diferent temptations and was intent upon the state where ali passions were quenched, and that at the time of death i would shed all desire and had perfect knowledge, that all the tour kinds of activities were to me like a burnt hope - mere ashes, that I was living out only this life and that after that there was no more birth. That I had no desire for even an atom, that I was sinless, immovable and intent upon selfrealization, that I was absorbed in the spotless, eternal
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