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Preface
The pious land of India is star-studded with numerous saint-philosopher of the past and present, who have attempted to rid the masses of their ignorance, attachments, superstitions, and miseries and thereby have guided them to the paths of enlightenment, liberation, and happiness. The birth of such saint-philosophers has been rare, but they have appeared all over the world, through all historical times, and in both secular and religious traditions. One such saintphilosopher born in India in recent times was Mohandas K. Gandhi, popularly known as "Gandhi." Another was Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta, known as "Rajchandra," and whom Gandhi addressed as "Raychandbhai or Raichandbhai" and the "Poet."
Rajchandra was born in Vavania in Kathiawad (Saurashtra), India in 1868, only one year before Gandhi was born. Both Rajchandra and Gandhi belonged to relatively well-to-do families, shared Gujarati culture, and had strong religious backgrounds. Gandhi met Rajchandra for the first time when he returned to India from England after completing his studies in law. Initially, the relationship between the two was that of friends, but gradually it changed into that of a teacher and a disciple. On many occasions, Gandhi sought Rajchandra's advice on religious matters and was very satisfied with his responses and the counseling he got from him. Rajchandra was a Jain' and Gandhi was a Vaishanva,? but they both were well-versed with the scriptures of different religions and themselves were deeply religious. Accordingly, they could converse and communicate with each other with case on matters of religions and philosophies. Gandhi often visited Rajchandra at his place of business and was amazed to see how Rajchandra could conduct all kinds of business and yet not emotionally involve himself in any of the transactions. In his spare time, Gandhi saw that Rajchandra was always busy reading the scriptures, writing poetry, or conducting religious practices. Such daily conduct and life of Rajchandra
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