________________
546
I am the Soul eligible disciple, has become eager to hand over all the knowledge lying within himself. Brothers! A Guru does not pass on his knowledge in the absence of an eligible disciple. Today, several advanced sciences have been lost from our country, only owing to this. For want of proper disciples, the great learned men took away their knowledge with them – they could not gift it to anybody.
I refer to a happening of several years ago. Our Grand Master Pujya Tapasviji Shri Manekchandji Maharaj had a great thirst for knowledge. In search of knowledge, he travelled to Marwad in a period when travel in that region used to be a great difficulty. At a young age, he remained serving the Pujya Fakirchandji Maharaj. Pujya Tapasviji Maharaj was so humble and discerning that seeing his abilities Pujya Fakirchandji Maharaj was greatly impressed. He had said, 'My heart is delighted to see the proper ability of this Kathiawadi Sadhu. I was in search of a proper receptacle for the knowledge that was in store within me. I have found it. I shall give all the knowledge I have to him.' And Brothers! With great joy in his heart, Pujya Fakirchandji Maharaj gave away all the knowledge he had to Pujya Tapasviji Maharaj, who later returned from Marwad with this unlimited store.
Even in this age, there are such great people who are endowed with the essence of the deep knowledge of the Agamas. If we become eligible, we could also imbibe the essence and the formulas for devotion. If there is any greatest hurdle in the way of our becoming eligible, it is our EGO. I am somebody, somebody special, there is something in me that others do not have – this is the kind of pride which does not let us become eligible. We remain incomplete and as a result, in spite of gaining access to the company of sages and gurus, we cannot absorb what ought to be learnt in their company. If you stand very straight like a palm on the banks of a flowing river, you will not get even a handful of water nor will your thirst get quenched. But if you
Jain Educationa International
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org