Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 17

"There was delay in printing it. Bhävanäbodh was therefore composed and given as a bonus to the customers (who had enrolled themselves in advance) in order to overcome their impatience.
“Knowledge or learnedness cannot be judged in terms of the length of writing, but the common men do not have the right sense of judgment."
At the time of issuing the second edition of Mokshamälä in 1900 Shrimad had written to the publisher, “ If you think of changing some words in Mokshamälä or changing some sentence in any context, you are free to do so. You can write introduction, if you like, but forget writing about my biography.
"While writing introduction, keep in mind that the readers should be induced to forget the minor sectarian differences and be prompted to think about the superb religion in the form of true nature of the enlightened..
"We have accurately and proportionately written the lessons of Mokshamälä. At the time of the new edition do whatever you feel happy with. It is not necessary to underline the sentences as has been done in a few cases. We should not try to direct the attention of the readers towards our views; let them form their own opinions. Judgment about the right or wrong should be left to the readers. We should not draw their attention to ours and thus prevent them from forming the opinions that naturally arise to them."
A highly experienced educationist would compose the instruction books and devise the educational system after taking into consideration the human nature, experience of his predecessors and the requirements of the present as well as the future to the extent they can be foreseen. Shrimad started composing Mokshamälä with a greater foresight. He had in view the following types of questions pertaining to those men and women, who were well educated, those who went to schools for a couple of years as well as those who did not go to school and yet were capable to think. "In what direction does their thinking capability need to be oriented? What type of thinking can be helpful to them as well as to others? Which way should they behave in order to make fruitful use of the human life? What are the misguiding factors that can lead to wasting of the human life and how to avert the same?'
In order to deal with such questions, Shrimad devised the plan of preparing Mokshamälä in way, which can acquaint them with the religion of humanity or the concept of soul. Accordingly he started writing, and finishing it within three days he called the people to take advantage thereof. There were some, who had placed their orders in advance. There was, however, delay in printing, because the present printing facilities were not available at that time and also because of other undependable factors. It was noticed that printing of 200 pages of the book would take more time and thereupon the customers would feel impatient. With that in mind, Shrimad prepared Bhävanäbodh of about 50 pages and gave it as bonus to those customers, who were enrolled in advance. This is the clear evidence of his sense of responsibility and efficiency at the age of 16 or 17.
This is not the book that needs to be read or studied like a school text. It is of far greater importance than passing an examination that may affect the career. It provides the means for making the human life successful and needs to be contemplated at length so that one can notice his faults and make out how the book is helpful in overcoming the same. The preface to the first edition given under the title 'Shikshan Paddhati Ane Mukhamudra' therefore recommends for using the book as a means of improving the pattern of life. That being worth pondering over by teachers, parents as well as studious people, some extracts are given below.
"The purpose of the book is to impartially provide guidance about spiritualism and virtuous conduct. The growing young people tend to go astray by undergoing studies bereft of the