Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 23

The next lesson pertains to the concept of Pratikraman. The term denotes mindfully examining one's faults, repenting for that and turning back from the same. The lesson points out the great significance of this essential ritual and exhorts to undertake it patiently, peacefully, vigilantly and with mental concentration in a language that one can understand.
The subsequent two lessons tell the story of a beggar's sadness, which points out that the deluded people seek happiness in the worldly life, though it is dreamlike, ephemeral and unsteady. Thereby they get disaffection, miserable existence etc. and have to repent. It is therefore advisable to turn towards the soul, which is indestructible, indivisible and eternal.
The next lesson is on 'Unparalleled Forgiveness'. It points out that one, who resorts to forgiving with the sense of equanimity, can cross over the worldly sea. In order to show it the lesson gives the story of supreme forgiving inclination of Gajsukumär, the younger brother of Krishna Väsudev. At the end it states: "The seers have said that the soul needs to be turned to its true nature and if that happens, the liberation is within the sight."
The next lesson is about attachment. It points out how attachment of Gautamswämi (the first and foremost pupil of Lord Mahävir) for Lord's physique, complexion, speech, appearance etc. led to prevention of omniscience. It is therefore obvious that attachment of the common beings for the worldly life would lead to infinite unhappiness. "It is the accepted maxim that where there is no attachment, there is no resentment. Attachment is the cause of acute bondage of Karma; its destruction leads to liberation."
The next lesson is a poem on 'General Aspiration'. It relates to aspiration of treading on the path of liberation by contemplating about the pure nature of soul, adopting twelve restraints, promoting the thought-process, and giving instructions in the form of nine fundamentals.
The subsequent three lessons narrate the story of Kapilmuni, which points out the utmost inferiority and insatiability of craving. It states that by giving up the craving one gains the contentment, which is comparable to a desire-yielding tree and that eventually leads to omniscience and liberation.
The next is a poem about insatiability of desire. It has been rhythmically explained that desire, belongingness and worries go on increasing with the age; they do not cool down.
Thereafter there is a lesson on indolence in the form of an essay. It presents the essence of the chapter on Drumpatra' of Uttaradhyayan Sutra and is written in an effective style. It states, "Very smart people renounce all the worries of the worldly life and continually resort to religion. They do not indulge in indolence even for a moment. Less smart ones regularly spend at least a part of the day in religious activity and also resort to it on special occasions. The foolish people, however, waste the life in purposeless talks and merriment. As a result they are destined to the lower level of existence. ... Essentially, it can be proved that wasting a moment in vain is equivalent to losing a life."
The next lesson is about discernment, which has been given in the form of a dialogue between a preceptor and a pupil in order to show that discernment is the root of religion and is also its protector. The Guru explains the meaning of discernment in these subtle, but nice words: "The soul has infinitely availed of the worldly pleasure, yet it is not free from being enamored of it. On the contrary, it considers that as ambrosial. That is the absence of discernment, because the worldly life is bitter and gives bitter fruits. On the other hand, detachment is the medication, but the worldly soul treats it as bitter. That is also absence of discernment. Ignorance, misperception etc. have covered the knowledge, perception etc. and have created a sort of hotchpotch. Discernment lies in separating knowledge and perception from that and arriving at the true ambrosia."