Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 57

"The Time withdrew the reliable refuge of this soul in the present life. From enlightened point of view there is no scope for mourning, but his very high attributes compel me to do so. I recollect very much; I cannot write more.
e perfestlife, perome eoliebtene deconte of
"I am thinking to write an instructive book in memory of the diseased truth-seeker....
"My only advice is to remain highly inclined towards religion. I think that we would certainly be happy, would cross over, if we resort to the path of Juthäbhäi, the truth-seeker."
Chapter 13: SAUBHÄGYABHÄI, THE TOPMOST DEVOTEE OF SHRIMAD
By virtue of Avadhäns, the reputation of Shrimad had spread in Gujarat, Saurashtra and also other parts of India due to the publicity given by English papers. In Saurashtra there is a place named Säylä, which is known as the village of devotees. There lived one gentleman named Lallubhäi. Earlier he was well to do; but his wealth disappeared as his wholesome Karmas were exhausted. So he thought of gaining wealth with the favor of some monk in Rajsthän, where monks are supposed to have expertise in Mantra-Tantra art. Accordingly he went to that area and secured the pleasure of a known monk. As he requested the latter to do something for improving his condition, the spiritually oriented monk sharply reproached him and said that it was not worthy of him to seek material benefit from a monk instead of trying to seek realization of soul. Lallubhäi could make out his point and said, 'Sir, I was mistaken, now please show me the way for spiritual well-being." Thereupon the monk indicated the Seed of Knowledge' and said, "You do not deserve to get its benefit, but if you show it to a deserving person, he would gain realization thereby".
Then Lallubhäi started worshipping it. He gave up going to Upäshray (temporary residence for monks) and used to say that he was observing Sämäyik (practice of equanimity) all the time. The monks thought that he had gained something from Rajsthän and they should learn it from him. One monk therefore told him, "I will do whatever you tell me, but show me what you have been doing."
Lallubhäi: "You will not be able to do as I suggest."
Monk: "I will surely do that."
Lallubhäi: "Give up the garb of monk, remove Muhpatti (piece of cloth tied around the mouth) and go to Upäshray."
Monk: "How can I do that?"
Lallubhäi: "Then go back the way you had come."
Lallubhäi had said about the 'Seed of Knowledge' to his son Saubhagyabhai and had told him to show it to a deserving person. When Shrimad was in Morbi, Saubhagyabhäi had to go there. So he said to his father, 'It is said in the entire Saurashtra that Räychandbhai is a very deserving man. He is now in Morbi and I have to go there. If you therefore permit me, I would show him the
Seed of Knowledge'. As Lallubhäi agreed, Saubhagyabhai went to see Shrimad after arriving at Morbi. That time Shrimad was sitting in his shop. By virtue of the internal purity, he knew before Saubhagyabhäi came that a man bearing that name was coming to show 'Seed of Knowledge'. Thereupon he wrote down on a chit of paper what Saubhagyabhai was going to talk about. As he came, Shrimad said, 'Welcome, Saubhagyabhäi'. The latter was surprised that Shrimad never