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But I was lazy in study; was talkative, playful and joyous. Simply by reading the lessons directed by the teacher, I could explain their contents. I had not to worry in that respect. That time I was full of affection and innocent love; I stood for unity with everyone. It was in my nature to believe that happiness lies in brotherhood. My inner spirit cried when I noticed the symptoms of disunity. I was also very fond of imaginary talks. At the age of eight I had composed a poem, which was later found as per rules of rhyme.
I completed the study so fast that after getting the reasonable training in Gujarati language, I had explained that very book to the person, who had initially explained it to me. That time I had read some poetic compositions and had overseen some other books of wisdom. All of that has mostly stayed in the memory even at present. Till then I had naturally been a simpleton; I trusted everyone and very much loved the creation as it is.
My grandfather was a devotee of Lord Krishna. In that early age I had listened from him the songs of adoration for Krishna and the miracles of different incarnations. Thereby I had developed devotion and love for those incarnations. In that innocent childhood I had also put on a sacred thread of beads in my neck in the presence of a saint named Rämdäs. I regularly went to the temple of Krishna and used to listen to the religious tales. I was frequently enamored of the miracles of his incarnations and took him to be the Lord of the universe. As such, I had a keen desire to see his abode. I fondly imagined how great would it be, if I had been the head of his sect and might be narrating the tales of his miracles from place to place! Similarly if I noticed the fabulous background of anyone, I longed to attain such a state. By that time I had read the book named Pravinsägar. Though I did not understand it much, I used to fancy the pleasure of remaining involved in various types of happiness relating to wife and in listening to the Lords' tales at ease. That was my longing. I had firm belief in the Creator as described at various places in the Gujarati textbooks and used to despise Jains. Nothing could be produced without making it. As such, Jains are dumb, they do not know. Moreover, that time I could notice only the rituals of those, who did not believe in idols. I found them unclean and was feeling afraid of that. In other words, I had no regard for that.
The Bania families living in my native place had varying types of faith, but all of them related to non-belief in idols. As such I had only their contacts. As I was considered very smart and known student of the village, I deliberately sought their company in order to show my smartness. As they repeatedly ridiculed the beads in my neck, I disputed their belief and tried to explain mine. But slowly I came to read their books like Pratikraman Sutra. That very humbly lays friendship for the entire universe. Thereby I got inclined towards the same, though my inclination for the former also continued. My contact with Jains grew in due course; but I still loved the ways of cleanliness and other traditions of Vaishnav sect and retained my faith in the concept of Creator. By that time, the thread of beads broke down and I did not go in for a new one. That time I did not look for any rationale for binding or not binding it.
This is the narration of my life till the age of thirteen. Thereafter I used to attend to my father's shop. I also used to go to the office of Kutch State, when they called me because of my neat writings. At the shop I have availed of different types of enjoyment. I have read many books; composed poems on the life of Räm and others and yearned for the worldly pleasure. But I recollect for sure that I have never charged more to anyone nor have I given more or less in weight."
Chapter 2 KNOWLEDGE OF PREVIOUS LIVES
"Some people recollect what they might have seen or experienced during the childhood, others do not. Similarly the memory of previous lives may occur in some cases and not in others. The reason for non-occurrence lies in the soul's leaving a body while clinging to attachment for the external objects and in getting attached to the new body that it obtains. As such, it does not
