Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 61

Once Harakhchandji asked Lallujiswämi about the talks going on with Shrimad. Lalluji merely said, 'He is asking to resort to knowledge as well as action' Harakhchandji uttered, 'Earlier he was giving out everything, now he does not say anything.'
Once Lallujiswami said to Shrimad, "I have given up a well to do family, wealth, two wives, one son etc. and have renounced."
In order to melt down that ego Shrimad burst out: "What have you given up? Leaving one home, how many other homes are you connected to? After leaving two wives, how many women come within your sight? Leaving one son, to how many children does your affection flow?"
On hearing this, the faults became evident to Lallujiswämi. He was so much ashamed that he would have liked to go underneath, if the earth gave way. With utter humility he said: "I have not renounced anything." Shrimad responded: "Muni, now you are renounced."
Once Lallujiswami said to Shrimad: "For the sake of celibacy I am observing fast for five years on every alternate day and am performing Käusagga (staying above physical and vocal modes), but it is hard to mentally stick to celibacy."
Shrimad: "Don't do it from people's perspective; austerity should not be observed for showing it to the people; take food while forsaking the taste and keeping in mind the austerity of Unodari (eating less than the appetite); pass over the tasty food to others."
Lallujiswämi: "I try to study that whatever comes to my sight is illusion, it's wrong."
Shrimad: "Notice the soul everywhere."
Ambälälbhäi, Tribhovanbhai and others developed religious yearning by the contact of Shrimad and they continued to nourish the same by correspondence after Shrimad left for Bombay.
Chapter 15: MANIFESTATION OF RIGHT PERCEPTION
The life sketch of Shrimad published by 'Pioneer' states as under
"When he was twenty-one, he took to business and in a very short period he gained the credit of being a capable jeweler. The cares of flourishing business, however, did not keep him away from the philosophical study, which was at his heart. While remaining in business he was quietly increasing his treasure of knowledge. He always stayed in the midst of books. Moreover, for a few months in a year he used to go out of Bombay instructing his firm that no one should correspond with him unless he wrote for that. He used to resort to solitary life in the forests of Gujarat and spend days and weeks in contemplation and meditation. He continually tried to remain unknown so that no one would identify him or the place of his resort. Still he was frequently identified and large number of people used to follow him with eagerness to listen his teaching."