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59 “Why this Complacency?”
hrimad celebrated the holy festival of Paryushan in Kavitha in VS 1954. Several aspirants including Zaverchandbhai Sheth benefitted from Shrimad's presence there, and participated in the annual festival in a way they had never done before. The atmosphere in Kavitha was filled with truly religious feelings. It was almost as if the Tirthankars, the Enlightened propagators of the Jain faith, had returned to this earth. Shrimad also met for the first time, Shri Popatlal Mahokamchand, an eminent aspirant, whom he would later affectionately address as 'Shukdevji'. He recognized Shrimad as a self-realised being, a Gnani, in Kavitha. While Shri Popatlalbhai came into contact so late in Shrimad's life, his strong desire for liberation, his devotion, and his readiness to assimilate Shrimad's imparted wisdom, all meant that he was able to learn much from him in a very short while.
Ambalalbhai would prepare Shrimad's meals whilst he was sharing his wisdom and insight in a nearby house. He would listen very attentively while cooking and the next day would write out the whole discourse word for word.
Shrimad spent about a month around Vaso, and would go into the forests totally absorbed in the ecstasy of the Soul. He spent some time with Munishri Lalluji and other monks, as well as Shri Motilalbhai Bhavsar, giving them spiritual guidance. In Uttarsanda, Shrimad stayed in a small house in secluded area with Shri Motilalbhai, who was very fortunate in sharing several memorable moments with Shrimad. Shrimad's wise words would bring the aspirants so much joy that they would lose track of time and sit until late in the night.
Occasionally, Shrimad would ask Motilalbhai to accompany him for a walk in the woods. Once Shrimad asked : "Why this complacency? In these times, the path is strewn with such obstacles that only Our soul is aware of the effort We had to make to remove them. Had We found a Self-Realised person, We would have followed his footsteps. You are fortunate to be in the presence of such a person, yet you refuse to wake up. Cast aside your complacency and awaken! When We were Lord Mahavir's last disciple, a very small degree of complacency has resulted in so many births! But it is very difficult for people to recognise a living Self-realised person."
Shrimad pointed out the dangers of complacency (pramad), as well as the importance of first recognising and then being devoted to a true Guru, whose living presence on one's life will, if one has full faith, lead to Self-realisation.
