Pinnacle Of Spirituality

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal

Page 68

26. Real Risks
One Maneklal
ne Maneklal Ghelabhai of Baroda had attended Shrimad's public performance in Mumbai. He was drawn to Shrimad. Impressed by Shrimad's intellect and talent, he offered to share his expertise in jewellery with him. Shrimad learnt how to assess and value diamonds from him in a short time. Vavania was a small port, so Shrimad decided to go to Mumbai and begin his career in Jewellery.
Within two years the firm, set up in Mumbai, earned an international reputation and conducted business with firms in England, Africa and Burma. Shrimad followed a strict code of conduct and ethical practices, profit making being of secondary importance. Thus one could notice the difference between Shrimad's business practices and those of other businessmen.
He writes: "The whole world is in business so as to take something, while we are in business to pay off debts from past lives."
The paradox in Shrimad's life is very clear. He was married and became a householder but the physical pleasures held no attraction for him. He writes: "I have no desire for physical pleasure or lust and yet why do the karmas of the past births lead me to these things which I like not ?"
While in Mumbai, a glamorous city, Shrimad did not fall prey to temptations and remained completely detached. He was very much a part of the material world and yet not of it. The desire to lead a spiritual life was constantly growing in him. His thoughts turned more and more to renunciation and to a fuller absorption in spiritual life. In the midst of worldly activities, there was still an uninterrupted flow of thoughts on detachment, on renunciation, and on spirituality.
One evening there was a religious discussion at the firm of Revashanker Jagjivandas. When everyone got up to leave, Nanchandbhai of Pune saw a wooden case full of jewels open. Pointing to it he said that "this case is open and so there is great risk of theft." At this Shrimad asked him "What is risk?" Nanchandbhai replied that for him jewels are a risk of being stolen. Shrimad responded: "The wise also see risk as risk but in the sense that as long as jewels are there, there is risk." Comparing them to a disease, he explained that just like we do not like any disease, wise people feel that valuables are a disease on the earth and so they are not attracted to such things.