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37. Rajchandra's True 'Laghuraj'
In the four months (chaturmas) of the monsoon season, monks or nuns reside in one place, and do not move about from one place to another as they do the rest of the year. This is to prevent injury to the new vegetation and life which spring up then. Munishri Lalluji had so much enjoyed the seven days he spent with Shrimad in Khambat, courtesy of Shri Ambalalbhai, that he longed for Shrimad's spiritual guidance and wanted to spend the monsoon season where Shrimad was, in Mumbai. Shrimad invited him, if convenient, to visit his shop and spend an hour everyday with him. The monk would walk four miles everyday to see Shrimad, who would leave aside his business and discuss spiritual matters with Munishri.
Once Shrimad asked Munishri : "How did you recognise me?"
"From what Ambalalbhai said of you."
Munishri Lalluji once told Shrimad : "I took monkhood (diksha), renouncing my wealthy family, aged parents, two wives, a son and so many things."
Wanting to melt away the slight pride he had detected, Shrimad asked: "What sacrifice have you made? You have left your home and now how many homes of devotees are yours? You left two wives but how many women do you now gaze upon? You abandoned a son, but for how many children do you now have affection?"
After hearing all this, the monk realised his failings. His pride at outer renunciation melted away and, with utter humility, he said, "I have renounced nothing."
Shrimad now exclaimed: "My dear monk, you have now renounced all." It is difficult to cease being possessive, but if one serves and has full faith in a Self-Realised person, then Moksha is not far away.
Shrimad read aloud the first seventeen verses from "Samadhishatak" and gave Munishri Lalluji the book to read for himself. As he was leaving, Shrimad called him back and wrote on the first page:
AATAM BHAVNA BHAVTA JIV LAHE KEWALGNAN RE "One who longs for the Soul, attains Enlightenment."
Munishri Lalluji learnt from Shrimad the value of silence (maun) and took a threeyear vow of silence, immediately after the monsoon season. He was allowed to speak to the monks he guided and to Shrimad. He earned the name Laghuraj Swami. "Laghu" means small and "Raj" is taken from "Rajchandra," indicating his humility and his devotion to Shrimad. Laghuraj Swami is thus an example to us all.
YANA
A
