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40. Devotion of a Supreme Disciple
Shrimad Rajchandra had guided the True Seeker Ambalalbhai in attaining a higher plane of spirituality, and thus brought him closer to liberation. At the same time, Ambalalbhai assisted Shrimad in his own quest by copying out Shrimad's handwritten notes, making arrangements for Shrimad when he wanted to retreat into solitude. The depth of their Guru-Shishya (disciple) relationship is clearly discernible from their correspondence and from events when they were together.
Ambalalbhai was an extremely talented and a totally devoted disciple who by Vikram Samvat 1946 had made Shrimad the focus of his life to the extent that it distracted him from his duties to his wife and parents. Shrimad gently advised him: "Give full attention and care to them, you should not hurt their feelings and one should only practice religion when they have been taken care of."
With his reverence for Shrimad, Ambalalbhai took this instruction very seriously and never repeated that mistake again. Ambalalbhai had a very sharp and retentive memory. He would recall religious discourses given 2 to 3 days before and repeat them, verbatim. As his handwriting was neat, Shrimad would ask him to make notes of what he said, which Ambalalbhai would send on to other aspirants. He would also make copies of scriptural books for Shrimad. In a short span of time Ambalalbhai had recognised Shrimad's true divinity. Most people are not able to recognize Self-realised beings due to their various prejudices. He thus benefited significantly from their close association.
Later in Vikram Samvat 1947, Shrimad asked Ambalalbhai to find a quiet place in the vicinity of Khambat where he could stay incognito. Accordingly, Ambalalbhai chose Ralaj. Shrimad stayed there until after the festival of Paryushan. Shrimad's holy footsteps sanctified the soil and he was inspired to compose four immortal songs, namely: "Vis Dohra" or "Twenty Couplets" describing the faults which hinder spiritual progress and the importance of faith in a true guru; 'Yama-Niyam' which talks about the practices one has adopted unsuccessfully to attain Enlightenment, and recommends the one thing not yet done, namely taking instruction on the "Seed of wisdom" from a True Guru; 'Jud ane Chaitanya' highlighting the differences between consciousness and matter; and "Jinvar kahe che Gnan," defining what the Lord Jinas say is true knowledge.
