Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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SHRIMAD RÄJCHANDRA
2. Human life:
All living beings long for permanent happiness and there is no exception to this. This desire can be fulfilled only in a human life. Yet human beings choose unhappiness. This is due to his illusionary state (Mohaniya Karma - Mithyätva) in which he sees happiness in worldly desires and possessions.
3. Non-attachment to Worldly Affairs (Vairägya)
Detachment from worldly and materialistic affairs and family relationships is defined as Vairagya and achieving it is essential for eternal happiness.
True renunciation is always followed by the true knowledge of the self or the soul. Without true renunciation, a person will not be able to gain the true knowledge of the soul. If one stops only at the stage of renunciation and there is no desire for true knowledge, his/her human life would be in vain.
4. Knowledge and Wisdom:
Through proper knowledge, we are able to know the forms and qualities of the substances of the universe.
The Jain scripture, Uttaradhyayan Sutra, indicates that “Knowledge is like a needle with thread. Just like a needle with thread in it does not get lost; a person with knowledge, will not lose the right religious path in this world."
It is the true knowledge with which (a) an external feeling is controlled; (b) attachment for life, family and worldly pleasures decreases and (c) a true truth is revealed.
If you know yourself (your true nature), you know the whole world; if you do not know yourself, your knowledge is worthless.
Conclusion:
Shrimad Räjchandra was a great saint and a self realized Master, an outstanding educationist, a born poet, possessed an extra-ordinary power of memory, a reformer of society, a keen follower and an advocate of non-violence and had equal respect for all religions.
As with many great personalities, Shrimad's greatness was not recognized in his life time. Shrimad was not popular among Jains because he spoke about the faults in Jain society and the traditions being carried out without understanding the proper meaning and purpose behind them. Many people have recognized his greatness after his death.
Shrimad has put great emphasis on the need of a Sadguru (true teacher) in one's life for spiritual progress and ultimately to attain liberation.
Shrimad always maintained that since he had not taken the vow of dikshä (sainthood), he was not eligible to preach the path of liberation. Therefore, even with his wealth of knowledge, he did not preach to the
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