Shrimad Rajchandra And Mahatma Gandhi

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

Page 40

Shrimad Rajchandra's Message 39
society. However, Shrimad describes solitude as the development of spirituality within one's inner-self while being in the midst of satsang. True satsang is the coming together of noble souls who possess similar conduct and ideals. There is a commonality in their ideologies and beliefs. They are all united by the single desire to attain liberation. Hence, the company of such souls inspires a divine solitude in each and every one of them. Despite being in the midst of such a group, each individual seeker will uniquely experience the divinity within him or herself. Such solitude in a group arises when the group comes in contact with a saintly person.
It is in such solitude that the flower of spiritual development blossoms. How Shrimad himself led his life is noteworthy. When he was on a spiritual retreat, he would spend the first three hours of the day in the forest meditating. The next three hours would be spent in contemplation or involved in the study of scriptures. The following three hours would be spent in basic bodily activities such as eating meals etc., and the last three hours would again be spent meditating in the forest. During the late hours of the evening, he would engage in self-study and continuous chanting. In this manner, his day would pass totally immersed in spirituality. He noted in the 24th chapter of Mokshmala, "The paramount message of the enlightened masters is to adopt monkhood; discard all associations and material possessions as well as inner desires for material pleasures; and lead a life of solitude. The greatness of satsang is contained in these words."
Today whilst men and women are burdened with material pressures of life, those who engage in satsang blissfully enjoy the silent solitude that they develop within themselves.
The great self-realised souls interpret and analyse each of their inner inclinations with the help of their divine eyes. Those