Shrimad Rajchandra And Mahatma Gandhi

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

Page 62

Shrimad Rajchandra's Message 61
affected by the flames of violence around them. Seeing this selfish, scheming, cunning and merciless world, Shrimad Rajchandra felt deep pain and hurt within his core. Mahatma Gandhi had seen and felt this pain in Shrimad, who never distinguished between his family and others unrelated to him. Of what good is such a world where so much cruelty exists?
Shrimad felt extremely hurt when he came across the various types of deceits practised in the name of religion, society, and human relationships. Mahatma Gandhi delivered a lecture titled 'Religion of Compassion' in Ahmedabad on Shrimad's birth anniversary, in the year VS 1978. He said, “Raichandbhai died so prematurely probably on account of the fact that he could not bear the agony of witnessing a world full of fraud, deceit, and violence. It is true that he did suffer from a disease, but the pangs he suffered due to the heinous practises became more unbearable to him than the disease he was suffering from. Physical pain he could easily have endured, but he must have wondered, 'how can one attain the blissful experience of the soul in such a cruel era?' This symbolises the religion of compassion."
Mahatma Gandhi had called Shrimad Rajchandra the epitome of religion and compassion in a speech that was delivered over eighty-five years ago. He said, "Shrimad had cultivated this religion in his heart and was practising it every moment and in every aspect of his life. Our struggle for freedom in India today reflects the same compassion. We are careful about avoiding any sort of animosity in it." Gandhiji emphasised that "The basis of non-cooperation was the same compassion and love as this religion of compassion that I have learnt from Shrimad's life."
Shrimad and Mahatma Gandhi, once when discussing this religion of compassion, talked about whether leather goods