Shrimad Rajchandra And Mahatma Gandhi

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

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Shrimad Rajchandra's Message
practising penances and austerities as part of their religious rituals. This ego manifests itself through some of their expressions and behaviour. Those that are egoistic about their possessions never miss an opportunity to show these off to others.
Once Shrimad had been invited for lunch when Maneklal Ghelabhai. Tribhuvanbhai and a few others accompanied him. The meal started with a serving of cooked green vegetables. Manekbhai declined those vegetables, saying he was observing tithi (a special lunar date), a day on which Jains do not consume green vegetables. This was followed by a yoghurt salad. Manekbhai declined that too as Jains consider the mixing of yoghurt and pulses as inappropriate. Other food preparations followed of various types. Manekbhai accepted a few of them and rejected the rest. Finally, when a dessert pudding was being served to Maneklalbhai, Shrimad exclaimed, “Do not serve that sweet dish to him. Maneklal has attempted to increase his importance by rejecting several side dishes but has not abstained from tasty and delicious items and so it would not be right to serve him the dessert.” Shrimad was not one to tolerate a deceitful display of austerity when in reality there was none. It was nothing but a manifestation of Maneklalbhai's personal ego and thus Shrimad stopped the dessert being served to him.
This material world, considered to be the source of happiness, is in actuality a source of fear, remorse and sorrow. This makes life treacherous and unbearable. That is why Shrimad says, "The happiness derived from material possessions is illusory, and indeed is not happiness at all.” His words, “not happiness at all” indicate the futility of seeking worldly pleasure in the physical world. He was amazed at the reasons why people are attracted by happiness that is ephemeral, unreliable and without substance.
Illusory happiness is based on one's senses and though it