Long before the outstanding play, “Yugpurush” hit our shores, I have been addressing Shrimad Rajchandraji as Gandhiji’s spiritual mentor on these very pages – that Mahatma Gandhi learned his lessons on ‘satya’ and ‘ahinsa’ from this Jain philosopher.
“Satya” and ‘ahinsa’ were the Jain doctrines which Gandhiji used as his weapons in his quest to gain independence for India from the mighty British.
Besides being indirectly instrumental in India’s acquisition for independence, Rajchandraji will also be remembered for his 142 gathas (couplets) of Atmasiddhi shastra which he wrote at one sitting in just two hours to fulfill the wishes of a dying man who wanted to meditate on something spiritual in his last hours. We all should be proud of these two great souls who followed in the wake of Lord Mahivira.
Mahavira was a real man who, after attaining Keval Gnana (total knowledge/ omniscience), spread the message of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, right conduct and non-possessiveness.
He campaigned against the barriers of caste, creed and faith. His doctrines of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct are the three jewels, Ratnatraya, of Jain Philosophy by which to achieve the ultimate goal in life. He explained that from eternity, every living being (soul) is in bondage of karmic atoms that are accumulated by its good or bad deeds.
The ultimate objective of his teachings is how one can achieve moksha – total freedom of the soul from the eternal cycle of birth, life, pain, misery and death.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
