SELECTED 100 LETTERS Written By Shrimad Rajchandra To His disciples on Self Realisation and Liberation of Soul Translated from Original Gujarati to English by Late Sri Dinubhai Muljibhai Patel Retired Professor of Philosophy Elphinstone College Mumbai - 400 032 First Edition : 500 PREFACE We are extremely happy to present this book of selected 100 letters written by Shrimad Rajchandra the great saint to his disciples originally in Gujarati in the book “Shrimad Rajchandra” Cost Price : 50-00 Sale Price : 20-00 These letters were translated in English by late Shri Dinubhai M.Patel, retired professor of philosophy, Elphinstone college, Mumbai as mark of his utmost devotion towards Param Krapaludev “Shrimad Rajchandra.” He was greatly influenced by coming in contact with Late Param Poojya Shri Brahmachariji Govardhandasji. Shri Dinubhai M. Copy Right : Reserved Patel also translated Bhawana Bodh, Mokshmala and Jeevankala in English which were published earlier. It was keen desire of late Shri Otarmalji K. Satiya the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Prabhavak Trust that entire literature of Shrimad Rajchandra may be made available in English to Published by : the whole world. This book of Selected 100 letters will be a Shrimad Rajchandra Prabhavak Trust step in that direction. 31, First Floor, Akkipet Main Road, Bangalore - 560 053. Umagchi Bldg, Second Floor, Belgaum Galli, Hubli - 580 028. It is very difficult to translate religious Gujarati words which * * * donot have proper English words with exact meaning. A Religious Book Therefore English text may convey the nearest meaning of Please deal with all humility the original Gujarati text. This text has been reviewed by Mrs. while reading this book. Neither Neetu C. Jain C.A. who has helped in improving the text. blot it. nor tear it, nor put it on the ground nor read it while We hope this book will be useful to all English smoking. Ladies should avoid reading this book during knowing people to understand the philosophy of Shrimad menstruation. Rajchandra which will lead them to the path of liberation of Soul. Publishers II III Table of Contents Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No 1. 37 Salutation to Lord 1 Parshvanath to Show the world as best. 2. 47 Infinite bondage of anger 6 Infinite bondage of honour 3 55 Salutations to great non-attached 10 saints action is material 4. 76 Do not search for any other thing. 12 5 80 One whose mind is engrossed without any 13 hindrance in the real self 6. 84 Dear brother, this much 13 you should do necessarily 7 85 To one who wants to speak 16 less with proper understanding 8 112 Discrimination cannot be in a 16 state of infatuation 9 128 First anniversary (Samvatsari) 17 and till that day. 10 135 At partial stages of strong 21 desire for liberation five traits of Samyakdasha or right state of mind. 11 143 Keep on Practising the following. 23 IV V Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No 12` 147 Without single mindedness in 24 18 195 The disciple who has a strong 34 following the teachings of aspiration for true guidance for one’s spiritual preceptor. self liberation, gets the right 13 163 O Lord! In this Kaliyuga 24 preceptor who puts him on (time) The nature of the right path to liberation. Kaliyuga adverse (time) 19. 200 A series of sayings indicating 35 that the living self has 14 166 Well wishing sentences... 26 forgotten his true nature. In every saying of the upright saint. 20 207 Difficult self effort Right 37 “Religion and Right 15 172 The firm belief of the devotee 28 Knowledge- Some type of of truth- The ordinary man activity. does not know who he really 21 209 The highest reality described 39 is and this is his condition from or called by infinite names. time immemorial. One who The great saints in their wrongly believes as to what various expressions have he really is. ultimately manifested the same highest reality or truth. 16 183 Salutations at all three stages 30 22 211 Truth is not at all far or of time to one’s true form or 40 away from us. nature as you incarnate without any difference or sense 23 212 Salutations to that truth. Desire or 41 of separation. The embodied search for getting the truth - and migrating self has not yet the acquaintance of the right realized its true unprecented preceptor as the fruit of that strong permanent self. desire of aspiration for the truth getting. 17. 194 The living self has not obtained 31 the real road to his liberation. 24 249 These times are very obstructive 43 Why ? Salutations to the self’s to a spiritual aspirant for liberation indifferentiated true form and Therefore, the highest means for this feeling of the real self is liberation namely the acquaintance always freely moving of the living self - realised soul is very difficult to achieve in these VI VII Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No obstructive times. Therefore one contacts should be the contact of should keep constantly in touch of one’s true self. A person even in the sayings of the great saints, embodied state can be a truly and this could lead one to the right nonattached soul. path of liberation. 32 347 Towards Shri Subhagya who is an 25 254 Fearlessness is born of 45 embodiment of rest of my heart as 55 undoubtedness the biggest self. Here mostly in my self same fault of man is that he gets state I experience constant natural stuck in the belief that the meditation or Samadhi, Even the religion of his family is correct. free mind finds bondage in the 26 262 Living beings in this world desiring 49 contact with truly realised saints. contact of spiritually advanced 33 373 All this happens because of the mind saints are three categories. some of our sayings may result in 57 the best reward namely self 27. 271 Only one real self is worth knowing realization or liberation. or keeping contact with. 51 34 384 The Kaliyuga is called difficult time 28 273 Acquaintance of the right spiritual because in it all living beings strive 58 saint in this kaliyuga or obstructive 52 for securing the objects of their five bad present times, can be had by senses and they continuously keep braving illimitable hardships. on desiring to obtain them. If in these 29 299 Adopt any means either incantation, times, one is found free from such religious activity or reading religions 52 hankerings, he should be regarded scriptures an second Shri Rama. 59 30 331 So long as one is finding pleasure and 35 403 By whichever way our living soul happiness in the worldly activities he 53 may realise its true nature i.e. self. cannot find his self within him, and 36 416 Many kinds of Meditation the best kind where he believes in the truth of the of meditation. Three great defects of 60 sayings of the saints he should try to a living being and of these three, transform the affection to the swachhand is the greatest defect. unworldly. 37 432 For taking one’s soul away from all 62 31 334 Letter to Shri Subhagya who is like non-self activities. my heart. The ultimate aim of all 53 VIII IX Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No Sl.No. Letter No. Title Page No 38 436 Equanimity, joyfulness, constantly 63 44 486 Tirthankara Bhagavan calls sloth 76 thinking of higher stages of one’s and idleness as karma. soul, Thinking of Tirthankar, doting 45. 491 Tirthankara repeatedly advises the 77 on tirthankara’s sayings, afflicted worldly people to realise that remembering and desiring to follow on getting the human birth they shall the spiritual guidance given by the certainly try to realise liberation that Tirthankara and the addresses and all four categories of souls birth are instructions given by the Tirthankara fraught with danger and that for our spiritual progress. ignorance cannot lead them to 39 437 In this world only the soul in its proper discrimination. human embodied condition can think 64 46. 504 I am engaged in mental, bodily and 79 of the pure self and it can be speaking activities more than I would described to some extent in speech. like. Even if one correctly knows the 40 438 Equanimity, Joyfulness, constantly all knowing saint directly facing him, thinking of higher stages of one’s own 67 such knowledge is very beneficial to soul meaning of all three qualities. him. If we know the all - knower then Definition of the soul’s duty, Shri we should address him as such. Tirthankara says that to substance 47. 510 The binding modifications of our 81 called Jiva in a this world. mind should be completely silenced 41 454 If the living soul wants to enjoy and one should learn the method of worldly life with clear affection then. 69 doing so. 48. 511 Whatever efforts this living soul has 42 460 He should consider physical or 71 82 bodily pain as the nature of the made in his previous life to obtain physical body and then he should liberation are seen to have not been settle his intellect into the resort to made under advice of a right all- the all-knowing saint and thereby knowing preceptor. If that had been become fearless. done then he would already have been liberated by now. 43 466 He should confirm that he has 73 obtained the right religion from his 49.