Param Krupaludev Shrimad Rajchandra and Shree Saubhagbhai
Shrimad Rajchandra and Shree Saubhagbhai
Twenty-five hundred long and volatile years had passed since Bhagwan Mahavir conquered the ocean of materialistic existence and attained the everlasting bliss of liberation. Much had changed in these passing years. Most of all the true essence of religion and spirituality had been obscured by blind ritualistic practices and dogmatic misinterpretations of the canons. Religion was burdened by countless warring factions and the greed of the fanatics had made society succumb to practices led by fear.
At such a time was born a beacon of hope: Param Krupaludev Shrimad Rajchandra. He would live for no other reason but the deliverance of sincere seekers. In his short but divinely productive life, Shrimad Rajchandra unearthed the essence of Jainism that had long been lost in the sands of time. He set about a new spiritual revolution that rekindled the passion for spirituality amongst countless souls. He was an everlasting fountain of divine nectar, and seekers from far and wide managed to quench their thirst with a few drops of his loving compassion.
Shrimad in his own words had been a seeker for many a lifetime. The inner revolution in his life began at the young age of seven when he recollected his past lives whilst enraptured in deep contemplation. In his early twenties there came an inflection point in his spiritual ascension thanks to an opportune meeting with Shree Saubhagbhai of Sayla. It was as if this momentous encounter had been orchestrated by a divine conspiracy of the universe itself so as to benefit numerous seekers.
Saubhagbhai passed onto Shrimad an ancient and esoteric technique of meditation known as ‘Sudharas’. It was on meeting Saubhagbhai that Shrimad remembered the technique of remaining still in pure awareness. For this he remained indebted to Saubhagbhai throughout his lifetime and would fondly address him as his spiritual soulmate.
Their spiritual intimacy has impacted Shrimad’s vast literacy legacy. It is rare indeed for any elevated divine master to leave behind their intimate and detailed thoughts. They usually leave behind esoteric poetry and aphoristic scriptures, if anything. Fortunately for us, Shrimad laid out the path to Self-realisation and Moksha, as well as openly sharing his innermost experiences in over 250 letters to Saubhagbhai. Even Atma Siddhi, Shrimad’s great poem, which is itself an independent scripture, was dedicated to Saubhagbhai, containing three references to him.
It was Shrimad’s spiritual relationship with Saubhagbhai that illuminated the path and kept the thread of truth unbroken. It led to the creation of a whole lineage of enlightened souls in Sayla that has kept the flame of spirituality alive to this day. Seven years after this divine meeting, as Saubhagbhai lay on his deathbed, Shrimad wrote to him three powerful letters filled with all his love and compassion that eventually led Saubhagbhai to distinctly experience the soul as above and beyond the materialistic body.
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