One day, when I was young, I came home after fighting with a boy; I made him bleed. When my mother found out, she told me, ‘Son, if you were to bleed like him, would I not have to dress your wounds? Would his mother not be dressing his wound right now? He must be crying a lot. Just imagine how much pain he must be in. So from now on take a beating rather than give a beating. If you get hurt, I will take care of you.’ Now tell me, would such a mother not make a Mahavir? My mother instilled the highest of moral values in me.
Practice of Non-violence instilled by Mother
When I was young, I asked my mother, ‘We have bedbugs. Do they not bite you?’ She replied, ‘Son, of course they do. But do they come with containers demanding, ‘Give us some food’? Those poor bedbugs eat their share and go away.’ I told myself, ‘Blessed is such a mother!’ I have even allowed bed bugs to suck my blood. I welcomed them, ‘Now that you are here, have something to eat before you leave.’ Because this ‘hotel’ of mine (my mind, speech and body) is engaged in a business of absolute non-violence towards all living being’
Clear Understanding At A Very Tender Age
When I was twelve, my kanthi (kanthi-a necklace of tiny wooden beads usually given to a disciple by his guru in exchange for loyalty to the guru and his teachings) snapped. My mother suggested that we should go and get another kanthi. I refused and told her, “I do not want to do that”. My mother told me, “Then everyone will call you ‘nugaro’-(one without guru).”
Then I replied, “What is the use of a guru who chants mantra in my ears, sprinkles cold water over my head and then ties a kanthi around my neck?” At that time I believed that a guru is one who shows the light of Knowledge. One who himself does not show me the light, one who himself does not impart the knowledge, that guru would be how much of a help to me? Does by tying the kanthi make him the guru?
Found GOD while Learning concept of COMMON Factor
I was studying in a Gujarati school when a teacher told me to learn the concept of ‘lower than the lowest’. I asked him, what you mean by that. How can you reach to that state?. The teacher said, from all the numbers that I have given you, find the common factor which can not be divided further.
During that time, at my young age, I used to consider people as numbers. I used to say, ‘these numbers (persons) are not very good’. It then occurred to me is this concept applicable with numbers, applies to people too? God within all these ‘numbers’ (every person) exists in a form that cannot be divided. Therefore I found God from this.
No Need For Such A Moksha
When I was thirteen, after school I used to visit a couple of ascetics from North India at a nearby ashram in Bhadaran. I would massage their feet because they were very pure. One day one of them said to me, ‘Son, God will take you to moksha.’ I told him that I would appreciate it if he did not say such things because I found it unacceptable. He felt that I did not understand since I was only a child. He told me that gradually I would understand it . Later on I thought if God were to take me to moksha, he would become my superior and would dictate over me. He would offer me a seat next to him and would ask me to vacate the place when his acquaintance would come. Instead of such dependency it is better to enjoy some bhajias with your wife; this kind of dependency is better. Such a ‘moksha’ is better than the other. I do not want moksha where there is a superior above me who dictates my moves.
Considered Radio A Madness
A friend told me to get a radio for myself. A radio!! You expect me to listen to a radio? If I listen to a radio, then what about my time? It was tiring enough just listening to the radios of all human beings, so how could I own one? That is all madness.
Disciple Of The Entire World
Ambalalbhai’s elder brother owned a horse on which he used to ride through the fields of Bhadran. At times, Ambalalbhai felt like riding the horse. One time he made an attempt but fell off the horse. Ambalalbhai told his brother that the horse threw me off her back. His brother said that a thorough bred would never throw you off. It must be your inability to ride. Ambalalbhai thought that his brother is right. It is my inability to the ride the horse therefore I fell off. Why would the horse throw me off? It is not right for me to put the blame on the horse. This horse has taught me a very good lesson. Whenever we are taken back or we cannot have our say, we blame others and shield our inability. If we can see our own mistakes, we can make very good progress. Ambalalbhai used to say that whoever enhances our knowledge, must be acclaimed as our guru (teacher). Due to these high values’ inherent in him, he was ready to become the disciple of the entire world.
